Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-10-13
CHATTER XIV.

4r E- So effective that burrE finally
altered h.m q salaried position but
instead ~ accepting. Bob made a coun-
.e-ura1oergn that caused the little
naa r- gasp Rrefv st was ~ extend
tHa scope rf the present business by
erTa- t- stock or ezuavagaut. high
1rsraE shirt and neaktle materials. with
ran .s partner 5n the new venture
Ea-.s protested lbat he was not a ha-
ferHss.a. auf ne was constrained TO
admit that Bob bad the right idea OF
smart business. and after some discus
sion accepted bis employees noncba-
rzn- offer TO go halves on the new ven
furs ard share 10 its profits The
fac. a1at Bob had nc money with
which #a carry through his part Of the
feaI troubled that youth not IN the
.aast-a..rta credit was ample. Bob's
theory -f securing the Fifth avenue
trade was 10 double existing prices,
and Il this ala NOT bring the business.
10 double raam q second time; and this
-haarv was correct. So he demonstrated
when eHa new department was organ
tzsd
Bat despite the excellent income he
now began TO make there was never
anything left fla the Wharton bank sc
count Tor Bob moved his wife 70 ?
more 1s=ssuticus apartment on River
side drive and managed TO increase
their expenses so as TO balance his
earnings very nicely. Il was quite 8
fsasto adjust q fixed outlay 10 vary
Ing income so that nothing whatever
should remain. and he considered it n
a1r7nE proof of his capacities that he
succeeded
Ev Christmas the haberdashery ven
tgre bad shown such a profit that he
began to pile up & small bank account
in spite Of himself. 50 he bought an
automobile which served 10 eat up any
monthly profits and guarantee q deficit
ur6e- the most favorable circum-
stances. Fa}ng thus relieved OF hnan-
cfsf uncertainty. he laid plans to wrest
from Eurtz fuH partnership in the
tailoring business itself
The 7-hHrtors' new home was charm
Ing. and Bob provided his wife with
every INJURY. LOrelei did not regret
that She was prevented from going ont
as uuaa as formerly-her experience
at FanreTcou-t had cured her of any
desire r9 get into her husbands social
set-arE uueonsciousIv she and Bob
began 10 develop u real home life
As time went on and evidences Of
prosperity showed themselves Lorelei's
family forgot some Of their dislike OF
Bon and became more comps ni0nab1e.
Strangely enough. too, their cost Of Iiv-
ing Increased in proportion to their
freu5luess: but Bob never questioned
"a
be zweUaH their allowance with char
scte-str prodigality.
Lo-e.at was proud or him, as she
had reason to be, but she had occasion
for sorrow as we'll His generosity was
really big. bis pagan joFousness ban
tslad shadows bat lie was intensely
human 1 nis fallings. and in spite Of
his determination to stop drinking, In
spite cE ali his earnest promises, the
oEd appetite periodically betrayed him.
For month for two months at p
time. he would maufully fight bis de-
sires. then without excuse, without
cause Just when be was boasting loud
est his victory, he would fail And
get drinking did not brutaHze him as
Il does most men. he never became dis
less N body than IN spirit. His re-
0enfance followed promptly, his cha
grin ra intense. and his fear Of lore
lei zfuasl luafcrous. But the girl mad
acquired q wider charity, 3 gentier pa
aeraa. ale E-ieved. she tried 70 help
hlE 1ad his frauty endeared him 70
her Love had been slow 20 awaken;
zn feet she mad nat been definitely
aware OF it's birth; but suddenly she
had found it towering IN her soul. and
now Gourjsbed the more as that other
interest Intensified and began 20 domi-
uate her
Bob responded to all her efforts save
one she could not make him serious
On tie #d0le, however, they were
bore happy than they had ever been.
Gao asF. during the slack holiday
season. hannibal Wharton appeared st
taa 6u~tz establishment He sp-
Praised The elaborate surroundings with
hostile eye and stared at his son
l1passiva1v
so. You re a seamstreHs now, ne
began and Bob grinned "Merkle told
me you repaid his loan and had an au-
taughIa"
That's true"
Second hand carr"
"<o-
How much do you oweE
>oEAtng. except for stock.
'SlocE. What do you mean
Kurt and I are partners in one end
Of this business"
"Iu be damned breathed Mr.
Wharton Then hp manfred, curiousiy,