The Snowflake herald., 1920-12-31
A NoN-PARTIsAN NEWSPAPER
The Rivals
By MURIEL LEE
(@. 1920. western Newspaper Union.)

II may not be an are" said Ben
Mantell, "but am 'could-be,' which
is a maybe with "a chance Of touch
ing par"
"My! But you've got it pat" sneer-
ed Bryan Darlon, nephew of John
Darlon, the employer Of both of them.
ever tell that to Eunice Reade?
'Please leave the lady's name out
of our discussion" suggested Ben,
trif1e sternly. II haven't hit it quite
right with your uncle, but / was a
success in the position he hired me
away FROM
"a has been ehY
"Well, I'd rather be a has been
than might have BEEN for has
been is an are !"
Studied oup cry prettily," jeered
Darlon, still L Han aggressive tone
"No, you don't suit the old man, and
he having left me in charge during his
absence 1 take it upon myself to fire
you"
Ben Mantell's face flushed, but he
subdued the reSentful words that arose
TO his lips. 'T doubt your right" he
said quietly now, 'but I'll go. The
loss of the Evans contract was not my
fault and your uncle, if fair minded
man, can't think otherwise. / have
found out the reason why the order
was cancelled. Better keep me here
until your uncle returns and | can tell
him about it"
"Tell me-" submitted Bryan.
"No," came the definite response
"Do you discharge me. then?"
'With pleasure" retorted Bryan
maliciously. "If were you, I'd go
down to Melville. There's lot of oper
positions there"
Il propose to stay right here in
Chesterton," observed Ben. 81 am not
afraid, and something will come my
way"
Bryan Darlon shrugged his shOul-
ders but he also snarled. This un-
expected independence irritated him
He had an object in banishing BeT
from ElmwoOd. Both of them were
in love with Eunice Reade. the belle
ture to be kind to everybody, an0
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
consideration and courtesy.
But Eunice Reade knew her hear,
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. Il
seemed that he had overheard the fina
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, anc
he despised Bryan because Of little
tricks Of selfishness and meanness he
had traced In him.
"Ben isn't one bit downhearted,'
he declared. "But you couldn't make
A mistake In taking sides with him
for its a plain, open affair. Bryan
wants to get Ben away from here be.
cause ne is jealous of him."
OF course it was too delicate sub.
iect for Ennice to discuss with her
brother. but she saw both Bryan anG
Ben within the ensuing few days anG
studied them closely, attaching i'm.
portance to every word they spoke an6
analyzing the situation in fair mind.
ed way.
Bryan betrayed his enmity toward
Ben at the start. He exaggerated his
faults, IL they were such; he glOated
over his power to cast him adrift with.
cut a warning His treacherous spirit
was SO apparent to Eunice that he
actually succeeded in making her the
unwavering champion Of the rival he
hated.
1t led to Eunice 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 yoL
my confidant The reason the large
contract which Mr.. Darlon blames ms
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 then