The midland journal., 1917-08-17

settled his scarf with deft jerk, then
went out whistling. AS it was nearly
closing time for the matinees, he
strolled toward the Circuit theater, full
of satisfying contentment with the
world. Now that he owed it nothing,
he resolved to meet his future obliga-
tions as they arose.
Early on Monday morning Bob re-
ported for work, only to receive from
Mr.. Crosset, whom he had always re-
garded as a warm friend, the notice
of his discharge.
whats the matter? Didn't make
good?' he demanded.
Crosset was young man; more than
once he and Bob had scandalized
Broadway; some of their exploits were
epic. Now he shrugged carelessly, say
ing:
'Oh, you made good, l guess; but
we can't take chance with you"
81 suppose you're afraid I'll steal
some of your chalk. Now tell me, how
did you wet your feet, and whence
comes the icy draftY
swell, from the direction of Pitts
burgh. if you must know. There's
can tied to you, and we can't afford
to antagonize the whole steel trust"
81 see. I'm afraid I'll have to dis
own that father of mine"
whats the trouble, anyhow"
At Bobs explanation Crosset whis-
tied. Funny didn't hear about it.
Married and happy, Ell? Well, I'm
sorry can't help you"
''You can. Lend me FIVE hundred"
'Certainlyw Crosset lunged at his
desk, scribbled line to the cashier,
and handed it to Bob, then, in response
to q call from the customers room,
dashed away with hearty farewell.
AS Bob passed through the outer Of
fee he ran his eye over the opening
prices, being half inclined to 'scalp''
with his sudden wealth; but luck had
never run his way, and he reconsid-
cred. Anyhow, there were more agree
able uses to which he could put this
money; for one thing, he needed sew
eral suits, for another, it was high
time he gave Lorelei some little re-
membrance-he hadn't given her a
present in nearly two weeks, and wom-
en- set great store by such attentions.
He decided to invest the money in
Maiden lane and demand credit from
his tailor. But half-hour at jew
elry shop convinced him that nothing
suitable to so splendid creature as
his wife could be purchased for PAL
try five hundred dollars, and he was
upon the point Of returning to Crosset
with a request to double the loan when
his common sense asserted itself. Pow
erty was odious, but not shameful, he
reflected; ostentation. on the other
hand, was vulgar. Would it not be in
bad taste to squander this happy wind
fall upon jewelry when Lorelei need
ed practical things?
Bob was cheered by the breadth Of
these sentiments; they showed that he
was beginning soberly to realize the
leaden responsibilities Of a family
man. No, instead of jewel he would
buy his wife dog.
At fashionable uptown kennel he
found exactly what he wanted, in the
shape of Pekingese-a playful, pedi-
greed pocket dog scarcely larger than
his two fists. II was creature to
excite the admiration of any woman;
it's family tree was taller than that of
a Spanish nobleman, and its name was
Ying. But here again Bob was handi-
capped by poverty, for sleeve dogs
are expensive novelties, and the price
of Ying was seven hundred dollars
marked down from one thousand. and
evidently the bargain of a lifetime at
that price.
Bob hated to haggle, but he showed
that his ability to drive sharp bar
gain was merely latent, and he finally
bore the animal away in triumph To
outgeneral dog fancier was tribute
to his shrewdness; to save two hun
dred dollars on single purchase was
economy of high order. Much elated,
he set out briskly for his tailor's place
of business