"To be sure he does," said the champion speller.

"Can you spell ?" "I can spell down any master that ever came to our district," he replied.

As time passed on, Phillips found himself a lion.

Strangers desired an introduction to him as a notability, and invited the champion to dissipate with them at the soda fountain in the village drug store.

It became a matter of pride with him that he was the most famous speller in the world.