462 
THE ST RAM) MAGAZLXE. 
that griifi expression, those massive shoulders 
and hips ? 
Bifi ! Bang ! 
Old Higgs was driving terrifically, sending 
the balls to Mabel’s back hand. Mabel 
returned them, smiling. The crowd howled 
itself hoarse when she captured the third 
game after deuce had been called nine times. 
Bott was trembling with excitement and 
enthusiasm. John became acutely sensible 
that this man beside him was keener than 
himself. He heard Bott saying : — 
“ Popular opinion counts in these contests. 
The will of the crowd. Ninety-nine out of 
every hundred here want Mabel to win. 
That’s an asset ! ” 
“ Shush-h-h ! ” murmured Porson, who 
was just behind. John realized that this 
match ought to be played in breathless 
silence. 
The result went up on the great scoring- 
board. The voice of the umpire drifted 
across the ground : — 
“ Three games to one. Mrs. Higginbotham 
loads.” 
John felt that his satisfaction was indecent. 
He muttered to himself : “ My Mab must win. 
I really want her to win. She deserves to 
win,” 
The stand rocked when Mabel took the 
fifth game. She had begun to pass her 
antagonist down the side lines. Again and 
again her balls pitched within a few inches of 
them. 
“ What a lovely length 1 ” said Bott. 
Old Higgs won the sixth game on her ser- 
vice, but she moved less swiftly to the centre 
of the court. Then a very demon of energy 
and determination seemed to possess her. 
Bott had to admit that she was irresistible. 
She had grasped the vital necessity of over- 
whelming a younger and more active player. 
First set to Mrs. Higginbotham 1 Six games 
to two ! 
The two women met near the umpire’s 
chair. John could see that Mabel was saying 
something pleasant to the ex-champion. What 
a darling 1 What a sportswoman ! Toomer 
ought to have seen that. 
Old Higgs smiled grimly as she listened to 
Mabel’s congratulations. Mabel had not 
turned a hair. John’s heart bounded within 
him. Bott, however, was grinding his teeth 
and making inarticulate noises. His face 
brightened when he saw Mrs. Higginbotham’s 
hand go to her mouth. 
“ Thank the Lord ! ” he exclaimed. 
“ What’s up ? ” inquired John. By this 
time any mean wish that his beloved might 
be defeated had passed from him. He would 
have melted down the porringers and tank- 
ards and turned his famous Gainsborough face 
to the wall had such sacrifices been exacted 
by the gods. 
“ Old Iliggs has indigestion.” 
“ What ? ” 
“ She’s just stuffed a bismuth lozenge into 
her mouth. There goes another. Yes, the 
poor old girl is a wonder, but that running up 
on her service has been too much for her little 
Mary.” 
Mabel won the first two games of the 
second set, after a terrific and memorable 
duel a Gutrance. 
Her steady returns down the side lines, her 
self-possession, and above all her lobbing, 
defeated the more brilliant veteran. The 
crowd became delirious. The gift of prophecy 
descended upon Bott* He gripped John’s 
arm fiercely as he whispered : — 
“ Mabel will take this set fairly easily. 
Then we shall see the most interesting game 
of the year. Old Higgs will pull herself 
together. She’ll play canny. Mabel will 
be over-confident. 1 can hardly look on.” 
And John saw that his face was white and 
drawn, lie asked himself the abominable 
question : a Ought Mab to have married 
Bott ? ” 
Mabel took the second set, but not easily — 
fourteen games were played. The Higgin- 
botham revealed discouragement by little 
gestures of annoyance. Twice she was within 
a point of winning the set. And then occurred 
an incident which will be repeated for ever 
and ever when champions and ex-champions 
gather together. The umpire had just de- 
clared “ Deuce 1 ” The Higginbotham served 
a fault. Her second service struck the top 
of the net. Bott was confident of this ; so 
was John. But the umpire — umpires are 
not infallible — declared otherwise. Mabel’s 
clear voice was heard in protest* 
“ It was a let.” 
The umpire frowned. Mabel had returned 
the service. In a portentous tone he delivered 
his ultimatum : — 
“ ’Vantage to striker.” 
The Higginbotham served another fault. 
Obviously the wrong decision of the umpire 
had disturbed her. Her second service was 
lamentably weak. It pitched short, bound- 
ing high. Mabel never failed to punish such 
weak deliveries. This, indeed, was her 
famous push shot, taught to her by Bott — a 
crisp, low return across the court. She raised 
her racquet — and let the ball go by ! 
The shout that ascended from the spectators 
