Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-03-22
HOW SHE
WAS WON K:
By ETHEL HOLMES

daughter, whose real name was Paul
Inc, "don't you think that to please
papa you could accept Ernest Towne?'
"How about pleasing myself?"
ooh, 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 a swell leader lat
er on"
aren't you rich enough to keep my
position for me, papa?"
81? Oh, well, you see that what
have will be added to what you get by
marriage"
"I'll think about 1t. papa"
She concluded to refer the case to a
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-
lions 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 over his rival
by ordinary methods of transporta-
ton. 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 route he
had laid down on the map which he
thought would give him the best
chance Of meeting. His car was
capable of making sixty miles an hour,
and when on 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 tC
make shorter and shorter circuits til
he arrived at the center.
Miss Harmon's plan was something
like this, though she did not make {
regular spiral from the center to the
line. She saw nothing of either O.
her suitors. Mr.. Towne passed he
on his inward, her outward, move OF
the opposite side Of the ground of con
test. When they came round agail
he was within, she was without
though they passed within quartz
of mile of each other.
All this time nothing was seen O
Stewart. Miss Harmon had been o.
the road three hours and was begin
ming to tire. At first she assumed tina
she had missed both her suitors. Ii
deed, when she came to think of
calmly it was quite likely that sh
might ride all day over so large fiel
without meeting either Of them. AS
Towne, he had not yet reached the Gel
ter point.
About o'clock in the afternoon Mis-
Harmon was driving along stretch {
road in which there was no turn whe
an auto pumped itself from sid
path into the middle of the road rigl
before her. She had barely time
stop within few feet OF it when BE
Stewart jumped out of the obstructin
car, sprang on to the footboard Of Mis-
Harmon's car and, Selling her ham
asked her to marry him.
Suspense was ended. The man ST
loved had won.
"You scamp" she exclaimed throug
smiles. II don't believe you have We
fairly"
II have taken no illegitimate adva
tage,' was the reply.
How did you do it?"
But Bob wouldn't tell-at least n
then. Indeed, he never told till aft
the wedding. He had been doing som
thing in air travel and had kept bo
his rival and his girl in sight all d: