Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-21
THE CUP

The cup had just been placed in
 the center of MT. Blake's window.
 Lord Morston's gift to the Rifle
 Club was displayed so that all who
 passed up and down High Street
 could look and long. The news spread
 through the little town.
 Augustus Pearson. head salesman
 of the boot shop which supplied foot
 wear for all the. villagers around
 Morston- on -the-Wash, was told that
 the cup had arrived within 10 min
 utes of shutting up the shop. He affected a quiet disregard of the news,
 while, at the same time, his eagerness
 was throbbing through him.
 Augustus Pearson meant to win the
 cup. He was leading member of
 the Rifle Club. but he was not the
 most popular person in. town. He
 thought too much of himself.
 When he got opposite to the bril-
 liantly lit window of Blake's shop he
 stopped and joined the 1oiterers in
 front of the plate glass window. Ger
 tainly the cup was a desirable trophy
 for anyone.
 Mr. Pearson turned into the shop, and asked Miss Blake if the London
 evening papers had arrived or not. "Oh, MT. Pearson" said Miss Blake, trophy. His lordship's butler brought
 it down this afternoon. and. talking
 with him, he mentioned your name.'
 Mr. Pearson twirled his mustache
 and looked kindly at Miss Blake. Well, he said, of course, Miss Blake, sport is sport.''
 Indeed, MT. Pearson, it must be SD.
 But, if I know anything of our noble defenders, you. MT. Pearson, will win it."
 If do, Miss Blake" replied Pear son, q hope''-
 AS ha fra a short, thick-set man hustled into the shop, and asked roughly for a packet of notepaper and envelopes ''Hallo. Gus,'' the man said to the immaculate Mir. Pearson. What about tomorrow ?"
 'eThat remains to be seen," eaid
 Miss Blake. Here's your packet of | notepaper, Mir. Jarvis" Well, I'll say good night" said Au- gustus Pearson. and left the shop, fol- lowed by the newcomer. MT. Pearson and MT. Jarvis imme- diately, and without a word, dived down a side street, and into a small public house known as "The Rifle
 man." They sat down together in the little paneled place.
 Now, then, Gussie," said MT. Jarvis about tomorrow. Whats it worth tc me?"
 Its worth a couple of quid to you That's all very well,' Jarvis replied but I don't see how it's to be done Waddington's a better shot than you and Thorne is a better shot than either place you third in the com fpetition. and third you will be. So don't see''-
 "Of course, you don't see, Bob,'
 Pearson replied. And that's why Pm talking to you now. You're chosen as marker tomorrow, aren't you?'
 Yes. I and my brother Bill are 1-av~IyT frNT. 'Very well. then. What I'm going tc do is. to show you how The two men were sitting close to- gether. Behind them was a window hung with red curtains, which hap pened to be ajar. Neither of the mer noticed it.
 That's just what I want to know,
 MT. JarLis replied
 '1n this way answered MT. Pear son. You mark, you pull the cord, anC the whiteWash brush goes over the tar get. You're chosen to mark down the Therefore, what you put down on youl sheet stands in the competition fol the Cup"
 "Of course it does,' Jarvis replied ''But I shan't know who's firing. shall simply record the shots upon the sheet. and I shan't know whether it's you, Waddington or Thorne." Augustus Pearson looked keenly al his companion. "Pm not the fool,'' ht said.
 Well, then, get at it. What exactly do you mean, Gussie? "Just this. You'll be watching tn, impact of the bullets upon the target and, as you say, you won't know who's firing. But I've got a little plaI by which you will know who's firing You will know it's me, and no ont else, for the reason that you'll see { | blue stain upon the whitewash. bought a couple of blue pencils yester. day, and I'm going to cover the bullet: with the blue before I fire them. Whe1 | they get onto the target. you'll see a once who's shooting. There will bt