College stories; Sports stories; Yale University -- Juvenile fiction
Heading in the direction of a taxicab stand, Frank started off on
a sharp trot, but was doomed to disappointment as not a taxi was
available at that moment, and the man in the little office wasn't
hopeful that any would be back right away. "They may come any minute,
and there may not be a blooming one for half an hour. If you'll take
the 'bus on the next street, it will take you within half a mile of
Queen's Club grounds."
Scarcely waiting to hear the last words, Frank darted for the street
mentioned, and, after a wait of five minutes, boarded an electric
'bus bound for West Kensington. Fortunately, he found a seat-mate who
was well acquainted with what was going on at Queen's Club that day.
"Going to see the games, I suppose," he said. From him Frank learned
that a short cut could be made which would be of considerable help
as a time-reducer. Fixing the direction in his mind, he sprang from
the 'bus at the street indicated, and started on a run in the general
direction of the Club.
As he ran, the last instructions of Trainer Black came to his mind:
"Take it easy till the games, and keep off your feet." He could not
suppress a grim smile as he pounded along, running flat-footed to
keep as much spring as possible in his toes if he ever reached the
track and if he was in time when he did reach there. Always he kept
an eye out for a taxi, but fate was against him and he saw none
excepting those with fares seated therein, and whirling along on
their own business.
Losing his way, finding it again with the help of passers-by, and
nearly but not quite despairing of there ever having been such a
place in London as the Queen's Club, he was halted by a college
yell, sharp and incisive, delivered comparatively near. Getting his
bearings from the direction in which the yell came, he dashed through
a short street and stood before the main gate of the Club.
"Is it over?" he panted to the officer at the gate. "The meet--is it
over?"
"Who are you?" asked the officer, staring at the newcomer, whose
eyes, fierce in their intensity, looked out from a face streaked with
sweat and dirt.
"I'm one of the competitors," gasped Frank.
"Ho, ho!" laughed the officer, "you look it. Did you run all the way
from New York?"
"I _am one of the competitors_," said Frank, emphasizing every word,
"and through an accident got left at Brighton. Please let me go to
the training quarters of the American team."
"Well, 'ere's a rum cove. Comes up 'ere and wants to get passed into
the gymes for nothink."
For a few minutes it looked as if, after all his trouble to get to
the Club grounds, he was to be held up outside while his chance was
lost. Finally, however, he induced the officer to send a messenger to
the American quarters, and in half a minute he was snatched through
the gate by an assistant trainer and stood in the presence of Captain
Harrington, who was just going out for his quarter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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