The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-06-23

and not 10 Rex. the pharmacist. who
was very popular among the girls.
LET the girls settle IL among tNem-
selves suggested little All Peter
son, whose fathers grave had given
the name 10 the settlement. Ars
father had been the only man scalped
by Indians in the twentieth century,
and the town had celebrated its just
distinction by raising a memorial to
him.
Then hideous jest was perpetrated.
Somebody put in Klaxon's name as
that of the most popular man. And
at the end OF the first OF the four
weeks klaxon led the list with 900
votes, Ransom coming second with
only 425.
Now Klaxon was a Jest. Someone
had perceived the way he looked at
Miss Lane. who treated him as the
dirt beneath her shoes. Klaxon was
too shy TO open his mouth iIr the pres
ence OF girl. Klaxon was a good
little fellow, but popular? No! He
was everything else, but not exactly
popular.
If we don't settle on Ransom Red
Gulch will run away with the prize
groaned the mayor. when Red Gulch
made a sudden spurt and headed the
second weeks voting with Ed Sim
mons, the stenographer, counting
l,l7S. We've got TO pull together"
What was Miss Lane doing all this
time. Chatting and flirting with the
boys and having good time. She
seemed entirely heartless.
knew she wasn't II was this way.
| came upon her and the manager,
chatting together in the. front OF the
hotel, and before | had time To get
away | heard her sobbing.
Now see here, Miss Lane" said the
manager, "just you give me the word
and III can the whole business. II
only started i'm fun. anyway. You said
you thought IL would be fine. Now IL
there happens TO be some other young
fellow"
There isn't one" sobbed the girl.
Il don't care whether | get married or
not. One mans az good as another.
/ reckon. No, I've given my word,
and I'm sport enough TO see II
THROUGH"
Meanwhile. who was backing little
| KlaXon? That was what everybody
wanted 10 know. At the end OF the
third week the score ran az follows:
First Ed Simmons. 1879; second,
Ransom, 1,775: third, Jennings OF
Burntoyer, with 1864; fourth, little
Klaxon, with LAYS.
Who was putting money into
| KlaXon? Who had sunk 81 400 In the
the girl and blushed and hurried away
when anybody asked him IL he expect.
ed TO become a benedict?
The serious part OF the business was
that Red Gulch had the lead on Peter.
sons Monument. That was not to
be tolerated. A deputation went TO
President Harding, and he gave his
word OF honor TO put enough money
! into the fourth week 10 enable Peter.
! sons Monument to make sure of the
prize. Nobody asked any more. No
one suspected that IL was he who was
backing Klaxon. But then. as | said.
Miss Dorothy was a girl Of determine.
tion.
When the final votes were counted
they ran as follows First, Klaxon.
| 1879; second, Ed. Simmons, 2,s05;
third, Jennings, 2,276; fourth, Ransom,
2,115.
There was moment OF stupefac-
| tion, and then our mayor threw up
| his hat. Three cheers for Mr.. Klaxon
and his bride and three more for tho
bride, and tiger for Peterson's Mon
ument!" he shouted.
In the silence that preceded tho
! cheer, just that moment Of silence
! when men draw in their breath, / saw
! Ransom's face 90 white. He had been
sure Of Miss Lane, had joked and fiirt-
ed with her all the time. Then saw
him looking at a woman on the front
seat OF the theater where the result
was announced. II was Dorothy Ben
! nett, and-then knew who had
queered his game with Miss Edna
Lane.
Where was Klaxon? Nobody knew.
The little man had left the tbeater,
white and shaking, when the an
nouncement was made The boys
went after him and caught him and
brought him back, squirming. and OF.
fering TO resign, to where Miss Edna
Lane stood, with white, contemptu-
Gus face, waiting for him.
Once there, he squared his shoul-
ders like man. And somehow there
was something dignified about little
klaxon, so that involuntarily the girls
face softened. Before he could speak
the crowd had intcrvened.
To the minister To the minister!'
IL roared
In a thrice a guard o. honor had
! been formed about the couple, and,
shoulder-high they were conveyed TO
the house Of Rev. James Piggott, sole
minister OF Petersons Monument.
My friends" he began, but the
crowd cut him short.
Say, it's Mr. Klaxon or Ed Sim
mons, and we don't mean TO let that