Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-08-06

ry; they were in color like the ys0Sets
ON her coat.
NO. she said 1oyfully.
"Then dine with me-"
mo-" with me-" interposed the sec
ond quickly.
The third said nothing, but in his
eyes was a steady purpose, and she
looked up and saw it there.
"Shall I dine with you all?" But
her look sought his again with hint
Of challenge.
There was moment of hesitation
which the girl did not understand at
all, but the three men understood only
too we'll. And the first man looked at
the second, and they both looked at
the third, for it was vacation ano the
big game was just over ana S'er
finances were sadly low.
"That would not do at all" said the
third man decidedly. I'VE must have
a council of war We will report
progress In few moments"
So it happened that they Withdrew
hurriedly to the smoking car and
there they put their heads and their
pocketbooks together, and became
aware of very sad fact indeed. For
their united finances, turn and twist
them how they would, were only
enough for one of them to dine as q
gentleman should in the company OF
very pretty girl. The others must
60 dinnerless to bed.
Which should be the lucky mani
I'VE must decide by lot" said the
third man again, and because the aug
gestion was his he claimed the night
to oversee the drawing.
He tore three strips of paper II d3f-
ferent lengths and placed them II hs
hat, holding 1t out to them.
1.-THE short one wins" he annouDeed-
The first man drew carelessly, ana
looked at the long slip in his hand
with smile and shrug Of the sAoul-
ders.
The second man drew carefully, and
the sight Of another long clip called
from him an exclamation Of regret
But the third man looked at his
short strip reverently. He folded ID
up and put it into his pocket.
Lucky dog!" said the first NAN
gaily.
II envy you," murmured the second.
The third mans face was ftn Ct
light.
II can't lose" he said.
Then it followed that the third man
collected all the dimes and quarters
of the other two, and made his way
back to the car, where the very pref
ty girl sat waiting.
$50 you are the one" she said, but
she did not look disappointed.
YES" he answered. Il ana the
one"
He guided her down the aisle Of
that car and across to the diner And
the unlucky two followed at dis
lance, for they we're very, very hun
cry.
And behold the two had quiGe for
gotten their hungry brethren, neither
did they take much interest - the
bountiful dinner placed before them,
so that those watching burned with
desire to take from them the Steak
and salad they so little appreciated.
For the man sat looking into the vio-
let eyes OF the girl, and the girl toyed
with her fork and listened 70 the
words he was saying. while her color
came and went.
So when the watchers could In no
way gain their notice. they crept sad
~ away and were lain to return to
the smoker And behold, as they pass
ed the seat of the very pretty girl.
their gaze fell on a partly opened bag,
and from the bag protruded the END
of a plump yellow banana
It was long before the very pretty
girl came back to her seat, and when
she did, her cheeks were glowing
with lovely color. 1t was longer
still before she missed the bananas.
Even then her suspicious glance Tell
upon and wrongly accused two hnQ-
cent urchins across the aisle.
As for the two real culprits. she had
forgotten their existence She had
forgotten the dinner their money had
purchased-she had fogotten every
thing but the look in the eyes OF the
man who didn't know her-because he