CHAPTER V
Larry Glass discovered his protege on the rear porch engrossedwith Miss Blake, and signalled him from afar; but the young manignored the signal, and the trainer strolled up to the steps.
"Hello, Larry! What's on your mind?" inquired Speed.
"I'd like to see you." Glass, clad in his sportiest garments,seemed utterly lacking in the proper appreciation of a valet'sposition. He treated his employer with a tolerant good-nature.
Miss Blake excused herself and went into the house, whereupon hercompanion showed his irritation. "See here, Larry, don't you knowbetter than to interrupt me in the midst of a hammock talk?"
"Oh, that's all right," wheezed the trainer. "As long as youdidn't spill her out, she'll be back."
"Well, what is it?"
"I had a stomach-laugh slipped to me just now." He began toshake.
"So you broke up my tete-a-tete to tell me a funny story?"
"Listen here. These cowboys have got you touted for a foot-runner." This time Glass laughed aloud, hoarsely. "They haveframed a race with a ginny down the block."
"All right, I'll run."
Mr. Glass's face abruptly fell into solemn lines. "Quit yourkiddin', Wally; you couldn't run a hundred yards in twentyminutes. These guys are on the level. They've sent General Garciaover to cook it."
"Yes. The race comes off in ten days."
Glass allowed his mouth to drop open and his little eyes to peerforth in startled amazement.
"Then it's true? I guess this climate is too much for you," hesaid. "When did you feel this comin' on?"
Speed laughed. "I know what I'm doing." With an effort atrestraint, the trainer inquired:
"What's the idea?"
"I'll tell you how it came up, Larry. I--I'm very fond of MissBlake. That's why I broke the record getting out here as soon asI was invited. Well, she believes, from something I said--one ofthose odd moments, you know--that I'm a great athlete, and shetold those cowboys that I'd gladly put on my spiked shoes andcarry their colors to victory. You've heard about thephonograph?"
Glass smiled wearily. "I can't hear nothing else. The gang isdaffy on grand opera."
"When I was accused of being an athlete I couldn't deny it, couldI?"
"I see. You was stringin' the gal, and she called you, eh?"
"I wouldn't express it in quite those terms. I may haveexaggerated my abilities slightly." Glass laughed. "She is such agreat admirer of athletics, it was quite natural. Any man wouldhave done the same. She got me committed in front of the cowboys,and I had to accept--or be a quitter."
Glass nodded appreciatively. "All the same," said he, "you've gotmore nerve than a burglar. How you goin' to side-step?"
"I made the match for an 'unknown.'" Speed winked. "Covingtonwill be here in a day or two. I'll wire him to hurry up.Fortunately I brought a lot of athletic clothes with me, so I'llgo into training under your direction. When Covington gets hereI'll let _him_ run."
The fat man sighed with relief. "Now I'm hep. I was afraid you'dtry to go through with it."
"Hardly. I'll sprain an ankle, or something. She'll be there withthe sympathy. See? Covington will run the race; the cowboys willget their phonograph; and I'll get--well, if I can beat out thisNative Son tenor singer, I'll invite you to the wedding. Therewasn't any other way out."
Glass mopped his brow. "You had me wingin' for a while, but Iplugged your game with the cowboys. Pawnee Bill and his Congressof Rough Riders think you're a cyclone."
"It's the first chance I ever had to wear that silk running-suit.Who knows, maybe I _can_ run!"
"Nix, now! Don't kid yourself too far. This thing is funny enoughas it stands."
"Oh, I dare say it looks like a joke to you, but it doesn't tome, Larry. If I don't marry that girl, I--I'll go off my balance,that's all, and I'm not going to overlook any advantage whatever.Fresno sings love-songs, and he's got a mint of money. Well, I'mgoing to work this athletic pose to death. I'm going intotraining, I'm going to talk, eat, sleep, live athletics for aweek, and when I'm unexpectedly crippled on the eve of the race,it is going to break my heart. Understand! I am going to be sodesperately disappointed that I'll have to choose between suicideand marriage. The way I feel now, I think I'll choose marriage.But you must help."
"Leave it to me, Bo!"
"In the first place, I want some training-quarters."
"That's right, don't be a piker."
"And I want you to boost."
"I'm there! When do we begin?"
"Right away. Unpack my running-suit and rub some dirt on it--it'stoo new. I think I'll limber up, and let her get a look at theclothes."
"It's a bright idea; but don't let these animal-trainers see yourun, or the stuff will be cold in a minute."
"Fine! We'll have secret practice! That suits me perfectly."Speed laughed with joy.
From inside the house came the strains of _Dearie_, sung ina sympathetic tenor, and upon the conclusion Berkeley Fresno'svoice inquiring:
"Miss Blake, did I ever tell you about the time I sang_Dearie_ to the mayor's daughter in Walla Walla?"
Miss Blake appeared on the gallery with her musical admirer ather elbow.
"Yes," said she, sweetly. "You told me all about the mayor'sdaughter a week ago." Then spying Speed and his companion, sheexclaimed: "Mr. Fresno has a fine voice, hasn't he? He sings withthe Stanford Glee Club."
"Indeed."
"Sure!" The Native Son of the Golden West shook up a hammock-cushion for the girl. "Tenor!" said he, sententiously.
"Say no more," Speed remarked; "it's all right with us!"
Fresno looked up.
"What's wrong with my singing?"
"Oh, I've just told the girls that you're going to run that foot-race," Helen interposed, hurriedly, at which Fresno exploded.
"What's wrong with my running?" inquired Speed.
"I can beat you!"
Larry Glass nudged his employer openly, and seemed on the vergeof hysteria. "Let him go," said he. "Let him go; he's funny."
Speed addressed Helen, with a magnanimous smile:
"Suppose we allow Frez to _sing_ this foot-race? We'll pullit off in the treble cleff."
"Oh, I mean it!" maintained the tenor, stubbornly. "I don't wantto run Skinner, the cook, but I'll run you to see who does meethim."
Speed shrugged his shoulders indulgently.
"I'm afraid you're a little overweight."
"I'll train down."
"Perhaps if you wait until I beat this cook, I'll take you on."
Glass broke out, in husky indignation: "Sure! Get a rep, Cull,get a rep!" Then to his employer: "Come on, Wally, you've got towarm up." He mounted the steps heavily with his protege.
When they had gone, Miss Blake clapped her hands.
"I'm so excited!" she exclaimed. "You see, it's all my doings!Oh, how I adore athletes!"
"Most young girls do," Fresno smiled, sourly. "My taste runs moreto music." After a moment's meditation, he observed: "Speeddoesn't look like a sprinter to me. I--I'll wager he can't do ahundred yards in fifteen-two."
"'Fifteen-two' is cribbage," said Miss Blake.
"Fifteen and two-fifths seconds is what I mean."
"Is that fast?"
Fresno smiled, indulgently this time. "Jean's friend Covingtoncan go the distance in nine and four-fifths seconds. He's a realsprinter. I think this fellow is a joke."
"Indeed he is _not!_ If Mr. Covington can run as fast asthat, Mr. Speed can run faster. He told me so."
"Oh!" Fresno looked at her curiously. "The world's record is nineand _three_-fifths; that's the limit of human endurance."
"I hope he doesn't injure himself," breathed the girl, and thetenor wandered away, disgusted beyond measure. When he was out ofhearing, he remarked, aloud:
"I'll bet he runs so slow we'll have to wind a stop-watch on him.Anyhow, I think I'll find out something more about this race."
Once in his room, Mr. J. Wallingford Speed made a search forwriting materials
, while Larry Glass overhauled a trunk filledwith athletic clothing of various descriptions. There wererunning-suits, rowing-suits, baseball and football suits,sweaters, jerseys, and bath robes--all of which were new andunstained. At the bottom Glass discovered a box full of bronzeand near-gold emblems.
"Here's your medals," said he.
"Good! I'll wear them."
"Nix! You can't do that. Those gals will get wise." He selectedone, and read on the reverse side. "Clerk of the course"; anotherwas engraved "Starter." All were official badges of some sort orother. "You always were strong on the 'Reception Committee'stuff. There's six of them," said he.
Speed pointed to the bureau. "Try a nail-file. See if you can'tscratch off the lettering. How's this?" He read what he hadwritten for the wire. "'Culver Covington, and so forth. Comequick. First train. Native Son making love to Jean.--Wally.' Tenwords, and it tells the whole story. I can hardly explain why Iwant him, can I? He expects to stop off in Omaha for a day ortwo, but he'll be under way in an hour after he gets this. I hateto spoil his little visit, but he can take that in on his wayhome. Now I'll ring for somebody, and have this taken over to thestation by the first wagon."
"Say, you better scratch this Fresno," said Larry.
"Why?"
"He's hep to you."
"Nonsense!"
Glass looked up at a sound, to discover Mariedetta, the Mexicanmaid, who had come in answer to Speed's call.
"In the doorway'" the trainer said, under his breath. "Pipe theCuban Queen!"
"You call?" inquired Mariedetta of the younger man.
"Yes, I want this telegram to go to the depot as soon aspossible."
Mariedetta took the message and turned silently, but as she wentshe flashed a look at Glass which caused that short-waistedgentleman to wink at his companion.
"Some frill! Eh? I'm for her! She's strong for me, too."
"How do you know?"
"We talked it over. I gave her a little kiss to keep for me."
"Careful, Larry! She may have a cowboy sweetheart."
Glass grunted, disparagingly.
"Them ginnys is jokes to me."
As Speed talked he clad himself in his silken uniform, donned hisspiked shoes, and pinned the medals upon his chest.
"How do I look?" he queried.
"Immense! If she likes athletes, it's a walk-away for you."
"Then give me the baby-blue bath robe with the monogram. We'll goout and trot around a little."
But his complacency received a shock as he stepped out upon theveranda. Not only Helen Blake awaited him, but the other girls aswell, while out in front were a dozen or more cowboys whom Fresnohad rallied. "Goin' to take a little run, eh?" inquired Stover."We allowed we'd lay off a few minutes and watch you."
"Thanks!"
"Yes," Fresno spoke up. "I told the boys we'd better hold a stop-watch on you and see what shape you're in."
"A stop-watch?" said Glass, sharply.
"Yes. I have one."
"Not to-day," said Speed's trainer. "No!" he admonished, as hisprotege turned upon him. "Some other time, mebbe. You're just offa long trip, and I can't risk gettin' you stove up."
"To-morrow, perhaps," urged Fresno.
"I wouldn't promise."
"Then the next day. I've timed lots of men. The watch iscorrect."
"Let's see it." Glass held out his hand.
"Oh, it's a good watch. It cost me one hundred and twenty-fivedollars."
As Glass reached for the timepiece an unfortunate accidentoccurred. Speed struck his elbow, and the watch fell. Fresno dovefor it, then held it to his ear and shook it.
"You've broken it!" he cried, accusingly.
"Oh, I'm sorry! My fault," Speed apologized.
"If it was your fault, maybe you'll fix it," suggested the tenor.
"Gladly!" Speed turned to his trainer. "Buy a new alarm-clockfor our little friend." He stripped off his bath robe, and handedit to his trainer. "Is she looking at me?" he whispered.
"Both eyes, big as saucers."
Speed settled his spikes into the dirt as he had seen othersprinters do, set himself for an instant, then loped easilyaround the house and out of sight.
To the cowboys this athletic panoply was vastly impressive. Withhuge satisfaction they noticed the sleeveless shirt, the looserunning-trunks, and, above all, the generous display of medals.With a wild yell of delight they broke out upon the trail oftheir champion, only to have Glass thrust his corpulent body intheir path. With an upflung arm he stemmed the tide.
"It's no use, boys," he cried, "he's a mile away!"