The Yale expositor., 1921-01-20

tnlrSt ne Quencneu. Inc par Ol lne
Mud Hen was famous along the Wa
bash.
"Hlmmell Dot snpringl Not once
I pass Fallen Rock don't shtOp undt
drink I'm. I'm campln' here tonight.
Tn last night campin' here, but we
shtruck town late, undt got in mid de
Boss undt lot OF pearl fishers. tIndt
dis mOrning!" He threw up his pudgy
hands, the Jews exclamation point
when words fail. Zach Himmei, de
headtl Undt poker All poker play
ers vot see, he's de schllck onew,
"The BossT
BOSS! He don't can see last night
de candle. Dot timber buyer l don't
met him before. Poker! From S23 he
trim met"
The eyes of the Pearlhunter drew
together.
"Timberi What was he likeT'
"Oh, so high like your shoulder" he
said. Light hair. blue eyes-undt
hell on cussin'."
did he wear a fancy vest7"
you know himl"
i've seen him."
The pearl buyer took Off his hat and
wiped his sleeve across his brow.
81 tell him I'm tonight campin' here
He say mebbe he come down undt giff
me chance to get it back, my S23."
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 a drink at the
spring and would now go back to his
skin. 1t completely deceived Louie Sol
ONION, for all his craftiness. But, of
course. he had no means Of knowing
the 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 swipe
with the broom as II to go on with his
sweeping. II was close grapple of
wits. But the lure of the pearl was
too much for Louie Solomon. He had
TO come to IL 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.
"Pm hearin' you picked up a blue
one"
The Pearlhunter leaned his broom
against the table and came out upon
the door step.
"Who was telling your
ooh, dey talk. You sell himT
'Tf get my price"
''How much you want it?"
give thousand"
The little Jew almost fell over. His
fat hands punched the air full of ex-
clamation points.
"Five t'ousan'l Hlmmeli You pearl
fishers ISIS all alike-all crazy"
THAT'S my price"
He stepped back inside the door and
reached for his broom. The other
hoped across the door sill and caught
his arm.
"Himmeli Let II go dot broom !
look at your pearl. You should jump
in de boat, undt we look him over at
de bank. But know he turn out like
de rest--wort' mebbe five hundred
mebbe no. You pearl fishers ISIS all
crazy. Himmel"
The Pearlhunter followed in silence.
He did not ask how the other knew
the Blue Moon was 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 watts. 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
in his long skiff. 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.
II was far past noon when the white
skin drew up 20 the wharf. crowd.
mostly river men. was there to meet
it--and more coming. II 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 TIL we get back from the
bank"
The Jew stabbed the air with his ex-
pressiye hands.
'f1immell It's on mel"
But the Pearll'1nter was far too
wise to fall for that trick