The Washington times., 1938-02-07


A squat. heavy.shouldered ape,
best quarterback in this or any
other league. He'd never played
college football, Pete hadn't, not
because he'd been overlooked by
the scouts but because no schoo4'
no matter how Sketchy its require
ments in a scholastic way, would
have had the brass to enroll a
youth to whom even short DIVISION
is an inscrutable mystery.
Johnny Clement dogtrotted at
Delages heels and behind them,
strung out in a teetering file, the
rest of the Buffalo squad, three
dozen of them, sweating and putt-
ing. for they had Just come to haIt
time in the climactic tussle OF the
season with the Mustangs, hardy
outfit from the Far West.
The Buffaloes deposited them
selves on training benches, gym
chairs and rubbing tables. Fifteen
minutes intermission before the
game was to resume.
In less than two minutes half a
dozen showers were going full
blast. Naked, cleaning bodies
tingled under the icy downpour.
Cleats mended. Rips and rents in
uniforms quickly sewn. Smell OF
arnica and collodion and rubbing
alcohol bit mordantly.
CURSES, GROANS
The trainer hurried quickly
from one to another inspecting
bruises, gashes, pads, headgear.
And through it all an overtone OF
growing talk. The behemoths
Jerking out their strange oathS,
muttering to one another in the
iargor of their craft, to them not
a game. as it had been once, but
a profession, a means OF llvell-
hood.
Johnny Clement got through
his shower quickly, struggled into
q fresh uniform, and then sat
down in front of his locker. F'rag.
ments of conversation reached his
ears but didn't register. Growled
curses. Groans. A sprinkllng OF
humorless chuckleS.
that running guard put
q hell of block on me on that
last pass play watch out Tor
him yeah, likes to use his el-
bows I'll give him a couple
fingers when I get a chance .
those eggs are plenty tough .
Pete, make 'e1n drag their defen-
Sive line in tighter . maybe we
can throw his hide around some
one touehdown'll do . hey,
Doc. gimme some adhesive for my
bum knee, willya? :. couldn't get
yourself loose this half, eh, John
ny? Never mind boy yeah,
that left half was All-America
and how let me have fast
knee in the nose when I tackled
him :"
Johnny had heard it all. and too
often. The thought came to him
suddenly that this was his last pro
game. Four tough, hard seasons
of it he'd been through now. And
next month-the long-aWaited in
terneship. And Cicely.
BOSS'S DAUGHTER
Cicely? His brows knit tightly.
Pop Baxter wasn't going to like
his quitting, getting out of it. So
what? Pete Delage was going to
like it. Pete was magnificent
football player. No brains for
anything else but a natural-born
quarterback. And he hated col
lege players.
Johnny's mind flew back to his
own rookie days with the Buf,
faloes. Pete worked on Johnny a
whole season, with the consent
and approval of Pop Baxter, tax,
ing the All-America conceit out
of him. Conceit, it may be men.
toned, that never existed except
In the twisted consciousness OF
Delage.
After that Johnny and Peter
got along, after a fashion, as the
greatest pair of running backs in
the league. Until Cicely came into
the picture with her bright laugh.
ing eyes, her blonde cuddlinesS, her
worship of these hulking pets OF
her-hers because they were on
her old mans pay roll.
"HowS it go, son? Reckon We
can sneak one over next half?'
Johnny looked up and smiled
into the broad countenance of Por
Baxter. Johnny was going to say
something but caught himself in
time. He was going to say: Sure
Pop, we'll take these guys if you'll
haul Delage out and put In an
other quarter. Because Pete is
throwing this game as sure az
you're foot high"
No, Johnny didn't utter those
words. He said: well, Pop, those
Mustangs are tough but us Buff
faloes are tougher. Sure, well
take 'em."
Your last game for me
Johnny" Pop said. "Doggone,
hate to lose you. Don't see why
you can't play football and do YOU
doctoring too"
Medicine, like the law, is ;
Jealous mistress" Johnny laughed
Il had my glass on a couple o
those passes of yours when 70,
got Swarmed over Johnny. Wha
was the trouble you couldn't ge
the ball aWay?"
What do you Think" Johnn