Young Lady's Continuing Saga (Episode 23 - More Journeys of a Young Lady and Her Maid)
In the heart of the town, Gwladys and Aefelthrith run a bustling pawn shop. One day, as the shop door-bell rang, a new customer entered - a heavily draped woman named Dolly, accompanied by a toddler.
Dolly offered a jet necklace for sale, but Aefelthrith, initially offering only thruppence, was quickly rebuffed. The woman was shocked and upset by the low offer, revealing that she knew Gwladys and Aefelthrith.
Meanwhile, a small boy named 'Arry, dressed in rags and with matted hair, tried to peer over the shop counter. He later sold a pocket watch to the pawn shop, claiming it belonged to his grandfather.
As the day wore on, a silence descended over the breakfast table. Gwladys offered 'Arry breakfast, but the boy was unhappy with the offer, as his mother had told him to come back with at least sixpence.
Gwladys warned 'Arry not to let anyone see 'John Thomas', a man they knew earlier, who turned up at the back door, revealing that things had not gone well for him since they left. Aefelthrith tried to get 'John Thomas' to leave, but on discovering he had nowhere to go, smuggled him up to the loft just as the Watch made their entrance.
Coincidentally, 'Arry revealed that the place had always been a shop, but Anty Marj, Gwladys's partner, had originally had a partner, thought to be her sister, whose name was Sarah. However, there is no information available in the search results about when Sarah was last seen.
Gwladys defended 'Arry, saying she trusted him more than most people. She assigned him to help with valuation in the shop. But 'Arry's digging in the back garden uncovered a skull, sending a shockwave through the pawn shop.
The Watch arrived, acting on a tip-off that a beggar had been seen going into the building. Eager to show off his skills of detection, Sergeant Argent insisted on mounting an investigation. Aflame with curiosity, he regaled Aefelthrith with tales of the town, much to Gwladys's frustration.
A message arrived for Aefelthrith from the Watch, revealing that they were needed to apprehend 'a fraud, a trickster and a mountebank'. Aefelthrith accused Gwladys of trusting 'Arry too much. Gwladys argued that they couldn't take any risks with 'John Thomas' being about, especially with people coming and going.
As the days passed, Gwladys managed to restrict their search to downstairs by sheer force of character. The following day, the Sergeant and his Constable began their search of the premises, but were diverted from digging up the garden by some quick thinking on the part of Aefelthrith.
The pawn shop continued to buzz with activity, but the mystery of Sarah's disappearance and the skull in the back garden remained unsolved. The town waited with bated breath for the next chapter in this intriguing tale.
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