The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-12-18
CHAPTER VII.


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 re-
member 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 a loosening
of the throat; a relaxing Of the
muscles, as If he had dropped load
under which he had been straining.
He didn't know 1t. but the old banker
was watching him. The old. embar-
RAISING question-what name to write
in the check-brought him back ont
of the haze. He noticed that the
Jews hand trembled as he wrote. II
was an odd trifie to notice, but it was
the one thing he could afterward
clearly recall.
The check. made out to "Pearlhunt-,
err" wns in his finrers! Five thou
sand do.lars-in words. and big plain
figures! 1t was the first check he had
ever own ad-the first one he had ever
seen. He was still reading 1t, puz-
zling. over II, when the banker grasped
his hand. The banker shaking hands
with him. This was his day!
'sMay / fa re the money on this?
sWhv, my dear boy" the banker an
swered, laughing. and slapping him on
fhe sl1Oultler. Atfere isn't that much
cash in the bark"
i That was a new one on the Pearl
hunter. He haG supposed bank had
in its vaults nnls alited loads OF money.
"yyhat will ,,o?'
''You can draw part Of 1T. and de-
post the rest to Your credit"
An Of which was foreign language
to the Pearlnunter.
II didn't want t. use any Of the
money" he finally managed to say. Il
don't expect to spend a cent OF 1t for
You know--sinall matters. | expect
to leave 1t right here till l. can spend
Il for. scmp4hino-well--big just
wanted to show It 70 a--friend."
s'You might show your-friend the
check" The banker stole a glance at
Solomon gloating openly over the gem
nov that the deal was closed. "No."
he continued. there's a better
safer, he WINS nbout to say. but didn't
way than that. Why not deposit
the check ard take out draft?"
.J)raft? What's thatr'
The nld banker reached his fingers
up through his hair and studied the
man before him. Sitting down at his
desk, he wrote rapidly for moment.
"This is a DRAFT" he said. handing
over the slip he had been writing on
and taking the check In exchange. ut
is AS good as gol4 anywhere, at any
bank. any time. Show It to your
friend, and I suggest that you after
ward bring It back to the bank and
deposit 1t. ! will then give you a
check book and show you how to use
It."
The Pearlhunter read the paper
over with curious interest, put IT in
the big. formidable envelope the bank
er gave him for the purpose. and but
toned II AWAY in an inside pocket of
his blouse g. s -
The little Jew had BY this time put
the Blue Moon back In the plush case.
put the case In his vest pocket, and
pinned up the pocket.
FIimmel r he grunted, turning
away from the table. you pearl Ash
ers Us all crazy. I'd gin It to you a
st'ousan' more"
- got my price"
U aUndt dots more as anybody got 1t
vet from Louie Solomon"
He chuckled all the way - the door.
n small crowd waited outside. No
1ody knows how news leaks nut in q
mnall town. Not man but knew how