Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1916-01-14
Ira Bumps
Treasure
lie Lost It. but Found
Another.
Bv CLARISSA MACKlE

downtown wholesale house. He was
little. round. roly poly man with brown
eyes and hair and a rosy complexion.
He had money in the bank. he was al
ways well dressed. he was unmarried.
and he had boarded at Mrs. Heckers
for thirteen years.
Now. Ira Bump did not occupy the
most expensive suit at Mrs. Heckers
thoroughly respectable and unhome-
like abode. On the contrary, he lived
in the third floor back bedroom. 1t
was a large room and quite comfOrta-
BILE. for Ira had added many luxuries
from time to time. and 1t was So less
per week than the best suit. and that
So Ira placidly planted in the bank
with his other savings Some day
when he had to make way for a young
err man Mt the office he intended to re-
tire to the country and raise chickens.
Among his fellow boarders Ira was
looked upon US back number.
Dapper young store clerks winked at
were not above making jokes at his
expense. all Of which flew 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 possible escape from old
maidenhoOd.
One day Ira read story in a popu-
lar magazine, story that stirred his
sluggish blood. 1t was about some
pearl fishers In the south Pacific who
fought to the death over magnif1-
cent pearl found in an oyster shell by
one of the divers.
| in ADDITION to his usual lunch. He
never ale 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 $5,OOOw he gloated
as he wrapped it In tissue paper and
hid 1t away. Il SHALL shall buy an
| automobile, l 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
he was unusually immaculate.
Evening clothes were distinct nov.
city at Mrs. Heckers table, and Annie
the waitress, nearly dimmed Ira's sar.
torial glory by spilling soup upon him.
but happily the bisque of tomato was
diverted to the thick gray wooden Goa,
sleeve of his next door neighbor. Den
ton. the hardware clerk.
Ira lent first aid to the wrathful Den
ton, for he felt in Il measure respon
sible for the mishap. He knew and
every one else knew. for they had seen
Allie START ol surprise 'hat II was
'ne sishI Vi MI hun'l'S ne" c'otne'
WHICH '''o e"useu the "ce'oeht'
Like an invisible mantle. an air OF
r,'e'nNe ".'> eiiu'u ui''" 'ne ''''e
an eop'v + Ha.e ''''''''''' courteous L
' Tran,.nn,,r ,.r.. ,,,.,
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snonsi,no fo, n.'r ,,,,.,.,,.,, ,,n', ~,
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and thn s,l Ir,,,, ~ ,., r,.,,tn
A. any r,,n i., r,,.,,, r.,y sea-,
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ment, note t,,ot hn M, H., ..o,... 5,,s..
for Miss ! .o.,uar nav ,nt.,,r,r =,
,.,.. tn H., ,;,,, ,;.,.,.. ,,,.,. ,.,. t,...,..+
and orouni.,tauer4 ana null ,nn ,,c
piness oe yiy;u., u,pYsu,e to others
After d',nnr r., ,,,,,r,J :, s,a,, &,
Frel, Ji,.tS,v ue fn,- ,,,.v .,,v .,,.
excita,le in his new clothes y :. e..
Actually reckless.
"You are looking Ill Mss Lindsay.
he said s.1liritorSly "Ynu rre1
breath of fresh mir after thn ,,,y'
close confinement Wn,lln't can, ~,
TO take q little ride or era mo-,
|