The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-04-04
A BOOBY
 PRIZE STORY
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prires, one for the best and one for the worst. At a meeting of the club the manuscripts handed in were read by the sccrctary. The following was in competition for the booby p<iIs: A TALE OF THE CATsKILL NOUN. FANS. One dark. dismal. disagreeable night 1 in midwinter. when the June roses were in fall bloom. q woman stood at the doof of a eahln in the Catskill mountains. Her tattered garments futtered In the wind. while hor jewels flashed in rain bow hues in the hOt nOOnday sun.
 He eoneth not" she said
 There was a creaking of horses hubs down the road. and a moment later the splsodid figure of a young man of some seventy Ave summers. mounted on an ArSbian steed. with steel springs and lesthorn curtains emerged from the eloye.
 "oh. AlSernon. why are you 80 lateY'
 'rClarissa. dearest. have been delayed by q puncture In the left hind leg of Uly uuhlg hANNhs
 "Algernon. l have the worst possible news for you. Father Is unalterably opposed to our marriage. He has a six pounder. loaded and pointed up the chli ney. ready to fire as soon as he Is aware of your presence"
 What. hol Does the old dOtard think to scare mop And with ore leap he landed on the roof and stood looking denantly down the chimney. There was a report. followed by a shriek from Clarlssa. and her lovers headless trunk rolled at her feet.
 Msddened by the sight. Clarissa was about to rush Into the cabin to re preach her father with the bloody deed when Algernon stopped her.
 Consider" be said The gun Is by this time reloaded. Let us take refuge under the fall of the kaaterskill' l'
 Alas. they were too late! Just as they were about 10 sink behind noun tain peak the father appeared at his cabin dooc with a feldglass and. point Ing lt deliberately st the fugitives pulled the trigger.
 Are you burt. dearestT' asked AL geTnon tenderly.
 -'r1s nothing-a mere break In the lsft ventriele of the heart. am bet ter now. And your
 "A tride. The old man has been sad ly fooled. Both my legs and both my arms are cork. My right arm Is gone, but I have three limbs left Of good nesh and blood"
 Then let us speed on"
 Pulling the throttle wide open. they skimmed the Ice merrily. Reaching a lake from which the water had been drained to supply the nelghboring resi- dences with warmth, they looked about for boat with which to cross.
 '-Oh. eur a mud scow" exclaimed ClHxisu.
 Here Is something better" replied AlEernon. and. seiEing s toboggan tied to 6 post. they mounted and rode up the mountain side with lightning speed.
 The sight from the summit was re- splendent with beauty. The rising sun was sinking in the north. The full moon. q slender crescent ht Co deck a ladys brow, was at the moment pass inR behind Arcturus All nature was hushed. the stiffness unbroken save for the blows sf q thousand artisans To q bollsr shop 10 the valley.
 The lovGs veCe standing on the peak. penLvely viewing the scene and unconscious of danger. when the pur. sainE father. wrlAging the sweat from his raven locks reached the summit Of A nelghborinE mountain and looked wildly about for tho tugitives. Not seeing thgm. be drew a searchlight from hls vest pocket and. pointing it directly at Algernons heart fired. The brave man who could not be worsted by round shot succumbed to the more subtle power Of electricity. An arm and two legs caught fire and blazed with the brilhancy of pitch pine.
 My love! My loyer shrieked Cla- rIasa. Must stand here helpless and see you burn to a cinder"
 -Pear not. dear heart" replied the iron hearted man. "l am only vulner' able ln the tborax." With that he waded Into the lake and was extlA' guisbed.
 Moved by Algernon's bravery and Clarissa's tears. the old man relented Seeing the limbless body of his would be son.ln-law floating in the lake, he waded In and, seIzIng Algernon by the right arm and left leg. dragged him to the shore.
 "Glye me your hand. noble man" said Clarlssa's father.
 You've burned t." moaned Alser- non.
 Fortunately at that moment a distin' guished dominic passed by, walking on an alpenstock. and consented to unite the pair In the holy bonds of mari- mony. Then they all went home to a Joyous wedding breakfast
 Years have passed since the sound of these festivities ceased to leap in echoes from crag to crag The butter cups and daisies lovingly nod to each other. kissed by the clouds that stoop from heaven to wrap them in a wind ing sheet of disagreeable fog. The shrill whistle of the locomotive softly noata over the mountain plains where ooeS the only means of conveyance was heavens own simple sne,eOrlte. The numerous progeny of Algernon