River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-07-06
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.
Come" he called, expecting to see
one of the fellows, but the door opened
and a messenger boy stuck his head in.
Kelly took the yellow envelope and
carelessly tore it open. Then, without
a 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, hope?" said Forbes.
81 must go home. My fathers hurt
runaway. Read that" and he showed
abe 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, will you?" he shouted over his
shoulder, as the door slammed behind
him.
Forbes looked at the coach in utter
bewinderment. Here's nice mess, y
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 fullback on the
scrubs all the fall and working hard
and he deserves a chance, if anyone
does"
armstrong as fullbacki l see that
boy bucking 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 to suggest?'
you have me there, but i see our
finish. Thirty to nothing is mild es-
innate of the score they'll pile up"
Shaw stood up and squared his broad
shoulders. Never 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 in
the office and working out imaginary
otball games on the hotel stationery.
Shaw dropped into an empty chair be-
side him with pleasant word, and at
once plunged into the subject. "Do
you know that you're going TO have a
chance to immortalize yourself this
afternoon"
Armstrong gazed at him blankly.
kelly has been called home, and
you're to be put in at fullback in his
place"
Armstrong drew long breath and
for moment stared steadily out of the
window, without saying a word.
WELL" he said, slowly, III give EN-
the best that's in me-
Shaw sauntered back to the captain.
al believe the boy has good nerve, and
I've said Just enough to make him play
like a tiend. l made him think we
hadn't a ghost of show to win, and
he's just the sort of a fellow to risk
his neck for n lost cause"
The clock on the high tower of Col
lege hall was striking three as the Hill
ton players clambered out of their bus
at the field and lined up for few min
utes' preliminary practice. A moment
later the Camden team trotted out on
the field at the other end, and began
passing the ball.
The captains and officials of the game
conferred for a moment, and then Capt.
Forbes hurried back to his men, who
grouped anxiously together to hear the
result of the toss.
They've won the toss and chosen
the south goal. We kick off. Hurry up
to the middle of the field
Hilton lined up along the long white
line in the center of the field, and the
Camden players scattered over their
territory, ready for the kick.
The referees whistle sounded, and
the long line of Hilton players surged
forward as the captains toe struck the
ball squarely and sent it spinning high
in the air toward the Camden goal.
1t was high kick, and Marsh and
Bennett, the Hilton ends, were well
under it. The fullback stood waiting
for what looked like an easy catch, but
his over-confidence betrayed him. The
ball dropped squarely into his arms,
slipped through them and rolled on the
ground. In an instant it was buried
mass VI ohhtt
Hilton players.
When the men struggled to their feet
again, Bennett, the Hilton left end,
was at the bottom, with his arms tight
" clasped around the precious pig
skin. The Hilton subs waved sweaters
and Rugged each other in their glee.
The ball was theirs on the Camden ten
ward line in the first minute of play.
The ball was passed to the left half
back, and he charged into the line,
with head down, and the whole team
behind him, pushing and straining to
send him through. Down." he grunted
from under the mass of humanity
heaped upon him.
Second down, two yards TO gain,
called the referee. Camden tackles
on side!" warned the umpire.
A brief rest and a chance to snatch a
breath of air, while the quarterback
called out the signal for the next play
in quick. ierky accents. The ball was
snapped back again and the right half
drove through the opening made for
him between right guard and tackle
for two yards and half, and it was first
down again.
Armstrong, standing in his place be
tween the two halfbacks, with his
hands on his knees, heard the quarter
back calling his number for the next
play. 1t was tandem buck with the
left halfback heading the interference
and the fullback behind him with the
ball.
AS Armstrong dashed into the linz
the quarterback passed the bali
straight into his arms with unerriug
swiftness. The line was opened wide
for him. but as he went into it he in
voluntarily threw up one arm to shield
his face. The Camden quarterback
.rouching low behind the line, buried
himself at Armstrong; knees and
tackled him hard and fast.
As he plunged forward over his
tackler the luckless boy felt the bal
alp 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