Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-11-06

afcer following him to the door, ana looE-
ing carefully up and down the street,
walked behind the counter with hasty
step and opened the money drawer.
There was 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 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--ive
dollars from the money drawer and ex-
pend it in a lottery ticket.
Singing out a fiYe-dollar bill from thu
pile, he thrust it into his vest pocket.
He had scarcely done SO when he was
startled by hearing the door open. He
made guilty jump, but perceived, to his
relief. that it was a woman not living in
the village, but probably in some adjoin-
ing town.
What can / show you, ma'am?" he
asked. in Hurried manner, for he could
not help thinking of what he had in his
vest pocket.
Il should like to look at some of your
slawls." said the woman
Joshua knew very little about his faith.
er's stock. He did know, however, where
tn" shawls were kept, and going 10 that
portion of the shelves, pulled down half
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,
nn.I L., l..I
edge on the subject.
What is the price of this one?' asked
the customer, indicating the one she mad
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."
Il 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-
nora . she had been able to save four.
JC "a looked at the five-dollar hill
he had just received, and a 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.
Il won't say anything about having
sold a shawl" he said, and fathers
never know that one has been sold. At
any rate, till get money enough to re-
place the bill l have taken"
Just then a little girl came in and m
quired for a spool of cotton. Joshua
found the spools, and let her select OF. !.
Then hea hurriediS folded up the shawls
and replaced them on the shelves. He
had just finished the task when Walter
entered. y"
"Are you tending storeT' he said, in
surprise.
Yes" said Joshua. Nichols got tired
waiting for you, so told him I'd stay
till you got back"
II had some distance to go and that
detained me. Did you have any custom.
ersf"
Eyes, just sold a spool of cotton to a
little girl"
II met her a little way up the road,
holding the spool in her hand"
well" said Joshua, II guess I'll go
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, will keep on buy
ing but If it don't shall get discour-
aged and STOP"
st guess that'll fetch EN-" thought
Joshua.
He folded up the paper, and, inclosing
the bill, directed it. The next thing to
do was to mail it. He decided, thou xh
on account of the trouble,
to walk to the next postofice, distance
of three miles, to post his letter there.
Joshua returned home, feeling tired
and provoked, but congratulating himself
that he had taken the first step toward
the grand prize which doomed in dazzling
before his eyes.
Ito be continued.)