The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-06-29
A RIVALS DOWNFALL
Out of Bitterness the Lovers
Snatched Happiness.
BY ESTHER AINsLEE.

Press.
If Dalzell's store advertised a sale OF
silk dress goods In the Monday issue
Of the Rosemont Banner it was a GER
tainty that the papers Tuesday night
number would contain an ad. from
Thompson's store across the street tell
ing Of bargains In satins, with side
line of embroideries, at which Rose
mont smiled appreciatively and reaped
the benefit
The town was proud Of the proprie-
tors of the two leading dry goods
stores, for most of the young men left
for the adjacent big city when 1t came
time to make their way in the world,
but Malcolm Dalzell and Lewis Thomp-
son within year of each other set
tied down to make a living in their
home town.
| Perhaps it were better to say Rose
mont was proud Of their enterprise, for
| Lewis Thompson was not the type to
inspire affection in the hearts of his
townsmen A man cannot be blamed
for lack of magnetism and an attrac
tive nature, but nevertheless he suf
fers for 1t, and Thompson possessed
besides these drawbacks hot headed,
| quarrelsome disposition and theory
that every man had right to look out
for himself to the exclusion Of any pos
sible rights Of others.
His aggressiveness made him enc
mics where Malcolm Dalzell won
friends by his mere cheerfulness and
diplomacy. But each fourished on his
own side Of the street.
Not only were they rivals In bust
ness, but from the days of carrying
schoolbooks there had seemingly been
but one girl in the world In the eyes
of each, Milly Wainwright, with the
waves of soft brown hair and eyes
| that matched, with the sweet voice
and appealing little ways.
Shrewd people even said the reason
both boys stayed in Rosemont was that
each was afraid to leave the other a
clear field with Milly, who had never
shown any preference between the
two.
Lewis Thompson was different
man with her Her mere presence
smoothed and softened the aggressive
young business man, and she smiled
increduously when stories of his cold
shrewdness and overreaching deals
came to her ears.
Yet unknown to herself Malcolm
Dalzell occupied place in her life
from which no one could dislodge him.
Milly was in the delicious and dreamy
state OF INDIGESTION which girl always
prolongs unwittingly. Life was sweet
to her, and even the growing Witness
of her younger brother, Dick, which
was aging her father and mother, had
not power to do more than depress her
momentarlly.
"It's only because Dick is young"
she told her mother half Indignantly.
'He will see the mistake of his ways
before he ever does anything really
wrong. Why, Dick wouldn't be really
bad. It's absurd!''
She was great chums with the hand
some eighteen-year-old brother, and
because she did have faith in him the
boy turned to her always in his rare
spells Of repentance. At present he
had gone to work in bank in the next
town, six miles distant.
The Rosemont Banner had two col
umns of description, speculation and
denunciation when Thompson's store
was robbed Malefactors were rare in
Rosemont, and the night watchman's
work was perfunctory, but neverthe-
less Lewis Thompson discovered a
back window pried open and nearly
5000 worth of silks and laees missing.
Three weeks later he was reduced to
explosive rage by the discovery that
again his store had been entered. This
time a hundred dollars worth of goods
vanished. In his wrath the owner Of
the store telegraphed for a city de-
tective and established night patrol
for the block. The city detective look
ed important, smoked good cigars of
the leading citizens, who wanted to
tell him their theories as to the rob
berry, had very pleasant time and de-
parted with dark hints as to future
developments.
"At any rate" Lewis Thompson said
vigorously, with Maloney on hand as
a watchman the thief won't get an
other CHANGER
Its hard luck, Lewis" sympathized
Malcolm Dalzell with his business RI
val Thompson regarded him coldly.
Of late Milly had been IN Dalzells
company more than he liked.
Thanks" he said. "Its funny the
thief doesn't attack your premises,
Malcolm. / don't understand such ia
foritism unless it's because he knows
where the best goods arer' He smiled
somewhat maliciously as he made the
fling.
Superiority has It's drawbacks,
them" Dalzell said quietly, holding his
temper. He understood Thompson's
grudge against him and could afford to
be magnanimous for he had begun to
cherish a certainty that he had dis
tanced Thompson with Milly. For her
he would endure much.
Lewis Thompson did not relax his
vigilance as the weeks went by. One
Thursday night, as he made one Of his
personal trips of inspection, about 1
O'Clock he started for his store on a
run after finding the Waterman, Ma
Lonely, knocked senseless at the corner.
And he was rewarded. The revolver
in his hand covered the dark form Of
the man standing at the rear window
with the faint CLEAN Of dark lantern
on the floor beside him.
Yet even Lewis Thompson was
speechless when after his trembling
fingers had turned on the rear light he
saw the man before him was none
other than Malcolm Dalzell, who stood
white and quiet facing his captor.
"T-I can't comprehend, Thompson
almost stammered, still covering the
marauder with his revolver. You
Of all people!'
The man before him moistened his
lips. Lewis" he said at last, VIII
you believe me if say, in spite OF TINS
I'm not the robber-that it's just I'M
fortunate circumstances that have
brought this about? Win your"
Lewis Thompson recovered his cool
ness, and he laughed shortly, sarcas-
tically, glancing significantly at the
dark lantern, the fallen Jimmy, the
goods piled at hand for removal.
Il don't see any one but you, Dali
zell," he said CURLY. you've got to
take your medicine. You can plead
kleptoAania, you know. Rising young
business man, easy circumstances, no
need to rob-why, of course, it's KEEP