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

nose, the fans had all stood up and
slapped each others backs in a deli
rum of happiness.
Kieran tossed and tossed.
1t had come so quickly he couldn't
get over it.
He had worked 80 carefully this
Spring He had been so faithful, he
had been 500 good. Yes, that was
It, so good!
And all that time he had thought he
was getting in fine fettle. He had
thought himself due for a big come
back. While, as a matter of fact. he
was all through.
In a sudden wave of self-pity he
turned his face into the whiteness of
the pillow.
LIE had no heart for work in the
= morning. He asked McManus for
a day off.
Sure" said the manager. THAT s
all right. May do you good"
Kieran thought that he now knew
with certainty the reason for the man
ayers large tolerance. All morning he
stroiled and moped. He decided that
he would not go down to the beach.
and having decided it, found himself
there. Well, he'd take a little run,
anyway, In a secluded nook OF the
beach. He kept himself to such part
of the beach, away from the place
where he had met that boy. But 1t is
not only a sore tooth which possesses
horrible fascination. Kieran finally
was trotting in the fatal vicinity.
The rounded one was there, pranc-
ing about heavily.
Hello" he said with bis childish
familiarity. Hello! Let's have a lit
tie racer"
Hope began to stir within Johns
heart. He considered a moment.
IAN right" he said.
would you like little more handi-
cap?" asked the odious one politely.
"a yard Is enough" Kieran grunted.
you start US"
John did. And threw into his sprint
all of the despairing dregs of last
strength which one rallies in final
bouts with Fate. But Fate. in the
form of the chubby one, reversed no
verdict. Again Kieran felt himself
stand still, then slide backward. and
at the so yards was FIVE behind the
broad back.
"ShalI we have another" the ami.
able executioner asked.
Nope, I'm through" growled John,
finding 1t impossible to be courteous:
He felt through; more so than his
tone had shown. As he toiled up the
hill toward the hotel he felt a hun
dred years old. He could not face his
mates at dinner. SO he went on to
bad cafeteria and bad, lonely dinner.
Returning, he slipped by them to his
room. And to another miserable
night.
What should he do? And the
circle-cigar.stand, insurance, Pop
Hardy. And Hazel-how would he
keep her in school?
1t had come so suddenly. 1t was
only a little while ago-why, IT was
but yesterday--he had begun in the
big league. All spring and youth and
strength And now he was Old. NO
legs. Anyone able to beat him.
That was Life, of course.
What a rotten thing, Life.
When he came down to breakfast. a
little late, his eyes were sunken, and
his cheeks. Outside, along the front
of the hotel, chairs tilted back against
the wall, line of his mates, together
with a few of the newspaper men VINO
accompanied the squad, were waiting
for their breakfasts to digest little
before putting on uniforms and start
ing for the park. John tried to slip
by them, but was caught. Hello,
Scoops, come and sit with us, said a
voice.
He did not care whether ne sat or
stood. Not much was said. Say fell
lows one OF the newspaper men called
out suddenly, Charley Devore is in
town."
For time, nobody answered the
announcement Then Willie Seegar.
rightfielder, was heard. I'm bite, ;"
said Willie. who is Charley De-
vore?'
There We're a few outlaws from the
better informed, and the newspaper
man said:
You don't know who Charley De-
wore is? He's the sprinter. The
greatest Splinter that ever lived,
guess--that's all he ISL
Every one seemed too lazy to say
anything at that,
well, he's in town." the newspaper
man resumed. "A round, rumpy fell
low. Round-faced, round all over
you'd never think he could rum"
WELL" said Willie can he?"
Can he rum said the newspaper
man, scandaiized. HE runs the hun
bred yards in nine three-that's all.
Two other men have ever run 1t In
nine three-one once, and Howard
Drew did 1t three times. But Devore
has done 1t eight times. He seems to
run In nine three whenever he wants
TO. He has been caught by some
watches in nine two. He's the greatest
runner that ever was. Any of you
seen him rum
After a moment there came scat
tered volley of "nopes."
We'll, he runs like a hippo. No
form at ALL Waddles from side TO side.
tears up big hunks of turf-and beats
them all. Leaves most of them stand
ing. Why, take a fellow who runs in
ten two. Ten two Is darned fast. A
base ball man who runs in ten two is
fast. Well, this fellow, Charley De-
wore, would beat him almost ten yards
in the hundred. Ten yards-just think
of it. Five yards in fifty
He did not know that, by his side,
heart was beating almost TO its
owners suffocation. HAS he got red
hair?" asked the owner of the heart.
Red hair? No. Let me see--I think
he has sandy hair. Yes. sandy hair.
No--now wait just minute. BY Jove.
think he does have red hair
4 Il X
A CHAIR crashed TO the sidewalk
We'll. so long. everybody. growl-
ed John Kieran.
n{e ,,,,roa nd ,1,tt -,