Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-08
Z An0 Henry Prize Story By Perry

lieved that this grueling contest had been
worked out.
And now Deacon exalted by something Nance
less, uttered a cry and began to give TO Ballot
more than he really had Surely, steadily, he
raised his stroke while his comrades, like the
lion-hearts they WERE took it up and put the
sanction Of common authority upon it. Thirty
four! Thirty-sixi Not the squirt of physical
prowess, but of indomitable mentality.
up '7e comet Seagraves' voice was shrin
like bugle He could see expressions Of stark
fear in the faces Of the rival oarsmen. They
had given all they had to give. had given enough
to win almost any race. But here In this race
they had not given enough.
LESS than quarter Of a mile, boys In
the stretch. Now-my God!"
Following the coxSwains broken exclamation,
Deacon felt an increased resistance upon his
blade.
"Innis has carried away his oarlock." The
eyes OF the coxswain strained upon Deacons
face.
Deacon gulped Strangely a picture Of his
father filled his mind. His face hardened
"Au right! Tell him to throw his oar away
and swing with the rest Don't move your
rudder now. Keep 1t straight as long as you
can"
From astern the sharp eyes of the Shelburne
cox had detected the accident to Ballots Num-
UCI DIX his VOICE was cnatCeElng SCTiueNtly.
Deacon, now doing the work practically Of
two men, was undergoing torture which shortly
would have one of two effects. Either he would
collapse or his spirit would carry him beyond
the claims Of overtaxed physique One stroke
two strokes, three strokes-a groan escaped his
lips. Then so far as personality, personal
emotions, personal feelings were concerned, Jim
Deacon ceased to function He became merely
part of the mechanism of great effort the
principal guiding part.
And of all those rowing men of Ballot only
the coxswain saw the Shelburne boat creeping
up slowly, inexorably-eight men against seven
For nearly quarter of a mile the grim fight
was waged.
Ten strokes more. boys!"
THE PROV Of the Shelburne shell was ON
line with Ballots Number Two
"One-two-three-four- The bow >of faseS<
Shelburne boat plunged up abeam Ballots bow
oar.
"Ffve-six-God, boys!-seven-"
The voice OF the coxswain swept upward In q
shrill scream. A gun doomed; the air rocked
with the screech and roar of whistles
Slowly Deacon opened hisseyes. Seagrayes.
the coxswain, was standing UP waving his
megaphone. Mechanically Deacon's hand
sought the water, splashing the body of the
man in front Of him. Then suddenly mahog-
any launch dashed alongside. In the bow was
large man with white mustache and faorid
face and burning black eyes, His lips were
drawn In broad grin which seemed an
anomaly upon the face of Cephas Doane. If so
he Immediately presented a still greater
anomaly. He laughed aloud
"Poor old Shelburnel I-Georgei The first
In four years! I never saw anything quite IKE
that. We've talked Of Ballots rowing-spirit--
en-! Here, you Deacon, let me give you hand
out Of the shell. Wen run you back to
quarters"
Deacon, wondering was pulled to the launch
and then suddenly stepped back, his Jaw fall
ing, his eyes alight as a man advanced from
the STERN
<'Dad!"
"Yes," chuckled Doane I'VE came I'D to-
gether-to celebrate"
"You mean-you mean" Jim Deacon,s
voice faltered.
eyes. I mean Cephas Doane stoppedp
suddenly. 81 think in justice to my daughter
in-law to be. Jane Bostwick, that some explana-
ton is In order"
Eyes. SIR" Deacon. his arm about his fathers
shoulder, stared at the man.
"You see, DR.. Nichols had the idea that Won
needed finer edge put on your rowing spirit.
So got Jane to cook up the story about that
cashier business at the bank"
"You did"
Yes. OF course, your father was appointed.
The only trouble was that Jane. bright and
clever as she is. bungled her lines"
"Bungled!" Deacon's face cleared. THAT'S
what DR.. Nichols said about her on the road.
the day bucked out remember the word
somehow"
"She bungled, yes. She vas to have made
1t very clear that by winning you would escape
my alleged wrath-or rather, your father would.
knew you would row hard for Ballot, but
thought you might row superhumanly for your
father"
Well" Jim Deacon flushed, then glanced