Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-09-11
The Rivals
BY ALVAH JORDAN GARTH


/ way. as though seeking 10 reau HIS
| thoughts or to determine from gen
eral appearance or facial expression
| how the world had Jared with him,
| for they had not met to speak for two
years.
There was sharp contrast between
the two. Alden Dale plainly but neat
! ~ dressed. suggested the student and
thinker
Garland Eyre. flashing eyed, mobile
Of lips, restless and erratic in his
movements, suggested the typical
broker, ever on the alert and under a
strain. He covertly observed the suit
case. momentarily constructing
theory as to its presence. "Oh on a
train, | see!" he remarked.
'Why, YES" replied Alden in his
straightforward way I'm going home
| for "A week or two"
wish ! could arrange to do that
Believe I'll try" said Eyre, his under
lying purpose camouhaged, for Alden
detected the thin disguise of general
lty. I'D like TO loaf around the old
burg for spell. How have the fates
dealt with YOU, Dale?"
"Pleasantly," answered Alden. Il
was admitted to the bar in August and
! they honored me with an appointment
with the Law Protective league. The
compensation is only a livelihood, but
it is useful work and fine legal train
ing. and l have written book or two
and that has helped out"
"ShOw you somethingl' bOlted out
Eyre and he took handbook from
his pocket That's me -
His We're all money values, rs he
| showed the chronicle Of bank bal
auceS approXimating thirty thousand
dollars. promoted the Casa Grande
Realty company, you know" he said.
'Why, l read something lately in the
newspaper that the company had
failed" observed A.en.
Yes, we hit Il Sn;,; and they landed
a receiver down on us" admitted
Eyre lightly but we've reorganized.
! Money coming both ways, see? The
| investors have come on with a pro
| rata assessment, 50 we are still gath
| ering in the shellels. Got to attend
| a meeting Of the directors" he added,
| CHANGING at his watch and flashing his
bediamonded hand effectively, so
| good-by, | say, though, Il pretty neat
| surplus for two years. eh?"
Alden went on his way immersed in
| thought. There was strong diStaSte
in his mind as he reflected over what
Eyre had just told him. The Casa
Grande had been denominated a swim
die in the public prints. "Milked dry
by its eXpoiters" it was declared,
1.-TWO yearS?" The words comprised
text for some meditation. When the
two young men had left their native
village both We're in love with Myrtle
Robbins. BY queer coincidence both
had decided to try their fortunes in
the city, and in turn they had visited
bluff, straightforward Peter Robbins
and had intimated their feelings to-
ward Myrtle.
We'll said Mr.. Robbins, what you
are after is to get me TO allow Myrtle
to keep up correspondence with you?
Plainly-no. You are promising young
fellows, and | wish you all kinds of
luck, and Myrtle likes you both, but
she is too young TO think of a beau.
In two years, when you have shown
your business mettle, come back here.
So Alden and Eyre had to be content
with that, and now the two-year peri
cd was up and the one thought in the
mind of Alden was Myrtle And Gar
land Eyre attended no directors meet
ing, but, hurrying to his hotel packed
his grip forthwith and reached Virden
one train later than Alden.
'In a showdown l feel pretty sure
that old Robbins will favor my fat
bank roll he chirped complacently,
and, being Of the brassy push-ahead
kind, by nightfall of the next day all
Virden knew Of his diamonds and
gaudy attire and bank roll. When that
evening he called at the Robbins home
it was in a big hired motorcar and he
spent two hours talking mainly Of him
self and his glittering prospects for
wealth. He fancied he had impressed
Myrtle greatly utTibuting her sub
dued manner 10 awe and admiration.
If he had been present during the
visit of Alden the following evening.
however, Eyre would not have felt so
sure of himself Father and daughter
had heard OF his work in the city, par.
ticularly of his writings. The modest
young author was duly delighted when
he found both Myrtle and her father
familiar with the same Before the
week was out, in turn the young men
called upon Mr. Robbins requesting
permission to pay their addresses to
Myrtle.
Alas for the lofty aspiration Of the
reorganizer Of Casa Grande. The
morning paper announced the issuance
OF fraud order against its promoters
and levy on the stockholders against
all their bank funds. including Eyres
thirty thousand dollars. The latter
found it judicieus TO return. at once to
the city TO untangle his involved bust
ness affairs.
When Alden Dale called upon Mr..
Robbins next day the latter viewed
him with an spnrnyipty ava