Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-05
This Chap Dared to Upset Prece-
dent, and Win What ReSnIt?
The Scenes Are MAINLY Laid on the
-Autunn Gridiron, Where School
BaHles Are Desperately Fought.

known that Arnold, 'ss, was a great athlete
who'd never been able to make good outside
Of the small, unreal world Of college. He'd
understood, dimly at first but with increasing
clarity and bitterness, the tragedy Of his
mother, who'd been carried away by the
glamour of Arnold. '9e, and had paid for her
mistake by years of struggling to make ends
meet.
He wouldn't have been on this bench; he
wouldn't have come to college at all If Arnold,
99, hadn't caught cold one November afternoon
and died few days later from pneumonia,
leaving the insurance Steve's mother had
always made him keep up. He hadn't wanted
to come, even so, but his mother had insisted
He'd played football because he really loved
the game-that had been a part Of his herr
.tage from Arnold, 90, perhaps-and partly be-
cause to refuse would have made his under
graduate life too difhcult. But he'd welcomed
the obscurity his peculiar talents had entailed
And he hadn't gone out, as Arnold, 49, had
done for social triumphs. He let girls alone
even Anne Wentworth, who could, Just by
crossing his path, set his pulse to leaping
Steve had taken college, seriously, soberly.
He was an engineer: the three or four years
after his graduation wouldn't see him peddlng
bonds in New York, going night after night to
deb parties. He expected college to help him to
start in his life work, but it was the college Of
the class rooms and the laboratories upon which
he counted, not the fame that was to be won
fathers counted for something in New York.
TONY slapped his back, and he turned over.
More rubbing and pounding now. Exquisite
pains shooting through his leg, as those clever
fingers worked on the inflamed and swollen
tendon. Then the blessed relief of q tight
bandage.
He struggled to his feet; got into a clean,
dry uniform, and was ready, when the whistle
sounded, to run out with the team. He wasn't
to start the half; wrapped in a blanket he took
his place with the substitutes on the bench.
Keen and alert, he watched the play through
the third quarter. The team was doing well.
The line had stifened. But the other team
did all the forcing; had the ball most Of the
time. Three times they were pushed back
inside the 20-yard line; each time a miraculous
stand averted a score.
Then, with minute Of the quarter left TO
play, one of Pete's kicks was hurried, and he
got on wretched short, high punt; the other
team had the ball on the 3O-yard line first
down. - -.~5
"Stevei" Thurstons voice rang out and
Steve sprang up. The coach nodded, and he
ran up and down, behind the bench, limbering
his muscles with quick mincing steps.
One rush OF tackle; second down, five TO
60 swift, knitting end run; third down, and
q foot to CO. First down. "AI right-in
you go!"
He raced out, hand raised shouting His
substitute came out, and he dropped tensely
into his place behind the scrimmage line He
spilled the first play; another end run; on the
next rush, play of tackle, he had to make the
final play. The ball was on the 13-yard line
close to the side. On third down the play
swept across the field; though there was no
gain. the ball now rested directly before the
goal. And on fourth down a drop kick broke
the tie and Steve and his team lined up with
three points against them.
Less than is minutes remained. And now
the ball began to travel back and forth through
the air. Try as it would, Steve's team could
make no real progress. And the other team
had only to protect its lead. Steve appealed
in vain to Barry to change his tactics; Barry
stuck stubbornly to his effort to shake Pete
Humason loose with long scoring play.
With minutes to play, the ball was in mid
field, and kick over the goal line gave it to
Steve's team on the 20-yard line. Barry tried
three forward passes in succession desperate,
dangerous tactics in that territory, but it was
as well to be beaten by 10 points as by g. All
three passes failed; Humason dropped back to
punt.
Steve tore down the field; saw the ball strike
the ground 10 yards ahead and bounce crafty
to one side. An enemy reached for it, touched
it and lost it, Steve left the ground flung him
self forward; gathered the loose ball in on the
4O-yard line. A break at laStl
Then, on the first play, Barry was hurt and
was taken out; Ebbett, the sophomore quarter,
getting into his first big game, replaced him.
In Steves brain something snapped. Barry
wouldn't listen; Ebbett-and Pete Humason-
might. Ebbett called his first signal; the play
gained yard It was third down, with six
yards to 90. IN the l1uddle Steve spoke out.
"Listefl-we're sunk now" he said. pete
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