The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-07-24
The Winner "A Short Story
By LESLIE THOMAS

There's a lot of these prize COM
petitions about now" remarked the
little man in the corner of the COM
partment. folding his newspaper medi-
tatively. Some people say they're all
a take-in; but that's not true. as I
happen to know"
You've been a prize winner" l.
queried.
He winked. Il should say so. I'd
tell you about it, too, only-well, after
all, it's good while ago. now
The interest l displayed evidently
fiattered him, for. after chuckling to
himself for a minute or SO, he held out
his paper and tapped a page.
See this one here he observed.
cheque for two thousand pounds for
the person who sends in the best &C
count of what he'd do with the money
if he got it. Well, the one I went in for
was something like that. only the
prize wasn't so big A furnishing firm
got 1t up for an advertisement of
course. 1t happened to catch my eye
one night when l was going back
| from work, and l took it home and
| read 1t through carefully. Seemed TO
me l had a pretty fair chance.
1.-TWO hundred pounds towards rent
| ing a house was what they offered:
and when you'd chosen it they would
fill it for you, every room. free OF
charge. And not only that. but they'd
provide a wife for you, too. ANY girl
that l liked to collect certain num-
Der of coupons could send in her photo
and the man who won the first prize
was to take his pick and marry one o.
'em. l dare say you'll remember
about it now. Caused no end of talk
at the time.
But l haven't told you yet what
you had to do to win. Well, just
write down exactly how you'd behave
when you were husband-what
you'd allow for housekeeping, how
you'd manage the home, where you'd
go for your honeymoon, how you'd
treat your wife, what was the best
way to live happily ever after-and all
that sort of thing.
D." The papers would be read by a
committee of ladies': and the man they
thought was likely to make the best
husband would get the two hundred
and the furniture, not forgetting the
wife.
Il thought it over, and reckoned I'd
go in for it: so set to and wrote out
MY paper. A fair masterpiece it was
when I'd finished. l was going to be
SO tender hearted and thoughtful and
generous that any girl who married
me would hardly believe she was still
on earth. She was to have her own
way in everything. her own bank &C.
count, latchkey, vote-and goodness
knows what else, while I'd work about
eighteen hours a day SOS she could
have new dresses whenever she want
ed EN-, and a new hat every time she
passed her favorite shop.
Altogether it was wonderful piece
of writing. Yes, and it won me the
prize, too. One morning l got let
ter asking me to call. OFF l went,
dressed in my Sunday best; and when
got there saw the managing editor
and lot of gentlemen from newspa-
pers who congratulated me till l did.
mt know whether l was on my head or
my heels. Then my photo was taken.
There's just one thing more, Mr..
Trefusis,' said the head of the firm,
shaking me by the hand-that being
the fancy name I'd put on my paper
being shy by nature, You must now
go before the committee
And whatll they do:' I asked him.
feeling rather nervous.
"Oh, only ask you a few questions.
he said. It's a mere formality. And
besides, they've got the ladies' photo
graphs, you know. You have to
choose your future bride
"Fd forgotten about that part of the
business for the moment: but plucked
up my courage, and he took me along
to another room where the commit
tee was waiting.
There were all sorts of women in
it: Lady Ponderfield-the one who's
always opening bazaars. and running
charity matinees at the theaters: Mis-;
Pickleton, who writes books-the nov
elist, that's it: Miss Fluffy Brown
from the Gaiety theater: Mrs. josiah
Simpson, the labor NJ. P.s wife-oh
and a lot more.
Upon my word. fairly quaket
} when they started staring at me. ant
all talking at once. l can't remem
) Der half what told 'em: anyhow, a
J last they said they were satisfied.
Now, said Lady Ponderfeld. .
will display the photographs, and 20,
are to make your choice.
J. Upwards of five hundred photo,
. there were altogether. believe; bu
was getting dizzy, so at last shu
my eyes, and picked out one of thu
pile.
''That'n do" said. She's goot
enough for me-"
) When looked at her properly
though, nearly asked for anothe
chance. She was a big. tall. hasA,
girl. about six foot high. just tn,
kind who'd be likely to make trouble
ton" said Lady Ponderfield, turnin,
up list I'VE shall let her know
your decision, Mr.. Trefusis, and t.
morrow We hope to arrange for 20,
to meet. We have your address. Al
low us to congratulate you, and t.
wish you every happiness in your fu
ture life"
II waited a bit, because I hadn't go
the money yet, you see. But the.