Evening star., 1936-11-08
COach's Orders
Installment v.

~
~ He saw that the big fullback
4 was as pale as a ghost, and
his eyes were CLASSY. Yet the coach
had ordered him to throw Mike into
that tough Gramercy line on every
play!
IT can't do that" Larry said to
himself frantically. Hell be slaugh-
tered. But I've got to obey orders
I've got to, this timel"
Then he took another look at Mike
The big fullback should have been
out Of the game-he was in no con-
dition to play. Larry's jaw set grimly.
Coach or no coach, orders or no Or
ders, he wasn't going to send Mike
into that line!
Briskly he barked the signal that
sent the right halfback off tackle. He
was stopped in his tracks.
well, I'll have to carry it myself,
Larry muttered Again he called sig
mails. He took the pass from center
and tried 70 circle the right end. The
blocking was poor, but he was the
freshest man on the field. and he
got up to the 6-yard line before he
was smothered under.
Six yards! And time for only a
single play. Mike really might put
it over from here. Larry looked at
the fullback again. His face was pale,
and he was licking his lips in a dazed
sort of way.
Larry called his own signal once
more. The gun ending the game
barked before they implied from on
top of him. and the ball was still 4
yards short Of the goal.
THE Hartley team plodded of the
field, sore in every muscle and de-
jected over the defeat. Larry threw
an arm around Bill Winters shoulder
and Bill turned to him with q wry
smile.
TOO bad you couldn't put it over
Larry" he said. THE coach sure gave
you a chance to be a hero"
Larry stared. So that's what every
body would think-that Coach Curtis
had made a generous gesture. and he
had failed to make good on it,
The members of the team, weary in
body and in mind, were slow about
getting their togs off, but Larry un-
dressed briskly, took his shower, and
started to get into his street clothes
He had almost finished when Coach
Curtis walked into the locker room
and gazed around at the tired, de-
jected players. Then his jaw set
grimly.
Fellows" he said, II don't want
you to feel bad over losing this game
You should have won, and you would
have won if Larry North had followed
my orders"
Every head in the room snapped up.
Startled eyes were turned on Larry.
and raised a pointing, accusing finger
Il sent North into the game with
definite instructions to smash Cattery
into that line" he barked. Instead,
he tried to pull a grandstand stunt,
and carried the ball himself. You
know the result. If he had used Cat
terry, as ordered, think Mike would
have put the ball over"
7 ARRY'S cheeks were flaming. He
was about to cry out that he had
acted only to protect Mike, who was
in no condition to carry the ball. But
he saw the circle of accusing eyes
around him. and his mouth snapped
shut. Nobody would believe hin-not
even Mike Cattery. who had looked
up for a moment. but was now sitting
with his head in his hands.
Without a word, Larry pulled on
his coat. The room was silent as
he turned and walked out. with the
eyes of his teammates boring into
his back.
At home, his father questioned him
about the game. Larry answered
briefly. said he was tired, and went
up to his room. There he threw him
self on his bed, and lay staring up at
the ceiling, silently thinking. After
long time, he pulled himself into a
sitting position, then slowly got up.
well, you certainly messed things
up," he said to himself. you in
sisted on thinking for yourself, in
stead of letting the coach do your
thinking for you, and now see what
it got you."
And then Larry's jaw set. But If
I had 1t to do over again, I'd do the
same thing" he thought. mike Cat