The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-27
THE EVENING STORY
A Rivals Downfall.

street telling of bargains in sa+ins
WIN sac line of embroideries At
which Rosemont smiled appreciative
| iy and reaped the benefit.
the town was proud of the pro-
prletors of the two leading dry goods
stores, for most of the young men left
Ior the adjacent big city when it came
lime 20 make their way in the world,
Dut malcolm Dalzen and Lewis
thompson within a year of each 9th
er settled down to make a living in
their home town.
Perhaps it were better to say Rose
mont was proud of their enterprise,
TOT Lewis Thompson was not the tyne
70 inspire affection in the hearts of
MS toWnsmen. A man caunots he
blamed for lack of magnetism and
an attractive nature, but nevertheless
| he suffers for it, and Thomson nos
sessed besides these drawbacks = hot
headed, quarrelsome disposition. and
| a theory that every man had a right
10 look out for himself to the ex-
clusion of any possible rights of 9TH
ers.
His aggressiveness made him enc
mes where Malcolm Dalzell won
friends by his mere cheerfulness and
diplomacy. But each flourished on
his own side of the street
Not only were they rivals in bust
| ness From the days of carrying
school books there had seem
ingly 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 9th
er clear field with Mil1y, who had
never shown any preference between
the two.
Lewis Thompson was a different
man with her. Her mere presence
smoothered and softened the agrees
slVe young business man and she
smiled incredulously when stories of
his cool shrewdness and overreach-
ing deals came to her ears.
Yet unknown to herself Malcolm
DalzeH occupied a place in her life
from which no one could dislodge
him. Milly was in the delicious and
dreamy state of indecision which a
girl always prolongs unwittingly Life
was sweet to her and even the grow
ing wfldness of her younger brother
Dick. which was aging her father and
| mother. had not power to do more
than depress her momentarily.
Its 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
handsome eighteen-year-old brother,
the boy turned to always in his rare
spells of repentance. At present he
had gone to work in a bank in the
next town, six miles distant.
The Rosemont Banner" had two
columns of description, speculation
and denunciation when Thompson's
store was robbed. Malefa ctors were
rare in Rosemont and the night
watchman's work was perfunctory,
but nevertheless, Lewis Thompson
discovered xxyin6 iad
and nearly 5000 worth of silks and
laces 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 detective and established a
night patrol for the block. The city
detective looked important, smoked
| who wanted to tell him their theories
as to the robbery, had a very pleasant
time and departed with dark hints as
to future developments.
.'At any rate" Lewis Thompson
said vigorously, with Maloney on
hand a Waterman the thief won't
get another chancel''
Its hard luck, Lewis sympathized
Malcolm Dalzeu with his business
rival. Thompson regarded him cold
ly. 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. I don't understand such
favoritism unless it's because he
knows where the best goods ar-!" He
smiled somewhat maliciously as he
made the fling.
superiority has its drawbacks.
then Dalzeli said quietly, holding his
temper, He understood Thompson
grudge against him and could afford
to be magnanimOus. for he had be-
gun to cherish a certainty that he
had distanced Thompson with Milly.
For her he would endure much.
Lewis Thompson did not relax his
giviIance as the weeks went by. One
Thursday night as he made one of
his personal trips of inspection about
o'clock he started for his store on
run after finding the Waterman,
Maloney, 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 q dark
lantern on the floor beside him
Yet even Lewis Thompson was
speeches. 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 cap
tor.
IT can't comprehend" Thomp-
son 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, will
YOU believe me If 1 say in spite of
this I'm not the robber-that it's just
unfortunate circumstances that has
brought this about? VIII you?''
Lewis Thompson recovered his cool
ness and he laughed shortly, sarcas-
+;oo1J,y o1a Significantly the
dark lantern, the fallen jimmy, the
goods piled at hand for removal.
at don't see any one but you, Dali
zell, he said CURLY. "Y ou've got to
take your medicine. You can plead
kIeptomania, you know. Rising young
l.-.i-.os.s- n, asv cfrc1lfr1 ancaS-. no