Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-25

He started cautiously for it was the
first time for year that he had been
on skates And then, after few pre-
liminary fourishes, he was off, his
hands securely tucked in his pockets,
his body bent forward and his head
held up-in that attitude he had learn.
ed as boy.
There were not many skaters and
most Of those present were girls. He
might have noticed but he didn't that
he was the only man skating alone.
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. He skated
easily and quickly to her.
II am so glad there are some men
at last she said, land am glad you
are life sized. One came yesterday,
but it was really pathetic. Imagine me
going around on the arm Of little
chap scarcely five feet four inches. |
After had hung on his little arm ten
minutes, and fallen with him a few
times, he was quite winded and went !
without being paid. But l think you'll
do. What do you charge an hour"'
"The regular price," was Botsofrd's
answer, and then cautiously and with
out delay the fair young amazon rose
and with perfect self possession, said,
Now we are off,"
Apparently, thought Botsford, he had
been mistaken for an assistant or In
structor Probably the sign on the
fence was there to lure men in to
escort the women skaters in their task
Iof learning the newly fashionable
lsport Most of the skaters were wom-
en-, for the court was practically mo-
lnopolized by girls from the college.
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 BOstford
always did enjoy being part OF
harmless misunderstanding. Besides,
unused he, he might before long muster
courage enough to ask the amazon ii
she knew Betty, although in appear
ance at least there could be little In
common between the two girls.
But when the half hour was about
over, another amazon, a stately bru-
nette, approached and called out re-
proachfully: ,~,
! piggy, piggy. to keep the only life
sized man on the place! What does
he charge an nOur Z!
And before he knew it, he was strug-
Cling at the side of another novice at
the art Of skating. Later he returned
to his blond, and although his arms
ached and he could feel the sting Of
several bruises where he had fallen
with his brunette pupil, he said moth
ing of leaving.
, "Going to be here this afternoon?"
she asked as they neared the edge OF
the court, II am going to stop now,
but l may be back this afternoon.
Skating is all the rage, you know, and
cold snap ends. Men are 50 scarce
around here in the daytime"
For the lack of anything better,
| Botsford said that he intended to stay
all day. The girl thought moment
} as she sat on the bench. "Come to
think of it, shan't want you this af-
ternoon, but may want you tonight.
It's junior ball night and don't want
to skate away all my enthusiasm for
: that" .....
Here she lowered her voice as if 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 at 8,
but you had better be around at the
dormitory at $50. You dance, I sup
| pose, though that isn't absolutely nee
essary. ,1'll pay your price OF fifty
cents an hour and the additional price
Of rent for an evening suit"
Botsford's heart beat at double quick
, every time the amazon mentioned the
junior ball, and he stammered some
thing about already possessing an ev-
, ening suit Probably the amazon
thought he had acquired 1t during a
short career as a waiter. He agreed
, to the proposition. In fact, he said,
he would be willing to put in the entire
|evening for two dollars, from half past
eight till closing time.
"All right" said the girl as she left
him at the entrance of the court. Then
! she whispered again: "One thing you
must remember. I'll introduce you as
. my brother and you must keep up the,
bluff. No one must know that have
employed you in this way. It's rath.
er sore point sometimes when girls
don't have any men for dances. You
y seem so different from the sort Of men
> that would be willing to be hired that
J am quite depending on you to do the
v proper thing" s.... ..-... -
!. Of course. Botsford thought that he
Y was going to be the amazons escort
Q and that she was the one who had felt
perhaps keenly-the misfortune Of