"
"I can't sell without consulting my mother. It belongs to her."
Reluctantly Eliakim gave back the ring, finding his wiles of no
effect.
"Bring your mother round to-morrow," he said. "I'll give you a
better price than you will get anywhere else."
"All right," said Paul. "I'll tell her what you say."
The old pawnbroker followed Paul with wistful glances, vainly
wishing that he had not at first depreciated the ring to such an
extent, that his subsequent advances had evidently excited his
customer's suspicion that it was more valuable than be supposed.
He felt that he had lost it through not understanding the
character of the boy with whom he had to deal.
"Well, Paul, what news of the ring?" asked Mrs. Hoffman, as he
re-entered the room.
"I was offered twenty-five dollars for it," said Paul.
"Did you sell it?"
"No, mother."
"Why not?" asked Jimmy. "Twenty-five dollars is a lot of
money."
"I know it," said Paul; "but the ring is worth a great deal
more."
"What makes you think so, Paul?"
"Because the offer was made by a pawnbroker, who never pays
quarter what an article is worth. I am sure the ring is worth a
hundred dollars."
"Yes, I am sure it is worth all that.
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