The daily Alaskan., 1920-11-04
TIT get my prce." How much you want ltp ttY-f..., tl,,rg,,,1

HOW nuCu you "unI lIl
 "Five thousand"
 The little Jew almost fell over. Ills fat hands punched the air full of ex- camaton points.
 Five fousan'! HImmell 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.
 "Hlmmel! Let it go dot broom I look at your pearl. You should jump in de boat, undt we look him over at de 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 dld not ask how the other knew the Blue Moon wus in 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 "squirreP whisky would set their tongues bobbing like cork in suck hole.
 Louie Solomon carried three rowers in his long sEiff, all hardy river men that had been with him for years. Each man wore a 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 skin drew up to the wharf. A 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 inc little Jew paused. rolled his furry tongue. and jerkcd 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- prcSsive hands.
 "IIimmcll It's on me-"
 Bnt the Pcarlhunter was far too wise to Can for that trick.
 Thanks" he said. But business first"
 He strode on toward the bank. The Jew trotred along beside him. The crowd followed.
 The old banker Invited them back into his private office and shut the door. r. was the first time the Pearl hunter had ever been farther in bank than the lobby, and only once in his life that far. The solid and substan- tial luxury of the place was a reye- latIon to him, even a matter of Intense curiosity. But the cumulative effect of 1t was to give him courage, to make him feel he was somebody. It seemed to the Pcarlhunter that the banker was gone long time when he went to bring the pearl from the safe. Wh6n--he finally re-entercd the | private office the owner of the pearl saw why. He had hunted up some where about the bank a small box, tiny jewel case, covered with green plush, and was carrying the pearl in it-a little thing. but very graceful and gracious. The act went 10 the heart of the Pearlhunter and immense ly increased his confidence and self respect, which was probably the very thing the wise old banker hoped it would do
 Louie Solomon knew fresh water pearls. Probably there was no great CT expert living. His first glance at the Blue Moon, when the lid of the tiny plush case was raised. betrayed him. FuIgytful of the level eyes watching h.S slightest move, studying hlS every expression, he bounced upon the glorious jewel and careSSed it with his hands, deyuured it with his pro- truding eyes-the crafty trader lost for tine moment in the expert; the Jew in tue man.
 But il was only for the moment. The enthusiast vanished; in his place the hard-faccd trader. He S,rai@htcned; set tEe box, with the lid still m, on the table that occupied the center of the office floor. and looked around at the others.
 "So-o-!" he said, with q Slither of his hand towall the pcurl--a gesture only Louie S"lo;Hon could make. "Uudt dot is% it for which d'e~pearl fishers s'lould go crazy
 But even Louie Solomon couldn't quite put over hls accustomed blult in the face of such a gem. It drew hiS eyes back in spite of him. Taking lens from his pocker, he stopped over it again.
 You no see dot flaw" he said, aft CT q short inspection. The Pearlhunter took the lens and looked with quick, studied care. Some times the most perfect pearl will de velOD a flaw in ripenlng. (Continued un Saturday.