“What’s that girl to you?” slowly asked George.
“Nothing, but I cannot forget the times when we were children that she was with us, and now I am sure that she is having a hard time of it, and I am going to find out anyhow.”
Just at this moment a woman came in with a clock in her hand.
“What will you give for this, Abe?” asked she. “Now, don’t be tight about it, for the girl I’m a-selling it for is almost starved to death, and I am going to pay her rent.”
“Oh, you’re like all the rest, Higgins,” blurted the broker, “always got some reason why you should have money, more money than any one else. You would have me in the poorhouse if you had your way.”
“But I must have two dollars for this,” insisted the woman. “Please, Abe, it will save a woman from being turned out.”
“What do I care whether she is turned out or not as long as I don’t have to take care of her?” sulkily asked the broker.
The pawnbroker left the woman for a moment to attend to a boy, who came in with a watch.
“I want to get money on this,” said he.
The broker looked suspiciously at him.