The state herald., 1921-03-11

In the easy chair In the cabin Of the
three gables; u girl that trusted" him
and the hig day going! II was
enough to make n meu restless.
The forenoon was nearly gone when
through the trees up the river, he
caught the bright CLINT of the sun upon
oar blades. Even at that distance he
knew the craft-Louie Solomon's long
white six-oared skiff.
Broom in hand. the Pearlhnnter was
making prodiglous dust and clnttei
among the chairs and boxes when the
pearl buyer, short and pudgy-Jew
from his shrewd eyes to his fut feet
stepped before tho door.
"Housc cleaning. hain'dt III"
''oh, just digging myself out"
Standing his broom against the wall.
he stepped outside. He knew Louie
Solomon well-whnt pearl fisher did
nOt?-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; man
that wanted to buy it--with the odds
on the one that could put up the big
gcst bun. The world could be lialved
just there.
"Cup hy de shpring?"
~ gourd.'
The two went around the west end
of the cabin and back TO where the
spring boiled ont from beneath the
foot Of the cliffs. The jew dipped up
n 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
"Hlmmel, Dot shprIngl Not once
pass Fallen Rock | don't shtop undt
drink i'm. I'm campln' here tonight.
I'm last night campin' here. but we
shtruck town late. undt got In mid DE
Boss undt n lot of pearl fishers. rlndt
dis morning!" He threw up his pudgy
hands. the Jews exclamation point
when words fail "Ach Himmel. de
headi Undt poker All poker play.
crs vot see. he's de schllck onel"
"The Bossf"
Boss! He don't can see last night
de candle. Dot timber buyer. / don't
met him before. Poker! From s23 he
trim mel"
The eyes of the Pearlhunter drew
together
"rimberl What was he like:"
"oh, so high like your shoulder" he
said. Light hair. blue eyes-undt
hell on cussln'."
'Did he wear fancy vesti"
"You know hlml"
i've seen him.
The pearl buyer took or his hat and
wiped his sleeve across his brow.
II tell him I'm tonight campin' here
He say mebbe he come down undt glff
me chance 10 get !. hack. my S23."
The Pearlhunter's eyes were still
drawn and thoughtful. though he made
no comment, bu, led the way back TO
the front of the cabin, as though he
believed his companion had merely
come UP the hlll for n drink at the
spring and would now 60 back TO his
sklT. II completely deceived Louie Sol.
omon. for all his crafiiness. But. OF
course. he had no means OF knowing
the message the Boss had shouted up
from the boat the night before.
The pearlhuntcr stepped inside the
door and picked mp his brnom. Out of
the little end OF his eye he saw the
jew watching him. He made n swlpe
with the broom ms II to go on with his
sweeping. was a close grappie of
wits. Bet 'he lure OF the pearl was
too much for Louie Solomon. lie had
TO come To II at last; and lie had to
come square. Taking on his hat. he
looked back over his shoulder and
again drew his sleeve across his brow.
I'm hcarin' you picked up blue
one"
The Pcarlhunter leaned his broom
against the table and came out upon
the door step.
"Who was telling your"
"oh, dey talk. You sell hImI"
III l get my price"
"Ilow much you want ~"
"ilvc thousand"
The little Jew almost fell over. His
fat hands punched the air fu,! Of cx.
clamailon points.
"Five tousan'. IIimmcl! You pearl
fishers iss NIL nlIke-all crazy
THAT'S my price"
He stepped back inside the doos'an
reached for his broom. Tie other
hopped across the door sill and caught
his arm.
"llimmel' Let II go dot broom! I
look at your pearl. You should Jump
In de boat. undt we look him over nt
de bank. But ! know he turn out like
de rest-wort' mchbe five hundred;
mebbe no. You pearl fishers lss all
crazy. Illmmcl!"
The Pcarlhuntcr 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