Middletown transcript., 1908-09-19
Being Tried For the Eleven
BY LESLIE W. QU1RK

oSHN 20 IA AAS n1Lnu o. klldu' -
had played in high.sehool, Of
course, as well as on the "var-
sity" team.
Yes, sir, he said, meekly, in an
swer to the question.
Then go over there and get
into suit as quickly as you can!
ordered the coach.
The blood mounted to Blake's
cheeks at the brusque manner in
which the man spoke, but he said
nothing. If the coach took him
for a student, let him. He would
get into the 'Logs' and show
him how the game should be
played.
He put on padded suit that he
found in the locker-room; this
was like old times again.
The coach eyed his great form
silently, although Blake took care
to stride along with the lumber
ing gait common to heavy.mus-
cled athletes, and ordered him in
at left half, back On the scrub, or
second, team. The substitutes
looked at him hopefully.
Ten minutes of sharp signal
practice sufficed to put him in
touch with the simpler plays, and
he was glad when the coach lined
up the two teams in the middle
of the field. Now he would show
them what he could do
The varsity team had the ball,
The quarter-back's sharp eyes
passed rapidly over the eleven
players on the other team, and he
gave the signals with queer,
jerky intonatiions.
Suddenly the ball " as snapped,
The whole team seemed to work
on pivot. 1t was an end run,
timed to a second, and seemingly
almost impregnable in its inter
ference. Blake only smiled. He
knew a trick that would stop it,
should the little end miss the
man.
The end was caught by the
first man in the interference, ano
sent whirling far out into the
field. Blake set his teeth, still
smiling with his lips, and dived
for the runner.
Something--someb ebody-caught
his shoulder with a terrible force
and he turned over and over
Two players fell with him. After
they had got up, he lay a moment
dazed and wondering.
Get up there ! ordered the
coach. Don't be a baby! Yor
made a fool of yourself in thai
play. Get up, 1 say
Blake jumped to his feet. Ht
was fairly crazed with anger, but
down in his heart he realized thai
the man was only speaking the
truth. The smile was gone now
and his chin was coming for
ward.
I'll make good on the next play
be said to himself. I'll show
him!
He watched the quarter back
and decided the play was to gt
through the line. He heard the
signals come in quick, SHARP
tones, and saw the hands of the
quarter. back open suddenly.
The ball was passed to half
back, who lowered his head and
Dlunged forward. with a uuicl,
intuition of the weak spot in the
| line.
| Blake's big shoulders were
backing the man at tackle on the
instant. He dug his cleated
shoes into the soft dirt, anG
pushed with all the power Of bis
great body, pushed until the
blood was making his face burn
But the great mass moved hin
back and back and back. There
was no stopping the play. i
looked like a touchdo tt
Blake, and only the quick &C
ton of the full back in falling JUS
in front of the mass, and plung
ing it to the ground over him
prevented the scoring.
Blake scrambled out of the
scrimmage, and stood waiting
for the others to get to theil
| feet.
Afraid, eh sneered a voice il
his ear. Did you think yol
could push the whole team back
Why didn't, you get down il
front of them away back there
as Bilkens' did !? Afraid, / sup
pose?
i Blake whirled angrily on tht
coach. The man stood staring a.
him with curling lip, and some
how the rage in the boys hear