The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-07-23
LUBKINS IN AIRSHIP RACE.
William LubkiHs Promises to Back His Son
at Spokane Interstate Fair


races at Spokane next September,
said Bill Lubkins last Monday night,
turning his eyes from a close study o
the evening newspaper for meaning
look at his eldest son, Jed.
Jed, in tangle Of tawny hair and
bristling red mustache an honest rep
lea OF his father, shot back a stealthy
and answering glance Of meaning that
was, apparently, either unseen or I'M
noted by Mrs. Bill Lubkins, who had
Just come from the kitchen to the din
ing and living room Of the Lubkins
farm horse; ten miles from Spedinger,
due west.
If you're done with that paper,
I'd like to look at it, Bill" said Mrs.
Lubkins, seating herself in rocking
chair sacred and inviolable to herself.
No not that part, what do want OF
your fool air ship races. You can read
of them, OF course, while l cook and
wash dishes. But give me some real
news to make a body forget they've
got trihing husband and big lumox
of a son that ought to be enough in
terested in the farm to keep him from
listening and setting still to hear you
read airship stories"
Jed Lubkins stirred uneasily in his
chair and looked stealthily again at his
father, who, having abandoned his
newspaper to Mrs. Lubkins, sat nur-
sing one knee in profound reflection.
What would you think, Sadie, if
Jed here, only twenty years old, should
take first prize in them air ship con-
tests that the Spokane Interstate Fair
will pull off in September" MI.
Lubkins suddenly asked of his wife.
Mrs. Lubkins, beyond a slight &C
celeration in the speed Of her rocking
chairs monotonous motion, did not
show any indication Of having heard
her husbands query; and Mr.. Lub-
kins continued.
ITS $50 as I say Jed for the
winner, every day. Not for the whole
week, mind you, but the fellow that
makes the best ascension between the
hours OF Q and 4.30 p. m. each day of
the week-that's what the paper said
gets $50 in cold cash just for that
one day. The others get 800 divided
among them. OF course, Jed, you'd
best not figure on cabbaging first money
every day; prob'ly once would be as
much as the Spokane Judges would
allow for Spedinger man. In way
the races may be fixed. That Strobel
air ship seen it last year at the
Spokane Fair-that may come back
and take three or four winnings. And
there'll be others. II you won three
times, let's see; that would be three
times aught is aught and three times
five with nothing to carry is fifteen and,
For mercy's sake, Bill Lubkins,
what are you talking about? demanded
Mrs. Lubkins, who had ceased her
perusal OF the newspaper before Mr..
Lubkins started upon his mathematical
calculations.
Mr.. Lubkins chuckled and Jed
grinned until the exasperated lady
rose abruptly from her rocking chair;
when chuckle and grin ceased as sud
denly as did the rocking Of the chair.
Mrs. Lubkins glowered at her hus-
band and son while Mr.. Lubkins ex-
planned.
"Jed's been a-working on his own
patented-at least it will be patented
airship for two weeks now, while you
thought he was doing chores over al
the sheep camp" said Mr.. Lubkins.
He's got it so it pretty near moves.
I bet it will move when we fetch it to
Spokane for the airship races that the
Spokane Interstate fair offers $500 in
prizes for. We're a-going to make
more money out Of that airship thi:
year than any old livestock prize:
would bring; though I mean to beat
out the Iowa exhibits once or twice.
It's not costing so much either.
A hundred dollars don't figure so much
when you look at it"
What did you say, Bill Lubkinsi
A hundred dollars7"
Mrs. Lubkins subsidized in her chat