The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-04-06
William MacHarg
Edwin Balmer
copyrish, by Little. Brown and COmDaa,
"Haye YOU ever played?"

''Have you ever played?'
'Tt seems 70 deserve its reputation
as the summit of sport" he replied.
He answered so easily that she,
could not decide whether he was evad-
ing or not and somehow, just then,
she found it impossible TO put the
simple question direct again.
Good Good Don't" she cried en-
Enthusiastically and -clapped her hands
as Avery suddenly raced before them,
caught the ball with "a swinging, back
handed stroke and drove it directly
toward his opponents goal. Instantly
whirling his mount. Avery raced away
after the ball, and with another clean
stroke scored goal. Everyone about
cried out in appreciation.
He's very quick and clever, isn't
hep Harriet said to Eaton
Eaton nodded. Eyes; he's by all
odds the most skillful man on the
field, l should say"
The generosity of the praise i'm
PEELED the girl. somehow. TO qualify it.
but only two others really have
played much-that man and that"
yes. L picked them as the expert
enced ones" Eaton said quietly.
THE others-two of them, at least
are out for the first time. / think"
They watched the rapid course of
the ball up and down the field. the
scurry and Scamper of the ponies
after ii. then the clash of melee.
Two ponies went down, and their
riders were flung When they arose,
one of the least experienced boys
limped apologetically from the field.
Avery rode TO the barrier.
Il say, any of you fellows, don't you
want to try it? We're just getting
warmed up"
Avery locked over TO Eaton and
gave the challenge direct.
Care to take a CHANGER
| Harriet SantOine watched her COM
| panion; sudden flush hatl come TO
his face. which vanished, as she
turned, and left him almost pale; but
| his eyes glowed. Avery's manner in
| challenging him. as though he must
refuse from fear of such fall as he
| just had witnessed, was not enough
to explain Eaton's start.
'How can 2" he returned
IF you want TO play, you can
Avery dared him. ''Furden"-that
was the boy who'had just been hurt
"will lend you some things; his'Il just
about fit you; and you can have his
mounts"
Harriet continued to watch Eaton
the challenge had been put so as tc
give him no ground for refusal but
timidity.
"You don't care to-" Avery taunteC
him deftly.
"Why don't you try it?" Harrie
found herself saying to him.
He hesitated.< She realized it wa
not timidity he was feeling; it wa
something deeper and stronger thar
that. 1t was fear; but so plainly /
was not fear of bodily hurt that sh,
moved instinctively toward him il
sympathy. He looked swiftly a
Avery. then at her, then away. HI
seemed to fear alike accepting or re
fusing to play; suddenly he made
decision.
"I'll play"
!, He started instantly away to tn
dressing rooms; few minutes later
when he rode onto the field. Harrie
was conscious that, i'm some way, Es
= | vlar or-t ha
, to Avery's directions.
, Avery appointed himself to oppos
Eaton wherever possible, besting hiI
: in every contest for the ball; but sh
: saw that Donald, though he took
:. upon himself to show all the othe
takes. did not offer any instruction
Eaton. One of the players drove til
!, ball close to the barrier directly b.
fore Harriet; Eaton and Avery race
!, for it. neck by neck. Eaton by bette
riding gained little; as they can
up. she saw Donald's attention ws
not upon the ball or the play; i
stead, he was watching Eaton closet
And she realized suddenly that Do
aid had appreciated as fully as he
self that EatOn's clumsiness was
pretense. 1t was no longer mere
polo the two were playing Donal
suspecting or perhaps even certa
that Eaton knew the game, was tr
ing to make him show it, and Eatt
was watchfully avoiding this. Just
front of her, Donald, leaning forwar
swept the ball from in front of Z
toms pony's feet.
For few moments the play was ,
at the further edge of the field; tn
the ball crossed with a long curvi
shot and came hopping and rolli
along the ground close to where s
stood. Donald and Eaton raced for
"Stedman ~ Avery called TO tea
mate to prepare to receive the b
after he had struck it; and he lift
his nallet TO drive the ball away fro
in front of Eaton. But as Aver,
club was coming down, Eaton, like
flash and apparently without lift
his mallet at ALL caught the ball
- sharp, smacking stroke. 1t leaped II
a bullet. straight and true, toward I
goal, and before Avery could turn, i
ton was after it and upon it. but
adj did not have TO strike again it boul
be ed on and on between the gOal-pos
nv while together with the applause
.se the stranger arose laugh eat the
al pense of Avery. But as Donald hall
to before her, Harriet saw that he v
as not angry or discounted, but v
on smiling triumphantly to himself; q
ed as she called in praise to Eaton WI