Bisbee daily review., 1913-06-15
CHAPTER |.
The Beauty Contest.

The 6cduty contest
 You have 8 phlz on yer" said the Watermelon, with rare candor, ''that would make a mangy pup unhappy. .
 q suppose you think yer Venus. sneered James, a remark that he lat tered himself was rather classy"
 The Watermelon sighed as one would over the ignorance of a child "No." said he. hardly"
 Don't let that bloomin' modesty oi yers keep yer from tellin' the truth. adjured James.
 The Watermelon waved the possi bility aside with airy grace. With all due moeesty, James," said he, q can't claim to be 8 woman"
 Not with that hay on yer mug, agreed Mike, casting a sleepy eye up ward from where he lay in lazy con tent in the long, sweet grasses under the butternut tree.
 When I was a kid, l took a prize tn beauty show" announced James with pardonable pride. 'I was three I remember, & cute little cuss. My hair vas yellow and ma curled it-you know how-all fuEzy--and had a little white dress oR- IL was a county fair. I got the first prize for the best lookin' kid and was mugged for the papers. If I was shaved now and had on some glad rags, I'd be lady killer all right, ali right"
 "'Longside of me-" said the Water. melon, you'd look like a blear-eyed son of a toad"
 You! Why. you'd make a balky horse run, you would"
 When me hairs cut, I'm a bloomin Adonis. not Venus" and the Water. melon drew languidly at an old brown pipe. warm and comfortable in the pleasant shade. where soft breezes wandered fitfully by. laden with the odors of the fields in June.
 Beauty" said James with charm. ing naiyete, runs in my family"
 "lt went so fast in the beginnin', then, yer family never had a chance to catch up," returned the Water. melon. wen have beauty show just us two"
 Inspired by the thought, he sat up to explain, and Mike opened his eyes long enough to look each over with slow scornful derision and a mocking grunt.
 James fondled the short stiff hair on his cheeks and chin and waited for developments.
 The Watermelon went on. We will meet this afternoon. here, see? Shaved and with decent. duds on. And Mike can pick the winner"
 "Mikei He can't tell sick cat from, we'll one"
 That's all right. He knows enough to tell the best lookin' one between you and me. A blind mpS could do that"
 But"
 We haven't anyone else. you mutt. We can't have too much publicity ia this show. I dislike publicity anyway. at any time, and especially when I have on clothes, borrowed, as you might say. for the occasion. If the gang was here. we could take vote, but seein' that they ain't, we got to do with what we got"
 The cost of Twin is goin' up so these days, it's gettin' hard even to batter a handout." groaned Mike, whose idea of true beauty consisted to sleep on long quiet Sunday after noon. ''I ain't goin' to get every place soured on me. If the public gets any more stingy. I'll have to give up de turf for s Twin. that's all. To throw gag will be harder den hod-carryin'. 1"
 We ain't goin' to hurt the burg none," said James.
 He rose langnidly and stretched. You be here this afternoon, Mike, about three. see, or I'll knock yer block of. It's a nice quiet hangout and far enough from the village to be safe I'm goin' to get a shave and borrow some duds from the bloomin' hostelry up yonder to do honor 10 de occasion" He knocked the ashes from his pipe snd slipped it into his pocket If you don't get the clothes and de shave. Watsrmiilion, you'll be counted down and out. seer"
 Sure" agreed the Watermelon.
 He hay st length on the ground be heath the butternut tree and James paused moment to run his eye criti- cally over him. from his lean face with its two-weeks' growth of beard to his ragged. clumsy shoes. James smiled grimly and drew himself up to his full height with just pride. He was six feet two in shoes that might ss well have been stockings for all they added to his height His shoul- ders were broad and muscular, with the gentle play of great muscles in perfect condition His neck, though short, was well shaped and sinewy, not the short thick neck of a prize. fighter or s bull. His hips were mar