The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-01-09

Nater when his attention was attract
I'd by a cleaning spot In heap OF oys-
ter shells at the waters edge. They
were dead shells. bored By the starnsh.
the great enemy OF oysters. The water
here was twelve feet deep the land
floping up above a little natural cave.
Overcome by excitement al his ind,
which shone as brightly as the moon
above, Sam Jack completely forgotten,
Nabob brought his boat in TO land and
stepped cautiously ashore. Then he
drew in a deep breath, went under,
keeping his eyes hxed on the pearl.
and stretched forth his hand to pluck
the prize.
Instantly his fingers were impris-
pned In a wise. Nabob knew what had
happened. II was the giant mussel,
that inocuous shellfsh so dreaded by
the Bahama negro. He was trapped
under water.
He fought with the desperate fury
Of a man who has just one minute 10
live before his lungs give out. That
minutes anguish was the worst that
Naboh had ever lived through.
The mussel. firmly anchored in its
oozy bed. bit into his fingers and
seemed immovable. But Nabob had the
strength Of all his race. His muscles
stood ont like cords Of steel and his
great chest heayed as he pulled.
And gradually the mussel began TO
come from its bed. Now Nabob could
see the clearing lure still fastened be-
tween his fingers. He pulled superhu-
manly. And the mussel was giving
way. It was a question which would
give first, the mussel or Nabob's
lungs.
A gasp, a terrible heave and Nabob's
head appeared above the water He
let the poisoned air out Of his lungs
and drew In a fresh breath. Then,
clinging TO a mangrove on the bank
with his free hand. he continued to
fight. 1t was doubtful even now which
would give first-the mussel, Nabob's
strength or the mangroye.
The mussel and the mangroye gave
together. 1t came up out of its oozy
pit just as the tree broke, precipitat-
ing Nabob upon his back in the water.
But Nabob soon struggled to his feet
and made for the land again. The
weight of the mussel. heavy though it
was, did not impede him, but his hand
was raw and bleeding and the great
shells were tightly clenched upon it.
Still, freedom was great, and Nabob,
lying upon his back on the mud, among
the mangroves. offered up the hearth
est thanks that he knew how.
This done, he looked at the mussel.
And now, to his utter amazement,
it took the form of a trap of steel. It
was a trap of steel. And the lure was
nothing more or less than an American
quarter. cunningly fixed in the edges
of the steel wise.
"Oh, Lord !" groaned Nabob, "Who's
set this here thing for me?7
a ringing laugh from among the
bushes answered him, and out of them,
from behind the hut, there stepped Sam
Jack. as large as life, his mouth
stretched az wide as only a BahamaD
negrO's mouth can stretch.
you're smart. Nabob," he grinned,
''but guess l was too smart for you.
What'll l do with you now got yonT"
''Lemme gol" yelled Nabob.
Sam Jack stopped over Nabob,
fiourishing the knife which Nabob had
plunged into the dummy clothes. Then
he remembered their cid partnership
and relented. He pressed the spring
and the trap flew open, leaving Ma
bob's crushed hand free.
Forgive me, Sam Jack !" whimpered
Nabob.
That's all right, Niger" answered
Sam Jack. Say. that boat of yours
don't amount to much. Come and be
my pardner again"
Nabob stretched out his crushed
hand and gripped Sam Jacks.