The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-10-22
BEAUTY CONTEST
By MARY LOUISE eUzzELL.

ADlldn ShenlIstOu pdItof. luc iuhb
treasury being empty, they were
thoroughly discouraged, for the par
sonage was In a sad state Of disre-
pair.
The case was briefly and plainly |
stated by Ellen Raymond's tersely |
uttered:
We've had rummage sales-apron |
sales-and eooked-food sales, till per-
sonally, | should be actually ashamed |
to look even a spawned horse sale In
the face And meantime, the ceiling
In the parsonage living room threatens
to bury the whole family under plas-
tering at any minute; the kitchen is
a sight. and as for the minister's study
well :"
Mrs. Skeffington nodded agreement
| that the parsonage was in disgrace
| full condition, then added:
"Mr and Mrs. Wright have been
simply angelic TO put up with II as
long as they have-and something
must be done! I'll confess that I'm
at a standstin! But anyone able to
solve the problem for us would receive
the thanks Of all Meadowville-and de-
serve a halor'
At this juncture there was knock:
the door opened, and Peace Arkwright
looked In with an apologize:
pardon me-but as mother couldn't
come, she sent me to"
Mrs. SkefIington sprang up, her face
beaming.
Peace Arkwright," she cried. 81 be-
lieve you're the very one to help us out
of a bad predicament! Listen!" And
Peace listened attentively to the tale OF
woe unfolded by the head of the re-
pair fund: and at its conclusion said
thoughtfully:
swell. perhaps our girls club could
get up some kind Of an entertainment
that would bring in some money. 1t
would have to be something entirely
new-something you've rever had-in
order to be a SUGGEST" Then she add
ed hesitatingly: lover in Shelbyville
they had beauty contest-all the
prettiest girls disguised. with just
their faces showing through one thick
ness Of gauze. you know-with young
men for judges, who paids So apiece
for the privilege. And over there. the
Northumberland off kisses
at 50 each--and they made just stacks
Of money"
Shocked CONSERVATION was depicted
on every face, and Ellen Raymond
5 gasped:
: But Peace-Peaee! This Is 9
n church affair-and anything like sell
$ ing kisses would bring discredit or
n the church-and scandalize the whole
town! No-that wouldn't dol" de
: cidedly.
Peace smiled demurely.
But haven't told you all. ladies
and | cant-not quite ALL"
) 1t was the evening of the beaut.
q contest. One hundred young men hat
d cheerfully paid So each for Judges
u license-which also entitled him Z
II the purchase of kiss. The town hal
81 was packed and as the clock struc
D eight the divided stage curtain wa
u slowly drawn to each side by two lii
u tie girls in white, disclosing such
a galaxy Of beauty that the audenc
D stared in wonder.
u The judges filed slowly past tn
d stage, peering intently at each fac
So as they went, and nodding wisely a
b they jotted down names on pads of ps
d per. This ceremony over. the sal
81 of kisses waxed fast-each judg
q eager to enjoy the privilege for whic
q he had paid toll-even though tn
D kisses must be implanted on veile
81 lips. And it must be confessed this
81 while the salutes given were arder
81 every pair of lips bore the ordeal wit
81 remarkable fortitude. Then came Il
u signal for unmasking and the final
= cisiOn.
And then--well, then, in full vie
~ of the audience, the beauties" wri
"e gled out of their draperies and vel
and disclosed to the Mortified judg,
- group of perfectly good looking b.
unmistakable male persons in conve
tiOnai evening attire!
While the audience fairly howl,
4 its appreciation of the clever camo
hage, the ante-room door opened and
bevy Of smiling Meadowville cir
came out and made deep obeisance
the disgruntled judges.
And meanwhile Peace Arkwrig
was In the back parlor helping Mr.
Skeffington count the pile of bills tn
had taken in. She was also receiv
the almost fearful thanks of that mo
II than grateful lady, who. as she pack
.M the money into her capacious han
III bag, gurgled:
ri But, Peace, how did you ever S,
81 ceed in making boys look so much Ii
M girls? My knees fairly shook VIII
I'll that kissing started up-for I'd ma
up my mind that you were going
IN sell candy kisses instead of the r,
article. How did you do it?"
%& Peace giggled.
IN "Why, l enlisted the aid of I
Shelbyville boys. They came o,
= and copied our faces with their gres
| naipt and uiUc lof< ox,n. eu1.-. -