Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-04-06

us w thS hht. dho NC ~ Dc btAt ~ n't
minutes"
Shorty sat down at the table. BY the
time the expected knock came at the
door Smoke was facing him across the
table. and before each was plate con-
tanning three hot fried eggs
Come inr' Smoke called.
Wild Water Charley. strapping
young giant. entered and shook hands
set down an have bite. wfld Wa.
ter" shorty invited. Smoke. fry him
some eggs. I'll bet he amt SCORED m
egg In coon's age"
Smoke broke three more eggs into
the hot pan and I'm several minutes
placed them before his guest who look
ed at them with so strange and strain
cd an expression that Shorty confessed
nfterward bis fear that Wild Water
would slip them into his pocket and
carry them away.
Say. them sweils down In the statBs
amt got nothin' over us In the matter
Of eats." Shorty gioated. Here's 700
an me an Smoke gettin' Outside so
worth Of eggs an not battfn' m eye"
Wild Water stared at the rapidly dis
appearing eggs and seemed petrihed.
"They-tbey amt worth no So
Wild Water said slowly.
Shorty sccepted the challenge. "A
things worth what you can get for II,
amt itT' NC demanded.
Yes. but--you can't eat eggs like
that" Wild Water objected. It'll
amt right
I'VE Just dote on eggs. Smoke an
me-" was Shorty's excuse.
Wild Water finished his own plate II
a half hearted way. Say. you fellows
can do me great favor" he begar
tentatively. Sell me. or lend me. oil
give me, about dozen OF them eggs.
Sure" Smoke answered. Il know
/ what n yearning for eggs is myself
/ But we're not so poor that we have e
sell our hospitality. They'll cost yor
nothing. Go ahead. Shorty. Cool
them up for him.
But Wild Water laid a restraints
hand on the eager Shorty as he ex
planned II don't mean cooked. | wan
them with the shells on"
so that yon can carry EN- away?"
That's the idea.
"Bnt that amt hospitality" Short,
objected lists tradin'."
smoke nodded concurrence. That
different. Wild Water. thought yol
| lust wanted To eat them. You see. W,
went into this for a speculation"
The dangerous blue OF Wild Water
eyes began 10 grow more dangerous
IN pay you for them" he said sharp
~. How much?"
"Oh. not dozen Smoke replied
We couldn't sell a dozen. We're no
retailers. we're spectators. We can
break our own market. We've got
hard and fast corner and when we SCI
out it's the whole corner or nothing"
How many have you got and bov
much do you want for them7"
How many have we. Shorty =?
Smoke inquired
Shorty cleared his throat and pei
formed mental arithmetic aloud. Leu
me see. Nine hundred an seventy
three minus nine. that leaves nine hun
dred an sixty-two. An the Who'll
shootin' match at SO a throw Wi
tote up just about nine thousand ST
hundred an twenty iron dollars. o
course, Wild Water, we're playin' fail
an It's money back for bad ones
though they amt none That's on
thing never seen I'm the Klondike--
bad egg
Wild Water shook his head sadly an
helped himself TO the beans. ''Tha
would be too expensive. Shorty. onI
want a few III give You $40 for
couple OF dozen. I'll give you 500. bu
| can't buy 'em all"
An or none. was Smokes ultima
tum.
Look here. you two Wild Wate
said in a burst OF confidence. I'm b
perfectly honest with you. an don't !,
it go any further You know Miss Al
raj an was engaged. Wen. she
broken everything Off. It's for her
want them eggs. want TO give ther
to her on a platter shirred. That's tn
way she likes EN-"
DO you want 'em ninety-six hundre
an twenty dollars WORTH Short
queried.
Jaw, listen to reason" Wild waite
pleaded. IL only want couple q
dozen. I'll give you $50 apiece for en
What do | want with all the rest q
them eggsTr
Il should say Miss Arral's worth IN
price OF the eggs" Smoke put I
quietly.
Worth III" Wild Water stood up +
the heat OF his eloquence. she's wort
million dollars. She's worth all tn
dust in klondikc. But that amt u
call for me TO gamble $1,000 on
breakfast FOR her Now, I've got
proposition. Lend me couple OF doze
OF them eggs I'll turn EN- over {
Slavovitch. He'll feed 'em to her wit
my compliments she amt smiled I
me for a hundred years. IL them egg
get a smile for me III take the Who'll
boiling of your hands"
''Wlll YOU sign contract 10 that q
feet" Smoke said quickly. f0r he knee
that Lucille Arral had agreed 10 smih
Wild Water gasped. You're almight
swift with business M here on On