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

Through Stress Of Competition.


was approaching the village Of Rug
glesbury. That is was compressed
within an inadequately small space Is
true. The foremost van of Blinker's
World-Famed Circus held it, Yet the
vehicle numbered none the quicker
along the road for all the amorous va
porings that foated within its paint
ed sides
The ringmaster, the clown, and the
gentleman who illustrated the haute
ecoe upon a coal-black steed sat there
in moody pensiyeness. Unmarried as
were all three the disadvantages OF
their bachelorhood had become acutely
evident during pause in a game OF
nap" Owing to common dearth OF
funds they had been playing perforce,
for the empty glory Of points alone.
II was perhaps this fact that caused
their thoughts to stray in the direc-
ton of deeper affairs.
Travelling about like this" grum-
bled the clown, don't give no chances.
BY the end of a week when girls got
so far as to realize that you've heart
under the paint, the orders is-up and
away"
Its different with me, unused the
chevalier de rhaute ecole, but [ don't
know as it's any better. It's my po-
sition and appearance they've got to
get over. 1t takes EN- a good week to
learn that I'm not affable in IA aris-
tocratic way"
Same here chimed in the ringmas-
ter exactly
What we want" said the clown, ''is
to go to work in a more business-like
fashion. If we don't strike some idea
for quick courtin like as not we shall
go about the country single all our
lives"
The ringmaster started up.
How about a beauty show?' he eX
claimed. "Blinker would tumble to it
If we had one at Rugglesbury. Good
business for him it would be The
point is this, consolation prizes-you
know-us."
The amazed look with which the 9TH
er two regarded him changed gradual
ly to one Of fervent admiration 1t
was some while ere they spoke When
they did the ringmaster staggered be-
meath an unwonted torrent of compli- |
ment. Then, laying their heads to-
gether, they spoke in Intersections that
grew gradually more coherent
Thus the caravan rolled EDWARDS
outwardly much as usual. But in the
first van was a whirlpool of ferment
and of deiriously maturing plans.
1t was a curious coincidence that pre-
cisely Mt this period a corresponding
desire should have entered the breast
OF one Of the inhabitants of Ruggles- |
bury itself There could be no doubt
that Job Yardsley, who kept the May
pole Inn, had no right to be a bache-
Tor. A warm man, the master of
cosy home and of thirty acres of graz
ing land besides, ought to find some
thing better to do with his money
than to spend it upon himself. Such
was the female opinion of the village.
Job was frankly callous.
IF you were married, Job" remark
ed his friend, Sam Evans, the day be-
fore the arrival Of Blinker's circus, "as
likely as not you'd find more objicll in
life"
Sam Evans was in the throes of
bringing up nine children. Job Yards
ley gazed without interest across the
bare parlor table.
so I've heard before, he remarked. |
Besides, continued the other, lit nd
be good for business. A nice. clean
looking woman always puts me in mind
of good beer, clean tankards, an but
ter that's fresh. I'll bet your takings
would so up. Others feel the same
way-that's why"
A quick CLEAN entered Jobs eye. 1t
fell upon the untidy looking pot boy,
then it wandered back to rest stealth
lily on the rim of his glass.
"Ah1" he observed, carelessly,
~P'raps, or pr'aps the reverse"
Yet his mind grew strangely impreg-
mated with the idea. Evans had sown
mighuer seed than he knew. Its
sproWings toward maturity engrossed
Yardley to an Improbable extent On
the next day rustic in search of half
q pint received its double and the cor
rect change for its half Ere Job
Yardsley could vectify the error the
beer was in a haven whence no argu-
ment could retrieve it.
Sam Evans CHANGED to be in the
bar
"Ah," he chuckled, there's only one
reason foE that way of goin' on-that's
love"
Job started Perhaps it was If so,
all that remained for him to do was to
choose the girl The coincidence de-