The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-04-29
The Firm Of GirdIeStOne
A. CONAN DOYLE
- BY ZgB

Just as the carriage took up It's POSI-
tion a hoarse roar burst from the
great multitude, and was taken up
again and again. 1t was a welcome
TO the English team, which had Just
then appeared upon the ground. There
they were, clad in white knickerbock-
ers and jerseys, with single red rose
embroidered upon their breasts; as
gallant looking a set of young fell
lows as the whole world could pro-
duce. Tail, square shouldered,
straight-limbed, as active as kittens
and as powerful as young bulldogs,
IT was clear that they would take a
lot of beating. They were the pick
of the University and London clubs,
with few players from the Northern
countries; not a man among them
whose name was not known wherever
football was played. That tall, long
legged youth is Evans, the. great half
back, who is said to be able TO send a
drop-kick further than any of his
predecessors in the annals of the
game. There Is Butler, the famous
Cambridge quarter, only ten stone In
weight, but as 1.-THE and slippery as
an eel; and Jackson, the other quar-
ter is just such another-hard to
tackle himself, but as tenacious as a
bulldog In holding an adversary.
That one with the straw-colored
hair is Coles, the great forward; and
there are nine lads of mettle who
will stand by him today through thick
and thin. They were formidable
looking lot, and betting, which had
been five to four on them in the
morning, showed symptoms of com
ing to five to three. In the meantime,
by no means abashed at finding them
selves the cynosure of so many eyes,
the Englishmen proceeded to keep
up their circulation by leap-frog and
horseplay, for their jerseys were
thin and the wind bleak.
But where were their adversaries?
IA few impatient moments slowly
passed, and then from one corner
of the ground there rose a second
cheer which rippled down the long
line of onlookers and swelled into
a mighty shout as the Scotchmen
VsuIted over the barrier into the
arena. 1t was a nice question for con-
noisseurs in physical beauty as to
which team had the best of 1t in
physique The Northerners in their
blue jerseys, with thistle upon their
breasts, were sturdy, hard bitten lot,
nP
in weight than their opponents. The
latter were, perhaps, more regularly
and syIlmet1ioally built, and were
pronounced by experts to be the fas-
ter team, but there was a massive,
bgaunt look about the Scotch forwards
(which promised we'll for their endur-
.aneet. Indeed, 1T was on their for
wards that they principally relied.
The prerence of three such players
as Butler, Jackson and Evans made
the English exceptionally strong be-
hind, but they ha6 no men in front
who were individually so strong and
fast as Millar, Watts and Grey. Dims-
dale and Garraway, the Scotch half
backs, and Tookey. the quarter whose
blazing red head was very orifiamme
wherever the struggle waxed the hot
test, were the best men tnat the
Northerners could boast of behind.
The English had won the choice OF
goals, and selected to play with what
slight wind there was at their backs.
"A small thing may turn the scale be-
tween two evenly balanced teams.
Evans, the captain, placed the ball in
front of him upon the ground, with
his men lined all along on either side,
as eager as hounds in leash. Some
fifty yards in front Of him, about the
place where the bali would drop the
blue-vested Scots gathered in sui
len crowd. There was q sharp ring
from a bell, murmur of excitement
from the crowd. Evans took two
quick steps forwards and the yell
dow ball few swift and straight, as If
1t had been shot from a cannon, right
into the expectant group in front OF
him.
For moment there was grasping
and turmoil among the Sootchmen
Then from the crowd emerged Grey,
the great Glasgow forward, the ball
tucked we'll under his arm, his head
down, running like the wind. with his
nine forwards in dense clump be-
mind him, ready to bear down all
opposition, while the other five fol
lowed more slowly, covering a wild.
or stretch of ground. He met the En-
igllshmen who had started full CRY
after the ball the moment that theil
captain had kicked 1t. The fist hurled
himself upon him. Grey, without
slacking his pace, swerved slightly
and he missed HIN. The second hi
passed In the same way. but the thirC
caught quicklyl at his legs and the
Scot flew head oyer heels, and wal
promptly collared. Not much. us'
collaring him bow! In the very ae
of falling he had thrown the bal
behind him. Gordon, OF Paisley
caught 1t. and bore 1t on a dozeI
yards, when he was seized and knock
ed down, but pot before he had be
queathed his Rust to another, VIII
struggled manfully for some PAGES be
fore be, roo, was brought to tn
ground. This pretty piece OF "pass
ing" had recovered for the Scotel
all the advantage lost by the Ensiisl
kick-Off and was greeted by roar