Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-06-29

into Mysteries. The former Gathering
was condensed to single click. She
earnestly set about learning to write,
and in two months broke the record
with ease.
OF course the improvement was
kept secret, and Joe applied for q
patent.
The typewriter contest aroused so
much interest that it was arranged to
take place in the opera house. Sarah s
name was safely entered in the goodly
list, and Joe chuckled as he furtively
peeped at such old model machines
among the entries as he could find.
The evening arrived. There were
twenty-seven competitors, and an
auditorium full of spectators.
The omnipresent directing spirit of
such occasions had provided nice
little program of music and other en-
tertainments, leaving the main feature,
the contest, for the last, which, to be
sure, was all nice and agreeably for
NAL.
This preliminary program was gone
through at last, and the audience
buzzed in awakening interest. When
the curtain arose on the twenty-seven
competitors, mostly young women,
there was prompt applause.
The judge came forward with a
complimentary little speech, and
briefly announced the conditions of
the contest. The first test was to be
the copying of blackboard passage
containing about two hundred words.
The black board was brought out and
the signal for the start given.
Sarah soon announced it finished.
"Cheat!" came clear keen voice,
from a girl at one side. ''Cheat, I
say can prove that have equalled
the worlds record for two hundred
words, yet I am not now more than
three-quarters through. This is
private understandings
This was more dramatic than had
been expected. The accusation
shocked everybody. The audience
was perfectly still. The old Judge bit
his lip. He came forward.
''This young lady must be satisfied"
he said, ''before we continue the pro-
gram. The accusation is an unpleas-
ant ono, and she must be given means
to prove or disprove it Immediately
before this audience. Miss Meyers,
to the accuser, "you are allowed to
write on this board, or have written,
two hundred words of your own
choosing. Our three judges and time
keepers are to approve of the legibility
of the writing and its fairness. Then
you and Miss Maxton will be timed in
copying it.
Miss Meyers, whose nerve was good,
or whose indignation very strengthen
ing, coolly selected two hundred words
from volume of history, and chose
. good chalk writer, who reversed the
blackboard and went to work.
There was strained silence till the
work was done. Sarah had not said
word, but was troubled in conscience,
for the thought came to her that pos
sibly there were grounds for the &C.
cusation in her having a different
machine. Still, it had distinctly been
stated that competitors were free to
choose their machines, and she decided
to keep and use her advantage.
The next test resulted in the same
way. Sarah had finished before Miss
Meyers was near the end.
81 don't believe It'll" she hotly cried.
make her show the sheet"
Sarah was already very willingly
holding the sheet out toward the
judges.
The judges had no grounds for in
decision. They showed the sheet to
Miss Meyers herself. That young
lady, still convinced of fraud, left the
opera house at once, much offended.
Then followed dozen or more diff
ferent tests, in most of which Sarah
won without any extra eXertion. She
was awarded the prize and the situa.
ton.
AS the Judge announced this de-
cision, to the audience, he mentioned
that Joe Maxton had word to say on
the matter, and forthwith introduced
Joe.
People had 'pricked up their ears"
Jack -rabbit-cally speaking, when Joes
name was mentioned, for his inven-
tions had begun to be talked of. What
ever the discomfort of Miss Meyers,
the audience was satisfied, and even
the unsuccessful competitors, with
Joe's explanation, and on hearing
hints of what he had already been
offered for the patent, gave him q
good willed round of applause and
dispersed.
Joe's rise next came and was con-
veyed to the family. Sarah eventually
transferred her position to Miss
Meyers. But she kept the prize. =
Waverley.
Deathbed Prank.
The sense of humor must be strong