The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-04-17
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DICK TELLS ME
ABOUT THE BUSINESS

ABOUT THE BUSINESS
"Margie." said Dick last night,
ARE YOU well enough to hear a
little business?"
suddenly grew warm and
happy. That Dick should want to
tell me anything about his bust
ness.
Il am quite we'll, Dick. l only
have pain at intervals and have
not had any today. 1t will be a
blessed relief to talk about the
activities of the great outside
world"
AS | spoke I looked up into
Dicks face. All in a moment l
realized that 1t had changed
greatly in the last year. His mouth
had lost much of its indecision.
There were tired lines about his
eyes. Suddenly it was borne up
on me that Dick has probably
sown his wild oats and has had
the doubtful pleasure as we'll of
reaping the crop. / am sure moth
ing very serious will ever enter
his emotional life again.
"Of course, Margie, you know
all about the will of Mr.. Selwin,
but you could not know the state
of the business when l took it
over.
During the last year of Mr..
Selwins life he left much of the
financial management of the con-
Germ to man pamed SWEET. You
may remember he left Sweet five
shares of stock.
We'll, my dear, that man was
an embezzler. l hushed the mat
ter up as l thought it was better
to lose the money than have the
notoriety just as soon after Mr..
Selwin's death. Other concerns
would Immediately say the Selwin
Book Concern was in bad state
and with new rivals II will take
more than a year, with the best
of management, to get things
back on a sure footing.
Dou MISUNDERSTANDING lil6t ne
continued quickly, as | tried to
interrupt him. "The business is
perfectly solvent, but there is not
as much money there as Mr.. Sell
win thought, and / would not
have Mrs. Selwin know this for
the world. / will have to hustle
for the next few years to get it
back where 1t will pay the divi-
dends expected of it. In the
meantime, Mrs. Selwin must re-
ceive the dividends she expects
even if receive none at all"
>"Dear Dick, let my dividends
go in too if necessary. You know
that, thanks to the liberality of
Mr.. Selwin, our stock is all paid
for. | am sure with the rent of
this beautiful home free-for
Mrs. Selwin insists upon giving 1t
to me-we can live on your sal
airy of $1,000 year nicely and
save money.
while my nurse is very ex-
pensive | don't need any clothes,
and l can get along for very little
more than my invalid expenses.
my dear girl, no one must, ex-
cept me. make any sacrifices.
IT shall be away a good deal
this year, for I have not been
able to get the kind of men
want for the road. l am glad
you are with Mrs. Selwin in this
beautiful home. l think 1t will
help both of you to be happy. Oh,
I know DEAR" he said as I started
again to talk, II know, but be-
lieve that even you can be happy
you know you have often told
me that happiness is a state of
mind. OF course, you are not
able to get yourself adjusted"
Adjusted" I at last interrupt
ed bitterly. II am so tired OF that
word l could scream when anyone
says 1t to me-" and then I was
sorry, as I saw the hurt look on
Dicks face.
Forgive me, dear, you are
just as good to me as you can be,
but once in a while l Just have
to break out"
"At first, dear" Dick said, II
thought it was all wrong to be
away on the other side of the
house where we would see SO lit
tie of each other, but / have
about it. Your business, Mar
gle, for the next few months at
least, is to get we'll. Your health
and your body must be your first
consideration. My business is to
make this perfectly easy for you
by providing the money which
will bring bodily comfort and