The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1914-06-18
A RICH BASKET
OF TRINKETS
Seemingly Poor Bargain
Turns Out a Treasure.

Dick said his aunt, Il think you
are making mistake in not marrying
Jenny now. Start in with what you
have and it will grow .,>..,
Dick Larramore was very much i'm
pressed with his aunt's advice He
talked with Jenny about it. and they
agreed that they would make begin
ming at once Together they could
raise SIS, and they knew of cottage
they could get for $40 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 dining table for 81 and a
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 Gu
| rious things and had quite a 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 bid $7.25,
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 in a basket
Of worthless trinkets. he was so dis
| gusted 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. Dickv' 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 a kiss
what big eggs those are!' she said.
What bird laid themT'
II don't know" said Dick. land l
don't care.'
well ask Professor Drummond."
Jenny showed Professor Drummond
the eggs. and he pronounced them
auk's eggs
"What's an auk?" asked Jenny.
Notwithstanding birds with a
| pointed bill, very short wings and legs
placed very far back. Penguins be-
| long to the alcidae family. I'm not
sure,'' he continued, examining the
eggs critically, 'but these are eggs OF
the great aux
us the great aux superior to the
rest?" asked Jenny.
"1n one respect. They are extreme
| ly rare Indeed, think they are ex-
tinct''
IF they are extinct how came these
eggs to be in existence?''
"They must have been procured be-
fore the birds extinction. At any rate.
they are great curiosities. 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 ask
ed. that we could get as much as
| 1925 for them?'
The professor smiled. IF they are
great auk's eggs he replied. you can
get more than a hundred times $7.25."
Jenny opened her eyes
II would advise you to put them
away carefully. will bring Profess
sor Wilson. the naturalist. to see them.
He will settle the question whether
they are great auks 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, so
she kept her secret. 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 a
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
struggle had to do sou One night
I when Dick came to see her she said
to him:
Dick. you know what poor bust
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 l had bet
ter sell them for you. I've sold the
two big eggs already
|