Cinder Path Tales

120 CINDER-PATH TALES late in the afternoon. As usual, we had pulled off some unexpected wins, and lost several " lead-pipe cinches." The latter, however, werefar more numerous,and I was decidedly on the anxious seat. Indeed, as near as I could figure, unless Bateswon the "half" we were out of it. Of Sherman we expected nothing; he was put in to fill out the string, andbecause a man will sometimes surprise those best in­ formed of his incapacity. Bates we hoped would win, and Atherton was expected to run his first lap in fifty-nine cutting windand setting pace, to keep on in the second lap at the same speed until he reached the stretch, where he was to drop out (probably dead beat), leavingBates to run in and break the tape. There waslittle glory in this programme for Atherton, and I had seen his face lengthen out when Allen and Waite romped in, first and second in the " quarter." It was " dollars to doughnuts " he would have made astrong thirdor better, and I saw he thought so himself, although he said nothing. We had just won a first and third in the high jump, and I was feeling a little better when the men were called for the "half." I met Teddy in the middle of the field, and walked alongwith him to the start. He was