Read Online Pickin' Murder: An Antique Hunters Mystery by Vicki Vass - Free Book Online
Authors: Vicki Vass
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have to call him later.
Chapter Ten
Anne was a little disappointed at the exterior of the Hickory Antiques Mall. It wasn’t quaint, it wasn’t charming; it looked like an abandoned K-Mart without a soul. It was a big glass storefront building with poorly painted white aluminum and a big ugly sign that read Hickory Antiques Mall.
“This place had good reviews on Yelp . Let’s get past the façade of the building.” Anne pulled out her notebook that contained all the requests from their fans. It was color coded according to style and era and price. Since the Chicago Tribune article heralded them as heroes for solving the “Estate Sale Murders,” the Spoon Sisters’ blog had reached more than 50,000 fans––some from as far away as Europe and the Middle East.
Anne followed CC into the shop. Amidst the turn of the century dressers, there was an original Globe Wernicke 1930s barrister bookcase. Anne looked at the four-stack mahogany case. The wood had been restored to its original finish. At $575, it was an average price, but she knew CC would not make room for it in the bus. In the corner next to the bookcase, was an old green glass stand-up ashtray. Its base was cast metal. A brass dragon swooped over the jadeite bowl. She inspected it, and it appeared to be an art deco original. She checked her list; Clyde from Romeoville was looking for an antique ashtray for his man cave. She snapped a picture and texted it to him.
CC came over to look. She was holding a Sunbeam wooden basket that had been used to deliver bread in the 1930s. “Anne, I think I’m going to get this for my photo supplies,” she said. “I have something else to show you.”
CC grabbed Anne and pulled her over to a small table in the corner where a very large man sat on a very small wooden stool. In front of him, there were several cigarette cards that resembled modern day baseball cards. There was also other tobacco memorabilia including cigarette lighters, tobacco tins, cigar boxes and ashtrays.
The man looked like Burl Ives except a little less friendly. “Anne, do you see what I see?” CC pointed. The cigarette cards on display depicted Native Americans. One card had a picture of John L. Sullivan, the famous heavyweight champion boxer. But the one that got CC’s heart pumping was the 1887 Allen & Ginter card of Adrian Cap Anson, a famous baseball player in the 1880s. It was an N28, the rarest available. It depicted the Chicago White Stockings/Colts player in his uniform, bat in hand. Even though the card was far from perfect, it was almost impossible to find. All the cards on the table ranged from the late 1880s to the 1930s.
Mr. Ives smiled when he saw CC recognize the Cap Anson card.
CC knew that he knew that she knew what it was worth. All the cards were enclosed in protective sleeves. “May I take a closer look at the Cap?”
“Honey, please, go right ahead. Be gentle.” He kept a watchful eye on her as she slid it out of its protective covering.
CC turned it over gently in her hands. “It’s remarkable. How did you come across all these cards?”
“They’re on consignment from one of my long-time customers and friend, Randall Bement.”
CC replaced the card and did a mental inventory. She estimated what she thought she could pay compared to what she could sell them for. Then she remembered someone on her list who collected tobacco memorabilia. The whole collection would be perfect for him. ‘Excuse us for a moment.” She pulled Anne to the corner by the Coke machine.
She pulled out her iPhone 6 plus and texted Dr. Sherwin, a pulmonologist from Massachusetts who collected smoking memorabilia. “Anne, these cards would be remarkable for his office. He could frame them and display them.” She texted the pictures that she had taken of the cards and sent them to Dr. Sherwin.
Anne’s phone vibrated. Clyde had responded that he wanted the ashtray but for no more than $150. Perhaps they could strike a deal if CC
Chapter Ten
Anne was a little disappointed at the exterior of the Hickory Antiques Mall. It wasn’t quaint, it wasn’t charming; it looked like an abandoned K-Mart without a soul. It was a big glass storefront building with poorly painted white aluminum and a big ugly sign that read Hickory Antiques Mall.
“This place had good reviews on Yelp . Let’s get past the façade of the building.” Anne pulled out her notebook that contained all the requests from their fans. It was color coded according to style and era and price. Since the Chicago Tribune article heralded them as heroes for solving the “Estate Sale Murders,” the Spoon Sisters’ blog had reached more than 50,000 fans––some from as far away as Europe and the Middle East.
Anne followed CC into the shop. Amidst the turn of the century dressers, there was an original Globe Wernicke 1930s barrister bookcase. Anne looked at the four-stack mahogany case. The wood had been restored to its original finish. At $575, it was an average price, but she knew CC would not make room for it in the bus. In the corner next to the bookcase, was an old green glass stand-up ashtray. Its base was cast metal. A brass dragon swooped over the jadeite bowl. She inspected it, and it appeared to be an art deco original. She checked her list; Clyde from Romeoville was looking for an antique ashtray for his man cave. She snapped a picture and texted it to him.
CC came over to look. She was holding a Sunbeam wooden basket that had been used to deliver bread in the 1930s. “Anne, I think I’m going to get this for my photo supplies,” she said. “I have something else to show you.”
CC grabbed Anne and pulled her over to a small table in the corner where a very large man sat on a very small wooden stool. In front of him, there were several cigarette cards that resembled modern day baseball cards. There was also other tobacco memorabilia including cigarette lighters, tobacco tins, cigar boxes and ashtrays.
The man looked like Burl Ives except a little less friendly. “Anne, do you see what I see?” CC pointed. The cigarette cards on display depicted Native Americans. One card had a picture of John L. Sullivan, the famous heavyweight champion boxer. But the one that got CC’s heart pumping was the 1887 Allen & Ginter card of Adrian Cap Anson, a famous baseball player in the 1880s. It was an N28, the rarest available. It depicted the Chicago White Stockings/Colts player in his uniform, bat in hand. Even though the card was far from perfect, it was almost impossible to find. All the cards on the table ranged from the late 1880s to the 1930s.
Mr. Ives smiled when he saw CC recognize the Cap Anson card.
CC knew that he knew that she knew what it was worth. All the cards were enclosed in protective sleeves. “May I take a closer look at the Cap?”
“Honey, please, go right ahead. Be gentle.” He kept a watchful eye on her as she slid it out of its protective covering.
CC turned it over gently in her hands. “It’s remarkable. How did you come across all these cards?”
“They’re on consignment from one of my long-time customers and friend, Randall Bement.”
CC replaced the card and did a mental inventory. She estimated what she thought she could pay compared to what she could sell them for. Then she remembered someone on her list who collected tobacco memorabilia. The whole collection would be perfect for him. ‘Excuse us for a moment.” She pulled Anne to the corner by the Coke machine.
She pulled out her iPhone 6 plus and texted Dr. Sherwin, a pulmonologist from Massachusetts who collected smoking memorabilia. “Anne, these cards would be remarkable for his office. He could frame them and display them.” She texted the pictures that she had taken of the cards and sent them to Dr. Sherwin.
Anne’s phone vibrated. Clyde had responded that he wanted the ashtray but for no more than $150. Perhaps they could strike a deal if CC
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