Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1919 — Page 2

The Thirteenth Commandment

When Bayard opened the door Clay swept in like a March gale: He flung himself at Bayard and clenched his elbows in his hands and roared; “Bayard! Bayard! It’s come I We’re rich! We’re inade! Eureka I Uneeda! Munitions! Wow! Listen! The other night While I was. trailing a job in darkest New Jersey I ran across a little due, and a little man who told me a little secret. The Germahs have been gettingreadylor this_ war for years, piling up guns and ammunition for Der Tag. The other countries were caught only half ready. They have stopped the Germans on the Marne, but they’ve been using their shells at such a rate that the famine is near. Their only hope is to buy supplies of us. They’re going to dump enough contracts on this country to furnish about a million dollars to every citizen. ' s Their agents are pussy-footing .round to distribute contracts quietly. gathered in a big Jot of them, and 1 had a tip that the stock was going to boom; so are a lot of other stocks. I'd sell my right arm for a little cash. But there’s no market for detached right arms, so I used mine to sign up a few little contracts for placing contracts, and I’ve plucked them and brought them to you.” He broke into dance and whirled Bayard off his feet. Bayard tried to be patient. “That’s nil very interesting. Clay, but take your delusions down to Bellevue, where they’ll put you in the right cell. What can you or I do with ammunition contracts?" “Accept ’em, you blamed ijlt! Open up your old shut-up factory and get busy.” —“We bare no machinery for making ammunition.” “Get it, then, or adapt your machinery! They need millions of each article, for there are millions of men in the field using up what they’ve got so fast that it’s only a matter of weeks before they’ll be desperate.” Bayard began to see the scheme — also the obstacles. “But it takes money to make those things. Where will we get the cash for the pay rolls and the raw materials?” “From the banks! The banks are bursting open with idle money; it’s rotting on their hands!” Bayard went aglow with the realization of the opportunity. He began to tremble at the vision of the sudden avalanches of wealth pouring down the bleak despmr. could hear the roar of the Niagaras of gold. Daphne and Leila came rushing from concealment. Clay’s beatitude was so complete that he forgot his re-., sentments and kissed them both. Bayard was frantic to be at work. He resolved to telephone the president of his company at once and lay the matter before him. Leila cannily advised Bayard - -40~-'grasp "the---whip hand of the situation and keep it. She began to dance about the room like a Miriam celebrating the passage of the Red sea. ~ “The first thing we’ll do." she said, “will be to get my jewelry put -of tjie pawnshop and the second! will be to buy some more. And, oh, the dresses and the hats!” . 1 This asserted a sobering effect on Bayard. “No,-' he announced. “We’ve gone through hades once because I gariibled away my reserves. This time I’m going to get a big reserve before I spend a cent. I’ll never risk another ordeal like the one we’ve been through. No more fractures of the Thirteenth for pie!” Leila laughed. Bayard went to the telephone to start the wheels of the factory in motion by summoning the president to council. He paused to risk: “He’ll want to know who the foreign agent is you ard!dealing with? Or are there several? Who shall I say?” “Wethervll.” said Clay.,, The great Skoda gun that suddenly one day dropped a monster shell in Dunkirk twenty miles off could hardly have caused more -stupefaction than .N? name of Wetherell detonating jn that room.

Daphne snatched her hand from Clay’s. Bayard sprang up so sharply that he almost threw Leila forward on her face. Instinctively he caught her by the arm and saved her froni falling. But instantly he flung her arm from him in agush of disgust. Clay gaped at the tableau in bewilderment. He had not dreamed that any of the three had ever heard of WetberelL He could not imagine the bitterness the name involved. * „ “Will some kind friend please tell me what all the excitement is about?" This was, not easy. Who wanted to tell Clay that Leila had just been accused of neglecting husband land her own duties for the society of this very Wetherell? Leila herself was the one that told him. “T - “Look here, Bydie,” Leila cooed and billed, “don’t you think you’ve done enough? You’ve, shown , you don’t tnist me and you’ve ordered Mr. Wetherell never to come near me again. Isn’t that enough without beg-

•paring us all for spite? What else *is it but cheap, nasty spffe?” » “It’s a great deal more than spite,” Bayard groaned. “Do you think I’ll accept favors from a man, who has ; been courting you and got caught at it? I’d rather starve!” “Well. I wouldn’t!” Leila averred. “And I’m not going to starve. And I’m not going to let you commit hari- ! kari on Wetherell’s doorstep just to ! spite him. I tell you again, once for all, there was nothing wrong in Weth- ‘ ereii’s behavior, absolutely .nothingyon should accuse me of such horrible things.” i So Bayard was coerced into having Tiis life saved by his enemy. It was <>nc thing, however, to consent to deal . with Wetherell, and another to devise a tolerable reconciliation. “Well," Bayard sighed, “beggars can’t be choosers. If I’d saved my money I shouldn't have to take Wetherell’s money.” Bayard called up the president of his company at the office. His oration a- huge success. -Bayard began to smile to himself, to wink at the ! spectators, and finally to. sharein the apparent rapture of his distant ear-to-ear. The end of the matter was that when Bayard left the telephone he was a i new man. He had cunningly raised his chief’s hopes to the highest degree, yet withheld the name of the i English agent. He explained that he Intended to take Leila’s advice and use his knowledge as a lever for his own advancement and Clay’s. Clay and Bayard sat down to make figures, and the talk grew too technical for the women to endure. After hearing the first music of Bayard and Clay chanting in hundreds of thousands of dollars Daphne stole out unheeded and went up to her own room. Mr. Chivvis was sitting by a window in mournful Idleness. Mrs. Chivvis was stitching away at her embroidery. She was cheerful —for her. She told Daphne that she had found a market for her needlework; the prices were poor but they were real. She. advised Daphne to get to work with her. • - - ■ * Daphne had not the courage to say that her brother and her betrothed were about to become plutocrats. She said only that she was very tired. And there is no more exhausting drain on the nerves than their response to unexpected good news. It is more fatiguing" than bad. She was sur- ' prised and shocked, too, to find how I-snobbish she —was all of —a —sudden about the petty earnings of a Chivvis. CHAPTER XXII. In those days the United States of j America suddenly woke to the fact [that they could pull themselves out of bankruptcy by helping the benighted states of Europe into it. There were sudden geysers of for- ; tune and sudden collapses of As in bonanza times, many were ruJ ined, while the few prospered. But Clay and Bayard seemed to touch • norttttTg” that did not turn to- gold. Bayard had gained immense prestige

So Bayard Was Coerced Into Having His Life Saved by His Enemy.

with his firm because of the huge orders he brought in. He took all the power that was accorded and grasped for more. His most reckless audacities were rewarded with success. He rode a tidal wave and swam with it so well that all his progress seemed to be due to his own power. Bayard astounded Dutilh with the solution of that old account, and with a cash payment for new gowns in celebration of his new glory. He did not forget his own people. He telegraphed his mother a thousand dollars and almost slew her with amazement He telegraphed his father simply the price of a railroad ticket to New York and a peremptory summons to take the first train east.

THE EVENING RETUBETCAN. RENSSET/AER. IND, f

When Daphne heard this she had to sit down to keep from falling down. Bayard resuscitated her with a check for a thousand dollars. It meant nothing more to her than abracadabra. The whole incredible alteration was a fairy story to her. She made a faint attempt to refuse the gift, but Bayard forced It back into her palm and closed her fingers on It. She repaid Bayard with kisses till she lost count and embraces till they both lost breath. Then she borrowed ’from him enough' cash to pay her moss-grown bill with the Chlvvises. Daphne could not wait for the elevator. She ran up several flights of stairs, scratched the door with her palsied latchkey and fljmg herself into Mrs. Chivvis’ arms' and kissed her—even Mrs. Chivvis. Her apology was the money for the bill. She flaunt? ed before her the check bearing the heavenly legend commanding the Fifth • Avenue bank to “pay to Daphne Kip or order one thousand and no hundredths dollars” on penalty of incuring the displeasure of “Bayard Kip.T Mrs: Cfiivvis handled the parchment with reverence, and permitted her husband to touch it. It might have been one of the golden leaves of the sacred Book of Mormon, and she a sealed wife of Brigham himself. “What are you planning to do with all this?” she said at length. “I don’t know,” said Daphne. “What would you suggest?” “You were planning to go into business. Why not use this as capital?” “Fine! What business ought I to start —banking? or battleship building, or what?” “There’s embroidery,” said Mrs. Chivvis. Daphne had to guffaw at that Mrs. Chivvis did not laugh. “I mean it,” she urged; “think it over.” “All right, I’ll think it over.” The novelty of being rich lost its savor with Leila, and the monotony of being neglected began to prey upon her damask soul. She and Daphne forgot their mutual grievances for their common grievance. “That’s the trouble with these husbands,” Leila grumbled. “When they’re in bad luck you can’t lose ’em, and when they’re in good you can’t find ’em.” “It’s the same with fiances,” said Daphne. Daphne had the worst of it, for Leila began to wander again, leaving Daphne to the society of Mrs. Chivvis, who kept urging her to invest her dwindling thousand before it was gone. But in' the environs of noisy riches the schemes of Mrs. Chivvis demanded such prolonged labor for such minute profit that Daphne remained cold. She began to resent Clay’s neglect morosely. The few attentions he paid her only insulted her; his mind was so far away and his heart was all for his business. He was dazzled by the fierce white light of success, and he spoke to Daphne in akind.of drowsy- hypnosis. - And he spoke incessantly of the details of his' business, or his gamblings. He could not see how deaf, vulgar fractions of his speculations, or the mad arithmetic of his commissions. She yawned In his face when he grew eloquent on the dynamics of wealth, the higher philosophies or finance. And he never knew. JJe kissed her good-by as if he were kissing a government bond, safe and quiet and all his own. After one of Clay’s visits Mrs. ChivVis found Daphne in a brown study. Mrs. Chivvis explained her Own affairs; and Daphne was so exhausted with the sultry problems of love that

Mrs. Chivvis’ business gossip was completely refreshing. “I’ve been down to the Woman’s exchange,” she said, “trying to sell some of my needlework. They were very nice about it, but it means a terrible amount of labor for a pittance of money. You have to pay them so much a year for the privilege of putting your things on sale there. Then they don’t guarantee to return it in good condition, and they don’t guarantee to sell it; or if they do they charge you 20 per cent for their end of it. “I couldn’t see any profit in that, so I went to one of the jobbers. He said -my style of work brought good prices in the big stores. But they won’t pay him much and he’ll pay me less. “I was thinking— There’s money in these things and in all sorts of needle things if you have a little capital.” “That’s different,” said ■ Daphne. “And I’ve got some capital how. ■’ DO you remember suggesting t,o me once that we might go into business together —you to furnish the brains and I the money?” - “Oh, I put it that way I” “Anyway, it’s true. Well, would you?” . “Land’s sake! if you’re a mind to furnish the money and the ideas and let me count the pennies, I’d like nothing better.” / ’‘Great! What could we go into?” “What would yon prefer?’ “Oh. any old business that will keep me- busy and make a lot 4 ot money.’ - ■■ “My busband says that you can’t make a lot of money without putting

By RUPERT HUGHES

Copyright by Harper * Brothen

In a Ibt. That'S one reason he has been kept down so. He never could get ahead. That was what we were saving up so get a little capital. And then the war came along—and we had to spend our savings. That same war has made your brother so rich that he could give you a small fortune. I don’t believe you could do better than to put that into a business.” “Neither do - I!” Daphne cried. “Let’s!" , CHAPTER XXIII. Daphne was going to be independent, but she was still all woman when it came to the selection of her special trade. She would be a business woman, but she would do a woman’s business. There were ever so many dainties and exquisites that she wanted to hang in her shop. She was going to

“My Husband Says That You Can’t Make a Lot of Money Without Putting in a Lot.”

have a window! With her name on it! That would be more fun than a limousine with crest on door. Gradually her scheme enlarged. She would devote her shop to the whole mechanism of the boudoir. “Boudoirh’qq t*** vcoq thp word thfit pleased _ It was in human nature that the partners should quarrel over a name for the . baby before the baby was born. They spoke of themselves as “The Firm.” Finally Daphne, claiming the majority of the power, voted eh bloc for “Boudoirwear,” and claimed the victory. Mrs. Chivvis surrendered with the amendment that “Miss Kip”should be. at. Qne.„side l Chivvis” at the other. She bribed the assembly by promising that a cousin of hers, a young artist living in the Washlngtbn Mews, should paint a pretty signboard on a swinging shingle. After many designs ha*& been composed and destroyed they agreed on this legend:

BOUDOIRWEAR Everything for the Boudoir. Exquisite Things for Brides. MISS KIP. MRS. CHIVVIS.

The cousin painted it well and illuminated it with elaborate intials and an allegorical figure of a young lady in Cubist negligee. It had the traditional charm of a tavern board. In fact, their shop was to be a tavern for women in search of sartorial refreshment.—— - •-— Troubles mustered about them as weeds shove up in a garden faster than they c 4 an be plucked out. Expenses undreamed of materialized, in swarms. Everything was delayed eicept the demands for their inoney. The petty-cash box, like a sort of perverted fairy purse, emptied itself as fast as it was filled. The petty cash was the least of their dismay. The grand cash was the main problem. They had stitched their fingers full of holes and piled up reartis of fabrics, but the total was pathetically tiny. One thing was Instantly demonstrated. They must give up their plan or go into debt. Indeed, they already were in debt. “We’ve got to take the plunge ” said Daphne. ‘Td rather die than go on paying a* year’s rent for an empty shop.” “I know,” Mrs. Chivvis fretted, gnawing her thin lips,, “but it’s a risk. You’d better ask your brother." ‘No!” Daphne stormed. “I’m going to win out on my own. Poor Bayard is too busy to be bothered with my troubles. He doesn’t know I have any. And Leila is so busy with her social business that she never asks me what Pm up to, - “But what are we to do?” Mrs. Chi v vis wailed. “We can’t go on with our stock, and you have no money left, and 1 hadn’t any to start with.”

“There’s’ only one thing to do,’ Daphne answered, with a sphlnxic Solemnity. “Buy on cnedit. /It’s a case of nothing venture, Nothing gain ; nothing purchase, nothing sell! nothing borrow, nothing pay. The only way to get out of debt is to go in deeper—like getting a fish hook out of your thumb." Mrs- Chivvis suffered herself to be persuaded. They visited the wholesalers and the jobbers and were well received, having paid cash before — and, thanks to Mr. Chivvis’ suggestion, having been astute enough to demand discount for cash. And now the motortrucks and the delivery wagons and the cyclecars and the messenger boys began to pour stock into the little shop. It was pleasant not to have to pay for things, though the tips were reaching alarming proportions, and the bundle of bills for future settlement grew and’grew. Mrs. Chivvis made a list of their debts and tried to show ft to Daphne, but she stopped her eyes and ears and forbade any' discussion that would quench her spirit. In the swirl of her tasks Daphne almost-.forgot Clay Wimburn. She was too busy to care much. She had no time to mourn. Clay was only one among a myriad regrets, and his affairs could wait. Her business needs could not. Clay did not come near her. He spent a lot of money trying to get her off his mind. He got a good deal oh his conscience, but not Daphne off his mind. He longed for her especially, too, because there came a sudden disaster to his schemes. He was not so rich as he had been. Indeed, he could not be sure that he. was rich at all. Any day might smother him with bankruptcy. This fear kept him from Daphne, too— : The bouncing munition stocks that were known as “war babies” had abruptly fallen into a decline. The submarine that torpedoed the Lusitania shattered Wall street’s joy, threw the dread of war tnto the United States, and set every one to questioning the problem of revenge and its cost. The slump in the market came at the most unfortunate moment for Bayard and Clay. Any moment of slump, indeed, would have come most untimely for their ventures. “Kip and Chivvis” were making a picnic ground of the shop. Behind the soap-veiled windows they laughed and debated on arrangements and price tags and show cards. Mr. Chivvis, still out of a job, acted as maid of all work and stevedore, and grew so useful that they had to put him out. And at last the moment arrived when they declared the shop open, “raised the curtain,” as Daphne, said.

She waited with a stage-fright she n T slbeater. There was no lack of temperament in her manner now. But there was no audience, either. “*■ At' night Kip and Chivvis locked their doors and went home, discouraged beyond words and dismally weary in the legs, also in the smilemuscles which had been kept at an expectant tension all day long. Occasional purchases were made, but unimportant. Kip and Chivvis tried to learn what interested people and what did not. They realized that they had far too much of certain things and far too little of others. They attempted to sell the deadwood by marking it down; but it would not move.——— . .... “What do the women care for prices?” Daphne railed. “They are spending" some man’s money, any why. They pretend that it’s to please him, but they know and we know that it’s because- they, hate each other." =«.-= One day a great lady who could hardly squeeze through the door creaked into the shop and spilled herself into a startled little chair like a load of coal. Daphne felt that she was about to die on their hands or ask for an ambulance, but she asked instead for an embroidered breakfast gown from the window. Mrs. x Chivvis fetched it and the old ogress clutched it from her, holding it up to her nose as if to sniff it, but really to see it. » v “That’s it! That’s what I’ve been looking for!” she wheezed? “Have you got much of this sort of thing?” “Oh yes.” “Agh, that’s good! My daughter is marrying in some haste —a young imbecile who’s going over to France to run an ambulance. I’m Mrs. Romily.” Mrs. Chivvis waited unperturbed for further identification. Daphne had never heard of Mrs., Romilly, either, but she gasped as if she had been saying her prayers at the shrine of Romilly from childhood and now had been visited by the patron saint, whom she had recognized at once, of course. “Oh yes, of course.” Mrs. Romilly was coughing on: “I’ve been to several shops, and I was almost in despair until I saw your sign. If you could do a few things in rather a hurry I fancy I could give you a large-ish order. And if the things were at all successful, I could throw quite a little trade your way. You’re rather new, aren’t you?” Daphne assented that the firm Was quite i_ new. She brought* forward, an order pad and stood at attention. Mrs. Romilly had trousseaued a large family of children and several poor relations. She knew what she wanted, and what she ought to pay for it and when it should be done. Daphne took down her orders as if the little room were the mere vestibule to an enormops, sweatshop where hundreds of sempsters would seize the job and complete it in a Jiffy- .» / (TO BE CONTINUED.)

Optimistic Thought.

All brave men love; for he only Is brave who has affection to fight for.

BLESS THAT STOVE

By JUNE L. JOHNSON.

(Copyright, 1919, by the McClure Newspa- - per Syndicate.) “Now, mumsey, don't worry! We’ll get along all right. Give my love to Cousin Sue .and tell her I hope she’ll soon be better. And don’t tire yourself out caring for her. Yes, I’ll remember to feed the cat, and that Bob is fond of-pudding, and that the iceman comes on Thursday, and—mumsey, d<> hurry or you’ll miss your trainl” With a gay wave of her hand,’Margery S—— watched her mother out of sight, and then went into the house. A' whole week of housekeeping by herself! Margery actually hugged herself as she thought. Wouldn’t she prepare the greatest feasts for father and Bob? She’d .make their mouths water ! “Let’s see, what time is it. now?”' mused Margery, slipping into a gingham apron that enveloped her from head to foot. “Quarter to five. Time to get supper ready. I guess I’ll have potatoes and Salmon —and —oh I isn’t it glorious to be a housekeeper!” And Margery whirled around the room to get rid of some of her bottled-up delight. It was the second day of Radford H ’s furlough. As he disconsolately wandered about the town he wondered gloomily what to do with the time on his hands. Suddenly something happened ! He was starting up a new street, w’hen out of the corner house a vision In blue and white, with flying brown curls, came dashing into his arms, so I onnwn/1 2 . 1. IL cLL 111 “Oh, Tom !” breathed the vision, who by this time had taken the shape of a very pretty, very excited young girl, “do come in and see if you can fix our kitchen range! The old thing won’t- — oh !—I beg your pardon !” And the-girl backed away In great confusidn and astonishment. “I say, what’s the matter?" exclaimed Radford, regaining his breath and finding out that he liked this rather extraordinary proceeding than otherwise.

“Oh, please excuse me," stammered Margery; “I thought you were Tom R , one of our neighbors! He’s a sailor, too, and you look exactly like him.” “I’m sorry I disappointed you,” returned Radford with an amused smile. “You seem to be In trouble. Pardon me, but can’t I assist you?" “If you don’t mind,” dimpled Margery, “I would like you to see if you could fix the old thing.” Ten minutes later a flushed Radford with a smudgy face straightened up from over the stove and announced cheerily to Margery: “It’s all right now; it was only clogged up. You can use it." With a relieved sigh Margery dropped into a chair. “How can I ever thank you?” she said. “I never could have fixed it myself, and I should have had to wait until father ciiine home, or Bob. Oh,-don’t you want to wash your face?” —jumping up—“it’s rather dirty.” “I think you said when you came in that you had no particular place to go,” began Margery. “Would'you— ,r she gasped at her own boldness, but bravely finished —“care to stay—for supper—with father, Bob and me?” Egg beaters, spoons, cake tins, sift„ers_.and_gji£h, dence during the next half-hour, while a very pink-cheeked Margery and Radford, with an apron on, too, hurried back and forth, both chatting merrily as they worked. ■ Imagine Mr. S.’s and Bob’s surprise when they came home that evening to be met at the door by a radiant Margery flourishing an egg beater, while behind her loomed a tall, good-looking sailor, with a broad grlh on his ruddy face. “Folks," began Margery excitedly, “please meet —” But she never finished, for with one leap Bob S. reached the side of Radford, and exclamations such as these issued from the eager lips of the two young men: ~~~ “Great Scott! You h&te? Why, I thought I’d lost track of you forever! How the world —” “Why didn’t you tell me you lived in this district? I’d* been up here yesterday, first thing! Boy, but it’s good to see a familiar face!” With eyes wide open. Margery stared at the excited two, who were shaking hands vigorously, and pummeling each other on {he back. Had they gone crazy ? But Radford settled her doubts by explaining to her with twinkling eyes: “It’s my turn to introduce, Miss S. Your brother Bob and I are old friends; we roomed together in college, and we haven’t seen each otlier since graduation." That night the little party gathered around the qupper table. After a merry evening, Radford departed, but not until he had left be- , hind him promises to return and ‘talk ’ over again the college days with Bob. True to his* promises, Radford did come often and was cordially greeted by the S. family. Maybe I’m a little suspicious—but it seemed as if college was not the only topic of conversation and that Bob was not the only one who conversed with Radford, most of the time. Anywgf,’ when Radford’s furlough was end«d he left behind him a very precious promise and a sparkling solitaire on a certain somebody’s left hand. And many times on board ship Radford’s fellow sailors often heard him murmur: “Bless that kitchen •tovel"