Central High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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between us and Madison over the way. Growth and athletics are the chief matters of contention and it is in the latter that I am interested. Are you a professional ?” No.” Glad to hear it. Tomorrow afternoon the Lexington Athletic Club and the Madison Athletic Club will hold a field meet to sec which is the better. We arc well supplied with good material in every line except a mile man. He has fallen sick and we were depending on him to give us a margin on the score board. You can imagine how we feel. I've l)een on pins and needles the last few hours. Happened to notice you at the station and you looked good to me. It was natural for me to couple you with a name, famous in the sporting world, I saw on the register. I would like very much to have you represent us. but can only offer you the pleasure of the contest and the thanks of the citizens. Salesman? Yes, representing the Colen-Ballenger Co. I see you're after old man Bangor of the Acme Manufacturing Company. Penning, he is a hard man to deal with, but he will Ik at the meet tomorrow and it will he a point in your favor if you help us out. That doesn’t matter. Dunaway. I would do it just for the sake of playing the game and giving you a little help. However, I won’t scorn the aid it will give me in landing an order from Bangor.” “Shake, old man: we sure need you. Have you any togs?” Yes. I carry my old college outfit with me. “Well, come down to the club tonight and limber tip. The boys will give you a warm welcome.” Sure. You can look for me. “All right. So long.” Dunaway turned and walked towards the door only to whirl after a few steps and come back. “By the way. you will have to run against a college mate. Penning was all ears. “A Yale man? “Yes.” “Who is it?” “Fellow bv name of Payne—what’s the rub? Penning’s face now possessed a hard, steely look and his tody was drawn tense. “Nothing much! Only you can count on my breaking that tape first even if I run on a broken leg!” Dunaway looked at him queerly. “All right. See you later.” With smoldering eyes and burning thoughts. Penning watched Dunaway’s back disappear through the doorway He turned and strode to the elevator. In his room he drew forth from a compartment of his bag, trunks, sweater and shoes. He was proud of that blue sweater with its white “Y and as he gazed at it. his mind turned back to events of past years. It had been in his junior year at Yale that he had made the record for the mile and he had cherished hopes for a better one in his final year. However, in the following events his hope came to naught. As the day of the intercollegiate field meet had approached another representative of Yale in the mile Payc Twenty-nine

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ONE MILE TO GO Mr. Penning! Mr. Penning! Telegram for Mr. Penning! Joseph Penning, clean-cut and handsome, looked up from the paper he was reading. What was up? He called to the page and ripped open the envelope handed him. The perusal of the telegram lasted hut a second. “Lexington next, (jet Acme Mfg. Co. order. He’s hard. Use tact. BROWN.” Penning was a man of decision. “No answer. Bud. Here. And handing the boy a quarter he turned to the hotel desk, where he inquired about the next train for Lexington. The clerk glanced at the clock which showed $f.:3h and replied with a curt “15 minutes. Thanks. Penning hastened to his room, threw a few belongings into his hags and returned to the desk. Settling his hill he sallied forth and ten minutes later he was leaving the outskirts of the city behind him. One hour sufficed to bring him to his destination. Lexington was a town of ten thousand, small in size hut large in ideals and ambitions. A number of passengers alighted with him and he determined to let them lead him to a hotel. As he was passing through the gate his attention was drawn to a man leaning against the wall, who was appraising his face ami well-knit figure with critical eye. Penping looked the man in the eyes hut he continued to stare. “What in the deuce ails that fellow? I’m no jay bird. However, he soon forgot the incident and with springy stride issued forth from the station. 11 is plan worked and In following a fellow passenger he was soon ensconced in a comfortable chair in a hotel. 'The place was strange to him and he let his curious gaze roam over the occupants and equipment of the big room. Allowing his eye to drift to the door he was interested in observing the entrance of the man who had inspected him at the station. Penning, watching, saw him walk to the desk and peer at the register. He saw him start ever so little as he came upon a name. The man turned ami with a swift glance swept the lobby. As lie caught sight of Penning lie strode forward. “Now for a solution of this mystery, Penning muttered to himself. 'The man stopped before him. “Mr. Penning, I believe? “Correct, sir. “Mr. Penning, allow me to introduce myself, Marvin Dunaway, coach of the Lexington Athletic Club.” “Very glad to know you.” Penning looked his curiosity. “One question first, Penning. Are you he who made the record on the mile at Yale three years ago ? Dunaway leaned forward in his eagerness. “I am.” “Great! Listen. Penning are you in form to run?” “Yes. I get a little inside track work three or four times a week.” . “Better still. Let me tell you my reason for accosting you. Lexington is a small city, hut our spirit cannot be equaled. Wc believe in trading at home and in close cooperation. In the course of a few years a rivalry has sprung up Page 7 'we iity-c igh i

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had appeared in the form of Tom Payne. Penning and Payne were also rivals in another way—where Christine Bangor was concerned. That young lady had said jokingly in the presence of both that she would licstow her preference on the winner. Penning had accepted her words literally and had appeared on the track with the determination to win. With the added stake, besides the honor of the school, urging them on. the two Vale men had left the other men in the rear. Far around the track the s( ectntor$ had seen Payne spurt and gain the inside track In-fore Penning and the latter was seen to crumble and give away. Payne had fouled him with his elbow. Penning saw Payne break the tape a winner and knowing that his accusation of a foul would Ik received with incredulity, without speaking to Christine or mingling with his classmates he had gone back to the gym and changed his clothes. Later had come graduation and he had entered the world with a resolution to repay the score. Now was his chance! Penning gloried in the opportunity given him. Tomorrow he would wijie out a defeat and a wrong, lie gathered tip his clothing and proceeded to the Athletic Club for a little limbering up. Then? he was the cynosure of all eyes and in the opinion of the club members he looked all they could wish. After a shower he drew Dunaway aside ami asked that his name be withheld as he wished to surprise Payne. Dunaway agreed. That night Penning dreamed sweet dreams. After a shave and breakfast he decided to In-ard the lion in his den ami visit old Bangor. A five minutes walk brought him to the office of the Acme Manufacturing Company and he tendered his card to the office boy That all-important personage disappeared in the inner recesses only to appear an instant later with a negative sliakc of his head. “Sorry, sir. He says he can't see von todav. Too busy.” “But-----” “Listen. Mister.” There was a sincere ring in the hoy's voice. “This is no stall to get rid of yon hut plain dope. The boss is hopping mad and if yoit want to get next to him come hack later. Tomorrow after the athletic doings he will feel better—’specially if I.ex. wins.” Penning recollected the words of Dunaway: “It will be a point in your favor if you help us out.” With a brief “Thanks.” he left the office. “Everything seems to hang on that meet this afternoon. he said to himself as he walked towards town. “Must lx some affair. Mack at the hotel he buried himself in a comfortable chair with a magazine and did not emerge until noon, when he hastened to the Athletic Club. Penning was not over confident for he realized that Payne was a good man. yet no fear entered his heart. Feeling as if there were several miles in the firm muscles of his legs he could not help lK ing optimistic as to the outcome. Among twenty-five other fellows -shot putters, hurdlers, yard men—with whom he had already struck up an acquaintance, lie stripped and donned bis track outfit, (dances of admiration and res|K ct were turned his way both for the letter worn and the man wearing it. The looks turned to glances of surprise when they saw him put on a raincoat. “Why the disguise. Penning,” bantcringly called one, “Wanted for murder? “Not yet. hut soon.” was the only explanation elicited. Page Thirty