Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-07-24

handsome return for a 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 1t over, the
more convinced he was that a large sum
Of money was likely to come to him
through the lottery IL he could only man.
ege to raise money enough to buy
| ticket. But 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,
and 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
I'll take your place till he gets back,
Mr.. Nichols" said Joshua, with extra
ordinary kindness for him.
Much obliged, Joshua" said the sales
man. "I'll do as much for you another
time. l don't think you'll have long to
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 hasty
| step and opened the money drawer.
There was a small pile of bills in one
compartment, and In the other collection
of currency. He took the bills into his
hand, and looked over them. His hands
trembled a little, for he contemplated
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 lottery ticket
Singing out a five-dolar bill from the
pile, he thrust 1t into his vest pocket.
He had scarcely done SO when he was
startled by hearing the door open. He
msde guilty jump, but perceived, to his
relief, that 1t was a woman not living in
the village, but probably in some adjoin.
ing town.
What can l show you, ma'am? he
asked, in a turried manner, for he could
not help thinking of what he had in his
vest pocket.
II should like to look at some Of your
shawls," said the woman
Joshua knew very little about his faith
er's stock. He did know, however, where
the shawls were kept, and going to that
portion of the shelves, pulled down hnlf
| 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 had
in her hand.
Five dollars" answered Joshua, with
some hesitation. He knew nothing Of
the price, but guessed that this would be
about right.
"And you say 1t is all wool?"
Certainly. ma'am."
II guess I'll take it. Will you wrap
1t up for me?"
This Joshua did awkwardly enough,
and the customer departed, much pleased
with her bargain, as she had right to
b., for the real price Of the shawl was
nine dollars, but, thanks to Joshua's ig-
norance, she had been able to save four.
Joshua looked at the fve-dolar hill
he had just received, and new idea oc-
CURED to him. He replaced in the draw
er the bill he had originally taken from
1t. and substituted that just received.
II won't say anything about having
sold a shawl" he said, land fathers
never know that one has been sold. At
any rate, till l get money enough to re-
place the bill have taken."
Just then little girl came in and IN
quired for spool of cotton. Joshua
found the spools, and let her select one.
Then he hurriedly folded up the shawls
and replaced them on the shelves. He
had just finished the task when Walter
entered.
"Are you tending storew he said, in
surprise.
YES" said Joshua. nichols got tired
waiting for you, so | told him I'd stay
till you got back"
IL had some distance to go and that
detained me. Did you have any custom
ers?"
"Yes, just sold spool of cotton to a
little girl.
'I met her little way up the road,
holding the spool in her hand.'
"Well," said Joshua, II guess I'll 20
now you've got back"
He went across the street to his faith
er's house, and, going up into his room
locked the door, not wishing to be inter.
rupted. Then, opening his desk, he took
out a sheet of paper, and wrote a note
to the address given in his lottery cir
cular, requesting the parties to send him
by return Of mail lottery ticket. He
added, shrewdly, as he thought, IF this
ticket draws prize, l will keep on buy
ing; but II 1t don't shall get discour.
aged and STOP"
IT guess that'll fetch EN-" thought
Joshua.
He folded up the paper, and, incloslng
the bill, directed 1t. The next thing to
do was to mail 1t. He decided, though