The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-02-20

auk's egg by good polishing mp. have
never seen a great auk's egg and never
want to, but should think 1t was as near
like one as you could make anything
BILLY Muster was one of those fellows
who would never, as the saying is, set tho
Thames nflre. He had been In business
once, and Just as he had been ON tho verge
Of bankruptcy an obliging relative died
and left him sufficient to pay off his debts
and retire gracefully from business He
wisely didn't venture again, but gathered
together the remainder of his money and
was trying to do the independent gentle
man in tiny, gayly painted villa out
Chaplain way
1.-The next morning we set out with the
great auk's egg to pay Billy a visit. AS
we neafed his abode We saw him dsing
the grand In his smoking cap and slippers
IN his six feet of front garden. Just TAX
ing my usual morning walk In the gar
den,' he remarked as we shook hands.
We explained that we had got something
special to show him, and he at once led
the way into his pretty front parlor and
babe us be- seated.
Joe placed the great auk's egg on the
table and began relieving it of the six
newspapers which had enshrouded 1t. 1t
good packing; 1t lends such an air Of value
TO 'em. Billy watched the sheet after
sheet OF paper being pulled off with great
interest. AS the last bit was peeled of, and
the shiny, round, mahogany oolored ball
stood revealed, Muster rose from his chair
and approached the table What did you
say 1t was" he asked.
"a great auk's egg ohimed in Joe
and together.
IA granorkseg,' repeated Billy and
what may they be used for"
"'An ornament which no gentlemans
house is complete without, answered Joe.
"'Bless my soul, you don't say SOP said
Muster. What won't they invent nexts
Well, at any rate, they are snowy looking
articles. What did You say the figure vast
Five guineas, answered Joe, and it's
bargain
Dear, DEAR said Billy, q guineas is
lot of money. Won't they make 'cm
cheaper? could do with couple Of sizes
smaller
1--WE laughed and said 1t was the only
size kept in stock and further gave him to
understand it was dirt cheap. several of
thom having been sold recently for over
RlOO each. Well, never, was all Mus
ter could say We could see he was great
ly impressed with it and was dying almost
to call it his. But he wanted something
to bring him to the buying point So Joe
rose and began replacing tho paper. 4 sec,
Mr.. Muster, he said, you amt buyer.
II we go to any of the dealers, we can get
three times as much as we have, out of
pure friendship, agreed to accept from
you. / thought, as you are now cl sed
among tho gentry, 1t would have been
your greatest ambition to own great
auk's egg which, as / said before, no gen
tleman's house is complete without
This fetched him. Stop minute,
he cried, starting forward, you arc in q
blessed hurry tell you what will do
will give you 60 los!
"'No, said Joe. IT'S no good, see,
haggling over such n bargain.
Muster grew very serious and came
and took the parcel from Joes hand and
unwrapped the ball and gazed intently at
1t few seconds. Then without word
he went to fetch the money.
Joe, l said, in a whisper, you don't
mean to let the old fellow pay over the
money, do your for to tell tho truth
didn't relish this kind Of business.
NO said Joe, of course i don't
What do you Think You know all Is fair
in business, love and war. Besides, 1t
may, after all, be valuable curiosity, as
1t belonged to q king, and worth the
money
Presently Muster reappeared and
counted the money into Joo's hand, and
we took our departure. 1t shall be good
day for us tomorrow, said Joe, ohuckling
Well, to make a long story short we went
to the Derby and blued every shilling Of
that five quid. We never experienced q
worse run Of luck in our lives. 1t was a
sort of Judgment on us, thought at the
time. .....
"A few days after Joe called round TO
see me. As he shook hands he laughed SO
much thought he had gone bit wrong
under his hat He said by way of expla-
nation he had been to SEQ old Muster and
the great auk's egg. 1t appeared he had
accidentally encountered the former, who
seemed delighted to see him and insisted
ON his going indoors. ....
''Opo OF the first things Joe's eyes lit on
as he entered the little front parlor was
the great nuk's ogg. A big holo had been
made in the side, disclosing the fact that
1t was hollow. Been getting the yolk
out, eh, Mr., Mustcri said Joe. laughing
Yes, returned the old man In pleas
ant tone Was 1t yellow and freshf' in,
| quircd Joe Beautiful said Muster,
beaning with pleasure all over his face.
| you don't regret your bnrgainY quered
| Joe. No, no, that don't, returned the
old man. And to show he didn't he went
and got out some whisky and behaved like
| brick.
"Wo both agreed the old fellow must bt
gone n bit wrong in the upper story.
Soon after Billy Muster moved from
Chaplain and took large house up west
where he lived for some years In good
style. When asked by his friends where
the money camo from, no said he hat
made worry successful speculation. 1t wa!
only when he shulilCd off his mortal col
that l learned had been fool enough t.
let fortune slip through my fingers, fol
that blessed old great Ruk's egg wal
crammcd with precious stones, which tn,
curiosity Of the old man had unexpected,
laid bare. 1t was supposed that sailo
coming Off IA long voyage had, in drunk
en- bout, lost a treasure which he brough
from foreign Shore and Billy Muster hat
luckily bought II. '-London Tit Bits.
Radical victory In England.
IONUOS Feb 2O-An election was held