"Any time you bring the money, and pay the interest," replied the girl.
"Within twelve calendar months and seven days." She picked up a pen and
began to fill out a ticket. "Got any copper?" she asked presently.

"Copper?" exclaimed Lauriston. "What for?"

"The ticket," she answered. Then she gave him a quick glance and just as
quickly looked down again. "Never mind!" she said. "I'll take it out of
the loan. Your name and address, please."

Lauriston presently took the ticket and the little pile of gold, silver,
and copper which she handed him. And he lingered.

"You'll take care of that watch," he said, suddenly. "It was my father's,
you see."

The girl smiled, reassuringly, and pointed to a heavily-built safe in the
rear.

"We've all sorts of family heirlooms in there," she observed. "Make
yourself easy."

Lauriston thanked her, raised his hat, and turned away--unwillingly. He
would have liked an excuse to stop longer--and he did not quite know why.
But he could think of none, so he went--with a backward look when he got
to the door. The pretty pawnbroker smiled and nodded. And the next moment
he was out in the street, with money in his pocket, and a strange sense of
relief, which was mingled with one of surprise. For he had lived for the
previous four days on a two-shilling piece--and there, all the time, close