Cleveland County herald., 1920-12-09

"Himmel! Dot shpring! Not once pass Fallen Rock 1 don't shtop undt
 drink i'm. Pm campin' here tonight, I'm last night campin' here, but we
 shtruck town late, undt got in mid d'e
 Boss undt lot of pearl fishers. Urdt dis morningi" He threw up his pudgy hands, the Jews exclamation point
 when words fail. "' ch Himmel, de
 headt! Undt poker! All poker play
 CTS vot I see, he's de schlick one"
 "The BoSs?"
 "BoSs! He don't can see last night d'e candle. Dot timber buyer. I don't
 met him before Poker! From $23 he
 trim mel"
 The eyes of the Pearlhunter drew
 together.
 ''Timber What was he like?"
 ''Oh. so high like your shoulder" he
 said. Light hair, blue eyes-undt
 he'll on cussin'.'
 Did he wear fancy vestY
 You know him?"
 i've seen him."
 The pearl buyer took off his hat and
 wiped his sleeve across his brow.
 ''I tell him I'm tonight campin' here
 He say mebbe he come down undt gif
 me chance to get it back, my $23."
 The Pearlhunter's eyes were still drawn and thoughtful, though he made no comment, but led the way back to the front of the cabin, as though he believed his companion had merely come up the hill for drink at the spring and would now go back to his sliff. It comr letely deceived Louie Sol omon, for all his craftiness. But, Of course, he had no means of knowing he message the Boss had shouted up from the boat the night before. The Pearlhunter stepped inside the door and picked up his broom. Out of the little end of his eye he saw the Jew watching him. He made a swipe with the broom as if to go on with his sweeping. It was a close grapple of wits But the lure of the pearl was too much for Louie Solomon. He had to come to 1t at last; and he had to come square Taking off his hat, he looked back over his shoulder and again drew his sleeve across his brow. ''I'm hearin' you picked up blue one"
 The Pearlhunter leaned his broom lgainst the table and came out upon
 he door step.
 "Who was telling you?'
 "Oh, dey talk. You sell him?"
 If I get my price.'
 How much you want it?"
 "Five thousand"
 The little Jew almost fell over. His
 Fat hands punched the air full of ex. clamation points.
 Five tousan'! Himmel, You pearl fishers iss all alike-all crazy That's my price,"
 He stepped back inside the door and
 reached for his broom. The other hopped across the door sill and caught his arm.
 "Himmel! Let 1t go dot broom I look at your pearl. You should jump n de boa, uAd we looA hal ofel d'e bank. But know he turn out like d'e rest-wort' mebbe five hundred;
 mebbe no. You pearl fishers iss all crazy. Himmel!' The Pearlhunter followed in silence. He did not ask how the other knew the Blue Moon was Tn the bank, know ing what river men were when drink had loosed their tongues. After days and weeks at the clam rakes and the
 mucky vats. with little more than an occasional grunt between them, three fingers of squirrel whisky would set their tongues bobbing like cork in suck hole.
 Louie Solomon carried three rowers that had been with him for years Each man wore heavy six-shooter in plain sight at his belt. Some said that he paid these men fancy wages, and that he employed them as much for their ability with the revolver as for their skill at the oars. It was far past noon when the white skiff drew up to the wharf. crowd mostly river men, was there to meet it-and more coming. It seemed ev- erybody in Buckeye knew what was going on. In front of the Mud Hen the little Jew paused rolled his furry tongue. and jerked his hand toward the door. The Pearlhunter shook his head.
 Wait till we get back from the bank"
 The Jew stabbed the air with his ex- preSsive hands.
 "Hiinmel. It's OH mel"