R32 The Catskill Fairies.

rosy, innocent face; she carried herself shyly and awkwardly ;
and no one could have believed that the simple lassie was
shrewd, wicked Skimp, so perfect was her disguise.

“She entered a dingy building, where young men were busy
counting money and writing in books. She wished to see their
master the broker, and soon she was showing the wonderful
chain, which she declared she desired to sell. Of course the
broker wanted it; he would give his head for the diamond
clasp alone; but he did not say so—oh no, he only shut one
eye, and sighed that he could not offer more than two gold
pieces for it—such a trifle! Skimp had been inside his brain,
and whisked around twice to discover his thoughts, although she
seemed to stand opposite all the while—a simple country girl.

“<*T will take twenty gold pieces,’ she said, firmly.

“The broker shook his head in horror; he would give four
gold pieces, and no more. Then the fairy led the greedy broker
a merry dance. Twice she gathered up the chain, and went
out the door prepared to leave without completing the bargain,
and twice the broker called her back, adding another coin to
the pile on the counter. Finally he paid the full sum, pre-
tending to shed tears at his own folly; and all the clerks
paused with quills behind their ears to cry also, because
their great employer did.

“Skimp departed with the money, leaving the broker delight-
ed to have obtained the chain so cheaply.

“Fairies have no need of real money, so Skimp hid oe by
the steps of a cathedral, where a good man found it and dis-
tributed the gold to the poor, which the broker would never

have done.