The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-10-12
COEO2ED
GLASSES
g
BY r. II. WILKINSON
ASSOCIATED Newspapers-WNU Service.
Bv r. Fl. WILKINS
Associated Newspapers-wNU Service

r. started the man wearing the
colored glasses had been
watching Rupert. He sat on
bench on the sidelines, racket and
tennis balls at his feet, sweater
draped over his shoulders, arms
folded. That part of his face which
was visible was void of expression,
but even though there had been a
smile on his lips Rupert wouldn't
have noticed. For he was conscious
Of nothing but the mans eyes, the
colored glasses, staring at him like
two empty holes, watching his every
move, following his every stroke.
Such things are apt to prove ex-
tremely annoying. Especially If you
are inclined to be self-conscious and
uneasy when under close scrutiny.
Before the set was half finished, Ru-
pert was angry. He was angry be-
cause the man with the colored
glasses was affecting his game. De-
feat, and it appeared now that de-
feat was inevitable, could be attrib-
uted to nothing except those two
staring blank eyes. It was eXas-
perating. Vehemently, Rupert
served his second ball and watched
it kick up dust outside the sidelines
on the opposite side of the net
''Double fault" sang out Eddie
AshWorth. @
Rupert gritted his teeth.
He could see the faint smile on
Eddie's lips, and this, too, was an
noying, because he had made bet
with Eddie that he could beat him
at tennis without half trying. Not
only was $50 at stake (and Rupert
couldn't spare $50 very handily) but
Rupert's honor was in the balance.
The man with the colored glasses
had arrived while Rupert and Eddie
wererallying, preliminary to starting
their wager set. He had deposited his
equipment on the ground and sat
down and begun staring at Rupert.
At first Rupert felt a little fiat
tered. To be watched so closely by
one who, if equipment and appear
ances had any meaning, was an
adept in the sport, was, he felt,
something of compliment.
But when the game started and
the colored glasses continued to
watch him steadily, the first sensa-
tons of annoyance began to assert
themselves.
Hang it, why couldn't the fellow
watch Eddie occasionally? Didn't he
know it was impoiite to stare?
More and more Rupert became
conscious of the pair of empty eyes
watching him from the sidelines. He
attributed one blunder after another
to their presence.
Frequently he turned and stared
hard and meaningly into the colored
orbs, but all to no avail. They con-
tinued to watch him; gradually they
assumed a critical air; they became
condemning and contemptuous.
Rupert barred his teeth and
crouched, waiting for Eddie's serve.
1t came. A low swift ball that
skipped across the clay just inside
the white lines Rupert swung at it
fiercely and sWore under his breath
as the wood of his racket stopped
the balls progress and sent it spiral
ing into the air and off to the right.
Rupert thought he heard a furtive
litter behind him and whirled. But
the man with the colored glasses
hadn't changed his expression. His
two masked eyes were staring
straight ahead-straight at Rupert.
There was a certain fixed quality
about them now, as if their owner
had come to decision regarding
Rupert's inability and lack of skill.
His lips were slightly parted in an
expression that Rupert interpreted
as an amused grin.
Rupert had a wild impulse to
throw down his racket, stride over
to the man with the colored glasses
and choke an apology from his lips,
teach the chap few manners. But
he restrained. What was the use?
Eddie would only laugh at him and
accuse him of thinking up a poor
excuse for losing the game.
The contest progressed, with Ed
die taking four out of five games.
Nightly, Rupert tried to forget the
man with the colored glasses, tried
to blot him from his mind-tried and
failed. Every time he turned around,
there were the two black eyes look
ing right at him.
Presently Rupert faced his oppo-
nent in the seventh game. If he
lost this one it would mean defeat,
complete and shameful defeat And
all due to the man wearing the col
ored glasses. An abnormal amount
of sweat poured from Rupert's brow.
He felt nervous, unstrung, jittery.
Without even looking now he could
see the two black eyes staring at
him. They rose before his vision,
INSTRUCTED his view of the ball,
danced in front of him when he
ran up to return one of Eddie's
drives.
Savagely he ground his teeth.
Black desire for vengeance rose in
his heart. He heard a thump as
Eddie returned his serve, saw the
ball coming toward him, swung at
it fiercely. Missed Eddie's taunt-
II, n 1ai,ob coy,oe N him QUAR- fLa r,o4