The Monmouth inquirer., 1911-06-08

lut SuDsllLuLS On Iue stCOuu LSau1s
had early taken him under consid-
Grafton
VIII he do?" asked Derrick. who
played No 2, excitedly and repeated
ly. we need more men. With
those who are away and those who
are laid up; there are afternoons
when we can't scrape together six to
play a practice game.
- suppose he might help fill up"
co nmented Deshon gloomily "As
for exrscting he's going to be any
ec0G. for one don't stand for it"
However. Deshon went no further
IN ais disauisition or gave utterance
8 his conclusions as to the singu-
iay IF the ways of the universe.
fie Nas accustomed to make merely
tha briefest Of remarks. Only such
a bRrning topic could have drawn
l.uas taan a dozen words from him.
Z Iona s3eech like the present one
ths ofore caused him sincere aston
ISL uent, which brought him to
faIl stop in something of dismay.
Nor dill Langley on trial. prove
hiaselt more adept or serviceable
than had been expected. Actually,
however, no great ground for COM
paint existed Frequently, in truth,
he proved decidedly useful to play
until some late arrival could jump
il and take his place. He galloped
conscientiously about the field and
did his best to hit the ball when it
came in his way. In fact he con-
stantly made vigorous and spirited
attempts to reach it when he hap
pened to think of it. Afterwards, in
the chaff of the dressing room and
the discussion of the smoking room,
he proved to be perfectly gcod-hu-
mored, and, indeed, developed ccr-
tain quickness of repartee which
added to the number of stock anec-
dotes of the club. Moreover, the
amounts of his subscriptions for cups
and polo dinners and polo matters
generally were something to receive
and welcome with bated breath.
Poniesl The others lived in con-
slant amazement. They were at
times dazed by his luck.
Still" growled Derrick, If you
buy everything you're certain to get
something good somewhere in the
lot
The number of Langley's pur-
chases had never in the history of
the game been excelled. All parts
of the country were laid under con-
tribution. From Texas, California
and Massachusetts, came ponies. Al
most every club. wherever situated,
had some of its best snapped up to
form part of Langley's stable. I'm
donbtedly there was nothing he
would not take and for which he
would not readily pay the longest
price. That he unconsciously worked
upon the scientific doctrine of the
survival of the fittest might seem to
be his case.
Lacking in any marked excellence
as his performance might be, not ris-
ing in any measure above the ordi-
nary. he could not help, in game
where the animal counts for so much,
having a certain success. A pheno-
menally fast and clever beast, out
racing all others in the field and
turning in his own length, often
brought him to critical point, when
he was able easily and leisurely to
make a telling stroke.
The week of the match for the
Colony Cup was approaching. The
knowledge of it's nearness haunted
the Westmead mind, disturbing
peace and destroying happiness. For
some time nothing had been said
about it. By tacit consent the dread
ed subject was left in silence. How
ever. the matter could be disre-
garded no longer. With the immi-
nence of the crisis the confusion of
CONSERVATION reigned Played on
their own grounds, failure was not to
be considered. and yet nothing ap-
peared more likely.
AS one who would understand the
situation, who might, in fact, be able
to offer valuable suggestions, Miss
Sally Newlands was taken into full
confidence and admitted to every
possible discussion.
"You see.' declaimed Derrick, as
the members of the team plus Miss
Sally Newlands sat in accidental con-
clave on the club terrace, ponies
are so much of it. We've got to put
in Langley Although it's game
without handicaps, with what he has,
even as he plays, he may help
He's determined to play Ber-
rick continued bluntly to Miss New
lands, "and you must know the rea-
SON. He wants to show off before
you Do he gallery racket"
"Oh, l can't think as badly of
him as that, she said, and added de-
cidedly, Il don't"
"A man when he's so hard hit isn't
quite himself The chances Of ap-
pearing to advantage in her eyes is
something not to be lost"
Certainly Langley with Miss New
lands advent had been more assidu-
Gus at polo. had manifestly thrown
himself with more enthusiasm into
the game The others found some-
thing pathetic in his futile endeav-
ors When after the greatest exer-
Il