The state herald., 1921-01-25

The pearl, passing from hand to
hand. hrd come round to the Boss
again. who. STOPPING close to the fire
light, examined 1t through small
hand lens such us most pearl fishers
carry. "Penrlhunter." he said. turning
to the young nun. "yOu shOrely air
lucky! You've found y'ur pearl-an'
a fortune It were!'
'"Then it's you that's lucky" was
the slow answer. ats not nine"
Had the others not been too excited.
they might have noticed that his lips
were drawn; his voice strained.
The grizzled old river Boss gripped
his calloused hand shut upon the
pearl; his seamy old face hardened,
and there sprang up In his deep-set
eyes an expression not unlike the ex.
preston In the eyes Of u hawk when
title to the prey In his claws ls dis
puted. But the expression passed. lie
thrust the pearl back into the young
mans hand as though half afraid OF
1t.
"Say." he growled, "what do you
think I ana"
at was taken from your boat. 10
waters you expected to fish tomorrow.
You'd hive found It anyway"
The hnwl,lsh glover left the blue
eyes Of the older man, leaving him
the frank-faced old Boss again. He
studied his young friend curiously.
"Weil, I'll be damn'd!" he chuckled
good-naturedly to himself. still study
Ing the other from under the edges OF
his eyes. "Say." he continued. look.
ing up frankly. ~ hain't got dern
bit more claim to It than I got to the
Bank Of Ingland. II you fancy I have
got claims. l hereby gives an conveys
'em { you-an' II that hain't good
law, it's square dealin' b'twixt man
an man; an that's better'n law any
day."
you mean it?"
The younger man fingered the penr'
as II II had suddenly assumed new
value.
"If you wan Z insult me. jist let On
like y'u think don't"
Hero-worshipers all. after the man
ers. rs II by common Impulse, turned
their attention from the pearl to the
man that found It. He had become nm
object OF wonder and curious admira-
tion. No other achievement in the
world could possibly have so dlstin-
guished him in their eyes. Suddenly
one .: their number snatched or his
battered hat and yelled:
"Hooray fer tn Pearlhunter!"
The BLUFFS caught up the cheer that
followed and flung It back in multi
piled echoes. clear and far up and
down the night-bound shore. The
Boss. still hungry for the feel OF the
jewel. reached forth grimy finger
and meditatively stirred the pearl
where II lay in the finders palm.
"This ones rounder than them
other two. An it's got q SINNER
sheen. Course cayn't say p'intedly.
but putt 1t at not lexs'n five thou
SAN"
The Pearlhunter was restiess.
There was fraIl woman back In the
cabin at Fallen Rock to whom the find.
Ing Of the pearl would mean more
than TO anybody else In the world. II
would menn-the mans heart warmed
with the thought. ns his mind revert
ed to the story OF the afternoon
back to the house on hin that over.
looked the river-and goosi-by TO the
cough forever.
But II was some time before the
first flush OF excitement died down. II
Is not one camp In n thousand that
ever sees a Blue Moon. The value Of
Eoss happened to remember the fish
still lying In the boat
"Th' fish" he exclaimed. "rh'
files'll be at EN-
".ln1 ! must be getting home" The
Pearlhunter was quick to seize the
chance.
Followed by the others. the Ross
went down to the bont-not. however.
until the Penrlhunter had torn cor.
ner out OF the cloth spread down by
the fire. wrapped the pearl up In It.
and put 1t carefully away in his
pocket.
Insisting on relieving the Boss from
rowing on the way hack. he took his
place at the oars and waited for the
boa: TO be pushed on into the stream.
But the Boss. with his hand upon the
bow. stood hesltntingly before giving
the fnai shove.
shorty" he called to the man who
had danced the hornpipe. md who
wns now gone back 10 the fire. "bring
me my oi shotgun nm coat. I reckon
I'll cnmp at Fallen Rock tnight."
The Pcarlhuntcr protested against
his going to such trouble: but the
Boss hnd his way.