Cinder Path Tales

62 HOW KITTY then, asI leaned on the counter, she began to pump me in a very pretty wayconcerning the academy'schances in the coming games, showing an especial interest in the mile. Would I please tell her who would win in this event? Now, itmust not be thought that I have been in the habit ofgiving tips to inquisitive young ladies, for one thing a successful trainer must learnis to hold his tongue; but in this case there was no secret involved, and almost no money on, soI told her frankly that there were only twomen of any use at all, Black andHarris. Well, would I please tellher (ladies always say "please" in a particularly wheedling way when they askwhat they knowthey should not), — would I please tell her which was the faster. I answered that Harris was a very neat little runner whowould win in average com­ pany, but that Black's stride wastoo much for him, and Harris could not show within five seconds of Black's time forthe distance. Here the corners of Kitty's pretty mouth dropped most suddenly, and I then and there surprised the secret that under the folds of her flowered muslin lurked a shy liking for Jack Harris. This wasnot at all to be wondered at, for