Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-04-14
The Temporary
Quarters of a
Football Man
By DWIGHT NORWOOD

excited their gratitude that they car
red him on their own shoulders. So
Interested had he been in the coming
ame that he slept but little the night
before from thinking of it and after
II was over went home late from talk
Ing of it.
1t was midnight when Johnny pass
I'd a house which was being moved
nom one side to another and which oc-
cupied nearly the entire width of the
street. So dead tired and sleepy was
he that he was tempted to go no far
Their, but climb to the front door, eff
feet an entrance and find a resting
place for the night. But, having not
much farther to go, he trudged on till
he reached his home. Feeling for his
door key, he remembered that he was
in football toys, with no pockets and
subsequently no key. ,
Knowing that there was no one in
side within sound of the bell, he went
back to the house on blocks, but found
1t locked. He broke a pane of glass,
put in his hand and opened the win
dow. Inside he found matches and,
sratching one, saw that the house
was being moved with some of the
furniture left in it. A lamp stood on
a table, which he lighted, then went
Upstairs. On the top floor he found a
bed that suited him and, throwing
himself on it, was asleep in two min
utes.
1t was 1 o'clock on Saturday morn
ing when Johnny sank to slumber.
ringing. He rubbed his eyes and look
ed out through a window. The sur
pundings were not what they were
when he had gone to bed. There was
church opposite, and there had been
only dwellings. Moreover, persons
we're going into the church with pray
er books in their hands.
There was a sound of dainty foot
steps on the stairs, and the door was
opened. A girl, evidently preoccupied,
anne in and for a moment didn't no.
tee Johnny. When she did she gave
cry and made for the door. Johnny
stopped her.
will you kindly tell me what day
this is?" he asked.
As soon as the girl could find her
voice she told him it was Sunday. No
tcing that he was in football costume.
she concluded that he was not a bur-
gar andNbecame more composed.
z reckon" he continued, that l have
shpt about thirty hours. l entered this
house when it was on Hinton street,
and now it seems to be somewhere
else. How did you get into it?"
I'VE came in last night after the
house was put on the lot. We belong
here"
And slept in it all night?"
YES. We didn't need to use this
room and didn't come up here"
WELL, I'll be jingedr'
you're John Hackaway, the great
football player, aren't your"
I'm Hackaway and l play football.
How did you know that?"
Il saw you play in the big game the
day before yesterday. You We're splen-
did. | shouted myself hoarse when
they carried you off the gridiron ON
their shoulders. Won't you come down
to breakfast? We're late this morning.
We didn't get settled very early last
night"
You're very kind. 1 invited myself
to a bed; l won't sponge on you for
BREAKFAST"
But the girl had gone to the door and
shouted:
Mother, Mr.. Hackaway, the great
football player, is up here. Pm going
to bring him down to breakfast"
Johnny listened for the reply. 1t was
this:
"Oh, my, goodness gracious! l knew
mat would be the result of her infatua
non. Pa, Molly's gone crazy over foot
ball. Go up and bring her down. Quick
Maybe she'll jump out the window"
John and the girl laughed, and John
proposed that he go downstairs and
show himself. So she led tia way to
me main floor, where a woman was in
NE kitchen frying griddlecakes. When
she saw the football giant she dropped
me turner aud cried out:
oh, dearl Have 1 gone daft too?"
Molly went into the kitchen, and be-
Reen her fits of laughing John heard
ar tell her mother what had happen
60, adding, Just think, ma, what an
aOnor-to have such a wonderful man
1r a guest and not know it?'
And give him a ride to boot" re-
marked John.
On introduction to the members of
ue family followed, and presently they
al sat down to breakfast.
Fine location remarked John, feel
ag somewhat embarrassed at break
iasting under such circumstances with
hangers.
We think We'll like it," was the re-
ply.
Much finer than the one from which
you came"
Molly snickered