Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-03

his suit, and then wondered why he
had done that. How ever would he be
able TO stand practice at the ball park
How ever would he be able to stand
the long morning at all?
He managed to do so, however, and
In the afternoon was on the beach with
his swimming suit. He was early no
one was on the beach. But. after IL
while. there came on the trot the red
haired, chubby one. Have little
race?" said kieran.
Sure said the chubby one.
They ran--with exactly the same re
, suit as that Of the day before and the
day before that. But this time. just as
the chubby one was crossing the line.
John marked the tuft of grass which
he. John. was passing at the time
to which, rather, he seemed pasted.
Returning, he paced off the distance
between the tuft of grass and the bull
whip kelp, which was the finishing
line.
The distance was not quite Ave PAGES
1t was not five PAGES at all-only about
four and a half? The stranger had
been beating him. not five yards in
the so only four and half.
Say. who are you, anyway" John
asked. with beating heart.
The chubby one smiled his guileless
SfIlllS-dIfu john COulu sec tHdb hC hob
been trying to draw that question all
of the time. I'm Charley Devore,
he said modestly.
John walked back to the grass tuft.
and once more paced off the distance
between the grass tuft and the bull
whip kelp. BY jove, it was only four
yards and half.
| He returned to the red-headed one.
so. you are Charley Devore?" he said,
with content in his heart.
| I'm that guy" said the red-headed
| one.
THE sprinter. Ell? Not some other
Devore, eh?"
"No, I'm the runner, all right. Nine
three" #N
He was smiling that innocent smile
of his. and John suddenly found him.
self glowing with affection for him.
| He had heard-always with great dis
gust-that Frenchmen sometimes kiss
| each other. Suddenly. for the flicker
OF an instant. he almost understood
how a man might kiss man. Say"
he blurted out, I'm sure glad you're
the guy what you are! Say. I've never
been so glad to have any fellow be
what he is and not somebody else
! THE next day, when John took his
run along the beach, the Splinter
was gone. In few days, the Maroons
would make their start homeward.
On the morning of the last day.
John found himself sitting next TO
MeManus.
Say" the manager spoke suddenly
SAY. John, you're going to have a
good year, / think"
"A good year-what do you mean,
good year," John spared.
Il mean good year! You've been
sha ping up nice. Your legs are all
there. Last year-well, they were be-
ginning to look like the old skids. But
you sure have made a comeback. The
old legs are looking good as ever.
You're going to have a good year.
John
A lump came to Johns throat. and,
before he knew it, he was out with
things he had meant to keep to him.
self. Say. Mac. I've been having
rotten time. certainly've been
having a rotten time.'
What's the matter, john"
"Oh, nothing. l just went up
against DevOre-you know-down
was any championships thought he
was some dub. | ran him little race,
and he beat me bad. Four yards and
half in the so. Say, | sure did feel rot
ten. Thought was all in-till found
out who he was"
''Old geezer, I'm sorry" said Mac.
''If I'd known you'd worry, l wouldn't
have done it,"
Done what, Mace"
"Sicked him onto you. You see. /
did that. He was in town on a little
visit, and / thought it'd be fun to sick
him on you and find out how you were
running. So l did. He says you're
fast"
John was silent for long moment.
Say, I'd like to bust you one in the
nose" he decided at length, after full
consideration.
But he did not do this. Instead, he
sent off a wire. The wire read:
Dear Hazel: I'm going to have
good year"
Which was a foolish wire. For the
slim slip of girl did not know that
her father worried over bad years. or
good years. or years at all. All years
were good to her-except that they
were terribly slow in getting by. She
was only IA and wanted to be is.