Middletown transcript., 1908-09-19

now TO DTHc0 MS knee OdCh u bIlo
center rush, and Blake looked
over at the opposing half and
grinned.
Keep your eye on the ball !
commanded the coach, shortly.
You told me you had played the
game.
There was sneeri in the words
that rankled in Blake's heart,
but he swallowed hard aud said
nothing.
Four two - three = seven +!
called the little quarter.
1t was the signal for an end
run by Blake. He gritted his
teeth and waited, watching with
fascinated eyes the dirty leather
that quiyered in the hands of the
center rush.
The quarter back signalled for
the ball, caught it deftIy in his
two palms, and swung round.
Blake's start was a little slow,
and before he was fairly under
way the line parted, and he had
been tackled for a loss.
The coach yanked off the play
ers on the top of him, and set the
boy on his feet. He looked at
him silently for a moment, and
Blake's cheeks colored. He knew
the fault was his.
Four two - three = seven .
called the quarter, at nod from
the coach. Blake knew he could
have varied the numbers in such
a way as to confuse the other
team, and still have the same
play. He understood that the
coach was handicapping him in
every way possible. He gritted
his teeth and waited.
This time he sprang forward
at the instant the ball was off the
ground, and was scarrying away
and almost skirting the end be-
fore the varsity could fathom the
play. With his heart beating ex-
ulting, he ran with all his might.
One by one the interference van
ished as tackler, appeared, until
he found himself running alone.
Between him and the goal was
only a single player. At last he
would make a touchdown and
prove his ability to the coach.
With sudden plunge, the
taekler dived and caught him just
above the knees. Blake had not
expected him to come with such
terrific force, and the shock
took him off his balance. He
wavered a moment, and instinct,
lively threw up his hands as he
fell. The ball slipped to the
ground, bounced slightly and
rolled away.
One of the varsity N n
snatched it up, and charged back
up the field, dodging, squirming,
sprinting desperately through
the few who we're in his path,
until he found a clear field,
and planted the ball behind the
goal, line, squarely between he
two whitewashed poles.
Blake wiped the sleeve of his
jersey across his face, and waited
for the kick off. Down in his
heart all admission was growing.
He was beginning TO fear that
these players were lis super
| iors !!
He missed the ball on the kick
off, and although one Of the
scrubs recovered it, he knew the
error was objectionable. The
coach sneered openly.
With clenched fists he waited
for the first play. The quarter
back gave the signal, and he took
the ball and plunged against the
opping line.
| It was of no use. He was bat
tered back in spite of his best en-
| deayors.
Worst of all, he began to see
that it was not muscle and weight
that was overpowering him, but
better football. He was being
beaten because he could not play
as the others did-he who had
been the star Of championship
team at another college!
How the next ten minutes
passed he could not have told
himself. Sore, aching in every
limb, angry, disappointed, he
played with desperate energy
and eagerness that almost fright
ened him.
| Blake was almost insane with
the desire TO do something, with
the knowledge that he was play
ing like a man who had never seen
a football before, instead of like
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