The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-27
(Continued.
0is.O.SO-~k3.~o-s-o~oe.o.s.c

and he sat asked him if he would shake hands with me and my boys and make up He was very sullen. butt, at 7ast, did so, hot cheerfully, I fear. for kAse was not of good blood
 ''Tell me. demanded then. seeing sthat tho triumph of calm reason had been sufficient in his case, why did you, come here and why do you try to drive us off. who are only on a peaceful journey as pirates, seeking our fortune?
 ''Piratesrs he exclaimed. Just what 4 thought Whats the use my .Ieasin' the pearl fer mile along here if any body can come and camp and go to work. right alongside e mel? If old Farmer Sn1der, that owns this land, hadn't gone to town I'd have the law on ye Me payin my money in8 and getting no protection FIshin's rotten toOr'
 now perceived that we had en- countered one of those half nOmad Characters, Afresh water pearl fisher man, such as those who,l for some years,s with vary1ng fortune have combed the sand bars of our inland river for the fresh water musselss which sometimes, like oysters, secrete valuable pearls or nacreous bits known as slugs.
 q know the law, said L ..Farmer Bnfder can not lease the highway of wonder rivee where the Sea Rover passes. But know also the law of the wilderness. One trapper does not fntrude on another who has first locat- ed his country We will pass on to- morrow. Meantime, if you don't mind. we will go with you to your camp and see how you do your work. Please 11eyD l,1a
 He looked at me oddly, evidently thinking my mind touched 2 We found that we were upon q little island between two shallow arms of the stream. The camp Of the pearl fisher lay U the lower end. and neyer Shave seen or snel1ed so foul a place for human habitatfon. The one large tent served as shelter. and q 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 Cpened, some not yet ready for open-~ ing. I had smelled the same odor-and had not learned to like it-in faroff Eey1on, at the great pearl fisheries of Inc orient. The stclammer'' seemed inl- mune
 Presently he introduced to us wo- man, very old, extraordinarily forbid ding of Yisage and unspeakably pro- fane of speech, who emerged from the fents his mother. he said. It seemed fhat they made their living in this way. cla inning, as they called it. all Efhe way from Arkansas to the upper waters of the Mississippi.
 I explained to Lafitte and LOIonnois 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 a cracker box was enough 10 set Of Jimmy L'OIonnois, who was atI for raiding the place
 'sWhatp' he hissed to mesin an aside. Did we not spare his life? Then the Treasure should be ours
 Wait, brother,' said l. "We shall see what we shall see.s And quieted Laftte also, who was warlike at the what they take from the Spanish ships" said he Pearls is ftten for ladies fair. And here is pearls
 Wait, brother" demanded Of him. For I was revolving something in my mind. presently accosted the clam emers.
 Ulster" said I; ..you say business is obad."
 '.It certainly and shorely is,s assented the old dame. fishing a black pipe out of her pocket and proceeding to feed it from another pocket.
 Well, now, let me make you q propOsition.s' said I. taking glance at the heap of fresh shells which fay be- yond the racks of trolling lines and their twisted wire hooks by means of,,which dragging apparatus the mus sels are taken-shutting hard on the wire when it touches them as they lie feeding with open mouths-syou've quite lot of shell there. now,'
 1TYes, but what's ih 1t? Button fac tories all sAIt down with strike, and no market, and. as for pearls, they mint none. Blame me for carryin' a grouchg'
 Not in the least But what will you take for your shells and agree to s6pen them for us. af wages of $5 day9"
 Both of us?" he demanded shrewd- Iy- smiled and nodded. ..It's more than you average, twice oyer,', said I. "and you say the stream is no good. Now I, too, am a student of the great law of averages. because am or was a director in great life insurance company. You say the luck is bad. Like other adventurers, I say that un- der the law of averages 1t is time for the luck to change
 ..The Iucks with yeEl. growIed the cIammer; fits agfn me. Unconscious Iy he put finger to Bis swollen nose ssVVhatsI1 you gimmes', be demanded
 ..One hundred dollars bonus and $10 a day. said promptly. and he seemed to know would not better that Who -are ye2n he querIed, es buy