Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-18

bv him. the Indian suddenly felt, ami
a weakness came behind the buster.
AIN right - play, wau'pnn'tUck,
was all he said, but Hardy knew that
he had succeeded. that his quiet de-
termination had gone straight down 10
the fear OF defeat that turks in every
moor sportsman. and stirred 1.-THE
greatest handicap that man can have
on entering competition
Yet the onlookers did not know, fol
little by little Their righteousness TO
ward Hardy came back, and faith in
Little Foot reemerged mistaken.
taunt. only half aloud was cast. laugh
ter again.
A man said quickly Take his
money. Fred"
From his first shot the Indian
showed a change in play Durins the
other game he had gone carefully. eau
tiously. with degree OF precision that
was astonishing TO the physician.
Bui now he neglected 10 take time.
seemed 10 be just bit off balance, in
decision marked his choice, and his
biidse-hand trembled noticeably.
For The first half-dOzen shots Little
Fool led and Hardy played poorly
but 1t was with purpose.
He felt out the rough table. the poor
balls, the badly balanced cue, and
studied The lay of the balls TO recall
an he had learned of The game in
those days when he played seriously,
at times desperately, to find relaxa-
ton; more, he wanted the Indian 10
gain a shor, lead
With those plans accomplished, he
polished the cue with his handkerchief
TO remove the .stickinesss..tsetl had &C
cumuiated from many unwasAed hands
land leaned low over the table.
| Deliberately, almost hestatingly, he
| shot, and ball after ball found its
! pocket.
He said no word beyond indicating
his intended play. and his eyes never
/ left the table, though at times the
! prompting 10 turn and meet those
! gaGes which bore on him mercilessly
was all but greater than hi power oil
concentration. leE@
Little Foot'5 lead dwinded, melted,
| anf Hardy went ahead.
| When he had finished the run which
put him in the lead his opponent has
! tened 10 shoot and miscued. The
boy banged his cue on the floor and
swore loudly: a nervous laugh crack
1 led around the table.
"He can't win, Fred; he amt wide
enough between the eyes called the
taunter, and laughter rose to a shout.
But Hardy was pocketing balls again
while the boy at the slate marked ir-
/ regularly upon it rapid record Of the
games pogress, showing how steadily
the doctor crept on the end of his
string.
The smile was gone from Little
Foot's lips: the cigarette lay dead be-
tween them
His eyes did not look up with proud
defiance as they had done during the
other game, and beneath them were
light puifs, put there by unreasoning
an"er, the very fact that he had
ceased TO look about him was signifi.
cant.
Comments from the crowd ceased
them: in few bursts of laughter "a
new zone was detachable.
Before they realized it the end was
in sight. Hardy, playing in luck, find
ing that his familiarity with the game
had not departed, went on and on,
/ relcntlessly.
The Indian boy was no match for
him, never had been, good player
though he was rated in Kiheka
Hardy was winning a sure-thing bet
and, Oh thought of il, was fearful lest
he be misjudged before he could show
Them his true motives for being there.
With an easy run he went out, while
the mufmurs lose to loud wondering
talk about him. and he saw instead Of
cunning in the eyes which bore upon
him the light of admiration
So quick are such TO shift their al.
leeiance--so small and petty are the
influences which play upon them with
effect.
Twenty minutes before those fell
lows had mouthed delightfully."- the
idea that Little Foot was to beat and
take money from this newcomer OF
whom they had made such sport and
now the young physician had become
their idol, while Little Foot, who had
clustered and bulliod his way into Il
position from which he could inspire
awe. tried TO arouse sympathy as he
stood, back to Hardy, cursing and
explaining
Then The loose.lipped youth was
pressing money into Hardy's palms
with uncouth congratulations.
Al the touch the doctor felt re.
vulsion and wanted TO jerk his hand
away, b,A his fingers closed over The
bills and silver. he leaned his cue
against the table, and started around
toward Little Foot, Il kindly, benevo-
lent light in his eyes.
The Indian saw his approach. lie
whirled, and the bronze OF his face