The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1921-02-17
BEAUTY CONTEST
BY MARY LOUISE suzzELL.

1 abIjdu oksHiHGtoHs ; PaittH, me, IEnu
treasury being empty, they were
thoroughly discouraged, for the par
| sonage was in sad state of disre-
pair.
The ease was briefly and plainly
| stated by Ellen Raymond's tersely
| uttered:
We've had rummage sales-apron
| sa!eS-and cooked-food sales. tlll per-
sonaiy, should he actually ashamed
TO look even spawned horse sale in
the face. Aud meantime. the yelling
In the parsonage living room threatens
to bury tlle Whole family under pas-
| terin@ az nnS minute: the kitchen is
a sight. and as for the minister's study
| we'll I"
Mrs. Skefiingtou nodded agreement
that the parsonage was in disgrace
ful condition, then added:
Mr. and Mrs. Wright have been
| simply angelic 10 put up With II as
Tong as they have-and something
must be lone, III confess that I'm
at n standStill! Eut anyone able to
solve the problem for us would receive
| the thanks Of all Northumberland de-
'serye . halo :"
AZ this i;sn~;;;;;;Sa tssiif.TF was j, knock
| the door opered. and Peace Arkwright
booked IN ;ith an apologetic:
"Partlos me- hni as Gother couldn't
come, she sent me to-"
Mrs, Skefiington sprang up, her face
seaming.
Peace Arkwriaht." she cried. IL he
! Iieve You're the very one 10 help us out
| Of u bad predieamenti Lsteni" And
! Peace listened attentiveiy TO the tale of
woe unfolded by the head of the re-
pair fnnd and at its conclusion said
thouehtfully:
"Weli. perhaps our girls club cond
get mp some kind of an entertainment
that would bring i'm some money IN
would have TO be something entirely
new--something you've rever had In
order To he success 7" Then she aid
ed hesitatinr'v: "Ovpr I'm Shelhyville
they had Il beanty contest--al the
prettiest girls DISGUISED. with just
their faces showing through one thick
ness of gauze. Won know-with young
men for judges, who paid Ss apiece
for the privilege. And over there. the
nts-er-auctioned Off kisses
af 50 each-and they made just stacks
OF money"
Shocked CONSERVATION was depicted
on every face, and Ellen Raymond
gaSned:
"But peace--Peacei This is a
church affair--and anything like sell-
ing kisses would bring discredit on
the church--apd scandalize the Whole
town, No-that wouldn't dor de-
cidedly.
Peace smiled demurely.
"But haven't told you all. ladies,
and ! can't-not quite all"
1t was the evening of fhe beauty
contest. One hundred young men had
eheerfully paid 50 earh for Judges
license--whch also entitled him TO
the purchase Of kiss. The town hall
was packed and as the clock struck
eight the divided stage curtain was
slowly drawn TO each side by two lit
tie girls In white. disclosing such a
galaxy of beauty that the audience
stared In wonder
The Judges filed slowly past the
stage, peerlng iatently at each face
as they went. aud nodding wisely as
they jotted down names on pads of pa
h.. at a
Uf kisses aaxed fast-eaeh Judge
eager to enioy the privilege for which
he had pals toll--eyen though the
kisses must be implanted on yelled
lips. And Il must be confessed that
while the ellutes given were ardent
remarkable fortitude Then came the
signal for unmasking and the final de-
cision.
Aud then--wel. then, In full view
or the audience, the 'beauties' wrig-
ged out of their lraperies and wells
and disclosed TO tie horrfied judges
IA group of perfectly good looking but
unmistakable male persons IN conven-
sionai evening attire.
While the audience fairly howled
its appreciation Of The clever camou-
fiage, the ante-room door opened aud a
bevy of smiling Meadowviie girls
came out and made deep obeisance TO
the disgrunfled judges.
And meanwhile Peace Arkwright
was In the back parlor helping Mrs.
Skettington count the pile Of bills they
had taken In. She was also receiving
fhe almost fearful th.. llks of that more
than grateful lady, WHO. as She packed
the money into her capacious hand
rag. gurgled:
But. Peace, how did yor over sue
eeed in making boys look 50 much like
girlsf My knees fairly shook WHEN
that kissing started up--for I'd matie
up my mind that you were going To
sell candy kisses instead OF the real
article. How did you do it?''
Peace giggied.
'Why, enlisted the aid Of ihe
| Shelbyville boys. They came over
and copied our faces with their grease
paint and wigs left over from their