Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-28
The Argus Daily Story
First Prize-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted, 1919, by Associated Literary Bureau


reserve strength that brought its home.
ly nose under the line every time
Sam saluted his employer. and Mr..
Sweet waved his hat, and Phoebe fut
tered a handkerchief. But her father
noticed a singular lack of enthusiasm
in her manner Her eyes We're not on
her fathers horse. but were following
the course taken by George Belden's
black mare.
|. IF you so back on Dewey. daughter,
l shall feel that you have found auoth-
err sweetheart than your old dad" he
said in low tone. and Phoebe's quick
caress and blushing protest seemed to
satisfy him.
Presently they were away. and the
crowd on the grand stand held its
breath while there sounded the sharp
trot-trot-trot around the course
From the very beginning Dewey took
the lead, and the other racers stretched
out obliquely on his left. The black
mare Princess held her white nose close
TO the left wheel OF Sans sulky. ana
Phoebe discovered herself harborinS
traitorous thoughts.
She wanted Dewey to win. and she
wanted George Belden TO win. She
| didn't even know him 10 speak to, and
| yet she didn't want 10 see the look of
| disappointment come into his eyes.
| Yet she blushed at her own forward
ness in harboring such thoughts.
| AS for her father. Mr.. Sweet had
taken the purse at the trotting course
for many years. and would he not be
. y -. Got I'm
this last year that he would enter him?
! So Phoebe turned her blue eyes away
:, from the black mare and fastened them
! Loyalty on Dewey's lank form and ex-
! erted all her mental powers to desire
that his homely old nose should once
more come under the wire in lead of
his fellows.
Princess is gaining" cried
Mrs. Scoville jubilanty, and then a
quick frown creased her forehead.
Dear me. Mr.. Sweet. l do wish
Georges mare was not running against
your Dewey! 1t makes it hard to be
impartial"
Much obliged. Mrs. Scovlle. shan't
take it hard if the youngster wins out.
We old folks must retire some day.
It's got down to a race between Prin-
cess and Dewey after ALL"
II know Georges heart will be bro
KEN" lamented Mrs. Scoville as Dewey
flew under the wire TO loud demon
stration from the crowd. He'd set
his heart on Princess winning this race.
and he was so confident that he plan
ned to take me on a trip to the noun
tains with the purse"
I'm sorry, ma'am." and Mr.. Sweets
eyes twinkled with pleasure in spite OF
himself. But I'll promise to put
Dewey out to grass after this and give
} the younger ones chance"
} mo, no! That wouldn't be what
George calls 'sportSmanlike.' protest
, ed Mrs. Scoville as they emerged from
the stand and waited near the gate for
| George Beldens appearance.
When he came disappointment was
plainly written on his frank face, but
, he swallowed it when he discovered
that Mr.. Sweet was Dewey's owner.
and with good grace lie congratulated
the winner and was presented to
Phoebe. whose few words of regret at
! the defeat of Princess seemed to COM
: pensate him for the loss of the race,
for he regained his spirits Immediately
and proved TO be a very genial, COM
panionable young man.
They paired off then. Mrs Scovile
J and Mr.. Sweet leading the way, while
Phoebe and George fingered along, be-
coming better acquainted as they view
ed the different exhibits and enjoyed
the simple pleasures of the fair.
George Beiden inspected Phoebe's
cakes and bread and gravely asserted
! that he could see no difference between
those toCthsumc viands and his aunt s
products that had carried off the hon
ors. And Phoebe blushed and dimpled
. and thanked him and cOntided TO him
, that she had been almost sorry to see
t Dewey win the race-because-b because
she had taken such a fancy to the
dainty little Princess.
OF course George invited her to take
: a ride behind the black mare. and as
the Sweets lived ten miles distant from
George Beldcns farm it became some
thing of custom for the young man
to drive over and spend Sunday with
the Sweets and take Phoebe out driv-
i ing and. later on. sleighing.
When June came around Phoebe
: Sweet sought her father one evening
D and wound her arms about his neck.
"Oh. father" she whispered softly,
George says he did win first prize at
y the COrinth fair last fall-thats me,
And think / won first prize in getting
him. You don't mind. do youF'
Mr.. Sweet kissed her lovingly and
: looked into her soft blue eyes with his
twinkliug one.
1T takes the old folks to win out.
after all. honey" he said. you see.
e Mrs. Scovi!le and ! both took first
y prizes at Corinth fair. and we're TAX
ing 'em again now. because she'll have
y me. and I'll have her. and Dewey
ii prize money will pay for wedding trip,
:. all aroGndw
Which proved 10 be a most satisfac
J tory arrangcmGhd
= Aug. % in American