Cinder Path Tales

154 CINDER-PATH TALES Now, I expected that Dick would be all right with me the next time we met. I thought hewould be pleased that my words, however severe, had forced him to the big jump, and even anticipated an apology for his offensive words. In this, however, I was mistaken. I did not realize the extreme sensitiveness ofa Virginian and a Fairfax to any reflection upon his honor. Dick met me courteously enough, but distantly, and indeed was never the same to me again. I found, too,that my lecture had only a temporary effect, for he took up the old jump of nineteen-six the same as before, apparently as contented as ever. Tom Furness was foolish enough to tell the story ofDick's big jump, and was jollied therefore by everybody, receiving credit for a most Munchausen imagination. Tom let them rough him all right, fornothing pleased him better, butcame tome at last with Sam Hitchcock asking me to settle a bet, whether or no Dick Fairfax had broken the recordof the runningbroad jump inpractice. Of course I could but tell the truthunder such circumstances, although I knew I was putting my reputation for veracity to a severe test. I declared very seriously that Dick had certainly bested the twenty -four- foot mark under record conditions. Sam was