Evening star., 1926-10-24

the scoreboard altered the total to
read
Markham WOODLAND-o.
Woodland received. Dolly ba1ked
the signals for one of their pet plays.
sweeping run around right end.
with a backward pass. and then a
long toss across the line of scrimmaEe
to himself The play failed-came
within an inch of being intercepted.
Another trick play was tried. A big
guard came numbering through and
Dolly was thrown for a loss. He
dropped back at the triple threat
point Of a punt forma tion-and his
punt was blocked. Woodland recov-
cred by sheerest good luck. and 1t was
fourth down with % yards to go.
Dolly Parker rose from the ground;
he was quivering with futile anger.
He signaled the referee for time out.
Then he called the team about him
They came, all except Reb Rogers
DOlly's voice rang out sharply;
Rogers. Come here
Rogers came. his face red with
fury. And then. with a voice which
trembled with bitterness, Dolly Parker
spoke.
II want to tell you just what think
Of you. You're bunch of yellow
logs. You're quitting. And you're
doing it because you're sore at all the
notice and attention | received last
year and this.
bill Boswell don't know what's the
matter. The studies don't know. But
you know-and I know.
"Yeh-get sore If you like. You
ought to. Now listen to me. This
means specially you. Reb Rogers.
lie thrust his head forward vi
ciously.
"iou know what you're doing? No?
| do. You're playing traitor to Wood
land. that's what. You're throwing
down your college to get even with
me. guess you're having a fine time.
knowing that the spectators think
I'm laying down under fire. eh? That's
what you want. Is it? Well you're
going to get what you want.
| 'Me-Im going to lay down. I'm
going to quit. But I'm not doing II TO
| betray Woodland. I'm going to quit
because | want to see Woodland win"
They were staring at him, wide-eyed
and speechless.
The college is bigger than I am
| he said. II want to see Woodland win
team. I'm taking myself out
| He turned and walked toward the
Woodland bench. For a few seconds
the team did not mOve--then three Of
them. headed by Reb Rogers, darted
in pursuit.
Dolly, Don't do anything like
that
Get away from me. I'm out Now
see what you can do. Rogers
He reported himself out of the game
Bill Boswell sent in a substitute.
II knew you were hurt. Dolly. |
knew it all the time"
"Yeh." Parker's voice was scarcely
audible. II am. But there ain't any
thing wrong with me physically"
| A newspaper man rushed up for an
expla nation. Dolly gave it. II took
myself out" he said crisply. II wasn't
any good
| The reporters returned to the press
stand. Word filtered through the
crowd. Meanwhile play was resumed.
Woodland punted-and then the game
| really started.
Under Reb Rogers the Red and
Black played as unit. Markham
failed to gain and was forced to punt.
The kick was hurried.
| Woodland unleashed flashing.
brilliant attack. Every play went off
perfectly. Down the field they drove
with a hint of the foot ball which had
made their preceding season glorious.
\
| THROUGH it all Dolly Parker sat
on the bench, staring at the field.
Closer and closer to the goal line
ripping. tearing. flashing trick plays
when least expected touchdown
near the end of the third quarter. an
other at the beginning Of the fourth
! period and a third one just before the
closing whistle for a final score of
| 1910. and the third Woodland VIC
! tory in three years.
The crowd sWarmed down on the
field. Spectators howled approval to
Reb Rogers. Everywhere could he
heard caustic comment against Dolly
Parker. The public understood every
| thing now-quite everything! 1t under
stood clearly that Parker never had
been any goOd-that he had received
credit for what others had done. That
was very clear.
The team reached the shower-room
Dolly was seated alone in the corner.
The other men eyed him guilty.
No one spoke. Reb Rogers came in
and there CLEANED in the eyes Of
the big tackle a suggestion NJ that
light which had famed from Psrker's
face when he took himself out OF the
game.
Reb Rogerawalked across the room
TO Dolly Parker The slighter man
rose-waiting.
Rogers dropped both hands on Dolly
Parker's shoulders. He spoke in a
voice not at all steady.
Dolly" he said, I've been talking
to the newspaper men. 1--we been
sort Of explaining to them that Dolly
Parker licked Markham single handed
today. I've been telling them-telling
them"
And then a strange thing happened
"a thing which was beautifully SEN
| timental and silly.
They faced each other in the center
| Of ring Of battered, grimy foot ball
! players. in an atmosphere which reek-
ed Of dirt and linirnent. And quite
suddenly and simply-without shame
or embarrassment-th two men
put their arms about each other and
| cried like babies.
! And old Bill Boswell-Bill Boswell.
/ the hard -boiled-was the only specta-
/ tor who commented
Amt that beautiful?" he whispered
| reverently. Amt that Just simply
perfectly beautiftile"