The midland journal., 1917-08-10
ANth0r of
"7He Iron 7iaiI"
"Me Spoilers"
"We &/ver Horde" Etc.
CebvriRhf By Hnrpsr @ BroLssvy
Cseyeigdt, By Ha7.r q Brother,

think I'd let you-support me? D'you
think I'm that kind of a nosegay?
When get so 1 can't pay the bills I'll
walk out. Tomorrow you quit work,
and we move to the Ritz-they know
me there, and-this delightful, home
like grotto of yours gives me the colly
wabbles."
"Who will pay the hotel" Lorelei
smiled.
"Mr. George W. Bridegroom, of
course. I'll get the money, never fear.
I know everybody, and I've borrowed
thousands of dollars when I didn't
need it. My 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 salaried
job. Then watch my smoke. To
quote from the press of few months
hence: The meteoric rise of Robert
Wharton has startled the financial
world, SURPRISING as it does the sensa-
tional success of his father Young
Mr.. Wharton was seen yesterday at his
Wall street Office 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
attribute my success to him."
"You must quit drinking before you
begin work." said Lorelei.
81 have quit"
With a 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 bub-
bled with the optimism Of Robin
Goodfellow. Ahead Of him he saw
nothing but dancing sunshine, heard
nothing but the Pandean pipes. The
girl-wife watched him curiously.
81 wonder if you can," she mused.
"Before we begin our new life we're
going to make a bargain, binding on
both Of us. You'll have to stop drink
ing. 1 won't live with drunkard. I'll
work until you've mastered the crav-
ing"
"Nor Bob declared, firmly. "Tll
take the river before I'll let you-keep
me. Why, if L"
Lorelei rose and 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
a botch of things so 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.
81 don't ask it: insist upon it. If
you refuse we can't go on"
"Surely you don't mean that?" 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
as far gone as you could do it."
"I've a simpler way than that" he
told her, after a moments thought.
"There are institutions where they
straighten fellows up. I'll go to one of
those"
"No." 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-
sponse from him, she added gravely,
"It is that or-nothing."
st 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 a 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"
81 should hope not" he growled. "I'll
murder the first man who speaks to
you"
"Then it is a real, binding bargainT
sit is-if you'll bind it with another
kiss" he agreed, with miserable at
tempt at cheerfulness. But l sha'n't
look myself in the face"
For the first time she came to him
willingly.
doesn't it seem nice to be honest
with yourself and the world?" she
sighed, after time.
"Yes," 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 |