The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-01-18
CHAPTER CONTINUED

crOWu, because DuNdl was cuSih5 I"
the right. He moved slowly, awk-
wardly, at the cost of great effort, on
toward the center of the log. Was he
trying one more trick? Not likely. A
man under such a strain does not at
tempt strategy not fair strategy.
AS he progressed an inch at a time
Elliott courtered by also creeping
toward the center so his end might not
dip beneath the surface.
Both men had their arms extended
and Elliott's grin had faded to a sort
of curious smile, speculative alert
ness. Close and closer they came
together and then, as their extended
hands were all but touching, Duval
suddenly f1ecked his right wrist in
pass at Elliott's left hand.
"Ah, tn dirty" But BirdEye's
high scream was cut short by an ON
nous roar. The Bull, facing defeat,
had overstepped all rules. The slight
est touch on the others body would
upset his balance, now, and after FL
lott had proven himself above taking
what was even recognized as fair
advantage, the last vestige of loyalty
to town or whatever it was which had
put men on Duval's side was whisked
away.
On Duvals face was ruthlessness
along with the flush of fatigue and
humiliation. He would be the last
man on that log, though disqualified
for any prize. At any cost he would
stay on that log.
But would he? Elliott, steely quail
ity coming into his grin, retreated I'M
til he was out of the others reach.
The log sank beneath him but he did
not slow his cadence despite the fact
that he ran in water. He loosed the
last reservoir of his energy and by the
way his feet fiickered and clawed and
spurned that log one might well have
believed that until now he had only
played with this crowned king of the
river that flowed past lineup.
Watchers felt their middles aching
as they followed those straining con-
testants. Again the Bull sought to
strike Elliott's extended hand and
missed by inches. His left hand raised
jerkily, up and up. His body tilted.
His great torso was twisting, wrench
ing at the hips, and, seeing this, Elliott
leaped high. came down running, sent
water sloshing back and forth the
length of the stick until with throaty
cry of rage and humiliation, Of hatred
and jealousy, the great Bull, missing a
stride, went sideways and backward,
disappeared beneath the surface of the
pond with a mighty splash and came
up blowing and shaking his black
matched head.
Hats went into the air, then, along
with yips and yells and enthusiastic
oaths as Ben Elliott, painting heavily,
brought the log to stop and, hands
on his knees, stood blowing and grin
ming and watched the man whose title
he had taken swim for the boom sticks.
The Bull skunk quickly toward the
boiler room of the mill, water stream
ing from his pants and sleeves The
pond man threw, out his pike pole and
brought the cedar log to shore and
there Birney, the announcer and mas
ter of ceremonies, greeted Elliott with
a clap on the back and, with the other
hand, thrust roll of currency at him.
Here's your money and you sure
deserve it" he cried, close in Ben's
ear to make himself heard. You'd got
it on a foul, anyhow. Better this way!"
Bird-Eye grasped his hand and shook
it with congratulations as profane as
they were shrilL Others surged around
the victor and Elliott accepted this
homage modestly.
~Luck" he said to one enthusiastic
well-wisher. 81 got the breaks in luck"
Luck be domned!" shrilled Bird
Eye. I'm lick any mon ave me own
old or me own heavy who says twas
luck! You got stuff, me by; you got
guts!" ---
Thanks, chuml" Elliott laughed. Il
hope you don't find me out!"
He shouldered his way slowly to his
pack-sack and. surrounded by his ad-
mirers, with Bird-Eye in the fore,
changed to his shoes again. He had
the usual run of questions to answer
that is the lot of any winner in a
spectacular contest and he did 1t with
that amiable grin, with his marked
modesty and yet with likeable frank
ness.
He looked ABOUT for Don Stuart,
craning his neck to see over the crowd
which was now moving up toward Tin
cups main thoroughfare.
"Who ye mean?" Bird-Eye asked.
"Owld Donny?'
aYeah. Stuart The old buffers
broke, on top of being sick, and want
to look out for him."
A maN at his elbow said cautiously:
TIN afeerd old Don won't do much
gisitin' In Lineup" Bird-Eye turned to
him inquiringly and the man nodded.
Brandon. He found him here while
tn birlin' was goin' on. He's likely
made other arrangements.
Bird-Eye's face reflected concern;