Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-07-12
.AGoodBeginning
BY ESTELLE MARSH
Copyright. 1870 by American Press
Association.

Dick" said his aunt. II think you
are making a mistake I'm not marrying
Jenny now Start In with what you
have and II will grow"
DICK Larramore was very much I'M
pressed with his aunts advice. He
talked with Jenny about IL. and they
agreed that they would make a be-
ginning at once. Together they could
raise SIS. and they knew OF a cottage
they could get for $50 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 a neighboring village and
concluded to GO over ard see IL he
could get anything that would help
him and Jenny at their housekee ping.
He bought dining table for "a and
sideboarl for SO. Among other
things put up for sale was q basket
full OF shells, eggs and other oddities.
DICK had always taken great interest
In curious things and had quite a col
lection or old dirk knives, bits Of un-
common metals. shells and other ar
tlcles. There were two large eggs I'm
the basket he saw ut 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 covet them and bid against him
till she had raised her offer to 81 Dick
bid $I.25. 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 I'm n
basket OF worthless trinkets. He 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. l4
"Why. DIckr.' she exclaimed when
she saw the latter.
Dick hung his head.
They'll make a nice ornament for
our sitting ROOM" said the girl. sb4nx
by Dicks rueful appearance thhtfie
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 them?"
II don't know" said Dick, "and I
don't care"
We'll ask Professor Drummond."
Jenny showed Professor Drummond
the eggs, and he pronounced them
auk's eggs.
What's an aukY" asked Jenny.
MISUNDERSTANDING 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"
"Is the great aux superior to the
restT asked Jenny.
"In one respect They are extreme.
ly rare Indeed, think they are ex.
tinct"
III they are extinct how came these
eggs TO be I'm cxistence?"
"They must have been procured be-
fore the birds extinction. At any rate,
they are great curiositles. 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 1925
for themT
The professor smiled. "If they are
great auk's eggs" he replied, you can
get more than a hundred times $1.25"
Jenny opened her eyes.
81 would advise you to put them
away carefully. i VIII bring Profess
or Wilson, the naturalist. TO see them.
He VIII settle the question whether
they are great auk's eggs or not"
Jenny put the eggs away. IL was all
she could do 10 keep from telling Dick
what the professor had said, but she
shrank from raising her lovers ex-