Evening star., 1935-11-25

| aOCk was at I1e wheel, htio
he swung the car toward the
road that led 10 the beach.
~ Charles Arnold" said Nancy.
after she had regained her composure,
II think you've gone mad. What in
the world has come over you, working
there with all those horrible looking
men, and making yourself look like a
pig with those old clothes on. No
wonder you wouldn't call for me to-
day. What made you do such thing,
| Chuck?"
He smiled at her for o minute. "It's
sure great to see you again, Nancy.
Don't you remember my telling you
that I had some hard work cut out
for me this Summer? Well, this is
| it."
But, Chuck, don't understand.
Does your aunt know you're working
there? What will our friends
say when they see you in those
clothes, throwing bricks and cement
around? Honestly, feel ashamed Of
you"
You'll get used to it, honey. It
really isn't so terrible. They're q
pretty good lot. those 'spics.'"
| "Those what?"
| "Those workmen on the lob with
me. call them that. Heard the
contractor use that name when he
was bawlin' them out one afternoon.
I rather enjoy it. Nice of you to bring
this lunch along. Tastes good to a
poor laborer like me-"
But you haven't told me yet why
you decided to spoil our whole Sum
mer by doing such thing. Chuck"
That's so, too. haven't, have 7?
-. You see, it's like this. When
McBrair left Colburn, decided right
then and there that was going to
60 out for the team next Fall If IT'S
the last thing I ever do. Since the
Fall Of my freshman year, I've been
losing ground. I mean haven't
taken care Of myself. I've grown soft,
and terribly out Of shape. You know
how things are here at the country
club, and at our dances. We're
always soppin' up alcohol in some
=. form or other. kind Of felt I was
losing my ambition, and my zest for
life. Foot ball used to give me some
thing I never got from tennis or golf,
Something that smacked Of the funda-
mentals of life. You know, earthly
stuff. The struggle for existence: the
fight to live"
Nancy shook her head understand
| hn 81
enthusiastic about anything. Par
ticularly about foot ball. That was
the chief obstacle to amicabiltty at
home, at least so far as Chuck and
her father were concerned. Chuck
kept on talking.
When you were in Europe I was
on board a ship working myself into
condition. never felt better. The
food was sort Of rotten, but it was
solid, wholesome stuff, and know it
did me good. felt close to life, out
there on the sea, sleeping in a cramped
focsle with a lot Of seafarin' tramps
with hearts Of gold and manners of
swine. 1t was great. I never had any
thing like it in my life before.
When came down here to Aunt
Elias I felt. lost. I didn't want to
soften up again and then 60 back to
school and miss out. A years absence
from the gridiron makes q whale Of a
difference, you know, Nancy. So I
took this Job. It's the best exercise
In the world. I'm getting as hard as
rocks and foot ball training will seem
easy again compared with it. I'm
tired in the evenings and I 20 to bed
early. No more country club parties
and no more drinking. That's all the
dope, Nancy. II you feel like giving
me the air I don't blame you"
'You darling boy. Not on your
life. I think it's actually grand.
Father will be thrilled to death to
learn Of 1t when he comes home"
Didn't he return with you?"
Il forgot to tell you. He stayed in
London on business. Won't be back
for several months. I must write him
and tell him, though. He'll be sur
prised to find you're going out for the
team"
"Id really rather you wouldn't tell
him, Nancy. Maybe I'll be q flop. We
had just better let things 60 along
and see how they come out. You can
tell him some other time. Maybe in
the Fall"
Isn't this thrilling? I never
dreamed I'd be meeting you like this.
It's fun though, isn't 1t. I'll do it
every day. I can have Sarah make
up some lunch, and I'll drive around
at noon, just like I did today. But
you must promise me one thing"
whats that?"
"That you'll break your training
rules once In q while SO we can 20
to the Saturday evening dances at the
club"
"You bet will. Nancy"
| It was with q mingled feeling Of
nervousness and jubilance that Chuck
stepped on the gas, after slowing down
through the little village Of Langley
Corners, to begin the last so miles of
the journey back to Colburn. The
balmy September evening air was
intoxicating. The clear white ribbon
Of road ahead was inviting. He
| Watcneu the SpeeoOmeter swing rapidly
up to 80"
Scarcely q soul was stirring when
he reached college. The town looked
desolate, save for light in q window
over q store here and there. The
college buildings loomed like shadows
in the haZy atmosphere. He felt
lonesome. Even his rooming house
was dark. With q few substantial
raps on the door he reused Mrs. Haw-
kins, his landlady.
She hurried to the door and peered
out through the curtain. "Who Is it?"
she asked worriedly.
"It's me, Mrs. Hawkins, Chuck
Arnold"
who? Speak louder, I'm bit hard
Of hearin'"
| "It's Arnold You know. Arnold,