Democratic messenger., 1908-12-12

mp when suddenly out OF scrimmage
excepting Cllnton's quarterback knew
what had become of II.
AS IL bounded carelessly along Thorn.
ton al one swoop seized II. Simulta
neotIs!y he heard shout on the side
line. only forty seconds left"
Directly In front of him, not twenty
yards distant. was Darnall's goal.
Even halfway drop kick might win
the game Thornton dropped the ball
to the ground and swung his right foot.
\ great cheer went up. which died
away suddenly in u groan. The ball
flew high. but II didn't go within iifty
feet of either post.
Times up yelled the umpire.
Thornton felt that all Clinton was
disappointed beyond expression and
deeply ashamed of the showing he
had made after the college had boast
cd Of his prOwess as drop kicker.
lie remained In detected seclusion
during the intcrmission.
l;ut when the whistle sounded again
he was like another man. Clinton
had the south goal this time. and
clearly the quarterback saw girl In
orange swinging a pennant In the
grand stand. Already the throngs
had forgotten his fuke In the hope
OF victory In the second half.
AT the kickoff Thornton sent the
plsskln seventy yards down the field
and then plunged into the game with
fcrocious energy. lie determined TO
redeem himself or perish In the at
tempt.
Back and forth over the field surged
the teams. while thousands shouted
encouragement.
Neither eleven seemed able to break
down the defense OF the other until
toward the end OF the half. when
Clinton began to come up the field
steadily.
Thornton. his head clear as n bell.
was playing at frightful pace. giving
Darnall no time TO catch its breath
after each attack. But thirty yards
from the goal line. Darnall braced
itself heroically and stood like a
stone wall
"Only one more minute TO play"
called the umpire. and the crowds took
up the shout.
Thornton realized that In so short Il
time line plungcs would be futile.
There was only one hope OF victory.
another drop kick for goal. While
only twenty yards away. the goal
posts were off to the left at an oblique
angle.
There was about one chance In n
dozen of putting the ball between
them. but Thornton took II. He stood
back Of the line ready to call the sig
nal. aud the Darnall eleven. seeing 1t
was 10 be kick. got ready to plunge
through and break up the play.
Then suddenly the quarterback. look
ing directly between the goal posts
saw I.cta In the grand stand In an at
tltudc Of breathlcss expectancy. and
he knew mere than the game depend
ed upon his qulckness and skill.
He stepped back few yards. and
with his eye rivcted on the figure In
orange he gave the signal In clear.
sharp tones Three, double two. elev-
en-
The bal struck his outstrctched
hands. and as he dropped 1t he shot
out his right foot. The next second
big Darnall guard leaped over the line
and struck Thornton head-on. sending
him reeling senselcss twenty feet from
the spot where he was hit.
But the big man was half second
too late, for Thornton's toe had caught
the ball squarely, and ii went flying
straight as a bullet between the goal
posts and up into the grand stand. fall
ing almost at Leta's feet,
a wild. deafening yell of JOY broke
over the field. but the quarterback did
not hear ii. Ten minutes later. when
he came TO- girl was bathing his fore
head. and he caught the glow Of her
bright brown dress. The crowd fell
back respectfully
Don't worry. Thornton. dear boy"
she whispered 81 saw you looking at
me when you made that wonderful
kick and know now how much
mean to your'