Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-15

club, and also the range superin-
tendent. happened to be reading the
paper in the landlords sanctum. He
had found the paper rather dull. and
was inclined to be sleepy. But the
had dissipated his incipient slumbers,
and made him sit very upright in
deed.
The drill hall at o'clock the next
bers Of the Rifle Club and local mag
mates.
During the day the cup had been shot
for Mr.. Thorne and Mr.. Washington
had struggled for the mastery. Their
scores had been signaled from the
butts, and as the two had tied, expecta-
ton as to whom should be the win
ner. had risen very high. Mr.. Pearson,
who was not considered to have a
really sporting chance, was the last
ped up his aperture sight, f1ddled with
the micrometer gauge, touched up his
foresight with a cameps hair brush
and little lampblack, and fred steadily
at the 3O0-yard range. Time after time
the signal had dipped. ducked and risen
pions. At the end of the firing Mr.. Pear
son was adjudged the winner with
three short Of possible"
Now the hall was full. and Augustus
PEARSON, sitting modestly three or
four benches away from the plat
form. was the recipient of the con-
gratulations Of his fellow-members.
These were very hearty. indeed, and
Augustus felt that, after all. life was
worth living. He was Individually the
ston- on the-Wash. He had proved him.
self to be the rifle shot Of the town,
and as one comrade and another came
up to him and smacked him heartily
upon the back-rather too heartily
he sometimes thought-he realized that
he was in the center of the picture
for the first time in his life.
He, Augustus Pearson, was at the
moment, the cynosure of every eye,
the most important individuality in
Augustus had always had doubts of
himself before. In imagination he had
seen himself in splendid situations
winning the v. c.. being presented by
the king with the Albert medal, and
coming back to his native town to be
met upon the platform by all the pref
test girls of the village, presenting
him. If not with the freedom of the
city. at any rate with their SURFACES
and love. He had imagined such hap
really believed they could be mater
else of a little ingenuity, he was the
undoubted champion Of Morston-on-
the Wash.
Yet he was not entirely happy.
congratulating him. seemed to be
little rough in their regard. They
smacked him on the back with a some
what insincere heartiness. They con-
graduated him with voices in which
tho sentitive young man almost imag-
ined that he detected sarcasm, If not
menace. "It is" he though to him.
self. pure jealousy, but at the same
time"
There was a sudden hush.
The bell had rung; everybody settled
themselves in their seats.
Mr.. Dalton, the mayor; Mr.. Purvis,
the rector, and Lord Morston-a fat,
jolly, clean-shaved little man with
white hair-trooped upon the platform.
After few preliminary words from
the mayor his iordship took step for
ward and began his speech.
Always, he said, he had been a patron
of and a believer in the rifle clubs If
this kingdom. 1t was now his pleasant
been privileged to provide to the win
ming shot of Morston-on-the-W Wash.
This cup had been won by Mr.. Angus
tus Pearson, and-here there was
tremendous applause in the body of
the hall-and he would add nothing
heard, but simply call upon the charm
pion shot Of the Rifle Club to receive
that which was his just and proper
due.
Urged on, not to say pushed on. by
his enthusiastic companions. Augustus
Pearson advanced toward the platform.
A servant came hurriedly upon the
platform holding a large silver tray.
Upon the tray was a china mug Of
deep cerulean blue. In 1t was a sheaf
of blue pencils, a dozen at least. Lord
Morston bent over the platform and
handed the trophy to Augustus.
"And now, Mr.. Pearson" he said. Il
have no doubt you will wish to retire
while the other presentations are
made"
When Augustus eventually reached
the door of the hall he had nothing
in his hand at all. All he carried away
with him. broken and disheveled as he
was, was a packet of washing blue
which some one had pressed down be-
tween his neck and his collar.
(THE ENID