Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-05-25

Il Wdru yOu W0V0 plCAeu w DOuc
more eggs" Smoke said after Wild
Water had agreed to bring his dust to
the cabin at 2 o'clock and pay on deliv.
cry.
you're luckier at finding eggs than
me-" Wild Flower admitted. Nov.
how many eggs have you got now-an'
how much dust do tote up the hfllr'
Smoke consulted his notebook. "As It
stands now. according to shorty's hg.
ures, we've 1852 eggs. Multiply by
TEN
"Forty thousand dollarsr' Wild Wa
ter beloved. "You said there was only
something like 900 eggs. It's a stick
up. I won't stand for it!'
Smoke drew the contract from bis
pocket and pointed to the pay on deliv-
cry. mo mention is made Of the num-
Der Of eggs to be delivered. You agreed
to pay $40 for every egg we delivered
to you. Well. we've got the eggs, and
a signed contract is a signed contract
Honestly. though. Wild Water. we
didn't know about those other eggs
until afterward. Then We had to buy
them In order to make our corner
good"
For fve long minutes, In choking
silence, Wild Water fought battle
with himself, then reluctantly gave in.
"I'm In bad" he said brokenly. "I'll
be there at 2.o'clock. But $40.0O0p
At 80 Shorty arrived with Gaute-
reaux's eggs. I'VE pretty near double
our winnings" Shorty told Smoke as
they piled the soap boxes inside the
cabin. II holds 'em down to $S. and aft
or he cussed loco In French he falls for
1t. Now. that's 81 clear profit to us for
each egg"
Promptly at 2 o'clock Shorty. peep
ing, saw Wild Water coming up the
hill. When he entered he was brisk
and businesslike.
Bring on them eggs, you pirates"
he commenced. AN after this day. II
you know what's good for you. never
mention eggs to me again"
They began on the miscellaneous as
sortment of the original corner. all
three men counting. When 200 had
been reached Wild Water suddenly
cracked an egg on the edge Of the table
and opened 1t deftly with his thumbs.
"Hey, hold onr' Shorty objected.
"It's my egg, amt itY' Wild Water
snarled. I'm payin' SO for it. amt I?
But amt buyin' no pig In a poke.
When / cough up ten bucks an egg
want to know what I'm gettin'."
Wild Water looked and smiled.
That's a good egg. Gimme pail. I'm
goin' to eat it myself for supper"
Thrice again Wild Water cracked
good eggs experimentally and put them
In the pail beside him.
1.-TWO more than you figured,
Shorty" he said at the end Of the
count "Nine hundred an sixty.four.
not sixty-two."
"My mistake" Shorty acknowledged
handsomely. We'll throw 'em In for
good measure"
"Guess you can afford to-" Wild
Water accepted grimly. pass the batch
$1,000. I'll pay for 1t now. Write a
receipt, Smoke"
Going to his fur coat, from each OF
the side pockets he drew forth two
sacks of dust, 80 rotund and long
that they resembled bologna sausages.
When the first batch had been paid
for there remained in the gold sacks
not more than several hundred dollars.
A soap box was carried to the table,
and the count Of the $1,000 began. At
the end of 100 Wild Water struck an
egg sharply against the edge OF the ia
BILE. The resultant sound was like that
Of the striking Of sphere Of solid
marble.
Frozen solid," he remarked.
"Huhr' said Shorty. 1T ought to
be solid, seein' 1t has Just been freight
ed up from Forty Mile. It'll take a
az to bust It."
Smoke brought the az and Wild Wa
ter split the egg cleanly in half. The
appearance Of the eggs interior was
anything but satisfactory. Smoke felt
a premonitory chill. Shorty was more
valiant. He held one Of the halves to
his nose.
Smells all right" he said.
"But It looks all wrong" Wild Wa.
ter contended. "An' how can 1t smell
when the smells frozen along with
the rest Of it2 Wait a minute"
He put the two halves into a frying
pan and placed the latter on the front
lid Of the hot stove. Then the three
men, with dIstended, questing nostrils,
waited In silence. Slowly an unmis-
taxable odor began to drift through
the room.
Throw II outw Smoke cried. gasp
ing.
"What's the goodT' asked Wild Wa
ter. "We've got to sample the rest"
mot in this cabin" Smoke cough
ed and conquered qualm. "Chop
them open. and We can test by look
ing at them. Throw It out, Shorty!
Throw It outl And leave the door
openT'
Box after box was opened; egg after
egg, chosen at random. was chopped In
two, and every egg carried the same
message Of hopeless. irremediable de-
cay.
II won't ask you to eat 'em. Shorty. I"
Wild Water jeered. IAN. II you don't
mind, I can't get outa here too quick.
Ny contract called for good eggs. II
you'll loan me q sled an team I'll haul
them good ones away before they get
contaminated"
Smoke helped in loading the sled
"say, how long you been holdin' that
corner" was Wild Waters parting
gibe.
Smoke made no reply, and. with one
glance at his partner, proceeded to
fling the soap boxes out into the snow.
"say. Shorty. how much did you say
you paid for that three thousandr'
Smoke queried gently.
Eight dollars. Don't talk to me. !
can ngger as we'll as you. We lose
seventeen thousan' on the futter. II
anybody should ride up on a dog sled
an ask you. l fggered that out while
waitin' for the first egg to smell"
Smoke pondered few minutes. then