Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 21: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘a: You have ‘something to pawn?” f John Bruce stared. He still could not gee her face. F Er—vyes,” he said. He frowned in per- -plexity. ~ When we get to Persia, alias the ; pawn shop.” “This is the pawn shop,” she answered. .‘‘ Let me see what you have, please.” F “Well, I’m da—” John Bruce checked * himself. ‘There was a delicacy about that ‘ white hand resting there under the light that rebuked him. ‘‘ Er—pardon me,” said John Bruce. He felt for his jewelled watch-fob, un- fastened it, and laid it in the extended palm. He laughed a little to himself. On with the game! The lure was here, all right; the stage setting was masterly—and now the piper would be paid on a basis, probably, that would relegate Shylock him- self to the kindergarten class, of money lenders! And then, suddenly, it seemed to John Bruce as though his blood whipping _ through his veins was afire. A face in pro- file bending forward to examine the dia- ‘monds and the setting of the fob-pendant, - came under the light. He gazed at it fas- cinated. It was the most beautiful face he had ever seen. His eyes drank in the rich ‘masses of brown, silken hair, the perfect throat, the chin and lips that, while mod- . elled in sweet womanliness, were still elo- quent of self-reliance and strength. He had thought to see a pretty face, a little brazen perhaps, and artfully powdered and rouged; what he saw was a vision of lovell- mess that seemed to personify the unsullied, God-given freshness and purity of youth. He spoke involuntarily; no power of his could have kept back the words. “My God, you are wonderful!” he ex- claimed in a low voice. He saw the color swiftly tinge the throat a coral pink, and mount upwards; but she did not look at him. Her eyes! He want- ed to see her eyes—to look into them! But she did not turn her head. * ‘Vou probably paid two thousand dol- lars for this,” she said quietly, ‘‘ and—” “Nineteen hundred,” corrected John Bruce ::iechanically. “T will allow you seventeen hundred on PAWNED. 307 it, then,” she said, still quietly. ‘‘ The in- terest will be at seven per cent. Do you wish to accept the offer?’’ ‘Seventeen hundred! Seven per cent! It was in consonance with the vision! His mind was topsy-turvy. He did not under- stand. “Tt is very liberal,” said John Bruce, trying to control his voice. ‘‘ Of course, I accept.” The shapely head nodded. He watched her spellbound. The watch- fob had vanished, and in its place now un- der the little conical shaft of light she was swiftly counting out a pile of crisp, new, fifty-dollar banknotes. ‘To these she added a stamped and numbered ticket. ‘You may redeem the pledge at any time by making application to the same person to whom you originally applied for a loan to-night,” she said, as she handed him the money. ‘“ Please count it.” Her head was in shadow now. He could no longer even see her profile. She was sit- ting back in her corner of the car. ‘“I—I am quite satisfied,” said John Bruce a little helplessly. ‘“ Please count it,” she insisted. With a shrug of protest, John Bruce obeyed her. It was not at all the money that concerned him, nor the touch of it that was quickening his pulse. “It is quite correct,” he said, putting money and ticket in his pocket. He turned toward her. ‘“‘ And now—” His words ended in a little gasp. The light was out. In the darkness that shad- ow passed again before his eyes, and he was conscious that the table had vanished —also that the car had stopped. The door opened. “Jf you please, sir!’’ It was the chauf- feur, holding the door open. John Bruce hesitated. ‘‘ T—er—look here!” he said. ‘“ I—”’ ‘If you please, sir!” There was some- thing of significant finality in the man’s patient and respectful tones. | John Bruce smiled wryly. “Well, at least, I may say good-night,”’ he said, as he backed out of the car. ‘Certainly, sir—good-night, sir,” said the chauffeur calmly—and closed, the Jeor.5,