Evening journal., 1899-06-30
On the Goal Line
By Jean oudin

Hilton was to play the famous Camden
university team, and Kelly was obey
ing the coach's Injunction to keep quiet
and try to think Of something beside
the game.
Some one knocked on his door.
Some" he called, expecting to see
one of the fellows, but the door opened
and messenger boy stuck his head In.
Kelly took the yellow envelope and
carelcssly tore it open. Then, without
word. he rushed out Of the room, al
most upsetting the messenger boy, and
down stairs TO the clerks desk.
"When's the first train north?" he
demanded, breathlessly. Forbes, the
captain, and Coach Shaw were sitting
in the Office, and his question brought
them both to the desk. you're not
running away, hope9" said Forbes.
Il must go home. My fathers hurt
runaway. Read that" and he showed
the telegram into Forbes hand.
Kelly raced upstairs for his hat and
top coat, and was down again In mo-
ment. "Have some Of the fellows take
my football clothes back to Hilton to-
night, win you?" he shouted over his
shoulder, as the door slammed behind
him.
Forbes looked NJ the coach in utter
bewinderment. Here's a nice NESS"
he groaned. whats to be done now"
Shaw shrugged his shoulders. ITS
about as bad as II can be, but what's
the matter with giving Armstrong a
try2 He's been playing fullback on the
scrubs all the fall and working hard,
and he deserves a chance, II anyone
does"
Armstrong as fullbackl / see that
boy buclIing the Camden line He'd
make about as much of an impression
on it as a mosquito on a stone wall"
"Have you anyone else 10 suggest?"
"You have me there, but | see our
finish. Thirty to nothing is a mild es-
innate of the score they'll pile up"
Shaw stood up and squared his broad
shoulders. "Neyer mind, he said, "Ill
take all the responsibility. I'm going
TO find Armstrong and have a talk with
him."
He found Armstrong sitting alone ia
the Office and working out Imaginary
football games on the hotel stationery
Shaw dropped into an empty chair be
side him with a pleasant word, and al
once plunged into the subject. "Dc
you know that you're going TO have 9
chance to immortalize yourself thli
afternoong'
Armstrong gazed at him haHhy.
"Kelly has been called home, and
you're TO be put in at fullbacls in hii
place"
Armstrong drew long breath ant
for moment stared steadily out of th'
window, without saying q word.
"Well," he said, slowly, "I'll give 'en
the best that's in me-"
Shaw sauntered back TO the captain
II believe the boy has good nerve, ant
I've said just enough to make him pla.
like a hend. / made him think W
hadn't a ghost of a show to win, ant
he's Just the sort Of fellow to risl
his neck for a lost cause"
The clock on the high tower Of Col
lcge hall was striking three as the Hi
ton players clambered out of their 'bu
at the field and lined up for a few mir
utes' preliminary practice. A momen
later the Camden team trotted out o
the field at the other end, and begal
passing the ball.
The captains and officials Of the gam
7 conferred for a moment, and then Cap
Forbes hurried back TO his men, wh
grouped anxiously together to hear th
> result of the toss.
"They've won the toss and chose
, the south goal. We kick of. Hurry u
to the middle of the field.'
Hilton lined up along the long whit
I, line in the center of the field, and III
Camden players scattered over the
/. territory, ready for the kick.
The referees whistle sounded, an
the long line of Hilton players surge
forward as the captains toe struck Il
y ball squarely and sent il spinning hig
= in the air toward the Camden goal.
It was a high kick, and Marsh an
j. Bennett, the Hilton ends, were we
Z, under it. The fullback stood waitir
for what looked like an easy catch, bl
his over-confdence betrayed him. I'll
ball dropped squarely into his arm
! slipped through them and rolled on Il
r ground In an instant IL was burie
= under a squirming mass Of Camden an
Hilton players.
II When the men struggled to their fe
n again, Bennett, the Hilton left en-
q was at the bottom, with his arms tigh
e ly clasped around the precious pi
Is skin. The Hilton subs waved sweate
and hugged each other in their gle
The ball was theirs on the Camden te'
h yard line in the first minute of play.
? The ball was passed to the left hal
a back, and he charged into the lin
;s with head down, and the whole tea
y behind him, pushing and straining
= send him through. "Downl" he grunt'
y from under the mass Of humani
n heaped upon him.
k Second down, two yards 10 gair
n called the referee. Camden tackl
m on side." warned the umpine.
n A brief rest and chance TO snatch
~ breath Of air, while the quarterba
~ called out the signal for the next pl
se in quick, jerlSy accents. The ball W
"a snapped back again and the right hi