The Dolores star., 1915-06-04


"How much?" when farther on she
saw an old ruby-glass scent bottle.
Half crown. lady. that's just givin
II away. Nice little bit. eh?"
I'll take it for two shillings,' ven
tured Helen.
Its yours. mum. Anything else7
Got 'em all down to war prices"
i may come back this way later"
murmured Helen. wondering II she had
offered too much. She might have got
ten 1t for one and six
Hello. dug up anything?"
!, She started to find Warren beside
her.
ooh, what have you got?" looking
at bullying bundle under his arm.
Never you mind. Doing a little
looeng on my own
Dear. you know you mustn't pay
what they ask first, don't your" 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. II l see anything l want-rn
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 curious jade locket.
After some bargaining she got the
three pieces for only seven shillings.
1t was dusk now, and oil lights flick
cred over many of the stalls. 1t was
weird scene-this great dark market
space. lit only by those flaring lamps.
Some of the men we're now packing
up, but many were still shouting their
wares, eager for a few last shillings.
At stand farther on Helen found
an old sampler. 1t was dated 176S.
with a quaint house-and-t-se design.
Did this man know its value. Her
heart beat fast at the possibility OF
getting 1t for 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.
1rt"Oh. couldn't pay more than
twelve" she murmured.
Internationally thu price. mum.
Take 1t 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 q 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. Ell? All right,
we'll give you a treat"
He took OF the crumpled newspaper
and proudly displayed a garish shell
box with mirror on top! Helen
gulped. 1t was awful!
Pretty good haul, eh?" fitting q
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
like lit"
"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, Ell? Well.
if It'll make you feel any better-I
only paid bob Thought 1t would
be worth that" with a chuckle, ito see
you glare at it,
Obi" with mingled relief and re-.