Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-09-04


table, and before each was a plate cor
tanning three hot fried eggs.
"Come inp' Smoke called.
Wild Water Charley. strappin
young giant, entered and shook hands
"Set down an have a bite, Wild Wa
ter" Shorty invited. Smoke, fry hin
come eggs. III bet he amt SCORED al
egg In coon's age"
Smoke broke three more eggs int
the hot pan and In several minute
placed them before his guest. who look
ed at them with so strange and strain
I'd an expression that Shorty confessed
afterward his fear that Wild Wate
would slip them into his pocket ant
carry them away.
Say. them Bwells down In the states
amt got nothin' over ns In the matter
Of eats,' Shorty gloated. Here's you
an' me an Smoke gettin' outside 500
worth OF eggs an not battin' an eye"
Wild Water stared at the rapidly dis.
appearing eggs and seemed petrl1ed.
"They-they amt worth no $lO,"
Wild Water said slowly.
Shorty accepted the challenge. "a
things worth whit you can get for Il,
amt lt2' he demanded.
Yes, but--you can't eat eggs like
that Wild Water oblected "It--it
aln't right
I'VE Just dote on eggs, Smoke an
me-" was Shorty's excuse.
Wild Water finished his own plate in
y bali hearted way. Say. you fellows
can do me a great favor" he began
tentatively. "sell me. or lend me, or
give me, about a dozen OF them eggs"
Sure" Smoke answered. IL know
what yearnlng for eggs Ia myself
But we're not so poor that we have to
sell our hospitality. They'll cost you
nothing. Go ahead, Shorty. Cook
them up for him."
But Wild Water laid a restraining
hand on the eager Shorty az he ex.
plalned. II don't mean cooked. | want
them with the shells on"
80 that you can carry 'em awayY
THAT'S the idea.'
but that amt hospitality" Shorty
objected. "It's--lts tradln'."
Smoke nodded concurrence. "Thars
different, Wild Water. thought Won
lust wanted to eat them. You see, we
went Into this for speculation"
The dangerous blue Of Wild Water'a
eyes began to grow more dangerous.
I'll pay You for them" he said sharp.
w. "How much?n
"oh, not a Dozen" Smoke replled
NWe couldn't sell dozen. We're NOT
retailers; we're spectators. We can't
break our own market We've got a
nara and fast corner and when we sell
out its tue whole corner or nothing"
How many have yon got ana how
much do you want for them2'
How many have we, shorty2"
Smoke inquired.
SHORTY cleared his throat ana Der.
formed mental arithmetic aloud "I,em.
me see Nine hundred an seventy.
three minus nine, that leaves nine hun.
dred an sixty.two. An the whole
shootln' match at $40 n throw win
tote up lust about nine thousand ak
hundred an twenty iron dollars. or
course, Wild Water, we're playln' fair
an It's money back for had ones
though they amt uone. That's one
thing ! never seen IN the Rlondlke--o
bad egg"
Wild Water shook bis head sadly ana
helped himself TO the beans "That
would be too expensive, Shorty. only
want a few, IN give you $40 FOR a
couple OF dozen. III give you $50, but
can't buy 'em all"
IAN or none" was Smokes ultima.
um.
Look here, you two," wild Water
laid Ia burst OF confidence. am be
'crfectly honest with you, an don't let
\ 90 any further You know Miss Ar
Nl an l was engaged. Well. she's
broken everything OIL. It's for her 4
want them eggs, want 10 give them
o her on a platter shlrred. That's the
way SHE likes EN-"
no you want EN- ninety six hundred
M twenty dollars worthy' shorty
iuerled.
Jaw, listen to reason" wnd Water
headed u only want a couple OF
loren. III give you $50 apiece FOR 'em
What do want with all tho rest OF
hem eggsr
II should say Miss Arrars worth tho
rice OF the eggs,' Smoke put IN
Iuleily.
Worth ~" Wild water stood up I'm
no heat of bis eloQuence. shes worth |
million dollars. She's worth MI tho
ust In klondike. Hut that alnt no |
All FOR me TO gamble $4,000 ON |
reakfast for her Now, tve got
opposition. Lend me couple of dozen
{ them eggs III turn 'em over 70 |
lavovIlch. He'll feed 'em 20 her with |
y compliments, She amt smiled 10 |
e for a hundred years. II them eggs |
y a smile for me III take the whole
,illng or your hands"
"Will you sign q contract TO that Of.
rtT' Smoke said quickly. for be knew