The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-03-11
The Head
Start
BY FAIRFAX DOWNEY

| thdt yOulH an uuCOHlOridDit beHcu
ton, as if he had eaten too much at &
picnic.
1--WE done right by you, Stick" de
clared Trainer Jake. give worked
hard and earnest on you. You got the
build, you got the strength, you got
Priest ! you amt got getaway. Every
time you get left at the post.
THE NEST tomorrow with Clay is
about the last chance l give you. Try
and jump the gun-just once. If you
try thar. you may start on time after
ALL"
And with that nasty dig, Trainer
Jake took himself away
That night Stickney Mcyey awoke
from sound sleep to find his bed
surrounded by sinister figures in the
robes and cowls of monks. BY their
insignia, he knew he was the recipient
of visitation from that fraternity, an
honor highly coveted at Enfield col
lege.
The boy in bed broke the silence
with, Kind of late aren't your
'Lateness is not Inappropriate in
visit to you" the spokesman declared,
and in his words there seemed to be
malice aforethought.
Then the hooded figures spoke in
unison: Rise, base worm; grid thy
self and come forth to trial by COM
bat, boiling in oil, and other ordeals
to test if thou be worthy"
"Say, you better let me off tonight"
Stickney protested. I'm in training,
you know. Meet with Clay tomorrow.
Got to run the hundred"
1.-THE neophyte seems to think"
sneered the leader, that his presence
In the meet will make some difference.
We had not noticed that it had in the
past. We come now to take over your
training"
That night Stick McVey ran as he
never ran before and hoped never to
run again. The event he ran was the
gauntlet. Four strong-armed Mu Nus
were at the start of every sprint,
when Stick crouched for the start
Being equipped with paddles, they in
sured the continuation of the impulse.
and at the finish were more brethren
who INDUCED in slaps of congratula
ton. Finally the initiate did a fast
sprint TO his room, locked and barri
caded the door and composed his
weary, smarting body to slumber
1t was so funny that even the
crowds in the Enfield stands had to
laugh when their star pole vaulter's
pole snapped just as he was clearing
what would have been the winning |
height. The ludicrous fashion with |
which he crashed through the bamboo |
cross bar and the surprised express
sion on his face when he Lit sud- |
denly in the pit were comical indeed. |
But when that event gave a margin of |
points TO the rival Clay team, the de-
bacle lost its power to amuse.
Stick McVey, stepping none too
springily toward the starting point of |
the 100-yard dash, felt many a pair of
eyes on him. He WINGED, for he real
lied that now his colleges hopes Of
victory rested largely on him. He'd
jump that gun, he would. What did
he care if the starter called them all
back? 1t would show 'em he wasn't
going to be late this time. No more
trailing and finishing fourth for him.
And then as he dug his spikes in
the starting holes, Stick knew with
horrible certainty that he was not
going to be able to jump the. gun.-not
even with the grueling training the
Mu Nus had administered the night
before to put fighting spirit in him.
habit was too strong. He
knew in his heart that just as he was
deciding to beat the starters gun by
a split second, the darn thing would
20 off and he would lurch forward too
late, in the dust of the field.
Before he started he was a beaten
man.
Ready" ordered the starter Eight
runners rose from their launches and
caught their light, sure balances with
hands resting on the cinder track.
Get set" The crouching bodies
If the eight bent forward; every
muscle at Its utmost tensity and
nerves strung tight for the crack of
he pistol.
In the bark of that weapon was lost
he gentle crack of an air rifle fred
rom the track house, directly in rear
If the starting point. The concealed
was Trainer Jake Jones.
Stickney McVey sprang forward as
f he had been shot AS a matter of
act, he had been.
He must have covered five yards or
% with his first leap and on the sixth
lie hit his stride. His well-muscled
EGGS pounded up and down like the
'istons Of a smoothly racing engine.
1t was pretty race, the 100-yard
lash the stands saw that day. II
'nly the fleeing, thrilling picture
.ould have been more lasting The
watches caught them at only two
ifths over ten seconds. Chest out,
lead back. Stick Mcvey broke the
ape. gasping for breath No Clay
ollege man had better than seen his
eels, and it was his own Enfield
who had crossed the line