Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-11-11

him before they really knew what they
we're doing. Nor did it fail this time.
The flaccid face of the lunch-wagon
man expanded into q broad grin.
That's it," exclaimed Pedro.
THAT'S what?" asked the man, grow
ing serious again.
"Oh, don't spoil It'll" cried the lad.
that smile is just what you need
to attract customers!" =
This time the nan laughed. p,
WELL" said he, what is your prop
osition. young one" :
II have some friends with me-" be-
gan Pedro; "all those over there and
the bears. We are all hungry. sect
Now I will paint you q picture on the
side OF your wagon, and also I will
paint for you a new sign; and If, when
I have finished, you agree that the
sign and the picture will bring you
customers In the future, you will feed
US all. not forgetting the bears, eh?"
The fat man considered a long time
before replying, and Pedro watched
him anxiously. -. -
| "OAt no ooAA 81 A0oSH - SA0 " AO6
| wagon couldn't look no worse'n 1t do
now; an my stock what I have laid in
will get spoiled If 1t don't get eat.
You can have a try, young one. II you
like" #%,I
"Hurrah!" said Pedro, and hurried
over to tell Mia and the others.
A musty hardware store that also
sold grain and lumber, furnished \
few crude materials. The Nat man
paid for them, and Pedro carried them
over to the cart and set to work.
Please, one thing" he begged of
It's proprietor. don't you look till all
is finished"
"All right" agreed the man, I'll sit
here, just inside the door, and read
outer the paper till you're DONE"
Pedro answered nothing, but gave a
glance at a little mirror that hung
just opposite to where the unccn-
scious Mr.. Lovejoy sat, whipped OF
the old green coat and began working
frantically.
The proprietor settled himself on
the. little stool near the. door, and,
faithful to his promise, unfolded Z
pink evening paper. Cautiously. and
speaking not 1t all. Old Mia drew
near, leading Mr.. Jones. They sat
down in the dust beside the step and
watched Pedro In silence. Then came
Beau-Jean and Koko, followed by
Gunny, who settled themselves beside
the old woman. Before half an hour
was gone all the town. for the first
time in the lunch wagons history. had
clustered before its door. As for Pc,
dro, he had forgotten that there was
a world which might come to cape
and criticize. He was working. j.
But II the painter war unconscious
| of the crowd. the proprietor was not.
Twice he wanted to move, but dared
not; and as the crowd increased, SO
did his impatience.
For half an hour longer or more Pc
dro worked, glancing now and then at
the little mirror just inside the door,
In which Mr.. Lovejoy's unconscious
face was reflected. There began to
be an occasional tittering from the
crowd, and then. later, spontaneous
bursts OF laughter. -.
when kin l come out7" cried Mr..
Lovejoy at intervals. and.
wait" commanded Pedro. Fever
ishly he added the finishing touches to
his production. and then ut length
stood back and invited his patron to
descend. As the fat man came down.
Ethe steps there was = little burst of
applause which he was At q loss to
understand until he stood before his
transformed place OF business. -
All the old lettering, already faint.
had been obliterated, and in the cen
ter of the largest space was a portrait
head Of himself large, laughing por-
trait, Just like him. yet irresistibly
merry. 1t was q face at which one In
stantly smiled In sympathy; indeed it
wore the very smile to attract Gus
TONER'S" as Pedro had said. Over this
extraordinary production Pedro had
painted in neat, black letters:
Z. Lovejoy w..
Eating 10 joyful '
Come In and Eat
Love to See You Do It
Then underneath: e
Il lovsioy's Luscious Lunches
After 4 moment Of ~spellbound d.
~lence, the fat man drew q long breath.
"You win!" he said to Pedro, .
smile like that in the picture over.
spreading his large c~ountenance.
In . second the square was In an
uproar, the crowd expressing is de.
light noisily. Mr.. Lovejoy fed them