Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-06-04

| u tiy II.
How much?" when farther on she
saw an old ruby-glass scent bottle.
Half crown, lady, that's just givins
it away. Nice little bit, eh?"
I'll take it for two shillings," ven
tured Helen.
Its yours. mum. Anything elsef
Got 'em all down to war prices
II may come back this way later"
| murmured Helen, wondering If she had
offered too much. She might have got
| ten 1t for one and six.
Hello, dug up anything?" 49,
She started to find Warren beside
her.
"Oh, what have you got?" looking
at a bulging bundle under his arm.
"Never you mind. Doing little
looHng on my own"
Dear, you know you mustn't pay
what they ask first, don't you?" anxi-
ously. They all ask more than they
expect to GET
"See here" testify, who's doing
this? You go ahead and buy your own
junk. If | see anything l want-I11
get it."
Helen turned away vaguely troubled.
He might buy something foolish and
pay an absurd price. Perhaps they
should have stayed together.
The next moment she was absorbed
in a particularly alluring lot from
which she finally selected an ivory
fan, broken but not past mending, a
cameo pin and a curious jade locket.
After some bargaining she got the
r1r ~, rhf
1t was dusk now, and oil lights flick
cred over many of the stalls. 1t was
a weird scene-this great dark market
space, lit only by those flaring lamps.
Some of the men were now packing
up, but many were still shouting their
wares, eager for few last shillings.
At stand farther on Helen found
an old sampler. 1t was dated 176S,
with a quaint house-and-tree design.
Did this man know its value. Her
heart beat fast at the possibility Of
getting it for a few shillings.
twenty-five shillings," he an
swered gruffly, as he went on packing.
"Yer'd poy three guineas at one O. yer
Bond Strait shops"
So he did know. Helen's hopes fell
"Oh. l couldn't pay more than
twelve" she murmured.
"Five-and-twenty's thu price, mum
Take it or lave it,
Helen flushed Indignantly, yet she
wanted the sampler. She passed on
slowly, hoping he would call after her.
Where was Warren? She turned
suddenly to look along the opposite
line of stalls. 1t was quite dark now.
What II they should. get separated?
Her eyes strained anxiously through
that shabby, jostling crowd.
A long panic-stricken moment. Then
she saw him-a few stalls back.
"Oh!" running to him with joyous
relief. Il thought I'd missed you"
Had enough? Let's get out of this.
Which gate did We come in?"
Outside, Helen looked back over the
dimly-lit market. They had been
through only small part of 1t. and
she thought longingly of the undis-
covered treasures in all those other
stalls.
They made their way back through
the dark, squalid street to the under
ground. When they entered the train
Helen glanced anxiously at Warren's
bulky package. What had he bought?
Remembering certain purchases he
had made in the past, she mistrusted
his Judgment.
Want to see it now, eh? All right
we'll give you a treat"
He took off the crumpled newspaper
and proudly displayed garish shell
box with mirror on top! Helen
gulped. 1t was awful!
Pretty good haul, eh?" fitting a
loose shell in its red paste bed. old
one too. How about that for ten.
shillings?"
Ten shillings! II he could throw
away ten shillings on this CHASTITY
thing-why hadn't she bought that
sampler?
What's the matter" sharply. Don't
like it?'
"Oh, yes-yes." hastily. Il was
only thinking of an old sampler that
I'm sorry didn't get"
With well feigned carelessness,
Warren felt in his pocket
THAT it?' tossing a small package
into her lap.
Helen tore 1t open, and with a cry of
| delight held up the sampler.
oh. you dear. you dear! But how
| did you know"
Was right there behind you.
In her joy over the sampler, the aw-
full box was forgotten.
Now how about this?" Warren took
it up again. Think it bum, eh? Well,
If it'll make you feel any better-l
only paid bob Thought it would
be worth that" with a chuckle, TO see