Evening star., 1934-01-07

opening tip-of the gymnasium was a riot Of
noise. above which the referees whistle could
scarcely be heard. And from the moment
when Tom Bronsk looped a neat shot in from
just behind the free throw line, to the beauti-
ful comeback which Marshall staged to tie the
score at 14-14 at the end of the first half it
was a breath-taking. hair-raising battle.
Between the periods, Coach Powell talked
to his players earnestly. He instructed Tom
Bronski to keep on trying to elude his guard
who was stocky. red-hared boy and a fine
player. Evidently he had been ordered to stick
to Tom like leech. for that is just what he
had been doing
Keep coming in close, fellows" Coach Pow
ell said finally. And you, Jack" he went on
to Jack Daniels follow all Toms shots
As Tom Bronski ran out on the floor to start
the second half. the red-haired boy was waiting
for him with a good-humored grin.
I've got orders to sit on you, felia," he said
"And maybe I'm not going to do IT."
Tom grnned in return. Just try and do it!'
he challenged.
DEN BRAGG got the ball on the first tip-on
and batted it back to a'North High guard.
Three fast. short passes concluded with the
ball swapping from Jack Daniels to Tom inn
mediatey in front of the basket. Tom laid
the ball over the edge Of the rim as though he
the lead again.
And now Norths offensive began to click.
Ben Bragg was whirlwind at center and Jack
Daniels feeding Tom steadily and accu-
rately. Marshall fought grimly, but the score
mounted in North's favor until the home team
was leading. 23-17.
Then came the excitement. Ted Harker, on
the sidelines. yelling as delirousy as any
other North student, but perhaps he was watch
ing the movements of the players with q more
expert eye. At any rate, he was marveling at
the beautiful way the North offense was func-
tioning, and the sterling teamwork of all the
players, particularly Jack Daniels and Tom.
Now once more these two forwards were dasE-
ing down under the basket, but the Marshall
guards right with them. Tom was coming
fast, straight toward the basket, when Jacks
pass, from the side, hit his hands. The ball
never seemed to stop at all-it was simply de-
fected upward and through the hoop.
But Toms speed had carried him back
against the screens that covered the windows at
the end of the floor, which were the width of
the balcony running track beyond the basket
itself. His guard was still right with him. but
50 was Jack Daniels who had circled under
the basket to follow Toms shot
Teds eyes had followed the ball. but the
moment he saw it was in, his gaze came back
to the players A yell of glee was on his lips
when suddenly the bright lights of the GYM
naSlum went out.
TEDS yell died on his lips and the shock
of the sudden darkness resulted in q
moment of unbroken silence throughout the
gymnasium. Then pandemonium broke loose
Yells and squeals and laughter came from the
crowd. Nobody knew what had happened, but
everybody took it as joke.
Lights! Lights! What's wrong with the
lights?" came the shouts from the crowd.
Somebody near the door hurried down the
stairs to the locker room and fumbled his way
toward the master switch that controlled all
the lights in the building. But before he could
reach it, Joe Connors, the janitor, who had
been in the furnace room where the switch
was located, had reached it. He found it open.
and mutterng to himself in amazement. he
closed it. ,y..
great cheer arose in the gymnasium up
stairs as the lights flashed on Then it sud-
denly faltered and died. while the eyes of every
spectator became riveted on scene under the