were of the best quality.

"Where did you get this?" asked the broker.

"My mother gave it to me;" and Katy told without reserve the pitiful
story of want and destitution which compelled Mrs. Redburn to part with
the cherished memento of the past.

"I will give you three dollars for the watch," added the broker.

"Come, come, sir," interposed Master Simon, with a smile; "that is a
little too bad. A gentleman of your judgment and discretion has already
assured himself that the article is worth at least twenty."

The broker drew a long breath after this speech, and seemed very much
impressed by the style of the remark. But Katy declared she did not
want to sell the watch, only to pawn it.

"Your story is not a very plausible one," said the broker, "and there
is some risk in taking it."

"I give you my personal assurance, on honor that her story is all
true," added Simon.

The broker burst out into a loud laugh. He could not stand Simon's fine
speeches, and would not take the watch at any rate; so they departed to
find another place, and entered a shop close by.

"Where did you get this?" asked the broker sourly, and Katy repeated
her story, and Simon vouched for its truth.

"It is all a lie," exclaimed the broker, "I will put the watch into my
safe and hand it over to the police."

"This is a most extraordinary proceeding," protested Master Simon.

"Get out of the shop, both of you, or I will hand you over to the
police! You stole the watch, and have the audacity to bring it into the
shop of an honest man. I don't buy stolen goods."

Katy began to cry, as the last hope of redemption from the fangs of Dr.
Flynch fled. Even Master Simon Sneed was alarmed at the idea of being
handed over to the police; but his sense of dignity compelled him to
enter his earnest protest, against the proceeding of the broker, and
even to threaten him with the terrors of the law. The money-lender
repeated his menace, and even went to the door, for the apparent
purpose of putting it into execution.

"Come, Katy, let us go; but I assure you I will represent this outrage
to my friend the mayor, in such a manner that entire justice shall be
done you," whispered Simon. "I cannot remain any longer away from my
business, or I would recover the watch at once."

"O, dear! my poor mother!" sobbed Katy.

"Don't cry, my child; leave it all to me, and run home as fast as you
can. You shall have the watch again, for I will call in the wh