Cinder Path Tales

144 CINDER-PATH TALES attention than any three othermen. This was partly because I liked the boy, and partly because Ireceived aletter from"The Oaks " once every week asking howRichard was get­ ting on. I have adecided aversion to lying, and I disliked to tell the truth to the lonely woman who looked forward soconfidently to her son's success. But most of all I stuck to Dick because ofthe possibilities I saw in him. His legs were marvels; from toe to thigh, muscle, sinew, and bone were perfect. And yet Seever, with is crooked joints and spindle shanks, could best Dick's besteffort by a good foot. I racked my brain for rea­ sons of the failure, but with no result. I tried all possible changes,even to a take-off with the left, but all in vain. Nineteen-six he could do before or after breakfast, and prob­ ably at midnight, if tried at that unusual hour. He was the most consistent performer I have ever seen. The trouble was that it was consistency to a distance ofno use at all to us. Little JackBennett, whohad started in with something likea thirteen-foot jump, had plugged away day after day, until he was " hoss and hoss" with Dick, and the latter was quite content. Approval or disapproval were all the sameto him, and he answered both with a smile, or a careless glancefrom his sleepy blue eyes.