The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-08-29
"Thirty-love."


his own base line. He took a long,
resuscitating breath, a fresh grip
on the racquet. Then, like a
spring, his body coiled and re-
leased, swiftly uncoiled. The ball
went wide. The second ball found
the box. The invincible French
man made it good, however, and
after a spirited volley won the
point.
irty-fifteen."
Again up On toe-and that ter
riff c. spinning service nicking the
white line so the Oh * flew high
in the air. Lefevre bit his lip as
the ball bounded off the retain
ing wall and rolled away ...
"Forty-fifteen" and after long
volley-"Forty- thirty"
A daring cut of a trap-shot.
Len watched, almost amused, as
the French star heartbreakingly
tried for it-and missed 80.
The drone of the referee: 'Mon-
sieur Rollins leads in the fifth set,
six games to five :"
Lefevre must fight now with
his back to the wall. True, the
Frenchman was serving. But Len
preferred it so. The psychology
was all in Lens favor. The man
in the hole was serving. Splendid!
Lefevre had to make his services
good, Or -.
The first ball came and Len
drove it off his forehead to the
far base line. He laughed conf
IDENTIFY to himself as he rushed in,
picked up the return at his feet
on the half-volley, sent it spin
ming along the sideline. Took it
again on the short volley, this
time off his backhand, slashed the
ball at the Frenchman's feet. The
return came back too high, per-
fectly angled for kill.
'Iove-fifteen :"
Four more points. Four little
points. Please God! His body
trembled, but his hand was firm
and sure on the handle of the
racquet.
A double fault! Lefevre saw
him SMILE. The next ball came at
him savagely. He drove it back
and Lefevre's return just inside
the sideline, he could not reach.
"Fifteen-thirty!"
How quiet it was! Lefevre's SER
vice came again, a twisting, trea-
cherous ball this time that boun-
ced high. But Len returned it
safely. The French ace took it
prettily on his backhand, sending
the ball to the deep corner. But
Len was there and angled the
ball to the other corner. Lefevre
got eff a blistering drive which
nicked the line. Len just man.
aged to reach it; his return was
weak. Lefever, eyes cleaning,
came quickly forward with pant
herlike grace. He swung from
above, his racquet a mere flash
in the sunshine.
The ball had all but passed Len
before he had an opportunity to
gauge or time it's flight. 1nstlnc-
lively he thrust out his racquet,
wrist stiff. He felt the vibration OF
the ball squarely striking his rae
quet; it made a singing noise as
it left the gut and dropped inch
es within the base line. Sudden
thunder from the stands. There
was no favorite now. Here was
drama, tennis history in the max
ing!
One point. One point more. One
little point between him and the
Davis Cup Il wish you great
things, Len, in your chosen field"
Suppose, just Grace should sud-
denly step out upon the court
from the packed stands and ask
him to lay aside his racquet?
Would he 49,.
But here it was! The service
which might bring victory and all
that such a victory would mean.
He was confident. His legs did not
feel tired, even after these five
torrid sets. His arms felt strong,
his eyes clear, his wrist sure.
(TO be cOncludeO