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Newspaper Page Text
T . v- - .irU!PipPiBippii LASTING PARTNERS By George Elmer Cobb. "Things look pretty dubious, you see," observed Lawyer Bailey "There is no doubt tfi&t my father's business is in a critical condition. Well, I am here to mend it." "I hope you do and you look as if you are going to give the experiment a good, hard try," observed tbeattor ney -with an admiring glance at the clear-faced, supple-limbed young man before him. Percival Deane had been called from the midst of splendid attain- ipraH "But We Must Not Be Thus Privileged." ments at college to realize the true nobility of a self-sacrificing father. Deane & Marvin had been to the son a synonym for stability and profit. It was an old iron manufacturing business and although Percival had known that it had got somewhat be hind the times, he had never mis trusted that it had been narrowly grazing the edge of ruin for many months. "The 'situation is easily told," said Mr. Bailey. "Two years ago your father's partner, Mr. Marvin, induced him to agree to investigate a chance to purchase a Peruvian concession to cpst $30,000. This they had every assurance could be sold within a year at an enormous advance. Nearly all the capital of the firm was turned in to cash. Mr. Marvin departed, on his mission. He wired from San Fran cisco and since that time not a word has been received from him." "They think he was murdered robbed?" "That's the only way they can ex plain this unaccountable silence," agreed the lawyer. "Cramped for capital, your father has seen the business fairly go to pieces. He .kept the true state of affairs from you. He had even paid Mrs. Marvin the old liberal drawing account of her hus band. She has a daughter, Elsie, just finishing her education. Poor wo man! It was a severe blow when your father broke down physically and mentally and she learned the bitter truth as to how affairs stand." Percival Deane figuratively took off his coat and started in to make time and ability count. The first thing he did was tp send his father and a trained nurse to a Southern health resort, as suggested by the family physician. At the end of a week he had the muddled affairs of the firm on a tangible basis. "It doesn't look very promising," he told himself. "The factory can do no new work unvil the debts are paid off and .some fresh capital se cured. There is, .however, a big stock of foundry and machine shop sup plies on hand. If this could be sold off it would bring in a large aggre gate amount. I have-a plan to create a demand." Deane &; Martin owned exclusive models and patterns of a large num ber of utilities in requirement daily all over the country.. The young man directed a circular tp all of the old patrons of the firm. He stated the conditious truthfully, ofteied a re- mL AfettMteflBfcM