The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-28
The EVENING STORY
Kicking a Goal.
CBy Littell Mcclung.J

/ the great football game between CIin-
| ton and DarnalI, their conversation
was not of the gridiron as they walked
| oval.
There's only one thing that keeps
| me from becoming engaged to you
! right now, Thornton" said the girl af-
| ter serious pause.
can't guess it," answered the stall
wart quarterback of the Clinton
| eleven.
Just this" she said. ''I am not al
| together sure that you really need me
in your life. You are a strong, self
reliant boy, capable of fighting your
own way over the obstacles that will
| confront you.
More than all else put together, I
want to know that without my en-
| couragement you would he accom-
| plishing less-that will always be an
| inspiration to you no matter what
For a moment the young man did
| not reply. Then he looked at his
companion, his gaze sincere.
Leta, you're right" he agreed
feel about it. Deep down in my
heart. know that you would always
inspire me to strive for the best in
life. But must convince you of this,
and I'll do 1t, too, dear girl, If 1 get
the chancei"
Maybe you will, Thornton" she re-
piled, and hope that you will more
than you can guess. Why-why not
begin at the game today?'
That's what 1 intend to do, Leta!''
was his prompt response. "I expect
to play as I never played before, just
because you are wearing Clinton's
colors and wearing my pennant-it's a |
pretty one, isn't it?
The gold and brown stripes har-
monte beautifully with that bright |
brown gown you are wearing. Your
ticket calls for a seat back on the
clearly despite the crowds"
1T certainly is fine" she de-
clared, that little me may be an in |
SEPARATION to a Clinton boy to play at
his best! But it seems almost a pity |
that you are not one of the halfbacks |
or in the line-though 1 know every
thing depends on the strength and
qufckness of the quarterback-he
gives the signals and delivers the bali, |
doesn't hep
II know what you mean, Leta," he
said. you would like to see me in a
position where I could run with the
ball instead of handing it out to
some body else ~
The girl nodded.
We'll, that's because 1 weigh only
hundred and forty-fve. instead of
two hundred pounds" he continued
After all, it takes sheer weight in the
line, and that naturally slides me into
the quarterback's place.
But you mustn't forget that Clint
on depends upon me to kick the goals.
and goal kicked or missed often
wins or loses big game like this
They were now on the college
grounds amid shouting hundreds and
huttering flags and pennants Thorn
ton assisted Leta to her seat high up
in that part of the semi-circular grand
stand that stretched around behind
the north goal
%! hope Clinton gets the south end
of the field - he said a ha 70
toward the clubhouse.
"Why?" she asked
Because then I'll be able to see the
drawing me north toward Darnalrs
goali'' he said earnestly.
Soon the rival elevens trotted out on
the field, and from the thousand
tongued grandstand rose mighty
shout. while remnants, ribbons, hand
kerchiefs and flags mingled in a way
ing, vari-colored mass.
1t was the great wind-up game of
the year, and there was a chance for
any player to win a glory-crown by
making the deciding touchdown Both
elevens, it was evident, were steeled
for the contest.
But as fate would have It. Clinton
got the north end of the field. and A
savage quarterback waited for the
umpire's signal with his back to the
girl in orange who was waving a pen
nant-for him.
But despite this disappointment, he
gathered his strength for the charge,
and as the shriil whistle struck his
ears he leaped forward straight for
the ball that lay on the line twenty
yards in front of him. Biff! The oval
went whirling through the air in a
sixty-yard parabola with the whole |
Clinton team in pursuit
The ball landed in the arms of OAR
nails ful1back and the big fellow |
came back up the field in a series of |
lunges: But before dozen yells had |
split the air he was down. with every |
Clinton man piling over him.
Then the shoulder to shoulder bat |
tie began. In three downs. Darna1l |
lost the ball. Then Thornton's oppor- |
tunity came. To test Darnall's line he |
gave. at the risk of having his own
neck twisted, series Of center rush
signals
Three times the heavy backs charged
over him, and he felt his breath going |
fast as Darnall hurled back the plung-
ers. End runs were tried with but little
better success. Seeing that the rushes
were hopeless. he gave the signal for
kick. and CIinton's fuliback sent the |
ball far down the field.
But Darnall hurled it back with an
other kick. There were more close
formation plays. followed by two more
filled with the cries of the spectators
and the sharp, quick shrek of the UNI
pire's whistle
The time of the first half was almost
ND when suddenly. OUT OF a. Scrlmmage,
rolled the ball. For a second nobody,
excepting Clinton's quarterback, knew
what had become of It,
AS it bounded carelessly along,
Thornton at one swoop seized It. Sim
ultaneously he heard a shout on the
sideline: ''Only forty seconds left!'
Directly in front of him, not twenty
yards distant. was Darnalls goal. Even
a HALFWAY drop-kick might win the
game. Thornton dropped the ball to-