The Raymer enterprise., 1923-03-29
William MacHarg
Edwin Balmer
Copyright sy Little. Brown asd Coupaay

'ta''' W 'plilF oNfI. 5hN s'N
down. and they stood together follow.
ing the play.
"You know polo?' Gae questioned
him. as she saw the expression Of
appreciation In his face as player
daringly "rOde-onr' af. antagonist and
saved cross" s.he put the ques.
tlon without thought before she rec.
ognIzed that she was obeying her IA.
ther's instructions.
~ understand the game somewhat"
Eaton replied.
Have you ever playedy"
ut seems to deserve Its reputation
as the summit OF sport" he replied.
He answered SO easily that she
could not decide whether lie was evad-
ing or not; and somehow. just then.
she found II impossible to put the
simple question direct again.
Good. Good. Dom" she cried en-.
Enthusiastically and clapped her hands
as Avery suddenly raced before them.
caught the bail with swinging. back.
handed stroke and drove II 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.
Hes very quick and clever, isn't
her' Harriet said to Eaton.
Eaton nodded. Yes; he's by NIL
odds the most skillful man ON the
field, ! should say"
The generosity OF the praise i'm
PEELED the girl, somehow. TO qunlify Il.
But only two others really have
played mucll-thnt man and that"
"Yes. picked them as the expert.
enced ones" Eaton said quietly
"rhe othcrs-twO "f them, at least
are out for the first time think"
They watched the rapid course OF
the ball MP and down the field. the
scurry and scamper OF the ponies
after IT, then the clash of a melee.
Two ponies went down. and their
riders were flung. When they arose.
one Of the least experienced boys
Iimped apOlogelically from the field.
Avery rode TO the barrier.
81 say, any of you fellows, don't you
want to try It? We're just getting
warmed up"
Avery looked over to Eaton and
gave the challenge direct.
Care to take Chancc?"
Harriet Santolne watched her com.
panIon: a sudden flush had 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 II" he returned.
"lf you want TO plny. you can"
Avery dared him. ''Furden"-that
was the boy who had Just been hurt
"wlll lend you some things; hisll just
about fit you; and you can have his
mounts"
Harriet continued to watch Eaton:
the challenge had been put so as TO
give him no ground for refusal but
timldlty.
"You don't care to!" Avery taunted
him deftly.
"Why don't you try IT,? Harriet
found herself saying TO him
He hesltated. She realized It was
not timidty he was feeling; 1t was
something deeper and stronger than
that. II was fear; but so plainly 1t
was not fear Of bodily hurt that she
moved lnstInctively toward him In
sympathy. He looked swiftly at
Avery, then at her. then away. He
seemed 10 fear alike accepting or re.
fusng to play; suddenly he made a
decision
"Tll play"
He started Instantly away to the
dressing rooms; few minutes later.
when he rode onto the field. Harriet
was conscious that. in some way, Ea-
ton was playing part as he listened
to Averys directions.
Avery appointed himself TO oppose
Eaton wherever possible. besting him
in every contest for the ball; but she
saw that Donald, though he took It
upon himself to show all the other
players where they made their mis-
takes, did not offer any instruction TO
Eaton. One Of the players drove the
ball close to the barrier directly be-
fore Harriet: Eaton and Avery raced
for it, neck by neck. Eaton by better
riding gained little; as they came
up. she saw Donald's attention was
not upon the ball or the play; in
stead, he was watching Eaton closely.
And she realized suddenly that Don
nld had appreciated as fully as her.
self that Eaton's clumsIness was
pretense. 1t was no longer merely
polo the two were playing; Donald.
suspecting or perhaps even certain
that Eaton knew the game, was try
Ing to make him show It, and Eaton
was watchfuIly avoiding this. Just In
front of her, Donald. leaning forward.
swept the ball from in front Of Ea-
tons pOny's feet.
For few moments the play was ell
at the further edge Of the field; then
the ball crossed with long curvins
shot and came hopping and rolling
along the ground close to where she