Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-02

YOU DON'T KNOW NE, DO YOUR HE
SAID.
books didn't please me, ; nd was not
strong enough to take part in attn
letics. / was caught In a prank that
was not only silly. but reprehensible.
and was expelled. When went
home to my father he said to me:
I'm sorry for this, my boy, because
you'll have to take back seat in the
world on account OF it There's your
friend, Tom Archer. / wish for your
sake YOU had taken the stand be is
occupying. When you both come to
the prime of life you will find him
honored and respected, while you will
be passed over for a very ordinary
person. I'm not saying this to you as
punishment, but as a matter Of re-
greet for us both"
have never forgotten word OF
this prediction, which sank upon me
ike lead My father secured a posi-
ton Tor me as clerk In a mercan-
tile house. bat / wrote a poor hand,
could not spell correctly and made mis-
takes The head Of the urIn dis
charged me, but | begged him TO let me
see what l could do outside-that is.
IN working up trade. lie consented
and / started in again.
Twenty years have passed since
/ then. The concern in which / was em-
ploytI has grown enormously. ana 1
/ nave crown with it Indeed, am now
.
/ / don't exactly know why l was ad-
vauced above hundreds of others, but
/ / suppose 1 must have possessed those
, instincts that make the business man.
/ But this Is another question. What
am going 10 illustrate Is that sensitive
pride. which will lead a man to decline
ia -lIt from a friend. and try TO legally
thwart the Intentions Of q man in the
disposition OF mis- property that he
may enjoy 1t himself.
one day a seedy looking individual
came into my office and. ignoring the
boy who advanced TO ask whom ne
wished 10 see. passed through the
opening IN the rail-, and, walking
straight up to my desk. put out his
nlud- looked ut him, puzzled.
you don't know me, do your be
saId.
- confess that you have the advan
lage OF ma"
II III IOT Archer"
mad D,N ONE trained ID that dissim
u'a,ion which the vnfai requires anC
succeeded in conceah1g the shock
experienced at seeing my old chum IL
such a plight But when / grasped his
uaud with a show OF the old friendship
! was enacting lie. All bad changed
ug had gone dowD--very far down
ana ! had gone, In a practical point OF
view, very far up. Both or US tried
10 conceal recognition OF this reyersa
OF our positions ana both failed.
Long before Tom left me realize
that be was not only ragged. but hun
cry. and yet there stood between m'
and him, SO far as my helping him Wa
concerned, our youth. In which | haC
been his inferior. The price OF meal
suit OF clothes. indeed. years IA
come for him. was 10 me a mere baga
te.Ie, but how could ! offer money Il
one who had led me IN everything {
score of years before2 what did - AT
10 take his address and trust to nj
ingenuity TO ina way of getting owe
u. JJstacle
The next day I Enclosed a cbecI
for 500 IN a note. mentioning some IA
vor be had done me when We wer
boys together and further stating tina
after all luck was the only cause 0
success. and ] bad been lucky. i ais
claimed that it doubtless gave De NOR
pleasure 10 give him aid and contor
than be experienced in receiving In
same served the dish as deI.-atel
IS 4 ssibie, but the poor fellow coull
: not kweiiJw f. He sent baoE IN
- chec stating that h.s i'll success wa
EIs y = fault and liz would not re
tpert h-uself If be accepted Cha-it
even troA N Old friend He had mad
his bed M ne would lie IN IL
r'san'ee;te him for his refusal an