The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-02-01


monds and rubies. Let's see wha
you have" ~
The dapper clerk brought tray OF
which precious stones glittered in al
colors Of the rainbow. At last Il ring
set with large ruby and two fin
diamonds. was set aside.
We'll take that" the young man d.
cided
For Molly Mehaffey and Patrick h.
seemed entirely familiar with Bnb>
nome RELATIONSHIP chose respectively
a very pretty pearl pendant and a sl
yer cigar case. This done, he laid The
three purchases in row before hii
and surveyed them critically.
There" he said finally: II thinl
those will help make Il very salts
factory Christmas for the lucky ones
But aren't you forgetting something
For Miss Finn: Not here In
much obliged to you. though Boil
said as he filed out check that r;r
into four figures.
| "Oh, it's been a pleasure. you ma.
be sure" the young man replied pleas
antly. II like to spend money. evc'
If tits some one else's."
| When they left the store the youn!
man turned up the street with Bob Il
the matter Of fact way of one who%.
company is justified by lifelong nc
quaintance. Bob. grimly amused. pc
mitted it.
1T takes Christmas time to max. !
fellow expand. There's a lot in tn
good will to men, after all That,
what like about Christmas"
Its nonsense" said Bob. II don
believe in giving Christmas presents
Hundreds Of thousands of dollars ar,
spent this week in this city by peopl'
who have trouble scraping enough to
gether to make ends meet"
! It'll admit 1t is the dramatic view o.
it that appeals to me. l always 81
broke myself Christmas time, and
positively gloat in my bankruptcy
not because others see it as fin,
thing-few people have the superltn:
theatrical sense l have-but because
l see it SO myself and like to look or
at myself in gorgeous role. Ycr
don't understand that, do you"
II do not"
mo, Of course not. You have beeu
too busy driving ahead, trampling tht
world under your feet. to cultivate
these finer pleasures"
"There are some people who would
| ~ afraid RI
Bob interrupted, half angrily.
"Oh, I'm not afraid Of you, yol,
know" was the cheerful answer. And
he continued: yours is what l call
grand opera egoism. Now, mine is
vaudeville. don't ask the world to
PROSTATE itself before me. All want
- that 1t shall place mo IN the fore
ground. so that I may enjoy myself
playing striking role OF course the
same principle underlies both our ma
tures-concentrated selfshness, self
love. Were you ever in love?"
"Well, hardlyw
Neither was l. It's a shame, too;
I'd make such a splendid lover. I'm
not sentimentalist. though-rather a
sensationalist love strong sensa-
ton. I like the feel Of doing the big,
the unusual, the beautiful things. I
ike the sensation Of talking about
myself frankly to man who never
.~w me before and doesn't give a
hang whether he ever sees me again. "
Bob laughed loudly-he could not
help it. "Well. you've got nerve,
there's no doubt of that I stop at this
bookstore"
"1'll 60 along. l want to deliver a
homily with that laugh Of yours as a
text"
But this time Bob needed no aid
from the laxative stranger; the pres
ent was for Kathleen. As with the
discriminating eye Of the book lover
Bob chose a superbly bound set Of
Shakespeare the young man ex-
claimed:
by Jove. envy the one who gets
this present! You love booksT'
''They are my chief extravaganza"
The young man surveyed him
thoughtfully. At length he said:
''You have accomplished more than
| any young man l know Of. You are
the third strongest man politically IN
the city. You are apparently rich. You
have accomplished this by dint OF
sheer strength. leaving out entirely t1s
question Of personal popularity. That's
the weak spot in your armor. Now
you have chosen politics AZ your par.
dcular field So have IT,
"Then guessed right" Bob said to
himself, and the amused CLEAN diet
out of his eyes.
Downright brute strength and tn,
fear inspired by it have carried 70,
through so far. but if you are goins
further you must consider the ques
ton Of personal popularity. Get th,
public into the habit of loving maj
and they will keep on loving him
| Just because they love him."
That's not true Bob interjectes
sharply. do you know more abou
any other subject than you do abou
| politics?''
"Oh, know politics." the younf
man said calmly. 81 know the powe