The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-10-11

.rur, her eyes aashins with the fun. she
stood by the chair and waved her nag.
Now, ladies and gentlemen" she
cried, there Is Miss Kitty Jones. How
ruch am offered for a sweet kiss?
What Only two dollars7 For shame!
Do you appreciate what you are get
ting? Five, did you say? Now make 1t
six. SIX 1t Il Seven from the gentle
man on the right Seven, seven. seven
eight, elght-wiA some one make 1t
nine? That's right You'll never re-
greet 1t. Nine, nine Now ten That's
better. Ten It Is. Come, gentlemen,
bid up"
The excitement ran high. Deacon
Bradbury simpkins, forgetting what
fate awaited him at homa bid $40
on Susie Perkins, whom his good
wife had once dedgnated as Easy
Rudd Castieton, the best golf player In
town, was great help IN bidding
up" and 50 also we've Jack Clubberay
and Billy Sparks
The ninth and last girl was nOue 9th
or than the minister's daughter her
self. on tie table by her side lag a
collection box holding over $500. the
proceeds OF this unusual traffic. Per
haps the Consciousness that she had
succeeded. that those poor little ~tots'
would get their outing, was enough to
make her Obvious Of herself.
AZ any rate she was calm and beau
tifuIly collected as she stepped On the
chair, disdaintng the helping hand that
a spectator beld out to her.
Ladies and gentlemeR" she said.
with your kind permission win be
nv own auchoneer, and will spare
you the usual compliments ] am here
to raise all the money can for the
poor children, and / am selling kiss
to the highest bidder. How much am
oreredr'
twenty-five dollars"
1.-The first bid, ladies and gentlemen,
is S25. Will you make it thirty? Thir-
ty It is thirty, thirty-thlrty-hve. Is
thirty-hve the highest bidT
The tall Innocent youth now stepped
To the front. 1t is but justice to the
BOYS from the club to say they did not
recognize him.
"I'n make 1t forty" he said.
The uuctioneeH was unmored.
'.I am offered $40" she sald Gen
tlemen, bid up. Forty. forty. forty,
going at forty-goinG, going. gone
Young man. the kiss is yours ut $40"
There was slight pause, tiutter OF
interest. This nice looking gentleman
IL appearing boy. with $40 to bid for
single kiss. who was he? Atany rate 1t
didn't matter much He was only
toy.
what relief" Whispered one of
the committee, TO think her reputation
has been saved by young thing Ike
that! Why. It doesn't mean anything to
be kissed by him. An act OF Provt-
dence. 1 verify believer
Almost as IL in reply the boy turned
half around as the figure of Mike Dady
slowly forced It's way through the cir
Gle.
IT was bidding for some one else"
said the boy. holding out the money.
Yes" said Mike, his cool insolent
ewes sweeping the crowd "He was
bidding for me. He was my-whAt do
you call IL '-pEOAS. = ~ IAAhc SAG N'S79' -
you please"
A dead silence-an awful pause.
For the tlrst time that evening flush
spread over the face of the minister's
daughter. a flush that made its way
from her firmly rounded throat up over
her cheeks to the line OF fair hair on
her forehead.
she locked around the crowd almost
appealIngly. Was there no one to help
her in this dilemma? Suddenly her eye
lighted on a figure that stood half con-
eealed from vIew-a short, squat figure
and there came to her voice ring Of
triumph.
you shall be paid" she said THE
money. please"
1t was handed to her. and she put
the bills in box.
Then she turned to the figure she
had seen-the old family colored cook.
black us the ace OF spades. who had
come to witness "de proceedin's."
"Come here nanny" she whispered.
and, drawing her close and putting her
arms around her. she kissed the black
face resOunding smack.
Then she turned to the gambler.
And here" She said. lis my proxy.
Take your pay, sir!'-Tom Mason in
Brandur Magazine.