New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1915-09-22

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fisher lay at the lower end, and never
have seen or smelled so foul place
for human habitatioq. The one large
tent served as shelter, and rude avn
ing sheltered the ruder table in the
open air. But directly about the tent
and all around it in every direction lay
heaps of clam shells, most Of them
opened, some not yet ready for open
ing. had smelled the same odor-and
had not learned to like tin faroff
Ceylon, at the great pearl fisheries Of
the orient. The 'tclammer'' seemed i'm
mune.
Presently he introduced to us a wo-
man, very old, extraordinarily forbid
ding of visage and unspeakably pro-
fame of speech, who emerged from the
tent; his mother, he said. 1t seemed
that they made their living in this
way, claiming, as they called it, all
the way from Arkansas to the upper
waters of the Mississippi.
l explained to Lafitte and L'Olonnois
that we were now come into the neigh
borhood Of possible treasure, and the
sight Of few pearls. none Of very
great worth, which the old crone pro-
duced from cracker box was enough
to set off Jimmy L'Olonnois, who was
all for raiding the place.
"Whatv he Kissed to me in an aside.
did we not spare his life? Then the
treasure should be ours.''
Wait, brother" said l. 1--WE shall
see what we shall see.'' And l quoted
Lafitte also, who was warlike at the
very sound of the word pearl. 'Thems
what they take from the Spanish
ships" said he. pearls is fifteen for
ladies fair. And here is pearls
wait, brother" 1 demanded of him.
For was revolving something in my
mind. l presently accosted the clam
mers.
Listen said I; lyon say business is
bad.''
1T certainly and shorely is," assented
the old dame, fishing black pipe out
of her pocket and proceeding to feed
it from another pocket.
"Well, now, let me make you
proposition said I, taking glance at
the heap Of fresh shells which lay be-
yond the racks Of trolling lines and
their twisted wire hooks, by means
Of which dragging apparatus the mus
sells are taken-shutting hard on the
wire when it touches them as they lie
feeding with open mouths-'you've
quite lot Of shell there. now"
Eyes, but what's in it? Button fac
tories all shut down with strike, and
no market, and, as for pearls, they
amt none. Blame me for carryin' a
grouch?''
"Not in the least. But what will
you take for your shells and agree to
open them for us. at wages Of SIS a
day."
"Both of us?" he demanded shrewd-
ly. smiled and nodded "It's more
than you average, twice over" said l.
''and you say the stream is no good
Now |, too, am student of the great
law Of averages, because I am or was
director in a great life insurance
company. You say the luck Is bad.
Like other adventures, say that un-
der the law of averages it is time for
the luck to change"
e 1.-The luck's with you.'' growled the
clammer; Its agin me-" Unconscious
" he put finger to his swollen nose.
"What'll you gimme?" he demanded.
''One hundred dollars bonus and $40
day." said promptly, and he seemed
to know l would not better that.
who are ye?" he queried, "a buy
err"
mo, pirate"
II believe ye I never saw such a
outfit
will you trade" asked. land how
long will it take to open the lot?'
Nigh all day. even if we set up all
night and roasted" He nodded to
wide grating. and the ashes under
meath showed that in this way the poor
claims. like the 1ncas of old. were
sometimes forced to give up their
treasures by the persuasion Of fire
under them
very well,'' said. well call it a
day. That's $40 for you by this time
tomorrow. invoke the aid of capital
and of chance, both, against you. You
will very likely lose. but if so it would
not be the first time the producer of
wealth has lost it. But I make the
wager fair, as my reason tells me l
should"
'Ye're crazy bunch. and I think
ye're out Of the state asylum over
yonder," broke in the old woman.
"But what do we care whether ye're
crazy or not? Ye look like ye had the
money. Jake, we'll take him up"
''All right" said Jake. "We'n go ye."
Tomorrow morning. then" said l.
And our party rose to return to our
camp. where Partial greeted us with
warmth. he having assigned to himself
the duty Of guard. And so. as Pepys
would say. to bed, although LATTE
and L'Olonnois scarce could sleep.