The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-12-01
A RIVALS
DOWNFALL
Out OF Bitterness the Lovers
Drew Happiness.
BY ESTHER AINsLEE.

silk dress goods in the Monday issue
of the Rosemont Banner 1t was GER
talnty that the papers Tuesday night
number would contain an ad from
| Thompson's store across the street tell
ing of bargains in satins, with side
line OF embroideries. at which Rose
mont smiled appreciatively and reaped
the benefit
The town was proud Of the proprle-
tors of the two leading dry goods
stores, for most of the young men left
for the adjacent big city when 1t came
time to make their way In the world.
but Malcolm Dalzell and Lewis Thomp'
son within a 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. A man cannot be blamed
for lack of magnetism and an attrac-
tive nature. but nevertheless he suf.
fers for 1t. and Thompson possessed
besides these dra wbacks a hot headed,
quarrelsome disposition and theory
that every man had right to look out
for himself to the exclusion Of any pos
sible rights Of others.
His aggresslveness made him enc
mics where Malcolm Dalzell won
friends by his mere cheerfulness aud
diplomacy. But each flourished on his
own side Of the street
Not only were they rivals in bust
ness. hut from the days of carrying
schoolboOks there had seemingly been
but one girl in the world In the eyes
of each. Mily Wainwright. with the
waves of soft brown bair and eyes
that matched it. with the sweet voice
and appealing little ways
Shrewd people even said the reason
both boys stayed in Rosemont was that
each was afraid to leave the other a
clear field with MIilly. who had never
shown any preference between the
two.
Lewis Thompson was Il different
man with her. Her mere presence
smoothed and softened the aggressive
young business man. and she smiled
incredulously when stories Of his cold
shrewdness and overreaching deals
came to her ears.
Yet unknown to herself Malcolm
Dalzel occupied place in her life
from which no one could dislOdge him.
Milly was in the delicious and dreamy
state of indecision which girl always
prolongs unwittingly. 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 heI
momentarily.
Its only because Dick is young,
she told her mother half Indignantly
HE 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 eigbteen-year-old brother, ant
because she did have faith in him tn,
boy turned to her always in his rart
spells Of repentance, AT present hs
had gone to work In bank In the mex
town. six miles distant,
The Rosemont Banner had two col
umns OF description, speculation ant
denunclation when Thompson's stor,
was robbed Malefactors were rare IL
Rosemont, and the night watchman'!
work was perfunctory, but neverthe
L less Lewis Thompson discovered ,
< back window pried open and nearl,
5000 worth OF silks and laces missing.
Three weeks later he was reduced t
! explosive rage by the discovery tina
: again his store had been entered. Thii
> time n hundred dollars worth OF goods
vanished In his wrath the owner o.
4 the store telegraphed for city detec
n tive and established II night patrol TO
l. the block. The city detective looked
\. important, Smoked the cigars OF tn
y leading citizens. who wanted to tel
him their theories MS to the robbery
had II very pleasant time and departe,
with dark hints us to future develop
ments
r AT any rate" Lewis Thompson salt
}. vigorously. with Maloney ON hand a
v Waterman the thief won't get an
other chancer
4 Its hard luck. Lewis" sympathize'
Malcolm Dalzell with his business n
" val. Thompson regarded him coldly
= OF late Milly had been In Dalzell'
g company more than he liked.
d Thanks" he said. ''lt's funny tn
II thief doesn't attack your premises
.. Malcolm don't understand such II
voritism unless it's because he know
where the best goods are!" He smile
somewhat maliciously as he made tn
fling
"Superiority has Its drawbacks
then" Dalzell said quietly, holding hl
temper He understood Thompson
erudge against him and could afford
- be mngnanimous, for he had begun
cherish n certainty that he had di
fenced Thompson with Milly. For n'
he would endure much.
Lewis Thompson did not relax h
vigilance as the weeks went by. Or
Thursday night ms ne made one Of b
personal trips OF inspection about