Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-24

recently uIeu ledNiHS no eSINte. anu I
Edgar, far from having the means to
study a profession. was Obliged to
support his mother. He obtained a
position in the mercantile house of
Goodwin & Co. ut Sl5 week.
Mr.. Goodwin claimed that a business
plant should be run on strictly bust
ness principles. He paid very low
salaries. not inquiring into the honesty
of his less important employees. his
chief object being to get his work done
cbeaply. He figured that he could af
ford to lose small sums now and then
rather than pay an increase of salaries
for honesty. Resides. be had an in.
expensive detective service which con
sisted of himself only. He would
place bills on his desk in his private
office. so out. set watch on who
entered, and If the bills were missing
on his return would know who had
stolen them. Then he would discharge
the thief
One day be placed a bill on his desk
and went out intending to be gone
only a few minutes. Half an hour
passed before be returned to end
Edgar Beckwith just leaving the room.
Come back" said Goodwin.
Edgar went back into the room and
when asked what he had wanted said
that he had been sent with a message
by the head of one of the departments.
| While he was delivering the message
Goodwin was looking for the bill be had
/ left exposed. 1t was gone. He said
| nothing about it to Edgar. but the next
morning the boy was notified that be
was discharged.
Edgar was not minded to submit pa.
| tiently to an imposition. He went to
Mr.. Goodwin and said to him that since
his services were no longer required he
would not object to leaving the con-
Germ. but n certificate of good charac-
| ter would be necessary to enable him
Ito find another place.
Its against my rule to give certii-
cates of good character. l require none
when | hire persons, and what 1 don't
ask don't give
Then tell me the reason of my dis
charge
THAT decline to do also. Should |
IIgive you the reason you would call
IInpon me to prove it. That would take
IItime. Time is money"
Edgar saw by the resolute look on
1.-THE mans face that he would gain
nothing by pressing the matter and
left with anger in his heart. he went
lIstraight to the head of his department
land asked for an explanation. He was
ilgiven the reason of his discharge anC
advised not TO stir the matter. because
lit,could only result TO his injury.
II There had been two other persons IL
lGoldwin's private office besides Edgar
one OF whom had taken the bill. Ru
it would be difficult to prove this ever
HE an opportunity had been offered
Edgar went home and talked the mat
ter over with his mother. After think
ling of it she counseled him to swallow
the pill. Since be had not been openl,
accused it was not incumbent upoI
him TO make defense, and if he made
Ia defense there was every chance tina
he would not be able to prove his limo
cence.
II 1t happened at this time that new!
came of the death of an uncle OF Ed
ligars. who left him the sum of $4,000
He resolved to apply part OF it t
studying art. and since this would OBJ
iviate the necessity of his obtaining an
Iother position he concluded to accep
his mothers advice. But be swore t
success in his profession should be t
I"get even" with the man who had re
fused him an opportunity TO vindicat
himself FROM charge of being thief
Young Beck withs talent lay in trans
Uniting a human face to canvas. Th
was evident from the first. and he re
solved to become a portrait painter
Nevertheless he painted portraits TO
!. years before be obtained reputation
, for excellent work. But at last b.
received an order to paint the portrai
, Of a prominent judge on the bencI
and succeeded in making a very life
like representation of his subject. Th
lpaintinG was hung in courthouse
land every one who saw it admired II
: From this time Reckwith receives
orders from prominent men. and ever
. portrait of such added TO his reputa
don. Not only prominence in his ar
but money. came TO him. Persons {
wealth focked to him to have then
, selves represented on canvas.
: Twelve years passed since Beckwit
/ bad ceased to he a clerk and becom
an artist. He had grown beard, an
| his hair was already fecked with gra!
: A great change had come TO his ~
= nearance since be had been an en-
lFpoyee in the house of Goodwin & G.
One morning carriage drove mp
his studio and n man came up III
= stairs. the moment he entered Becl
: with recognized him as his fOrmt
:. employer. Bnt the artist saw that /
Twas not himself recognized.
IL believe yon are portrait painte
I sir" said the visitor in tone he wen
S have used If he had been asking If
man sold mouse traps.
Il am replied Reckwith. dread,r
lest his voice should give him ava
Goodwin went up to portrait stan
q ing on table. took ont a pair
l. glasses. put them on and inspected
v Beckwit went on with the work /
was doing