The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-07-20

4 dHAOUut4i5 luG beauty SNOW al blluh
er's Circus came flaming into his bar
in the manner of the dawn of a new
life.
"Yes," said Job later in the day, you
might give it out as official. I'll take
the winner of the first prize-and no
questions asked afterward."
Aren't you leavin' it a bit to
chance?" objected Sam Evans; sit
might be-well-any one"
Job Yardsley flung a knowing Ieer.
ut might" he admitted "and it
might not I've made my inquiries,
SAM" he continued, mo pigs in pokes
for me. Every girl in the place has en-
tered. But there's only three as stands
a chance-Elizabeth Harmer, Jane AS
kew and Violet Budden."
Sam Evans pondered
That's true, he said, 81 s'pose
them three has the pick of Ruggles-
bury's looks"
q hope it'll be Elizabeth Harmer,"
said Job Yardsley
Elizabeth Harmer was the daughter
of a dairyman, the reputed owner of
a nest-egg. The other two were the off
srig of the local carpenter and
blacksmith respectively.
Whichever way it goes" asserted
Sam Evans, the advertisement for the
Maypole will be first rate AS for let
tin folks know, you leave it to me,
Job. You couldn't have struck a bet
ter man for what | might call giyin'
wind to you notion.
He proved as good as his word.
When Job Yardsley entered the cir
Gus tent upon the eventful evening of
the beauty competition the murmur
that was rising from the packed cir
Gle died into sudden silence. AS he
seated himself in that segment of the
tiers which, red-baize-covered, demand
ed the most expensive admittance,
wavering cheer rose from the opposite
benches These being the lowest priced
held freight of irresponsible boyhood.
The hushing chorus of a multitude of
mothers with Scientifically dressed
daughters by their sides crushed the
untimely demonstration.
Job Yardsley gazed about him in gen.
uine surprise. In whichever direction
he turned a small sea of faces looked
into his own with a frankly interested
stare. Job blew his nose. 1t seemed
to him that the space that separated
him from his neighbors was greater
than that in other parts of the amphi-
theatre
When, upon the closing of the turn
of the usual program, girls singly, in
twos and in threes, shyly entered the
ring in preparation for the contest
Jobs heart beat pereeptibly faster A
couple of score girls were there below
dark, fair, short, tall One-he Won
dered which-was destined to enter his
life in the most intimate fashion.
The judges entered. Job started a
little as he observed them. He had eX-
pected a more widely representative
body. In consisted of Mr.. Blinker him
self in a frock coat and white waist
coat, the ringmaster and the haute ecole
rider, the two latter still in the pro-
fessional splendor of the arena After
a pause a fourth figure hurried to join
the group. He wore an olive green cos
tune with gold-striped trousers. Job,
gazing more intently, could perceive
that it was the observation-disclosures
Blinker mounted one of the white
painted pedestals that were wont to
support the hoop-holders. The other
three surrounded him, perched on less
elevated structures. In another mo-
ment the judging had begun
Jobs heart beat faster yet. He glanc-
ed nervously at the four men. The is
sue was in their hands And such an
issue! Upon it depended his and the
Maypole's fate. He awoke to the fact
that he was repeating an inane jingle
Elizabeth, Jane, Violet; which?
Elizabeth, Jane, Violet, which?
He wiped a damp forehead.
He found himself eagerly scanning
the faces of the girls who, rejected and
flushed, hurried back to their seats
With still greater anxiety his eye
sought out those who remained. Their
number had been weeded down to six
They stood in two groups of three.
Job gazed upon the first three. He
had not miscalculated. Elizabeth Har-
mer, Jane Askew, and Violet Budden
made up the trio. In the midst of his
triumph he knew moment of anxiety
Elizabeth Harmer overcome at the last
moment had stuffed her handkerchief
into her mouth. She was concealing
her chin.