Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-09
CHAPTER XIV.

Rob's work as a salesman continued
to be so effective that Kurtz finally
offered him a salaried position. ;'ut
instead of accepting, Bob made cohh-
ter-propositon that caused the little
man to gasp. Briefly, it was to extend
the scope of the present business by
laying In stock Of extravagant, high
priced shirt and necktie materials, with
Bob as partner in the new venture.
Kurtz protested that he was not a ha-
ber,lasher, but he was constrained to
admit that Bob had the right idea OF
smart business. and after some discus
sion accepted his employees noncha-
liant offer to 20 halves on the new ven
ture and share in its profits. The
fact that Bob had no money with
which to carry. through his part Of the
deal troubled that youth not in the
least--Kurtz' credit was ample. Bob's
theory OF securing the Fifth avenue
trade was to double existing prices.
and II this did not bring the business,
to double them a second time; and this
theory was correct as he demonstrated
when the rev Department was organ
lied
Bt;. dnsa,te tn" exec en- L. 'ome ~
now began to maze t.Nne ! nft
anything left in the Wharton bank ac'
count. for Bob moved his wife to q
more pretentious apartment on River
side drive and managed to increase
their expenses so MS to balance his
earnings very nicely. 1t was quite a
feat to adjust fixed outlay to vary
ing income so that nothing whatever
should remain. and he considered it 4
M strong proof Of his capacities that he
succeeded.
BY Christmas the haberdashcry ven
ture had shown such profit that ne
began to pile up small bank account
+, in spite of himself so he bought III
automobile, which served to eat up any
monthly profits and guarantee d de6ci
under the most favorable clre'm
stances. Being thus relieved of il"an
tcial uncertainty, he laid plans to WHes
from Kurtz a full partnership in tn
tailoring business itself.
The Whartons' new home was charm
Ing, and Bob provided his wife WIT
every luxury. Lorelei did not resre
that she was prevented from going Oh
as much as formerly-her eXpericnc
Mt Fennelcourt had cured her of an
desire to get into her husbands socli
set--and uncousciously she and 80
began to develop a real home life
As time went on and evidences
prosperity showed themselves Lorelei
family forgot spls.c OF their dislike
Rob and became more companonabl
Strangely enough. too their cost Of II
ing increased in proportion to the
frlendliness: but Bob mover question:
any amount they asked him for, al
/. ea-A he swclled their allowance with cha
acteristic productivity.
Lorelei was proud Of him, rs 81
Ind reason to Ne. but she had occasi'
for sorrow as we'll. His generosity W
\ really big, his pagan joyousness ba
\ lshcd shadows. but he was intense
human In his fallings, and In spite
his determination to stop drinking.
spite OF all his earnest promises, I
y old appetite periodically betrayed al
# For a month. for two months at
time, he would manfully fight his [
H sIres. then without excuse, witho
cause, just when he was Boosting lor
est OF his victory, he would fall. A
vet drinking did not brutalize him
It does most men. he never became q
gushing; liquor intoxicated him, |
less in body than in spirit. His
pentance followed promptly his cl
grin was intense, and his fear Of 10
lei almost ludicrous. But the girl h
acquired a wider charity, gentler
NJ tience; she grieved, she tried to h
him, and his frailty endeared him
her Love Ind been slow to awak,
IN fact, she had not been defnlt
aware Of lts birth; but suddenly |
had found 1t Towering In her soul. q
now It fiourished the more as that OF
interest intensified and began to do
nate her.
Bob responded to all her efforts 81
one: Ishe could not make him serlc
.aspns EAes yAgie,s however. they "