THE FASHIONABLE PARTY Eliakim Henderson, for this was the pawnbroker's name, did not remember Paul, though on one occasion our hero had called upon him.

Nearly all his customers came to pawn articles, not to purchase, and Eliakim naturally supposed that the two boys had come on this errand.

Before entering, Paul said to Phil, "Don't say anything; leave me to manage." As they entered, Phil espied a fiddle hanging up behind the counter, and he saw at a glance that it was better than the one he had been accustomed to play upon.

But to his surprise, Paul did not refer to it at first.
"What will you give me on this coat ?" asked Paul, indicating the one he had on.
He had no intention of selling it, but preferred to come to the fiddle gradually, that the pawnbroker might not think that was his main object, and so charge an extra price.
Eliakim scanned the garment critically.

It was nearly new and in excellent condition, and he coveted it.
"I will give you a dollar," said he, naming a price low enough to advance upon.
"That is too little," said Paul, shaking his head.
"I might give you fifty cents more, but I should lose if you didn't redeem it." "I don't think you would.