The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-04-30

LICK LarrdmOfe was very ulncn lm-
pressed with his aunt's advice. He
talked with Jenny about it, and they
agreed that they would make a be-
ginning at once. Together they could
raise $40, and they knew of cottage
they could get for 500 a month. They
fixed date for their wedding and
began to hunt for furniture that they
could pick up at small cost
One day Dick heard Of an auction
sale Of household goods that was to
take place in neighboring village and
concluded to go over and see If he
could get anything that would help
him and Jenny at their housekeeping.
He bought a dining table for 81 and
sideboard for Sc. Among other
things put up for sale was a basket
full of shells, eggs and other oddities.
Dick had always taken great interest
in curious things and had quite a col
lection of old dirk knives, bits Of I'M
common metals shells and other ar
tices There were two large eggs In
the basket he saw Mt the auction that
excited his curiosity. He had never
seen eggs Of that size or shape He
forgot for the time being that he need
ed furniture and began to bid on the
basket Of curios. An old woman seem
ed TO covst them and bid against him
till she had raised her offer to 81. Dick
bid $725, and the basket was knocked
down to him.
That brought him to his senses. He
had invested about one-tenth of all
he had to spend for furniture In a
basket of worthless trinkets lie was
so Disguised with himself that he left
the auction and drove home.
The boldest thing he had ever thus
far done was facing Jenny, showing
her, among his purchases. the basket
Of knickknacks.
why, Dick~ she exclaimed when
she saw the latter
Dick hung his head.
They'll make a nice ornament for
our sitting ROOM" said the girl, seeing
by Dicks rueful appearance that he
regretted his purchase as much as she
did, and putting her arms around his
neck, she gave him a kiss,
what big eggs those are" she said
what bird laid themY
81 don't know" said Dick. land
don't care"
We'll ask Professor Drummond."
Jenny showed Professor Drummond
the eggs, and he pronounced them
auk's eggs.
whats an auk?" asked Jenny.
Alcldae-swimming birds with a
pointed bill, very short wings and legs
placed very far back. Penquins be-
long to the alcidae family I'm not
sure" he continued, examining the
eggs critically, but these are eggs OF
the great aux"
rs the great aux superior to the
restT asked Jenny.
'In one respect They are extreme.
ly rare. Indeed, think they are ex-
tinct"
IF they are extinct how came these
eggs TO be In cxistencey"
"They must have been procured be
fore the birds extinction. At any rate
they are great curlosities. They must
be very valuable"
Jenny's heart leaped for joy. Per
haps they could sell them for what
Dick gave for them. This would re
lieve his mind. and they could buy
some Kitchen utensils she needed.
"Do you think. professor" she asked
that We could get as much as So,
for themT
The professor smiled III they are
great auks eggs" he replied. you car
get more than a hundred times S7.25.'
Jenny opened her eyes.
Il would advise you to put then
away carefully. | will bring Profess
OF Wilson. the naturalist. TO see them
lie viii settle the question whether
they are grea. auk's eggs or not"
| Jenny put the eggs away 1t was al
she could do to keep from telling Dicl
. what the professor had said. but sh'
: shrank from raising her lovers ex
! pectations TO have them blighted. 81
she kept her secret. and the next da!
the two professors called. looked n
the eggs. and Professor Wilson pro
nounced the eggs those OF the grea
aux. He gave their value az about
thousand dollars each. He agreed q
send a man who would offer for then
all they were worth except a fai
profit
| Jenny kept her secret In fine style
| though she said. Heaven knows wha
| struggle l have to do soF' One nigh
| when Dick came to see her she said I
him:
| "Dlck. you know what poor bus
] ness man you showed yourself In bus
. ing that basket Of trlnkets"
'Please bury that matter"
well, since you were so stupil @
to buy those things think had bet
j., ter sell them for you. I've sold III
= two big eggs already"
n sold themy
"Yes. got a good price for them"
"How muchT"
c 1.-TWO thousand dollars"
~ "Stop your nonsense and tell me-"