Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-03-05
Joshua Drummond. ESQ,

SCapIet0n.
This was promptly taken from the Of
fee by Joshua. who had called on an av-
crage twice day for this very paper. 1t
~ owed to be printed on yellow paper,
and fairly bristled with figures. indicat-
ing the large sums which were weekly
distributed all over the country by the
benevolent managers of the lottery. Here
was scheme in which the principal prize
was but a thousand dollars However,
the tickets were but a dollar each, and
a thousand dollars for one was certainly
a handsome return for q small outlay.
There were others, however. in which the
principal prize was five thousand dollars,
and the tickets were, in due proportion,
five dollars each.
The more Joshua thought it over, the
more convinced he was that a large sum
of money was likely to come to him
through the lottery if he could only man
a.e to raise money enough to buy a
ticket. Bat the problem of how to get
the necessary five dollars he was as far
as ever from solving.
While in this state of mind he hap
pcned one day to be in the store at noon,
amt alone. Nichols, the head clerk. wish
ed to go TO dinner. and was only waiting
for Walter to get back from an errand.
Il wish Walter would hurry up he
grumbled. My dinner will get cold
"Ill take your place till he gets back,
| Mr.. Nichols said Joshua, with extra
ordinary kindness for him.
Much obliged. Joshua" said the sales
man. IN do as much for you another
time. don't think you'll have long 70
wait"
| No sooner had he gone than Joshua
after following him to the door. and look
| ing carefully up and down the street,
walked behind the counter with a haSty
step and opened the money drawer.
There was small pile of bills in one
compartment, and in the other a collection
Of currency. He took the bills into his
hand, and looked over them. His hands
trembled little, for he contemplated a
dishonest act. Unable to obtain the
money in any other way. he meant to bcr-
row-that was what he called it-five
dollars from the money drawer and ex-
pend it in a lottery ticket.
| Singing out a five-dollar bill from the
pile. he thrust it into his vest pocket.
| He had scarcely done so when he vas
startled by hearing the door open. he
msde guilty jump but perceived. to his
relief. that it was a woman not living in
the village. but probably in some adjon-
ing town.
What can | show you, ma'am?" he
asked, in Hurried manner. for he coald
moi help thinking of what he had in his
vest pocket.
Il should like to look at some of your
| shawls." said the woman
Joshua knew very little about his faith
e,'s stock. He did know. however, where
thu shawls were kept and going to that
portion of the shelves, pulled down halt
a dozen and showed them to his Gus
| toner.
Are they all wool?" she asked, crit-
ically. examining one of them.
YES" answered Joshua, confidently
though he had not the slightest knowl-
edge on the subject.
What is the price of this one?' asked
the customer, indicating the one she DAD
in her hand.
Five dollars" answered Joshua. with
some hesitation. He knew nothing oil
the price, but guessed that this would be
about right.
And you say it is all wooi?"
Certainly. ma'am."
II guess III take it. Will you wraI
it up for me?''
This Joshua did awkwardly enough
and the customer departed. much pleased
with her bargain, as she had a right tc
b.. for the real price of the shawl wa:
nine dollars. but. thanks TO Joshua's ig
norance. she had been able to save four
Joshua looked at the fvedollar hi
he had just received, and new idea &C
CURED to him. He replaced in the draw
er the bill he had originally taken from
, it and substituted that just received.
Il won't say anything about having
sold q shawl" he said, land father;
never know that ote has been sold. A
any rate. till l geti money enough to re
, place the bill l have taken
Just then little girl came in and n
ouired for spool 1of cotton. Joshu'