“Ah, I see. Could you tell me, Mr. Arkush, of whom you got it originally—who pledged it with you?”
“Du lieber Gott! how should I remember that? It was two years ago already.”
“Yes, my books would show the name the person gave.”
“Well, will you kindly refer to your books?”
“Ach, you make me much trouble!—Yakub,” he called.
Arkush told Yakub to get him the ledger for 18—. It was a ponderous and dingy volume. Yakub held it open while his employer turned the pages, running his finger from the top to the bottom of each. At length the finger reached a stand-still. Mr. Arkush said, “Yes, I have found it. It was pawned with me by a man calling himself Joseph White.”
“Have you any means of recalling what sort of looking individual Joseph White was? And, by the way, is his residence given?”
“‘Residence, Harlem,’ it says. That’s all. How should I remember his looks?”
“Of course—you see so many people in the course of a year, it is not wonderful that you should forget.—But tell me, did White put any thing else in pawn that day?”
“He simply pawned this one article and went away; that’s all?”
Merivale reflected. At length he resumed. “But at any other time—that is, does White’s name appear on your ledger under any other date?”
“Do you expect me to read through the book?” inquired Arkush, with the tone of protestation. “That is too much.”
“I’m awfully sorry to annoy you, but this information I am seeking is of such great importance—you understand—it’s worth a consideration.”
“Oh, well, that’s different,” said Arkush. “What will you give?”
“I’ll give twenty-five cents for each month that you go over—is it enough?”
“Here, Yakub,” cried Arkush. “Run back from January 16th, and see if you find the name of Joseph White again.”
Yakub carried the ledger to a desk hard by, and began his task.
“Do you smoke?” Merivale asked the old man, offering him a cigar. Presently the air became blue with aromatic vapor.
“Here you are!” called Yakub from his stool. He proceeded to read aloud, “‘December 7th—one onyx seal ring—amount, one dollar and a quarter—to Joseph White—residence, Leonard street—ticket-number, 15,672. Same date—one ornamented wooden box—amount, fifteen cents—to Joseph White—residence, as above—ticket-number, 15,67.’.rdquo;