Show ii ii ij mm FOR LIFE fj uy dy GEORGE ELMER COBB i things look pretty dubious you seo e observed lawyer balloy bailey there is IB no doubt that my fathers business oss is in LL a critical condition well I 1 am hero here to mend it 1 I hope you do and you look as it you are going to give the experiment tj a good hard try observed the actor j i i ney ncy with an admiring glanco glance at the ill clear faced supple limbed young man ij H before him percival deane had been called from the midst of splendid attainments at i college to realize the true nobility of a self sacrificing father deano deane marvin had been botho to the son a synonym lor for stability and profit it was an old iron manufacturing business and al 4 though percival had known that jt it had bad f rot cot somewhat behind the times ho he bad never thai it had been varr narrowly grazing too the edge of rula ruin for many months tho the situation la Is easily told said mr bailey two years ago your fathers partner mr air marvin induced mm bim to agree to investigate a chanco chance to purchase so a peruvian concession to cost this they had every assur ns aurance anco could be sold within a year at an enormous advance nearly nil all tuo the capital ot of the firm was turned into mash cash mr marvin departed on hla mission ile ho wired from san francisco and since that time not a word has been received from him M they think lie he was murdered robbed L 4 y tho the only way they can explain this unaccountable silence agreed tho the lawyer cramped for capital your father has seen the business fairly go to pieces ile he kept the lp true arno state of affairs from you ile he has even paid mrs marvin tho the old liberal drawing account of her h husband she has ban a daughter elsie just finishing her education poor bomani woman it was a severe blow when your father broke down physically and mentally and she learned the bitter truth as to how bow affairs stand percival val deane figuratively took off hla his coat and started in to make time and ability count the first thing ho he did was to send berta his bis father and a 0 A I 1 q 1 I out but wo we must not be thus tegid trained nurse to a southern bouthern health robort resort as suggested by the family physician at the end of 0 week he be had bad the muddled affairs of the firm on a tangible basla basis it look very promising lie he told himself the factory can do no ho now new work until the debts are ara paid off and some fresh capital secured there Is however a big stock ot of foundry machine shop supplies on hand it this could be bd sold off it would bring b in a large aggregate amount I 1 have bavo a plan to create a demand deane marvin owned exclusive models and patterns of a large number ot of utilities in requirement dally daily all over ever the country the young man directed a circular to all of tho the old patrons of the flim firm lie ile stated the conditions truthfully offered a reduction in price and hoped tor for the best beat it was saturday evening when he paid a visit to mrs airs marvin lie he had known her casually for years but since being away at school had not seen been her often we shall be able to pay you quite a weekly allowance mrs airs marvin he stated cheerily and when I 1 get things straightened around I 1 hope to be able to give you the regular amount you have heretofore received you are most kind and considerate dec declared larud mrs airs marvin 1 I have felt that as roy my husband took away with him tho the greater part of the capital of the firm I 1 could scarcely expect anything from tho the business you shall receive a n share as long as the business lasts insisted percival it la Is my fathers ta wish and my own as well I 1 understand that your daughter is within a year of completing her education wo we must see that there Is no break in that but there will ivill be I 1 am not going back to school broke in a new voice and elsie alalvin entered the room ilor her beauty the fascinating influence of her charming face ace made percival doubt if this was tho the child lie he had bad played with years lu the past A glance flora her beautiful eyes gave a now inspiration to the occasion 1 I 1 could not think of being a burden on your father and yourself two 1 of I the noblest most un gentlemen I 1 have ever ev er known sho she said definitely no mother the school dream Is ia 1 shall ahall go to work but what at my cay child inquired her mother solicitously oh I 1 can surely nil fill tn in somewhere in the old busy days of the factory you had roma omo one to keep the books and tako take charge of the office mr deane can I 1 not bo be of somo some service there now had she aho been a stranger ho he would have said bald no As aa he reflected how that lovely presence would bo be a constant comfort and encouragement e nt P por 0 r belval said bald yes and so BO it was waa arranged arjang 0 4 ilow how harmoniously they worked together that first farst week what a joy ii it was mutually to feel that they were merging their exertions exert lone for the sake bake of their dear onest percival val attended to the packing and crating of articles ordered elsie did all tho the billing and correspondence often she insisted on aiding percival val ut tit his work ifor her soft silky hair sweeping his bis faco face her perfumed breath the touch of her fairy hands would send a rare thrill to hla his soul ile iio could scarcely control the impulse to tako take her in his armi and tell her how he loved her then came cama to percival val deane the disappointment of hla his life A young man came to the vil village lago for two i days he be was waa almost constantly with E elsie isle it was whispered about tho the village that ho he was tho the brother of elkies closest school friend and her flance fiance elslo elsie came back bach to work moro more shy and self conscious than before she was waa still kindly and helpful but there seemed to bo be a barrier now n w between them one day she eho camo came to where percival val was huby busy mr deano deane she ohe said 1 I find that while you have been sending mother a regular allowance you do not draw any money yourself oh ob all right insisted per belval brightly 1 I will take my share when the collections como come in but we must not bo be thus thua lebed 1 I 1 I fancied perhaps you particular cular ly needed your allowance just now why what do you mean inquired Inqui redi I 1 elsie innocently 1 I heard beard you might leave here that Is I 1 fancied well as you are en engaged repeated elsie vaguely oh ob you mean to my recent visitor and sho she burst into a merry laugh hei he was a very good friend but anything farther than that was waa never poss possible bi with me and utterly out of the q question es with him bim when he hb learned how ow poor I 1 was yes observed percival val we aro both poor but ohl oh so BO glad to share that poverty cheerfully almost happy you say eay thail cried percival val un able to res restrain iraln his fe fervent nt emotions and her downcast eyes her blushing faco face told him that thai his bis love was r re turned one evening a pate pale travel worn marx man came to the marvin home bome the miss ing partner what a story he be had to tell of adventure imprisonment escape the safely hidden tho the final investment and wealth what a reunion it was when mr deane was called home to learn the joyful news what glowing prospects ecta presen presenter teo for the partners and elsie and percival val partners for life copyright gh by W 0 chapman |