The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-12-18
Edward Dill's
Success
BY JUSTIN WENTWOOD


Ed DiIi?" repeated Mrs, Hamer.
sham. You remember Ed Dill,
| sir? Now. I shouldn't have
remembered Ed Dill, coming back
70 the home town after all these
years. That's Ed Dill" she added,
pointing to the occupants of mo-
torcar that was coming along Main
| street.
| The O)d-timer looked and saw q
tlorid, prosperous gentleman of mid.
tlle age. accompanied by stylishly
dressed lady, rolling down the
street in his car. The car was
new podel Apfendyke.
Seems 10 have prOSpered."
ED Dill's one Of our leading and
most influential citizens" respond
ed Mrs. Hamersham. "Ah. sir. you
and | remember the time when the
town used to sheer at him and say
genius wasn't any good without
common sense back of 1t. Put
we've learned TO be mighty proud
Of our leading painter"
What. he still paints? And Ed
Din made all that money by paint
ing?"
He did, and we're mighty glad
to encourage genius. 1t was Hank
Bevis made him, though"
You certainly surprise me.
Hank Bevis? Why-the banker,
, YOU mean? l should have thought
he'd be the last man in the world
TO encourage genius"
why, you do him an Injustice"
responded Mrs. Hamersham. "Mr.
Bevis Is e-of our leading citizens
still, and encourages art and every
thing except downright crankiness.
Maybe you don't realize, coming
back after so many years, how
we've broadened out since you
went away.
Now, you remember Ed Dill, as
he was when you left us. sitting
over them canvases of his, painting
all the time. Genius he was, and
his mother was proud Of him, tut
most Of us called him plain lazy.
Never sold none Of those paintings.
and hung them all over his moth
er's house, he did. swell, l suppose
it's business like every other, but
II there's no money in it,
"But l thought you said"
wait, sir, I'm coming to that.
Eds father got him into the bank.
you know, through Mr.. Bevis' in.
huence, and what does he do but
throw up his job and say the Muse
called him? Them was his very
words.
$50 Ed drifted on. shabby and
down at the heel, until he fell In
love with Nancy Bevis. who's now
Mrs. Dill. And he wanted her to
wait for him till he was rich and
famous. Now Nancy was, fond
enough Of Ed, but she had no mind
to wait forever for him. So she in!
teresteC her father. He comes I"
Ed.
ed he says. I'm proud to
have you marry my daughter az
soon as you've made good. And !
realize your talents lie In one d..
rection. only you've got to utilize
them and not waste them, You've
got genius. Ed, but you haven't got
common sense. Now, II you want
Nancy. you'll have to put yourself
In my hands,
And there and then he made Ed
his proposition. At first Ed Wrned
him down fiat. He said he'd rather
go to the devil in his own way than
go to heaven in Mr.. Bevis' way
But then there was Nancy-and in
the end Ed consented.
1T appeared that there was
plenty Of people In town wanted
paintings, but Ed had never gone
about the right way Of selling
them. He didn't know the com.
mercial end Of the game. First per-
son was Cy Hicks, the grocer
"What? Cy Hicks?.
Surely. And why not. rray?"
Mrs. Hamersham bridled. "And my
husband, I'll have you know. His
| first payment to Ed Dill,'was forty.
five dollars. Oh, we aren't 80 back.
ward in this town az you might
imagine. @t
"Well. sir. Ed Dill began to get
known. and more and more folks
asked for his works. until now he's
our leading painter, and folks are
mighty proud Of him. And he's
| raking Id ten thousand a year. And
that's what Mr. Bevis done for
him., t' ~ "I
TITS very queer" thought the
old-timer. but he said no more. and
started OF down Main street. He
realized that the sense Of art must
have permeated deep iRro the
masses since his departure.
He looked at the familiar shop
signs There was Bill howell. the
butcher. standing at his door, TAT
and joviai AZ ever. Theirs was the
little old grocer. Johnson. And
, here came the Dill Car aGAih, con.
tanning Ed Dill alone. 4
Ed Dill got out In front OF a
large shop which pwAs iiis d. new
building. The olnltltners Spp{eAehe
It. Over the door ne saw Nm:
j "EDWARDl DIE III 6 y.
4 DECORATOR AND jeoUSD
i PAINTER. =
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