w kind of sand-piper, a god-wit or killyloo bird in a
Florida swamp, or one of them glossy ibises he hankers so for. That
extra pale bubo up there (pointing to a case above the office desk), he
picked up in Northeast Labrador."

Mr. Tescheron was greatly impressed with all this. He liked Emil, the
student, and found much in common with him. He questioned Emil
frequently, and was always glad to hear that enthusiast talk on his
hobby.

When Mr. Tescheron's enthusiasm had attained the proper pitch, he was
admitted by Emil to view his private collection of the Rare Birds of
Eastern North America, attractively displayed in glass cases around
three attic rooms. Collectors from far and near had seen this collection
and had praised it in letters which Emil showed in an off-hand way to
the eager fish expert. One of these letters contained an offer of
$15,000 for the collection.

"I wouldn't take $25,000 for that lot of birds," said Emil to the amazed
Tescheron at the first interview.

"Do you suppose you'll ever get that much?" asked the unbelieving guest,
making full allowance for the high opinion a collector has of his own
wares. "Who'd give it?"

"Any museum that wants the finest collection of Rare Birds of Eastern
North America will give it readily. A friend of mine who has been
collecting postage stamps, values his collection at that, and he hasn't
begun to put the time and money into it I have put in this work. Here
are over one hundred of the rarest birds to be found from Florida to
Labrador--any bird expert can tell that."

Mr. Tescheron became deeply interested. He consulted his friend Smith,
the great detective, who recommended a bird expert he knew to appraise
the collection and get a price from its fond owner. For a consideration
of fifty dollars, the bird expert spent an hour in Hoboken viewing the
Emil Stuffer collection without letting it be known whom he represented.
At least that was the agreement he made with Mr. Tescheron. He reported
that the collection would be a bargain at five thousand dollars, and he
believed it might be bought for that, as he understood Mr. Stuffer was
in need of money and was beginning to hint he might sacrifice it among
people in the trade; but of course he gave no sign of anxiety to
possible purchasers.

A man makes his pile in the fish business, but it is not monumental; it
will not live after him in memorial grandeur, and the business itself is
far from imposing--the phosph