Evening Star Newspaper, November 19, 1923, Page 19

— “PAWNED” An Unusuel Romance of People Whose Very Being Is Pled, Do the Bidding o god to f Others. By FRANK L. PACKARD uthor of “The Miracle Man, From Now On,” etc. Copyright, 1922, by Public Ledger Company. CHAPTER XI. The Rendezvous. AUL Veniza, pacing restlessly about the room, surreptitiously at his watch, and then glanced anxiously | at John Bruce. John Bruce in turn stole a look at Claire. His lips tightened a little Since she had been told nothing, she was quite unconscious, of coursc, that it mattered at s it alreagy lor ¥ Hawkins in g the little ie, John come to e s room athered in u frown. that keeping Hawki Clai face was full in the light, and as she sat there the table. busy with some sewing, it seemed to john Bruce that, due perhaps to the jerspective of what he now knew, detected o weariness in her eyes 1 in sharp lines around her mouth had _not ced ‘before. It expected to job here ¥ now almost no ng, of course; but perhaps he | i said to her thut —had not made it t00—what he h ifternoon—his lc r for her. continned his restless ¢ matter? No! no, ni za ‘hurriedly. a Claire, - little nod of her head. | = of you, for that matter. iruce has done nothing but fidget the ta: f that dressing gown X _ne last half hour. n Bruce let the tassel fall as h it had suddenly burned his he denied stoutly. ghed Claire, 'n!" 1 wish 1 could do you eall it?—a thought wave, and_inspire some one, ind most all Haw to come sver here this evening. He, at least, r deadly dull.” are, send out—w. two men spoke went on, & she looked ut really know a dear, quaint. ble soul, and I'm so fond of I'm sure he Is,” said John. Bruce “Eyen from the little I've I'd trust him with—well, coughed as mean, 1'd take vou his word for anything. “Of course, you would!" asserted Clalre. “You couldn’t think of doing inything else—nobody could. He's honest as—as—well, as father nd 1 don’t know any one more \onest.” She smiled at Paul Veniza, nd then her face grew very earnest. I'm going to tell you something \bout Hawkins, and something that ven you never knew, father. Ever ince 1T was old enough to remember one I remember Hawkins. And 1 got old enough to understand at all, though I could mever get him o talk about it, I knew his life vasn't a.very happy one, and per- aps 1 ved him all the more for that reason. Hawking used to drink reat deal. Everybody knew it. I —-I never felt 1 had the right to T to him about it, though it 1ade me feel terribly until—until nother died.” Claire had dropped her sewing in lap, and now she picked it up 1in and fumbled with nervously. “I spoke to him then,” she said in a low voice. “I told him how much You needed him, father; and how glad and happy it would make me. And —and | remember so well his words: promise, Claire, I promise, 80 jelp me God, that I will never drink ther_drop,” " Claire looked up, her ace aglow. And kno no matter vhat anvbody says, that from that iay to this, he never has”™ Paul Veniza, motionless now in the enter of the pom, was staring at r in a sort of numbed fascination. John Bruce wa staring at the yor. He had heard, he thought, a «p in the outer room. The door opened. Hawkins stood there. He plucked a1t his frayed, black cravat, which was wry. He lurched agalnst the jamb, vd in groping unsteadily for’ sup- ort his hat fell from his other hand nd rolled across the floor. Hawkins reeled into the room. ‘Good—hic!'—good evenin’,” said iTawkins thickly. Claire alone moved. She rose to ler feet, but as though her welght vere too heuvy for ner limbs. Her ips quivered. “Oh, Hawkins!” she cried pitifully —and’ burst Into tears, £nd ran from he room. It seemed to John Bruce that for a 1oment the room swirled around be- ‘ore his eyes; and then over him swept an uncontrollable desire to get \is hands upon this maudlin, lurch- ng creature. Rage, disgust, a bitter esentment, a mad hunger for re- prisal possessed him; Claire's future er faith which she had but a mo- sent _gone so proudly vaunted, were swept to the winds, , dissoiute wreck. Her ither! No, her shame! Thank God he did not know! ‘You drunken beast!” he gritted in norciless fury, and stepped suddenly orward But halfway across the room he “ d though turned to stone. n't lurching any more. d turned and closed the vkins now, with his face look In his old ingled agony and e, sank into a face in his bair and buried his ands. was He Paul Veniza who moved went and stood behind the n, looked up. sober. What does this Paul Veniza asked heavily. Hawkins shook his head. “I couldn’t do it he sald in a yroken voice. “And—and I've set- tled it once for all now. I got to hinking as I came along tonight nd I found out that it wasm't any vod for me to swear I wasn't going o touch anything any more. fraid of myself. I—I came near oing into the saloon. It—it taught something, that did; because the way 1 ecould get by mise myself I'd go back there fter I'd been here.” 3 Hawkins paused. A flush dyed his <lheeks. He turned around and look- i at Paul Veniza again, and then at ohn Bruce. “You don’t understand—nelther of ou understand. Once I promised «laire that 1'd stop, and—and until 1st now she believed me. And I've urt her. But 1 ain’t broken her icart. It was only old Hawkins, ust Hawkins, who promised her lien; it would have been her father vho 'promised her tonight, and—and t ain’t any good, I'd have broken that vromise, I know it now—and shc Ln't ever going to share that hame.” Hawkins brushed his hand across is eves. “Apd then,” he went on, a sudden c#ness in his voice, “suppose she ¢ ‘cause it sure that knowing wuld have saved her from him! i, my God, she'd better be dead! I'G fher see her dead. You're wrong hn Bruce! It wasn't the way vwu meant right, and God bless you it it wasn't the way. I saw it al clearly after—I'd got past tha aloon: and—and then it was al izht for me to promise myself tha d . It wouldn't hurt he one ~I don’t quite understand what yo n by that, Hawkins,” he sald - ' Hawkins rose slowly to his feet. voseu all up for this,” sald ins, with & wan smile; “‘but glanced | was | in what with “What bores you ,|put bervond -I'm ! was to| | something’s snapped here — inside here” His hand felt a lttle aim- | tessly over his heart. “I know now i that I ain't ever going to be worthy; ind 1 know 2ow that she ain't ever K w at I-— —1" o that I—I'm her old | "And so I—I've fixed it just now like you saw so there ain't B ol back on it. But I ain't throwing my ittle girl down. It ain't Claire that's EOt to be made to change her mind odt's Crang.” He ralsed a clenched flst. “And Crang’s going to change n swear to that and know p it, s0o—so help me God! 1And when she's rid of him, she aln't {going to have no shame and sorrow rom me. That's what 1 meant.” os satd John Bruce mech “I'm golng now, a low voice. “Around by the other way.” said Paul Veniza softly. “And I'll go with you, old friend.” For a moment Hawkins hesitated, jand then he nodded his head, No one spoke. Paul Venlza's arm !was around Hawkins' shoulders as i they left the room. The door closed ibehind them. John Bruce: sat down |on tho cdge of his bed. said Hawkins in CHAPTER The Fight. long time John Bruce stared door; first a little nse the bottom seemed to have dropped out of things, jand then with set face as the old abman's words came back to him: Crang—not Claire.” And et this a ort of merciless Joy crept into hi eyes, and he nodded his head in age satisfaction. Yes, Hawkins had been right in that respect, and—well, it would be easler to deal with | Crang! And then suddenly John Bruce's iface softened. Hawkins! He remem- bered the fury with which the old man had inspired him as the other had reeled into the room, and Claire, hurt and miserable, had risen from her chair. But he remembered Haw king in a different way now. It w ! Hawkins, not Claire, who had be hurt. The shabby old figure standing {there had paid a price, and, as he belicved, for Claire's sake, that had his reach forever what must have meant, what did 5 all that he cherished most in li John Bruce smiled a little wist- fully. Somehow he env —s0 pitifully unstable a his strength! | o shook his head in a puszled way. His thoughts led him on. What a strange, almost incompre- hensible little world it was into which fate, If one wished to call it fate, had flung him! It was an alien world to him. His own life of the past rose up in contrast with it—not of his own violition, but because the comparison seemed to insist on thrusting itself upon him. He had never before met men lke Hawkins and Paul Veniza. He had met drunkards and pawnbrokers. Very many of them! He had lived his “life, or, rather, impoverished it with a spendthrift hand, among just such classes—but he was conscious that it would never have been the poorer for an intimacy with eithcr Hawkins or Paul Veniza. John Bruce raised his head abrupt- ly. The front door had opened. A moment later a footstep sounded In the outer room, and then upon the stairs. That would be Paul Veniza returning, of course, though he hadn’t been gone very long; or was it that he, John Bruce, had been sitting here staring at that closed door for a far longer period than he had imagined? He shrugged his shoulders, dismiss- ing the Interruption from his mind, and again the wistul smile flickered on_his lips. So that was why nothing had becn said in his hearing about the rob- bery! Queer people—with their tra: ellng pawn-shop, which was bizarre; and their standards of honesty. and their unaffected hosplitality which verged on the bizarre too, because their genuineness and simplicitys were so unostentatious—and so rare. And somehow, suddenly, as he sat there | with his' chin cupped now in his hands, he was not proud of this con- trast—himself on the one hand, a drunkard and & pawnbroker on the other! { And then John Bruce raised his ! head again, eharply this time, almost in a startled way. Was that'a cry— in a_woman's voice? It was muffled by the closed door, and it waa per- haps therefore his Imagination; but 1t It had come For He was on his feet. again, No door could have shut It out from his ears. It was from Claire upstairs, and the cry seemed most _curlously to mingle terror and a passlonate anger. He ran across the room and threw the door open. It was strange! It would be Paul Veniza in 2 new role, If the gentle, white-halred old pawnbroker could inspire terror in any one! A rasping, jeering oath—In a man's voice this time—reached him. John Ismm. & sudden fury whipping his blood ' into fire, found himself stum- bling up the stalrs. It wasn't Veniza! | His mind eeemed to convert that phrase into a sing-song refrain: “It wasn't Veniza! It wasn't Venizai" Clafre’s voice came to him distinctly ! now, nnd thero was the same terror iin it, the same passionate anger that he had distinguished in her cry: “Keep away from me! I .loathe you! It is men like you that prompt a woman to murder! But—but in- stead, 1 have prayed God with all my soul to let me dle before—" Her _voice ended in a sharp cry, d | scuffie of feet. H {To be continued tomorrow). e START FIGHT FOR FREEING! i “POLITICAL PRISONERS”, { Liberation by Christmas Is Aim of I. W. W. Campaign Inau- gurated in New York. | By the Assoctatea preen. | NEW YORK, Novembor 19—¥ree. | dom by Christmas for all ‘“politica’ prisoners” held in federal prisons is the aim of a campaign which will begin hdre tonight with a mass ‘meeting at Cooper Union, The prin- cipal_speaker will be Ralph_ Chap lin of Chicago, one of the I. W. W who was convicted and sentenced under. the national defen-e law in 1917, and who was releaged from | Leavenworth June 25 last, by presi- dential _proclamation. Not amnesty, but unconditional re- lcase is sought for the prisoners, Chaplin said last night. —— WANT CHARLES AS SAINT. English Admirers of “Martyr” King to Appeal to Church. LONDON, November 18.—An at- tempt will be made at the church as- sembly, this week to restore to the calendar of English church saints “Ring Charles the Martyr,” whose name was removed from the list long ago after having been honored for many vears. When _Cromwell's judges tried Charles 1 for alleged misdemeanor: against the commonwealth the mon s arraigned as a “tyrant,’ traitor” and “murderer.” While & ma- {ority of the nation today acquiesce. n the verdict of history that Charle was faithless, tyrannical and hopeless as a king, there is quite a respectabl minority that would welcome his pro posed restoration to a saintship anc it is for these that a section of th¢ church assembly will speak. —_— Once a species of plant has lost it perfume, there it no known v restoring in i i \ Moving Picture Editions of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Little Old New York 75¢ —These moving plctures are shown in_Washington this week. Kann's—Downstalrs Bookshop. ——E——-— Personal Greeting Cards —A “Merry Christmas” . cannot be said personally to all of one’s friends, but a “Merry Christmas” can be wished each of one's friends if a little greeting card is sent to give the message. —We have a complete assort- ment of Greeting Cards, and if you will make your selec- tion now we can give you the very best service in the en- graving of the cards at at- tractive prices. —Come in and see our assort- nent on_display in the Sta- tionery Store, Street Floor. ——E Extra Heavy Part-Wool Blankets Size 66x80 inches —A pair........ $5-45 —Large block plaids, in rose, blue, pink, tan, gray and lavender. Also broken plaids in blue, pink and gray. finished with soisette binding. Kann's—Street Floor. —a— Pure Linen Hemstirched Table Cloths —to cover the Thanksgiv- ing dinner table. But of such fine quality they will serve as the covering for many more dinner spreads. Choice of three patterns. Each $3.50 —Full bleached embroidery linen of heavy weight and suitable for luncheon cloths, scarfs, etc. 43 and 34 inches wide. A Vard 75c and $1.00 Kann’s—Street Floor. Yards and Yards of Silks S. KANN Sons Co. Telephone Main 7200 “THE BUSY CORNER” Penna. Ave., 8th & D Streets Dollar Day Continued Tuesday Kann’s— Fourth Floor With More Interesting Values Kann’s— Fourth Floor Roller Skates, Bouncing Balls, Wildly Prancing Horses, Dollies of many kinds, Stuffed Animals and so many other wonders to make little folks’ eyes grow large —7-inch Educational Rubber Balls; have complete alpha-! bet, numbers, nursery rhymes, pictures, and is interesting and educational for girls as well as boys. $1 .00 Special ....... | | i sorted. choice - —Stocki= nette Dotls, made of, stocki- nette —Indian Play Suits, sizes 4 to 12 yrs., made of ualit; maters miqtrim}: stuffed} 2 with silk {med in blue iloss,{and yellow they run|with Indian ::m_; ZICS: headgear, ;0 13 inllhu\ ing 10 high. Some dressed as clowns! colored Xfanth- or in fine stockinette clothes,| *FS: - Special... trimmed with blue ribbon; as- $1.00 2 . olverine Laundry Sets, con- sisting of a basket, wringer, tub, d and clothespins; nice- 7 $1.00 —Quar ter IRegister | mented i finished —Iron Skates, for beginners ; | blackenamel. have toe clamp and steel back, | adjustable to any size ShOC-}per(cct quarters only. Regu-: Suitable for boys and girls. | Fully guaran- $1 .00! teed. Special.. |—12-inch Cast Iron Ice| —Zellophone, consisting of 10| brass tubes mounted on wooden frame, 10 notes and 2 hammers and 1 double sheet of $l 00 o music. Boxed, special. Bank, beauti fully orna ang .j —Pitch’em Games, Locks automatically larly $1.75. Special Special— $1.00 $1.00j | —Doll High Chair, | made of fine hard- | wood, white ;cnamel with gilt |top. _ Stands 28 Wagons, with one black|;nches from the horse. Wheels painted a|foor.- Special— bight < §1 .00 $1.00 Special .... in All Beautiful and Most Desirable Weaves for. Making Fashionable Garments The Special Price in this November Sale is, a yard.. ... $ 1 Included are the following popular weaves: —Satin Charmeuse —Georgette Crepes —Canton Crepes —Silk and Wool Canton Crepes —Crepe de Chine —Printed Crepe de Chines —36 to 40 inches wide 3,000 Yards AU-Silk Canton Crepe. Heavy Dress Crepe de Chine and Pershing Satin At $2.65 —Shown in black and all the new fall and winter shades, for both afternoon and street wear. 39 inches wide. Kann'’s—Street Floor. Several fine makes at big Yard' —Satin Superior —Black Satin Duches¢—Printed Corduroy: ~Satin Crepe de Chine —Chenille Corduroys 300 Yards Imported Black Chiffon Dress Velvet : At $3.95 Yard —This excellent velvet, our regular $5.00 quality, is dyed a rich black, and is of the weight and quality so highly in vogue for street and afternoon wear. - .69 —Black Dress Taffeta ’ B e Sale Genuine Red Cedar Chests price reductions —75 chests, some specially purchased, others left from our recent sales. Select now the Christmas gift of a beautiful chest. i Price..... —Rounded Corner Chests, with inMy top. —Square corner styles, with ma- hogany panel front. —Square styles with copper trim- ming. —400 Scrim Pamels, with fringe bottom. Special 95c Tuesday, each.........0 port special Tuesday, or plece.. . —750 Pamels, consisting of Scrim, Voile ‘and Marquis- ette. Special Tue PR Sbonichoit ) UL Kann's—Third Floor, . $25.00 —Chests _ with mahogany panel front and imitation colonial feet. —Rounded corner chests, plain style, with rich handrub finish. —Long Cedar Chests, plain etyle, strongly constructed. —Sizes 42 to 54 inches. —Attractive Lace Curtains, various styles and patterns. Special Tuesday, pair 27 $4.44 ~=Dainty Style Curtains, vari- ous styles. Special ggo Tuesday, PAIF....ccvvse Panels, special Tu day, each. —Exeolient Lace ‘Curtains, spe- cial Tuesday, pair.. Imperted $12.95 Continuing fwonderful game of in- and use! door horseshoe, consist- ing of 4 rubber horse- shoes and metal stakes —Swagger, Double-breasted Coats that have the sportiest air imaginable. Well tailored, good to look at and comfortable to wear, these coats are sure to win a fa- vored place in your wardrobe. _Plalds, stripes hd plain colors, with fur colls notched or chi 1 close-fitting sleeve interlined. -z1=inch Iron Hook and Ladder, 1ade of decorated iron, with two ancing horses, two dders and driver. pecial ~Bug Pop Game, a very ing game for young andold. Mr. Bug will answer questions in a nost amusing wa; ‘ut up in nice box. $l.00 Special 1—lmpm’tm‘l dame of Battle-dore and Shuttlecock, consisting of 2 tennis rackets, 2 celluloid balls and 2 feather balls, $1.00 complete in nice box. | Special s i one of these Smart Buy now, pay in January, if you have a charge account. ' —_—g— Two Christmas Suggestions for Infants and ““Wee Little Tots” —While baby will be too young to see how pretty are these buntings, he wi feel the cozy warmth they give and show his apprecia- tion by cooing with delight. Finished with pink or blue ribbon, and come in Christ- mas boxes, . Each $2.50 —Slip-on Mother Goose and Button-front Sweaters, | i the popular shades. Choi gre ta: XKann's—Second Floor New Wool Goods for A New Frock or Coat —will cost comparatively little, if one t tage of this sale. —S54-inch Velour Checks, fle and block checks, and brown, blue and foer 5 i G4 510 A vard —42-inch All-wool French Twili Serge, in 51.39 black and colors. A yard. : —S4einch All-wool Plaid Coat- ings, in nedium d F= = 52,08 ard Linings jor Frock or Coat 36-inch Silk and Cotton Bro- $1.59 A yard 4 _36-Inch Cotton Brocade Lin- ing, in black. brown ‘ai, gray and be: A 85C —Street Floo €s For outdoors these crisp days. choose Sport Coats Straightline, llars of -materfal. Pockets, of cour: Kann's—Second Flopr. Tomorrow—Our Great Thanksgiving Preparation Sale Carpets, Rugs and —This i our regular stock reduced, with a few special pur- chase items added for good measure. A large selection from which to choose. Alex. Smith and W. & ]. Sloane’s Fine Axminster Rugs Sizes 9x12 Feet and 8%x10% Feet in this . $29.95 in this sale.... —There ars 76 of these rugs with which to start the sale, but 80 fine are they and so reasonably priced, it will take but.a short time to sell this lot. So come early Tuesday. These rugs aro suitable for any room in the house, and come in 16 desirable pat- terns and colorings. Fine Seamless Velvet Rugs Size 9x12 Fe ol $39.95 Fringed at Ends —Twenty beautiful patterns and one of the best values offered in a wool velvet rug. These are of refined appearance and in good colorings. Have thick, short nap, and are easily cleaned and very durable. Save $20.00 onthese Fine Wilton Rugs Size 9x12 feet ~—Tuesday, Seamed and Special Very Gold _Seal Art ‘Without Borders $8.95 Size 9x12 feet °&!h‘lt unusnal for Gol w0 low, ‘The —Your Kann s—Third Floor. Regular $63.50 and $69.50 Grade Beautiful Seamless Axminster Rugs —Choice, Tuesday —Here Alex. Smith, Firth Carpet Company, Hodge's and Sloane’s makes of rugs are well represented: These are of high quality, in the best oriental ef- fects and colorings. which leads that soft effect so desirable for the 1tving room, dining room or bedroom. Squares res at this special id Seal to lar price be- tee 1 "ll.“. “Ou:ld al” I ikisfaction goes_ with - cach om0 of Linoleums Size 9x12 Feet -$47.50 These have a silky luster Heavy Inlaid Linoleums mi, $1.49 square yard. . —10 very attractive patterns in_tile, wood, carpet and dutch tile effects. Patterns go through to back, and these are of sturdy wearing quality. —43%30-1t. Gold Seal cial Tuesday A Gold Seal Cen- —3xf-ft, goleum Tuesday At $29.75 Belted o1 Wide or Full length lining and warmly g Three Thanksgiving Household Thoughts —Four-piece Glass Console Set, strikingly attractive in design. Several shades to select from, and the candle- sticks are of twisted glass. Special, a $1.69 86ti. cioison —Pure Aluminum, Panel Shape, Water Pitchers. Two- quart size, with reinforced handle. Special, each............ 79C —Oblong $hape Sheet-iron Roasters, just the right size for small roasts or chickens. Special, 4 5 C each . Kann’s—Third Floor.