Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-11-10

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1T amt great auk's egg, eh, Bob?' he
said.
No. 1 says; 4 wish to goodness it
was
"1f 1t don't happen to lay claim to
that proud title, why don't you make
it?
What's the goodY l answered.
couldn't see what Joe was driving at.
Why said Joe, 4 was thinking it
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.
1t wouldn't hurt him, and do us a great
deal of good
II thought it a capital joke. We soon
cleansed the old ball of the dirt, and set
about at once converting it into great
auk's egg by a good polishing up. 1
have never seen 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 obliging
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
a tiny, gayly painted villa out Clapham
way.
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 par.Or and bade use be seated.
Joe placed the great auk's egg on
the table, and began relieving 1t Of the
six newspapers which had enshrouded
it. 1t is always well to give worthless
things good packing; it 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,
nahOgany-colored ball stood revealed
Muster rose from his chair and ap-
preached the ball. What did you say it
wasp he asked.
ga great auk's egg chlmed in Joe
and l, together.
A granOrkseg,' repeated Billy: and
what may that be used for?
can 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 was?
"'Five guineas,' answered Joe, and
it's bargain
Dear, dear said Billy, five guineas
is lot Of money. Won't they make 'em
cheaper? l could do with a couple Of
sizes smaller
1--WE laughed, and said it was the
only size keptin stock, and further gave
him to understand it was dirt cheap,
several of them having been sold for
over hundred pounds each. Well I
never was all Muster could say. We
could see he was greatly impressed
with it, 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 ain't a
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. l thought, as you are
now classed among the gentry, 1t would
have been your greatest ambition to
own great auk's egg, which, as said
before, no gentleman's house is COM
plete without
This fetched him. Stop a minute
he cried. starting forward; you are in
n blessed hurry. I'll tell you what I'll
dol will give you three pound ten.'
"'No,' said Joe; it's no good, see,
haggling over such bargain
Muster grew very serious, and came
and took the parcel from Joes hand,
and unwapped the ball, and gazed in
tently at 1t few seconds. Then with
out word he went to fetch the money.
Joe said, in whisper, you don't
mean to let the old fellow pay-o the
money, do youT for, to tell the truth,
l didn't relish this kind of business.
emo said Joe, of course l don't.
What do you think? You know al is