EVEN LEF GETS HIS SHARE
Some of the launches had taken part in other races, so that they had
records. According to the judgment of the committee such were placed
under a handicap, and three had stations assigned to them below the
railroad bridge. This was done in order that all might have a common
goal, and add to the interest of the conclusion of the race.
"Why, I thought the boats started even, and some were given a time
allowance?" remarked Professor Grasier, who was organist and choir
master in the largest church in town, and also conducted the singing
school during the winter, which always gave a delightful concert in the
spring.
"I believe that is the usual rule; but this committee had views
of its own. It seems that quite a little flotilla of boats intend
starting--seven, some one said, and four of them belonging here,"
replied his neighbor.
"Yes, and strange to say, every one of those boats belong to a young
fellow of established bad tendencies. It's an accident I suppose, but I
couldn't help noticing it. There's Leffert Seller, always in the lead
when mischief is done; William Klemm; Asa Barnes, and Watkins Kline.
H'm! rather a doubtful honor if any one out of that set wins the cup,"
remarked the music-master, frowning.
"You do not appear to fancy them very much, sir?" remarked the other;
"you see I am a newcomer to Columbia, arriving only a few months back,
and hence I do not happen to be posted concerning the boys here."
"Oh! for that matter all towns of this size are pretty much alike.
There are many clever and bright young chaps, and a few whose minds
seem to be devoted exclusively toward what they term having fun,
which means pranks. Now, I can sympathize with the average lad in
such things, for I was once a boy myself, and concerned in many such;
but a line must be drawn sharply between innocent fun and malicious
destruction of property."
He waved his hand as he spoke toward the boathouse with its half
charred side, a mute witness as to the truth of his words.
"Do you really think then that some of our boys could have been guilty
of that criminal thing?" asked the other, in dismay.
"Well, I hardly go that far; and yet from the way things are pointing
it will not be long before they reach that goal. Some one did it, and
that shows what a reckless spirit may be loose in the community. I've
had some unpleasant experiences with this wanton spirit that is at
large, and can never forgive the humiliation it caused me."
"Well, sir; I believe that I can also testify to something in that
line, although I am a stranger here, and have certainly done nothing
to provoke a feeling of hostility among the fun-loving boys," and the
other shrugged his shoulders as he thus expressed himself.
"How was that, sir?" asked the music-master, moodily.
"I attended the circus with my two small boys. This was about a month
back. We happened to stand up at one time when the whole audience arose
to stretch. When I sat down again I did not notice anything wrong. But
as the show closed, upon attempting to leave I found that I was glued
fast to the board. Some miscreant had, from underneath, coated the
board with glue or some similar substance while I stood."
The professor smiled in a commiserating manner.
"But you secured your release finally, of course?" he asked.
"I did, but paid the penalty for my rashness by ruining my best
trousers, for I left a portion of them there on the seat," replied the
other, grimly.
"Yes, that was provoking, but imagine what they did to me, sir! Every
spring I give a concert in the church. My singing class and my choir
unite to make it a notable affair. The building was packed. Everything
went well until the very last number. This was to be a most beautiful
selection, which I was to play myself upon the grand organ."
He sighed deeply as though the recollection pained him exceedingly.
"I had reached the most sublime part, when my very soul seemed to be
wafted to Heaven itself in the wonderful composition, fashioned by
a master mind, when to my horror my fingers only brought forth the
most diabolical discords from the keys. Again I went back and tried,
only to give it all up in despair. Nearly sick with chagrin I had to
dismiss my audience. Instead of passing out with faces filled with holy
enthusiasm, they were laughing at the disgraceful exhibition."
"And you found later that some one had been at fault?" asked the other.
"Without a doubt. It was easy to obtain access to the back of the
organ; and in a manner little short of fiendish, to slur my notes and
produce a horrible discord. But try as I would I have never been able
to place the blame, though suspicion pointed toward one of those four
boys now about to start in this race."
"But why are not they suppressed, Professor?" asked the newcomer in
Columbia.
"It happens that their fathers are prominent men in town, and powerful
politically."
"I see; that explains it. But I hope there will be something done soon
to strike terror into the hearts of this clique of prank lovers, for
they will go from bad to worse. Some one was telling me about the way
they cut off the electric light at the school, when the assembly room
was crowded with people. While that was humorous in a way, it might
have led to serious results. Columbia might be a pretty nice town to
live in only for this spirit of mischief that seems rampant."
"There goes the starting signal!" exclaimed the old music-master,
forgetting everything else in his eagerness to see Columbia win, for he
loved the boys with whom he was thrown much in contact.
Frank, as he noted the four contestants from the home town, smiled
broadly.
"Not much choice in that bunch, I take it. Shut your eyes and point
and you'd be sure to hit a candidate for the ugly job up the river.
I wonder which of those four boats has a dab of nice bottle-green
paint on her bow about the water line? Queer that Columbia should be
represented by such a set of fellows; but all the same, I suppose there
are many who hope we win."
He hastened to find his crew. The powerful little launches would not
take much time rounding the island, and coming down the home stretch.
And after that race had been decided the eight-oared one was on the
stocks.
One by one he picked up his men and sent them to where the shell lay
guarded in the boathouse. It had been thought best to keep it there
until needed, because of the crowds around, and the possibility lest
some scoundrel injure its fragile skin when attention was directed to
some exciting race.
Coach Willoughby was giving the last instructions, and the crew
listened with considerable respect, for they had learned that this old
Princeton graduate knew nearly every little wrinkle connected with
successful boating.
Frank caught his eye fastened doubtfully upon Jones. He knew that the
experienced athlete feared the man would break down before the end
came. Frank had looked the matter over carefully and decided just what
must be done if "Jonsey" collapsed. Should it come at some distance
away from the finish he would be made to go over the side, for they
could not carry "dead wood;" some other boat would pick him up, if so
be he was unable to swim to the shore.
The shouts from without told that the power-boats had been sighted on
their return, and that the race would soon be over.
"Who leads?" asked Frank, indifferently, as he bent over to examine
some mark on the delicate shell in which they would go to victory or
defeat presently.
"They say it's Lef in his ten-horse engine racer. He's coming like the
wind, too. Lucky he knows the channel, for if ever he struck a snag at
that rate that boat would go all to smash. They put him back of all,
but he's there with the goods."
A minute later a tremendous shout went up.
"That Clifford boat is overtaking him hand over fist. Look at it come,
will you. Let her out, Lef; hit up a pace, or you're a goner!" arose a
shout through a megaphone.
If the race had been continued fifty feet further Lef would have
possibly found himself beaten, since the other boat seemed to have
struck a new pace. The booming of the cannon announced that another
credit had come to Columbia.
"Say, fellows, we just can't lose to-day!" shouted the cheer captain,
as he led his flock into a mighty yell that drowned all other sounds,
and thrilled the nerves of every old Columbia graduate.
This brought the morning's sport down to the very last event. The
eight-oared race was to be next.
"They keep the best to the last," laughed a happy student, as he
watched the door of the boathouse to see the crew come out bearing the
precious shell.
"Whoop! there they are. Hurrah for Frank Allen and his crew! They're
the boys who can do the trick!"
"So that's the boat that was found on the roof of the new sky-scraper,
is it?" asked the newcomer, of Professor Grasier.
"So I understand; but they say it suffered no damage, so those who put
it there must have been friends of the club. A fine looking lot of lads
they seem to be; and Frank Allen is a particular favorite of mine. I
hope he wins his race. It's worth while to have such a fellow standing
up for Columbia, rather than boys like that other crowd," replied the
choir master, with affection in his voice.
The boat was launched, and the crew took their places. Intense
excitement reigned all around. Hundreds awaited the signal that would
send the three contestants on their way up the river, headed for
Rattail Island.
The last word had been said by Coach Willoughby as the advisor of the
crew, and he was now ready to send the three rivals off as though they
were part of a machine.
It was a pretty picture as the starter called out the word:
"Ready!"
Quickly following this came the sharp report of the pistol, and the
three boats shot forward like arrows, as the oars fell into the water.
The great race was on!