The Holbrook news., 1921-02-18
CHAPTER VII.
-9-
The Face in the Draft.


 The banker brought back the plush case aud set it down on the table. The .Jew tool, out his check book and be- gan tc write.
 The Pearlhunter never could re- member the thoughts that came over him Rt that high moment of his life. FoF ail he could recall. there were no clear thoughts at all-just loosening of the throat a relaxing of the snuscles. 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- rassing question-what name to write tn the check-brought him back out of the haze. He noticed that the Jew's hand trembIed as he wrote It was an odd trife to notice. but it was fhe one thing he could afterward clearly recall.
 The check. made out to "Pearlhunt- CT" was in his fingers Five thou sand doIIars-in words. and big plain figures! IL was the first check he had ever owned-the first one he had ever seen He was ftill reading it. pug ItrHE UNCi Is AnFFPCo Aisshand. The banker shaking hands with him This was his dayI
 "31ay have the money on this?" r "Why. my dear boy" the banker an- esered. laughing. and slapping him on the shoulder. "there isn't that much cash in the bank"
 That was new one on the Pearl hunter He had supposed bank had tn It's vaults unlimited loads of money.
 ''What will do?"
 ''You can draw part of 1t. and de- pOsit the rest to your credit"
 All of which was foreign language to the Pearthunter.
 'I didn't want to use any of the money" he finally managed to say. q cont expect to spend cent of it for -you know-smar matters. expect to leave It right here till I can spend tt for Omething-well-big just wanted to show it to a-friend."
 "YoU might show your-friend the check" The banker stole glance at Solomon gloating openly owe: the gem now that the deal was closed. "NO.'' he continued there's a better safer he was about to say. but didn't --'yav than that. Why rot deposit the rherl5 ana take out draft?''
 .Ieraft? What's that?"
 Tn" Old tanker reached his fingers up through his hAir and studied the n,Hn before him. Sitting down at his desk. he wrote rapidly for moment.
 ''ThiS is a draft." he said handing ell. T.. and taking the check in exchange. "It 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. will then give you a check book and show you how to use tt."
 TEe i'earlhunter read the paper over with curious interest. put it in Che big. formidable envelope the bank CT gave him for the purpose. and but toned 1t 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.
 "HimmeIr he grunted. turning qwxy from the table 'eYOu pearl fish CTS iss all crazy. I'd giff it to you q t'eusan' mOre' CT gOt my price"
 ''Undt dots more as anybody got it tet from Louie Solomon" He chucIIled all the way the door A small crowd waited outside. No body knows how fiews leaks out in a small town. Not man hut knew how usdch the pearl had brought One of the crowd. lanky. One-eyed fisher man. sidled up to the Pearlhunter "Y''u got 1t. didn't y'u?"
 The PearIhunter was too slow. and | the little Jew answered for him.
 Course he got it. What chance a pore devil pearl buyer got init de 1 whole rown against i'm 70
 That statement. or one like it. was i what the crowd had been waiting for. | The tension was over The finding and | selling of the famous gem. the most | valuable pearl ever "h'isted" along the [ Wabash. was now histOry-F |