Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-11-17
Ira Bumps
Treasure
lie Lost It. but Found
Another.
By CLARiSSA MAcKIE


little. round, roly poly man with brown
eyes and hair and rosy complexion
He had money in the bank. he was al
ways well dressed. he was unmarried.
and ..e had boarded at Mrs. Hecker's
for thirteen years.
Now. Ira Bump did not occupy the
| most expensive suit at Mrs. Hecker's
thoroughly respectable and unhome-
like abode. On the contrary. he lived
in the third floor back bedroom. 1t
was large room and quite comforta-
bic. for Ira had added many Injuries
from time to time. and Ii was So less
| per week than the best suit and that
SO Ira plaeidly planted in the bank
| with his other savings. Some day
| when he had TO make way for young
/ er man at the Office he intended to re-
| tire TO the country and raise chickens.
| Among his fellow boarders Ira was
looked upon as back number
| Dapper Young store clerks winked at
each other when Ira came in. and they
were not above making jokes at his
expense. all Of which few harmlessly
over his smooth brown head.
The younger girls. stenographers
| and clerks. smiled kindly at him. and
the older girls beamed upon him. for
he was a possible escape from old
maiderhood.
| One day Ira read a story In popn-
lar magazine. story that stirred his
| sluggish blood. 1t was about some
| pearl fishers In the south Pacific who
| fought to the death over a magnifi-
| cent pear; found In an oyster shell by
one of the divers
| After that Ira ordered raw oysters
in addition TO his usual lunch He
never ate the oysters. because he was
| afraid of t,acilli but he searched the
shells carefully. hoping that some day
he. too might find pearly treasure In
one of the succulent biyalves.
| And. 10, one day his fork struck
| round object In the bottom Of the
plate Of oysters, Carefully he picked
1 eut and furtively slipped 1t into his
Vest pocket. He was so excited that
! he couid not finish his coffee. and.
| grabbing his hat. he dashed back to
the office.
| There. alone at his desk, he pored
over the milky. lustrous pearl that roll
ed around in his palm.
| 1T must lie worth 5000 he gloated
as he wrapped Ii In tissue paper and
hid 1t away. Il SHALL shall buy an
| automobile. ! think
/ That night when Ira Bump came into
dinner he radiated with an air Of pros
i ~ y
evening clothes. and from the crown of
his head to his patent leather shod feet
he was unusually immaculate.
Evening clothes were a distinct nov
city at Mrs. Heckers table. and Annie.
the waitress, nearly dimmed lra's sar-
torial glory by splitting soup upon him.
but happily the bisque Of tomato was
diverted to the thick gray wooden coat
sleeve of his next door neighbor. Den
ton. the hardware clerk.
Ira lent first aid to the wrathful Den
ton. for he felt In a measure respon-
sible for the mishap. He knew and
every one else knew. for they had seen
Armies start of surprise. that it was
the sight Of Mr.. Bumps new clothes
which had caused the accident
Like an invisible mantle. an air OF
elegance descended upon the table.
People were unusually courteous to
one another.
| Everybody talked except Freda Lind
say. Perhaps it was the long day
spent in the schoolroom that was re-
sponsible for her unusual pallor, for
the shadows under her sweet gray eyes
and the sad droop to her mouth.
At any rate. Ira Bump was star
tied by her appearance and made a
mental note that he must do something
for Miss Lindsay. How delightful it
was TO be rich-richer than his friends
md northumberland hold the hap
piness of giving pleasure to others,
Il After dinner Ira paused to speak to
Freda Lindsay. He felt very gay and
exeitable in his new clothes. He felt
actually reckless.
You are looking ILL., Miss Lindsay"
he said solicitously. you need a
breath Of fresh air after the DAYS
close confinement. Wouldn't you like
TO take little ride--er-er-a motor
ride In the park and then go to the
lheater afterward? 1t would give me
much pleasure"
"Oh. Mr.. Bump" she gasped. "l
should be delighted. But" glancing
nj his attire. II haven't anything very
splendid to wear"
POOH" laughed Ira Bump gayly.
What's the matter with that pink
gown You used to wear last summer
/ Freda blushed to think that he had
remembered her rose pink wolfe Of last
summer. Il will put it on she said
hnrriedly and went up to her little
i room.
Mrs. Hecker's sitting room buzzed
With excitement when Ira Bump and
'reda Lindsay rolled away in hastily
summoned motorcar