Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-13
The Daily Story
TIE WISE FooL-BY cLARIssA MACKIE.
Copyrighted 1913. by Associated Literary

ere she fled from the room, but she
left something on his cheek which
Simon Webb angrily brushed aside.
and then he lifted his voice and called
names for FIVE straight minutes. At
last he paused for breath and reached
down the group photograph showing
the office force of Quincy & Webb.
In the foreground was the form of n
finely put together. good looking young
man. Dark of feature. with clear.
straightforward eyes, there was n
purposeful look to the whole face. 1t
lacked the strained expression begot-
ten of the tearing, hurrying race for
money. Bob Quincy might be the
slowcoach of the family. but he was
by no means the fool that Simon Webb
had called him. There was a quiet,
masterful air about him which Simon
had never been able to overcome, and
yet the younger man had never been
lacking in respect to either of the heads
of the houses
The fool of the family" calculated
Simon bitterly as he struck the picture
smart tap with his. lean flnger-"a
blind fool. What is he thinking of?
And she-I wish l could forget how my
little girl looked when she found he
wasn't one of the three" He turned
and flung the picture into the fire.
Like a boys love-" said Simon bit
terly. "Why couldn't it have been one
of the others, eh?"
One morning a week later, when
Mr.. Webb reached his Office, he was
70 inf 1on 70
of the senior partner. There he found
Mr.. Quincy and his eldest son. Bob
was wearing his old alpaca office coat,
and pen was stuck behind his ear.
He placed a chair for Mr.. Webb and
withdrew into the background.
You'll be surprised at my news,
Webb" began Mr.. Quincy ponderously.
Its rather a sudden decision. You
+ see. my doctor says If I don't get out
! of business of my own accord I'll drop
| out anyway, so I've concluded TO with
draw and let Bob take my place"
| "Bob" calculated Simon Webb con-
temptuously. He turned around and
cast whitening glance over the stall
wart form of the new member of the
firm. "What does Bob know about the
business except TO oversee the trial
| balances. eh?"
Mr.. Qulncy's huge bulk of flesh quiv-
cred with silent laughter. you don't
know Bob, Mr.. Webb Just give him
a chance, I'll back him against any
fellow 1 know, or you know either, to
win out"
what about the other three boys.
! Tom, Dick and Frank" sputtered
Webb tactlessly, but Quincy only
smiled broadly at the suggestion.
"Skyrockets, all three of them" he
said seriously. Take my word. Webb.
/ know what I'm talking about. Bob's
been holding back from taking an nu.
thoritative position because he feels
that the old mans entitled TO all the
glory he has earned in the past. He
has told me that If he had his way
| there'd be only one Quincy so long as
| j chose to remain in the business, but
don't forget for one minute that Bob
knows the business. Now, let's talk it
over amicably."
Let her 60" said Webb grudgingly.
Bob Quincy came forward and Joined
the conference. At the end of an hour
Simon Webb had changed his mind re-
garding Bob Quincy. In fact. he had
| difficulty to keep out Of his telltale
eJes he admiration he felt for the
clean cut. clever man of business this
fool of the family had proved to be.
Hes another kind of fool just the
same" he told himself savagely, but
he was doomed to change his opinion
about this at once.
I've got to go down and see my
daughter off; she's sailing for Bermuda
at 10 o'clock" he said. rising suddenly
Bob Quincy was on his feet in an in
slant, tearing off the alpaca coat. fiing-
ing aside the pen behind his ear. no
longer n quiet. capable man of affairs,
but hot, tempestuous youth, awake
to a great truth which has suddenly
been revealed to him.
"What steamer" he demanded au-
thoritatively.
THE Annah." replied Simon meekly,
grasping his cane and opening the
door,
But Bob Quincy was ahead Of him.
He had dashed out and returned shrug-
ging himself into his coat, his hat on
wrong side before, his eyes blazing
with excitement
"I've got 10 see her before she goes"
he said impatiently, IF you'll let me
pass. sirr'
See who:" asked his father and
Simon mechanically.
"Why, Dorothy. I'll tell you about 1t
when come back" he tossed over bis
shoulder and was gone
Simon Webb sank back in a chair
and removed his hat "They won't
want me-" he said smiIingly. Then he
added, with n twinkle In his eyes:
"He didn't ask my permission. vii
liam. l suppose he'll ask 1t aftsrward,
Ell"
''Surest thing" Grinned back his part
ner. 81 asked the girl first. and then
told her father I wanted her What
did you do. Simon:"
Same thing" confessed Simon
Webb. land have a feeling that Bob
Quincy's off the same piece. You
know. I've always called Bob a fool
! Well William Two ccTna IN beIfa =.