Middletown transcript., 1908-07-18
ROBERT and RUPERT,
BY W. R. ROSE

you to-te marry me?
But I can't say that, he per-
sisted.
You are not thinking of the
money she abruptly asked.
His flush deepened.
That is unkind, he said.
So it is, cried the girl. For.
give me. Then you refuse to
help me for purely quixotic rea'
sons Z? Of course you are not al.
ready married !?
l am very glad to say l am not
married, he replied.
You shouldn't say it so ser.
iously, said the girl with a quick
smile. If-I were looking for
compliments l should = but,
there, this is a business interview.
And you refuse to refuse me ?
Wild horses couldn't draw such
q refusal from me, he said. He
was beginning to get his breath
again.
1t isn't necessary to be so EN-:
phatic, said the girl. Well, I've
failed with you. Now l want to
see your brother.
My brother /! What do you
know about my brother.
The girl smiled.
Not long before my uncle's
death he sent a western man to
find out all he could concerning
the Somers family. 1t is quite
possible that the glare and hub
bub of the great city proved too
much for this impressionable
messenger. Anyway, he spent
a good deal of my uncle's money
and came back looking very tired.
His report, too, was somewhat
meager. He said that Henry
Carlton Somers left two sons
I'm afraid he was in a condition
to see almost any number-and
that the boys were radically diff
ferent in dispositions. Oneo of the
sons was quiet and reserved and
a hard worker. The messenger
understood that the fathers af'
fairs were found to be in bad
shape, and this quiet son was do
ing his best to straighten them
out-working day and night tc
pay the creditors and save what
could be saved. Then he heard
about the other son. He was diff
ferent. He'd been q famous mar
at his college-a great runner
and football player. He was in
his junior year when the Spanish
American War broke out and
promptly enlisted and went 10 the
front and saw real fighting and
did something particularly fine
carried a wounded comrade away
on his back or something. After
he left college he went out to
Western mining camp and was
made town marshal, I think, and
helped to civilize the town. MY
uncle's messenger only. heard
about your brother; he didn't see
him. But he saw you and talked
to you a few moments on some
trumped up business.
And may l ask how [ i'm
pressed him :? the young man in
quired.
l will tell you what he said
He said you seemed lacking il
spirit and apparently knew moth
ing about life outside your dul
business grind. And now where
can ! meet your brother a.?
Here.
And when?
l think I can find him in a few
minutes. Will you wait?
The young man arose.
I will bring him here.
How old is your brother?
Our ages are the same.
Twins How delightful!
Not if we are rivals, said the
young man steadily. Then hi
hastily added While we may diff
fer in dispositions, you will tint
US good deal alike in appear
ance, although it is quite possible
you will consider Rupert betteI
looking
just now it is a question O
what he considers me, said thO
girl.
! Do you care for his brother
opinion !? the young man quietl!
asked.
/ l can't see how that enter
into the present business, sait
the girl quickly. 1t is you
brothers opinion that interest
4 me now.
! He bowed, and, taking his hat
passed into the hallway.
Il was a fifteen minute wait