"Clams by the bushel,

Clams by the lot,

Clams for the kettle,

Clams for the pot."

            "None for us today," Mrs. Gruen called.

            Salty smiled. "Come now," he coaxed. 'Ye can't turn down my clams. They're nutritious, delicious, delectable, respectable! Matter of fact, ye might even find a pearl in one of 'em!"

            Nancy turned to Hannah. "Don't you think we could use a few pearly clams?" she asked with a wink.

            The housekeeper gave in. "Okay, a dozen. Nancy, please get my purse."

            Nancy darted away, but soon returned with the pocketbook and a container for the clams.

            After the elderly sailor had left, she and Hannah took the clams into the kitchen and Nancy started to open them with a sharp knife. Soon she had a pile of empty shells, but no pearls.

            "I guess these haven't anything in them but meat! Well, here's the last one."

            Nancy opened the clam and was about to toss away the attractive, rainbow-colored shell when a tiny object inside drew her attention.

            "A pearl!" she cried, holding it out for the housekeeper to see.

            Hannah stared at the small white object. "I declare, it is one," she acknowledged, "and may be worth some money!"

            "I'll take it to Sam Weatherby," Nancy said eagerly. She removed the pearl and washed it, then drove to Mr. Weatherby's shop.

            The owner was a dealer in curios and antique jewelry. Nancy had to wait fifteen minutes while an unpleasant man bargained with the shop owner over a piece of jewelry he wanted to sell. It was a man's antique watch chain with an attractive gold charm. At last the customer accepted an offer, pocketed the money Mr. Weatherby paid him, and turned on his heel, remarking, "I might as well have given it to you!"