The Mena weekly star., 1921-07-28
CHAPTER VI.
The Facs h the Drsft.

The Face ln the DrafE
 The banker brought back the plush case and set 1t down on the table. The Jew took out his check book and be xxn to write.
 The Pearihunter never could re- member the thoughts that came over Afm at that high moment of his life. For aiI he could recall, there were no clear thoughts at aIl-just lcosening of fhe throat: relaxing of the muscles. as If he had dropped load under which he had been strainlng. He didn't know 1t, but the old banker wms watching him. The old, embar- ssssing QuestIon-what name to write Sn the check brought him back out of the haze. He noticed that the Jews hand trembIed as he wrote It was an odd trifie to notice. but 1t was the one thing he could afterward sseariy recall.
 The check. made out to "PearIhunt- CT" was in his fingers Five thou sand dollars--in words, and big plain fxuresl It was the first check he had ever owned--the first one he had ever seen He was still reading 1t, pug xfing over f.. when the banker grasped AIs Aend The banker shaking hands with him This was his dayl
 May have the money on this?"
 "Why. my dear boy,r the banker am swered laughing. and skipping him oD the shoulder. there isn't that much cash In the bank"
 That was new one on the Pearl hunter He had supposed bank had in Its vaults unlimited loads of money.
 ~what will I dof"
 -You can draw part of 1t. and de ' posit the rest to your credit"
 All of which was a foreign language Co the PearIhunter.
 'T didn't want to use any of the money" he finally managed to say. q 5anx expect to spend a cent of 1t for -~ycu inow--small matters. expect to leave 1t right here till can spend ft for something-weIl-bI just wanted to show it to a--friend."
 You might show your-friend the check" The banker stole glance ait solomon Eloating openly over the gem, n0w that the deal was closed. No" he continued. there's better"-- sssfef. he was about 10 say, but didn't
 ''way than that. Why not deposit the check and take out draftY"
 -Draft7 What's tfatY'
 The old banker reached his fingers up through his hair and studied the msn before him. Sitting down at his desk. he wrote rapidly for moment
 's'his Is drart." he said. handing over the slip he had heen writing on and taking the check in exchange Tt 'is as good as gold anywhere. at any bank. any time. Show It to your friend and suggest that you after. ward bring f back to the hank and deposit it I win then give you 4check book and show you how to use sits'
 The Pearlhunter rcad the paper aver with curious interest, put it in the big. formidable envelope the baak- ev gave him for the purpose. and but toned t away in an inside pocket of Al$ hlease
 The little lew had by this time nut the Blue Moon back 10 the plush case xDvs the case in his vest pocket. and pinned up the pocket.
 Himmel l" he grunted. turning away from the table. "You pearl fish CTS iss all crazy. To gif it to you a'ousan more"
 'I got my price"
 1Undt dots more as anybody got lt ret from Louie solomon"
 He chnckled all the way to the door 4 small crowd waited outside. No. body knows how news leaks out In q znall town. Not q man but knew how much the pearl had brought. One of <Ehe crowd, q Ianky, one-eyed fisher asaan. sidled up to the Pearlhunter.
 @Y'n got if. didn't y'u?"
 The Pearlhnnter was too slow. and the little Jew answered for him.
 ~course he got 1t. What chance a Dore devil pearl buyer got init de sFhoie town against im !"
 That statement, or one like It, was what the crowd had been waiting for The tension was over. The flnding and selling of the famous gem. the most -vaiuable pearl ever '.h'isteds along the wabash. was now history -Flatwoods History. The one-eyed fisherman rhucked his hat up in the air and yelled--a msty cheer. in which the crowd joined One would have thought Chat each man there had sold Blue -hdoon n--or found one.
 The Pearlbunter felt good deal as the crowd seemed to feel---a Ioosenlne of the tension. For that matter. the fat little buyer seemed to feel soma. 1aing of the same relief. Caught un in fhs crowd both buyer and seller vera swept across the road and into the ex. pecfant door of the Mud Hen.
 The Pearlhunter had just tweDtv.fivs dcilarz and twenty-seven cents in his pocket. He had counted fl that morn. zsE while waiting for Louie solomon to