The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-19
PRIZE She DIDN'T GET
BY CECILIA HAMBURG.

a. thio SohS'
I'm not feeling any better'n you
are" said the young woman from tho
neckwear. cheerfully brushing stray
lock of hair. Somehow. life doesn't
seem as cheerful az It did yestidday
at this time. You know Harold and
me were going to . hard times party
last night-did I tell your"
"Sure!" said the girl from the rib
bous with interest. you said you
knew you'd take the prize - the
couple nearest to the real thing. DID
your"
Did vet" echoed her friend. drop
ping disconsolately upon the couch.
well, I'm not quite sure yet 10 my
own mind what We did take. THAT'S
how you look 1t It.
Harold and worked hard over
those costumes. I tell you" went on
the girl from the neckwear. Il said
to him right at the beginning. 'har
old l said. II we are aiming at the
prize we must be careful to be artts'
tic and not overdo It. We must make
ourselves look Just % much like .
pair OF tramps 40 We can without
looking like vodeveel caricatures.' !
said.
"And he agreed with me. That's
ore nice thing about Harold-he most
generally let's me boss things.
"You ought a.seen me. Carrie. when
I was fixed! You'd a.vowed an de-
clared I was Mrs. Shapowlski from
back Of the yards and that my hus'
band had deserted me and I had IL
small children to support and only
"a cents to my name. and long. cold
winter coming. Sort Of pinched and
haggard | made my face up and !
wore neat but threadbare old black
things with an occasional torn place
for the high lights.
my bonnet was a dream. My small
brother found 1t in the alley one day
and brought It home as a curiosity.
Harold was the same. only more
pronounced. He was more ragged
and dangerous looking. but honest. !
was proud OF us both! could see
that silver toilet set that cost $26 be-
ing handed over to me by the presl'
dent Of tho lodge just az plain, and
Harold getting the gold headed cane!
Harold blew himself for q cab. too.
on account of our looks. There's
nothing small about Harold.
I'VE hadn't driven eight blocks be-
fore taxi hit US and smashed up
our horse. and there was nothing for
us to do but get on street car or
be late for the grand march. I was
so excited about the wreck I kind
Of forgot our looks. till woman sat
down next to sort OF shifted and got
up and took another seat at the end
Of the car
"Thcre was man next to Harold.
and he dragged his overcOat away
and said something mean. and every.
body stared so that we went out ON
the platform to feel more comfort
able. The conductor scOwled at US.
"'Where you hoboes bound for?' ask.
ed smarty boy with cigarette. who
was standing there.
"Tll punch your face for that!' says
Harold. He's dreadfully quick tenn
pered. is Harold.
"'None Of that says the conduc-
tor.
"Then Harold. who was mad. said
he'd punch him, too. and that no lady
friend Of his was going to be insulted
by a couple Of dubs like them.
"'rll throw you oif'n the cart saya
the conductor. Who do you think you
are-Reggie Van Astorbiltr
THE boy with the cigarette laugh
ed, and after that things happened "a
fast that I kind Of lost track. When
the conductor got separated from
Harold and yelled for . policeman
saw something must be done.
"'Don't you touch my friend!'
said to the policeman. We're Just
going to . party!'
"Then all the crowd laughed loud
and scornful and they bundled Har'
old into the patrol wagon. him fighting
like a demon. I was explaining ia
everyone and wringing my hands and
q man says. says he. Poor woman!
Tied up to a brute like that. and half
starved. tool And he slipped dol
lar bill into my hand before I knew Il.
well, when I got around to the po'
lice station Harold was as limp as a
rag, It had taken so much energy to
convince the sergeant he was re-
spectacle shipping clerk instead Of
q tramp with no visible means of sup.
port.
THAT is a great joke!' said the
sergeant, when he finally understood.
hopping his eyes.
"'Ycu may think So said. tartlike,
but the grand march was over an
hour ago. and where do we get OF az
to the prize we've lost?'
Sure. you'd a-got it, all right the
sergeant admitted. You two, for life.
like limitations. have got an old clothes
shop beat mile. You might hold
up the couple that did get the prizes.
and I'd agree to have the policeman
on the beat look the other way, just
for an apology!'
but. Of course, Harold was too
much Of gentleman to do anything
like that. Only I feel sort of disap.
| s,oinAod and unaokNN