“Why, we’ll be more than pleased,” urged Eve. “I’d like to know what the matter is with that girl, too. If you find out, will you tell me?” and she laughed again.
“If it’s only my secret I’ll tell you in a minute,” promised Bobby. But in her heart she believed that it would prove to be partly Miss Carrington’s secret, and she could not speak of her affairs, that was sure.
[CHAPTER XII—THE RACES]
Bobby, as she said, “fished” for this invitation and got it while the girls were dressing in the gym. building, before the try-out work on the field that Saturday afternoon. Eve went to her broad jump, while Bobby lined up with a lot of the would-be sprinters from all four classes, to try their speed from the fifty-yard dash up to the quarter-mile.
Only the very best of the candidates were allowed to try the longer races, and they had all to go to Dr. Agnew’s office first. The doctor spent the most of every Saturday afternoon at the gym. building, and he doled out good advice to the girls while he prodded them, and listened to their heart and lung action, and otherwise discovered if they were “fit.”
Laura had been delegated by Mrs. Case to watch the sprinters, and most of them were quickly sent to the courts to play tennis, or basketball, or some other game, and the cinder track was soon devoted to those only who were earnestly endeavoring to develop their speed as runners—and who had some small chance, at least, to make a good record.
Bobby tried the first short dash, and then the third. There was some crowding on the track and she could not do her best—nor did she wish to. As long as she made a good enough showing to be advised to wait for the finals, she was content, and so was Laura.
“Hold yourself in,” advised Mother Wit, smiling on her. “If you spend your best wind trying to beat these others at first you’ll be lost when it comes to the quarter-mile, and be retired.”
So Bobby bided her time until the quarter-mile was called. There were but six contestants. It was the longest trial of speed that Mrs. Case would allow on the track. The Girls’ Branch Athletic League gave but a doubtful approval, at most, to the quarter-mile trial.
The six were “set” on the line and Laura, watch in hand, waited for the arrow to touch the mark, her hand raised.