Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-11-13
The Day of the
Prize Award
By JACK wooDFoRD
IA by Mcclure Newspaper syndicatsl

IT HAD been only dire necessity tha
= made Ellen enter her name and sur
ply her photograph for the beaut
contest that was being held by tn
Metropolitan Pickle company.
1t was the only large firm In tn
small southern town where she lived
and 1t had come to the conclusion tina
beauty contest would be an excel
lent advertising scheme. People though
pickles we're funny; they could not
somehow. associate the thought, FOL
instance. In their minds Of a prett!
girl eating q pickle. SO, Just
as the manufacturers Of glasses had
populariEed glasses for ladies' by ad
vertising through the pictures of beau
tiful ladies wearing them, the Metro
politan Pickle company intended to
popularize pickles by advertising
them through pictures of beauty con-
test winners eating them.
The first prize was one thousand dol
lars. To Ellen, one thousand dollars
would mean everything in the world.
She was just eighteen and her brother
had recently Injured himself so that
ne could not work for several years
at the least A thousand dollars
would carry them over until she could
ma a job. give up school and start
earning enough to keep the wolf from
the door until her brother got back
again. Their father was dead; her
mother carried on in their small cot
tage. keeping chickens to help out and
raising much Of the truck vegetables
that they ate.
With some trepidation Ellen visited
the offices Of the Metropolitan Pickle
company and was interviewed by Wal.
ter Thornton, son Of the owner. The
Interview was not painful, as Ellen
had anticipated. Walter Thornton
was about twenty-five. He had deep
gray eyes, and soft, shiny black hair.
He was tall and strong locking; Ellen
remembered having read in the pa.
pers some time before that he had car
ried of football honors at the state
university. In finishing up the inter-
view after he had accepted her pic
ture aud registration he said:
1T is rather unusual, Miss Wins
low, for young lady Of your type 70
enter such a contest. You come. do
you not, from one of the finest old fam
lilies down this way?"
Il know" Ellen nodded, "but in this
generation the Winslows will have to
say goodby to pride. Grim necessity
is the dictator now"
Too darn bad" he said, after she
had outlined her reasons for entering
the contest. He added: you're the
last registrant I'm going to see today:
I'm worn out Cabling with them. They
all claim they're the most beautiful
girls In town. It's so unique to have
had an application from a girl who
doesn't voclferOusly insist that she's
the prettiest In town."
Il wouldn't consider that fair" FL
len told him. "Slnce you are the final
Judge ! oughtnt to try to influence
your decision"
Would that prevent your riding
home with me?" he asked. 81 90 d.
rerlly through your nelghborhood on
me way home. and 1t would be easy
Tor me to drop you OF, If you cared
10 go"
Arriving at her home, Walter sur
pr'slhgly accepted her perfunctory in.
V'thtidn to come In for moment. He
went IN ana soon. southern fashion.
lie WAS talking to her mother about
relationships and people In town thew
both knew.
ne went into the room where Bob
Ell"n's brother. lay sick and talked
To him awhile. When he had come
out le said to Ellen:
IA IKE To give you a job; but Won
see, the terms Of the contest are TINT
no ehtrant shall be employed by the
Metropoliinn Pickle company. How
ever, since You're looking for iob
suppose you ride into town with mo
tomorrow. and I'll send you around to
place or two; after first phoning. TO
see II can't find you a position"
Ellen rode In with him the follow.
ng morning; but. oddly enough. she
was not employed at any Of the places
where he told her to go.
"rhat's strange" he remarked. over
ne phone; lets get together over
luncheon, and see what's wrong"
Ihey did. And, that night, he drove
Ter Lune again.
u became Increasingly evident IN
.llen that she would probably win
he prize. That Walter had come 70
mink a lot of her was patent; and
ne knew that she admired him. could
ave loved him had she let herself
ut she knew she must not let herself
ecause he was a millionaire In his
wn right.
Ana then came the great day of the
rize announcements. Ellen rose early
get the morning paper. She had
OF won hrst prize; nor second prize.
or third prize, nor even honorable
lention! Her name appeared no
here at all, In the prize announce
tents.
That afternoon, on the way home
ON work. Walter dropped In. Ellen
''e'Ved him cody. He was hurt.
ropping all prelminarles he said.
hskily:
Ellen dear. don't you understand
N Wild about you. want you for
y wlfe. And do you think. for heav-
rs sake. that wanted a picture OF
y possible future wife appearing ey-
'ywhere eating pickler' Ellen
'uld not help herself. She laughed
'Ster!eally; and then she cried. And
EN- she was In Walters arms. and
'iore the rush al his words OF love.
The alarms 81 tlp ms. ,,ooi,. s,tt |