Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-10-13
Ira Bumps
Treasure
He Lost 1t, but Found
Another.
By Cl.ARISSA MACKIE

downtown wholesale house. He was a
little, round, roly poly man with brown
eyes and hair and a rosy complexion.
He had money in the bank, he was al
ways we'll dressed, he was unmarried,
and he 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. It
was large room and quite cOmforta-
BILE, for Ira had added many luxur1es
from time to time, and It was s. less
per week than the best suit, and that
S. Ira placidly 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 black 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
maidenhood
One day Ira read story in a popu-
lar magazine, a story that stirred his
sluggish blood. It was about some
pearl fishers in the south Pacific who
fought to the death over a magnif1-
cent pearl 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 bacilli, but he searched the
: shells carefully, hoping that some day
he, too, might find pearly treasure in
one of the succulent bivalves.
And, 10, one day his fork struck a
round object in the bottom of the
plate Of oysters! Carefully he picked
it out and furtively slipped it into his
vest pocket. He was so excited that
: he could 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 be worth SCOOP he gloated
as he wrapped it in tissue paper and
, hid it away. 81 SHALL shall buy an
automobile, [ think"
That night when Ira Bump came into
dinner he radiated with an air of pros
perity. He wore a brand new suit of
evening clothes. and from the crown of
his head to his patent leather shod feet
t he was unusually immaculate.
, Evening clothes We're a distinct nov
city at Mrs. Hecker'S table, and Annie,
l the waitress, nearly dimmed Ira's sar-
torial glory by spillfng soup upon him,
but happily the bisque of tomato was
diverted to the thick gray wooden coat
S sleeve of his next door neighbour Den
! ton, the hardware clerk.
:. Ira lent first aid to the wrathfu1 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.
2 People were unusually courteous to
| one another.
Everybody talked except Freda Lind
J say. Perhaps it was the long day
e spent in the schoolroom that was re-
i spons1ble for her unusual pallor, for
the shadows under her sweet gray eyes
y and the sad droop to her mouth.
# At any rate, Ira Bump was star.
a tied by her appearance and made @
>, mental note that he must do something
l. for Miss Lindsay. How delightful II
J. was to be rich-richer than his friends
r and acquaintances-and hold the hap
piness of giving pleasure to others!
After dinner Ira paused to speak tc
# Freda Lindsay. He felt very gay and
excitable in his new clothes. He fel,
= actually reckless.
you are looking i'll, Miss Lindsay
be said soltcitously. "You need E
l. breath Of fresh air after the day'
close confinement. Wouldn't you ik.
to take a little ride-er-er-a moto
It ride in the park and then 90 to th,
theater afterward? It would give m.
= much pleasure"
r "Oh, Mr.. Bump" she gasped, &c
should be delighted! But" glancins
Il at his attire, 81 haven't anything very
if splendid to wear"
"Pooh!" laughed Ira Bump n gayly
y What's the matter with that pinl
v gown you used to wear last simmer 2
Freda blushed to think that he hat
L remembered her rose pink voile of las
" summer. II will put it on" she sait
hurriedly and went up to her littl,
S. room.
Mrs. Hecker's sitting room buzzet
with excitement when Ira Bump ant
l. Freda Lindsay rolled away In hastil,
;. summoned motorcar.
Bump certainly has struck it faeR