Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-08
A Football Hero
 By GEORGE BROOKS.
sd dVIIELL," said Allendale, after

things like that, it seems to me the solution of the puzzle is for you to go in for athletics and be knight of the gridiron or champion pole vaulter."
 "What, me-" groaned Trafford. "I tell you, Ally, I would go through fire and water for that girl, but there is some things that are impossible. can never be football hero. I tried just once when was in school. They put me on the scrub eleven for the varsity to practice on and in the first five minutes two big brutes picked me up, threw me down on my head and walked all over me, and after came around, some time next day, l found I had two ribs and my collar bone broken.
 'Hum," said AllendaIe. "That's sad case, Traffy. But doesn't your lady love have any appreciation for your legal abilities as exhibited in the case of Meyer vs. Millbank, which you have just fought out so beau tifully?"
 'She doesn't," said Trafford, sadly. 'sEvcry time go over to see her the front room is full of long-haired youths as wide as they are long and with their faces all clawed up like they had been fighting bears, and am presented to various half backs, and center rushes, and full guards until you can't rest. After I am duly presented thenAI ans-forgotten and allowed to sit back Tn the library and hear her batter tell how he held back Longstreet's whole rebel column for all day or week or two at Antietam, or Gettysburg, or Shiloh, I forget where. And through the oEen door can hear Lucy talking with those pigskin chasers about punts and downs and saying, 70, what hero you are, MT. Jones, to struggle across the line with rib broken and three men clinging to your back O, it's just blighting my life. She used to like me immensely before this ath- letic fad of hers began, and if I could only do something to keep her interested in me until she gets over the. attack I would be all right. As it is-''
 'As it is," said Al1endale, "you are drifting apart"
 "That's it," said Trafford, Eve are" The two walked on in silence. Then Allendale gave a whistle. He drew Trafford into a dark alley and there were mysterious whisperings for five ! minutes, after which Trafford en- tered drug store. It was almost nine o'clock that evening when Trafford called on Miss Jukes. He limped painfully into the room, leaning on cane, and was I preceded by strong odor like that I of the operating room of hospital. ssWhy, MT. Trafford,'' said Miss l Jukes in astonishment, Sis it you? And you've made me lose a box of caramels. bet Capt. Kling-you l know Capt. Kling, he's half back of the State university-that it was Willie Bowling, the new center rush l of the Foster academy eleven, that was coming because heard the cane and smelled the arnica.. But you l haven't been in an accident, have you?" she asked, anxiously, as she l looked at Trafford's cane and took I another sniff of the arnica.
 1 "No," said Trafford, as he sat down with great difficulty on the pile I of cushions Miss Jukes hastily arr | ranged for him on the sofa. 'sYou | know I am the quarter back for the All Alumni Tigers, and we had our first game this afternoon"
 l ssWhat?n said Miss Jukes, in aston ishment. t.Why, I thought you de tested football. But you are actual l .ly on a team. Why, isn't that love . ly."
 Capt. King, the famous half back, glared defiantly at Trafford and took up a book and looked idly through the pages. Miss Jukes had eyes and ears only for Trafford.
 ! 70, but did do myself proud. I've seen enough games of football to be able to put up pretty good yarn, and you ought to have heard me de scribe that game. told how in the second half, with only ten more min
 utes to play and the score tied, the ball was handed to me for run. l went down that field with the whole pack at my heels. I dodged two or three men, but finally the center
 rush caught me just as I was six feet from the goal line. That center rush weighed 23O pounds. was go- ing to make him 260, but I compro- missed on 230. I said he piled right
 on top of me, but that I just got up
 on all fours and trotted across that line, carrying the center rush or my
 back for all the world like New E foundland carrying a freezing wan
 derer in the Alps into a monastery. Jennie laughed and clapped her hands
 and said it must have been fine, but that chuckle faced King said, Must have been pretty fast runner, that
 center weight to go ahead of all his
 team and overhaul you right near the 1 goal. Usually the center is the slow est man in the eleven I told him that this center weight was unusual
 Iy quick on his feet, and Kling
 snorted and said he must be. But
 that let him out, and Jennie never looked at him the rest of the evening,
 but kept me talking about the game
 until I fairly got ashamed of myself