bject,
and so charge an extra price.

Eliakim scanned the garment critically. It was nearly new and in
excellent condition, and he coveted it.

"I will give you a dollar," said he, naming a price low enough to
advance upon.

"That is too little," said Paul, shaking his head.

"I might give you fifty cents more, but I should lose if you didn't
redeem it."

"I don't think you would. I paid ten dollars for it."

"But it is old."

"No, it isn't; I have only had it a few weeks."

"How much do you want on it?" asked Eliakim, scanning Paul sharply, to
see how much he seemed in want of money.

"I don't want any to-day. If I should want some next week, I will come
in."

"It will be older next week," said Eliakim, not wanting to lose the
bargain, for he hoped it would not be redeemed.

"Never mind; I can get along till then."

"Can I do no business with you this morning?" asked Eliakim,
disappointed.

"I don't know," said Paul, looking carelessly around. "My friend here
would like a fiddle, if he can get one cheap. What do you ask for that
one up there?"

Eliakim took down the fiddle with alacrity. He had had it on hand for
a year without securing a customer. It had originally been pawned by a
poor musician, for a dollar and a quarter, but the unfortunate owner had
never been able to redeem it. Among his customers, the pawnbroker had
not found one sufficiently musical to take it off his hands. Here was a
slight chance, and he determined to effect a sale if he could.

"It is a splendid instrument," he said, enthusiastically, brushing off
the dust with a dirty cotton handkerchief. "I have had many chances to
sell it."

"Why didn't you sell it, then?" demanded Paul, who did not believe a
word of this.

"Because it was only pawned. I kept it for the owner."

"Oh, well; if you can't sell it, it doesn't matter."

"It is for sale now," said Eliakim, quickly. "He has not come for
it, and I shall keep it no longer. Just try it. See what a sp-l-endid
instrument it is!" said the pawnbroker, dwelling on the adjective to
give emphasis to it.

Paul tried it, but not knowing how to play, of course created only
discord. He did not offer it to Phil, because the young Italian boy
would have made it sound too well and so enhanced the price.

"It don't sound very well," said he, indifferently; "but I suppose it
will do to learn on. What do you want for it?"

"Five dollars," said Eliakim, studying the face of Paul, to o