talked to me. He
asked me if I came to him on a fool's errand or really to get money;
and when I admitted that I had cherished hopes of obtaining a clear two
thousand dollars from him, he coolly replied that he knew of but one
way in which I could hope to get such an amount, and that if I was too
squeamish to adopt it, I had made a mistake in coming to his shop, which
was no missionary institution, etc., etc. Not wishing to irritate him,
for there was menace in his eye, I asked, with a certain weak show of
being sorry for my former heat, whereabouts in Grand Street I should
find this Judah. The retort was quick, 'Judah is not his name,' said he,
'and Grand Street is not where you are to go to find him. I threw out a
bait to see if you would snap at it, but I find you timid, and therefore
advise you to drop the matter entirely.' I was quite willing to do so,
and answered him to this effect; whereupon, with a side glance I did
not understand but which made me more or less uneasy in regard to his
intentions towards me, he motioned to the men who held my arms to let go
their hold, which they at once did.

"'We have your signature,' growled the old man as I went out. 'If you
peach on us or trouble us in any way we will show it to your father and
that will put an end to all your hopes of future fortune.' Then raising
his voice he shouted to the girl in the outer office, 'Let the young man
see what he has signed.' She smiled and again brought forward the book
in which I had so recklessly placed my name, and there at the top of the
page I read these words: 'For moneys received, I agree to notify Levi
Solomon, within the month, of the death of my father, that he may
recover from me, without loss of time, the sum of ten thousand dollars
from the amount I am bound to receive as my father's heir.' The sight
of these lines knocked me hollow. But I am less of a coward morally than
physically, and I determined to acquaint my father at once with what I
had done, and get his advice as to whether or not I should inform the
police of my adventure. He heard me with more consideration than I
expected, but insisted that I should immediately make known to you my
experience in this Bowery pawnbroker's shop.

"The officer, highly interested, took down the young man's statement
in writing, and, after getting a more accurate description of the Jew's
house, allowed his visitor to go.

"Fortunately for me I was in the building at the time, and wa