The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-09-16

man born before the world got used
to steam and electricity. Those things
made a lot Of changes, you see. and in
the confusion some people didn't get
quite as square a deal as they de-
served, or at least they didn't think
they had. 1t takes time. really, as
suppose. to settle down after any
great change. It's like moving a
house,"
What like about you. Black Bart.
resumed L'Olonnois naively, lis you
seem always fair"
l flushed at this. suddenly, and push
ed back my plate. Jimmy" said at
last. Il would rather have heard that,
from you. than to hear l had made a
million dollars from pearls or anything
else. For that has always been my
great hope and wish-that some day
could teach myself always to be fair
not to deceive anybody. most of all
not myself; in short. to be fair.
Brother. thank you. If you really be-
lieve have succeeded to some extent"
We later found our clammers. the
young man and his crone Of mother.
up betimes and hard at work, as evil
looking a pair as ever l saw.
They had already roasted open and
examined quite heap Of shells by
the time We arrived, and l inquired,
pleasantly. if they had found anything.
The man answered surlily that they
had not, but something made me feel
suspicious, since they had made so
early start. saw him now and
then wipe his hands on his overalls,
and several times noted that as he did
so his middle finger projected down
below the others, as though he were
touching for something inside his
pocket, which lay in front, the over
alls being made for carpenter. with
narrow pocket devised for carrying a
folded footrule. But could see moth
ing suggested in the pocket.
That's too bad" / said pleasantly.
ut looks as though were going to
lose my hundred. doesn't It? Still, the
day is long"
busted myself in watching the deft
work Of the two as they opened the
shells started by the heat, sweeping
out the fetid contents and feeling in
one swift motion of a thumb for any
hidden secretion of the nacre Nothing
was found while was watching, and
as did not much like the odor drew
to one side.
II think he's holding out on us!'
Kissed Jean LATTE Thine and again
seen the varlet make false moves
Let him have care! The eye of Jean
LATTE Is upon him!"
For my own part. cared little for
anything beyond the sport in my pearl
venture. but no man likes to be DONE"
so l Joined the guard over the pearl
fishing.
They showed me a few pieces they
had saved. splinters and slugs Of nacre.
misshapen and of no luster, and sneer-
ed at the net results. worth at most not
so much as the days wages was pay
ing either. l cared nothing for the re-
suits and smiled and nodded as l took
them.
Thus the day wore on till midafter-
noon. when. such had been the zeal of
The clammers. the heap of bivalves was
They stood erect. straight
sning their stiffened backs. and grinned
IS they looked at me-
'Well." said the old bag. II reckon
we're satisfied now that we know this
business better'n you do. He told We
here wasn't no pearl in this river"
NO" added her hopeful son, tan,
'ome to think of it. how'd ever know
you had a hundred dollars? amt
seen it yet. But we've done. so let's
see it now"
quietly opened my pocketbook and
ook several bills of that yellow backed |
denomination and selected one for him.
he took it at first suspiciously. then
and saw his eyes 20 to nv
wallet. II forgot" said /, and took out
wo bills of S. each, which handed to
him.
by golly." said he, sod forgotv
why did you forget about your
vages?" l asked, and looked at him
,eenly. He turned his eyes aside.
"This fresh water pearl fishing" said
!. has many points of likeness to the
'cean pearl fishing in Ceylon."
"You been there?' he queried. "And
Why is it like them?"
I'm several ways. 1t is, in the first
'lace, all gamble. The pearl mer-
hants buy the oysters as bought
ny mussels, by the lump and as a
nance, based on the law of average
'roduct. They rot the oysters as you
10 the mussels. The smell is the
anne. and many other things are the
anne. For instance. it is almost i'm
possible to keep the diver from steal
ne pearls. just as it is hard to keep
he Kaflirs from stealing the diamonds
hey find in the mines"
still was looking at him closely,
nd now l said to him mildly and in a
DIV tone Of voice: 1T would be of no
Sc. should only beat YOU again,