Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-08

who had everything save the quality Of acqui-
sition. And Doane's father? And Jane Bost-
wick's father?
OF the elder Doane he knew by hearsay-a
proud, intolerant, wholly worldly man. whose
passions, aside from finance, were his son and
Baliol aquaticS. And Jane Bostwicks father
he had known as a boy-a soft-footed, sly.
faced, velvety sort Of man noted for converting
back lots into oil-felds and aShdumpS into
mines yielding precious metals.
I'M DEACON was the man for varsity stroke.
There was not the least doubt about that.
The coach could see it; the varsity could feel
1t; but Of them all Deacon alone knew why.
He knew that Doane was practically as strong
an oar as he was, certainly as finished And
Doanefs experience was greater. The difficulty
as Deacon grasped it was that the boy had not
employed all the material of his experience
The coxswaln, Seagraves. was snappy little
chap, with an excellent opinion of his head.
But Deacon had doubts as to his racing sense.
He could shoot ginger into his men, could lash
them along with fine rhythm, but in negotiat-
ing hard-fought race he had his shortcomings
Deacon thanked no coxswain to tell him how
to row race. when to sprint when to dog
along at a steady, swinging 80; nor did he
dition of rival crew. AS he swung forward
for the CATCH his practice was to turn his head
slightly to one side, chin along the shoulder,
thus gaining through the tail of his eye q
glimpse of any boat that happened to be
abeam slightly ahead or slightly astern. This
glance told him everything he wished to know
Two days before the Shelburne race the
Ballot varsity in its final time-trial came within
10 seconds of equaling the lowest downstream
trial-record ever eStablished-a record made
by Shelburne eight Of the early sos. There
was no doubt in the mind of any one about
the Ballot crew quarters that Deacon would
be the man to set the pace for his university in
the supreme test swiftly approaching.
Dr. Nichols was reticent, but no one could
say that his demeanor was marked by gloom.
Perhaps his optimism would have been more
marked had the information he possessed con-
corning Shelbnrne been less disturbing. AS
matter Of fact there was every indication
that the rival university would be represented
by one of the best crews in her history
which was so say very great deal. In truth.
Ballot rowing enthusiasts had not seen their
shell cross the line ahead of Shelburne varsity
boat in three consecutive years.
"Jim," said the coach drawing Deacon from
the float upon which he had been standing,
watching the antics of a crew of former Ballot
oarsmen who had come from far and wide to
row the mile race Of "Gentlemen's Fights"
which annually marked the afternoon preced-
ing the classic regatta day, Jim, you're not
worried at ALL are you? You're such a quiet
sort Of a chap, can't seem to get you"
Deacon smiled family.
mo- I'm not worried-not a bit sir
mean I'm going to do my BEST and If that's
good enough, why-well, we win"
i want you to do more than your best to-
morrow Jim. It's got. to be a super-efort.
You're up against great Shelburne crew, the
greatest I ever saw-that means IL years back
I wouldn't talk to every man this way, but
I think you're a stroke who can stand re-
sponsibility."
Eyes, sir"
The coach studied him a minute
How do you feel about beating Shelburne?
What mean,' he went on as the oarsman
regarded him, puzzled, sis, would it break
your heart to lose? Is the thought of being
beaten so serious that you can't-that you
won't consider it?"
mo, sir, won't consider it. I don't go
into anything without wanting to come out
p ahead. I've worked three years to get into
the varsity. I realize the position you've given
me will help me, make me stand out after
graduation, mean almost as much as my di-
ploma-provided we can win"
What about Ballot? Do you think of the
college, too, and what victory will mean to
her? What defeat will mean?"
"Oh," Deacon shrugged; ''of course" he went
on a bit carelessly, I'VE want to see Ballot
on top as often" He stopped, then broke
into chuckle as the stroke of the gentlemen'S
eight suddenly produced from the folds of his
sweater bottle from which he drank with
dramatic JUNCTION while his fellow oarsmen
clamored to share the lbaton and the coxs-
vain abused them all.
The eyes of the coach never left the young
mans face. But he said nothing while Deacon
took his fill of enjoyment Of the jovial scene,
apparently forgetting the sentence which he
had broken in the middle.
RUT that evening something of the coachs
- meaning came to Deacon as he sat on a
rustic bench watching the colors fade from