The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-08-12

men WANTED
BY JANE OSBORN.

The Women's college lay three miles
from the town where Botsford Hatch
had his shingle hung out as a lawyer,
and on a certain cold day in Febru-
airy, having no prospect of business for
the afternoon, he had strolled out to
the suburban vicinity of that institu-
ton. There were reasons for Mr..
Hatch's mood of Incidence and reasons
why his steps took him to the neigh
borhood of the college. Still even to
himself he would not admit them. II
was really Betty Picket's fauIt-little
brown-haired, blue-eyed Betty Picket,
the lovable little doll of girl to whom
Botsford had proffered his heart and
his hand only few weeks before.
The worst of it was Betty had ac-
cepted his suit in timid sort of way.
Then some foolish little misunder-
standing had come and the end of it
all was that the time for the much
talked-about junior ball at the college
had come and Botsford had not been
asked.
IL was. as a matter of fact, the morn
ing Of the junior. prom and Botsford
knew 1t. And now he was only few
blocks from the dormitory where the
tantalizing little Betty abode.
He looked up at high board fence
and beheld large, red-lettered sign
that began with the words, ice Skat-
ing-Watch For the Red Flag Then
another glance revealed the red flag,
and another smaller sign bore the SIM
pie legend-"Men Wanted"
Botsford rather absent-mindedly en-
tered the wooden door in the fence
marked Entrance" and. following a
group Of girls, bought ticket and Sc
cured pair of rather rusty, ill-itting
skates. Then, still absent-minded. he
began to wonder why the sign had
read Men Wanted"
He strapped on his skates in the
shelter at the edge of the court
There were not many skaters, and
most of those present wern girls.
Twice had he gone around the court
when he was hailed by fair-haired
young amazon on an improvised bench
at the edge of the ice.
i am so glad there are some men
at last" she said. What do you
charge an hour?"
THE regular price," was Botsford's
answer, and then cautiously and with
out delay the fair young amazon rose
and, with perfect self-possession, said,
Now we are off,
~ fcfC he hoI
been mistaken for an assistant or in
structor
Somehow he managed not to fall,
though after a half hours work he
found himself growing weary. But the
day promised no diversion more inter
esting, and for some reason Botsford
always did enjoy being part Of a harm
less misunderstanding.
Going to be here this afternoon p
she asked as they neared the edge OF
the court. 81 am going to stop now,
but l may be back this afternoon"
For the lack of anything better
Botsford said that he intended to stay
ell day. The girl thought moment as
she sat on the bench. Come to think
of it, shan't want you this afternoon
but / may want you tonight. It's jul
nior ball night and I don't want to
skate away all my enthusiasm fol
that"
Here she lowered her voice as II
she did not want the other skaters to
hear what she had to say. But men
are scarce even at dances. You have
no idea how scarce, and think might
want you for tonight. 1t opens al
nine, but you had better be around al
the dormitory at half past eight. You
dance. / suppose, though that isn't alb
solutely necessary. I'll pay your price
of fifty cents an hour and the add