The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-10-07
Bob's Silent
Partner
By HAZEL SMITH
9. 1891. Western Newspaper Union

Robert Stewart, young, athletic,
bronzed, and In outing costume, walked
up the steps of the Empire hotel with
holiness and defiance. 1t took last
ing nerve to assume a happy, indie
pendent air, in his situation. His con-
dition was desperate.
Just n dollar in my pocket" he
soliloQuized, land this Is q two dol
lar a day house. Well, l spent my
last change sending a telegram to my
brother in Chicago. If he is home he
will wire a remittance promptly.
1t was not a very elaborate apart
ment, that into which Robert was
shown, but it was good enough till
the funds came, he told himself phil
osophically. Scarcely, however, had
he turned. on the gas and prepared for
a refreshing wash, when there was a
timid yet imperative tap on the door.
ooh, Mr.. Stewart, sir" almost gasped
the pompous boniface, "a dreadful mis-
take has been made"
"Clerk just noticed your name. This
way, if you please, sir-if you please"
and graciOusly and solicitously the
speaker ushered Robert into a magnifi-
cent apartment on the parlor floor.
"See here" blurted out the mysti-
fed Robert, "this expense"
Ordered, paid for, Mr.. Stewart, 1
assure you," interrupted the landlord.
Expected you, sir. A guest, Mr.. Stew
art, an honored guest. The best in
the house is at your command, sir. In
deed the whole city. Judge Slattery
says so. I shall telephone him and
he will be here at once to welcome
you, sir"
1t took Quick-witted Bob only a brief
thinking spell to understand that Rob-
ert Stewart was a common name.
"Two Robert Stewards, ehY" he
ruminated, land I've arrived first"
Bob had been out with a surveying
crew, stalking off the great Tanipah
valley. The government had encour-
aged an irrigation project, and land
in the valley had gone up on a boom.
There was not a foot Of land in the
Tanipah district Bob had not gone
over. In fact, struck with the future
possibilities in view, he had got the
owner of q ten-thousand-acre tract, the
choicest property in the section, to
give him a ninety days option on his
holdings. The engineering company had
defaulted on payment. Bob had thus
far arrived at the outposts Of civiliza-
ton, on his way to collect from the
company at Denver, to find himself
stranded.
One hour later Bob sat at a BAN
quet table, surrounded, as his compan-
ions tried to make him believe, by
1.-THE leading citizens Of the town."
Later the judge and some others
led him into a private room. And then
they talked business. When he got
back to the hotel he winked at him
self in the mirror and chuckled.
When the train from the east ar
rived the next morning, a w~ell-dressed
young man was conveyed to the EN-
pire hotel. He approached the clerks
desk with simple words:
Robert Stewart"
"Ah, yes, show the gentleman up,
boy"
The first Bob was tactful. Inside of
ten minutes he had explained, and had
his double in name laughing.
you see," he said, "it's lucky I let
them take me for you. AS l get it,
you are out here to buy up q lot of
land for an eastern firm. The specu-
lators in this town got options on five
thousand acres of Tanipah at rock bot
tom prices, and expected to put ii
over on you at a five hundred per cent
advance. Besides that, the land is
the poorest you conld pick up. If you
wish to invest, give my option a
show"
Which Robert Stewart No. 2 did
Judge Slattery found it out and
skunk into obscurity with his confed'
crates. The belated Bob saved his
firm fifty thousand dollars, our Bot
made ten.
Then the friends learned that some
how they were distantly related. They
returned east together, and there was
an introduction for Bob to charming
Edith Stewart.
II can't ask you to change your
NAME" observed Bob one evening, af
ter he and Edith had got pretty vel
acquainted, but l can ask you tc
change your home. 1t was a lucky
strike, my coming across your broth.
err. He and l are going into business
together. Won't you join the firm as
a silent ~partner?"
at would be pretty difficult to re-
sist the best friend my brother evel
had" she said, "only as to being a
silent partner"
"Yes?" ~interrogated Bob eagerly.
IF you truly love me as much as
you say you do, l can't promise silence
in the new home you talk about, Bob,
dear-I should be singing all day
long"
The Rules and Regulations.
Her Friend-"ThOSe rules and reg