Evening journal., 1899-06-30


for him, but as he went into 1t he in
voluntarily threw up one arm 10 shield
his face. The Camden quarterback,
lrrouching low behind the line, buried
himself at Armstrong; knees and
tackled him hard and fast
As he plunged forward over his
tacller the uclkless boy felt the ball
slip from the grasp of his left arm
and had sickening consciousness that
he had fumbled. The referee darted in
10 the mob of men. pulling and haul
ing, to find the ball. "Cnmden's balll"
he called out.
Armstrong ran back up the field to
the fullback's position on the defensive,
wishing at every step that the earth
would open and swallow him up.
Twice the Camden backs smashed in
to the Hilton line and then the full
back, with a strong Kick, sent the ball
50 yards up the field and the goal was
out OF danger.
Up and down the field the battle was
waged the rest Of the first half, with no
percSptible advantage 20 either team,
and the half closed with the bah in Hill
tons possession on their own 4o-yard
line.
The captain came up 10 Armstrong in
the dressing-room, where the players
were resting and regaining their
strength. "That was n bad tumble you
made, old man, but don't let IL worry
you. I've seen older heads than yours
get ratified for less cause than you
had, and you may have a chance TO re-
deem yourself in the next half
The IS minutes of resting soon
passed, and as the players filed out the
cnptain turned 10 Armstrong and said,
with a look half quzzical and half Sc
rious: III you tumble again in this
half, young fellow, I'll be hanged II l
don't make you walk home"
In the second half the superior
weight and strength of the Camden
players began 70 tell, and, in spite of q
brave defense, the play was forced into
the HiltoR territory. Nothing but re-
peated punts saved the Hilton goal line
from being crossed, aud each successive
onslaught carried the ball a little
nearer.
All hope of scoring On the Camden
team had disappeared, and the exhaust
ed team longed only for the call OF
time TO save them from defeat. The
Hilton line was going to pieces, and, in
spite OF the captains desperate efforts
to rally his men, they were being
forced back and back, until the bal
lay on the ten-yard line, and it was
Camden's first down. Nothing short ol
miracle could save them now.
Bucldng the line had netted all The
gains in this half, as tho Hilton ends
were too sure taclSlers to allow any ens
runs. The play had drifted over to on'
, side OF the field, and the ends had bseI
! drawn in by the repeated attacks oI
the line.
] Seeing this, and wishing TO score thi
Z touchdown where goal would be easy
the Camden quarterback gave the sig
q nal for q fake buck. The fullbacl
charged into the line, his head dow
!. as though he carried the bail. The Hi
4 ton players threw themselves into tn
' center 10 stop the rush, and even tn
e ends, forgetting all caution, rushed in
d to the thick OF the fight.
K But the ball was not there. Insteal
Of passing it TO the fullback, the quar-
i terback had held II for moment an
J. then tossed il to the left half, kenng
S DIV. In an instant Kennedy was oi
l. like a shot for the Hilton goal. Arm
i strong was the only man between th
n fying halfbaclS and a touchdown.
n Cutting well across the field TO shak
OF all possible pursuers, Kennedy wa
e running almost parallel to his opp'
L nent.
% As the latter gathered himself fc
. the final spring for the tackle the ruI
ner stopped short and lodged quiekl
II back. Armstrong whirled and thre'
p out his arms in last desperate eifoi
TO make the tackle. His outfung arr
y struck the bah squarely and Knocked
y from Kennedy's teo-conhdent grasp.
He turned to seize It again, but IL WI
too late. The ball bounded up almoi
- y into Armstrong; arms, and
clutched it half involuntarily. II va
4, hundred yards TO the Other goal. bl
he had a clear field.
a The whole Camden team was in h
m pursuit. Armstrong; comrades wei
10 following in the general ruclz, shoutir
~ words Of encouragement which
a. never heard, and blocking OF the lal
: CARDS on the other team.
,e Kennedy was close behind the be
d and gaining every yard, but the ga
ID was too wide to be closed easily.
Armstrong heard the flying feet al
ct painting breath behind him, an
i, strained every nerve. AS he gave o.
T. last leap to throw himself across ]
e. line Kennedy sprang at him ike
rs hawk and nailed him in the air, al
e. pursuer and pursued came down yitl
n thump-across the goal line.
a 1ulSe? OF course it was, bat ii w
II the game, and what else 90 we play 70
ie. Armstrong felt more than repaid VIII
m the captain svrung his hand and c
to claimed: "Good boyl I'm proud
ed know you. There won't be a thing I
~ good for you when we get back to I