Evening star., 1926-10-24

~ had been strained beyond the
limit of endurance: on the
other side were 10000 persons who
were silent because there was nothing
about which they might cheer.
The teams lined up in kickoff
formation for the last play Of the
ast game of the year. To the Red
and Black of Woodland and the Gold
and Black of Markham. this was the
one athletic contest Of the year. The
struggle between the two colleges, a
battle fought each year on the Satur-
day before Thanksgiving. had taken
on an added importance this year. for
it was to decide the State as well as
the city championship.
Throughout the afternoon the teams
had battled with traditional ferocity
and courage. The record of seven
years seemed certain to remain un-
broken-a record of three points or
less difference between the teams.
This was a game where dope meant
nothing-as, for instance, when
Markham had registered 81 first
downs to Woodlands 5. had com.
pleted II forward passes to Wood.
lands /. had ripped and torn and
hammered and battered the Wood
land line. Had caused the Red and
Black to fight throughout the game in
the shadow Of it's own goal posts
putting into play a little more than
human power to check the Gold and
Black a assa ult.
And then the Gold and Black had
prepared for a placement kick from
the Vineyard line. Fourth down and
pix TO go. There was a snap. a
kurging together of tired. sweating
bodies; filtering through OF wild
Dyed linemen-and a black-and-g gold
bvaN Chn
Slunked squarely against the ball and
II sailed over the goal posts.
The stands on the north side Of
the field rose in a chorus OF hysteria.
Nhe Boy Scouts at the end Of the
Gridiron posted the score:
MARkHAM-3: WOODLAND-0.
Markham players crowded around
their halfback and cried on his
shoulder and kissed him. The Wood
land players walked moodily toward
she center of the field. They had
.-and defeat had come to them. Their
captain spoke to the referee and then
TO the timekeepers.
Fifteen seconds to play" That
meant one more play; one and only
one. Woodlands captain elected to
receive. He turned to exhort his
Slayers-but his eyes filled with tears
and he said nothing.
They were each in position, sway
sng on their feet, eyes glazed and
bodies quivering protest against the
sheer agony Of the mauling to which
they had been subjected. 1t had been
n bitter, losing struggle. hopeless
battle Of unquenchahle courage
against immeasurably superior odds
Already the spectators We're stream
tng toward the exits.
The referee raised his arm. Ready
Capt CARR" The big man nodded.
frhe referee lifted the whistle to his
lips. hut abruptly he paused.
Over on the other side of the field
the Woodlan nd right halfback swayed
a trife. then sat down on the frozen
turf. For perhaps A. second he re-
manned motionless, then. as though
tucked comfortably in his bed, he
pillowed head on hands and passed
Into unconsciousness.
X X
THE Woodland coach cast hopeless
l. ewes up and down his bench. A
few substitutes were sitting there,
huddled in blankets. Most OF the var
sity players who were not on the field
Law on the ground before the bench.
one Of them groaned with a broken
ankle, one grimaced with the pain
Of an injured nose, others just lay
helpless and cried.
But there was one young man on
the bench who leaned forward eagerly
IN an effort to attract the attention
Uf the coach. Twice the mentor S
eve pa ssed him hv; then he nodded.
Warm up. Dolly"
Dolly Parker leaped to his feet. He
wasn't large. perhaps ; feet and
weighing about l60. Not once had be
beeO in the varsity lineup.
He pranCed up and down In 'front.'
of the bench, throwing his knees high
with each step. And AS they bore
the limp form Of the right halfback
from the field Dolly Parker sped
across the grdiron and reported to
rheers-one for the injured hero. one
for the unknown sophomore who was
taking his place.
The new man took his place far
on the right of the field, within yard
Of the intersection of goal ana size
lines. All season he had scrubbed.
taking the batterine of the varsity
nncomplainingly. hoping against Tor
lorn hope that the coach might notice
him.
The referees whistle cut across the
field. He experienced the awful
rremor which comes with the first
Kickoff. And then he heard the warn
ing shout of his captain and saw that
the oval was spiraling directly toward
him. He noticed the three.man inter
ference massing ahead of him. Then
The hall struck his body and his arms
folded about it. He took it In his
hands and. holding it out In front OF
him. sidestepped catapuitinG
iaCkler.
His ewes swept the field. Where
ever he looked. there seemed to be
golden. mud-streaked jerseys closing
IN yiciouslv. The giant Markham
center flung himself through the air.
His fingers touched the adhesive tape
on Parker's legs. CnconsclouslE ne
f,exed the muscles Of that leg and
evaded the tackle.
This way
1t was the captains voice, ana PARK
or oheyed. But onlN for an instant
The onrushins linemen of the oppoa-
ing team had heard the call. They
sweryed toward the Woodland zap
+ain Dolly Parker took three steps
an that direction and then reversed
tis AeId And now there were only
four Markham players between him
self and the goal. and the Woodland
rooters. gripped by the feeling that
something miraculous was Trans
sniring. chorused acclaim.
-Four men between hilnsell "iiu my
distant goal posts. \ big halloach
Of the opposing team cut IN on nun i
parker threw his weight on one side
and the tackler ploughed into the
ground
Three men now. two of them con
rereinr toward him. The third. a
veteran quarterback. waited tenseiy'
IN case this human streak should sue
ceed in eluding' the other two. IL
Nas Impossible. of course. and yet
They bore down on him from OPP
posite sides. To his ears came the
einister CRY: High" and its answer