Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1901 — FOUND-A PEARL. [ARTICLE]

FOUND-A PEARL.

Two Rival Lunch Counter Proprietow Now Companions in Misery. It was at J can’s little lunch counter. The man who had been quietly devouring a small fry suddenly sprang from his stool and shouted: “I have found it!’’ ¥ Jean left the chair behind tire casfc register and came over to find th* cause of the guesfs excitement. “What eis eit you have found?” A pearl! The biggest found in an oyster this season/’ and h* placed the opaque object in his pains for Jean’s infection. It was Jean’# turn to be excited. “A pearl! Ah, eit is one beauty *‘A gem of the first water.’” “One hundred dollars would be an moderate price for such a jewel.” “Will you sell eit to me for feefty cash ?” “Fifty? Why, I told you it wa* worth double fifty. ” “Yes, but you found eit in here.” -The man with the pearl appeared to be in deep thought, says the Chicago Daily News. At last he placed the pearl in Jean's hand and said: “Well, considering that I found it. in your oysters it is only right that I should do the square thing. But what use are you going to make of it?” “I will place eit in ze window for one advertisement. I will write on# card and ze people will know my oysters have ze pearls. I get ze trade of Bumgarten across ze street.” - But give hie the fifty and the pearl is yours.” Jean fished S4O from a greasy bag* and the remainder from the cash, register.- With mumbled thanks the lucky man departed. Ten minutes later‘the pearl adorried the window.. A peat card informed the public that the rare jewel had been found in one cf Jean s oysters. Al! morning a = -crowd stuod- before the window and ■ Jean was proud. But at noon Jean noticed a similar crawd in front of his rival's establishment.

“He is jealous." said J< an, slipping; on his coat ami hat. “and he fix up. something to niake one look.** But there was a surprise in'storefor Jean. In Rumgarten’s window was an exact duplicate of the Frenclfc—man's pearl. “Bumgarten!” called Jean,“wlier«? you get ze pearl?” lhe Teuton s chest expanded with pride. “Dot bearl vas found in niicnt &y»- - ters. 1 pay der man dot found it SIG-’ and keep der bearl.” “But I paid feefty for one ze same, size. \\ hat kind of a man found your * pearl, Bumgjirtefi?” "He yore a golf cap and a blue - coat.” "Then eit is ze same man. Bm»— garten, something eis funny. Let r »>» take ze pearls to ze jeweler.” The Teuton agreed and Jean hurried over after his attraction. Together they hastened to the jewelesr in Van Buren street. “Are zey ze genuine pearls?" asked’ Jean. Tlie jeweler examined the pearlas and smiled. “\\ ho said they were pearls?” e bought dem as bearls.” "Then, g< ntletnen, you have beevsold. These are only smoked glassbeads. They are intended to hole puff neckties togethi r.” 1 hen Jean and Bumgarten wenSt out to tell the pclic ■ all about il.