The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-07-11

6~NSNGNO0COvOOONO0eG
The boy looked up at the store
keeper and waved his hand to him in
friendly manner.
"Hullo. Abb" he said.
"Hullo, Jim,' the storekeeper
called back. Hear anything from
your Uncle Cyl"
Nothing yet. Alb. Maybe he didn't
get my letter."
"Goin' to tn city. anyway, ]
s'pose?"
II don't feel quite sure, Alb.
want to go bad enough, but amt sc
well fixed that can afford to loaf
round very long waiting for some
thing to turn up. They say it amt at
all easy to get job there unless
you've got pull. The jobs don't
hang on trees waiting to be shaken
down"
II didn't s'pose they had any trees
In the city," laughed the storekeeper.
"Ceptin', mebby, in the parks an ber-
fairgrounds. Coin down to the
postoff1ce, s'pose?"
Eyes. There may be letter there.
1t could have come in on the 2.3O."
That's So" the storekeeper said.
IAN say, Jim, wish you'd take this
bill into the Farmers Bank as you
pass by an get John Metcalf to break
1t up for you" He drew out his an
GENT wallet as he spoke, and, unroll-
ing the strap around it, produced a
$40 bill.
Pretty big piece of paper for you
to tote around, Alb" said the boy, as
he took the bill and glanced at it.
Must have nearly broke you to make
change."
"It did. Jim, it did. Had to give
tn Teller dollars worth O. pennies
besides all tn silver. But he didn't
seem to mind
The boy stared hard at the bill.
He brought it a little closer to his
eyes. Then he extended it at arms
length. And as he stared at it the
frown deepened on his young face.
Where did you get this. ABB" he
asked.
"Feller came in on the 2.30. Said
he needed a leetle change-an' didn't
objeck to the smallness of it. Why,
what's tn matter with tn billa"
The boy gave the money another
long scrutiny.
Don't believe it's good. Alb"
mot good! Merciful snakes!"
You know I was in the bank all
last summer, Alb, and got so could
tell good money pretty well. This
don't look good to me-. What sort OF
looking fellow was hep
Mighty slick lookin', Jim. Shiny
pin in his necktie an big gold chain
cross his vest. Nice spoken, too
Said he was ina hurry to get back to
tn depoo' fore tn train pulled out
told him he had nearly ten minutes
an he said he wanted a good seegar
an | sold him quarters worth O
Edny Mays, an then he tossed that
ten to me--tossed it JUS like he was
used to tossin' 'em ten hours a day
an I counted him out nine dollars
n seventy-fiye cents, mostly in
chickin' feed. / says, It's the best ]
can do, an he laughs an says That's
all right need little change in
my business You don't think it's
bad, do you, really, JIM"
II do, Alb. But I'll run over te
the bank and ask John Metcalf. He'll
spot it mighty quick"
"All right, Jim. An say, hurry
back an femme know"
81 shan't keep you waiting long
Alb. John won't have to give it more
than glance, and then I'll skip back
and let you know"
The boy strobe across the street
md turned the first corner.
''That would be a pretty tough joke
On me-" the storekeeper murmured
with dismal sigh. but, mebby
Jim's wrong. If he amt, then I'm
out jes' nine-seventy-f1v an a quar-.
ter's worth of Edny Mays" And he
sighed again. Blamed if I don't fee
Ms If I'd bought a gold brick. The
idea of slick lookin' chap like that
bein' passer of bogus bills! He
ought to be in jail fer 1ife-blame
him." He walked into the little
store and peeped around irresolutely
Then he leaned against the counter
Blamed. If faint all unstrung," he
muttered. Brace up, you old idiot
Ten dollars won't make nor break
you. There's Jim comm back" And
he hurried to the doorway.
ssWa1J2n he criod
tits bad" the boy replied. Its q
new counterfeit. John hadn't ever
heard of it, and he's supposed te
know all about them as fast as they
come out. He says it's well exc.
cuted bill-probably the best he has
ever run across"
II don't see as that's goin' to dc
me any particular good,' said the
storekeeper ruefully. II didn't take
1t on the strength of it's bein' a fine
Imitation. I s'pose I'd taken it if II
hadn't been half as good. I need {
garden, that's what I need
Hold on, Abb cried the boy
s'I've got an idea. Now tell me whal
particularities you noticed about this