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Show 4"0 YOU ever win anything in I 1 those contests you are al-' al-' ways entering?" Muriel Wll-on Wll-on queried of her sister Agnes, who was home for the holidays, aa they sat i on the bed doing up last minute family gifts Christmas eve. I "Not yet," Agnes laughed. "Hut by j the law of averages 1 should win sometimes." "Soou, I'd say," Muriel said grimly. "You've been entering contests of one kind and another ever since we were Infants and mother entered you In a prettiest baby contest." "That's where I began my losing. If I'd won then I'd probably have kept on winning like these people we read about who live on what they make from contests." "Phooey !" Muriel scoffed. "What makes you do it, anyway?" "Just my love of adventure. I'm really a born gambler In a discreet way, of course. That's why I write for my living, just to see If my brain children will find a place or come back home to me." "Was it your love of adventure, or gambling spirit, or whatever you call It, that made you turn down Harold Ryan three years ago when he came home from college with his cousin Fred to spend the holidays? Now, why did jou do that, Agnes? He was everything every-thing anyone would want in a husband looks, family, money, and aren't we always told that marriage Is the great adventure?" "Maybe It Is an adventure but what sort of a gamble Is It to marry a man Harold Decided to Deliver the Prize In Person. who already has everything. No. I preferred to gamble with my own career." "And now that you've made a success suc-cess where Is the gamble In It?" Muriel carefully stuck a sprig of holly in the knot of her red tissue ribbon, j When Agnes replied It was In a more serious manner: "Since you ask me so pointedly, Muriel dear, I think, perhaps, if Harold Har-old lost his money during the depression, depres-sion, as so many did, and if he were to present himself now as a man winning win-ning his way through his own efforts, I might trust myself to adventure along with him. But, I fancy, Jt Is too late. He's probably found some less adventurous soul ere this." j "Most likely," -Muriel answered, as she rose to answer the door bell which l had been persistently ringing. ; "Guess we're home alone." She hurried down the stairs. ' Five minutes later she was back, trying vainly to refrain from any show of excitement : j "Some one on business for you, j Agnes. He's the persistent kind, in-j in-j sisted he had to see you right how." j "Oh, well, all right. I'll go down and get it over with." Agnes took off j her smock and departed. : j Muriel heard Agnes' surprised ejac-: ejac-: ulatlon, but It was some time before i she was summoned to Join the two In 1 the living room below. "Murle Is Just clyinjj to. congratu- rite me," Agnes gayTy greeted her younger sister. "Behold, sister mine, I've actually won In a contest. Tou see. Harold is managing editor now of the paper that was running this particular par-ticular contest When the judges were sort of stuck as to which of three people peo-ple had won second prize they referred the matter to him and, recognizing your honorable slater's name among the three, he Immediately decided In her favor and came. In person, to deliver It." "But I thought it was for another reason I was to congratulate you." Muriel did not try to conceal her disappointment. dis-appointment. "There Is," Harold answered promptly. prompt-ly. "I let Agnes speak Brst. But the reason I had for bringing Agnes the prize In person was to see If I could ' win this priie person." Just theu the door of the room adjoining ad-joining was thrown open and another overcoated young man appeared. This time It was Agnes' turn to show astonishment aston-ishment : "Of all things, Fred Ryan ! Have you been there all the time?" "Sure thing. I came with Harold, a sort of moral support. Tou see, Muriel and I have our wedding all planned. Let's make it double one!" To which bright Idea they all Joyfully Joy-fully agreed, hugging one another and shouting "Merry Christmas!" . WwUn Newspaper Union. |