The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-13
Mr.. BLOCK GETS THE PRIZE.
His Story the Winner Against "a Hun
dred Cnmpetitors.


\ prize Of so was recently offered by
the Board of Directors or cine News Let
ter, the OluCidl organ or the Travellers.
Protective Association OF America, pub
llshed 40 ST. Louis, Tor the best short
story written by "a member or the a. Il. 4.
About one hundred stories were submit
ted, from al parts Ol The country. and
the prize was awarded 10 Mr.. ). ii. Block,
OF this city.
The story is republished below:
HOW COL. RANDALL WAS OUTWIr-
TED.
Everyone Of the 1000 residents or the
village OF s., a typical town OK middle
Georgia. viii remember the night OF July
s. 1890. and the rude awakening from
their usual inOcuOus state by The incident
1 am about TO record.
IL was "a hot. bilstCring night, and the
several travelling men around the hotel
had scattered very early ln the evening,
90 seek, as best they could, some relief
from the oppressive heat and discomfort
of the lighted office.
About SEQ. when / had made myself
as comfortable ass possible IA the room
10 which i had been assigned, feeble,
irresOlute knock al my door reused me
from the temporary reyerle, which the
pesky mosquitoes had FOR few minutes
yOuchsafed, and ia answer 10 my inquiry,
was delighted 90 hear, This Is Kirk
Kirk Woodall. Let me in, 81
My joy was unbounded as hastliy
welcome 10 my old friend. Like all who
knew him, / was happy 20 be IN the COM
pany or handsome, cOAe4e-nfed Nlfk,
with his over-ready wit ana good cheer,
but soon noticed IN ms manner TINS :
evening. a cOnstraint SO unusual tnat /
was forced 20 ask him II any tnins dis
tressing had happened
For "a moment he looked az me with a
vacillating unsteady eye, when, OF sud-
den "a swift wave Of resolution swept over
al faufNTn- his nTnuH
shoulders were thrown back, and running
his hands through his long raven halr,
nearly beloved AZ nae. es- II tell YOU
all. and if you are the friend thlnk you,
instead OF Gliding me- WIN 40 me a st ,,
Though shocked at this outburst from
even-tempcred Kirk WOOdal / readily
assured him Of the sincerity OF my friend
ship and settled back Ia my chair for
dramatic recital, IN which I was little dis
you recall 81. the hop We attended at
H year ago. Wen, my attentions
that evening 20 Amy Randall were not
altogether unnouced. ,n9ush ,her ac-
kn0wledged popularity relieved II or any
undue remarks despite the fact that We,
then and there exchanged pledges OF I'M
dying love We both knew nun We'll
though. the opposition we would encoun-
term short. her On dtlatoelauc iathef
would consider no man for his sOn-in-law
without "A family tree as burtensOme and
datestable as that iimsy heritage. which,
as YOU well know, IS his pride and hobby
This. however, worried me very little
then. because / was happy with Amy :
affechouate assurance mat time would
heal The breach and bring her then IN
corrieihle pater 90 terms but we reckon
Ell without our host. on the several oc-
caslons that / ventured a visit 10 the
mouse I was made 20 feel so comfortable
and out OF place. that We soon resigned
ourselves 10 the inevitable chance 90
meetings and unsigned biiiet-douN: which
have now been going on M regular ana
frequent intervals. for the last six months.
But mo- more prospect % The old gent =
opposition abating showed up than at our
6rst serious talk. and | naturally was
fast becoming very tired Of the present
"This latent disgust and impatience,
which ho1 been fermenting In me so long
,eocbed its climax to-day ms soon rs I ar
rived in town. and, acting on my first i'm
n,'ise halted of 90 tne Randall home
mi OF dstermin alton TO get a satisfactory
Understandings at any cost; The under
landing / got. but very little satisfac-
ton. .,f t,.paeu .,,,.-..s tho
library. 10 which had been shown by the
''.'' S,.,,eu. diVining my mission In
so' u,omsnt he launched into terrible