Bert Wilson, Marathon Winner

ating R

thrust a way through the howling mob and led him to his dressing room. An immense fatigue was on him. His heart wanted to come out of his body and his legs weighed a ton. But dee

down. The strain had been enormous, but his vitality reacted quickly

n and Bert were the center of a hilarious group, who kept demanding at short intervals "who was all right" and answering the questions themselves by shouting the nam

athon was more important than any other feature, but on account of the accident t

make your run, too. I'd been studying your gait right along and I knew by the way you were going that you had plenty in reserve.

my head went round like a top, and for a second or two I didn't know where I was. Then I s

they wouldn't. That run of yours was the pluckiest thing I ever saw, as well as t

no matter how far the other fellows may be ahead. As it was, I only got there by the narrowest of squeaks.

igh, but he came staggering along and finished among the first ten. The showing h

t present-intervened, and although they protested that they

asleep before your head fairly touches the pillow.

anding in the class room had been as high as his reputation on the track. Then there were the countless odds and ends to be attended to that always accumulate at the end of

tion to health. Dick had no such excuse, but he had put it up to his parents with so much force that he simply must see the Olympics that they had at last consented. By dint of much correspondence and influence exerted in the right quarters, they had been able to arrange for passage on the same steamer that was to convey Bert and the rest of the O

mmittee had done things in lavish style, and the funds contributed by lovers of sport all over the country had given them abundance of means. They had learned from previous experience the disadvantages of having the athletes go over on the regular lin

trip, and therefore no danger of overspeeding in order to reach port on time. Snobbishness and pretense were altogether absent. All were enthusiasts on athletics, all keenly interested in the coming games, and the healthy freemasonry of sport welded them into one great family. The boys had not been on board an hour before they felt perfectly at home. At every turn they met s

, "but I'm from Missouri and you'll ha

ghed Bert. "That was

ll, "in addition to the winged-foot em

said Bert, in mock alarm. "W

s America wins, it doesn't matter much

e," rejoined

and applaud the prowess of a rival. Naturally every one wanted to win, but above the personal feeling rose the national. As long as Ameri

se gymnasium. It was intended that regular practice should be indulged in every day of the trip when the weather permitted. Of course, as "all signs fail in dry weather," so all exercise wo

ough all found it valuable for limbering up, and even the milers and long-distance men could use it to advantage. The deck itself was a fifth of a mile in circumference and h

ions of the vessel. Here they pedaled away religiously, working like beavers yet never getting anywhere. But the practice itself was almost as good as though the miles were actually spinning away behind them. The

t the swimmer's waist was tied to a rope above that held him in the center of the tank. So that while, li

t their specialties. But they were not to be wholly denied. A section of the rail at the stern of the ship was removed, and fastening the discus or ha

ping the rope and passing the medicine ball. The entire schedule was a tribute to the ingenuity and thoroughness of the Committee.

athletic world, and now, with the greatest possible prize in view, they were in no mood to let up. Some, in fact, had been worr

aith and hope and pride of the American people. And when, the next day, with whistles blowing and flags flying and bands playing and crowds cheeri