Evening star., 1928-11-10
Pearls for Two.
A BEAUTIFUL wooded section on
~ the lower Illinois river. Clear
. to the waters edge grew the
4 weeping willows, their branches


~ to the waters edge grew the
4 i weeping willows, their branches
i dropped to kiss the purling
ripples below The chatter of red squir-
rels mingled with the melodies of song
birds and the stridulating drone of
winged insects. A muskrat swimming
from the shore to a small island, tur-
tie summing itself on a log and the oc-
casional splash of finny denizen. In
finite peace and contentment.
Old Joe Henderson had regarded the
scene with complacent enjoyment, but
now frown of apprehension spread
over his rugged face as he stood erect
in his flat-bottomed dinghy and gazed
toward the west bank. A motorboat
had pulled up to the landing before
small white cottage that was all but
hid in a willow grove.
Its that pesky Sam Danks again"
muttered Joe, 1.-The crookedest pearl
buyer that ever skinned an honest
clam fisherman. What's he going up
there to poster Mary for? She amt got
no pearls to SELL"
But Joe was only partially correct,
for Mary did have a pearl to sell. Joe
took a very personal interest in the
welfare of Mary Birkens, comely mid
dle-aged widow who dwelt alone in the
small cottage.
wherever Sam Danks goes there's
trouble to follow" proclaimed Joe. I'm
Just going to sneak up there and see
that he don't make some kind Of
trouble for Mary"
He had been dragging the river-bed
for CLANS with a crowfoot grapple. Now
he hastily pulled this contrivance over
the gunwale and with lusty strokes
rowed for a point about fifty yards be-
low the white cottage.
A few minutes later he stood be-
meath an open kitchen window effect
ually concealed by huge rosebush.
Very cautiously he peered over the sill.
Sam Danks was eXpertly appraising a
beautiful pearl that lay in the palm of
his hand. Fully fifty grains in weight,
pearshaped and blush black in color.
A most lustrous gem of iridescent
sheen.
1--WE been saving 1t for years." Mary
was saying. And all the river men tell
me it's easily worth $780,"
mot by ITSELF" answered Danks.
Nov if you only had mate to it to
make a matched pair of eardrops I'd
give you $500 for the pair But alone
what good is it? Just fit for lavallier
or a pendant. I'll give you an even
hundred for it, that's the best I can
do"
mo, 1 must have $780," insisted
Mary 1--WE got to roof and repair this
house before winter and that's the
figure the carpenters have named. So
it's 5000 or nothing"
For ten minutes they dickered and
wrangled, but to no avail. Mary per-
sisted in her price and all Danks' wiles
proved futile. Finally he prepared to
leave.
I'm going to stop at the boat livery
| for gas" he stated then I'm going
over to Greers Island to see what the
shanty-boaters over there have got in
my line. Better think over my offer
I'll stop in again on my way back
When Danks arrived at the island
Joe Henderson was already there wait
ing for him. The old river man was
sitting in an armchair on the sunny
porch of his trim little houseboat which
was moored first in long line of SINH
lar craft.
Hello there, old timer" shouted
Danks as he approached the island and
shut off his motor. Got anything in
my line today?"
Maybe" answered Joe.
Joe drew small pill-box from his
pocket and removed the cover. There
in a soft bed of cotton lay beautiful
pearl. Fully fifty grains in weight, pear
shaped and bluish-black in color. A
most lustrous gem of iridescent sheen.
Danks' eyes glittered as he examined
it. An undisputed pearl expert, he rec
otnized it at once as perfect mate
for the pearl Mary had shown him. An
expression of avarice spread over his
face He. would hold out on his firm,
buy the two pearls himself and have
them mounted, thereby reaping all the
profit.
But Joe Henderson seemed reluctant
to sell, and Danks spent half hour in
persuasive argument. Finally Joe con-