The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-02-24
CHAPTER VII.
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 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 loosening
of the throat; 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 qIestion-what name to write
kn 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 "Pearlhunt-
err" was I'm his fingers! Five thou
sand dolIarS-in words, and big plain
figures! It was the first check he had
ever owned-the first one he had ever
seen. He was still reading it, puz-
zling over it. when the banker grasped
his hand. The banker shaking hands
with him! This was his day!
"May have the money on this?"
"Why. my dear boy" the banker an
severed, laughing, and sIapping 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
6n its vaults unlimited loads of money.
'sWhat will do?"
'You can draw part of it. and de-
post the rest to your credit"
All of which was foreign language
to the Pearlhunter.
81 didn't want to use any of the
money" he finally managed to say. Il
don't expect to spend cent of it for
you know-small matters. / expect
to leave, it right here till / can spend
ht for something | just
wanted to- show it to a-friend."
"You might show your-friend the
check" The banker stole a glance at
Solomon gloating openly over the gem.
now that the deal was closed. mo"
he continued, there's a better
safer, he was about to say, but didn't
way than that. Why not deposit
the check and take out drafti''
4Draft? What's that?
The old banker reached mis- fingers
up through his hair and studied the
man before him. Sitting down at his
desk. he wrote rapidly for moment.
'aIhis is a draft" he said, handing
over the slip he had been writing on
and taking the check in exchange. at
is as good as gold 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 it. I viii then give you a
check book and show you how to use
ht..'
The, 2earlhunter 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 it away in an inside pocket of
hiS blouse.
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
''HimmeI!" he grunted, turning
away from the table. You pearl fish,
ers ISIS all crazy. I'd gift it to you a
t'ousan' more"
rro& mn xar;ooD
''Undt dots more as anybody got it
yet from Louie Solomon"
He chuckled all the way the door
A small crowd waited outside. No
body knows how news leaks out in q
small town. Not man but knew how
much the pearl had brought. One OF
the crowd. a lanky. one-eyed fisher.
anan, sided up to the PearIhunter
"Y'u got 1t. didn't y'u?"
The Pearlhunter was too slow, and
the little Jew answered for him.
course he got it. What chance q
pore devil pearl buyer got NIT DE-
whole town against 'im!"
yhat statement, or one like it, was
what tire crowd had been waiting for
The tension vas over. The finding and
selling of tile famohs gem, the most
valuable pearl ever "h'isted" along the
,,oxxr III a fxvO0de