Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-25
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IA Then Phil Mathcr frowned at the
~ smooth. frozen lake before him, and at
distant. snow-covered hills with their patches
of green cedars showing. And last OF all Phil
Mather frowned at the boiling clouds above
him. For the wind was wrong.
The Blue Streak had just been dressed up
in a brand-new suit Of sails-all because next
week marked the beginning Of the racing sea-
son. And the Blue Streak had one more yearly
championship to win before the big cup which
graced the mantel of the yacht club would
be Phil Mather's permanently.
And the Blue Streak hadn't yet moved an
inch under her new sails. For days Phil had
been watching the ice anxiously and now, after
the last freeze, and with just the right amount
of snow covering it. the surface was ideal.
But the wind didn't suit him-so Phil Mather
frowned.
Well-no use standing there grousing about
it-he'd make the run and get back. He had
dozen things to do later. There was Sis
silly Christmas party to get ready for-Caroline
to meet. At that last thought Phil Mather's
frown softened.
But as he seated himself at the tiller Phil
Mather thinking about that party of
Julia's Frankly he hated the idiotic clamor
of parties, that is, Sis parties. 1t was Christ
mas eve-sure. But why make such hullaba-
loo about it? Phil had a vague idea that peo-
pie once went about singing carols on Christ
mas eve. Why didn't they do it yet-or some
thing? Phil Mather couldn't remember single
Christmas eve of lis own without party.
Then he thought of Caroline Hendrix-arfd
felt little warm glow within him. Caroline
liked parties, he felt sure. And if she liked
parties-ti.at was that! The Blue Streak
shivered again.
Sold girl! Want to be of, do you? All
right-lets go!''
Phil hauled the mainsail up tight against
the wind and threw the tillar hard over. Like
a bit down they moved off.
Rounding the point, Phil felt the port runner
lift a little. The wind had hauled more to
the west. Great Another half mile and he'd
know something Deliberately he eased the
Blue Streak toward a long patch Of bare. glist-
ening ice. The runners rang. Speed-and
more speed! Great!
They were nearing the head of the lake now
like part Of the wind itself. Phil could see
the curve Of the shoreline. It seemed to be
coming toward him in leaps. Good old Blue
Streak! In moment or two he would have
to haul her up. There a solitary figure
trudging across the ice in front OF hinl-he
could see it plainly. 1t was dragging some
thing
The Blue Streak gave a sudden lurch. Then.
for wild instant, Phil fought the tiller. They
we're zig Tagging drumkenly and the bag of sand
ballast had shifted from its place over the
port runner. 1t was overboard The Blue
Streak reared upward. Phil Mather felt him.
self catapulted along the smooth ice.
Hurt, son?"
mo, sir" Phil grinned sheepishly into the
twinkling eyes above him.
Looked for minute like you intended to
slide on up through the woods" The twinkling
eyes chuckled down on him and Phil stood up.
II must have struck something," he dag
nosed, looking toward the upended Blue Streak
You did, soma half-sunken lcg-See It
there?"
1t was after they had inspected the log that
Phil looked closely at the man beside him. He
saw grizzled, kindly-looking oldster with smil-
ing eyes that watched back into his own And
Phil Mather decided instantly that he liked
this old man who had witnessed his spill.
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