The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-08-28


way feel now, think I'll choose mar
riage. But you must help"
Leave it to me, Boz"
From inside the house came the
strains Of Dearie, sung in a sympa-
thetic tenor. and upon the conclusion
Berkeley Fresno's voice inquiring:
miss Blake. did ever tell you
about the time I sang Dearie to the
mayors daughter in Walla Walla?"
Miss Blake appeared on the gallery
with her musical admirer at her ell
bow.
YES" said she. sweetly. you told
me all about the mayors daughter
week ago." Then spying Speed and his
companion. she exclaimed: "Mr. Fres-
no has fine voice. hasn't he? He
sings with the Standard Glee Club"
Indeed"
/ "Sure!" The Native Son Of the
Golden West shook up q hammock.
cushion for the girl ''Tenor!" said he
sententiously.
"say no more" Speed remarked:
''it's all right with us!"
Fresno looked up.
whats wrong with my singingf"
"Oh, I've just told the girls that
you're going to run that foot race"
Helen interposed. hurriedly, at which
Fresno exploded.
whats wrong with my running?"
inquired Speed.
II can beat you!"
Larry Glass nudged his employer
openly. and seemed on the verge Of
hysteria. LET him co." said he. Let
him go; he's funny"
Speed addressed Helen, with q mag.
unanimous smile:
Suppose we allow Freq to sing this
foot race? Well pull it OF in the
treble cleft"
"Oh, 1 mean it," maintained the
tenor stubbornly. 81 don't want to
run Skinner. the cook. but Ill run you
to see who does meet him.
Speed shrugged his shoulders indul.
gently.
I'm afraid you're q little over.
weight"
"I'l train down."
10Eudpo IL yOU wall Vut11 ! U006
this cook, I'll take you on"
Glass broke out, in husky indigna-
ton: "Sure! Get a rep, Gull. get q
rep!" Then to his employer: Come
on, Wally, you've got to warm up"
He mounted the steps heavily with his
protege.
When they had gone, Miss Blake
clapped her hands.
"Pm so excited" she exclaimed.
"You see, it's all my doings! Oh.
how I adore athletes!""
"Most young girls do" Fresno smil.
ed, sourly. "My taste runs more to
music" After a moments meditation.
he observed: Speed doesn't look like
Splinter to me. I'll wager he
can't do hundred yards in fifteen.
two"
'F1fteen-two' is cribbage." said
Miss Blake.
Fifteen and two-flfths seconds ia
what mean"
"Is that fast?"
Fresno smiled. indulgently this
time. Jeans friend Covington can 90
the distance In nine and fourfiftha
seconds. He's real sprinter. think
this fellow is a joke"
| Indeed he is not! II Mr.. Covingtor
can run as fast as that. Mr.. Speed car
run faster. He told me So"
"Oh!" Fresno looked at her curious
ly. THE worlds record Is nine and
three-fifths: that's the limit of human
endurance"
Il hope he doesn't injure himself.
breathed the girl. and the tenor wan
dered away. Disguised beyond meas
ure. When he was out of hearing hi
remarked. aloud:
"Ill bet he runs 80 slow we'll hav,
to wind q stop-watch on him. Any
how, think I'll find out something
more about this race"
Once in his room, Mr.. J. Walling
ford Speed made q search for writing
materials. while Larry Glass over
hauled q trunk filled with athletic
clothing Of various descriptions. Their,
were running-suits, rowing-suits. base
ball and football suits. sweaters. jer
seys, and bath robes-all of which
were new anu uu6talueO. AT tue DOt
tom Glass discovered box full o
bronze and near-gold emblems.
Here's your medals" said he.
Good! Ill wear them"
mix! You can't do that. Thos'
gals will get WISE" He selected one
and read on the reverse side. "Clerl
of the COURSE" another was engrave,
STARTER" All we're ofiicial badges o
some sort or other. you always wer'
strong on the Reception Committee
stun. There's six Of them" said he
Speed pointed to the bureau.
"Try Q nail-file. See II you can
scratch on the lettering. How's this?
He read what he had written for tn
wire. "'Culver Covington. and D
forth. Come quick. First train. M
tive Son making love to Jean.-Wally
Ten words, and it tells the who'll
story. l can hardly explain why
want him, can I? He expects to sto
on In Omaha for a day or two. bu
he'll be under way In an hour ate