“That’s what he did,” replied Larry. “But I’m in a hurry, Mr. Moses. Can you tell me what I want to know?”
“For sure I can, mein frient. I only vant to know vat I’m talking about.”
He took the half-dollar, bit it between his teeth, and rang it on the counter. Then he took from a shelf a small bottle.
“I vill give it the acid test,” he said.
He dropped a small quantity of liquid on the coin. The metal seemed to boil where the acid touched it.
“Well?” asked Larry, rather anxiously.
“I vouldn’t give you two cents on dis half-dollar,” said the pawnbroker.
“Then it’s bad?”
“Like a rotten egg!” exclaimed Mr. Moses. “Don’t let your mudder take any more of ’em, mein frient.”
“All right,” replied Larry. “I’ll tell her to be more careful in the future. I suppose we’ll have to lose this money.”