The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-12-02


is a maybe with chance of touch
ing par" A." |-..~.
"A1y! But you've got it pat" sneer-
ed Bryan Darlon, nephew Of John
narlon, the employer of both of them.
Ever tell that to- Eunice Reader" MA
'Please leave the lady's name out
of our discussion suggested Ben, a
tri1le sternly. Il haven't hit it quite
right with your uncle, but l was a
success in the position he hired me
away FROM"
"A has BEEN eh?'
swell, I'd rather be has BEEN
than might have been for has
been is an are" ,.E
Studied out very prettily," jeered
Darlon, still in an aggressive tone.
mo, you don't suit the old man, and
he having left me in charge during his
absence I take it upon myself to fire
you.' .T,
Ben Mantell's face flushed. but he
subdued the resentful words that arose
to his lips. II doubt your right" he
said quietly now, 'but I'll 60. The
loss of the Evans contract was not my
fault. and your uncle, if fair minded
man, can't think otherwise. l have
found out the reason why the order
was Cancelled. Better keep me here
until your uncle returns and I can tell
him about it," m&l.-: ID
"Tell me-" submitted Bryan.
mo" came the definite response.
do you discharge me, then?"
with pleasure, retorted Bryan
maliciously. IF I were you, I'd go
down to MELVILLE. There's lot Of open
positions there" reg -.
II propose to stay right here in
Chesterton," observed Ben. II am not
afraid, and something will come my
way"
Bryan Darlon shrugged his Shout
ders. but he also snarled. This I'M
expected independence irritated him.
He had an object in banishing Ben
from Elmwood. Both Of them were
in love with Eunice Reade, the belle
of the little town. It was her ma
ture to be kind to everybody, and
while she discerned a certain autocrat-
ic bearing on the part Of Bryan as
if his prospects should recommend him
to wise young ladies who cared for
wealth and position, she did not know
her own heart at the first and treated
each Of her suitors with like uniform
considera ton and courtesy.
But Eunice Reade knew her heart
much better two days after Ben Man.
tell had been so rudely and officiously
discharged from his position at the
Darlon establishment. Her brother
Ned, also employed there had brought
her the news of the circumstances. 1t
seemed that he had overheard the final
conversation between Bryan and Ben,
and he had repeated it to Eunice. He
was a stanch adherent Of Ben, who
had taken great pains to see to his
advancement in his employment, and
he despised Bryan because of little
tricks of selflshness and meanness he
had traced in him. go = Is
"Ben isn't one bit downhearted,"
he declared. ''But you couldn't make
a mistake In taking sides with him,
for its plain, open affair. Bryan
wants to get Ben away from here be-
cause he is jealous of him."
OF course it was too delicate sub
ject for Eunice to discuss with her
brother, but she saw both Bryan and
Ben within the ensuing few days and
studied them closely, attaching i'm
portance to every word they spoke and
analyzing the situation in a fair mind
ed way. ~ &e&.
Bryan betrayed his enmity toward
Ben at the start. He exaggerated his
faults. If they were such; he gloated
over his power to cast him adrift with
out warning. His treacherous spirit
was so apparent to Eunice that he
actually succeeded in making her the
unwavering champion Of the rival he
hated. a, ..g.
It led to Eunioe and Ben becoming
mutually confidential and drew them
closer together than ever before.
You have honored me with your
interest and sympathy" said Ben,
"and cannot but ask to make you
my confidant. The reason the large
contract which Mr.. Darlon blames me
for losing was not awarded to his
house was because the Evans company,
which has been a client of the OAR
Ions for years, expect to go into the
same line Of manufacture themselves.
would not trade or deal with them
while was with the Darlons, but now
that am unjustly discharged l must,
Of course, look to my own interests.
The truth is. Miss Reade. that they
will soon appear as active business
rivals to the Darlons, and as they have
unlimited capital will certainly divide
the trade. 1 am quietly acting as
their agent now in looking for build
ing site for the factory they design
to erect"
Bryan Darlon received a cold re-
ception when next he visited Eunice
Reade. With chagrin and bitterness
he saw her in the company of Ben
Mantell on several occasions and CON-
- = Z r