Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-28

Alex marched down the narrow pier with
tho other seven. He was not thinking much
Of thu. race at that moment nor OF the prom
lem nearest at hand, that of setting the
shell in the water without eliciting from
the coxswain "A solemn though mercltully
uHmegaphoned curse. Instead he looked at
the banks that for mile up and down the
river were gay as petunia beds with sum
mer frocks and sunshades. And then
sense Of his alienation that for the past
week had haunted him returned with such
force that his eyes, dimmed with home
sickness. saw the river in a blur. Suddenly
he didn't care about winning the race. He
didn't belong to those people"
Careful. Two. careful" growled the cap
tain. as Alex stumbled in getting to ms
place but Alex did not hear the grown. IN
stead. tiny little lad was listening with
tense face to a uniformed man who was
saying: ,.,,..,,,a,
to a college. but a nation that would
learn Of greater one. Remember what we
expect of you
Timber no. fellows timber up! Wake up,
Two. That's an oar you have In your hand'
not a fork
Alex shook his head as If to scatter the
fog from his brain. settled his feet hrniy
and glanced about him. The Redel Coheee
shell was already in the middle or the
stream the white jerseys or the crew
cleaning in the sun. The Houghton sheil
glided away from the pier; there was suo
den housekeeping and the Houghton yen
from the banks then the red OF AleS
Jersey cleaned opposite the white or Re-
delIs Two in midstream.
There was a commotion as rowboats ana
launches were clawed wildly toward the
shore under sharp admonitlons from me
coaches launch, which puned insolehu!
M and down the course. There was a
hoarse fierce whisper from the coxsWan,
something about "Rememper-lree stIoh NJ,
keep cool" a sudden shout. Are you
ready" Absolute silence from the shore,
save for the putin of the Launches, Whiie
Alex felt his nerves twitching as they olu
when he sat in forced quiet before the
camera lens, then pistol shot and auto
maticaIIy he bent his broad back with the
broad back OF the man before MN. Inc
great Houghton- Reden race was on!
IL was easy at first. that long, SLOW, Tor
ward bend the quick. fierce recovery that
had made the Houghton STROKE famous Al
first Alex saw nothing but the bright req
sweater before him. Now forward with the
slide, now back with muscles creaklng with
strain.
The quarter-mile flag. For heavens sake
what was the matter? They mad thousil'
to pull away from Redell boat length the
first quarter then hold the distance the
rest of the race But out of the corner OF
his eye Alex caught the Two on the white
Jersey of the man across the stream ana
Just opposite him! The Houghton stroke
quickened. The neck of the man before
Alex at first a mere mahogany, blending
with the red of the Jersey, was now gleam-
ing wet and the jersey was darkening.
Then he was conscious of the roaring on
the banks, the short, barking yell of Re-
dell the dull, rhythmic boom of Houghton.
But all detail of sound or color was lost
In the darkening jersey before him, and
the hoarse, ugly commands of the cox
swain.
Shake 1t up, fellows, shake it up!'
Bend to It'll Bend to it,
For the Lords sake, this Is no picnic!
Get into the gamei'
Again the stroke quickened. Alex felt
the sweat roll from his hair Into his eyes.
His back muscles ached a little. His head
was beginning to pound. Still that gleam-
ing Two kept to its place in the corner
of his eve The half-mile flag and the turn.
Now II was work and work, Alex tight
ened his oar hold.
Curse that ugly Two that hung to his
vision like a leech. He'd pull away from IT
II ne had to pull the entire crew alone.
Stroke! Stroke, Stroke' Stroke! Gads,
that was hard. The sweating had stopped
Suddenly he was dry and parched and gag
ging with fever. "Gads, this is hard!"
his brain repeated over and over. This
is hardr' The mahogany neck before him
still cleaned with moisture. Alexis heart
was pounding so that he could scarcely
hear the wells from the banks. He could
feel the blood swell up through his neck
arteries TO join the roaring food in his