The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-01-20
HANK EASES UP
CHAPTER XIV
BY MORRIS MARKEY

THAT was the way 1t went for the
next two periods. Captain Pugh did
his best. He blew three fouls against
Henry Prentiss, and the Whirlwinds
made good their three free tries for
goal. But that was virtually all their
Bolace. For Henry Prentiss matched
those three, and made three more
Tor good measure.
At the end Of the third period
which was, too, the beginning Of
the 10-minute rest period - Henry
Prentiss received a splendid ova-
7 ton from the stands, most par
! tlcaularly from those delighted
spectators who had bet on the
. Clover side to win.
! He bounced out of the saddle,
and. threw his reins to the groom,
and tumbled down to sit on the
grass, his legs outstretched, his
arms making a rigid prop for his
body behind him. Mike brought
him q Scotch and soda, and he
finished 1t In draught.
Captain Pugh moved toward
him, frowning heavily, but he was
not ahead of Cynthia. She looked
down at him for long instant,
her hands on her hips and no
smile upon her face. Then she
said, "Get up and come with me-"
He laughed at her. But he got
up and walked with her toward
the station wagon and both Of
them got In the wagon. She looked
at him.
"I'm absolutely ashamed Of
YOU" she said, very quiet and
cold. "And you can get that idiots
grin of of your face for good"
whats the matter, Pretty?"
"You are supposed to be playing
with decent people. ! like most Of
them. I never did like cowboys
or showoffs"
I'm in there to win, II I can"
gwen by deliberate fouls?"
'.Hold It," he said. "You know
! haven't done that. They got in
the way"
Eyes. They got In the way - Of
somebody that has given up caring
q damn either for his ponies or
the men he Is playing with. 1t
isn't like you, Henry Prentiss.
When did you decide to quit being
q decent sport?"
80 you want me to pull my
punches. That it?"
"'You know what mean"
"You want me to say, Beg par
don, Fred. I didn't mean to try
that hard That It?
whats the matter with you?"
"The matter Is I'm on the top
Of my game and feel like playing,
and don't believe in babying any
body, even your little pals"
"Oh, Hank"
eff they don't feel able to pro-
tect themselves, then this just isn't
their game"
GAN right. I haven't got any,
thing more to say"
she looked down at her hands.
folded IN her lap. Across the level
green came the murmuring Of the
people In the stands, and. closer
by, the grooms cried to each other
and to the horses, and the horses
stamped their feet and made their
bits ring as they champed.
Henry Prentiss' hand fell on her
anirn and she looked up at him.
The most bewildering change had
come over his face. He seemed
at once astonished and chagrined,
and for the first time since she
had known him, he was at a loss
for words.
Ell" he began. Then, Say"
And he got down out of the car,
muttering, "I guess you're right.
Sure. You're right"
Hardly looking back at her at
all, he walked stfffly of to his
string Of ponies and took his part
in the hustle as eight men got on
horses, and eight grooms pulled up
girths. checked stirrup feathers.
Captain Pugh came toward him
again.
aAs a personal favor to me"
he began. But Henry PrentisS