The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1899-11-11

gether.'
Joe began scraping the dirt Off with
his foot, and examining carefully. Then
he began laughing for to kill himself.
1T Amt great auk's egg, Ell, BobT he
said.
mo 1 says; 4 wish to goodness 1t
was
eff 1t don't happen to lay claim to
that proud title, why don't you make
itY
What's the good? l answered l
couldn't see what Joe was driving at
Why said Joe, L was thinking 1t
was just the article to suit that old fool
Billy Muster. Fake it up bit and sell
1t to him as great auk's egg. He'd
never know the difference; at any rate,
It wouldn't hurt him, and do us a great
deal Of good
81 thought 1t a capital joke. We soon
cleansed the old ball of the dirt, and set
about at once converting 1t into a great
auk's egg by good polishing up.
have never seen a great auk's egg, and
never want to; but should think it was
as near Like one as you could make any
thing.
BILLY Muster was one of those fell
lows who would never, as the saying is,
set the Thames afire.' He had been In
business once, and just as he had been
on the verge of bankruptcy an obhging
relative died and left him sufficient to
pay Off his debts and retire gracefully
from business. He wisely didn't ven
ture again, but gathered together the
remainder of his money, and was try
ing to do the independent gentleman in
tiny. gayly painted villa out Chaplain
way.
1.-THE next morning we set out with
the great auk's egg to pay Billy visit.
AS we neared his abode we saw him do
ing the grand in his smoking-cap and
slippers In his six feet of front garden.
Just taking my usual morning walk in
the garden 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 use 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 Is always well to give worthless
things 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 off, and the shiny, round
mahogany colored ball stood revealed
Muster rose from his chair and ap-
preached the ball. What did you say it
WASP he asked.
"a great auk's egg.' chimed in Joe
and 1, together.
"a granorkseg, repeated Billy; and
what may that be used for?
IAN ornament which no gentle
mans house is complete without an
swered Joe.
"'Bless my soul, you don't say SOP
said Muster. What won't they invent
next? Well. at any rate, they are
showy-looking articles. What did you
say the figure wasT
"'Five guineas,' answered Joe, and
it's a bargain
"'Dear, dear said Billy. five gulneas
|
cheaper? l could do with couple of
sizes smaller
1--WE laughed. and said 1t was the
only size keptin stock, and further gave
him to understand 1t was dirt cheap,
several of them having been sold for
over a hundred pounds each. Well. |
never was all Muster could say. We
could see he was greatly impressed
with 1t, and was dying almost to call
1t his. But he wanted something to
bring him to the buying point. SO Joe
rose, and began replacing the paper. 4
see, Mr.. Muster he said, you amt q
buyer. If 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 classed among the gentry, 1t would
have been your greatest ambition to
own a great auk's egg, which, as 1 said
before, no gentleman's house is com
! plete without
! ''rhis fetched him. Stop a minute,
he cried. starting forward; you are in
2 a blessed hurry. I'll tell you what III
} dol will give you three pound ten
2 mo said Joe; it's no good, l see
? haggling over such bargain
: Muster grew very serious, and came
and took the parcel from Joe's hand
e and unwrapped the ball, and gazed In
, tently at 1t a few seconds. Then with
out word he went to fetch the money
joe said, In whisper, you dom
e mean 10 Let the old fellow pay over the