The Holly chieftain., 1914-12-25
CHAPTER I.
The Beauty Contest.

buppos6 you tutnk yer v0uuhs
sneered James. remark that he dat
tered himself was rather Classy"
The Watermelon sighed as one
would over the ignorance Of child.
No." said he, hardly"
Don't let that bIoomin' modesty Of
yers keep yer from tellin' the truth"
adjnred James.
The Watermelon waved the possi-
biiity aside with airy grace. with
all due modesty. James," said he. Il
can't claim to be q woman
Not with that hay on yer mug"
agreed Mike. casting sleepy eye up
ward from where he lay In lazy con-
tent In the long. sweet grasses under
the batternut tree.
When was kid, took a prize
In beauty show" announced James.
with pardonable pride. II was three.
I remember. cute little cuss. Ny
hair was yellow and ma curied .it-you
know NOV all fuzzy had =
little white dress on. 1t was county
fair I got the FIRST prize for the best
lookin' kid and was mugged for the
papers. II was shaved now and had
ON some glad rags. I'd be lady killer.
all right. all right"
Longside Of me-" said the Water.
melon. you'd look like blear-eyed
son Of a toad"
you! Why, you'd make a balky
horse run. you would"
When me hairs cut, I'm 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 fitfuily by, laden with the
odors of the fields in June.
Beauty" said James with charm
ing naivete. runs in my family.
IL went 30 fast In the berinatn'.
then. yer family never had q chance
to catch up" returned the Water
melon. Wen have a 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 mocking
grnni.
James fondled the short stlff hair
on his cheeks and chin and waited
Tor developments
The Watermelon went on. I'VE will
meet this afternoon. here, see? Shaved
and with decent duds on. And Mike
can pick the winner"
.Mike! He can't tell a sick cat
from well one.'.
That's all right He knows enough
to tell the best ioolxin' one between
you and me. A blind mug could do
that"
But"
I'VE haven't anyone else, you mutt.
We can't have too much publicity in
this show. l dislike publicity anyway,
at any time. and especially when /
have on clothes. borrowed, as you
might say, for the occasion. II the
gang was here. we could take vote.
but seein' that they amt, we rot to
do with what we got"
The cost of livin' ts goin. up 40
these days. it's gettin' hard oven to
batter handout," groaned Mike,
whose idea OF true beauty consisted
of full stomach and shady place
to sleep on q long quiet Sunday after
noon. Il ain't goin' to get every place
soured on me. II the public gets any
more stingy. I'll have to give up de,
turf for livin', that's all. To throw
a gag will be harder den hod d-carryin'.n y
We amt goin' to hurt the burg
none." said James.
He rose languidly and stretched.
You be here this afternoon, Mike.
about three. see. or I'll knock yer
block on It's a nice quiet hangout
and Tar enough from the village to be
safe. I'm goin' to get shave and
borrow some duds from the bloomin'
hosteiry up yonder to do honor to de
occasion" He knocked the ashes
from his pipe and slipped It into I'D
pocket. ''If you don't get the clothes
and de shave. Watermillion, you'll be
counted down and out, sect"
Sure" agreed the Watermelon.
kle lay at length on the ground be.
meath the butternut tree and James
paused moment to run his eye criti.4
cally over him, from his lean face
with It's 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
as well have been stockings for ali
they added to his height His shout.
ders wero broad and muscular. WITH