Evening star., 1935-12-09
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away.
Just another cracked dame or
frost-bitten coed" said the clerk to
his friends when Nancy had passed
out of ear-shot.
Maybe she's Arnold's sister," sug-
gested one of the men at the counter,
broad grin on his face. "She heard
you, you know"
That's a thought, too, isn't it? I
ought to keep my opinions to my
self. Guess I will hereafter"
Nancy and her father strolled down
to the stadium about three-quarterS
Of an hour before game time. Bailey
Oval was festooned with flags and pen
nants, just as it had been on every
other homecoming day for several
decades. Once again the Colburn stu
dents paraded around the field, shout
ing and cheering in unison.
In the dressing room the players
were slipping into their uniforms.
Spike was working like a Trojan try
ing to rub out lame muscles and an
noying charLehorses. The players
were nervous and trifie more taut
than usual. Today's game meant a
successful or an unsuccessful season.
Everything depende, on the Sanford
game always.
Chuck pulled his Crimson jersey
over his shoulder pads and laced his
shoes tightly. He sat down on the
floor of the locker room and started
to whistle tune. How we gonna go
in there today, Chuck, old boy?" Blake
asked him snilingly.
Better than ever, Jed, If know
anything about it."
We'll, Chuck, any time you sorta
feel that you've just got to have two
yards, or even more, just pinch me
hard in the back and send the ball
through me. You know that play
where you take the ball yourself?
Well, sort Of like that one. You
know, you and me going through there
so all earth can't stop U.s."
"Ill remember, Jed The pinch on
the back will be the clew that I'm
going through behind you myself"
"Righto!"
They shook hands tacit un-
The assistant manager opened the
dressing room door and yelled in a
voice all could hear: You're due up
stairs in the skull practice room in five
minutes!"
The players got to their feet and
walked up the stairs to the room
where they always met for final in
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game.
When they had seated themselves
in the class room, for 1t was nothing
less, Coach Bertwell walked in briskly,
his hands full of papers. In 10 min
utes you fellows are going out there to
| play the game of games. You're going
out there confident of victory, conf
dent of being able to outgame, OUT
fight, outplay and outcharge this San
ford club. You can do it. I know
you can do it. And you will do it."
Bertwell looked through the papers
he was holding in his hands. There's
few things want to remind you
about before you go out there.
First, play heads-up foot ball. Keep
in the game every second"
Chuck blushed the color of his jer-
sey. He felt that Bertwell meant him
and was referring to the punt in the
fatal game with Coke.
Watch for fumbles. Possession Of
the ball on a tumble by an opponent
is equal to sustained advance Of 40
yards. Don't talk to your opponents.
That's bad foot ball, poor sportsman
ship. And it takes your mind of your
assignments. Keep digging! :. dig
ging . digging! at all times.
=. That's all. Now go get 'eml"
The squad started to go out. Just
one more thing!" yelled Bertwell.
"The starting team will be the same
as it was when we finished our Scrim-
mage Thursday afternoon, except that
Stevens will be at quarterback"
Chuck's heart dropped. He had
hoped he would get the call. He felt
that, even in spite of the Coke game,
he had shown enough foot ball to be
intrusted with the team In the San
ford game.
He wondered what Nancy would
think, sitting in the stands there with
her father and seeing Stevens in the
pilot position. She would be heart
broken, he was sure.
Chuck shuff1ed his way into the
group of second-string players, who
were walking along behind the regu-
lars. He was pulling on his head
guard when he felt a hand on his
shoulder. He thought it must be
Tubby or Blake. He looked around.
It was Bertwell.
Sorry, Arnold" he said gravely,
"but it Just isn't in the cards that
you should start today. You played
well enough against Coke, even with
that muffed punt, so don't lose your
confidence. Sit beside me on the
bench when you finish running the
second team through signals and I'll
talk to you then. You may get in very
soon"
Thanks. Coach. I don't mind"
And he hurried along to run the Sec
ond team through its PAGES behind
the varsity.
(To he continued \