The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-06-27
HOW SHE
WAS WON
By ETHEL HOLMES

I
| daughter, whose real name was Paul
inc, don't you think that to please
papa you could accept Ernest Towne"
"How about pleasing myself?'
"Oh. that will come later. II you
marry Bob Stewart, instead Of increas
ing your social distinction, you'll feel
the pinch of poverty; If you marry
Towne you'll be swell leader lat
er on"
aren't you rich enough to keep my
position for me, papa!
81? Oh, well, you see that what l
have will be added to what you get by
marriage"
"I1l think about it. papa"
She concluded to refer the case to
contest between the two suitors. So
she sent word to both of them that she
would the next morning be driving her
car within the limits Of Marion coun-
ty-a region full of excellent roads.
crossing one another like the wires OF
a twisted gridiron-and would marry
whichever of the two men who pro-
posed first
Both suitors received the informa-
ton about 10 o'clock at night, the CON
test to take place the next morning,
Neither had any information as TO
what point the lady would enter the
chosen district. The county line was
many miles in length, and she might
enter at any point Even If candi-
date entered near her he would not
know which direction she would take,
and he might set off In the opposite
one. Both men made their prepara-
tions before turning in for the night.
Towne went to his garage, where he
kept several cars. and ordered his
chauffeur to prepare the one best suit
ed to his needs for the contest He
was not driver himself and expected
to use his chauffeur for that purpose.
Stewart on receiving his notification
sat down to job Of thinking on the
matter. He could see no hope Of his
securing an advantage oyer his rival
By ordinary methods Of transporta-
tion. 1t would be purely matter Of
luck, the man having the best luck
winning. At midnight he had solved
the problem.
Before daylight Miss Harrison start
ed, with a single attendant, for the
trial ground, and by the first peep Of
day she was in its center ready to take
any course her fancy dictated. At
the starting hour Towne passed the
line and began to follow a route he
had laid down on the map which he
thought would give him the best
chance Of a meeting. His car was
capable Of making sixty miles an hour,
and when en- long stretches his chauf-
feur was instructed to get that speed
out Of her.
Miss Harmon. being In the center OF
the county. worked from that outward,
whereas it was supposed that she
would enter at the outside and work
inward. Towne began by making a
speedy zigzag run, following the trend
OF the line. hoping to come upon the
prize soon after she entered OF
course he completed the circuit with
out meeting her. Nevertheless he con.
tinued on the same plan, which was to
make shorter and shorter circuits till
he arrived at the center.
Miss Harmon's plan was something
like this, though she did not make n
regular spiral from the center to the
line. She saw nothing of either of
her sultors. Mr.. Towne passed her
on his inward, her outward, move on
the opposite side Of the ground of con.
test When they came round again
he was within, she was without
though they passed within quarter
OF a mile of each other.
All this time nothing was seen of
Stewart. Miss Harmon had been on
the road three hours and was begin.
ming to tire. At first she assumed that
she had missed both her suitors. In.
deed, when she came to think of il
calmly it was quite likely that she
might ride all day over so large a field
without meeting either of them. As "a
| @o"hS' he h'tu huI yet reached the cen
ter point
About o'clock in the afternoon Miss
! Harmon was driving along stretch ot
road in which there was no turn whom
an auto pumped itself from side
! path into the middle of the road rich,
before her. She had barely time r.
stop within a few feet of it when Rob
Stewart jumped out of the obstructine
car, sprang on to the footboard of Miss
Harmon's car and, seizing her hand
asked her to marry him.
Suspense was ended. The man she
loved had won.
You scamp!" she exclaimed throupA
smiles. Il don't believe you have won
fairly"
Il have taken no illegitimate adyan.
tage," was the reply.
How did you do it?'
But Bob wouldn't tell-at least no,
then. Indeed, he never told till after
the wedding. He had been doing some.
thing in air travel and had kept both
his rival and his girl In sight all dav
from the clouds When they pot O. o. .