Evening journal., 1899-09-01
On the Goal Line
By jean oudin.
.---------------.----.,

" ELY, the Hilton college fullback,
IN was lying stretched out on his bed
In the Camden house. In the afternoon
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.
-Come," he called, expecting 10 see
one Of the fellows, but the door opened
and "a messenger boy stuck his head In.
Kelly took the yellow envelope and
carelcssly tore it open. Then, without
q 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, l hope?" said, Forbes.
81 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 a mo-
ment. Have some OF the fellows take
my football clothes back to Hilton to-
night, win your he shouted over his
shoulder, as the door slammed behind
him.
Forbes looked at the coach in utter
bewindermert. Here's a nice mess" I"
he groaned. whats to be done now p"
Shaw shrugged his shoulders. ITS
about as bad as it can be, but what's
the matter with giving Armstrong a
try? He's been playing fullbacll on the
scrubs all the fan and working hard,
and he deserves a chance, if anyone
does"
Armstrong as fullbackl I see that
hoy bucling the Camden line. He'd
make about as much Of an impression
on it as n mosquito on a stone wall"
"IIave you anyone else TO suggest?"
"Nou have me there, but l 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. ''Never mind" he said, ''I'll
take all the responsibility. I'm going
TO find Armstrong and have talk with
him."
lie found Armstrong sitting alone ir
the office and working out imaginary
football games on the hotel stationery
Shaw dropped into an empty chair be
side him with q pleasant word, and a.
once plunged into the subject. "DS
you know that you're going TO have {
chance to immortalize yourself thil
afternoon?"
Armstrong gazed at him blanlsly.
"Kelly has been called home, an,
you're TO be put in at fullback in hi
place"
Armstrong drew a long breath ant
for q moment stared steadily cut of III
window, without saying q word.
WELL" no said, slowly, ''rll give 'er
the best that's in me-"
Shaw sauntered back-to the captain
: II believe the boy has good nerve, an
I've said just enough to make him pla
like a fend. I made him think W
hadn't a ghost of a show TO win, anl
] AAG NAaA ADE HNAi VI n ANAA0n ~ LAB
his neck for q lost cause"
The clock on the high tower Of Col
lege hall was striking three as the Hill
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 bega
passing the ball.
J The captains and officials Of the gam
p conferred for a moment, and then Cap
r Forbes hurried back to his men, VIII
] grouped anxiously together to hear tn
: result Of the toss.
They've won the toss and chose
the south goal. We kick off. Hurry u
to the middle of the field"
Hilton lined up along the long whit
line in the center ef the field, and th
Camden players scattered over thei
territory, ready for the kick.
The referees whistle sounded, an
? the long line of Hilton players surge
forward as the captains toe struck IL
ball squarely and sent il spinning hig
b in the air toward the Camden goal.
1t was q high kick, and Marsh an
5 Bennett, the Hilton ends, were we
$ under it, The fullbaclS stood waitin
= for what looked like an easy catch, bi
u his ovcr-confdence betrayed him. n
= ball dropped squarely into his arm
:, slipped through them and rolled on III
I ground. In an instant it was burie
o under a squirming mass Of Camden an
Hilton players.
l' When the men struggled to their fee
= again, Bennett, the Hilton left en-
g was at the bottom. with his arms tigh
D ly clasped around the precious pi
= skin. The Hilton subs waved sweater
e and hugged each other in their gle
g The ball was theirs on the Camden tei
/ yard line in the first minute Of play.
a The ball was passed TO the left hal
Il back, and he charged into the lin
3 with head down, and the whole tea
behind him, pushing and straining
5, sendhim through. "Downl" he grunt'
e from under the mass Of humanii
II heaped upon him.
?, Second down, two yards TO gain
y called the referee. Camden tackl