Evening star., 1936-02-23

ways been one of those Slow but
thorough people known as plodders.
His grades in junior high school were
consistently good, but he had to study
hard. His bank account was growing
steadily, but every dollar that went
into it was earned only at the expense
Of steady, untiring effort.
Then he saw that bicycle and sud-
denly he glimpsed way of getting
something without waiting and shaving
for it.
There was crowd in front of the
window of Smiths Hardware Store
when Ralph stopped to find out what
the attraction was. They were gazing
at a bicycle wheel, which was turning
steadily under the power of a little
motor. Above the wheel was big
sign which read, How far will this
wheel travel if it turns steadily at
the same rate for two full weeks?
Guess the answer and win a valuable
prize! Step inside for full Details
Ralph took long look at the bicycle
In the back of the window marked
First Prize" and then dashed inside
as fast as his legs would carry him.
His eyes were bright with excitement
as he stepped up to the clerk.
Il want to enter that contest" he
said. Whats it all about?"
THE clerk explained. Contestants
had to guess the distance travelled
by the wheel then write an essay of
not more than 500 words, explaining
why bicycling was beneficial sport.
The prizes were being given by a
bicycle manufacturer, in cooperation
with the store, and all entries in the
contest must be delivered to the store
personally before it closed at pm.
on Saturday, February 20. Any boy
under 18 was eligible. Prizes would
be awarded by the middle of March
in plenty of time for the winner of
the bicycle to get whole seasons use
from it.
"Gee!" Ralph breathed, I'm going
to win that bike May have one of
the contest blanks to fill out?"
The smiling clerk gave him slip
of green paper, and Ralph hurried
from the store, pausing long enough
to feast his eyes once more on the
bicycle. It was the handsomeSt one
he had ever seen, equipped with bal
loon tires, headlight. electric horn,
luggage carrier and every other pos
sible "gadget."
And to think I've been saving for
over a year to buy bike!" he mur-
INJURED to himself as he hurried along
the street. Now all I have to do is
T1gure out little problem, write an
essay, and I'll have a good chance of
getting one for nothing!"
THE idea was so fascinating that he
could hardly get it out of his
head. But he didn't let it interfere
with his after-School job, which was
to take care of two furnaces in the
nelghborhood of his home. A short
time later he was hurrying through
the trees that surrounded the big old
Jameson house, bound for the cellar
door that marked his first stop.
Ralph had got these jobs early in
the Fall by going around to houses in
the neighborhood and asking the oc-
cupants if they didn't want their fires
looked after through the Winter. He
had obtained two customers, DR.. Car
lyle and the Jamiesons. The jamie
sons were two elderly maiden ladies,
Miss Jessie and Miss Cora, who lived
alone in their big, old house without
even servant, although they could
easily have afforded several
Miss Jessie had wrinkled her nose
when Ralph told her that his charge
for taking care of the furnace would
be So week.
That's a lot of money for a young
one like you to charge" she shifted.
Ralph swallowed hard, but stuck
to his guns. "Ill do good job, Miss
Jameson" he said, earnestly. "I'll be
here every morning before z to open
the drafts and get the house warm
before you get up. I'll stop again
on my way to school and at noon
and before supper. Then I'll come
in about $50 or 10 in the evening
to bank the fire for the night. And
I'll take out the ashes every Satur-
day and keep your cellar clean"
"We-ell, all right" said Miss jamie
son finally. But mind you don't
make too much noise when you come
In early in the morning"
60 EVERY day, all Winter, Ralph
had looked after the Jameson
furnace and DR.. Carlyle's furnace.
1t was a lot of work, but the money
more than repaid him. He gave So
to his mother, who needed every cent
OF 1t, and saved for bicycle out of
the other dollar. Deducting what he
had to spend for necessary expenses
he sometimes banked as much as 60
cents week.
But these weekly sums, even with
what he had earned the Summer be-
fore, added up slowly. His bicycle
was still long way in the future, and
he hadn't seen how he could possibly
get it before the middle of the follow
ing Summer Now, however, the con-
test at Smiths store offered a golden
opportunity to get better bike than
he had ever dreamed of and still keep
his money in the bank!
Miss Jessie Jameson was in the
cellar, getting jar of fruit, when he
entered to look at the furnace.
How do you do, Miss Jameson"
Ralph said, pulling on his canvas
gloves. els the house comfortable"
"Well, yes, must say it is," replied
Miss Jameson, grudg1ngly. You earn
your money!"
Thanks" said Ralph, reaching for
the shovel.
"But you'll have it pretty easy for
the next week or so," Miss Jameson
added hastily. "My sister and I are
going away on Wednesday, and we'll
be gone until the end of the month"
Ralph's face fell. "And you won't
want me to keep the fire going?" he
inquired. He didn't relish the idea OF
having half his income cut of.
Indeed we will" said Miss jamie