Evening star., 1932-08-21

grab off a victory from the peerless Leighton
and his equally competent partner Miss Julia
Worthington. The latter pair had monopo-
lized the club. city and district titles Tor
several years. They were far from popular ouS
nobody could dispute their ability on the court
FEW minutes later DR.. Jim and Sissy were
n facing Mr. Leighton and Miss Worthing-
ton across the net OF No. court, knocking the
ball back and forth to warm up. As usual, Mr
Leightons greeting to Johnny. and to Freddy
Ring, his own ball boy, had been cold and
brief And before the match had even started,
he had twice reprimanded Freddy for some
fancied fault.
The match started with Mr.. Leighton serving
the first game. He won it. Sissy served next,
and Dr. Jims effective smashes at the net made
the score one-all. Then both Miss Worthing-
ton and Dr. Jim won their services, and Mr..
Leighton served for the second time.
Then came an unexpected break. After
bitter struggle, Sissy and DR.. Jim broke
through and took Mr. Leighton's service.
Johnny was tense with excitement. He saw
that his favorites were playing their best ten
mis-, and he began to hope that they might beat
the champions. Sissy won her service, sending
the score to a in their favor. and when Miss
Worthington and Dr. Jim both took theirs, the
count was 5-3.
and again Sissy and DR.. Jim went after him.
Dr. Jim receiving in the left court, was max
ing effective use of sizzling return deep to
Mr. Leighton's backhand. With the score 80
40 Mr. Leighton moved to his left court 10
serve once more to DR.. Jim. And then occur
red an accident that had far-reaching effects.
1 AR. LEIGHTON, because he had lost the
IVi little finger of his left hand some years
before, held only two balls in that hand when
serving, instead Of the usual three. But as he
moved over to serve to DR. Jim, Johnny. in the
excitement Of the moment, forgot that point
and tossed a third ball toward him.
Mr.. Leighton stopped 1t with his racket,
flashed an annoyed look at Johnny, and then
knocked the ball vciously back against the
screen. It struck there, and slowly rolled back
directly behind the server.
Freddie saw 1t, jumped up to recover it,
saw that Mr.. Leighton was already serving.
and hesitated. The first service was good and
Dr. Jim sent it skimming once more to the
backhand corner
Mr.. Leighton was upon it. But as he made
his stroke. he stepped upon that loose ball
lying in the court, and not only missed his
shot, but described a sprawling arc in the air
and fell full length on the court.
With howl of rage he jumped to his feet.
Suppressing an impulse to laugh, DR.. Jim ran
toward him. But Mr.. Leighton was not hurt.
He was simply terribly angry. He unloosed
stream of profanity at Freddy, and then sud-
denly remembered that Johnny had tossed the
offending ball to him.
whats the matter with you. you idiot?" he
roared "You know only serve with two balls.
Haven't you got enough sense to keep loose
balls Off the court?"
Anger flared within Johnny. but he held his
temper. I'm sorry, MIR. Leighton" he said
briefly.
"Sorry!" beloved the chairman of the club
board you'll be more than sorry for this"
An icy fear clutched Johnny's heart. At that
moment he knew as well as he knew his name
that he would never get to the state tourna-
ment.
(To be continued next Sunday)