Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-20


turned at the correct distance be-
hind the line and, with his eyes on the ground,
kicked and Scufned with his right foot to get
a grip on the turf. Then he raised his eyes
and surveyed the team-his teaml Old Hick-
DRY, which had elected him captain at the
close of last season.
He could not see the faces of the linemen.
but he could guess at their expressions He
could, however, see the faces of Green and
Wilmot and Carney and JONES' They were
dour. resentful, except Carney's. which was
dark with disgust They resented him. re-
sented his coming into the game at this late
hour, resented his being alive, he thought.
From Big LOOMS at center, to tall 1.-the fiefy
Jones at end, they were ashamed of him-these
men who had been his friends for three years
ana Tor part OF the fourth. Only part Of
the fourth.
Only subconsciously was he aware Of the
shrek OF the referees whistle. Two minutes to
playl Two minutes-one hundred and twenty
seconds. And that two minutes would contain
all the time that he the captain of his team,
had played in regular competition throughout
an entire season.
Two minutesl With the game at sooreless
tie: at the fourth down with ten to Co.
Throughout three quarters he had sat on the
bench, alone at one end, wrapped in his blanket,
and watched his teammates play courageous
defensive game. He knew II he could have
added to their efforts the prowess he had had
last year, 1t would have been enough to win.
Through three quarters of the game he had
crouched, thinking these bitter thoughts and
then through most Of the minutes Of the fourth
quarter. He, the captain, knowing that his men
did not want him mi
HIS heart had been but there as they held
CALAMITY; as his team with the black jer-
seys, which had defeated Old Hickory for three
years hand running In the final big game tried
nT1& R~~A In
goal line. No score and two minutes TO play.
The fourth down and ten to 60.
It was then he strobe to the coach.
Mac" he said Tn going In"
Macs shrewd eyes looked up at him sympa-
thetdcally. Steady could read the compassion in
them and 1t warmed him little.
You're q fool" said Mac.
But already Steady was over the side line
hurrying to report to the official. Winters went
out and Steady took his place in the hudd1e
Whats the big idea?" asked Wilmot IRON
ically.
I'm going to drop-kick," said Steady.
Couldn't you stay out another two minutes
and make 1t unanimous?" asked Jones.
Kick formation" snapped Steady.
Now he glanced over the backs of the men
and saw under its leathern helmet the sneering
face Of Reck Beggs, heard Reck make some re-
mark in an undertone and heard the answering
smoker. Reck Beggs, who had beaten him out
for quarterback on the home high school team
In Cairo. and who was, it seemed, to beat him
out for o more important position with Ann
Wharton.
Ann was in the Standard at his invitation.
1t was an invitation given q year before, when
matters stood far differently and when her pres
ence would have JOY to him and an inspira-
ton. She was there, on the Old Hickory side,
and he wondered why. Why had she reminded
him Of his invitation, and why had she come
to be witness to his humiliation?
The sight Of Reck Beggs reminded him Of SO
many things, but most of all it reminded him
Of Ann and Of how she had seemed to prefer
him, Steady Cook, to the boy who always had
been able to beat him at everything else.
"I like you better than do Reck," she had
said q dozen years ago when they were children,
because you aren't ever smarty."
Neither was Ann ever smarty, not even when
she was Of an age when sticking out the tongue
was considered to be singing retort. Ann
never stuck out her tongue. Now that she was
grown to gracious young womanhood, she never
did those adult equivalents Of sticking out the
tongue.
She was gay, she was witty-but also she
could be grave and sympathetic. He had grown
into the habit Of depending upon her to make
something of him.
"You know, I just naturally worship you,
Ann" he said that September before he left
home to return to college, "but what you see in
me is q puzzler. I'm not very smart and I'm
not handsome can't do things as Reck can"
mo- Steady" she said, you aren't very smart
and you're not bit pretty. You can't do parlor
tricks. You can't even get acquainted with
yourself Now there's Reck. He can beat you
at almost everything-but, Steady, why DO you
suppose they elected you captain of your team2
Reck would give his soul to be captain Of his
team, but he isn't You aren't smart enough
10 know the difference between q man other
men want for captain-and the brilliant sort
they don't want for captain, do your"