Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-10-30

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 it over, the
more convinced he was that large sum
of money was likely to come to him
through the lottery if he could only man.
age 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.
II wish Walter would hurry up" ne
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. don't think you'll have long to
wait"
No sooner had he gone than Joshua,
ing carefully up and down the street,
walked behind the counter with a 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 five
dollars from the money drawer and ex-
pend it in lottery ticket.
Singing out fve-dollar bill from the
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 ndjoin.
ing town.
What can 1 show you, ma'am?" be
asked, in tiurried manner, for he could
not 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
er's stock. He did know however, where
the shawls were kept, and going to 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,
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 it is all woolT"
Certainly. ma'am."
Il guess I'll take it. Will you wrap
it up for me?"
This Joshua did awkwardly enough,
and the customer departed, much pleased
with her bargain, as she had a 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 &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 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 1 have taken"
Just then little girl came in and m
quired for a 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
Are you tending store?" he said. IN
surprise.
YES" said Joshua. Nichols got tired
waiting for you, so l told him I'd stay
till you got back"
II had some distance to 20 and that
detained me. Did you have any custom.
ers?"
Yes, just sold a spool of cotton to
little girl"
Il met her little way up the road
holding the spool in her hand"
WELL" said Joshua, Il guess I'll 90
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
put sheet of paper, and wrote a note
to the address given In his lottery cir
,ular, requesting the parties to send him
oy return of mail a lottery ticket. He
added, shrewdly. as he thought, IF this
ticket draws a prize, l will keep on buy