Fergus Hume

“ As a wealthy man, Jimmy Dix, alias Goliath, would not care to spend his life in roaming the country with vagrants; and thus she would be relieved of his presence. Hagar was getting very tired of the shop and the weary life of Carby's Crescent; and often the nostalgia of the roads came upon her. Several times of late she had wished that Goliath would claim his heritage, and relieve her of the irksome task which she had taken on her own shoulders, out of gratitude to Jacob Dix. But as yet the absent heir had not made his appearance.
Hagar knew very well that Eustace Lorn was looking for him. ”

“ When everything is set out to your satisfaction, you can enter into your property at once."
"Then you won't come now?"
"No; I have given you my answer."
"You'd best give me a pound or two," said Goliath, crossly. "I'm cleaned out, and I need money to get a bed for the night. You are as obstinate as ever, I see; but if you won't come, you won't. But I'll go and see Vark myself, and tell him about Bill Smith."
After which speech Goliath, with money in his pocket, went off to see the lawyer, cursing Hagar freely for her obstinacy. ”

“ I got two years, and was took just arter you gave me the slip in New Forest; so now you know how I didn't see your noospaper notice about the old 'un kicking the bucket."
"You might speak of your father with more respect!" said Hagar, in a disdainful tone; "but what can one expect from a convict?"
"Come, none of that, cousin, or I'll twist your neck."
"You dare to lay a finger on me, and I'll kill you!" retorted Hagar, fiercely.
"Yah! You're as much a spitfire as ever!" ”

“ Bolker will grind down the poor of Carby's Crescent, and develop into a second Jacob Dix."
"You are glad to be away from the pawnshop?"
"I should think so!" she replied, with a loving glance at Eustace. "I am glad to leave dirty Lambeth for the green fields of the country. I am a gipsy, and not used to the yoke of commerce. Also, my dear, I am glad to be with you always."
"Are you indeed, Mrs. Lorn?" said her husband, laughing.
"Yes! Mrs. Lorn," repeated Hagar, very sedately, "I am Mrs. Lorn now, and Hagar of the pawnshop, with all her adventures, is a phantom of the past." ”

“ If he has been in gaol, he hasn't deserved it half so much as you."
"I want half his money," said the lawyer, sullenly.
"What good will it do?" asked Lorn. "Bill Smith may kill you."
"I'm not afraid of him!" snapped Vark, turning pale nevertheless. "I have Bolker to stay with me at night, and I've got my pistols. Besides, the police are after Bill, so he won't come here."
"Yes, he will," said Hagar, throwing open the door; "he'll gladly give his own neck to twist yours. Get out of this place, Judas! You poison the air!" ”

“ I think myself that he only strove to save Vark in order to gain pardon."
"Well, he got what he wanted," said Eustace, reflectively.
"He wouldn't if the public hadn't taken the matter up," retorted Hagar: "but they made him out a hero. Nonsense! As if Goliath was the man to forgive Vark, who intended to sell him. Well, he is free now, and rich. I dare say he'll lose all his money in dissipation. He had much better have held on to the pawnshop, instead of giving it up to Bolker."
"Bolker is very young to have a business." ”

“ The man entirely forgot how she had devoted herself these many months to looking after his property; all he thought of was, that he loved her now, as much as he had done in the old days, and that she was still set on having nothing to do with him. ”

“ Jacob Dix was a pawnbroker in the west end of London, whose gypsy wife had died leaving- him a son, Jimmy. As the pawnbroker drew near the end of his life he was absolutely alone in the world, this lad having run away. A runaway gypsy niece of his dead wife came to him one day and asked to be allowed to live with him. The pawnbroker took a fancy to her, trained her in the business, and, when he died, left this Hagar Stanley all his wealth. Hagar advertised for the absent heir, administered the estate, and carried on the business of the pawnshop. ”

“ Bill Smith was wounded by a steel trap, so hid in the ditch where Mr. Lorn found him. Goliath came up here boldly to get his money. If I hadn't heard his description at Scotland Yard I should never have suspected him."
"Did you tell them he was here?" asked Lorn, sharply.
"No; but I'll do so unless he gives me half his money—fifteen thousand pounds. If he does, I'll smuggle him over to America. If he doesn't——"
"Well," said Hagar, "if he doesn't, you Judas?"
"I'll give him up to the police."
"You beast!" cried the girl furiously, "you low reptile! You make capital out of everything. ”

“ Bill Smith—Larky Bill as they call him—broke out, and he wants to kill Vark, the lawyer."
"Then I have unconsciously helped him to escape justice," said Lorn, in vexed tones. "I really thought he was a tramp; had I known who he was I would not have helped him. He is a brute!"
"He'll be a murderer soon!" cried Hagar, feverishly. "For heaven's sake, Eustace, repair your error by going to Scotland Yard and telling them that the man is in London! You may be able to prevent a crime."
"I'll go," said Eustace, getting on to the driving seat of the caravan. ”