The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-06

Let the girls settle It among them
selves suggested little Alt Peter
son, whose fathers grave had given
the name to the settlement. Ans
father had been the only man scalped
by Indians in the twentieth century,
and the town had celebrated its Just
distinction by raising q 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 500
votes. Ransom coming second with
only 425.
Now Klaxon was Jest. Someone
had perceived the way he looked ct
Miss Lane. who treated him az the
dirt beneath her shoes. Naxon was
too shy TO open his mouth In 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
groaned the mayor, when Red Gulch
made q sudden squirt and headed the
second weeks voting with Ed Sim
mons. the stenographer. counting
1.17s. 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.
l knew she wasn't. 1t was this way.
l 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 Ill can the whole business. It
only started in fun, anyway. You said
you thought it 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 as good as another,
] reckon. No. I've given my word.
and I'm sport enough to see It
through
Meanwhile, who was backing little
Klaxonf That was what everybody
| wanted TO know. At the end Of the
I bird week the score ran as follows:
First, Ed Simmons, 1879; second,
Ransom, Its; third, Jennings of
Burntover, with 1864; fourth, little
J Klaxon, with LATE.
Who was putting money into
Klaxon? Who had sunk s1.400 in the
shy little man who gazed adoringly at
the girl and blushed and hurried away
when anybody asked him IL he expect
ed to become 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
ord Of honor to put enough money
ito the fourth week to enable Peter
ms Monument to make sure OF the
1rize. Nobody asked any more. No
one suspected that 1t was he who was
backing Klaxon. But then, as I said,
Miss Dorothy was a girl Of determine
tion.
When the final votes were counted
they ran as follows: First, Klaxon,
3,97S; second, Ed. Simmons, 2,405;
third, Jennings, 2,27s; fourth, Ransom,
2,115.
There was moment of stupefac.
ton, and then our mayor threw up
his hat. Three cheers for Mr.. Klaxon
and his bride and three more for the
bride, and tiger for Peterson's Mon.
ument!" he shouted.
In the silence that preceded the
cheer, just that moment of silence
yhen men draw in their breath, saw
.ansom's face go white. He had been
ire Of Miss Lane. had joked and fiirt-
with her all the time. Then saw
i'm looking at woman on the front
lat OF the theater where the result
as announced. II was Dorothy Ben
EFT, and-then / knew who had
lueered his game with Miss Edna
ane.
| Where was Klaxon? Nobody knew
The little man had left the theater
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 q white, contemptu
GUS face. waiting for him.
Once there, he squared his Shout
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 interviewed.
ITO the minister! To the minister
it roared.
In a thrice a guard OF honor had
been formed about the couple, and
shoulder-high, they were conveyed to
the house of Rev. James Piggott, sole
minister of Peterson's 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
lantern-jawed Red Gulcher get away
with Miss Lane" they yelled. see
the point?"
Mr.. Piggott saw, and little Klaxon
and apparently Miss Lane; SO they
were married, and half the contents