The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-01-17

~ II bounded cnraleBaly along Ah0rl
ton al one Swoop seized u Simulta
no9naly he heard a shout on the sid
line. "Ouly forty seconds lcftw
Directly IN front Of him, not twent,
yards distant, wAs Darnall's goal
Even halfway drop kick might vii
the game. Thornton dropped tho bal
10 The ground and swung bis right foot
A great cheer went up, which died
away suddenly IN groan. Tho bal
new high. but II didn't 10 within ffty
feet of either post
srimes upl' yelled the umpire
Thornton felt that oil Clinton was
disappointed beyond expression and
deeply ashamed OF the showing be
had made after the college had boast
od Of his prowess ~ a drop kicker.
He remained IN detected seclusion
during the iDtermiasion.
But when the whistle sounded again
he was like another man. Clinton
had the south goal this tune, and
clearly the quarterback saw a girl In
orange swinging a pennant In the
grand stand. Already the throngg
had forgotten his iinke In the hope
of victory 10 the second half.
At the klck.olf Thornton sent the
pigskin seventy yards down the Geld
and then plunged into the game with
forocious energy. He determined 20
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
Cilnton began TO come up the neld
steadily.
Thornton. his head clear as a bell,
was playing at frIghtful pace. giving
Dnrnall no time TO catch lts breath
after cach attack. But thirty yards
from the goal llnel parnall bracod
itself herolcally and stood like q
stone wall.
only one more minute to piayF'
called the umpire. aud the crowds took
up the shout,
Thornton realized that IN 80 short a
time line plunges would be futile.
There was only one hope OF victory,
another drop kick for a goal. While
only twenty yards away, the goal
posts were on 10 the left at an obliQue
angle.
There was about one chance IN
dozen Of putting tho ball between
hem. but Thornton took It. He stood
back OF the line ready 70 call the sig
aai, and lhe Darnall eleven. seeing II
was 10 BE- kick, got ready 10 plunge
through and break up the play.
Then suddenly the quaFterbaclS, look.
nR directly between the goal posts.
law Lela IN the grand stand IN an at
iltuds Of breathless expectancy, and
10 knew more than the gamo depend
"a upon his quiekness and skin.
He stepped back a few yards. and
with his eye riveted on tho figure IN
range he gave tho signal in clear.
harp tones, Three, double two. elev.
mr.
The ball struck his outstretched
lands. and as he dropped II he shot
,ut his right foot. The next second a
'ig Darnali guard loaped over the line
md struck Thornton head-on, sending
lin reeling senaeless twenty feet from
he spot where he was bit.
But the big man was half q second
90 late. FOR Thornton's toe had caught
he bah squarely, ana It went flying
traight as bullet between the goal
'osts and up Into the grand stand, fall.
NC almost pt I.Ata's feetl
A Wild, deafenlng yell OF Joy broke
yer the field, but the quarterback did |
ot hear H. Ten minutes later, when
% came to, a girl was bathing his fore
ead. and he caught the glow Of her
right brown dress. The crowd fen |
ack respectfully.
'Don't worry. Thornton, dear boy" |
he whispered. Il saw you looking at |
40 when you made that wonderful |
ick, and | know now how much I
lean to your