Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-07-04
The Rivals
bv RICHARD MARLEY

"What am goin' to do, Jim?
"YOu know we'll enough. You're
steppin' in between me and Sairy
Grant"
"You mean you're steppin' in be-
tween me and Sairy."
jim pulled photograph Of the bone
of contenhon-it might be called the
bones of contention-out Of his pocket
and held it up for Mart to see. Mart
pulled a copy Of the same out Of bis
pocket and held 1t up for Jim to see.
Each looked at the other surprised.
did she give you that?'
"Yes. Did she give you yournT
Eyes"
II tell you what we do, Mart Sup
posin' we put the picters away some.
where till she makes up her mind, and
then the teller she takes has 'em both?"
That's good idee. Where'll we put
'emY
There's a boiler tree over yonder.
Reckon we can find place there where
they won't get wet"
They went to the hollow tree and
found cavity where the photographs
would neither be seen nor damaged.
Each man had a jackknife in his pock-
ct, and, opening blade, he pinned his
photograph to the inside Of the cavity.
Then they departed. ,...
Sarah Grant, the object Of this rival
~ was no beauty, but she had talent
for that which will work wonders in
love. She understood the value Of RI
valry. Neither Jim nor Mart had the
slightest desire to make love to her
till she created it in them by first
showing favor to one, then to the 9TH
er. As soon as Jim appeared to be
DESTROYS OF these favors Mart began
to put value on them. and vice versa.
1t was then that the rivals began to
look upon her as beauty. She was
skinny and sallow and freckled, but
she had good eye, which she knew
well how to use, and these young men
built up on this foundation an mag
mary structure of loneliness.
Soon after the deposit of the pic
lures the harvest season came on, and
the rivals found work where they
could, both at some distance from the
abode Of Sarah Grant Consequently
neither saw her again till autumn.
Meanwhile Sarah was pining for the
excitement Of keeping two men on the
anxious seat and waited impatiently
for their return. About the time the
harvest had been gathered she con-
cocted a scheme for her further amuse-
ment. She wrote each Of her lovers
letter expressing pleasure that the har-
vest season was ended and hoping to
see him again. She invited each one
to come and see her on certain date.
which was the same for each lover.
her object being to continue the game
of the previous spring. Since they
were working in different sections OF
the country there was little or no
liability of their comparing notes.
and Sarah was looking forward to
their meeting each other in her pres
ence. Furthermore, she indicated to
each that she had finally made up her
mind that he was the man Of her
choice.
Mart and Jim returned on the same
day. Each believed that he was the
favored one in Sarah's affections and
that he was the rightful owner OF both
the photographs. Such being the case
he would 60 to the hollow tree and get
them. Mart intended to tell Sarah the
story about their having been put away
to await her decision. Jim had not
determined exactly what he would do
in the premises except that he would
destroy the likeness Sarah had given
to his rival.
AS luck would have it, the young
men went to the hollow tree at the
same time. Jim was about to put his
hand into the cavity when he heard:
Hello, there!"
Looking around, he saw Mart ap-
preaching.
"I've won," said Jim.
mo, you haven't; I've won." Mart
retorted angrily.
Mart made a dash for Jim, and there
was a brief struggle between them
for possession Of the pictures, with the
result that each secured one Of the
copies. Each cast glance at the be-
loved features, but the glance was pro-
longed into a stare. Then they looked
up at each other.
II reckon you've won, jim" said
Mart. ..
II don't know as I want to deprive
you Of the
"We've been friends so long that l
can't bear to stand in your way"
z II say, Mart, is that the girl we've
been quarrelin' about?"
These are certainly the photographs
We left here"
"Why, she's snub nosed."
"And scrawny; look at the shoulder
bones" ....... ...... .................
II rehnquish her to you"
II wouldn't deprive you of her for
the world"
what made you think you had got
the advantage Of me" .
Two letters came out Of two pockets.
They were copies Of each other.
"Have you a match?" asked Mart.
Jim produced match, the letters
were crumpled, the photographs were
placed on them and the whole set into
a beautiful blaze, while the friends
shook hands over the funeral pyre of
their past love.
II say. JIM" said Mart, what made
Us two chumps think she was good
lonkin,2n