Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-10-26

IKE erott0 OF yours gives me the colly-
wabbles.'
.who win pay th. hotel'" Lorelea
smiled.
"Mr. George ". Bridegroom, Of
course. I'll Get the money, never fear.
know everybody. and I've borrowed
thousands OF dollars when I didn't
need It. Ny rooms at the Charlevoix
are full Of expensive junk; I'll sell It,
and that will help. As soon as we're
decently settled I'll look for a salaried
job. Then watch my smoke. To
| quote from the press OF a few months
hence: The meteoric rise Of Robert
Wharton has started the financial
world, surpassing 40 it'does the sensa-
tional success Of his father, Young
Mr.. Wharton was seen yesterday at his
Wall street ONCE and took time from
his many duties to modestly assure our
representative that his ability was In
herited, and merely illustrates anew
the maxim that "a chip of the old block
will return after many days" That
will please dad. He'll relent when I
attribute my success to him."
You must quit drinking before you
begin work." said Lorelei.
II have quit"
With person Of such resilient tenn.
perament one who gamboled through
life like fawn, argument was Diff
cult. Bob Wharton was pagan In his
joyous inconseQuence; his romping
spirits could not be damped; he bulb
bled with the optimism Of a Robin
Goodfellow. Ahead Of him he saw
nothing but dancing sunshine. heard
nothing but the Pandean pipes. The
girl-wife watched him curiously.
II wonder II you can" she unused.
Before we begin our new life we're
going to make bargain, binding on
both OF US. You'llehave to stop drink
Ing. won't live with a drunkard. I'll
work until you've mastered the crav-
Ing"
"Now Bob declared, firmly. 'I'll'
take the river before I'll let you-keep
me. Why. II II"
Lorelei rose ana laid her. hand over
his lips, saying quietly:
"I'm planning our happiness, don't
you UNDERSTAND and it's big stake.
You must pocket your pride for a
while. Nobody will know, We've made
botch Of things 30 far, and there is
only one way for us to win out. -
"a man who'd let his wife -
"a man who wouldn't let his wife
have her way at first Is BRUTE"
''You shouldn't ask It." he cried, sui,
lenly.
II don't ask it: insist upon 1t. II
you refuse we can't 60 on"
"Surely you don't mean that7' He
looked up at her with grave, troubled,
eyes.
II do. I'm entirely in earnest. You
haven't strength to go out among your
friends and restrain yourself. No man
az far gone as you could do It."
1--WE simpler way than that" he
told her, after a moments thought.
.There are institutions where they
straighten fellows up tn go to one Of
those"
mo" She rejected this suggestion
positively. "They only relieve; they
don't cure. The appetite comes back
This is something you must do your
self, once and for all. You must fight
this out in secret: this city Is no place
for men with appetites they can't con-
troll. Do this for me, Bob, and-and
I'll let you do anything after that. I'll
let you-beat me- Getting no re-
Spouse from him, she added gravely,
1T is that or-nothing."
Il can't let you CO." Bob said finally.
"Good! Wen keep this apartment
and I'll go on working"
He hid his face In his hands and
groaned. Gee! I'm rotter.''
You can sell your belongings at the
Charlevoix, and we'll use the money.
Well need everything, for can't piece
out my salary the way I've been doing.
There can't be any more supper parties
and gifts"
II should hope not" he growled. "1'll
murder the first man who speaks to
you.' Is
"Then 1t Is real, binding bargain p
ut is-if you'll bind 1t with another
kiss" he agreed, with miserable at
tempt at cheerfulness. but sha'n't
look myself in the face
For the first time she came to him
willingly.
Doesn't 1t seem nice to be honest
with yourself and the world?" she
sighed. after time.
Eyes," he laughed. "I'm sorry to
cut the governor adrift, but he'll have
to get along without our help"
Despite his jocularity he was deeply
moved. As the situation grew clearer
to him he saw that this girl was about
to change the whole current Of his care
less life; her unexpected flrmness, her
gentle. womanly determination at this
crisis was very grateful-he desperate
" longed to retain its support and yet
the arrangement to which abe had
forced his consent went sorely against
his grain. His struggle had not been
easy. Her surrender to him was ~
complete and az unselfish 40 his own
acquiescence seemed unmanly and
weak. He rose and paced the little
room to relieve his feelings. Days ard
weeks Of almost constant dissipation
had affected his mental poise quite as
disastrously az the strain Of the past
twenty-four hours had told upon his
physical control, and he was shaking
nervously. He paused ct the sideboard
finally and poured himself q steadying
drink.