FRED ON THE TRACK
Fred Fenton was in the throng that welcomed the victorious Colon. He had
heard that remark of a Mechanicsburg lad about the plan arranged to wear
Colon down by putting a fresh man in against him with the second sprint,
this time for half a mile. And it set Fred thinking.
He had himself been entered for the second and third sprint; but because
the five mile road race was of such vast importance, the track captain
had prevailed upon Fred not to make either of the others, leaving them
to the marvelous Colon to take care of.
Several more events were pulled off in rapid succession, showing how
well organized the tournament seemed to be, in the hands of competent
men. One of these happenings was a sack race, which afforded great
amusement to the crowd, and gave Paulding her first score, to the
uproarious delight of everybody.
"Paulding can _crawl_ to victory, anyhow!" shouted the megaphone boy,
derisively.
"That's better than crawling after getting licked!" answered a resolute
backer of the town down the river, "that never gave up until the last
man was down."
When the basket ball game of the girls, between Paulding and
Mechanicsburg first, and then Riverport against the victor of the first
round, was called, everybody sat up and took notice.
It was a spirited game, and Paulding girls proved themselves superior to
those of the rival town, for they finally won. Then their team was
patched up with a couple to replace those who were tired out; after
which they started to show Riverport what they knew about basketball.
And sure enough, in the end they did carry the Paulding colors to
victory; though it was a close decision; and if the balance of the home
team could have shown the same class that little Mame Wells put into her
playing, it would have been a walkover for Riverport.
Colon came to the scratch, smiling and confident, when the half mile run
over the track was called. So did that fellow up the river, who had
always been such a hard player to down, when Riverport tackled her rival
in baseball, or on the gridiron--Felix Wagner, the best all-round
athlete of which Mechanicsburg boasted.
It was seen that Colon did not mean to follow the same tactics in this
sprint of the half mile. He knew that he was up against a different sort
of man now, than in the first event of his class. And when the three
competitors passed for the third time the grandstand, they were pretty
evenly bunched, each jealously watching lest one of the others get an
advantage.
Amid a din of cheering they reached the other end of the track, all
going strong.
"Now watch Colon hump himself!" shouted the megaphone boy.
"There he goes! Ain't he the kangaroo though?" bawled another.
"But keep your eye on Wagner, will you? He's flying like the wind.
Better believe your wonder will have to do his prettiest right now, with
that hurricane at his heels. Go it, Felix; you can win it! Wagner!
Wagner! He's going to do it! Hoop-la! Me-chan-icsburg forever!"
Wagner was coming like a bird, and his flying feet seemed hardly to
touch the ground. The Paulding contestant appeared to be so far
outclassed that some people imagined he must be almost standing still;
but he was doing his best, poor fellow.
Apparently Colon heard the sound of Wagner close at his shoulder as the
other made a last spurt, meaning to pass him. Colon had just one more
"kink" to let loose, and as he did so he bounded ahead, passing the
string some five feet in front of the second entry.
The roar of cheers that arose suddenly died out.
"Look at Colon! Something happened to him! That last spurt must have
ruptured a blood vessel! That settles the third race, because Wagner
will have it easy!"
The marshal and his many assistants had some difficulty in keeping order
while a crowd of athletes gathered around Colon, who had fallen headlong
after breasting the tape, and lay there on the ground.
Presently the director appeared, and waved his hand for silence,
remarking:
"I regret to say that the winner of the last half mile sprint sprained
his ankle just as he clinched his victory, and will be utterly unable to
take part in any other contest to-day. We are glad it is no more serious
injury; and one and all extend to him our sympathy, as well as our
admiration for the game fight he has put up!"
Brad Morton helped Colon to a seat, where he could have his swollen
ankle properly attended to, and at the same time watch the progress of
the tournament; for Colon stubbornly refused to let them take him home.
The face of the track captain was marked with uneasiness. Mechanicsburg
was evidently in this thing to win, and meant to make every point
count. Right then the two schools seemed to be moving along, neck and
neck, each having seven points in their favor, with several events
coming that were altogether uncertain.
Hence, that third half mile run over the track might eventually prove to
be the turning point, upon which final victory or defeat would hinge.
With Colon, the unbeaten sprinter, down, who was there to take his place
against that fleet-footed Wagner, who would be fairly recovered by the
time the last sprint was called?
Rapidly did Brad run over in his mind his available entries, and putting
each in competition with Wagner, he shook his head. Sid Wells could not
be depended on to keep his head in a final pinch. He usually did well in
the beginning of a hot race, but when there was a call for held-back
energies, Sid could not "deliver the goods," as Brad knew.
Besides, there was Corney Shays, a speedy runner for short distances,
but with poor wind. Half a mile was too much for Corney; had it been a
quarter, now, Brad would have felt tempted to try him against Wagner.
He looked anxiously toward Fred, and the other smiled. An odd
three-legged race was taking place at the time, each school having an
entry; and amid uproarious shouts the contestants were falling down,
getting mixed in their partners, and exciting all sorts of comments.
"I'm willing to make the try if you say so, Brad," Fred remarked, for he
could easily read what was in the mind of the anxious Brad.
"If only I was sure that it wouldn't interfere with your work in the
five mile run, I'd be tempted to let you go into it," the track captain
declared; "but you know that short Marathon has been thought so
important that it was given three points, to one for all other events.
We've just _got_ to win that, or we're gone. Do you really and truly
think you could stand both, Fred?"
"I sure do," replied the other, confidently; "and besides, you can get
the field judges to put the five mile off until the very last, so as to
give me time to recover. Nobody can object to that."
"How about having the third sprint moved up in line; that would widen
the gap between your two entries, Fred?" remarked Brad, the gloom
beginning to leave his face, as he saw a way out of the trouble.
"Never do in the wide world," replied Fred; "because that would shorten
Wagner's time for recovery after his last race. And lots of fellows
would say it was done purposely to give us a winning chance. No, my plan
is the better, Brad."
Other events were being run off in succession. The shot-put came to
Riverport, Dave Hanshaw proving himself superior at this sort of game to
any of those entered in competition. Jumping the hurdles went to the
steady-pulling up-river town. And when the third sprint was called, once
again were Mechanicsburg and Riverport tied for points.
When Fred toed the scratch alongside Felix Wagner and the new Paulding
sprinter, he did not underestimate either of his antagonists. And after
they were off like greyhounds let free from the leash, he adopted the
tactics that had won so handily for Colon in the first race, lagging
just behind the others, and observing how they ran, while making the
circuit of the track three times.
Thus he knew to a fraction just what resources Wagner had left when the
critical stage was reached for the final spurt. Felix was already
beginning to feel his previous race. That heart-breaking finish against
Colon had told on him more than he had expected it would. And Fred
believed he would have no great difficulty in displacing him, when the
time came.
On the way to the finish all of them increased their already fast pace,
until they were fairly skimming along the level track as though they had
wings. But Fred proved to have considerably more reserve powers than
either of his competitors. Well had he gauged the distance; and when
just about one hundred yards from the finish he was seen to pass both
Wagner and the Paulding runner, coming in an easy winner, amid the
terrific cheers of the excited throng, everybody being upon his or her
feet, waving flags, hats, handkerchiefs, and shouting themselves fairly
hoarse to indicate what they thought of the clever tactics of the
Riverport boy.
And when the pleased Brad clapped Fred on the back he remarked:
"Elegantly done, my boy; only I do hope it won't tell on you in the
biggest event of the meet; the five mile run. For they're pressing us
hard, and we'll need every one of those three points, Fred; remember
that!"