The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1902-11-28

platform and stood waiting for the oth.r
train, when the telegraph operator tapped
MN on the shoulder. "Mr. Charles
TOWN. he asked. Charlie nodded and
was handed telegram. "Wait whore
you are" he read. "Will reach Bar
bridge at eleven five." His fathers n,me
was signed to the message. and upoa
teokins at his watch Charlie found that
ne had but three minutes to wait He
paced the platform impatiently, trying to
guess the cause of this very uausual re-
quest. until the train came in. His faith
er spranE from the platform of the smok-
er and came to meet him with beaming
Il thought l would catch you, Soy"
he said. II wired to four points on the
line to be sure of you. want to see you
win that game for Valley School," Char
Hes heart swelled with a sudden joy, 10
keen that he could not speak; then sank
again. Gn
Il don't believe l can get back in
time" he faltered. at takes four hours
from here, you know, and there's no train
for an hour, and the game begins at 81
Nonsense" said his father. "I'll wire
them to delay matters, and you know no
contest ever comes off on time, anyhow"
When they reached the academy town
they found the streets deserted. Every
one is at the field" said Charlie. "Hear
that" A faint gust of cheering came
frosn the grounds, half a mile away.
Valley School had grim visions Of de-
feat. The first half had closed with a
score of 6 to 0, in Millville's favor, The
enemy had slowly, stubbornly, advanced
the ball the length OF, the field for a
touchdown, after smashing the choicest
trick plays of Valley Schools eleven. A
goal had followed. The home team was
not pulling together. The players did
not get off we'll at the signals. The ball
wss not put in play properly. Fumbles
were frequent. Their pet play, bluff
right-end run, delayed pass, and then
a mass on left tackle, had resulted in a
loss every time it had been tried. Their
confidence was gone Still their defen-
sive game was excellent. Time after time
there had been individual plays of the
most sensational order, yet they could not
advance the ball. Millville had slowly
but surely worn them out, driven them
back and ever back toward their goa
line, then past it, and they were beaten
team at the end of the first half.
Now the second half had begun. The
ball had been in the play scarcely five
minutes, and Millville, by steady ham
mering Of the line. had forced the ball tc
Valley Schools ten-yard line. "A small
contingent from Millville shouted madly
The crowded grand stand was silent. The
coach pranccd up and down the side lines
and implored brace. 1t came. Three
times the Millville warriors butted theil
heads into defense that would not yield
They had not tried trick play once
On the next signal the full back, behind
three players, licked around left end
Half the Millvile team were before
them in an instant. but Millville's lusty
right guard had the ball. and he plunged
through the weakened center. He col
lided with stocky little figure and fcl
back yard. The substitute quarter
(Black) had by magnificent tackle saw
ed Valley School from another touch
down. The Millville man arose, bu
Black lay still. He was raised and sup
stand came a chorus of feminine cheers
A little figure had shot out of the gym
nasium and out on to the field. "Char
liew "Charlie TOWN. shrieked the girl.
in the grand stand. Valley School hat
the ball.
Charlie punted out of danger. The bal
was Mllville's at the center of the field
They started to push their way dowl
the field again, but the Valley Schoo
eleven had decided that they did not wan
to be pushed Millville tried again ant
again, but made no gain. Their Captain
signaled for kick, but some rufiian from
Valley School broke the line, blocked tn
kick, got the ball. ran of with it ant
would not stop until he had gone thirt.
yards. This was awful! Millville coult
not understand it. Why couldn't ,hi
team stay beaten? From the under grad
yates on the side lines came roar o
"Charlie TOWN. "Charlie TOWN.!
"First DOWN. "First DOWN. - A.
Then Millville's Captain called for
! brace. His team were perfectly willin
to brace, and they braced so hard an
played so low that Charlie had no diff
Guilty in hurdling the line. He leape
over the back Of the little tackle, dodge
| the backs and, running three feet to bi
pursuers' two, made beautiful touch
down directly between the goal posts
| OF course, he kicked the goal.
| The score was tied, but the Millvill
blood was up. Try as they would, tn
Valley School team could not get beyon
the Millville's 2O-yard line, and there tn
ball was with only one minute to play
| Millville knew that Charlie would try
| goal from the field, and they prepared t
break through, and two seconds after tn
ball had left Charles toe he was immt
diately buried under several hundre
| mounds of bone and sinew from Millvill,
But the ball had gone over the crossba
between the goal posts, just where it wa
needed most. The game was over.
| Charlie had to be carried to the gym
nasium. When he opened his eyes hi
| father was hurting him fearfully abou
the neck. He protested. Lie still an
let me set your collarbone," said his fatl
er; ''if you don't, you will be lopsidet
and then Miss Millie won't take any NOR
interest in you" Charlie blushed. "Wha
do you know about ~ he asked.
"Well," was the reply, "she raised
fund among the girls here, with whic
she paid prominent Boston physician
look after all those poor little sick pi
tients of mine for one day, so l coul
come up here and set collarbones ft
i Voc, -