OCR Text |
Show The Ski Carnival The cold north wind blew with all its fury and might, driving the snow forward with blinding speed. Ken Mason pulled pul-led his coat collar higher and struggled through the ever-deepening ever-deepening drifts. Ken was the son of a rich banker, William C. Mason, who pampered and spoiled his only son. Ken was a likable person but he knew he was good and never missed an opportunity to show. That was why he had come to the ski carnival today. He was an accomplished skier as a result of long hours of coaching and practicing. Soon the route was explained and all the contestants were off on the distance race for the much acclaimed championship. After years of experience in skiing, Ken still loved the soft, crunchy sound his skis made on the sparkling snow. He crouched crouch-ed lower to obtain more speed and like a swift dart" headed among the stately pines. Suddenly Sud-denly his eyes caught a small dark shape farther down the mountain side. "It looks as though someone is in trouble," said Ken to himself. It seemed to him hours before he reached the girl sitting on a large rock. "Aren't you in the ski contest?" con-test?" barked Ken. The girl looked iat Ken a minute or so before she answered, an-swered, "Yes," a little sadly. "Then why are you sitting here?" "I broke one of my skiis on that rock over there," she said. "I've just got to win, not because be-cause of myself but because there's some smart alec who thinks he can beat me." Ken thought a minute before he answered her. This contest meant much to him. His Dad promised him a new car in the spring if he won. But this girl looked so unhappy . . . still, what did he owe her? She thought he was a smart alec. "How would you like to use mine?" he asked her. "They could be adjusted in a minute." "But aren't you in this contest?" con-test?" "Heck, no," he told her, "I just came here to watch the skiers from the front line." Soon the skis were fastened on her ski boots and she called as she departed, "Thanks a lot. I'll do something for you someday." some-day." For the first time in his life Ken felt as if he had done something truly worthwhile. There were still the fellows and girls to face, but still it didn't seem so important now. Don Stauffer. |