Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1906-12-25

Harwell loped along the lake shore
path. The spring wind beat in his
face. A mating blackbird trilled in
the greening marsh. Harwell In bis
running pants and jersey, with his
bare legs and sandaled feet, with his
fine head tossed back and the muscles
of his back ripping beneath his jersey,
was as beautiful in his perfection OF
youth as the spring landscape through
which he ran
1t was getting little warm for the
daily cross country trot, but the spring
meets would be on In another week,
and after that cap and gown in ex-
change for jersey during commence
nlent week.
Until then Harwell had only three
things to remember. First, he was not
to overlo. He was so near the per-
lection point now that with the least
extra work he would be stale. Sec
ond, he must be careful of that right
thigh muscle. He had strained it In
the fall as quarterback. And, lastly,
this third necessity being unknown to
the trainer, be must win the hundred
yard dash In the Colwell- meet.
The rivalry between Harwell and
Small had become more than physical.
To win first place In the meet was to
win first place in Alice Summers eyes
at least this was the conclusion
reached by Harwell
He hurdled the pasture bars into the
meadow. 1t was rather wet. and the
smell of bruised cowslips and tender
new sprung mint followed the soft pad
of his sandals. At the sand pits Har-
well halted at the sound of his name
shouted at the top of lusty lungs
Small, in knickerbockers, was pound
ing away with his geological hammer
at huge bowlder.
I'm chill if | stopr' called Harwell
merrily. why aren't you running?"
Got this bloomin' five-fifths geology
to make up this week."
TOO badv' shouted HarwelI, bound
ing with his long strides toward the
far side of the pits.
Small looked after him, then mali
cious look crossed his eyes, If-if Har-
well should get chilled He sprang to
his feet.
wait. Waitv he roared II want"
then Great heavensl' he cried. Then
there was silence
Harwell did not turn his head at
Small's call. He grinned appreciative-
ly to himself. Cant work me that
way" he thought. "A chill for me
would be very valuable to Small,D and
he crossed the little meadow brook
with a careless bound Then a vague
sense of apprehension entered his mind.
SmalFs roar had stopped very sudden
~. He wondered why. Perhaps he
ought to go back, yet he kept on.
But the sense Of apprehension grew
and would not go. Finally, with a lit
tie groan at his own foolishness, Har-
well turned and retraced his course to
the sand pits, his stride never break
ing. AT the brow of the slope he gave
a startled ejaculation. In springing to
his feet Small had dslodged a great
slice of the sand pit wall To his arm
pits in sand, with face white and sense
less and. the sand creeping constantly
down to sift higher and higher about
him, was Small.
Harwell dashed toward him. AS he
ran he snatched up an old tin can half
full of rain water and dashed it in
Smalrs face Small opened his eyfs.
I'm suffocating. Harwell," he said.
"Oh, no, you're not; not by a long
chalk. Here, take this can and dig to
beat the band I'll use this piece Of
shovel, and We'll have you out in a
Iify."
He set to work feverishly. The bit
If shovel proved very efficient welded
Dy Harwelrs sinewy arm, and the tin
IAN in SmalPs hands was not to be de-
'pised. Harwell worked with one eve
IN the edge of the pit. The sand lay
RS, one by one, were loosening If he
lid not get Small free before they fell
well, there was no use in thinking of
hat. Now Small was free to his waist
Inc, now to his thighs, now-silently, |
swiftly, a great wedge of sand gave
way, and Small was again buried to |
lis shoulders.
Harwell looked about. The pits had |
cen so loLc deserted that there was
Tot boar il sight Yes, half buried I
md black witl age, there was one. He /
'elted across the pit, gave a great
wrench and was back again with the |
'oard, which he placed as bulwark
gainst further sand slides. Then to
york again with the broken shovel,
everishly, for Small was growing
amt and limp.
AT last, painting. Harwell helped the
af unconscious Small to his feet.
hen he was suddenly conscious that
is hands were blistered, that his feet
ragged, that his right thigh muscle
ched YEARLY. But he put his arm
bout Small and led him slowly from
le sand pit down to the turnpike road
lat was the straightest course to the
ollege dormitory. 1t was nearing sun
ct, and damp, cool wind blew from
he marshes. Harwell shivered, but he
Iosed his lips firmly and hurried Small
q as best he could
There was the sound of hoof beats
ehind them. The two weary figures
rev to the roadside and waited for
ls smart little dogcart 10 pass them.
ut it stopped. and its solitary oc-
lpant gave an exclamation of sur
rise
what in the world Is the matterY
sked Alice Summers.
"Small got caught In the sand pit, re-
led Harwell, both men staring up in
} the beautiful, sensitive face The
vi no va a I;ffla a,.xy re cxv,,,a +l,xv 4snt,