The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-08-29
PRIZE STORY

She carefully cut the end of the en' ,c.opa with Che scissors and drew out thc letter. It was very brief:
 "Thc editors of The Story Magazine nl.c great pleasure In presenting the lnclosed cheek as payment of the prize aT,rcd for the best short story submit ted in their recent contest"
 That was all But dozen pages of praise could not have pleased little Miss wiggs more. It was not large sum of money to be sure, but to her 1t meant great deal Ever since that day three months before when she had mailed the story and the required sub scrlptlon money she had waited and hoped with all the fervor of her little body.
 There had been little sewing for her to do of late, and she had watched her Income dwindle away with growing fear. She had never thought of trying to write tnl Cordella Brown one day brought her a copy of The Story Nigga zine to read. Cordella was seventeen years old now and well along in high school. but she had never forgotten Miss Wiggs' kindness of former days.
 When the girl was gone. Miss Wlggs picked up the magazine. Almost the first page to meet her eyes was an ad- vortlsement offering a prize for the best short story submitted before a certain date. It was then that the idea of trying to write a story first occurrnd to Mss Wiggs.
 She had tale of the first settlers In her memory handed down from mother to daughter, as such stories are. More over. she possessed good education, a clear mind and plenty of leisure. Moth ing was more natural. therefore, than that Miss Wlggs should write a story.
 In due time the story was completed. Miss Wiggs copied lt in her best hand writing and, lnclosing the dollar dc manded as one of the conditions of the contest, mailed it to the magazine. Then she told Cordelia what she had done and even read her the first draft of the story.
 When she had finished. cordelin shook her head q am sorry. dear Miss Wiggs," she said gently, but l am afraid the story will hardly suit ]. them" Then. with all the kindness she could command she explained to the woman the needs of the magazine It used little else than love stories, she said. and for that reason the edltorH would scarcely take the trouble to ex' anime manuscripts of another charac ter
 But why not try again." she hn- lshed brightly. "Our subscription has expired. and you can send in our re- newal with the story, Please do, Miss Wiggs"
 So Miss WIggs did try again. Some how as she sat in the darkened parlor q plot came to her. an Idea for a love story. unique, clever. interesting. She told it to Cordelia, and the girl clapped her hands joyously.
 "Oh, it's ever so good. Miss wiggsT she said. And when the story was writ. ten and read to her she gave 1t exactly the same praise And now the story had won the prize.
 The back door opened softly. and Cordelia entered the house. It was some time before she discovered Misi Wiggs in the parlor As the girl enter cd the room the woman looked up with a smile lighting her thin face.
 "See Cordelia." she said, with child lsh glee. "I won the prize"
 Cordella did not smile Drawing a chalr close to Miss Wlggs', she opened the magazine in her hand.
 T am going to read you'a story" she said slowly that was printed several years ago"
 Miss wiggs smiled at the girl loving ly as she listened to the first few words. Then the smile gave way to Q look of wonderment that fin turn changed to one of pain. When the story was ended, she looked up at the girl with tears in her eyes
 "You don't think. CordelIa"- she be- gan brokenly.
 Cordelia sprang to her side and placed an arm caresslngly around the woman.
 Dear Miss Wigs" she said quick ly. perhaps it was merely Q coinci- dence or it may bo you once read this story and then forgot 1t till 1t came back to your memory, apparently an original idea"
 They sat silently In the little parlor tlll twilight fell. Miss wlggs bravely kept back the tears, but the hand that Cordella held trembled constantly.
 The postman's step sounded on the front porch, and Miss Wiggs opened the door for him. He handed her a long blue envelope
 My story of the first settlers" she explained to Cordelia, noting the name of The Story Magazine on the envelope
 She tore 1t open and slipped out tho manuscript. A little note came with it
 "Read it, Cordella." she said. My eyes are not very clear today"
 "The editors of The Story Magazine" read Cordelia, return the lnelosed manuscript with much regret. Well written and readable as 1t is, the plot Is somewhat hackneyed, and for that roason the story Is returned"
 With sudden suspicion Cordella e. eha v,onuacrtnt