Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1911-08-29

fad, instead of the partner In her
various interests.
She accepted him frankly as one
privileged TO share her little adven-
tures into novel realms, but when he
spoke of their marriage, he was
invariably met by the plea that she
could not think OF getting married
when there were poor little children
who needed to be sent to the country
or small boys who were to be weaned
from the cigarette habit in order to
save the manhood Of the country.
Not that Laura undervalued Hailey's
love, but always he had seemed to be
part of her life and every few weeks
she discovered some new reform in
immediate need of promotion which
possessed the charm of novelty. Be-
Ing a young person of great enthusi-
asms. she threw herself into the work
with such vigor that she forgot all
else.
Haley wisely aided her In her
search for new charity movements,
and II was he who assisted to form
the Block Improvement society.
Their little city was in the throes of
boom, and the mayor called upon
all good citizens to aid In making the
place the most attractive In the state.
One of the schemes was the enlist
ment Of the residents along the prin-
oipal residential streets in sections,
each group giving their entire atten-
tion to the identifying of the block
on which they resided.
Laura's home was In a most prom
Using locality, and within week after
the idea was announced she was the
head of her Block society and the
movement was In vigorous swing.
Neglected gardens were made over.
unkempt walks were trimmed and
graveled, trees were planted and
fences painted By the end of a
month 1t was apparent that they
would win the prize offered by the
town council for the best appearing
block, and by the fall when the con-
test was decided 1t became almost a
certainty.
one of the factors that would count
in the contest was to be the prosper
GUS appearance of the block as a
whole. and Laura promptly cried until
her pretty eyes were red instead of
blue, and her spirits seemed to have
acquired the departed tint of her
eyes. Right in the middle of the
oil
the argument that could be brought
to bear by block of interested ten
ants could induce the real estate
agents to remove the For Sale" sign
that was an eyesore and an offense
The agents were willing enough to
permit the Block association to lay
out the lawns with flower gardens,
and to remake the walks, and place
pickets on the fence where pickets
were sadly needed, but the sign, they
declared, would stay there until sale
was made. OF this there seemed to
be no hope.
1t was most offensive sign, large,
weather-beaten and slightly on an
angle, as though long standing had
induced rheumatism In Its one limb
Worst of all, 1t added at sacrifice"
as though some inducement were
needed to coax the reluctant pur-
chaser.
That phrase was the final straw
Everyone felt that it was a blot on
tho appearance of the street, and an
affront to the entire neighborhood
All felt strongly about 1t, but none
more so than the president of the as
ISOLATION. She had even tried to coax
her father to purchase the property
that the sign and the stigma might
be removed simultaneously, but Mr.
Gordon, being used to Laura's sudden
changes in. interest, laughingly de-
clined to pay fancy price for the
property merely that the block might
enjoy the presence of the ornamental
lamp post which was to bear an in
scription stating that here was the
model block of the city.
Laura felt that the sign would eff
fectually prevent the winning of the
prize and when she had had her cry
out she bathed her eyes and sat on
the stoop, from which point of vantage
she could glover at the house across
the street, half hidden by the huge.
weather-beaten boards.
1t was here that Harry found her
and sat down to share her sorrows.
Il know Bellman, of the real estate
company" he comforted. Il feel pretty
cure that can get him to take the
sign down the day of the Judging" he
said comfortingly. but Laura was in
no mood for comforting
THAT won't do cine said disconso-
lately. THE judges may spend a week
or two in deciding and, anyway. they
will remember that the sign was there.
A vacant house looks so forlorn any
how The Chesney and Veach streets
block will get it. Their yards are al.
most as nice looking as ours and every
house is occupied. They are our only
rivals and Belle Slower told Nell Pc
tersen that they counted on our sign
to win them the award and If it does
after all I've done-Im never for