Cinder Path Tales

ATHERTON'S LAST "HALF" 119 shot-putter, stopping a moment to chaff with a friend, stripped to the waist, hishirt in his hand. See how the mighty muscles stretch across his breast and back! See the big, square neck, and that rightarm and shoulder, round and firm and hard ! It is not men like the last that I worry- about, for the heatwill do nothing but good to an anatomy like this; but the thin and slender chaps, withnot too much vitalityat best, and trained close to the limit — these I look over closely and carefully. I was more anxious about Athertonthan any other, and found him off in a corner by himself, near the window. Perhaps the most popular man on the team, he was not over jolly thismorn­ ing, and the boys saw it, and left him alone. His clothes were already hungin his locker, in that particularly neat way that some of the boys might have copied to advantage. He had on his trunks and jersey, andwas lacing his running-shoes. I asked him how he felt. "All right," he said; but I knew better. The hotnight had told on him, andhe was a bit pale and tired- looking. I told him to get into his wrap, find a cool and comfortable place, and take it easy until he was wanted. He followed instructions, as usual, and I saw almost nothing of him until the "half" was called,