The Dolores star., 1923-03-30
William MacHarg
Edwin Balmer
copyrish, ~ Little. Brow. and cOmp..,

down. and they stood together follow
ing the play.
You know polo?' .he questioned
him. as she saw the expression of
appreciation in his face as a player
daringly "rode-of" ar antagonist and
saved a Gross" ghe put the ques-
ton without thought before she rec
ognized that she was obeying her IA
ther's Instructions.
81 understand the game somewhat,
Eaton replied.
Have you ever playedF'
1T seems TO deserve Its reputation
as the summit OF sport" he replied.
He answered so easily that she
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 ball with a swinging back
handed stroke and drove 1t directly
toward his opponents goal. Instantly
wh!rling 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
he?" Harriet said to Eaton.
Eaton nodded. yes; he's by all
odds the most skillful man on the
field, should say"
The generosity OF the praise i'm
rfrt Il,
But only two others really have
played much-that man and that"
Yes, I 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 It, then the clash OF melee
Two ponies went down. and their
riders were flung. When they arose.
one OF the least experienced boys
limped apoIogetically from the field.
Avery rode to the barrier.
81 say. any OF you fellows, don't you
want to try 1t? We're just getting
warmed up"
Avery looked over to Eaton and
gave the challenge direct.
Care to take a chance"
Harriet Santoine watched her com
panion: 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.
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'll lust
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
timldity.
You don't care to?" Avery taunted
him deftly
"Why don't you try It?" Harriet
found herself saying to him.
He hesitated. She realized 1t was
not timidity he was feeling; 1t was
something deeper and stronger than
that. 1t was fear; but SO plainly IT
was not fear of bodily hurt that she
moved instinctively toward him in
sympathy. He looked swiftly at
Avery, then at her, then away. He
fn
fusing to play; suddenly he made a
decision.
I'll 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 a part as he listened
| to Avery's 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 1t
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 1t, neck by neck. Eaton by better
riding gained little; as they came
up, she saw Donalds attention was
not upon the ball or the play; in
stead, he was watching Eaton closely
And she realized suddenly that Don
aid had appreciated as fully as her
self that EatOns clumsiness was 6
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 1t, and Eator
was watchfully avoiding this. Just II
front of her. Donald, leaning forward
swept the ball from In front of Ea
toms pony's feet.
For few moments the play was al
at the further edge Of the field; theI
the ball crossed with long curvin;
| ahnt ond royno hnnnIpD ond rnIlIp,