Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-06-20

at the members OF the lTdth team. ~
win" he said slowly. we must get
place on the mile run"
There was 10 response at first. over
in the corner the big footbalrpiayer
who threw the hammer Strengthened
co as If to make a speech. Then he
s ,emed to change his mind. and turned
slowly toward another part OF the
room.
We'll. Denty?" he said in chai-
iesing tone.
Denty. the mile runner. shrugged
his shoulders. III do my best. ne
declared, slowly. but you all kno"
my time in the trial race was no
where near the record.
The gaze OF the football payer wan
dered on round the room.
Baby Elton" he said. sterniy.
Elton flushed with embarrassment
Denly won from me in the trlal
race" he said. simply. II theh
he stopped.
coach.
"who else can run a m:le?" he de-
manded.
81 don't know CT any Others" con-
fessed the coach.
Then" said the football player.
with slow precision, ''the race must be
won either by Denly or Eiton-or by
the other team"
Yes. that's IT," said the coach. He
was glad the others were beginning to
realize the cares Of his position.
Il see" said the football player.
-'Denty. can You win that race?'
Denty forced smile. Il might Try
he said vaguely.
That's not the question: said the
football player. sharply. I'VE GO not
want to rely on mere chance. Elton.
can you win the mile rum
Down in his heart Elton believed
he was capable of taking at least sec
ond place in the event. Denly had
beaten him in the trial race. TO be
sure. but CT the two runners Denty
was At the time II far better condi-
ton. The reverse. however, was no"
the case.
But Elton was rlodest--too modes'.
he toll. himself at times. Just no"
the searching eyes of the big footDaii
player embarrassed him; he hushed
painfully. He was conscious that ms
little body was trembling all over. He
felt like crying ont az the top OF MS
voice that he could win the race. In
stead, however. he meekly answered.
81 don't know: perhaps could
The football player brought his fist
down on the table.
What we want" he said. is conf
dence in ourselves. Neither of you
two fellows can expect TO win that
race if you sc into it with tie bare
hope of capturing a place. Why. the
other team will have runners weo
know positively they are going to win.
They will win. too; and they Will win
because they know they are going TO
do il. not because they hope TO get
place. You fellows" But he stopped
suddenly at a look in Elton's face. Be
meath his great muscular bulk the
football player had 4 kind heart.
Our oaly chance TO win the mile
rum" broke in the coach. lies in cur
pulling their runners. II is old.
know. but n man isn't himself in a
rsce. and the hest runner in the world
is apt to misiudga his speed.
"Yes. that's true.' agreed the foot
ball player.
Then" said the coach with sigh
Of relief. that is settled. Elton, you
will 90 the pulling and let Denty
win the race BE ont on the track at
sharp every dag from now on. That's
all. fellows
The members OF the track team rose
slowly from their loung:ng positions
and struggled our OF the little room.
Elton was the last TO go. He was still
thinking of the coach'S decision, and
was just beginning to realize what 1t
meant.
He, who had trained all the spring
and half the winter before. was TO
come in las. in the mile run. Even
now he could see the race. At the
start the runners would be of at the
same instant and break into the same
swinging gait. Then he would increase
his pace 9 little and draw away from
the rest BIT by bit he would lengthen
the distance until the runners of the
other team would become alarmed and
endeavor TO gain his side. Still he
would keep up the rapid gait until his
own runner should be far TO the rear.
coming with long. easy strides in
sharp contrast TO the short. distress
ing steps of the others. And then. on
the Inst lap of the track. his running
partner would quicken his stride. and,
still comparatively fresh. pass him and
the others with burst of speed
1t was probable his opponents would
by this time have discovered the trap,
and have dropped back; but he knew
that it would be too late and that they
would pass him. trembling and almost
exhausted. in a futile effort TO catch
the other man. who had harbored his
strength by running throughout at the
same pace he used in practice six af-
teTnoons a week.
Then would come the finish. First
his running mate would break the
tape. well in advance of the others
Next the two runners of the other
team. completely exhausted. would fall
across the line into the arms of their
comrades. And last. far 10 the rear
he would stragele on the finish. toe
tired to hear the laughs and taunts o:
those who did nor recognize the sacri
fee.