Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-02

'IikerS, eXclalncu tiie new SHES
man; then he began laborloisly to com
putc % per cent Of the sum. using rs
pad holt Of expensive white SILK
vest material, Thirteen hundred and
seventy-six dollars and twenty five
cents is my blackmnil. Kurtz. That's
what call "a safe and sane Fourth
Not bad for dull times. and yet 1t
might be better Anyhow, It's the
hardest thirteen hundred and seventy
six dollars | ever earned"
Hard" The merchants lips
| twitched. oscillating his cigar violently.
Hard. I'll bet those fellows even
bought your lunch. suppose you mean
it's the first money you ever-earned."
/ He seemed to choke over the last word
/ "Well. it's worth something to get men
like these on the books. but-thirteen
hundred and seventy-six dollars"
"And twenty-five cents"
Mr.. Kurtz gulped. I'm one day.
Why, could buy farm for that.
How much will you have to earn to
cover your living expenses for six
months?"
"Ah. there we journey in the realm
OF purest speculation" Bob favored
him with sunny smile. "As well ask
me how much my living expenses must
be in order to cover my earnings.
/ Whatever one is, the other will be ap-
proximately ditto-or perhaps slightly
In excess thereof. Anyhow nothing
but rigid economy--bane of my life
will make the one fit into the other But
have thought. Something tells me
these boys need white flapnels, SO get
out -cur stock, Kurtz. If they can't
pas tennis they mast learn. for my
sake"
I,ob's remarkable stroke of fortune
called for celebration. and his four
customers clamored that he squander
his first profits forthwith. Ordinarily
such a course would have been just
to his liking; hut now he was dying to-
tell Lorelc of his triumph, and, fearing
to trust himself with even one drink,
he escaped from his friends as soon as
possible. Thus it Glanced that he ar
rived home sober.
1t was a happy homecoming Bob
was in a state of. exaltation. lie had
no desire to bind himself to kuftz'
service for six months or for any other
period; nor had he the least thought Of
living up TO his agreement until I.orcei
began to treat the matter seriously.
Then be objected hlankly:
why 1t was all right as joke, but
don't want to be tailor. There's no
romance In wooden goods"
How much do you owe?" she asked.
Really. I've no idea. It's some
thing you don't have to remember
somebody always reminds you in plen.
ty of time, and then you borrow
enough to pay up"
Lets forget the romance and pay
up without borrowing. Remember you
have two families to support" Noting
that the idea Of permanent employ
ment CALLED him, she added, craftily
"Of course you'll never sell another lot
! of clothes like this, but"
"Why not? It's like selling candy to
child"
! "Yon can't 80 with that crowd with
! out drinking"
. as that so2 Now you sit tight aud
hold your hat on. l can make that
: business pay Il | try, and still stay
I IN the Rainlnakers' union. There's big
? money IN it--enough so we can live
Q tie way we want to. I'm sick Of this
telephone booth, anyhow; we'll present
It to some nice newsboy and rent an
! apartment with a closet. This ones
e so small don't dare to let my trou
4 scrs bag, Besides. we've been under
cover long enough, and wa~t YOU to
/. meet the people know. We can az
: ford the expense--now that I'm max
|, ing thirteen hundred and scventy-siS
dollars and twenty-five cents Il day"
n 81 should like to know nice people
I T.orclci confessed. I'm sick of the
kind I've met: the men are indecent
] and the women are vulgar. I've al
ways wanted to know the other kind.
Bob was delighted; his fancy tool
fire, and already he was far along
toward prosperity. you'll make d
. hit with the younger set; you'll be Q
perfect rave. Bert Hnyman told me
today TINT his married sister is enter
: tanning a lot, and. since the drama vii
/. be tottering on It's way to destruction
: without you in q few days, I'll tell hin
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