Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-08-25
DAI LY SHORT STORY
A FASCINATING MAN.
[OriginaEl


tious both for himself. and his sister.
He wished TO become merchant in
the city and was DESTROYS that Clara,
who was a charming girl, should marry
city man. His plan was TO sell the
farm and set up country store. This
would take him to the city TO buy
goods, where he would make the ac-
Quaintance Of business men through
whom he would gradually work his
way into wider field. Some of these
acquaintance he might introduce TO
Clara, and among them she might lind
q husband.
Douglas carried out his plan. Before
starting TO the city his sister warned
him to beware of city people and re-
member that he was not versed i'll city
ways. To this he replied that he had
letters TO the firm of Burt x Richard
son and would rely on'them for advice.
Burt x Richardson were wholesale
grocers. Douglas was received by Mr..
Richardson, who said to him:
You have goods TO buy In so many
different lines that YOU had better take
one of our clerks 10 show you where
| YOU can buy cheapest. At the same
time you can sound the market for
| your groceries. and we will do as well
or better than you can do elsewhere"
Douglas gladly accepted the offer.
and the clerk who was sent with him,
Gilbert Adams, put him right into the
way Of securing bargains, and by 1
o'clock all but the groceries had been
purchased. Douglas had found Adams
strictly n business man and was much
relieved on returning to the store to
be introduced 10 a Mr.. Merriman, who
he understood had just dropped in and
whose geniality captivated the young
coUntryman at once. Mr.. Merriman
seemed TO take to Douglas and sat
chatting with him while the others at
tended to business
"Mcrriman," said Mr.. Richardson.
we are very busy just now and can't
give Mr.. Midway the attention he
needs. Can't you devote yourself TO
him this evening?'
Il shall he most happy" said the
genial Merriman.
The evening was revelation 10 the
| young merchant. He saw the sights
of the city in the most delightful fash
| ION. He tried 10 pay his share of the
| expense. but Mcrriman would wink 1t
! the cashiers and remark to Douglas,
WAIT till l go to your place, then il
viii be You who shall do the paying
! Douglas became confidential, show
! ing his new friend a photograph OF
! his sister. Mcrriman at once went
| into raptures over it, declaring the
| face 10 be the most beautiful he had
ever seen. Then secret desire Crept
!
| just the match he would like for Clara.
The next morning Merriman spoke
| Of the picture in such terms that Ell
| bert Adams asked to see it. He gazed
at ii for some time then handed it
| back without word. Douglas would
have been disappointed had he not
| been satisfied with Merriman'S enthu-
siasm.
Douglas having completed his pur-
chaScs. hurried home TO tell Clara that
he had made the friend of his life who
had fallen In love with her picture and
was dying TO see her. He was to come
up soon. when Douglas would return
| the favOrS he had received, but must
necessarily do SO in his own house.
| This would throw Mcrriman and Clara
! together.
Week after week passed. but nothing
was heard OF Mr.. Merriman. Doug
| las was disappointed. When October
came he wrote inviting Merriman to
come up and make them u visit. The
| letter was answered by the firm, say
! ing that MeTriman was very busy. A
| few days later young Ebert Adams
walked into the store in shooting COS
tune and said he was on his way to
! his shooting club. Douglas invited
| him to supper. and from the moment
lie and Clara met they seemed desper-
ately pleased with each other.
! Adams did not get away to his shoot
/ ing for several days, remained there
| but a short time and when he came
| back spent several days more I'm the
! company of Clara Midway. Douglas
/ was troubled. He did not relish the
! idea OF his sister taking a fancy to
! mere clerk. He wished to keep her
! for the fascinating Merriman.
/ During the winter there was not
! holiday that Adams did not appear
/ and spend the whole of 1t with Clara
/ The more Douglas thought about the
! matter the more he WIS surprised. The
| man who had fallen in love with the
1 picture had not taken the trouble To
/ see the original. The man who had
made no comments on the picture had
/ fallen i'll love with the original
/ One evening Douglas went home
/ from the store and found Adams and
! Clara together. Indeed, they were very
/ near together-they were in each 9TH
/ er's arms Adams on becoming aware
| Of Douglas presence said TO him.
/ DO YOU remember showing me your
/ sisters picture IN the city on your
/ visit there:"
Yes, and you made no comment on
it"
still waters run deep: l fell In love
/ with it. l vowed that l would seek
! out its original and win her If possible.
! 7 ba-o 5Cv,a 18th uuI NOTHING rarrafr,,