Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/276

Rh has to have. You'll soon find out just about how much power you can spend in getting away and how much you can use in the first twenty seconds and how much you'll need for the final spurt. Only, until you have learned that, play it safe and don't try all the way. If you do you'll finish tied up in a hard knot! See what I mean?"

"Yes, sir, thanks."

"Try it and see if I'm not right." Mr. Addicks perched himself on the table again and swung a foot thoughtfully. "I wish I had the coaching of you for a couple of weeks," he said. "I'd make a two-twenty man out of you or I miss my guess!"

"I wish you had," replied Perry wistfully. "No one told me all that, Mr. Addicks. Couldn't you—I mean, I don't suppose you'd have time to show me, would you?"

"I'm afraid not." Mr. Addicks shook his head. "I'd like to, though. I guess the trouble with this Skeet fellow is that he's got so much on his hands he can't give thorough attention to any one thing. Still, I should think he'd see that his sprinters are making a mess of it. White ought to savvy it, anyway." He was silent a minute. Then: "Look here," he said abruptly, "what time do you get up in the morning?"