Cinder Path Tales

CINDER-PATH TALES in the " running broad." Now, these were wonderful performances for a novice, par­ ticularly as Dick seemed not to exert him­ self in the least. That night, as I sat in my room smoking a comforting pipe, I thought the matter over very thoroughly, I am a shy bird for" won­ ders," and doubtful concerning " phenoms," but I made up my mind in cold blood that almost anything was possible for Richard Spotswood Fairfax, of "The Oaks." With the advantages of my handling, he ought to be a world beater, and no mistake. As Tom Furness expresses a good thing, "There was frosting on top, and jelly be­ tween the layers." Of course Isaid nothing of this to Dick, but ordered him regular all-roundwork inthe gymnasium for the winter, and told him if he took good care of himself, we might make something of him in the spring. In those days we had no big in-door meets, and the men were allowed to do very much as they pleased until near the end of the winter. I am of the opinion that such rest is better in the endthan acontinuous course of training, particularly formen under twenty-one. I saw considerable of Dick, andwas well satisfied to have him keep to easy exercise. He filled out a bit, and the muscles on his