Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-01-01
Thanks" he said. but businss.

He strobe on toward the bank. The
| Jew trotted along beside him. The
| crowd followed.
The old banker invited them back
into his private Office and shut the
door. 1t 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 q reve-
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.
1t seemed to the Pearlhunter that
! the banker was gone long time when
| he went TO bring the pearl from the
| safe. When he finally re-entered the
| private office the owner of the pearl
| saw why. He had hunted up some
| where about the bank small box, a
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 TO the
heart of the Pearlhunter and immense
| ~ increased his confidence ard self
respect which was probably the very
thing the wise old banker Hoped Il
would slo.
Louie Solomon knew fresh eater
pearls. Probably there was no great
er expert living. His first glance at
the Blue Moon, when the lid of the
tiny plush case was raised. betrayed
| him. Forgetful of the level eyes
watching his slightest move, studying
his every expression, he bounced upon
the glorious jewel and caressed II with
| his hands, devOured 1t with his pro
truding eyes-the crafty trader lost
for the moment in the expert the
Jew in the man.
But 1t was only for the moment, The
enthusiast Vanished; in his place the
hard-fHced trader. He Strengthened;
set the box, with the lid still up. on
the table that occupied the center of
the Office floor, and cooked around at
the others.
$500" he said, with a slither OF
his hand toward the peari-a gesture
only Louie Solomon could make.
"Undt dot ISIS 1t for which de pearl
fishers should go crazy"
But even Louie Solomon couldn't
quite put over his accustomed bluff 10
the face of such gem. 1t drew his
eyes back in spite of him. Taking
lens from his pocket; he stopped over
1T again.
''You no see dot faw?" he said, art
er q short inSDectiou.
+ The Pearhunter took thes lens aud
looked with quick. studied care. Some
times the most perfect pearl will De-
yelop flaw in ripenlng.
NO" he answered handing back
the lens. Neither do you"
1t was a straight thrust The buyer
flushed and studied his man. Who
was this Pearlhunter, anyhow
."yell. how much you want it?"
a. told you"
The jew ridiculed the idea with hts
hands.
u Sought you make me some fool-
ishness. You dond't can meant itI"
you've got a good chance TO find
out"
litC 0tN PAOpitu dEtAAi bNEl tttS9
pearl rolled II about upon the plush
cushion inside the tiny jewel case. took
a small pair of calipers from his vest
pocket and measured 1t, not only to
determine its size but its roundness rs
well. The old banker looked across
the table and winked at the Pearl-
hunter-a very distinct and unmstak-
able wink. A dry grin puckered the
young mans eyes. Ifs-not every pearl
fisher that gets wiDked at by banker.
Solomon looked up after a while
and growled:
! II Gift you Tree t'ousan'."
The banker started. But the Pearl
hunter said:
IF 1t amt worth more than that l
might as well go down TO Mud Haul
and fish for bullheads."
Louie Solomon swore--a stiff little
run of what the Flatwoods calls keen
cussin'." His eyes stuck out; he
stormed back and forth across he
floor a time or two. muttering TO him
self in Yiddsh. a language in which
he doubtless swore more comfortably.
III WAS tle SQuttleA WiiohS' Louio
knew better. too.
But The tempest was soon over. He
stopped at the corner of the tGDle, his
face smoothed serene as a garden
and Ike a garden, the better for the
storm.
Louie / many times say to mine
self, Louie. you got it too much big
hearted to be # pearl buyer vet. Too
much soft-hearted you got it. Hard
hearted a pearl buyer should De. You
Gift too high, undt you sell too low.
Misses Solomon. she die in de poor
house yet, haln'dt it? / giff you four
t'ousan'"
The Pearlhunter glanced across the
table at the banker.
u reckon you might as well put It
back in the safe" be said. "He knows
my price, and he don't seem to want
TO do business"
The banker picked up the llttaa
plush case, snapped the I'D down, and
STA sod foa tho door Taking the pearl