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

! with 90 thought OF being forced TO the
terrible strain of sprint on the last
lap of the track. AS he ran now, his
eyes burned with sharp pains. the mus
cies III his legs jSrlleI and trgsed. his
| breath rushed in and ont through
throat sore and parched with dust. Try
as he might his body refused TO swing
evenly and his steps faltered with
growing frequency.
He kept his eyes fixed on the track
as he ran. 1t seemed TO be rushing 70
meet him. and he fancied it swayed
and reeled. Sometimes his foot hit
the cinders too soon, sometimes the
track dropped down. almost out OF
reach. But still he forced his legs up
and down. up and down. up and down,
until it seemed that the terrible. mon.
otonous stride must finally give way
TO the toddling GAIT OF little baby
just learning to walk.
Elton lost all count of his position
on the track until his gaze fell upon
the little holes the runners of the hun
dred-yard dash had dug in starting.
Then he knew the race was almost
/ SAa1td dId Hc iIItu ~ put lOl III thN
whole strength OF his body. Could no
run those last 100 yards without fall
ing?
Up in the grand stand the crowd
was yelling maily. He heard his own
name shouted again and again. but the
sounds seemed to come from great
distance. The FOOTBALLS of the other
runner had died ont now. and he Won
dered If il were possible that the man
had passed him without his noticing
ii. He looked at the track ahead. half
expecting TO see the runner, but it was
deserted clear up to the taut little
string that marked the finish. So he
lowered his head and began to count
once more as his feet hit the cinders
He was close TO the finish now. run
ming with mouth open and eyes half
shut. lie staggered from side TO side
of the track. only dimly seeing tho
crowd that lined it. Then. through
his half-closed eyes. he saw the tape
just ahead
The sight seemed to put new strength
into him. He opened his eyes wide
anu thiCh Ldth HCou, oiuoi i.io AAAS
shoulders. His legs thumped up and
down with more evenness.
There was one awful second when
| the tape. just as he reached ii. seemed
to melt away into the distance. But
the next instant he came full upon ii,
and with arms high in the air felt it
break across his breast. He had won
the race.
A dozen friends rushed out to catch
him. AS he fell into their arms there
was n quick sweep of air behind him,
and the runner who had followed close
at his heels crossed the line. a good
second. Elton looked curiously at him
for minute. too tired to grasp tho
truth. Then he blinked wonderingly.
rubbed his eyes once or twice. and
started to speak.
But before he had uttered three
words. the announcer of the races bel
| lowed through great megaphone:
Result of the mile run: First. Elton;
second. Denty: third. Pastor"
1t was true. The runner who FL
ton had feared would pass him was
nOuG ONhCl THAN l(CHty, OMh man.
| The thing was explained simply
enough. At the time when Elton
| glanced over his shoulder. to find his
mate apparently missing. Denty hal
| just come up rapidly into the place of
enc of the other runners who dropped
| out exhausted Elton's blurred vision
had been unable to distinguish faces.
Instead of getting first place by a mar
| row margin. his team had taken sec
ond as we'll. The meet was urques-
tionably won.
For the first time since the race. e.
ton smiled broadly. His university
had won the meet: he had taken first
place in the mile run. Such a combi-
nation he had long ago regarded as i'm
possible.
While he was still smiling. the meg
aphone beloved out some other an
nouncement. In an instant the crowd
was yelling and cheering in a perfect
fury. The coach of the team rushed
up and srasped Elton's hand.
What is it?" asked Elton hal:
dazed.
Don't you know" demanded the
coach. with happy face. You broke
the Intercollegiate record for the mile
run"
They were crowding round him now
in great numbers. each ready with
congratulations. The coach thumped
him on the back with great heartiness.
The big football player scattered the
crowd right and left as he made his
way to Elton's side. and Slipped ono
of the runners white hands into his
great brown one.
But best of all. pleasant-faced man
authoritatively pushed his way through
the group of Elton's admirers. and
reaching him at last. threw an arm
affectionately round his shoulders and
turned to Introduce him 10 the men
who had followed him.
Gentlemen" he said. with proud
emphasis. this is my soa."-Youth's
Companion.