Evening star., 1927-05-29

stop himself. He wanted to hurt
her feelings.
Its just what?" he asked
She gave him a look SO tender that
his first impulse was to take her. in
his arms, and the next to make her
cry.
It's just that, il you stick to ten
mis-, you might win in straight sets,
she said. "He's never been up against
that half-volley attack of yours. He
likes to stand back and exchange long
drives until he gets a real opening
He'll find out yo can stand inside
your base line and beat him at that
game. And then he'll have to come
in, and he isn't as good as you are al
the net, and"
Il know all that" Johnny said dan
gerously. But that isn't what we're
talking about. What we are talking
about is what to do for that low
comedy stuff of his--that stuff he
pulled this afternoon-and that wor
for him, too"
"It only won for him because Regi
nald got mad"
"Why wouldn't he get mad? Why
wouldn't anybody get mad at that
tomfoolery and delaying the game and
making the crowd laugh?'
But IL Reginald had just ignored
itv' Muriel protested.
"How could he ignore it? There he
was. going like house atire and only
a minute to go. and this long-legged
low comedian stops the game while he
sits on the ground and makes mon
key of himself. Reginald had to dc
something about it or get mad, that's
ALL"
What would you have done
johnny" she asked gently.
II don't know" Johnny yelled, "but
I wouldn't have just stood there and
taken it,"
81 think you could just stand there
and take it, Johnny"
"Then you're a little fool" Johnny
said.
For a moment Johnny stood there,
shocked at his own rudenesS. and won
dered whether she was going to crown
him with the racquet she had under
her arm or burst into tears.
VERY well,' she said with suspi
cious gentleness.
"You are" Johnny said.
every WE'LL" Muriel said again.
Johnny turned on his heel and
walked off. He kept on walking
and figh ing off the impulse to run
after her and beg her pardon until he
was very late for dinner. She wasn't
in the dining room. He couldn't find
her anywhere.
AT o'clock he went to bed. He lay
awake, wondering how he had got
spent an hour writing a note telling
her just how he felt.
At IL o'clock he tore up the note
and went back to bed.
At IL o'clock he decided he had
ruined his chances Of beating the
count by getting himself into such
state of mind, and If he couldn't beat
the count she would never speak to
him again, so he might as well get up
and go out somewhere. At 12:05
o'clock he fell asleep and knew moth
ing at all for nine solid hours.
He awoke feeling unaccountably
happy. After a large and leisurely
breakfast, he strolled out on the We.
randa. Muriel was sitting in long
chair with the morning newspaper.
"Holloa," he said. as If nothing had
happened. - -
reading. Johnny found a chair, hauled
it alongside and sat down.
"Interesting?" he asked.
every" she said. ''I'u give 1t to
you in minute"
"Why not read it out loud?"
"It's Charlie Partridge's study OF
that match yesterday" she explained.
HE says you've got chance to win
today"
Read it." Johnny said.
Muriel began to read aloud:
'If Johnny Wicket keeps his head
this afternoon. he will beat the count
Won Knaak. But that is an unlikely
if Johnny is too young and too
brash. Or, If you like it the other way
round, the count Is too wise bird for
young Johnny"
Muriel paused and looked up at him.
"I'd rather not read any more" she
said. I'm afraid it'll make you mad. ="
Nothing could make me mad this
morning." Johnny said. (which re.
minds me that I am awfully sorry I
was so nasty last night. I didn't
mean 1t. I-I-I-" he stopped. He
had meant to carry off his apology
with an air. But he couldn't.
tits all right" she said, as If she
meant 1t.
For a moment he could have kissed
her. But the moment passed. He was
suddenly too humble.
Read the rest" he said.
Muriel began to read again:
"The time has gone by when there
is any, decisive difference Of stroke
among the first fight Of tennis play.