Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-02-23

cost him the inside, anu
Fifty FOUR sang the timer a
Hughes crossed the finish.
"Fifty-fve, LaffertyT
Skeeter had whizzed past only q aec
end later.
Skeeter's Christian name was Fitz
hugh Carter Lafferty. No one knew
who had detected his resemblance to
mosquito. though the discovery hac
been made on the day of his arrival al
the Forest school. But mosquito was
too classic and mouth filling to be pop
ular with the student body" and was
promptly reduced to Skeeter, whilt
rare, intimate friends in rare. intimate
moments were privileged TO say Skeets
But Fitzhugh Carter Lafrerty, for al
this. had failed to beat Hughes. Sc
Hughes would represent the school AT
Washington, And she had gone with
out even saying that she was sorry.
He covered himself In a blanket ano
started for the showers.
zone moment. Lafferty"' called the
coach. Il didn't know you were out
for the 40 You ran a corking good
race for a new man. but you finished
with too much left. The 40 takes all
any man has In him, and to win you've
got to finish dead. I'd rather see you
drop on the Grst lap than come In
strong. You could go another now AMI
not feel It. and Hughes is still blowing
hard"
Skeeter WINGED He wasn't at all In
the mood for postmortems. Clearly
the coach hadn't seen Hughes foul him
on the turn.
Maybe she had seen, That helped
some. 1t was the sole shred OF con-
ISOLATION upon which he could build
new hopes.
The coach laid a hand on his shoul-
der.
That will do Stick to 1t. Skeeter
You'll put kink In somebody's high
gear yet"
What II Hughes wins the point tro-
ply and gives her the medalf" inquir-
ed Skeeter bluntly. hardly conscious OF
speaking aloud his Utmost thoughts.
The coach smiled. who is herr"
he asked
Skeeter grew pink even to his neck
and ears.
"Hu- Hughes" he stammered. Hes
he's my rival"
The coach was still at sea, but prov
ed himself human being by saying
after pause:
Hughes win hardly win; hes
TOO much like hunk Of cheese"
assisted Skeeter.
Skeeter throughout the remaining
days of the week was unable to shake
of a nagging, insistent sense of disap-
pointment. Could he have beaten
Hughes in the trial heat II he had
known what the coach had told him
before the race? Could he have beat
en- If Hughes had played fair? Skeeter
knew that he could. To youth OF
seventeen all things are possible.
Perhaps Skeeter's disappointment
would have been less had he known,
as the coach knew. that Hughes would
not last long as runner. because he
refused to train properly.
Nor did S,seeter realize the benefits
OF his own self denials and sacrifices
for the sake OF athletics.
When Saturday came Shelters tou
sled head was one OF the thousands that
rose In an undulating mass on every
side of the vast amphitheater surround
Ing the track.
There was SO much to see that 1t
made Skeeters eyes hurt 1t was worse
than trying to watch a three ringed
circus.
Leather lunged. brass throated
youths swarmed along the course.
shouting and yelling: scores OF scanti-
ly clad runners scurried about with
numbers pinned to their backs. and
Shelters trained eye inspected dozens
and dozens of pretty girls.
Excitement and confusion were in
the atmosphere. The sonorous voice
OF the megaphoned clerk echoed and
vibrated through the hall. Occasion
ally the starters pistol spoke above
the din Of the cheering.
Then came the hush. the patter of
running shoes on the resined floor and
the GREATNESS instant at the finish. In
only twinkling. it seemed to Skeeter.
a race was won or lost
He unconsciously ran each OF them.
At the sound of the gun his muscles
grew taut, and his fingers gripped the
seat. During the intervals between
the events his eye scanned tier after
tier of seats. He found her al last.
She was sitting in box. surrounded
by swarm Of Forest school cohorts.
armed with banners and megaphones.
and Hughes. immersed in an imposing
orange sweater, was leaning toward
her in most engaging manner
Skeeter grew pale with envy as he
realized that he had been beaten again.
Then he muttered:
HE looks like hunk Of schweit-
xer.'