The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1914-06-11

<D lery at the rear of the
house, and the conversation
had been largely of athletics, but this,
Judging from the rapt expression of
the girl, was a subject of SURPRISING
interest. Speed, quick to take a cue,
plunged on.
81 would have made the Varsity
basketball team myself If I hadn't
been so tiny" said Helen. II have
always wanted to be tall, like Ro-
berta."
II shouldn't care for that" said the
young man.
"You know she was a wonderful
player?"
$50 I've heard"
do you know" unused Helen, IT
have never forgotten what you told
me that first day we met. About your
friendship for MI. Covington. 1 think
it is very unseltsh of you"
ooh, I wouldn't say that" ventured
the young man. vainly racking his
brain. Nobody could help liking Gull
yer"
eyes; but how many men would
! step aside and let their best friend win
prize after prize and neve undertake
to compete against him?"
Speed blushed family, al any mod
est man might have done.
did I tell you that?" he inquired.
Indeed you did"
"Then please don't speak Of it to a
mortal soul. I must have said a great
deal that first day, but"
"But I have spoken of it, and I said
I thought it was fine Of you"
"You have spoken of it,"
eyes; I told JEAN"
The Yale man undertook to change
the conversation abruptly, but Miss
Blake was a determined young lady.
She continued:
"OfN course, it was very magnanim-
GUS of you to always step aside in
favor of your best friend; but it isn't
fair to yourself-it really isn't. And
SO I have arranged a little plan where
by you can do something to prove
your prowess, and still not interfere
with Mr.. Covington in the least"
Speed cleared his throat nervously.
"Tell me-" he said, what it is."
And Miss Blake told him the story
Of the shocking treachery of Humpy
Joe, together with the miserable un-
doing of the Flying Heart. "Why,
those poor fellows are broken.heart-
ed" she concluded. "Their despair
over losing that talking-machine
would be If it were not so tragic. 1
told them you would win it back for
them. And you will, won't you?
Pleased" She turned her blue eye
upon him appealingly, and the young
man was lost.
It'll take ten chances" he said.
where does the rattle come OFF,"
"Oh, it isn't a rattle, it's a foot-race.
You must run with that C%entipede
cook"
II! Run a race!" exclaimed the
young college man, aghast.
Eyes, I've promised that you would.
You see, this isn't like a college event,
and Culver isn't here yet"
"But he'll be here in a day or So"
Speed felt as If a very large man were
choking him; he decided his collar
was too tight.
ooh, I've talked it all over with
Jean. She doesn't want Culver to
run, anyhow"
why not?" inquired he, suspicious.
ly.
II don't know, I'm sure"
IF Miss Chaplin doesn't want Culver
to run, you surely wouldn't want me
to-"
"Not at all. If Mr.. Covington knew
the facts of the case, he would be
only too happy to do 1t. And. you
see. you know the facts"
Speed was about to shape a gracious
but firm refusal of the proffered honor
when Still Bill Slower appeared at the
steps, dotted his faded Stetson, and
bowed Imply.
"Mornin'. Miss Blake" To the rear
Speed saw three other men-an In
dian, tall, swart, and s%aturnine, who
walked with a limp; a picturesque
Mexican with a spangled hat and sill.
yer spurs, evidently the captor OF
Lawrence Glass on the evening previ.
GUS; and IN understood little man
with Undermined spectacles and q