Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1914-03-04
CHAPTER |.
The Beauty Contest.

Watermelon, with rare candor, that
would make NANCY pup unhappy.
"T suppose you think yer Venus
sneered James, a remark that he fat
tered himself was rather classy"
The Watermelon sighed as one
would over the ignorance of child
NO" said he, hardly"
Don't let that bloom!n' modesty OF
yers keep yer from tellin' the truth, y
adjured James.
The Watermelon waved the posi-
bility aside with airy grace. with
all due modesty, James," said he, 81
can't claim to be a 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, took prize
in beauty show" announced James,
with pardonable pride. 81 was three,
Z remember, a cute little cuss. My
hair was yellow and ma curled it-you
know how-au fuzzy-and I had a
little white dress on. 1t was a county
fair. l got the first prize for the best
1ookin' kid and was mugged for the
papers. If l 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 a blear-eyed
son of a toad"
You! Why, you'd make 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 fitfully by, laden with the
doors of the fields in June.
Beauty" said James with charm
ing naiVete, runs in my family"
1T went so fast in the beginnin',
then, yer family never had chance
to catch up" returned the Water
melon. Wen have a beauty show,
just US two"
Inspired by the thought, he sat up
70 explain, and Mike opened his eyes
long enough to look each over with
slow sccrnful derision and a mocking
grunt
James fondled the short stiff hair
on his cheeks and chin and waited
for developments.
The Watermelon went on. 1--WE will
meet this afternoon, here, see? Shaved
and with decent buds on. And Mike
can pick the winner"
Mike! He can't tell sick cat
from a well one"
That's all right. He knows enough
20 tell the best lookin' 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 1
have on clothes, borrowed, as you
might say, for the occasion. If the
gang was here, we could take a vote,
but seem that they amt, 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
of a full stomach and shady place
70 sleep on long quiet Sunday after
noon. Il amt goin' to get every place
soured on me. If the public gets any
more stingy, I'll have to give up de
turf for a Twin, that's all. To throw
a gag will be harder den hod-carryin'."
I'VE 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 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 buds from the bloomin
Aostelry up yonder to do honor to de
occasion" He knocked the ashes
Gvom his pipe and slipped it into his
pocket. ''If you don't get the clothes
and de shave, Watermillion. you'll be
counted down and out, sect"
Sure" agreed the Watermelon.
He lay at length on the ground be-
aeath the butternut tree and James
paused a moment to run his eye criti-
SaIly over him. from his lean face
with it's two-weeks' growth of beard
90 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 all
they added to his height His shout
ders were broad and muscular, with
the gentle play of great muscles In
Derfect condition His neck, though
short. was well shaped and sinewy,
not the short thick neck of a prize
Sghter or bull His hips were mar
row and his limbs long and straight.
beneath his open shirt one saw his
bronze throat and huge chest. A
splendid specimen of the genus homo,
for all the rags and tatters that served
as clothes.
The Watermelon was bit shorter
with narrower shoulders, but long,
legged, slim, graceful, and under his