Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-05-26


can't mean it."
Miss Betty went on: "That l would
marry him if his team, the Frankforts.
won the tournament game at the coun-
ty fair. / will be fair and square,
Tommy. I will go further. promise
to marry you if your team wins out
and gets the prize. Mono, that's all.
I won't discuss it. You know what
I'll do and 1 shall do nothing else"
But, Betty" pleaded Tommy Nc
Clenahan. "you-you know my team
can't win. 1t never has and it can't
now"
Miss Betty smiled. "Then," she said
archly, $50 much the better, Tommy,
for Mr.. Masterson." Tommy said
nothing further. He strobe along by
her side with his glance upon the
ground.
cts the man whose team wins the
game Tommy" she said at parting.
by George" muttered Tommy to
himself, later, "she knew we couldn't
win. thought she liked me better
than to-
The town of Frankfort Plains was
the county seat of Frankfort county.
Frankfort Plains was fashionable
was one Of the fashionable events of
the year. Indeed, at all seasons the
Plains was lively place and the two
athletic clubs helped to make it so.
The two athletic clubs supported, by
grace Of the pocketbooks Of few
millionaires, two good football teams.
The FRANKFORT Plains club team was
captained by John Masterson, Esq,
and the Wayside Athletic club team
by Tommy McClenahan. Master
son had peopled his team with bull
dogs like himself; Masterson's team
had invariably won. Both men were
college graduates. The county fair
judges, also by grace Of the aforesaid
pocketbooks, had offered this year q
$1,000 cash prize to the team that
won the football game in the county
fair tournament. There was never any
restriction as to what teams should
compete, but as the Wayside could
lick anything in the county except the
Frankfort and as the Frankfort could
lick the Wayside there was little
doubt which teams would play, and
there was little doubt also which team
would win. In the midst Of the prepa-
ration for the fair Mr.. John Master
son had proposed to Miss Betty Pen
nington for the thirteenth time, and
Tommy had proposed for the fifteenth
time, and her ultimatum had gone
forth.
Now, it is just as well to state right
here that Miss Betty had a small
brother who hated Mr.. Masterson and,
who was a crony Of Tommy McClena-
hans and that this small brother
carried to the latter all the news he,
gathered during the course Of the days
and weeks. This may or may not
have some bearing on the case.
N1cCicnohon got his toam out and
had them in practice at every avail,
able hour Of the day. He had to Dol
the best he could. He could not tell
them why. But they worked, for they
were after the $1,000 and the applause
Of the community. They worked.
Masterson, on the contrary, gave his
team rest. Everybody wondered
why, but Masterson was car, and
they left him alone. Now, Masterson
was the graduate Of college whose
name is household word-a, college
which battles with another college on
the football field every fall, upon
which battle hangs the interest of mil
lions. 1t Is invariably the game Of the
year. But this college team stands.
up to be defeated, except upon oc-
casion. Masterson himself had once
redeemed 1t by kicking goal from the
field. Masterson thought Of this col
lege team which bowed to none other
than to its successful rival.
"All," muttered Masterson to him
self, SIS fair in love-" Then he wrote
letter to the captain Of the college
team.
"Send me one or two good men,"
he wrote. There's $1,000 in it, and
you can have the bigger part Of it.
am working for something else, and
want to win this game. McClena-
udu udS lew ludA VI SWO lAoS IL
afraid Of. I won't take chances"
The president of the college club,
with an eye on the $1,000, Immediate
ly replied, and favorably too Mas
terson, who had been to this time
somewhat uncertain, now rubbed his
hands with glee. The day arrived
and the hour. Miss Betty Pennington,
with sparkling eyes, wearing COM
posite bouquet made up of two, sent
to her by Masterson and McClenahan,
was Seated ii the front row o9 tbs
grand stand: Mastersoa came out and
looked the field Over and waved ct
Miss Betty. sMy Betty" he SAID IL
himself. McClednhap dig the same.
The air was filled with a vague unrest.
The stands were filed with strangers
There was an air Of mystery abroad.
Suddenly a door where the Frankfort
men were quartered opened, and eleven
men filed out, clothed in the Frankfort
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