The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-22
AN 0VE2GROWN BOY
But a Foe Of Great Resource, De-
termination, and Sinews OF
Warfare.
BY ARTHUR W. PEACH.

BY ARTHUR w. PeAC"'
When Miss Alice Romley entered
the Office of the head of the big manu-
featuring firm, she met Roy Hillard
for the first time. That meeting
served to make her interested In MIN
and the interest grew from friendsnip
into something else. She would not
confess It was love for him but she
was attracted by his CHEEKY. happy 60
luck personality. his willingness to 90
little services that woman values
It did not take her long to discover
that he was of little use to Mr.. LAKE.
the head Of the firm. whose coniden'
tial clerk he was supposed to be. she
learned. too. that Hillard had money
In his own right-a considerable
amount fact. but 40 It had been the
wish Of his father that he enter busi'
ness with Lake he had done 80. He
was lazy. never on time. always put
ting OF his work. She could see that
Mr.. Lake was exasperated at times
but managed to hold his temper.
Therein. she discovered. too. that II
Hillard were discharged. bis position
would be hers.
Hillard got into the habit OF seeing
her home: sometimes. she found MIN
and his car waiting for her Before
long he was coming on Sundays and
soon she was listening for his SLOW
good.natured voice asking the gtrl at
the door II Miss Romley were In.
One starry night. when It seemed
good to be alive. and good to be be-
side him. he proposed. She was
startled, yet she had read It In his
eyes days before. His first words
thrilled her. the next angered her. for
he was proposing as he did every
thing. carelessly. good-naturedly. as u
It didn't amount to much anyway
Marriage involved giving up the bust
ness career for which she had fitted
herself. and Of which she had
dreamed. It was not a matter to be-
talked Of in other than serious
way. His manner angercd her.
She told him. frankly. that sh"
would not marry him. that lie was still
on overgrown boy. and hadn't a 1eri.
Gus thought in the world. and that a
girl liked to have the thuoght OF mar
rage with her re Sarded as the biggest
thing In the world
Ills open, smiling face grew serious,
for ,nce. as she went on. and she
found che could not scold when words
Of a scclding nature bounded on 50
easily. Before Tiny had returned. '"e
was smiling herself. but under her
smiling exterior was her detremina
ton never to marry him She told
him so fatty.
The next day small bomb burst
IN the Office. nillard appeared late
and making no effort to make up FOL
lost time, he aroused Lakes long SUI
fering wrath, with the result thai
the room full Of stenographers heard
the irate. bittter.tongucd man turn OF
IIlliard a stream OF condemnation
in which he ripped Ililards character
into shrods and showed It M before
billiard himself in its bare truth. No
stopping there he went on to dis
charge. him. closing with the words
"You aren't half a man! Get out
Mis- Romley, you take his work..
uilard stood, white to the lips. hi
fair good natured face stiff under
new emotion. then he turned towar'
the cloak.room without a word.
Alice Romley had realized her ambl
tio.. she was the chosen G. r.. OF tn
manufacturer. and she labored u
show her value to him. lie seemed
pleased by her efforts. and she certain
IL was by the size Of her pay chec'
and his words.
OF Hillard. she heard nothing ate
mia departure. She missed him keer
". and she began TO believe 1t was al
right after all. to have q nature tina
sees only the sunny side OF life. eve
! n such q nature never gets one any
where. No word came from him. an
she cid not write Cor she had no ide
y where ne was.
The first inkling came through
4 note from one Of their western mar
arers. saving that the first of Gro
n ~ salrsmen were intrudng on his te'
n r;,ory with IN article similar I
theirs, but better made and choapo'
& and that his mon were getting tn
. worst of IL right along.
n Lakes fcce hid locked worried ar
a ~. that. She know they we're maxim
largo proft on their goods, and tina
4 he had been afraid of the advent
q competitors.
4 TIL, nnyt -erort from the west va
ell, more di coura-ing. ard befor
che knew IL a royal battle was IN b.
tween two firms for existence. Daze
hit by the wonder CT II, she too
her small part in IT, She saw thu
they were fighting foe of great r
source and determination. and on
equipped with the sinews OF warfar
-weal,h and credit.
They could rot learn who the poy
or was in the opposing company. bl
che knew .hnr were men of ability
some Of ;hen had been with Lake
~ sr,r ir old days.
TIL. ne the afternoon she kno
ebo never forget. She 6:
-. ~. ,ua,,ho,, 4,