Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-06-23
A RICH BASKET
OF TRINkETS
Seemingly Poor Bargain
Turns Out a Treasure.


talked with Jenny about it. and the!
agreed that they would make begin.
ming at once. Together they could
raise SIS. and they knew Of u cottage
they could get for $40 month. They
fixed a date for their wedding and
began to hunt for furniture that they
could pick up ut small cost.
One day Dick heard OF an auction
sale of household goods that was to
take place in neighboring village and
concluded to 60 over and see II ne
could get anything that would help
him and Jenny at their housekeeping
He bought dining table for 81 and
sideboard for S. Among other things
put up for sale was basket full Of
shells. eggs and other oddities. Dick
had always taken great interest In Gu
rious things and had quite collection
of old dirk knives. bits Of uncommon
metals. shells and other articles. There
were two large eggs in the basket he
saw at the auction that excited his Gu.
riosity. He had never seen eggs Of
that size or shape. He forgot for the
time being that he needed furniture
and began to bid on the basket of Gu
rios An old woman seemed to covet
them and bid against him till she had
raised her offer to 81. Dick hid 1925.
and the basket was knocked down to
him.
That brought him to his senses. He
NJ .,lI b<,
bad to spend for furniture in basket
Of worthless trinkets. He was SO dis
gusted with himself that he left the
auction and drove home.
The bOldest thing ne had ever thus
far done was facing Jenny. showing
Of knickknacks.
"Why. Dick" she explained when
she saw the latter.
Dick hung his head.
They'll make 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 IL kiss.
What big eggs those are!' she said.
What bird laid them?'
Il don't know" said Dick. land /
don't care"
well ask Professor DrummOnd."
Jenny showed Professor DrummOnd
the eggs. and he pronounced them
auk's eggs.
whats an auk?" asked Jenny.
Misunderstanding birds with a
pointed bill. very short wings and legs
placed very far back. Penguins be-
long to the alcidae famill I'm not
sure" he continued, examining the
eggs critically. but these are eggs OF
the great aux"
lis the great aux superior to the
rest?" asked Jenny.
lin one respect. They are extreme.
~ rare. Indeed. think they are ex.
tinct"
III they are extinct how came these
eggs to be in existenceY
'"They must have been procured be-
fore the birds extinction. At my rate.
they are great curiosities. They must
be very valuable"
Jennys 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 ask
ed. that we could get as much as
1925 for themY'
The professor smiled. IF they are
great auk's eggs" he replied. you can
get more than Il hundred times 81 rs. "
Jenny opened her eyes.
II would advise you to put them
away carefully will bring PrOfes.
sOr Wilson. the naturalist. to see them.
He will settle the question whether
they are great ank's eggs Or not"
Jenny put the eggs away. 1t was all
she could do to keep from telling Dick
what the professor had said. but she
shrank from raising her lovers ex-
pectatiOns to have them blighted, 80
she kept her gecret. and the next day
the two professors called. looked at
the eggs. and Professor Wilson pro.
nounced the eggs those Of the great
aux. He gave their value at about 4
thousand dollars each He agreed to
send man who would offer for them
all they were worth except a fair
profit.
jenny kept her secret In fine style,
though she said. Heaven knows what
a struggle had to do sO.' One night
when Dick came to see her she said
to him:
"Dick. you know what n poor busi-
ness man you showed yourself in buy
ing that basket of trinkets?"
"Please bury that matter"
well. since you were so stupid as
to buy those things think | had bet
ter sell them for you. I've sold the
two big eggs aIready."
sold them?"
Eyes. got good price for them"
How much?"
1.-Two thousand dollars"
stop your nonsense and tell me-"
Jenny drew check for $1,000 and
tried to show 1t to him. but her feel
ingS Overcamp her. and. throwing her
arms around his neck. he could see
nothing at all.
They spent the rest Of the evening
planning what they would do with the
| wealth TINT rad come so strangely.