ard player to down, when Riverport tackled her rival
in baseball, or on the gridiron--Felix Wagner, the best all-round
athlete of which Mechanicsburg boasted.

It was seen that Colon did not mean to follow the same tactics in this
sprint of the half mile. He knew that he was up against a different sort
of man now, than in the first event of his class. And when the three
competitors passed for the third time the grandstand, they were pretty
evenly bunched, each jealously watching lest one of the others get an
advantage.

Amid a din of cheering they reached the other end of the track, all
going strong.

"Now watch Colon hump himself!" shouted the megaphone boy.

"There he goes! Ain't he the kangaroo though?" bawled another.

"But keep your eye on Wagner, will you? He's flying like the wind.
Better believe your wonder will have to do his prettiest right now, with
that hurricane at his heels. Go it, Felix; you can win it! Wagner!
Wagner! He's going to do it! Hoop-la! Me-chan-icsburg forever!"

Wagner was coming like a bird, and his flying feet seemed hardly to
touch the ground. The Paulding contestant appeared to be so far
outclassed that some people imagined he must be almost standing still;
but he was doing his best, poor fellow.

Apparently Colon heard the sound of Wagner close at his shoulder as the
other made a last spurt, meaning to pass him. Colon had just one more
"kink" to let loose, and as he did so he bounded ahead, passing the
string some five feet in front of the second entry.

The roar of cheers that arose suddenly died out.

"Look at Colon! Something happened to him! That last spurt must have
ruptured a blood vessel! That settles the third race, because Wagner
will have it easy!"

The marshal and his many assistants had some difficulty in keeping order
while a crowd of athletes gathered around Colon, who had fallen headlong
after breasting the tape, and lay there on the ground.

Presently the director appeared, and waved his hand for silence,
remarking:

"I regret to say that the winner of the last half mile sprint sprained
his ankle just as he clinched his victory, and will be utterly unable to
take part in any other contest to-day. We are glad it is no more serious
injury; and one and all extend to him our sympathy, as well as our
admiration for the game fight he has put up!"

Brad Morton helped Colon to a seat, where he could have his swollen
ankle properly attended to, and at the same time