Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-12-25
By Dick Hyldnd

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said Ted.
Il wouldn't exactly say that said
Doc. I could have told him about
what would happen before he started,
II he'd a listened. And I could have
furnished him a little advice, too. but
ne was in such a hurry, III bet two
dimes he's high hated those pro boys,
stays at 4 different hotel and gives
eft the impression he doesn't need EN-.
Naturally. they're not going to break
their neckS polishing him into a scintil-
lating star. Those who play against
him would sure like to show up the
greatest football player of all time
and those who play with him don't
are if they do. Human nature is
constructed that way, Ted. Flash is
getting a tough lesson, but there's no
luck attached to it,"
"Lesson?' asked Ted.
I'm football" said Doc. Hes being
taught something he has never sus-
pected to date-the value of the other
ten men on his team. We used to
spring him into the open so often he
thought that was part of the game.
Flash in an open field can make 'em
all look slow, but he needs plays to
get there and men to help carry EN-
cut"
Don't you think his team is trying?"
asked Ted. He couldn't understand
how any one could avoid trying on a
football field.
"Oh, l guess. they're trying" Docs
drawl was getting deeper and deeper,
but they're not breaking their necks
at it, like we used to do. That'l al
ways be the difference between college
football and the pro variety. An it's
quite a difference. Maybe by this time
Flash amt so we'll satisfied with him
self as a n mar team
Doc rumbled out those last words
and ambled on his way.
The game in Detroit was featured by
the fact that Flash Hammond made
twenty-five yards and lost tw~enty-four,
for the grand total of minus two. And
the really bitter blow fell when War
rem Brown, covering the game for a
Chicago paper, headlined the great
Flash as Flop Hammond.
Lou Parsons knew what ridicule
would do.
What a fine bust you turned out to
be-" he roared at Flash the night after
the Detroit game. Il boom these peo-
pie into thinking you're the sight Of the
country and then what do you Go?
Flop Hammond. Ohmigod! Brown
says Flop Hammond. Unless you can
make him eat that next week in Chi,
it'll stick forever. Greatest player
Say, how did you ever make yards at
Stanford, anyway
What are you so sore about?" fiared
Flash. You're not losing any money.
The gates in New York have put you
even"
"Even?" yelped Parsons. Il was even
before we started. With all but twelve
thousand tickets already sold in Chi
cago I'm ahead, if l "a keep EN- from
demanding their money back in the
next six days. But how about the
rest of the tour, that ] expected to
clean up on? Don't you think my time
is worth anything? Do you think we
can make any dough with you show
ing like you done the last three games?
You'd better flash in Chi, kiddo, or
your part of the gate from now on will
amount to about six cents mex And
as for your reputation, they'll put
Flop Hammond right along side Bone
head Merkle in the hall of fame"
If Ted Desmond had done much
thinking about Flash Hammond since
the big game, Flash evened the score
in the next four hours.
Parsons had asked him how he ever
made yards at Stanford. At various
times during his brief professional
career, Flash had wondered about that,
himself. He now sat back and tried
to visualize those glorious years. He
saw the crowds, heard their cheers for
Flash Hammond. He saw the games,
three years of them. He saw the plays,
plays in which he had starred. And
he suddenly became conscious that all
through those plays a constant factor
was before his eyes. The broad back
of Ted Desmond obscured everything
else. Ted, bowling over an end; Ted's
dirty white shirt cutting across the
field to get ahead of him and clip the
safety man; Ted, crashing into q
tackle and leaving a hole big enough
for a truck to go through.
Then his mind jumped to the three
professional games. No Ted; no; holes.
No holes; no Flash. just an ordinary
back, waiting for a break. He thought
of the reputation Flash Hammond had
He thought of all it meant to him;
the glory, the adulation, the publicity,
thieves, even the girls. AS plain AL
Hammond he might have been able
to round up a few of them; all of
them had wanted to go out with Flash
Hammond. But he realized that Flop
Hammond would probably spend a lot
of his time alone.
For the first time in his life, Flash
Hammond had done some interpretive
thinking. 1t made him rather sick
And so, also, for the first time in his
life. he put his pride in his pocket,
held a brief consultation with Parsons
and headed for a telegraph office.
Ted Desmond had not received a
sufficient number of the little yellow
envelopes with his name peeking
through the isinglass to get over the
feeling that kilograms were harbingers
OF grave tidings. He opened this one
with q n,tv71oI frou,o rr~;nl,G~- -