The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-12-09
A RIVALS
DOWNFALL
Out of Bitterness the Lovers
Drew Happiness.
BY ESTHER AlNsLEE.

silk dress goods in the Monday issue
Of the Rosemont Banner it was GER
tainty that the papers Tuesday night
number would contain an ad. from
Thonlpsons store across the street tell
| ing OF bargains in satins, with a side
line of enibroidcres, at which Rose
mont smiled appreciatively and reaped
the benefit
The town was proud of the proprie-
tors OF the two leading dry goods
stores, for most OF the young men left
for the adjacent big city when it came
time to make their way in the world.
but Malcolm Dalzell and Lewis Thomp-
son within IA year OF each other set
tied down to make a living in their
home town.
Perhaps it were better TO say Rose
mont was proud of their enterprise, for
Lewis Thompson was not the type TO
inspire affection in the hearts OF his
townsmen man cannot he blamed
for lack of magnetism and an attrac-
tive nature, but nevertheless he suf-
fers for It. and Thompson possessed
besides these wbacks hot headed,
qnarrelsome disposition and a theory
that every man had a right TO look out
for himself to the exclusion of any pos
siblc rights OF others
His aggrcssiyeness made him enc
mics where Malcolm Dalzel won
friends by his mere cheerfulness and
diplomacy. But each flourishcd on his
own side OF the street.
Not only were they rivals in bnsi
ness. but from the days OF carrying
schooboOks there had seemingly been
but one girl in thc world in the eyes
OF each. NIilly Wainwright, with the
waves OF soft brown hair and eyes
that matched ii. with the sweet voice
and appealing little ways.
Slrewd people even said the reason
both boys stayed IN RosemOnt was that
each was afraid 10 leave the other 4
clear field with NIilly, who had never
shown any preference between the
two.
Lewis Thompson was dlfiereat
Nh'NH " III ittA Atit lANNflN Z
slnoothcd and softened the aggressive
Young business man. and she smiled
incredulouSly WREN stories OF his cold
sli.cwdneSs and ovcrreaching deals
came TO her cars.
Yet unknown ia herself Malcolm
Dalzell occupied place IN her, life
from which no o1e could dlslodge him.
Milly was in the delicious and dreamy
state of indecisicn which girl always
prolongs umwittingly. Life was sweet
TO her. and even the growing wIldness
OF her younger brother, Dick. which
was aging her father and mother. had
not power to do more than depreSs her
momcntariy.
ITS only because Dick is young
she told her mother half Indignantly
"lle will see the mistake of his ways
before he ever does ANYTHING really
wrong. Why, Dick wouldn't be really
bad. It's abSurd"'
She was great chums with the hand
some clghteen.ycar-old brother. and
because She did nave faith in him The
hpy turned 10 her always IN his rare
spells ~ repentance At present he
hid gone to work In a bank In the next
town. six. miles distant.
The RoScmont Banner had two col.
nmns OF description. speculation and
denunciation when Thompson's store
was robbed. MnefactorS were rare in
Roscmont. and the night watchman's
work was pcrfunctory. but ncvcrthc-
less Lewis Thompson discovered a
b k window lricd open and nearly
$500 worth of silks and laccS missing.
THREE weeks later he was reduced TO
explosive rage by the discovery that
again his store had been entered. This |
tmc hundred dollars worth OF goods |
vanished In his wrath the owner Of |
the store tclcgraphcd for city detcc-
tive AMI established night patrol Tor |
the block. The city detective looked |
important. smoked the cigars OF ilie |
leading citizens, who wanted To tell |
him their theories as to the robbery.
had very Pheasant time and departed |
with DARK hints as 10 future develop.
ments
AT any rate" Lewis Thompson said |
vigorously. ''wlih Maloncy on hand as
a Waterman the thief won't get an
other chance
Its hard mck. Lewis" sympathizcd |
Malcolm DalzcIl with his business ri |
val. Thompson regarded him coldly |
or late Milly Rad been in Dalzens
company more than he liked.
Thanks he said. ats funny the
thief doesn't attack your premises,
Malcolm don't understand such IA
voritism unless its because he knows
where the best goods are lie smiled
somewhat maliciously as he made the
fling
superiority has its drawbacks.
them Dalzell said quietly, holding his
temper. He understood Thompson's
grudge against him and could afford TO
be magnanimouS. for he had begun to
tberish a certainty that he had dis
tanced Thompson with Milly. For her
be would endure much
Lewis Thompson did not relax his
vigilance as the weeks went by. One
night as he made one OF his
fssrs rf fnSr.cr.ff.u af,u,rf i