paul the peddler-第18章
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〃No; Paul; I have kept it; thinking that it would be something to
fall back upon if we should ever be hard pressed。 As long as we
were able to get along without suffering; I thought I would keep
it。 Besides; I had another feeling。 It might belong to some
person who prized it very much; and the time might come when we
could find the owner。 However; that is not likely after so long
a time。 So; if you cannot raise the money in any other way; you
may sell the ring。〃
〃I might pawn it for thirty days; mother。 By that time I should
be able to redeem it with the profits of my business。〃
〃I don't think you could get enough from a pawn…broker。〃
〃I can try; at any rate; but first I will see George Barry; and
find out whether he will take twenty dollars down; and the rest
at the end of a month。〃
Paul wrapped up the ring in a piece of paper; and deposited it in
his vest pocket。 He waited till after dinner; and then went at
once to the necktie stand; where he made the proposal to George
Barry。
The young man shook his head。
〃I'd like to oblige you; Paul;〃 he said; 〃but I must have the
money。 I have an offer of thirty…two dollars; cash; from another
party; and I must take up with it if I can't do any better。 I'd
rather sell out to you; but you know I have to consult my own
interest。〃
〃Of course; George; I can't complain of that。〃
〃I think you will be able to borrow the money somewhere。〃
〃Most of my friends are as poor as myself;〃 said Paul。 〃Still; I
think I shall be able to raise the money。 Only wait for me two
days。〃
〃Yes; Paul; I'll wait that long。 I'd like to sell out to you; if
only because you have helped me when I was sick。 But for you all
that would have been lost time。〃
〃Where there's a will there's a way; George;〃 said Paul。 〃I'm
bound to buy your stand and I will raise the money somehow。〃
Paul bought a few papers; for he did not like to lose the
afternoon trade; and in an hour had sold them all off; realizing
a profit of twenty cents。 This made his profits for the day
seventy cents。
〃That isn't as well as I used to do;〃 said Paul to himself; 〃but
perhaps I can make something more by and by。 I will go now and
see what I can get for the ring。〃
As he had determined; he proceeded to a pawnbroker's shop which
he had often passed。 It was on Chatham street; and was kept by
an old man; an Englishman by birth; who; though he lived meanly
in a room behind his shop; was popularly supposed to have
accumulated a considerable fortune。
CHAPTER XV
THE PAWNBROKER'S SHOP
Stuffed behind the counter; and on the shelves of the
pawnbroker's shop; were articles in almost endless variety。 All
was fish that came to his net。 He was willing to advance on
anything that had a marketable value; and which promised to yield
him; I was about to say; a fair profit。 But a fair profit was
far from satisfying the old man。 He demanded an extortionate
profit from those whom ill…fortune drove to his door for relief。
Eliakim Henderson; for that was his name; was a small man; with a
bald head; scattering yellow whiskers; and foxlike eyes。
Spiderlike he waited for the flies who flew of their own accord
into his clutches; and took care not to let them go until he had
levied a large tribute。 When Paul entered the shop; there were
three customers ahead of him。 One was a young woman; whose pale
face and sunken cheeks showed that she was waging an unequal
conflict with disease。 She was a seamstress by occupation; and
had to work fifteen hours a day to earn the little that was
barely sufficient to keep body and soul together。 Confined in
her close little room on the fourth floor; she scarcely dared to
snatch time to look out of the window into the street beneath;
lest she should not be able to complete her allotted task。 A two
days' sickness had compelled her to have recourse to Eliakim
Henderson。 She had under her arm a small bundle covered with an
old copy of the Sun。
〃What have you got there?〃 asked the old man; roughly。 〃Show it
quick; for there's others waiting。〃
Meekly she unfolded a small shawl; somewhat faded from long use。
〃What will you give me on that?〃 she asked; timidly。
〃It isn't worth much。〃
〃It cost five dollars。〃
〃Then you got cheated。 It never was worth half the money。 What
do you want on it?〃
The seamstress intended to ask a dollar and a half; but after
this depreciation she did not venture to name so high a figure。
〃A dollar and a quarter;〃 she said。
〃A dollar and a quarter!〃 repeated the old man; shrilly。 〃Take
it home with you。 I don't want it。〃
〃What will you give?〃 asked the poor girl; faintly。
〃Fifty cents。 Not a penny more。〃
〃Fifty cents!〃 she repeated; in dismay; and was about to refold
it。 But the thought of her rent in arrears changed her
half…formed intention。
〃I'll take it; sir。〃
The money and ticket were handed her; and she went back to her
miserable attic…room; coughing as she went。
〃Now; ma'am;〃 said Eliakim。
His new customer was an Irish woman; by no means consumptive in
appearance; red of face and portly of figure。
〃And what'll ye be givin' me for this?〃 she asked; displaying a
pair of pantaloons。
〃Are they yours; ma'am?〃 asked Eliakim; with a chuckle。
〃It's not Bridget McCarty that wears the breeches;〃 said that
lady。 〃It's me husband's; and a dacent; respectable man he is;
barrin' the drink; which turns his head。 What'll ye give for
'em?〃
〃Name your price;〃 said Eliakim; whose principle it was to insist
upon his customers making the first offer。
〃Twelve shillin's;〃 said Bridget。
〃Twelve shillings!〃 exclaimed Eliakim; holding up both hands。
〃That's all they cost when they were new。〃
〃They cost every cint of five dollars;〃 said Bridget。 〃They was
made at one of the most fashionable shops in the city。 Oh; they
was an illigant pair when they was new。〃
〃How many years ago was that?〃 asked the pawnbroker。
〃Only six months; and they ain't been worn more'n a month。〃
〃I'll give you fifty cents。〃
〃Fifty cints!〃 repeated Mrs。 McCarty; turning to the other
customers; as if to call their attention to an offer so out of
proportion to the valuable article she held in her hand。 〃Only
fifty cints for these illigant breeches! Oh; it's you that's a
hard man; that lives on the poor and the nady。〃
〃You needn't take it。 I should lose money on it; if you didn't
redeem it。〃
〃He says he'd lose money on it;〃 said Mrs。 McCarty。 〃And suppose
he did; isn't he a…rollin' in gold?〃
〃I'm poor;〃 said Eliakim; 〃almost as poor as you; because I'm too
liberal to my customers。〃
〃Hear till him!〃 said Mrs。 McCarty。 〃He says he's liberal and
only offers fifty cints for these illigant breeches。〃
〃Will you take them or leave them?〃 demanded the pawnbroker;
impatiently。
〃You may give me the money;〃 said Bridget; 〃and it's I that
wonder how you can slape in your bed; when you are so hard on
poor folks。〃
Mrs。 McCarty departed with her money; and Eliakim fixed his sharp
eyes on the next customer。 It was a tall man; shabbily dressed;
with a thin; melancholy…looking face; and the expression of one
who had struggled with the world; and failed in the struggle。
〃How much for this?〃 he asked; pointing to the violin; and
speaking in a slow; deliberate tone; as if he did not feel at
home in the language。
〃What do you want for it?〃
〃Ten dollar;〃 he answered。
〃Ten dollars! You're crazy!〃 was the contemptuous comment of
the pawnbroker。
〃He is a very good violin;〃 said the man。 〃If you would like to
hear him;〃 and he made a movement as if to play upon it。
〃Never mind!〃 said Eliakim。 〃I haven't any time to hear it。 If
it were new it would be worth something; but it's old; and〃
〃B