Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-04

IL. i
matter, and the moment got my back to
the line off went the pistol. For mo-
ment / was paralyzed; then l wheeled
around to find the other fellows about
five yards ahead Run! I don't believe
ever ran so fast in my life, though the
watches have told a different story. The
others ran like a team. They were well
matched, but slow, for l caught them at
fifty yards, went by like a locomotive and
almost walked in winner in eleven
seconds. Considering the bad start and
the easy finish, it was looked upon as
| fast heat, and in my case, an outsider OF
the darkest hue, simply astonishing.
'HThe fast man of the country side won
the next heat hands down. OF course he
would eventually win the race. That
seemed to be a foregone conclusion in
| everybodys mind. No, there was one ex-
ception; at least in one particular mind
there seemed to be, if not doubt Of his
success. a desire for his defeat. He wasn't
| a braggart; in fact, he was very COM
| panionable fellow, and would have been
| good fellow if he had been willing to de-
| vote a portion of his time to work. But
| he worsdn't, and he was only a lady's
man, yet with taste for the cinder path.
The exception noted was the very pretty
girl. After winning my heat / made my
way to her carriage, and received not only
a smile, but wish that | might win the
race. Boys, was young and vigorous, in
splendid physical condition, though not
half trained, and that smile, piled on top
of that wish, simply filed me with the
determination to win that race OF burst d
blood vessel.
- Final heat of the 100 yards, shouted
the NJ. G.. / heard him get the call.
Sounded to me as if it were made by
man mile off. Hurry up, Tom, l heard
some one say. The blood rushed to my
head, and / could feel the perspiration
bursting through the skin. Then it be-
came cold as bit of ice. These violent
changes were of the lightning order in
reality, though to me they seemed to
occupy good deal of time. Outwardly,
| afterward discovered, / seemed cool
enough. Fortunately before I reached
the scratch / was all right and on the qui
vive for any and every chance to get a
proper advantage over my confident OPP
poncnt. He was smiling and debonair,
| and when the starter said Get ready he
did so with the air of a man who knew q
sure thing when he saw it and felt ne had
it. That is where he made his mistake
| wasn't sure, but simply determined,
and at the report of the pistol jumped as
if fired from q catapult. / gained two
feet on the start, and that two feet did
the business. Ever see boat give an OPP
ponent its wash? Well, at one time l was
. crank on boating, and there wasn't q
boat race rowed within 500 miles that i
wasn't on hand to rejoice or sorrow over
the result was in the room when Rem
forth, the greatest Sculler that England
ever produced, breathed his last, killed by
OvereXertion in the first mile Of the five
nile race against the Paris crew of St
John, y. 3. Naturally knew something
e the detrimental quality of back wash,
and when / gained that two feet and
caught my stride / simply sidled over into
my opponent S water, so TO speak, and just
Staid in front. l won by two feet, and for
he moment felt bigger man than Grant,
''And the very pretty girl!' inquired the
wo in chorus.
well, boys, didn't hear her say was
!ovely, but | felt that the victory had
moved my stock up several points, and
when | had won the half mile run at the
anne meeting / was offered seat in her
carriage and was satisfied that no amount
IF eXcrtion was too great to give in eX-
change for the hope she expressed that |
hadn't permanently injured myself, and
that / should take great care and not
catch cold. On that particular day of
twenty-four hours the sun never went
down; at least, even at this late day,
have no recollection that it did"
Then you stuck to the business"
eyes, as an amateur. Was compelled
in manner to sustain the reputation
made that day. For seven years / lived
like Christian, didn't smell a cork, was
always in tiptop condition, appeared at
the post in thirty-five races, runs and
walks, on the fat and over hurdles, and,
considerably assisted by good luck, won
them all.
do you any harm?"
''Took five years off my age"
"Don't object to smell cork now, do
you?" inquired the old man Of the party.
There was n general smile and another
bOttle-New York Sun.