The Mena weekly star., 1921-07-21

---and the big day going It was enough to make man restless.
 The forenoon was nearly gone when. through the trees up the river, ne caught the bright glint of the sun upon oar blades. Even at that distance ne knew the craft--Louie Solomon's long, white slx-oared skin.
 Broom in hand, the Pearlhunter was making a prodigious dust and chatter among the chairs and boxes when the pearl buyer, short and pudgy-Jew from his shrewd eyes to his fat feet stepped before the door.
 House cleaning, hain'dt it9'
 "Oh, just digging myself out"
 Standing his broom against the wall, he stepped outside. He knew Louie Solomon well--what pearl fisher did not7-and Louie Solomon knew him. Like two wrestlers on the mat the two stood looking each other over--a man that wanted to sell something; a man that wanted to buy it--with the odds on the one that could put up the big rest bluff. The world could be halved just there.
 Cup by de shprIngr
 "A gourd."
 The two went around the west end of the cabin and back to where the spring boiled out from beneath the foot of the cliffs. The Jew dipped up a gourdful and drank so deep that the Pearlhunter knew 1t was no honest thirst he Quenched. The bar of the Mud Hen was famous along the Wa bash.
 "Himmell Dot shpring Not once I pass Fallen Rock don't shtop undt drink i'm. I'm 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. undt dis mornIngT He threw up his pudgy hands, the Jews exclamation point when words fall. "Ach Himmel, de headti Undt pokerl All poker play CTS vot see. he's de schlick oneT
 "The BossYf
 "Boss He don't can see last night de candle. Dot timber buyer. I don't met him before. Poker From s23 he trim mew
 The eyes of the Pearlhunter drew together
 "Timberl 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 vestY
 You know him7"
 I've seen him."
 The pearl buyer took on his hat and wiped his sleeve across his brow.
 q tell him I'm tonight campin' here. He say mebbe he come down undt giff me chance to get It back, my s23."
 The Pearlhunters 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 so back to his skin. It completely deceived Louie Sol omon, 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 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 against the table and came out upon the door step.
 "Who was telling your
 ''oh, dey talk. You sell himr
 If get my price"
 ''How much you want it?"
 Five thousand"
 The little Jew almost fell over. His lat hands punched the air full of ex- points.
 Five t'ousan'l Hlmmeli You pearl fishers lss 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.
 "Himmell Let 1t go dot broomi 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 de rest--wort' mebbe five hundred mebbe no You pearl fishers Iss all crazy. Hlmmel !"
 The PearIhunter followed in silence. He did not ask how the other knew the Blue Moon was in the bank, know xssk {xsos