The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-08
CHAPTER XIV.
The Face in the Draft.

The Face in the Draft.
The banker brought back the plush
case and set it down on the table. The
Jew took out his check book and be-
! gan to write.
The Pearlhunter never could remem-
Der the thoughts that came over him
at that high moment of his life For
all he could recall there were no clear
thoughts at adjust loosening of the
throat; relaxing of the muscles, as
| if he had dropped a load under which
he had been straining. He didn't
know it, but the old banker was
watching him. The old, embarrassing
| question-what name to write in the
| check-brought him back out of the
haze. He noticed that the Jews hand
trembled as he wrote. 1t was an odd
trifle to notice, but it was the one
thing he could afterward clearly recall.
The check. made out to Pearl
hunter" was in his fingers! Five
thousand dollars-in words, and big
plain figures! 1t was the first check
he had ever owned-the first one he
had ever seen. He was still reading it,
puzzling over it, when the banker
grasped his hand. The banker was
shaking hands with him! This was
his day.
May have the money on this?''
why. my dear boy" the banker an
swered, laughing, and slapping him on
the shoulder, there isn't that much
cash in the bank"
That was a new one on the Pearl
hunter He had supposed a bank had
in its vaults unlimited loads of
money.
It'll da
you can draw part of it. and de-
post the rest to your credit"
All of which was a foreign language
to the Pearlhunter.
81 didn't want to use any of the
money" he finally managed to say. i
don't expect to spend cent Of it for
YOU know-small matters. I expect to
leave it right here till can spend it
for something-well big. l just want
ed to show it to a-friend."
you might show your-friend the
check" The banker stole glance at
solomon gloating openly over the gem,
now the the deal was closed. NC"
he continued, there's better"-safer.
he was about to say, but didn't-"way
than that. why not deposit the check
and take out draft?"
.eDraft? What's that?"
The old banker reached his fingers
nm through his hair and studied the
man before him. Sitting down at his
desk. he wrote rapidly for moment.
.orhis IS a draft" he said, handing /
over the slip he had been writing on
and taking the check in exchange.
.sThis check is Louie Solomon's prom
tee IN nav. The draft is the banks
,,roynise TO nav. The check has Louie |
Solonon back of it: the draft has, In
effect the entire banking strength OF
tho nation back of it. It is as good as
cold anywhere, at any bank, any time.
show il to your friend, and suggest
shat YOU afterward bring 1t back 10
the bank and deposit it. 1 Will then
give Won a check book and show you
how to use 1t.
The Pearlhunter read the paper over
with curious interest, put 1t IN the DIE,
formidable envelope the banker gave
him for that purpose, and outtoned II
awav in an inside pocket OF his blouse.
It was the longest time ne nao eve.
been shut up in so small room IN an
his life. It was by lar the iines.
roou, he had ever seen, but he wanted
49, IF Il He tried to thank the bank
- for his kindness, but the old fellow
o,,,1, hit him a slap between the Shout
ders laughed, and went into the front
mart of the bank. The little Jew hao
nv this time put the Blue Moon back
IN the plush case. put the case in his
vest pocket, and pinned up the pocket
.sHimmel!" he grunted. turning away
from the table. You pearl fishers ISIS
all crazy. I'd Gift it to you a tousan'
more"
ar cot nv pricei.'
"Iyndt dots more as anybody got 1t
vet from Louie Solomon"
He chuckled all the way to the door
A small crowd waited outside. Nobody
knows how news leaks out in small
town. Not a man but knew how much
the pearl had brought. One OF the
crowd, a lanky. one-eyed fisherman,
sided up to the Pearlhunter.
.sY'u got it. didn't y'u?"
The Pearlhunter was too slow, and
the little Jew answered for him.
Course he got il. What chance
l pore devil pearl buyer got NIT DE
whole town against 'im!"
That statement, or one like il, was
what the crowd had been waiting for.
The tension was over. The finding