Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-08-05


place on the mile rum"
There was Eo response at first. Over
In the corner the big football player
who threw the hammer straightence
up as if to make a speech. Then ne
seemed to change his mind, and turne'
slowly toward another part OF the
room.
We'll, Denty?" he said in chai
leging tone.
Denty, the mile runner, shrugged
his shoulders. '1'll do my best, he
declared, slowly, "but you all kno"
my time in the trial race was no.
where near the record"
The gaze OF the football player wan
dered on round the room.
Baby Elton!" he said. sternly.
Elton flushed with embarrassment
Denty won from me in the trial
race" he said, simply. IL then
he stopped.
The football player turned to the
coach.
who else can run mAe?' he de-
manded.
Il don't know of any Others con-
fesscd the coach.
"Thcn," said the football player
with slow precision, "the race must pe
won either by Denty or Elton-or oS
the other team"
"Yes. that's it," said the coach. He
was glad the others were beginning 10
realize the cares of his position
81 see," said the football player.
"Denty, can you win that race?
Denty forced a smile. II might try
he said vaguely.
"That's not the question" said the
football player, sharply. I'VE do not
want to rely On mere chance. Elton
can you win the mile run?
Down in his heart Elton ocheTe"
he was capable of taking at least sec.
ond place in the event. Denty mao
beaten him in the trial race, 10 Dc
sure, but of the two runners Denty
was at the time in far better condl-
ton. The reverse, however, was now
the case.
5 But Elton was .modest-too modest
he told himself at times. Just now
the searching eyes Of the big 1ootoail
player embarrassed him; he tushea
painfully. He was conscious that MS
little body was trembling all over. he
felt like crying out at the top OF his
voice that he could win the race. In
stead, however, he meekly answered.
81 don't know; perhaps l 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
-.7i.2s =; s ha5s
hope of capturing place. WnS'\.ns
otber team will have runners WIN
know positively they are going 10 VIII.
.Tbey will win. too; and they Will win
because they know they are going 10
do # not because they hope to get d
nI,ce Won fellows" But he stopped
suddenly at a look in Eitons lace' .o Dc
meath his great muscular oulk 'hs
football player had kind heart
"onr only chance to- win the mile
run" broke in the coach, lies in our
.nulling' their runners. 1t IS oiu'
tnow hut a man isn't himself IN
race and the best runner in the worio
Is ant to misjudge his speed.
"Yes, that's true" agreed ehe ioo'
ball player. "a, ,,a,
"Then," said the coach with a sigi
of relief, 'that is settled. Elton. yo'
win do the pulling and let DENT!
win the race. Be out on the track d q.
sharp every day from now on! Iha'
all, fellows"
The members of the track team ros
slowlv from their lounging position
and struggled out OF the little room
Elton was the last to go. He was SUI
thinking of the coach's decision an
was Just beginning to realize Wnat
meant.
He who had trained all the sprin
and half the winter before, was
come in last in the mile run! Eve
now he could see the race. al u
start the runners would be on at u
came instant and break into the san
swinging gait. Then he would increa'
his pace a little and draw away ITO
the rest. Bit by bit he would lenstne
tho distance until the runners OF Il
!, team would become alarmed al
,.deayor to gain his side. Still
would keep up the rapid gait until h
own runner should be far to the res
coming with long, easy strides
sbarp contrast to the short, distres
ing steps of the others. And then,
the last lap of the track, his runnil
mariner would quicken his stride al
still comparatively fresh. pass him a
the others with a burst OF speed.
It was probable his opponents wot
nv this time have discovered the trs
and have dropped back; but ne Kn'
that it would be too late and that tn
would pass him, trembling and alm'
exhausted, in futile effort to cat
the other man, who had harbored
strength by runGng throughout at
same pace he Ssed in practice SIX
ternoons a wesk.
Then WOULD come the finish. Fl
his running mate would break
tape. we'll in advance of the othe
Next the two runners OF the OF
team, completely exhausted, would
across the line into the arms OF th
comrades. And last, far to the re
he would straggle on the fnish'
tired to hear the laughs and taunts
those who did not recognize the sa
fee.
But 1t was not alone the thought
the crowds verdict that hurt him;
was willing to make the sacrifice
his university. But he had trai
0iong and faithfully with the hope