=i-taen sear me ey Sorat an behets Ro Heiter to ra ee Be tin Pr nih { fi P aferieel , shih Aa . : Dray aah i Lite cas Tine hale od oe 5 The Ray hts iad IS Di en Hee ied Sh " Sy saty ra ri ; a itary solhet ad os Had yhe ibe Pere i Ncipcletiadan eet a tb pha : if i aeetin Hei be Rell ote eager sebatnm etal tect “is ‘ iNT aoa - sew cbce tie hee hin inp Abeer tick fenced aad pes HR hy Rage EM Sarda he Bax ge fo he Fey Dai Rees ET SRP eae Magy UN «oP wy es : Sete ar eigts Lyrae aah er See tw PO hea S POE ESTO ag Tee Pele ag Ie a OT ie 8 EOL ET ohne ee be pact HRA tig ening ete ete D> PE BER eG Ey - : ROTEBS Petpibes agi larne toe te ae Page ; PS oe Ferereratia sie Tae ean hee if | ood te rabeh, pa oatcieainaic clades delenit ainda aioe! 2) <)> Peete yen mPatie teins prtisiietine = paterk Coe Anthea wit altel itieh FE eee rem yugenay Siete hit Tae 2 rake a ac PPE Atmel STP sone hey niitabenliaTj i= Bake on tsetse Yea Sein phen ye ho ihe Py pe R= A= este ihre Fon Pai w tS. Fema rel Lr La ee at peed sa rh Ae ee ae , 4 7 =I iM aS , Pa: an i en ks ba we St aes, if ‘ 5 = » > a ry | a ° ef : y r a ! ) Phi j re Seah ib 74%, o 5 > : : The A rs. : “ ; a oe a “i ee th bot ees ‘ ne ot na! ' t 5 : Ss a; % : a. F : Sa. YF ie ne. | . a OF The | } a ii e ” f= ; . a _ : 7 = ‘ ; it) ee “aah $3 “a ‘ a ir , ant 7 y : ‘ ~ €8 &4 ue et —PRIVERSITY GE TLLINIS . iy on : - , =e 4 id c a: P ‘ x ha 5 : e * 2 , - “ As = ai P oo > y av a P ty oe s c : « é , AY ba 7 t Ps m _ : 7 i. , ¢ Be! won 25 \ a H % 2 => . ws : ; yo — Fea fr e = is Z a . a a i) > > , } rs Z4NV9 AHL WAHL AIS NOA LNOd AHM, 66 ‘ ) a 4 *¢ Oe Ae tt) bid ‘e THE FOUR WINNERS —the Head —the Hands —the Foot —the Ball BY KNUTE K. ROCKNE AUTHOR OF “COACHING” NEW YORK THE DEVIN-ADAIR COMPANY Corrricut, 1925, sy THE DEVIN-ADAIR COMPANY All Rights Reserved by The Devin-Adair Company Printed in the United States of America by J. J. LITTLE AND IVES COMPANY, NEW YORK + a . ap re rw '< for just such things as this, taking care of the alumni | out of a separate allotment which he had stowed away for this sort of an emergency. The team went down and ate their consommé and toast quickly, and were then all ordered up to their rooms with instructions to le down until twelve- thirty. At twelve-thirty they were to be prepared to — meet in the lobby and get into the busses for the Polo — Grounds. For the first time in his life Elmer felt his knees | knocking. A shiver ran through him every once in a while as he lay up in the bed, the portentous first big — game occupying all his thoughts. As he thought of — the responsibility that would be his at the start of the | game, a cold sweat came out on his forehead; he shook all over. It seemed like ages before the phone bell finally rang, and the student manager said, “T'welve-— thirty! Everybody down in the lobby.” The boys arrived at the Polo Grounds one half hour later, and found five hundred gate crashers, in- cluding some small boys there, waiting for their ar- rival, and hoping to sneak in with the team. It was an exciting scene, but the Polo Grounds manager was adamant, and nobody got in except a few small boys. who carried the personal belongings of some of the THE FIRST BIG GAME 83 players into the lockers. The trunks were hastily un- packed and the players dressed themselves imme- diately. “There are to be no extra pads on today,” the coach announced; “only regulation thigh guards taped on to the thigh, shoulder pads and head gears, nothing else.” At one-thirty sharp the coach sent all his men out on the field to limber up, with instructions to the kickers to limber up their legs and the quarterback to catch the punts and throw them back. The game was scheduled for two o’clock sharp, and at one-thirty there were very few people in the great amphithe- atre. After ten minutes’ work loosening up, the squad all went back to the dressing room, and sat down with their legs stretched out. The coach waited a minute or two; then he announced the opening lineup. “T want you backfield men to go in there and ham- mer and tong just as hard as you can for one quarter, and then the regular backfield will go in. Try twenty- one and thirty-three as often as you can, but always kick on the third down. Regarding the center, I want him to make sure of his passes on offense, and on de- fense I want him to keep moving around, keeping in mind the tactical situation, so that the offensive quar- terback can with no degree of certainty know where to find you. “T want the guards and tackles to charge savagely, offensively and defensively. On offense get under them and lift them; on defense expect every play to come right through your position. I want the ends on offense to get contact with the tackles and stay with 84 | FOUR WINNERS them. On defense stay on the outside, and turn everything in. “Defensive fullback, keep moving; and against run- ning plays hit them so hard that the man carrying the ball won’t want to come back again. Learn to run- and look at the same time, and don’t let them fool you. Defensive halfbacks are responsible for passes, and their key is to watch the offensive end. You quarter- backs have your instructions—do your own analyzing and meet any situation that might arise clearly and decisively. | “Don’t forget,” the coach went on, passing from specific instructions to general advice, “don’t forget that this afternoon, when you are out there fighting, nothing else counts but grit. This is a fighting game and victory always comes to the fighting team. In all its glorious history Dulac has never had a team that has faltered. I think I know you men well, and I feel confident that you are all going to fight as no other Dulac team has ever fought. Two thousand students back at home are waiting for the returns of this game, and while they hope for victory they all have a feel- ing somehow that we are about to be beaten. “Let’s go out there this afternoon and surprise them. Let’s show them that this Dulac team here can hold its head up with any other and will have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Let’s go out there and play for the breaks. Let the officials do the officiating while we do the playing. But above all we must fight, fight, fight! And if we should happen to get behind, THE FIRST BIG GAME 85 no one must be discouraged. At every turn we must come back with fight, fight, and ever more fight!” “Let’s go!” said the captain, and they were off. They ran out on the field with a snap and ginger that was thrilling to see. There was elasticity in every stride, tenseness in every jaw, a glint in every eye. A great roar of fifty-five thousand throats greeted them as they trotted out onto the field. For one little instant, Elmer felt his heart stop still. His whole being was tense with elation. It seemed but a few seconds before the captain came back with the word, ‘“We’ve won the toss, and kick off to South Square.” Shaking like a leaf, Elmer placed the ball straight up and down and dropped five yards back prepara- tory to making his running kick on the kickoff. The noise was confusing; it dinned in his ears; he vibrated in every nerve as he thought of the responsibility of kicking off that ball. He heard the referee’s “Are you ready?” and then the loud whistle. Running up decisively, keeping his eye, his mind, his whole sensible body on that ball, Elmer met it squarely and surely, and it flew well over the goal line, for a touchback. As he lined up on defense, an instant after the kickoff, he was surprised to find all his nervousness gone. With the kick, the tenseness had disappeared with a snap. Now he felt cool and collected. The vast throng of people was just a blur; he paid no at- tention to it. South Square was unable to gain any ground on two 86 FOUR WINNERS plays and on the third down the South Square full- back punted sixty yards down the field, and Elmer, focusing his eye on the ball right into his arms, tucked it away and started forward. Two steps, and he felt himself hit just above the knees; the next instant he was flat on the ground. An instant later they were lined up in regular formation, and Elmer barked out the numbers “42, 71, 64, 15, hip.” The team shifted — and on the next hip, Credon, the left halfback, went — inside of tackle on the twenty-one play. A yard was © the best he could get. The plunge play by the full- — back, number thirty-three, was the next move; it also — yielded only a scant yard. Now the South Square © line had fire in its eye and it was evident that the yards gained by Dulac this day through that line © would be few and far between. On his own thirty-five yard line Elmer dropped — back into the kick formation, and sent a high spiral sailing fifty yards up the field. It was a high punt and the Dulac ends nailed the South Square quarterback © right in his tracks. However, South Square was on its own thirty yard line, having gained ten yards in ~ the exchange of kicks. Again the eastern boys started their attack; again they found the Dulac team fight- ing mad. After two attempts, they once more punted on the third down. This time, however, the kick was short and high, and as he came up fast, Elmer, seeing that the South Square ends were right on top of him, signaled for a fair catch. He held on to the ball on his own forty-five yard line. As he lined up this time, Elmer saw the South THE FIRST BIG GAME 87 Square halfbacks creeping up closer and closer. Evi- dently they were totally unprepared for a forward pass. Strict zone play absolutely prohibited passing on the first down; hence their defensive maneuver. Yet, thought Elmer, this might be a good time to throw a forward pass. However, he had his instruc- tions, and again ran ahead with plays twenty-one and thirty-three. Failing to gain, he dropped back and kicked a high spiral slightly to one side; the ball rolled over the goal line for a touchback. Again the ball was brought out to the twenty yard line, and Elmer noticed instantly that he had made up the ten yards which he had lost on the previous ex- change of kicks. To his surprise, South Square punted this time on first down; standing on his own ten yard line the South Square punter lifted a clean kick of seventy yards. Elmer, standing on Dulac’s twenty yard line, caught it. The South Square right end took a long dive at him, but missed him, as Elmer side-stepped and starting up the side lines was not stopped until he reached midfield. By this time, Elmer was a mass of living brain and nerve, every inch of him coordinated, every fibre of him set for the one and only end of it all, a touch- down. Oh, for a touchdown! Lining up once more, he noticed the South Square halfbacks on defense again drawn up very close. But he was ready for anything. Nothing could stop him now. And then came the inevitable—Shorty Dunne and the three regulars trotting out to replace the shock backfield. With a pang in his heart, although 88 FOUR WINNERS with marked relaxation from the responsibility of the strain, Elmer went to the side lines. But that pang was short lived. Another minute, and Elmer was once more electrified with the joy of the game, for, before he had pulled on his sweat shirt he heard Shorty Dunne, with first down ten, in midfield, call for a for- ward pass. An instant later the Dulac left end caught a long forward pass well behind the South Square half- backs, who were totally unprepared for it, and with a few more strides the Dulac end crossed the goal line for the first touchdown. | Coach Brown came over and sat down by Elmer. “We had seen all we wanted,” he explained, “and besides I was afraid the South Square coach would chase those halfbacks back there a little later, so I sent Shorty in there to take advantage of the weakness right away.” Elmer smiled, his whole heart in his eyes as he looked into the coach’s face. “Touchdown,” is all he could say. He was a happy boy. “Touchdown”’— and he had helped make it. The regular Dulac backfield later also found the South Square line defense impenetrable, and the rest of the half became a punting duel with no advantage on either side. Encouraged with hope at their suc- cess so far the Dulac boys went back into the dressing room, between halves, filled with enthusiasm. Coach Brown had them lie down at full length for seven or eight minutes and there wasn’t a word spoken. After about eight minutes the coach quietly began telling them that they had to go back in and fight harder dur- THE FIRST BIG GAME 89 ing the second half, as the South Square team was sure to come back with a punch. “Let’s take no chances this second half; we are seven points to the good, so let’s play it safe. Let South Square take all the chances and we will be out there playing for the breaks. Shorty, when you have the ball, kill time as much as you can, and you won't have to kick until the fourth down, as Jonesey kicks so fast they will never block one of them in the world. So let’s go out there now and stop them dead, kill time, kick, and Oey for the breaks. And let us play it Pe plutely safe.” They went back out to the field. South Square came back with a punch, making three first downs in a row, but in midfield they were stopped dead. Then began a kicking duel which lasted until the fourth quarter. Getting the ball in the last quarter, in their own territory, South. Square began throwing passes promiscuously, in all direc- tions; but the alert Dulac players continued knock- ing them down. Finally, in desperation, the South Square quarterback threw a forward pass straight out toward the side lines, a very dangerous thing to do, and Shorty Dunne, coming up fast picked it cleanly out of the air and ran sixty yards for a touch- down. That was a sight that made Elmer, sitting on the side lines, swell with delight. - Dulac kicked goal again, making the score fourteen to nothing. South Square came back valiantly and through superhuman effort developed sufficient power to march to the twenty yard line. Here, time being 90 | FOUR WINNERS almost up, South Square tried a place kick, but failed; and at that moment the gun went off, ending the game. Elmer was never so enthused in his life and he ran out on the field and hugged Rip in his joy. The Dulac alumni surrounded the team and congratulated them, and it was fifteen minutes before Elmer was able to make his way through the crowd to the dress- ing room. There were no injuries, and everyone was happy and delirious with joy. The team ate at the _ hotel that night, as guests of the local alumni, and that evening went to a theatre party where they had another surprise, with Will Rogers, the inimitable comedian, giving the Dulac team a couple of send-offs | in his famous monologue. Elmer had heard some- where that the ordinary man had but three or four supreme moments in a lifetime, and he felt certain this Polo Grounds experience must surely be one of his. Tired but happy the boys boarded the train at midnight, and soon the steady churning of the car. wheels put him and his teammates to sleep, safe, sound, and victorious, homeward bound after the first big game. | CHAPTER IX IT’S ALL IN THE GAME ONDAY afternoon the team began active prac- tice for the Kingston game and the startled Varsity were surprised to find the Freshmen already well entrenched in their knowledge of the Kingston attack. They mobilized this attack savagely, and that evening after practice whatever tendency to- wards ego the Varsity had was rudely dispelled. The Freshmen, by their bellicose attack, had severely im- pressed on them the calibre and worth of the King- ston team. “It certainly looks to me as if we wouldn’t have much time for gloating over our last victory,” said Rip. “The way the Freshmen went through us tonight shows we’ve been a little stuck on ourselves; we'll have to get over it,” Elmer answered. “I suppose it will be our turn to scrimmage tomorrow. And say, did you notice Durley out there this afternoon, just as nice as pie?” “Oh, why spoil the evening by mentioning his name!” exclaimed the big curly headed tackle, as he proceeded to disrobe for bed. “Durley’s not the Dulac type of man. He doesn’t fit in here at all.” 91 92 FOUR WINNERS Elmer finished the letter which he was writing home, and then joined Rip in slumber. The next day. the morning mail brought both him and Rip a happ), surprise, an invitation to each of them from the president of the Fellowship Club. This club wai, purely an eating club, the members all taking thei meals together in a certain building, where they hac their own chef. It was not a fraternity, and while, the club was a little exclusive nothing existed which, tended toward snobbery. The several dining clubs of the university included in their personnels the lead- ers in the various activities, and these clubs in nc way impaired the atmosphere of democracy around old Dulac. | “Whoopee for honors!” Elmer shouted as they read their invitations. “T should say we are honored!” Rip exclaimed, as he slapped Elmer on the back. | “You write the club president,’ said Elmer, “will you, Rip?—and accept for both of us, with many and. sincere thanks, and put it nice now, you old dub!” The food of the commons had been good, and they, would probably eat there again, but this invitation, from the Fellowship Club was too flattering a thing to think of passing up. It showed that these two boys were lifting their heads before the multitude. They went to their first club lunch that noon and found, half a dozen other chaps also taking their first meal there. The members of the Fellowship Club were warmly cordial in their welcome, and Elmer felt a sense of comfort and relaxation as he sat down in the “ IT’S ALL IN THE GAME 93 club room after lunch and “fanned” with the other fellows on the big things of interest to the student body. Several faculty men ate at the Fellowship Club, and one of them was Professor Noon. Elmer had an idea that probably Professor Noon was re- sponsible, more than anyone else, for his admittance. As the second team lined up for scrimmage that afternoon, Coach Brown again placed Durley in the backfield with Credon. | “Gosh, wouldn’t that get your goat!” said Elmer to Credon. “Tt certainly does,” replied Credon. ‘That fellow gives me a big pain in the neck.” “Well,” advised Elmer, “let’s not pay any more attention to him. We will take care of our jobs, and if he doesn’t take care of his, why should we worry?” The Freshmen ripped up the second string team in great shape that afternoon, and in fifteen minutes had scored two touchdowns. Electrified to activity, the second team came back and marched down the field to the five yard line in an irresistible fury. The next play Elmer called was a plunge by the fullback, in which Elmer’s duty was merely to protect to the side. In the midst of the play he suddenly felt a body hit him right on the knee from the side. A twinge of pain shot through his leg up past his hip, and he col- lapsed to the ground. But quickly, as he went down, he turned his head and out of the corner of his eye he saw Durley rolling away and finally rise to his feet. It was Durley, then, who had done it—one of his own college mates! 7 94 FOUR WINNERS : Elmer tried to get to his feet. His right leg, wouldn’t move. The first man to notice him was a, Freshman back. I “Higgins is hurt!” he yelled. : An instant later Elmer heard Coach Brown’s voice as he ran up to him. “What’s the matter, Higgins?, What happened?” As they helped Elmer to his feet it was evident to him that no one had seen the incident. His first im-, pulse was to blurt out the truth, but he checked. himself just in time. | “T don’t know,” he said. “Somebody clipped me. from the side.” | “Walk around,” advised Coach Brown. “Maybe it will work out.” ) Elmer tried to take one step, but it was no go. He would have collapsed but for the two men holding him up. Old Dad Moore, the trainer, and two Fresh-. men helped Elmer over to the hospital, where he was comfortably put to bed awaiting the arrival of the, doctor. | The doctor, arriving shortly, made a brief examina- tion, then ia the knee so that Elmer howled in pain. “The internal cartilage is badly torn, but I just put it back in place. Some of the ligaments are torn, too, I am afraid. You won’t be able to play any more football this year.” “Couldn’t I possibly get in by the time the last game is played against Aksarben?” pleaded Elmer. “Well, maybe so,” the doctor answered soothingly. (i ‘ IT’S ALL IN THE GAME 95 “But let’s forget about that for the present. You have absolutely got to stay off this knee for at least two weeks—but maybe the knee is not nearly so bad as we think.” Life in the hospital was not at all as hard as Elmer feared. The coach and the members of the team came up every evening, also the chaps from the Fellowship Club. He received good care and fine meals, and spent quite a bit of his time reading his law books. Both the Fellowship Club and the football squad sent him up flowers, and fruit, and there was also a bouquet from Estelle Wilson. He was surprised that she still remembered him, as he had not seen her since the previous spring. The only thought which both- ered Elmer was regarding the folks at home. Coach Brown had talked to the local reporter, and the only story which ran in the paper was to the effect “on the second team Quarterback Higgins had been re- placed by Edwards,” with no further explanation. This gave Elmer a chance to write home and explain that he had received a slight injury and for them not to worry at all, as he would soon be fit and active again. The home folks evidently took him literally, for Mr. Higgins even wrote to the effect that “now that you’ve failed to make the team, you ought to quit it entirely, and concentrate on your law work.” Elmer read all the magazine and newspapers which were brought to him, and the sporting news from downstate which was full of the gloating accounts of the great team State was having under Coach Smith. It boomed Hunk Hughes for All-American halfback, 96 : FOUR WINNERS and Coach Smith was hailed as the miracle man With every word that Elmer read about Coach Smith: he ground his teeth, and cursed his own bad luck. He received the returns of the Kingston game by radic in his own room, and the seven to nothing victory: he hailed with delight. The team to him had per- sonality and soul, and he was with it in mind and spirit if not in body. As the account of the game came over the radio, he played every play with a fervor and intensity that both shocked and delighted the hospital staff. Two weeks after he was injured he was able to walk out, but the knee was weak and had practically no strength. He attended his classes that day, and that afternoon he put on a suit again and appeared on the field. “Tl just play around for about a week,” Elmer said to Coach Brown, “because this knee of mine feels rather perky, and the doctor says I mustn’t do anything with it for another week or so, so as to give it a chance to strengthen.” “You do just as the doctor tells you,” said Brown. “And be very careful with it. And, by the way, I want to go over and have a chat with you one of these nights—I have something important I want to talk to you about.” At eight o’clock that very evening there was a knock at the door and Coach Brown strode in, carry- ing some papers in his hands. “I want to talk with Higgins here, alone,” said the Coach. IT’S ALL IN THE GAME 97 “You betcha,” responded Rip. “T’ll get right out of here and go next door;” and out he went. The coach sat tapping with his lead pencil on the papers for a moment before he spoke. Finally he said, “Higgins, if I ask you a fair question, will you promise me to answer honestly, and with no attempt to cover anything up?” “Certainly!” replied Elmer. Cover anything up? He had no idea what the coach was driving at. “Was the man who clipped you from the side, the » time you were hurt, Durley, your own halfback?” Somewhat frightened, Elmer hesitated; then he stammered. “Uh, uh, I think it was.” “Can you say for certain?” Coach Brown’s eyes were piercing right into Elmer’s soul. “This is a very Important matter and I must know.” “Yes, I am certain,” Elmer finally replied. “But I hope you don’t think that I’m a tattle-tale.”’ “This is no time for false heroics,’ snapped the coach, ‘for here I have a letter from the Aksarben coach, in which he states that he received anony- mously a copy of our plays and signals. He inclosed them with the remark that I ought to know about it, as there is evidently a traitor in camp.” “No one could have sent these plays out except someone on the squad, as my own coaches are abso- lutely loyal. We are lucky that the Aksarben coach is a gentleman or this would have ruined our chances for the game. As it is, I intend to change the system of signals, but not until I have made sure of the cul- prit. 98 | FOUR WINNERS “T didn’t see the play in which you got hurt, but I! heard about your fight with Durley. I also left Dur-’ ley at home at the time of the Kingston trip and re-! ports came to me of some very low criticism which: Durley has made of me personally. As I said, I: didn’t see the play in which you were hurt, but I did: notice how pleased Durley was later in the day, after you were hurt. I believe he is our man and in fact, | after what you say, I am sure of it. However, I do not want you to breathe a word of this to anyone.” | Brown went a few minutes later, and he was. scarcely gone before Rip was back in the room. “What did the coach want to see you about?” he. asked Elmer, all curiosity. “He was just inquiring about my knee,” lied Elmer. “Umph,” said Rip, “it’s AE he Libba i inquire about your knee in my presence.” “T promised not to say anything,” apologized Elmer. “Huh,” said Rip, “Tl find out some way or other, and I have a sneaky feeling in the bones that this has something to do with our cold-blooded friend Durley.” Elmer made no reply, but he knew that his face was giving him away to his chum. The rest of the evening was spent in silence. Only two unimportant games remaining before the big game with Aksarben, the team was working rather easily now, and no one took things more easily than Elmer. One warm night, however, his knee feeling fairly good, he was racing after a forward pass, as they were informally playing around the field, when IT’S ALL IN THE GAME o9 he felt something pop in his knee and the next in- stant he was lying prostrate on the ground. As he tried to get up he found that his right leg was just as useless as ever, and a twinge of pain shot through the knee and the full length of the leg. That night the doctor told him that he would need another week of complete rest, though he could go to his classes on crutches. “You better scratch football entirely for this year, and it may be that in another year your knee will be Bik.” Elmer’s heart sank at that, but he tried to take the situation philosophically. “There’s no use fighting about this sort of thing,” he said to Rip. ‘All I can do is make the best of it.” CHAPTER X SOCIAL CHAMPIONS—AND OTHERS HE night of his second accident, Elmer hobbled over to see Professor Noon, to explain to him why a substitute would probably do the sweeping in the Science Building for the next week or ten days. The kindly old professor was very sympathetic. _ “T believe in athletics for the young man,” he said, “but not to extremes. From what you have told me regarding your injury I believe the wise thing for you in the future is to confine yourself to such sports as will not endanger the condition of your knee.” “The doctor,” Elmer explained, “said it will be all right by next fall, and I’m going to play it safely and take it easy until then.” “T don’t like to dash cold water on your hopes,” said Professor Noon, “but if I were you I would pre- pare myself mentally for the probability that pos- sibly you will never play football again. I say that in all seriousness. You are just a youngster, and you have a fine future in law ahead of you, as your pro- fessors tell me that you have a legal mind and a fine presence and forethought when you get up to talk.” “Thanks,” Elmer answered modestly; “but I just can’t help it. Professor! I’d give anything to make 100 SOCIAL CHAMPIONS—AND OTHERS 101 that football team next year. I think it would do me the world of good‘to satisfy that one ambition. I know it would give me confidence in whatever [ tackled seriously afterwards.” The old professor leaned back in his chair, strum- ming his fingers on the table for a minute or two. “I believe that athletics are all right, up to a certain de- gree,” he said. “One of the primary functions of a college is to help a young man find himself. There is no doubt that a lot of fine traits of character are developed by athletics. However, it is not an entity in itself, and if I were you I would merely get inter- ested in some other activities; go out a little more socially, and keep your mind occupied so that you won’t miss your contacts on the field. And it may still be that you can play next fall; but it is good philosophy to always be prepared for the worst.” Elmer went back to his room that night so dis- couraged that only the most intense concentration on his studies saved him from a complete case of the blues. He studied hard that night and the night fol- lowing. The third night, however, he found his thoughts wandering. “Gee,” he suddenly remarked to Rip, turning to that young man who was busily writing a letter, “this inactivity is getting on my nerves! I’ve got to be doing something, or I’ll explode.” “Stars are supposed to have temperament,” replied Rip dryly. He always enjoyed teasing Elmer a little. “But I don’t see where you have any right to be de- veloping any such symptoms.” 102 | FOUR WINNERS “What a nice friendly roommate you are!”’ i Elmer. “When I talk to you again, I’ll let you SA And he went to bed. The next noon at the Fellowship Club, Rip came over smilingly and slapped him on the back. “T’ll tell you what let’s do, Elmer, let’s take in the Fellowship Club formal next week.” “But I have no girl friend.” “No, I suppose not,” said Rip. “However, there’s a shy young lady whom you have been neglecting terribly for the last year or so, who might be per- suaded to waste an evening with you, and I am the man who will persuade her, so it’s all fixed. Here we go.” The Fellowship Club gave formal dinner dances several times a year, and this was the first one of the present season. At six-thirty on the evening of the dance Rip came driving up in a car. He walked into the room with a flourish. “We're all ready,” he exclaimed. “Let’s go.” “What’s that thing you have out in front there, and what’s it for?” queried Elmer. “Tt belongs to a friend of mine, and we're taking the girls to the hop in it,” replied the big tackle. “But [ve already ordered a cab,’ Elmer explained. “And besides, isn’t it rather an affront to ask girls to ride in a contraption like that?” “Cancel the cab,’ said Rip, “and shut up, and come along. These secondhand cars are all the vogue, and the girls will think it’s a jolly lift—in fact the first time I get fifty dollars I’m going to buy one SOCIAL CHAMPIONS—AND OTHERS 103 of my own. Furthermore, we can’t afford to be pay- ing five dollars a lick for cab bills, as long as we have friends who are good enough to loan us a convey- ance.” Elmer looked over the contraption and found a big red lantern hanging on behind, two spare tires tied on the top, a lot of curt phrases painted on the body, and hung on behind a sign, “In every day and every way I am growing weaker and weaker.” “All right,” he said, after he had hesitated a mo- ment. “Crank it up!” They stopped first at the house where Rip’s friend lived, and when she came out and saw the car she laughed gaily. “My, right up to date!” “Nothing’s too good for the ladies!” was Rip’s jolly retort. Arriving at the Wilson home, Elmer pressed the button with beating heart, and found Estelle all dressed and waiting. “My, I haven’t seen you in goodness knows how long,” she said, as she gave him her hand in greeting. “Well,” stammered Elmer, “you know how it is with us football men.” “Yes, how is it?” queried Estelle. There was an awkward pause. “T understand you have been hurt again. I’m sorry.” Elmer stammered his thanks. They approached the car, and he wondered what Estelle would think of it. But she, too, joined heartily in the fun of it all, 104 : FOUR WINNERS and the next instant they were whirling along the road toward the downtown district. | The dining room at the hotel was beautifully dec-' orated, as were also the tables, making a handsome setting for the Fellowship dinner. At first Elmer was somewhat ill at ease in the conversation during the dinner; it was Estelle who had to take the initia- tive. “What are you going to do with yourself, Mr. Hig- gins, now that you won’t be able to play any more football this fall?” she asked. “It was quite a blow, and time does hang heavy on my hands.” “He will probably be down to see you real often, now,” blurted out Rip. And this last remark threw Elmer completely off his social stride again. He gave Rip a look which spoke, “Help me out!” Rip, however, seemed to be enjoying himself im- mensely. After an awkward pause, Rip was at it again, “Wouldn’t it be a good idea, girls, if Elmer took both of you to the Aksarben game?” “It would certainly be a pleasure,” quickly spoke up Elmer, though the very mention of the game, fol- lowing Hstelle’s inquiries about his injury, set the old train of thought going in his head again. Would he be ever able to play again? Had Professor Noon told him the horrible truth? Estelle’s voice broke his revery. “IT am sure it would be delightful,” she said, while Rip’s friend volunteered that she would “just love to go.” | SOCIAL CHAMPIONS—AND OTHERS 105 ia the dinner there was an intermission of fif- teen minutes, while the tables were being cleared away for dancing. Although neither Rip nor Elmer smoked, they both excused themselves and went out into the alcove and joined the men gathered there in groups. “T could have killed you,” said Elmer to Rip. “You know I am no ‘lady’s man.’ ” Rip laughed. “You are all wrong on this blushing bashful stuff,’ he said. ‘They like them bold and fearless. Say anything that comes to your mind— they never take you seriously anyhow.” “Well, I’m not made that way,” said Elmer. “The more I think of it the less I like this job of taking these girls to the game.” “Shucks, it’s just what you need,” Rip continued. “Don’t take them so seriously. Just go around a few times and your point of view will change entirely.” “That may be all right,” said Elmer, “but please, for the rest of the night, no more of this airy persi- flage at my expense.” However, Rip’s remarks did do some good, for EI- mer forgot himself completely during the rest of the evening and had a jolly good time. He became truly unconscious of himself until after the dance and the four of them piled back into the so-called car. Al- though quite a few of the other chaps had cars of a like model and vintage, Elmer could not help but feel that it would have been much more appropriate to have spent some money for taxicabs. “T have just had a lovely time,” said Estelle. “You 106 FOUR WINNERS boys and your crowd are so delightful that one cannot help but enjoy them. Come over and see me some’ evening when you are not too busy, won’t you?” |! “Thank you,” said Elmer, rather lamely, “I shall.” But in his heart he knew he lied. He knew he would never have the courage to go all by himself to see Estelle; and yet, as if against his own wishes, he! caught himself wishing that in some way or other his: bold friend Rip might sometime arrange a mutual af-: fair which would bring them all together again. Several days later, at noon, Rip brought the infor- | mation that Durley, for reasons unknown, had left the university. Elmer never got any first-hand infor-. mation about this. Naturally he was glad that cer- tain things that he knew of were nipped in the bud; yet in his heart he was sorry and disillusioned to find that there were boys in the world who wouldn’t play the game fairly. On several occasions he was tempted to ask the coach about it, but after deliberation he de- cided that whatever information the coach wanted him to have he would volunteer himself. Coach Brown never mentioned the matter again; and in his heart of hearts Elmer admired him deeply for that. It was a life lesson in reticence that Elmer never forgot. The same night that brought news of Durley’s leaving, several boys in the same dormitory came over to tell Elmer and Rip that they had run across quite by accident, a bunch of very unsophisticated freshmen whom they had decided to initiate into the imaginary Order of the Black Cat. Elmer wasn’t SOCIAL CHAMPIONS—AND OTHERS 107 able to go along on account of some cramming he had to do for a law class, but Rip went and came back with the report that supplied a lot of fun at the expense of the freshmen. “The poor saps paid in fifteen dollars apiece, three of them, which makes a total of forty-five dollars. This, I presume, we will use for a special feed. Each one of the candidates had to go over to the Gym blindfolded and stripped save for a towel, and carry- ing a dead black cat. We gave them the violet ray machine on the chest. We also burnt some hairs un- der their nose, while we pressed a piece of ice against the skin. You would have laughed your head off to see the way they jumped! They thought surely they were being branded with a red hot iron. Then we made them climb through a row of barrels, put end to end, coming through either side. They had a terrible time passing each other blindfolded.” “Aren’t you kind of ashamed of yourselves, to take fifteen dollars away from each of those poor kids?” “Not at all,” said Rip. “All of them have money— that’s one reason we picked them. They can charge it to education. Believe me, when they wise up they'll appreciate that they received a liberal educa- tion very cheaply. These greenies have to be wised up some way or other. We may as well be the ones to do it.” “Well, the next time you have something of that sort, I hope I can get in on it,” said Elmer. “Well, we have another live one on for next week— 108 FOUR WINNERS areal one. A few of the fellows are oe him along: They’ve styled him the marble champion.” i “The marble champion?” “Yes, the marble champion. What do you think of that? In quizzing one of these freshmen one day, | one of the boys accidentally found a young gent whose’ only claim to fame in his grammar school and high’ school days was the fact that he was much feared whenever the boys played marbles for keeps! Think’ of it, Elmer! The marble champion! Of course, all’ the fellows got right in on the idea, patted him on the’ back, and told him he was just the fellow they were’ looking for. The last marble champion had been grad-. uated, and it looked as though the school would be weak in this form of sport this year. The poor chap fell for it hook, line and sinker, and Wednesday after- noon he is going to play against Jipper Gite, for the championship of the school. Oh, boy!” And Rip exploded, and danced a Jig. “Well, I certainly won’t miss that,” said Elmer. Jipper Gite was the school comedian, and Elmer could, see the possibilities of such a contest. | The following Wednesday at one o’clock they met over behind the chemistry building. There were a. thousand students there, and the Varsity cheer leader. gave nine rahs for Hericks, the coming marble cham-: pion. When the referee introduced Jipper Gite, who» was to contest against Hericks, everybody cat-called and hooted him, and Hericks’s bosom swelled. He: felt he had the whole university back of him. Rip was\ : : SOCIAL CHAMPIONS—AND OTHERS 109 the master of ceremonies, and called the two men to the center of the ring. “T demand that we use the Egyptian break,” said Jipper Gite solemnly. “All right,” said Rip, and turning around and ad- dressing an assistant he said, “Fix the pool balls up in a pyramid.” The two men lagged for a line to determine the one who would get first shot. Jipper Gite was the winner. Jipper crouched down at the edge of the circle, with his pool ball, and hitting the top ball of the pyramid knocked it completely out of the circle. As he did so a thousand voices shouted “Foul!” “T never fouled,” said Jipper, burlesquing a very offended attitude. “You fudged,” said Rip, and awarded the next shot to Hericks. Hericks leaned down on the edge of the circle, and picking on the nearest pool ball knocked it out of the circle, a very simple thing to do. He then proceeded to knock out two more, while the crowd cheered vocif- erously. “Speech, speech, speech!” called the crowd. “Since I have won the championship of the school,” said Hericks throwing out his chest, “I will now go into training for the big match with the champ of Aksarben. Dulac need have no fear, as I have never lost a marble game in my life .. .” Another loud cheer broke out at this, but it sud- denly stopped for just at the moment up strode the president of the university into the group. The stu- 110 FOUR WINNERS dents backed away, so that the president came right up to the place where Rip, Jipper Gite, Hericks and El- mer were standing together. “T had heard that this sort of nonsense was going to go on, but I wouldn’t have believed it unless I saw it with my own eyes.” Turning to Hericks, he said, “Young man, don’t you know that these fellows here are making a big fool out of you?” “Oh, they told me about you,” retorted Hericks, blandly, with a smile, “and they said you’d be jealous because you were the marble champion when you were in school.” The crowd nearly burst with suppressed laughter. “Where are you from?” asked the president. “What Cheer, Indiana,” responded Hericks proudly. “Mr. Ruggles, Mr. Higgins, and Mr. Gite,” said the president, as he turned away, “I will see you up in my office in five minutes.” Five minutes later the three culprits were escorted into the president’s sanctum sanctorum. The presi- dent tried to look severe, but a little “squib” of a smile crept around the corners of his mouth. “Tell me all about this, Mr. Ruggles—you seemed to be the leading spirit out there.” Rip, very frankly, told the whole case, and explained that they had no harm in mind, just merely a little rough way of enlightening and humiliating some of the freshmen who were too chesty anyhow. “This must stop at once,” said the president. “There is no doubt in my mind but what this young freshman, Hericks, needs a lot of enlightening, but SOCIAL CHAMPIONS—AND OTHERS 111 he will have to get it in other ways. I have no doubt that he will be a very much more enlightened young fellow by tomorrow. Boys will be boys, but you were carrying this thing much too far today. It’s ridicu- lous, and it’s wasting time. You three boys have splendid records, and I will overlook it this time. But remember, no more of it.” As they passed out and on across the campus grounds all three of them heaved a big sigh of relief, and voted then and there that Prexy was a regular fellow. “T thought sure it was good-bye Dulac for me,” said Gite. “IT felt safe as soon as I saw him smile,” said Rip, “and I think he relented when I told him the whole truth. However, this physical examination that we were going to stage tomorrow night is off. I’ll take the stethoscope back to the doctor tonight, and we'll return their dollars to those freshies.” “IT think you’re wise,’ said Elmer. “Anyone of those fool freshmen might have had you arrested for impersonating a physician, you know.” “Well, I may be wrong,” was Rip’s final word, “but I do think all these freshmen were getting some good education at a cut rate—but I guess Prexy doesn’t get our point of view.” CHAPTER XI FROM THE GRANDSTAND HE night before the Aksarben game all of the : hotels in town were overcrowded, and the con- gestion became greater every hour as the crowds rolled in from all directions. Coach Brown had taken his entire squad out to the Country Club to keep them away from the noise and excitement of the town and school, so Elmer was left alone. Having completed his studying by about nine o’clock, he strolled down | town, but found things very quiet except in the hotel lobbies, where groups of alumni and fans stood around discussing the morrow’s game. One look around was enough to satisfy Elmer’s curi- osity. On the long walk back to the college, he passed Estelle’s house, and did his best to get up enough cour- age to go and ring the doorbell. However, his nerve failed him at the last instant, and he continued on his way out to the college. The various buildings looked like vast ships at sea in the thick gloom as he came up the long avenue. There were very few lights lit; the morrow was a holiday; almost every student was away for the evening. There was some- thing lonely about the place. Elmer went to his room and lying back in bed re- 112 FROM THE GRANDSTAND 113 viewed the events of the past fall. He kept wondering why it was that he didn’t seem to get any of the breaks in luck. Here was a game tomorrow, where it | was reasonably certain that Dulac would beat Aksar- ben, a game in which, he felt sure, Coach Brown would send out the shock team to play the first quar- ter. If he had not been injured it would have meant that he would be out there on the field doing that which he enjoyed above anything else in the world. But no; he was here with an injured knee; he would have to watch the game from the stands. It was hard! He felt suddenly as if he had not even had his chance yet. His work as quarterback up to the time of his injury, while above the ordinary, had not caused a ripple, and the recurrence of his injury was not even of enough importance to be noticed. Sick at heart, he tossed about in his bed, and it was long past mid- night before he finally fell asleep. The next morning found a thick heavy frost on the ground, and a snappy tang in the air. The sun broke through the clouds about nine o’clock and every ves- tige of frost soon disappeared; it was evident that conditions for the game would be ideal. About eleven- thirty the Varsity squad arrived on a bus from the Country Club. Elmer met the bus; he couldn’t stay away. He took in every word, even to hearing Coach Brown give instructions for the entire team to eat a very light lunch and be back at the Gym in an hour. “The team is in great shape,” said Rip, as he walked toward the Fellowship Club with Elmer, “but Coach Brown seems to think we are a little over-confident. 114 | FOUR WINNERS He had a deuce of a time keeping the alumni and the relatives away from the players last night.” “Yes, I know,” said Elmer, “the coach is a great stickler for keeping everybody away from the team until after the game, no matter who it is. How about Credon?: Will he get in the game today?” “T don’t know, for sure,” replied Rip, “but I think he will start with the shock bunch.” “T understand that there are no tickets to be had, and that there are rumors of scalping.” “Well, here are your three,” said Rip, as he pulled them out of his pocket, “but I surely had a tough time getting them. There must have been a thou- sand people out to the Country Club last night, all trying to get tickets from Coach Brown, as though he had anything to do with the ticket sale!” “Thanks, Rip. These are a great load off my mind,” said Elmer, as he carefully deposited the tickets in his vest pocket. “I’ll be running along now,” and as he gripped Rip by the hand, “don’t forget,” he said, “the walloping Aksarben gave us last year.” “T won't,’ said Rip, “but too many of the fellows seem to think we are going to have a cinch, to suit me.” Elmer went back to the room, shaved and dressed himself, and rolling up the two army blankets which - he and Rip used on their beds, he slipped them under his arm and strolled toward town. There was one ideal custom at Dulac. Owing to the nearness of the university field, and the lack of adequate parking facilities, everybody from town FROM THE GRANDSTAND 115 walked out. Elmer called first for Rip’s friend, Ruth, and then, picking up Estelle at her home, they joined the vast army which was slowly making its way out towards Ludington Field. Arriving at the field, El- mer passed by without effort all the venders that were trying to sell the various novelties, though he did finally buy each one of the girls a large chrysanthe- mum, and, of course, a program. Then they were shown up to their seats. The seats which Rip had procured for them were in the very top row, on about the forty yard line. “Don’t you think this is rather high up, and a little too far away to see the game well?” Ruth asked. “T procured these seats up here,” Elmer explained, a little uncomfortably, “because these are supposed to afford the best view. The football scouts always sit in the top row, because everything lies out in front of them like a panorama.” “T think these seats are lovely,” said Estelle, and the remark pleased Elmer not a little, although it was still apparent that Ruth was not satisfied. Slowly and gradually the vast stands became filled with the throng in holiday clothes and holiday spirit. Into the east stand marched one thousand Aksarben rooters led by a band in brilliant red uniforms. They had just arrived on a special train. After the Aksar- ben band had marched up and down the field the Dulac band came in and they had their strut up and down the field playing their stirring march, which had such a swing and a stimulus to it that it gripped every- one who heard it. Elmer felt a thrill of pride in the 116 | FOUR WINNERS band, and the old march, as the drum major waved his baton up and down the field. At a quarter of two the Aksarben cheer leaders sud- denly appeared in their bright red sweaters, and an instant later nine rahs for Dulac volleyed across the field. The Dulac cheer leaders returned the salute in an instant, and in another minute both cheering sec- tions were giving their best efforts at one and the same time. There was a lull for a few moments and then suddenly pandemonium broke loose in the Aksarben stands as the three big teams in red came snorting on the field. They ran up and down the field with a speed and dash that spelled determination and boded ill for Dulac. Three minutes later, the Dulac team appeared and Elmer and the girls yelled themselves hoarse, as they saw the old boys in blue tripping up and down the gridiron. The four officials in white flannel trousers and jerseys of various descriptions ap- peared next, calling both captains to the middle of — the field. “What are they doing now?” Ruth asked. “Why, the referee is tossing up the coin, and which- ever captain wins the toss gets his choice.” “Get’s his choice of what?” “The choice of kicking off or defending the goal. But with this brisk wind I imagine whichever cap- tain wins will elect to take the wind.” It was soon evident that the Dulac captain had won the toss and had taken the wind, the kickoff thus going to the Aksarben captain. The air was filled with such a din and noise it was almost impossible to FROM THE GRANDSTAND 117 hear one another’s conversation. Close behind, and to one side, in the press stand, could be heard the click- ing of the telegraph instruments. The sport writers were sending out to the world the story of the game. In a cubby hole at the very end of the press stand, Elmer could see the announcer from a downtown newspaper, broadcasting the game by radio. Dulac was all lined up to receive the kick-off—there was a shrill whistle as the referee put the instrument to his lips, and an instant later the Aksarben fullback met the ball squarely and it soared onward right into the arms of Jones, the Dulac fullback. The Dulac team dropped back, formed a wedge for Jones, and behind this flying phalanx Jones was not stopped un- til he reached his thirty yard line. On the first down Dulac dropped back into punt formation, and Jones sent the ball soaring fifty yards down the field. The Aksarben quarterback was tackled dead in his tracks. “Why did they kick right away?” asked Ruth. “That’s to utilize the wind to the best advantage,” Elmer explained. ‘Now it’s up to Aksarben to see what they can do with their backs up against their own goal line. They can only kick it back, and it — won’t go nearly as far against the wind.” Aksarben tried two line plays, and gaining but a total of three yards, dropped back on third down, and punted to midfield. Edwards fumbled the ball for an instant, but recovered it, though there was no return. On the first play Credon went off tackle for six yards, and the ball was brought back, and the ref- eree walked back five yards for Aksarben. 118 . FOUR WINNERS “What’s that for?” asked Ruth. “That’s a five yard penalty for being offside. There is an imaginary line drawn through each end of the ball, clear across the field. One line is the line of scrimmage for the team which has the ball, and the other line is the line of scrimmage for the team on the defense. Neither team could cross its line of scrimmage until the ball is passed by the center, or there is a penalty of five yards. The team which has the ball dare not be in motion when the ball is passed back by the center. On that last shift play, Dulac was off too fast, and that’s the reason for the penalty.” In the meanwhile Dulac had tried a forward pass and this was incomplete. As they lined up, the score board showed second down, fifteen yards to go. An- other forward pass went astray; this time as they lined up the score board showed third down, fifteen. The maneuver of trying two forward passes in suc-_ cession rather puzzled Elmer, and he couldn’t for the life of him grasp the reason for such strategy on the part of Edwards. On the next play Jones dropped back in punt formation, and placed a beautiful punt to one side which rolled out of bounds on the five yard line. This feat was greeted with loud cheers from the Dulac cheering section. “What was so exciting about that, that made them all yell?” Ruth asked. | “Well,” said Elmer, “the way it is now, it is Aksar- ben’s ball on their own five yard line. If the ball had rolled across the goal line before it went out of bounds it would have been a touchback. In that case it would FROM THE GRANDSTAND 119 have been Aksarben’s ball on the twenty yard line— so by kicking the ball out on the five yard line, they saved fifteen yards.” “Just as clear as mud,” said Ruth. “Don’t say that, Ruth,” Estelle put in. “You know it’s just as clear as can be.” But Ruth only pouted. Standing five yards behind his own goal line the Aksarben kicker, on the first play, now hoisted the ball fifty yards up the field, right into the arms of the waiting Edwards. The ball seemed to nestle in his arms and then an instant later it lay squirming on the ground. Like a flash a red-jerseyed man was around it. “Shucks, we fumbled, and Aksarben recovered— that’s a bad break!” Elmer exclaimed. “What is a break?” Once more Ruth’s battery of questions was turned on. “Well, that’s rather hard to define,’ Elmer an- swered, ‘“‘but a blocked kick or a fumbled punt or any kind of a fumble is supposed to represent a break for the team that recovers the ball.” In two plays Aksarben had smashed for a first down, right straight through the Dulac scrub line. On the next play they fumbled, however, and the Dulac cen- ter recovered, making it Dulac’s ball on her own forty- five yard line. “Well, that evens it up—that’s a break for us,” said Elmer. On the first play Credon for Dulac skirted the end for twenty yards, but the completion of the play found 120 | FOUR WINNERS the official standing where the ball had started froth and again the ball was brought back. This time the referee measured off fifteen yards. | “What was that for?” said Ruth. “That was for holding,” gloomily responded Elmer. “The team that has the ball is not allowed to use its hands or arms in any way, and the penalty for doing this is fifteen yards.” | “But the Aksarben boys were using their hands— I could see that very plainly,” said Ruth. | “Yes, that’s true,” said Elmer, “but the rules say that the team on defense may use their hands to ward off interferers, while they are attempting to get to the man carrying the ball. It is only the team which ste the ball which is not allowed to use its hands or arms.’ “Does that mean that the team on defense can slug?” asked Estelle, in wide-eyed wonder. | “No, if the team on defense uses its hands illegiti- mately, such as striking with the heel of the hand in the face, or slugging, they’ll get penalized fifteen, yards, and the man may be put out of the game.” _ Meantime Dulac had again tried two long forward passes, both of which were incomplete, and on the third down Jonesy kicked a long punt down the field, which the Aksarben quarterback caught on his own twenty yard line, sidestepped the Dulac end, and re- turned the ball ten yards before he was smothered | under a swarm of blue jerseys. Starting on their own twenty yard line Aksarben now reeled off three first downs in succession. In one of these plays the offi-. FROM THE GRANDSTAND 121 cials stepped forth and the referee walked for five more yards for Aksarben. “What was that for?” asked Ruth. “Oh, let’s keep quiet—I think we’re annoying EI- mer, and he isn’t enjoying the game a bit,” said Es- telle. “Oh, that’s all right,” said Elmer. “I am at your pleasure. Dulac was offside that time, Ruth.” “Thank you,” said Ruth, but not without a look at Hstelle, whose remark apparently had hit home; for from then on until the Aksarben team reached the twenty yard line, Ruth asked no more questions. At this point eleven new blue-jerseyed men dashed onto the field, and Ruth joined in with the rest of the vast throng in exhorting Dulac to hold. “We'll see a different game now,” said Elmer, “the regulars are in.” Three plays—Aksarben shot two inside of tackle and one outside of tackle, and not an inch did they gain in the three downs. “They'll have to make ten yards on the next play or it will be our ball,” said Elmer. He could see the Dulac backfield move back further so as to be in a more advantageous position to pro- tect against a forward pass. The Aksarben quarter- back was clearly flustered, and up in the air. “Well, we have stopped them this time,” said El- mer. “Just watch that team go when they get the ball.” At that instant the ball was snapped back by the Aksarben center, and the Aksarben halfback dropped 122 | FOUR WINNERS back, throwing a forward pass to their left end, who’ had run straight down the field to the goal line. El-} mer’s nerves gave a jump; just then he saw Shorty’ Dunne leap clean into the air, and bat the ball. “Good for Shorty!” thought Elmer; and then his’ heart sank as he saw that Shorty had batted the ball’ right into the hands of an Aksarben halfback who was coming down the field several yards behind the end. The halfback hung onto the ball and crossed the goal line, while Elmer felt a lonely and empty sensation’ all Me way to the pit of his stomach. The Aksar-| ben team lined up on the five yard line, and executing. a perfect place kick added the extra point, reset | the score seven to nothing in their favor. “Just a bad break,” said Elmer, “just a bad break. | “T know, but it’s coven to nothing favor Aksarben.” Elmer said nothing in reply, but he felt that his patience was being sorely tried. As they lined up for the kick-off, 1t was apparent the Dulac captain had elected to receive. This time the man kicking off for Aksarben kicked it away over the goal line, making it a touchback, and the ball was brought back to the twenty yard line. As they lined up on the twenty yard line, waiting for the referee's whistle, it was evident that the entire Dulac team was over anxious to get going—they fairly shook with suppressed excitement. On the first play, Dulac made seven yards; on the next play ten yards; and as Elmer watched them march down the field he grasped the reason for the use of the long forward passes by the first quarterback, J FROM THE GRANDSTAND 123 Edwards. On every play the man carrying the ball faked a forward pass and the line plunges and end runs following gained big yardage. The Aksarben second and third line defense lay away back looking for the forward passes which didn’t come. Down the field, past midfield, swung the Dulac team, off-tackle, through line, first left, then right, right down to the five yard line. Then a pistol shot was heard. It was the end of the quarter. CHAPTER XII DEFEAT HE teams exchanged goals, and this meant tha Dulac would now have the wind against hel Dulac was placed in the same relative position on th other five yard line, and the minute intermission be ing up the referee blew his whistle. Three differen plays Shorty Dunne chose, and the Dulac backs hurle themselves into the line three different times, but on yard on each play was the best they could get; it wa now fourth down on the two yard line. The nex play, which found Elmer with his heart in his mouth was a trick pass play. An instant later a Dulac halfback went sprintin: across the goal line, all by himself, and Shorty Dunn threw the ball right into his waiting arms—and h dropped it! There was a groan from the stands tha could have been heard for blocks. | “T never saw such a day for bad breaks,” said Elmey “Gosh, I never did see such bad luck!” } “Why didn’t he catch it?” asked Ruth. | “He tried to, but missed it,” said Estelle, seein, Elmer’s rising color. “Well,” said Elmer, “you can’t discourage tha bunch of men out there—they’ll come back yet.” With the wind with them, however, Aksarben chos, 124 | DEFEAT | 125 to play a kicking game the next quarter, and Shorty Dunne, trying to duplicate his first march, found that much of the enthusiasm of his offense had been spent. Nothing unusual happening the rest of the quarter, the half ended, with the score still seven to nothing in favor of Aksarben. In spite of his encouraging words to the girls, spoken as much to encourage himself as them, Elmer felt half desperate. Between halves one thousand Aksarben rooters in the stands snake-danced all over the gridiron to the intense chagrin of the thousands of Dulac supporters, who sat back stolidly hoping for the best in the next half. A group of Dulac students came out to put on a burlesque game between halves, but with the score seven to nothing against them, their heart wasn’t in it and the thing was a dismal failure. As it was the Aksarben captain’s choice the second half, they chose the wind, and when Elmer saw that Dulac had elected to receive, he turned to the girls with determined face. "The boys are going to take the ball and march straight for a touchdown,” he said. ‘Their ire is up and they won’t be stopped, you wait and see!”’ Shorty Dunne caught the kick-off on the goal line, and brought it back thirty yards behind perfect inter- ference. The first downs they made by slicing off tackle and line smashing—and then as the Aksarben second and third line defense crept up close, Shorty threw three or four passes, which carried the ball to the fifteen yard line. The Dulac stands were in an uproar. | 126 | FOUR WINNERS It looked easy for Dulac now! Aksarben seemec unable to stop them. On the first play on the fifteer) yard line, the Dulac fullback went plunging into the line; but an instant later a huge red-jerseyed indi; vidual emerged with the ball and went sprinting dowr the field with no one near to stop him. He crossec, the goal line without anyone having come within ten yards of him. There was a stillness throughout all the stands, so still, one might even hear the heartbeats, Even the Aksarben stands could hardly grasp the situ: ation. And it wasn’t until they had place-kicked foi the other extra point that, with a loud howl, they gave vent to their exultation over what had happened. — “What happened?” aaltee Ruth. “Well,” said Elmer, “one of our backs thought he was carrying a loaf of bread home to mother, and that big Aksarben tackle just merely took it away from him and ran for a touchdown. Gosh, it makes you sick when you think of all the time Coach Brown has spent in teaching this fellow how to carry the ball: and then to have him go out there and practically give the game away like this!” ~“T don’t believe Coach Brown can teach anything’ to anybody,” said some fellow in front of Elmer. “What a fine loyal rooter you are,” said Elmer. “J. bet you’ve placed about five dollars on the game and! because youre going to lose it you'll blame Coach’ Brown for it.” “Why, we should beat Aksarben by four touch- downs,” said the big burly fellow as he turned aroma and looked Elmer in the eye. { DEFEAT 127 “You can’t beat them with breaks of this kind,” Elmer retorted, “and I don’t see how you can blame a coach for the things that caused these two touch- downs.” That silenced the burly critic, and Elmer leaned back; but then he suddenly realized how embarrassing this must have been to the girls. “T’m awfully sorry I paid any attention to that fel- low,” he apologized in a low voice. “T don’t blame you at all,” said Estelle. “It’s just as my father says; there’s no one half so bright or half so brilliant as what he calls ‘the second guessers.’ ” “What is a second guesser?” suddenly cried out the irrepressible and ever-questioning Ruth. Elmer didn’t reply, though the critical gentleman in front again turned around and gave the three of them a belligerent look. With the score fourteen to nothing it was evident that the spirits of the entire crowd, almost all of whom were Dulac supporters, were very much de- pressed. On the next play or two, after another kick- off, there was practically no sound at all, and as the two teams exchanged kicks it looked as though it was all over but the shouting. At that instant the Dulac cheer leaders, three of them, got out in front of the stands. One of them, with the megaphone to his mouth, yelled sharply, “Dulac, in all its history has never quit—are we going to quit today?” And a resound- ing “No!” went reverbating across the gridiron, as 128 x FOUR WINNERS each heart and lusty throat responded to the 1 inepirar tion of that challenging cry. That thunderous “No!” must have been heard | the team on the field; for as the fourth quarter started the Dulac boys began their third march down the‘ field to the goal line. Three and five yards to the play they averaged as they slashed, whirled and drove their way up the field. Once a forward pass, good for twen-' ty yards; then back to the running game! Now up to the fifteen yard line again; but here once more they were stopped for short gains three times in a row.’ “They'll forward pass on this play,’ said Elmer desperately, ‘another trick forward pass!” And sure enough, as the play developed it found Shorty Dunne ending up far back to one side with the ball in his possession. Suddenly he tossed it to: the fullback, who was hiding out by himself in one corner of the field. The silence in the grandstands was breathless. This time the ball was not dropped. This time ihe fullback walked across the goal line for Dulac’s first. score. Shorty Dunne kicked goal and the score was fourteen to seven. | “There’s nothing to it. I think we’re going to get two more!” Elmer cried in exultation. Aksarben chose to kick-off and they kicked far over the goal line for a touchback. As the teams were lin- ing up for the first play, the two girls and Elmer heard a lady down somewhere in the front ask her es- cort, “For goodness’ sake, whose ball is it now?” “Why, it’s Dulac’s ball,” said the man gruffly. DEFEAT 129 “Oh, goody,” said the excited lady, “I just knew they would get it before the game was over!” Involuntarily Elmer turned and looked at Ruth. “Now don’t tell me I am as dumb as that!” Ruth protested with her eyes flashing. “As dumb as what?” said Elmer, innocently. “You heard all right! But never mind, I won't bother you any more.” “Why, yes, please,” said Elmer, “any time anything comes up that you want to ask about, please do so, Ruth.” With the same irrepressible rush which had marked their last march, Shorty Dunne took the dashing Dulac team straight up the field for first down after first down, until finally the ball rested on the one yard line, with fourth down goal to make. And as Elmer watched Shorty Dunne he could read his very thoughts. He thought of a line buck, and saw that huge Ak- sarben line now massed tight in front of Dulac. The ends were in tight. Aksarben had two backs playing up close, right behind the ends and a little bit on the inside, ready to reinforce whether on line plunges or end runs. Two men only lay back for the forward passes, as they had but a very short territory to cover—the end zone in which forward passes could be caught being only ten yards in depth. “T’d throw a pass, but Shorty, of course, can tell out there by sensing and feeling the situation a lot better than we can here,’ Elmer remarked. True enough, a forward pass it was, the same play 130 | FOUR WINNERS that they had scored on previously; and again the Dulac fullback slipped over in a corner all by himself. But just as Shorty Dunne poised to throw the ball he slipped and fell, and before he could recover, two red-jerseyed men Had smothered him. Elmer groaned. ‘Ye gods, I don’t believe the Fates) want us to win this game!” In trying to maneuver for a better position to kick, Aksarben first fumbled and then on the next play, was thrown for a three yard loss. The next play found the kicker standing eight yards behind the goal line. “Time out,” cried the Aksarben quarterback, and yelling to the field judge, asked how much time was left. “Three minutes,’ came the answer. And then, as the Aksarben quarterback lined up to kick, he saw that Dulac had, besides their seven men on the line, the fullback who was up alongside the left tackle. It was evident that they were going to make a desperate attempt to block the kick—a blocked kick would tie the score. He went back and whispered something to the full- back and then lined up again and began calling out his numbers. As the ball was passed back to the fullback, several blue jerseys swarmed through, but the Aksar- ben fullback merely touched the ball to the ground and squatted on it. The referee’s whistle blew, and an instant later the ball was carried out to the thirty ‘yard line. DEFEAT 131 The score on the board now read, Aksarben four- teen, Dulac nine. “Can you beat that!” said Elmer. “Well, I guess it’s all over now. They played it safe, and it looks as though they are going to win.” “What was that” asked Estelle, “that counted two points?” “That was a safety,” said Elmer, “the ball being declared dead in Aksarben’s possession behind their own goal line—it would have been a touchback if the force came from a Dulac player. However, since the force which carried the ball across the goal line was from one of their own side, it is a safety. The center passed the ball across the goal line. He fur- nished the force.” “T don’t understand what you mean,” said Ruth, “but I think it’s a darn shame for Rip and the boys out there to have played so well, and then to be beaten.” “I think it’s darn poor sportsmanship,” said the big red-neck up in front, turning around to Elmer. “That sort of thing should be stopped.” “It’s perfectly all right according to the rules,” said Elmer, “and as long as the rules are that way, I don’t blame them for taking advantage of them.” “Well, Shorty Dunne should have hit the line for that fourth down anyhow,” said the other. “That’s all right for the Sunday morning field gen- eral,’ Elmer replied, “but Shorty Dunne had to make his decision out there right on the spot and quickly, and it wasn’t his fault that he slipped and fell.” 132 | FOUR WINNERS This last remark apparently did not mollify the man, at least it silenced him. The Aksarben team now rushed the ball with great vigor for one first down; then they ran their plays off so slowly that they still had the ball on the third down when the gun went off announcing the end of the game. Elmer and the girls made their way slowly out through the exits, and over towards the gym, where they were to meet Rip. Scarcely any words were ex- changed between them. A little later Rip joined: them; and it was evident that he had been crying. , They looked at him in frank astonishment. No one, had ever seen Rip like that before. | “I had hoped that we could go out to dinner to- . gether,” he managed to say, “but the way I feel, I, think it would be best for me to go home and sleep . it off.” | “T think that’s a perfectly good suggestion for to- . night,” said Estelle, “but for tomorrow I'd say, let’s , all four have dinner at my home, and I won’t take. ‘No’ from any of you. By that time Rip will have | gotten over the game of today, and we can have a jolly good time together.” “I may appear to be over it tomorrow en but I will never really get over today’s game,” said Rip. , “We all played our heads off, but things just wouldn’t , connect. I guess you understand.” Elmer at least understood—and Rip knew it. \ CHAPTER XIII EIGHTEEN MONTHS ELAPSE HE first part of December passed rapidly, and Elmer and Rip settled into their work rather briskly, and with little to break the routine. Elmer made an effort to qualify as a debater, but was not quite able to make it. The few days preceding the holidays were busy ones. All the professors were holding special quizzes so as to make sure none of the boys would take any more time off than that allotted by the faculty. The evening before they left for home, Rip and Elmer, along with Estelle, had dinner at Ruth’s house. The dinner was beautifully done, and Estelle was more lovely than ever, and yet EI- mer’s interest was dulled for some reason, and the boys went home early. The next day Elmer boarded the local train which took him back home to Spring- field. The return of the conquering hero is always an oc- casion for pomp, brass bands and revelry. The return of Elmer to Springfield produced not even a ripple of conversation anywhere, except in the Higgins home. “You are certainly looking fine, Elmer,” said Mrs. Higgins, as she embraced her boy. “Yes,” said Mr. Higgins, “and I just had a letter 133 134 | FOUR WINNERS from Professor Noon, who says your law work is very encouraging.” Elmer appreciated to the utmost the fine home he had, and during his two weeks Christmas visit he did everything he could to show his parents little attentions and courtesies. There was a_ special “Father and Son” meeting at the Kiwanis Club, and this he attended with his dad, not failing to notice the pride Mr. Higgins took when, on introducing EI- mer, he announced, “My son, Elmer Higgins, home for the holidays, from Dulac.” Abner Hughes came up a minute later, “My son, Hunk Hughes, home for the holidays, from State.” The sincere round of applause which followed showed that the citizens of Springfield were not blind to the fact that the great playing of Hunk Hughes at the state university was good publicity for their town. Coach Smith of State was also introduced, and gave a short talk in which he explained why he was a great coach. “The people like bunk,’ thought Elmer, “but I don’t believe they can stand it as a steady diet.” After the meeting was adjourned that noon, Smith came over and shook hands with Elmer. “T see you didn’t have very good luck in making the team at Dulac.” “T was doing pretty well,’ said Elmer, “but I had my knee hurt, so I didn’t get into the last games.” “That’s too bad,’ was Coach Smith’s rejoinder, made with a rather insinuating tone, as he walked away with some friends. To Elmer’s consternation, he overheard Smith re- EIGHTEEN MONTHS ELAPSE 135 mark to these friends, “As a coach, I surely hear a lot of funny ones. This young Higgins boy just said he didn’t make the team at Dulac on account of a bad knee. Hah! he hasn’t got any bad knee; he’s suffer- ing from a goitre in his neck.” Elmer felt so furious that he hardly could restrain himself from following Smith and having it out with him face to face. However, he held his temper, and went over and joined Hunk. They went out together. Elmer and Hunk were inseparable friends, and spent most of their free time together during the two weeks’ vacation, and of course they discussed Smith. “T know he’s your coach,” said Elmer to Hunk, one day, “but by George, I can’t stand him! I know he has made several insulting remarks around town about me, but he’ll find out that I’m no quitter. The only reason I ever want to make the football team at Dulac, is to show him.” “Oh, he isn’t a bad fellow,” said Hunk, “but you have to understand him.” “T’m afraid you don’t understand him,” Elmer an- swered. ‘‘He’s pretty foxy. He takes all the credit for your great playing himself, and gives you none. He is the greatest ‘self-interest’ fellow I ever knew in my life.” “Now, I wouldn’t say that,’ said Hunk. ‘“Person- ally, I think he’s all right, but since you and I are good friends, let’s not discuss him any more.” Elmer admired Hunk for his loyalty, so it ended there. The name of Coach Smith didn’t come up again during the holidays. 136. | FOUR WINNERS Dropping in at the corner drug store one evening, after a movie, Hunk and Elmer each had a soda. There was quite a crowd of town boys in the place. Included in this group was a chap who was known as the town josher. Walking up to their table, he re- marked, so that all the crowd in the place could hear, “Well, you'll be going back to school again soon, - Hunk, and I want you to know that the whole town is proud of you, and we are all watching you. We are all sorry that you hurt your knee, too, Higgins. I didn’t see you limping, and so didn’t know anything about your sore knee until Coach Smith told me about Lb. | Elmer neard a giggle run through the crowd, and so paid no attention to the innuendo in the remark. To his relief he saw that Hunk was totally unaware of what was referred to. However, to Elmer it was ap- parent that Coach Smith must have been doing quite a bit of joking around town in his own insinuating way about the injury, and he determined then and there that if he ever did anything in his life he would get into the game that Dulac would play with State the following fail. He was determined to avenge himself personally, and to humiliate the swaggering Smith. In fact, Elmer became so worked up over the situation, emotionally, that he found himself waking up at night, worrying about the game that fall. He confided to his mother all his hopes and fears, ambi- tions and humiliations; she was the only one who seemed to understand him. “Your father isn’t very keen about your playing EIGHTEEN MONTHS ELAPSE 137 Elmer, but I understand how it is, and I certainly hope that you take good care of your knee, and that you can achieve everything that you have your heart set on.” “Well, the way it is now, mother, Coach Smith has me painted here in our home town in entirely false colors, and I think that I owe it to you and dad, as much as to myself, to show that we can hold our heads up with anybody.” It was with that set purpose that he returned to Dulac at the close of the Christmas holidays. But alas for determination! Before many months had passed, Elmer was doomed again to disappoint- ment. Running for a university street car one day his knee popped out, and he was laid up for several days. Still he was not discouraged. With the rou- tine work of the spring over, he obtained a job for the summer as a life guard at a bathing beach, feeling that this was not only the kind of work which would give him time during the summer for reflection, but, more than this, it was exactly the thing for his lame knee, for old Dad Moore had told him that the heat of the hot sun on the beach might heal up his in- jury. Then, once more, came a set-back. Returning to school after his uneventful but restful, and very beneficial summer, he had gone out for practice only one day when, out popped the bothersome cartilage again! This time he was laid up for three more days; and at the end of those days came the final verdict. “Young man,” the doctor told him, “your football 138 3 FOUR WINNERS days are over, and I shall inform Coach Brown of this fact.”’ Something seemed, to crack in Elmer’s heart at these words. For a moment he was stunned. But on the instant he turned stoic. And stoic he remained, all through the following year, when at every game he was forced to stand on the sidelines; forced to sit in the grandstand, while the great State team was held to a tie by the light, fighting Dulac players. He read in the papers of the various alibis of Coach Smith, ex- plaining why the top-heavy favorite team of State had not won. He read in the papers how the Dulac team had once more beaten South Square. He de- voured the news of the surprising victory of a weak Aksarben team over Dulac. And all this, naturally, had its effect on him. At times he became extremely moody; he went mostly by himself. He saw very little of Estelle. Rip, of course, did all he could to cheer him up; but, though Elmer outwardly appeared to be quite settled and adjusted to things, within him were smouldering fires, which would not out. One day in May, Professor Noon sent for him to come to his study room. | “How have you been feeling, Elmer?” asked the kindly old professor, after he had asked Elmer to take a seat. “Just fine, professor; how have you been?” “Same as usual,’ said the old gentleman, settling back in his chair, apparently deep in thought. There was a long silence; then finally he drawled out, “I have been watching you for some months, EIGHTEEN MONTHS ELAPSE 139 Elmer. Apparently there is something wrong; and I have come to certain conclusions.” Elmer wondered what he was in for. “Your law work has been falling off a little,’ Pro- fessor Noon went on, “not much, it is true, but falling off. Your enthusiasm seems to be gone—you seem moody,—gloomy. You don’t mix with the other boys; in fact, you have become a little cynical, ’m afraid. Now, I believe that your class work here is bringing you some knowledge of law; at least you are learning to concentrate. I do believe that you have a good mind and that you have patience, will power, ability to analyze. And I believe, too, that you have pretty fair control of yourself. “However, I have come to the conclusion that you are so set on making this football team that I am afraid if you don’t make it, you are liable to make a fizzle of life. I have never been particularly keen for athletics, but I do appreciate that under Coach Brown it has qualities for character development. He in- sists that you men play the game fairly and squarely. He doesn’t coach from the side lines, thereby robbing the boys of the opportunity to think for themselves. He insists that every man who represents Dulac shall be clean physically and morally, and must bear well the responsibility which rests on his shoulders. “T have never heard of any Dulac athlete reflecting discredit on the school. I have come to believe that the young men who play football do develop initiative, resourcefulness, ability to analyze, and to re-act quickly and accurately to this analysis; and I believe, 140 ; FOUR WINNERS too, that football teaches boys their limitations and their possibilities. They develop respect for an hon- ored opponent. They develop a sense of fair play which in my opinion is one of the hardest things to in- culeate into any young man. “Last, and very im- portant, I do believe that the football man develops the will to win. I used to believe that this develop- ment of the will to win was a bad thing. However, we on the faculty are trying to develop young men for life. Life is competition. We are sending out lawyers, and these lawyers cannot be successful unless they win cases. We are sending out doctors from our medical schools and they cannot be successful unless they win—winning in their case means saving lives. We are sending out men to the business world, and they cannot be successful unless they win. They can- not be successful if they go into the bankruptcy court; and this is generally what happens when men lack the will to win. “So I have come to look upon athletics, properly controlled and supervised, as being a thing that will help to develop character. I think we are coming to the day when we are not going to penalize the success- ful man who wins in anything so long as he wins fairly. We are going to penalize the cheater, and I know that Coach Brown in Dulac University doesn’t tolerate a cheater for a moment.” Professor Noon paused a second. Elmer was taking in every word—for every word was a confirmation of his most earnest belief. “The function of the college,” the professor con- EIGHTEEN MONTHS ELAPSE 141 tinued, “the undergraduate part of the school at least, ‘is to help a young man find himself. Now, appar- ently, we have failed in your case, as you seem en- _tirely lost and out of touch with yourself. And now for the real point of my having you over here. | “I have a friend, Doctor George, in Chicago, who has performed some very remarkable operations on knees. Would you be willing to go up there as soon as school is out in June, and submit yourself to an operation by him?” é “Would I?” said Elmer; he sat bolt upright as he ‘answered. “Gosh, I’d take a chance on anything! It seems too good to be true. I can hardly believe it.” _ He shook the old professor’s hand eagerly and grate- fully as he went that night. “How can I ever thank you for this interest you have taken in me, and for this great favor? I as- ‘sure you, Professor Noon, I never shall forget it.” The second week in June, school being over, Elmer journeyed to Chicago, where he met the great surgeon, jand had the operation performed. His pal, Rip Rug- gles, had been elected captain of the team for the fol- a Bane year, and this fact only added to his determi- | nation to get back into football at any cost. | CHAPTER XIV SECRET PRACTICE. N the fourteenth day of September, that next fall, there was a long line of young men standing around one end of the gymnasium. It was about half past two in the afternoon, and the hot September sun was just beginning to lower itself into the horizon. Many of the young men in line were in their shirt sleeves on account of the heat. The green of the leaves was just beginning to turn to a browner shade, There was that in the air which warned that summer was over and that the crisp autumn days would soon be here. In the inner office of the gymnasium, somewhat removed from the room where four student managers were giving out football suits, checking lockers, and making notations, sat Coach Brown. Before him on the desk lay several pieces of paper on which were the names of all the candidates who were to be out the next day. There was a knock on the door. “Who is it?” inquired the coach. “Rip Ruggles.” “Come in.” Rip entered. “What’s on your mind this afternoon, Rip? Did you get your suit and locker all right?” “Yes, coach, I’m all fixed up and raring to go to- 142 | 1 , SECRET PRACTICE 143 morrow, but these student managers won’t give Elmer ‘Higgins a suit.” _ “No, I gave them orders to give suits only to those ‘men on the list. We're a little shy on equipment, and Tm giving out only to those who I think have a chance to make the team. Higgins has that chronic knee of his, and there’s no use of his wasting any time over here.” | “Well, I have some good news for you, Coach. Hig- gins had his knee operated on in Chicago in June and ‘it’s Just as good as ever now.” “How do you know?” Coach Brown sat forward. “Well, in the first place I saw it, and tried it. And yesterday afternoon we played three sets of tennis and that sudden stopping and fast starting didn’t bother it at all.” The coach remained deep in thought for several minutes; finally he said: “Well, now, that might be a solution. We lost Shorty Dunne a year ago, and last June Edwards graduated. I tell you what you do, Rip;—you go out and get Higgins and send him in to me here now, right away—and also get hold of Ward who handles our publicity.” Ten minutes later in together came the two young men. Elmer, brown as a nut, had an appearance of rugged suppleness that bespoke good condition. Ward was a typical student correspondent, nervous, high- strung, and bubbling over with enthusiasm. Coach Brown greeted them cordially; then suddenly, with- out a sign of warning, he hit Elmer a resounding whack on his right knee. It almost felled him. 144 i FOUR WINNERS “Don’t be surprised, Ward; I was just wanting to assure myself about Higgins’ knee. I understand you had a little operation last June, Higgins?” “Yes, I did, Coach, and I was laid up only three weeks, and since then I’ve been down at the beach as a life guard. My knee is just as strong as it ever was, and I have never felt better in my life.” No emotion showed on the inscrutable face of the coach; he turned now to the newspaper correspondent. “The reason I sent for you, Ward, is to tell you to keep everything concerning Higgins absolutely under your hat. In our first two practice games against Alba and the Normal team, Higgins will not appear. There will be secret practice every night, beginning with the first practice tomorrow. This will continue up until the Aksarben game. Aksarben has beaten us two years in a row, and Higgins here will be my trump card. So don’t forget—regardless of what you see in the daily scrimmages, or practices, there must be no mention of the name Higgins. ) “Higgins, here is a note for Wherrett, the student manager; he’ll give you full equipment. Il see more of you later.” An hour later Rip and Elmer were winding their , way up and down the ravines along the shore of the historic creek. “Gee, it surely seems good to get back to the old » place—I hate to think of ever leaving it,” said Rip. “Yes, we do a lot of crabbing while we’re here, but . I appreciate more what Professor Noon said now.” “What was that?” SECRET PRACTICE 145 “He said that the four years a fellow spends at col- lege are the best years of his life. I wouldn’t have said so last spring,” continued Elmer, “but the way I feel now, it seems I have a new hold on life.” “You could have knocked me over with a pin when you told me about your knee,” said Rip. “Why the deuce didn’t you write and tell me about it?” “T didn’t tell anybody except my mother. I was optimistic, but I wanted to be sure before I said anything.” “Shucks, you could have told me.” “Well, I wanted to surprise you.” “You certainly did surprise me, all right. I guess Coach Brown is mighty tickled, too, though he doesn’t say so. He was in a pretty tight hole, as his other candidates for quarterback don’t amount to very much. This last year’s Freshman quarterback, Ber- lin, is being touted quite a bit in the papers, but all I ever saw him do is drop kick. He certainly does that with a vengeance, but that let’s him out.” They got to a high point on the bank of the creek and stood for a few minutes overlooking the beautiful country below them. “Let’s cut straight across the fields for the four-mile road,” said Rip, “and we can gather some grapes at the school farm on our way back.” “That’s a go,” said Elmer, and a minute later they began trudging their way leisurely across the fields towards the university farm. “What do you think will be the hard game this 146 | FOUR WINNERS fall?” said Rip, after they had walked for some dis- tance. , “Well, as far as I am concerned, the one game I am living for all fall is the game with State on Thanks- giving Day.” Rip, who knew all the details regarding Elmer and Coach Smith, laughed. “I guess you’d like it if Coach Smith would come out and put on a suit and play himself, wouldn’t you?” “T don’t care if we lose every other game on the schedule. If we could beat Coach Smith forty to nothing it would be the greatest day of my life, and as far as I am concerned I’d consider all my efforts at football well worthwhile.” “T thought Hunk Hughes and you were pretty good friends.” | “We are good friends—next to you he is the best pal Ihave. But that has nothing to do with this game — of football.” “State, I understand,’ Rip commented, “has the | finest material it has had in years. They have three other backs just as good as Hunk, and that’s the rea- ' son I know the State game is going to be a battle.” - “Smith doesn’t know much football,’ was Elmer’s : answer, “and all he thinks about anyway is Smith, | Smith, Smith. I think he is a detriment to the game, | and I think it is men like him who cause some of our | faculty men to lift their eyebrows whenever you men- : tion the word football.” | “Well, I’m with you with every ounce of energy | and pep I can work up and I know you’ll have nine ' SECRET PRACTICE 147 other teammates who will be feeling just the same, and you know it, old boy.” “Yes, but you forget, Rip—I haven’t made the team yet,” said Elmer; “though if anybody makes that position regular at quarterback,’ he added, “it will be over my dead body.” They filled their pockets with grapes at the farm, -eating a bunch or two as they continued their stroll, but saving most of them to be eaten in the room just before bedtime. They arrived back at the Fellowship Club for their evening meal as usual, and found there the cheerful, serious crowd which had always given the Fellowship Club a distinctive atmosphere. Professor Noon, with several others of the faculty, was present. The con- versation at dinner drifted from the League of Na- tions to the Prohibition Law, and finally to the one inevitable subject of football. Jipper Gite, who was taking some post graduate work, did most of the talk- ing when the last subject came up. “The team looks all right to me, boys. If Coach Brown can only dig up a quarterback. With Credon and Miller at the halfbacks, and Jones at fullback, we have three of the greatest backs in the country. The line looks very strong and I believe that Ruggles at guard, and Kerr at end, ought to have a good chance for All-American— I trust you will pardon me for getting personal, Rip,” said Jipper. “Oh, I’m good, I admit it—you remember I played a great game for Aksarben last fall,’ replied Rip, which retort brought smiles to the faces of the club 148 | FOUR WINNERS members, for they all knew full well that if there was any man who played football the year before against Aksarben, it was Rip Ruggles. “The first big test will be against Aksarben,” said one of the crowd. “South Square is not so good this year—graduation raised havoc with their team,” remarked another. “As far as I’m concerned,” Elmer put in here, “the team we've got to beat is State. They have the finest material, but that’s one game we are going to win.” “T was rather hoping,’ remarked Professor Noon, “that when we resumed playing State, that our rela- tions would be more pleasant. I understand, Mr. Rug- gles, that there was a lot of muckerism in that game. last year.” “There was,” said Rip, “but they’ve one boy who is a gentleman, and that’s Hunk Hughes, their half- back.” Elmer shot Rip a grateful look of thanks. Shortly afterward the conversation drifted to the new Com- merce Library, which had been donated by some wealthy alumnus. The next day, the opening day of practice, there were some seventy-five men trying out for Varsity. A like number were equipped to try out for the Fresh- man team. After an hour and a half’s work on the simplest fundamentals, the coach let them all get a drink from the pump, and lie under a big tree in the corner of the field for fifteen minutes. At the end of SECRET PRACTICE 149 the intermission, Coach Brown came over and began talking. | “Boys, there are certain things which I want you to bear in mind. First of all, I want not a single man to mention to anyone, not even his own roommate, the fact that Higgins is running signals with the Varsity. And secondly, I don’t want any man to mention to anyone anything about our plays and signals. Our first big game is with Aksarben, and if anybody asks you what our chances are, in that game, tell them you don’t know. And you don’t. I am purposely going to make you look bad, because I won’t give the quarterbacks any plays to use, but between ourselves we are going to have a good team,—a team _that in the Aksarben game is going to surprise every- one. “IT want every man out here to feel that he has a chance to make that team; whether or not he does depends entirely upon himself. We have the men here, we have the spirit, we have everything, in fact, to start a season on. But we have an awful lot of hard work ahead of us, a lot of grief, a lot of monot- ony. I don’t want any man to stay out unless he is absolutely serious, and intends to give the best that’s in him. “If you get tired and worried, don’t get discouraged —the test between now and the Aksarben game is going to be severe and only real men will come through. This game of football is very much like warfare, and it’s up to you men to see that no infor- mation goes out that would be of any help to our 150 , FOUR WINNERS opponents. We must spring a surprise in the way of attack, and this can only be done if each one of us keeps his own counsel.” The men fell to practice shortly afterwards with a vim and vigor, and a tearing up of the turf, which showed that the team as a whole was a unit in deter- mination and concentration. Whether or not they had the competitive soul, that fire of nervous energy so necessary to succeed in football, only time would tell. Ten days after the opening practice, the coach held his opening scrimmage of the season. Jones, Miller, and Credon took turns at some brilliant individual running with the ball, though teamwork and co- hesiveness was still lacking. “Tt certainly is a God-send that your knee is all right,” said Rip that night. ‘These other quarter- backs are certainly just a lot of number callers. This fellow, Berlin, hasn’t got a brain in his head, and all he seems to want to do is to call his own number, to run or pass or kick—and yet the coach didn’t say a word to him.” “Coach Brown will never say anything to the quar- | terbacks in front of the rest of the team. But I ex- pect that on Monday, at the special quarterbacks’ meeting, ie will be shown all our mistakes in today’s scrimmage.” “T understand the students are somewhat up in arms on account of the secret practice,” said Credon, who had been up with them since earlier in the eve- ning. SECRET PRACTICE 151 “Aw, shucks,’ Rip answered, “Coach Brown will explain all that at the first mass meeting, and they will forget all about it as soon as we lick Aksarben. He may hold open practice the day before the Normal -game to give the cheer leaders a chance to rehearse ‘their cheers, and everybody will be satisfied. “T’m afraid the coach is overdoing the gloom stories that are going out, however,” continued Rip. “I un- derstand some of the alumni have been writing in, and they seem to be pretty well worked up and worried.” “That’s a good way to have them—we'll give them the surprise of their lives on October seventeenth.” The next week was a series of feverish scrimmages, mostly on offensive play, getting the team ready for the Normal game. The reports on the Normal team were meagre, but there was nothing to indicate that it had anything more than its usual team. During the week a dozen plays were rehearsed, dummy scrim- mage was practiced by the hour, and the first two teams scrimmaged a full hour with the plays on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The entire squad heaved a sigh of relief when Coach Brown or- dered a little light workout on punting and receiving kicks for Friday afternoon. Jones was punting sixty yards, with good height, and even Elmer was getting the ball out around fifty yards most of the time. Coach Brown worked quite a bit developing the wedge formation on the kickoff, and also the fake wedge. That evening Coach Brown called a meeting of the 152 ) FOUR WINNERS quarterbacks for six-thirty in his office in the gym- nasium. “T don’t even want you to put on a suit tomorrow, Higgins. I want you to sit on the bench and draw a chart of the game and make a written report to me by Monday, of what you would have done in the various situations, had you been up against a - team as strong as Aksarben. “Mull and Berlin, I want you to go in there and work just three plays, twenty-eight, the inside tackle play; ninety-two, the wide end run; and fifty-six, the little short forward pass. I want Credon to throw that out to the flat zone to Miller. Credon is not a very good passer, and this kind of a pass will make that more apparent. Neither of you two men can forward pass, and I want the both of you to try to throw a couple of passes to the ends on punt forma- tion, without any signal. I want all the visiting scouts to see the fact that neither of you two quarterbacks can pass. “Higgins, here, is passing better every day, and by the Aksarben game I want the Aksarben team to feel that our forward pass attack is below the ordi- nary. Berlin, when you are in there running the team, I want you to try a place kick, whenever you get in- side the thirty yard line. I want to build you up all year as a place kicker.” : The coach then went on and gave a list of routine instructions, after which he dismissed the boys. “T wish I could run the team the way you do,” said SECRET PRACTICE 153 Berlin to Elmer, as they walked back toward the dor- mitories. “The same here,” said Mull. “There are so many things a quarterback has to think of that I don’t know where to start or where to finish.” “You just take the things as Coach Brown hands them to you,’ Elmer answered, “absorb them and re- tain them, and keep building up and you'll get along all right. I have had practically a year’s experience, which you haven’t had, and which Coach Brown seems to consider as being of some importance. How- ever, I don’t want you fellows to feel that I have any edge on you. You fellows, so far, are going just as good as I am, and the thing for us to do is to go out there and be good friends, and work together for Coach Brown, and let him pick whoever he thinks is the best man.” Both Mull and Berlin thought this was fine on-the part of Higgins, a senior. This marked the beginning of a strong friendship between the three of them. There were no petty jealousies among them at any time during the season. The next day, Saturday, proved wet and dismal. There was a steady downpour all day, but despite this there was a big crowd out to see the team in its open- ing game. The three weeks of secret scrimmage had whetted the appetites of all the fans to a fine edge, and there was much speculation in the stands as to who would be playing quarterback. Coach Brown started Berlin with the second team, and after about fifteen minutes of play, consisting almost entirely of kicking, 154 | FOUR WINNERS the Normal quarterback fumbled and the ball was re- covered by the Dulac left end. | “Now is Berlin’s chance to see what he can do,” said Elmer, who was sitting in civilian clothes next to Rip. The first play failed to gain, and on the second play, Berlin fumbled, but recovered. “He certainly looks all up in the air out there,” said Rip. “He'll make this place kick, though,” said Elmer, as the Dulac team dropped back on the thirty yard line for a place kick formation. The next instant Berlin stepped forward and meeting the ball squarely sent it. sailing between the uprights, making the score three to nothing. | The Normal team chose to kick off, but as the Dulac team was lining up to receive, eleven new blue- jerseyed players arrived on the scene. Elmer sat back on the bench, and to him it looked as though it would be just a matter of form as to whether or not the Var- sity would score two touchdowns or four touchdowns the next quarter. Down the field, ten to twelve yards at a clip, came the Varsity; and then, just as it seemed as though the score was a certainty, Mull forward passed right into the arms of a Normal player. “That was a boner,” said Elmer to himself. The Normal team lined up and kicked the ball fifty yards up the field on the first play. Again the Varsity started up the field, but this time found the going much harder. Encouraged by their success thus far, — the Normal team was playing away over their heads. SECRET PRACTICE 155 l was now Dulac’s turn to kick. Held for no gain on ‘the third down, Jones sent a spiral fifty yards back hip the gridiron. The Varsity found themselves un- ‘able to make any consistent gains at all for the rest jof the quarter, and the half ended with the ball in ‘their possession in midfield, Berlin’s place kick still constituting the lone score. Nobody seemed worried between halves, as the |Normal team had not shown any offense, and there lwere no signs that they had anybody with any offen- lsive ability. — “T think we'll play it safe this second half,” said Coach Brown to the team. “You go back in there with the same team, Mull, this third quarter, and I want Jones to kick continually on third down. Play ‘it absolutely safe. Whatever you do, Mull, don’t throw any more of those short passes this half. _ “This Normal team is fighting like the deuce, and will probably come back harder than ever this second half. This certainly is just the kind of practice we ‘want and a lot of you fellows who think you are pretty good better get a different point of view on the game this second half. This Normal team isn’t running out | of the park just because you fellows go out there with eleven Dulac headgears. There is only one way to make this game safe this second half and that is to go ‘in there and play as though you meant it. Our ends, particularly, are pitiful. You have been lying around ‘on the ground on your stomachs so much that you. \moust feel like a lot of bathing beauties out on the ‘beach being photographed for the rotogravure section. 156 ) FOUR WINNERS “The tackles and guards have got absolutely no charge, and all our backs seem to be thinking of is making a long run for a touchdown. Long runs for touchdowns are all right. However, the safest way to insure a touchdown is to keep biting off the four and six yard gains.” At the start of the second half Dulac received and marched the ball right down to the ten yard line, when for some unaccountable reason Mull forward passed again and the ball was grounded in the end zone for a touchback. The Normal team put the ball in play on the twenty yard line, and punted on first down. “Berlin, you go in there,” Coach Brown ordered. Out onto the field went the sprinting Berlin, to report to the referee. Mull came over to the sidelines, rather crestfallen; but Coach Brown said nothing. Elmer went over and sat down by Mull. “What made you forward pass again, right down there when your running attack was going so well?” “Miller suggested it,” said Mull. “Don’t pay any attention to any suggestions from anybody,” said Elmer. “You're the quarterback; you're responsible for all offensive plays, and you’re the one that’s going to be criticized now for the mis- takes that have been made.” “T know it,” said Mull. “It certainly won’t happen. again.” In the meanwhile down the field the Varsity was. again flying, five to eight yards at a clip. Berlin was | using himself quite frequently and when they reached SECRET PRACTICE 157 the ten yard line, Berlin, on a quarterback sneak play, fumbled the ball. The ball was recovered by the Nor- mal team, and their cool headed punter, on their first play, sent the ball back past midfield, with a clean high soaring punt. The Varsity became discouraged, and there was no more ground gained the rest of the third quarter. ‘In fact, the game was a succession of punts until well along in the fourth quarter, when, standing on his own twenty-five yard line, Berlin dropped a punt and the wide awake Normal end pounced on it. like a flash. | “We certainly aren’t looking very good today,” said Elmer. “If the Normal team has any kind of a place kicker now, they’ll tie the score.” Walking up to Coach Brown, who sat at the other end of the bench, Elmer inquired, “Should I go in and put a suit on? I can get dressed in five minutes.” “No,” replied the coach, ‘“‘we’ll stick to our original plans, regardless of what happens. The Normal team has no offense, and I’m not worried about stopping them.” “T know, but how about a place kick?” asked Elmer. The coach said nothing, but it was plain that he was worried. Three different plays the Normal team tried, but they were held for no gain in each instance by the Dulac line, which was now charging in with a ven- geance. The Normal team took time out, after which they lined up in place kick formation. They were directly in front of the goal posts; the quarterback 158 | FOUR WINNERS kneeled down to receive the ball from the center on about the thirty-two yard line, and it was plain that if the Normal team had a good kicker it would be a tie score. “Block that kick,” yelled the Dulac cheering sec- tion. | However, as soon as the Normal quarterback started calling his numbers, the Dulac cheering section quieted, due to the tenseness of the situation, and also for the sake of courtesy. Back from the center shot the ball, and like a. flash the quarterback held it on the ground. An instant later the fullback had met the ball squarely, and it was soaring toward the goal post. However, it swerved away and missed by more than a yard. “His foot described a lateral arc,” said Elmer, he would have made it.” “A miss is as good as a mile,” replied the coach laconically. “If Berlin gets away a good punt the game is over.” Standing on his own ten yard line, the ball having been brought into the twenty yard line from the re- sulting touchback, Berlin kicked the ball sixty yards, and two minutes later the game was over. ) “or CHAPTER XV “INTERFERENCE” HAT evening after supper Rip announced that he had made an engagement for Elmer and him- self to go to Ruth’s home that evening. Yes, Estelle Wilson would be there, and they would either go to the movies, or they would enjoy themselves at home singing, for with Ruth at the piano, this was one of their favorite pastimes. The boys arrived at Ruth’s shortly after eight o'clock, and found that the girls had already made some fudge and were in a merry mood. Rip suggested going to the movies, but Ruth pleaded that she was too tired, having been out to the game that afternoon. So they stood around the piano and sang for a short while to Ruth’s accompaniment. “T think you were rather selfish,” said Ruth to Elmer, later on in the evening, “not to take us out to the games.” “Coach Brown has a special reason for having me on the bench,” Elmer answered, blushing, and with evident embarrassment. “Special reason?” “But I can’t tell you anything about it until after the Aksarben game,” he hastened to add, still more embarrassed. 159 160 FOUR WINNERS “Are you sure,” asked Hstelle, smilingly, “that you aren’t using that as an excuse not to go with us?” “T know Elmer is bashful,” Rip put in, “but I can assure you that he is on the bench for special reasons, and we are only sorry we cannot say anything about it until after the Aksarben game.” “This sounds terribly intriguing,” said Estelle, “but I can’t possibly imagine what it can all be about.” “IT do wish that Elmer had a good knee, though,” said Ruth, “because he certainly could play better than those quarterbacks this afternoon. My dad said that was the worst game he has seen Dulac play in twelve years. He also said that Aksarben will beat you by four touchdowns, unless there is a decided im- provement somewhere along the line.” “There'll be an improvement, all right,” said Rip; and then he managed to change the subject. “Let me hear you play that rhapsody again, Ruth, won’t you, please? I think it’s wonderful.” Shortly afterwards Estelle left for home, Elmer, of course, her escort. Rip went with them a short way, going on to the university at the corner where Elmer and Estelle turned for her home. Bidding good night at the front door, Elmer finally mustered up courage to say, “I really’d like to take you and Ruth to the game next Saturday, if I can arrange it with the coach. Maybe I won’t have to be on the bench for this game.” “T’m very sorry,” Estelle answered, rather casually, “but I already have an engagement for the game. However, I’d be pleased to accompany you to the Aksarben game, if you like.” “INTERFERENCE” 161 Elmer felt himself growing red with embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” he stammered, “but you see I won’t be able to take you to the Aksarben game.” Of course, he couldn’t explain; he felt horribly foolish! “But,” he added, “I can arrange with a personal friend of mine to go with you and Ruth.” “Please don’t bother,’ was Estelle’s answer, and Elmer felt its coolness. ‘“‘Good-night.” He felt dis- missed. Practice the next week consisted of a series of scrim- mages in which the Dulac Varsity, led by Elmer at quarterback, concentrated entirely on their offense. “Our defense,’ remarked Coach Brown, Thursday afternoon, “can take care of itself. Defense is largely a matter of individual courage, aggressiveness and technique. Offense is the difficult thing to develop, because it is entirely a matter of teamwork. The finesse of timing, judgment, and team coordination are very difficult to attain. I am far from satisfied with what has been shown so far this week. Aksarben will have all her scouts here so we'll have to go out and beat Alba Saturday with the same three plays we used against Normal last Saturday.” The game the following Saturday against Alba was in many respects a repetition of the Normal game. Once more Elmer sat on the sidelines and saw the Varsity, with Mull at quarterback, march for a touch- down in the first five minutes. Against the reserves in the second quarter, however, the Alba team pre- sented an impenetrable defense, and the usual punt- ing duel resulted. Just before the whistle blew for 162 | FOUR WINNERS . the half, Dulac fumbled and an Alba player, picking. up the ball, ran seventy yards for a touchdown. They kicked goal, a thing which the Dulac Varsity had failed to do, and the score at the end of the half stood seven to six in favor of Alba. In the third quarter Alba rose to real heights and continued to hold Dulac with apparent ease. It was not until the fourth quarter, when, goaded into a frenzy of desperation by apparent defeat the Var- sity, now led by Berlin at quarterback, marched sixty yards down the field to the five yard line. They were still using only the three plays which they had used in the Normal game. Here, however, Alba again put up a stone wall defense. On the fourth down Berlin went back into punt formation and standing on the fifteen yard line place kicked for three points. Alba kicked off again, Dulac was starting another march down the field, when the game ended. Elmer, getting up from the bench, found that he was tired—even more tired than he would have been had he played. Dulac had barely won nine to seven; it was a close call. Walking back toward the gym- nasium, he came alongside Coach Brown, and here noticed for the first time that the coach looked tired and careworn. 7 “That was pretty hard on my nerves,” said Elmer to the coach. “It’s a lot harder to stay on the sidelines than it is to be in the game, by far. Weren’t you worried at all?” “Yes,” Coach Brown admitted. “TI had just got to the point where I was going to send out a substitute “INTERFERENCE” 163 — with instructions to have the team open up the full - offense, when suddenly they got going without it. I’m glad we didn’t have to use our offense. The Aksarben scouts are now completely in doubt as to our style of attack and the system of offense.” “But Aksarben has an easy game also, so we won’t know much about their offense, will we?” “No,” Brown replied, “but it won’t matter much. Our plan next Saturday will be to get hold of the ball and to keep possession of it all afternoon. Aksarben won’t be able to beat us as long as we have the ball and are scoring. Unless I’m mistaken we’ll do very little punting next Saturday.” Elmer waited for Rip to get dressed, after which they made their way together toward the Fellowship Club for dinner. “Well, there’s no date tonight for us, old boy,” said Rip. “I called up this noon and Ruth said that she and Estelle had other plans.” “What difference does that make?” But Elmer, in his heart, knew that it did make a difference. “We can get in a few rubbers of bridge over at the club,” he went on, “and by that time it’ll be bed for me.” “Oh, I suppose so,” Rip agreed. “But as a pair of ladies’ men we are a couple of clowns. Did you see the two sheiks that were with the girls this after- noon?” NO? “Well,” said Rip, “they’re two of the prettiest boys in school. One of them has a nice blond mustache, and the other fellow wears a big raccoon coat.” 164 ) FOUR WINNERS “Well, what about it? You aren’t jealous, are you?” “No, not exactly; but if I’m going to be turned out I'd like to have it done by men, and not by a couple of flossy boys.” “Well, if they’re the kind of fellows the girls prefer, I don’t see where it concerns us,” said Elmer. “Maybe it shouldn’t,” replied Rip; and then he con- tinued with some determination, “I'll have an en- gagement with Ruth for next Saturday night if I have to shave a certain blond mustache, or buy a rac- coon coat myself.” As Elmer lay in bed that evening running over vari- ous things in his mind, for the first time he felt more and more upset about the day’s happenings. “But what right have I to get sore?” he asked him- self. “I have no right to dictate in any way with whom Estelle shall attend the game, or with whom she should associate. We are just good friends, noth- ing more.” And yet his pride was stirred, and his thoughts, as he lay awake, were not on football. The next Monday noon the blackboard drill was called off, to the surprise of the entire squad. When they went to look for Rip to find out why it had been called off, they were informed that Rip and Coach Brown had gone to attend some special meeting. Neither one of them appeared on the campus all that afternoon. The workout that afternoon was con- ducted by one of the assistant coaches, the two lead- ing assisting coaches also being missing. And this on “INTERFERENCE” 165 the Monday preceding the Aksarben game! What was up? Elmer tried to analyze the situation, but all he could do was to speculate and only hazily at that. Instead of the active organized practice, with one single end in mind, the work that afternoon was entirely informal. When it was over, about a quarter to six, Elmer dressed and hurried to the Fellowship Club. Sure enough, there was Rip. Ata glance Elmer saw that something had happened. This was a differ- ent Rip than the one he knew. The usual carefree at- titude of his roommate was gone, the happy-go-lucky air was missing, and so was the irresistible smile. The glint in the eye, the set of the jaw, and the quivering of the mouth showed that from the crucible of some emotional reaction there had emerged a new by- product, a new compound, which Elmer didn’t under- stand. “What’s the dope, Rip?” “Sssh, I'll tell you after dinner.” “Why the intrigue and mystery?” “Now, don’t be a sap,” said Rip. “Let’s keep quiet until after dinner, when we can get into a quiet corner, and then I’ll give you all the dope—and be- lieve me, you'll hear something that you will want to digest slowly.” Dinner over, Rip and Elmer found two chairs in a corner of the writing room, and making sure that no one was near, they sat down for their talk. “Well, what’s it all about?” asked Elmer. “I’ve 166 | FOUR WINNERS been trying to dope it out in my own mind, but not having any facts, I’m absolutely at sea.” “Well, it’s a long story,” Rip began, “but I’ll make it as short as possible. This noon there was a meet- ing of the Advisory Committee on Football, and I, as captain, and Coach Brown, were invited in. Only two of the faculty men were present. The rest of the men - present were alumni. I could see as soon as I went in that the spokesman for the alumni was Windy Bill Biggs,—you know, the millionaire fish magnate from the Pacific Coast. You remember he was a great player here in his time, and he’s now the chairman of the Alumni Advisory Board.” “What is this Alumni Advisory Committee, any- way?” “T don’t know their exact duties,’ Rip answered, “but somehow or other they must have a lot of author- ity, judging from the way the faculty kowtows to them. Windy Bill didn’t waste any time, but came right out with the announcement that the alumni were entirely dissatisfied with the coaching, and entirely dissatisfied with the showing of the team the first two games this year. He was empowered, he said, to come down with the rest of the alumni committee, either to make a change in coaches, or to put some assistant coaches in from among the old timers. These as- sistant coaches were really to run the team, to get it in shape so that they could win the big games of the year.” “And what did Coach Brown say to this?” asked Elmer, his eyes wide with surprise. | “INTERFERENCE” 167 “Nothing—he never said a word; just sat there, quiet, and apparently disinterested. But you can bet your life I didn’t keep quiet. I asked Windy Bill what he knew about the situation, and he told me to keep quiet and not to be so impertinent, as under- graduates were to be seen and not heard. That made me sore, and I came back at him. I told him that if he followed his own advice they would have to change his nickname. Oh, he was wild—threatened to put me out of the room, and all that sort of stuff; but I re- minded him that I was captain of the team, and that we were eleven men who would stick together as a unit. “We let him talk for a long time and they had all kinds of plans for bringing back some of the old timers. Finally, when they just about had their plans ready, I began talking again, and told them that before they decided on this plan of theirs, that they might have the courtesy to listen to Coach Brown. Coach Brown, I told them, had a plan he had been working on all fall, and since his profession was that of a football coach, maybe he might have a few remarks on the game that would be of interest, even to these experts present. “Windy Bill gave me a glare at this, but he did have the decency to ask Coach Brown to give his views. It was after four o’clock by that time, and the coach got up and began talking very quietly. He told them first of all that he didn’t know much about the fish business, and so he wasn’t in a very good position to give advice along that line to Windy Bill. I tell you I was surprised and happy at that, because I 168 : FOUR WINNERS thought the coach was down, the way he’d been sit-' ting there all afternoon. You can bet your life all: of them started pricking up their ears after that first remark of his. | “The coach then went on to explain that he had been coaching at Dulac ten years and during that time had lost just five games, a record which was sur- passed by only one or two in the coaching profession. He went on and told the crowd that many times in the past few years Dulac had won games when they were not supposed to have a chance. He told them that nobody, except himself and the team, knew how it was done. He explained the two defeats in suc- cession by Aksarben, by giving full credit to Aksarben, asking whether or not he was to blame because men fumbled, or didn’t hold on to forward passes. Then he explained about your knee, Elmer, and all about his strategy in preparing for this game for next Satur- day against Aksarben. He said he appreciated the interest taken by the alumni, but just the same he wound up by saying that he thought it would have been better if the alumni committee had asked him about his plans first, and not waited until this late hour. In fact, he said, he realized that the only reason he was called upon to explain was because Captain Ruggles had suggested it. “There was a lot of pow-wowing after that, but you can bet they listened to me when I told them that the team was with Coach Brown to a man, and they were just as loyal to their school as they were to their coach. I told them that if they didn’t let Coach “INTERFERENCE” 169 Brown alone for this Aksarben game I wouldn’t be responsible for anything that might happen. “So they finally adjourned, and postponed action ‘until after the Aksarben game. That’s the story. El- imer, what do you think we ought to do?” | “T would do this,” said Elmer, “unknown to the coach, or the alumni, or anybody else, I’d call a meet- ling of the fellows for tomorrow night, and tell them just exactly the facts as they are. I think if we can ‘do this the team will go into that game against Ak- ‘sarben so fighting mad nothing can stop them.” “All right! It’s a good idea. I'll have the dozen fellows meet over in our room tomorrow night. We can squeeze them in some way. I don’t think we'd better bring any more fellows than a dozen, or the ‘meeting might become public property.” The practice the next afternoon was as different from the practice of the day before as one could im- agine. The coach was energy personified. He was all over the field at the same time. During offensive scrimmage every detail which went wrong was recti- fied. They spent an hour and a half polishing up the forward pass plays, which were to be used against Ak- sarben. Elmer was the passer in all these plays, and as he threw the ball right into the arms of the receiver again and again his confidence in himself grew and mounted to a pitch of enthusiasm. That evening about seven-thirty some twelve foot- ball men huddled together in Elmer’s room, with Rip as master of ceremonies. Rip explained the facts as he had explained them to Elmer. 170 3 FOUR WINNERS “Now, here’s the point, boys,” he exclaimed. “The alumni have no business butting in at this time of the season. They’ll ruin the whole fall if they do, be- cause they don’t know what they’re talking about. Secondly, we all know that Coach Brown is as good a man as the school can get, and it’s up to us to see that the school retains him. Thirdly, all the football we know we have learned from Coach Brown, and we all know we have a great team coming along. It would be absolutely unfair for someone else to come in here and take credit for this work. “However, the big thing we want to bear in mind is this—we all know Coach Brown’s plans and we be- lieve in them. We're going to go out and win every game this fall. So, let’s all shake hands on beating Aksarben decisively next Saturday, so that Coach Brown and the team can go right on with the cam- paign this season, unhampered by a lot of busy-bodies. If they want to change coaches between seasons that may be all right, but it’s altogether wrong to be butting in at this time of the year.” The boys rallied to Rip’s talk whole-heartedly, and swore to fight to the last ditch the coming Saturday afternoon. | “Remember,” said Rip, just before they left, “this is absolutely secret, and no one must ever hear of it. I just thought we could represent old Dulac with more intensity and fervor next Saturday, knowing the facts as they are.” The next day at noon Rip told Elmer that he had ar- ranged with Ruth and Estelle to attend the autumn “INTERFERENCE” 171 | dance to be given by one of the university clubs the ‘evening after the Aksarben game. Elmer concealed | his interest as much ds he could. “T don’t know who these two fellows are that are trotting after them,” said Rip, “but I call them Dan |Dormitory and Joe College. Ruth was rather peeved lover the phone when I called them these names, but ‘believe me they give me a big laugh. They’re taking ithe girls to the game Saturday. I had quite a time /arranging for the dance engagement. However, I ‘dropped a couple of hints that aroused their curiosity, jabout the game Saturday, to such an extent that they decided to go to the dance with us and not with the itwo anecdotes. Believe me, I know these women! Just rouse their curiosity, and you have them where you want them.” Elmer couldn’t help but laugh at Rip’s “women wis- dom,” and his candor in talking about it. When the practice Thursday evening was over, the men were called in together by the coach for a short talk, after which they were all dismissed. Every man was in good shape physically and even Coach Brown was surprised at the spirit which the team was show- ing. “T’ve been coaching for many a year,” he remarked to Rip, “but I’ve never seen a team so ready for a game as this one.” , “You'll get the surprise of your life during the game, 200,” said Rip enthusiastically. ‘This is one game I wouldn’t worry about if I were you—it’s already in the bag.” | 172 | FOUR WINNERS The coach smiled. “The time to win the game is Saturday afternoon.” The regular meeting of the quarterbacks was held Thursday night in the coach’s office, but by this time the number of quarterbacks had been cut down to three. Mull and Berlin had been showing up much better in practice, but even these two ambitious young gentlemen had to admit that it was a different team en- tirely with Elmer running it. But in spite of all these high spirits, it was evident to Elmer, as he sat in the office, that the coach was worried keenly. He tried to cover it up, and Elmer admired him for that; but the telltale evidence was plain in the deep lines of his face and the intensity of his voice. “Now, in this game Saturday,” said the coach be- ginning his talk to the quarterbacks, “we've got to get the jump early. Let’s get Aksarben on the run and keep them there. We don’t know much about their style of play this year, but we do know that they have a veteran team. Lord, their right halfback, is a terror on offense. He’s the man who has beaten us the last two years. “We do know, however, that he is absolutely help- less against the forward pass. We will start the first team against them—and Higgins, I want you to for- ward pass over Lord’s head on the first play, and to continue passing over him whenever you think the situation is ripe. Don’t forward pass on third down or on second down. In this game, we're going to for- ward pass on the first down, thus violating all the rules AY THE COACH SHOWS ’EM THE Ww “INTERFERENCE” 173 of strategy that are generally accepted in the game. After we have scored twice, and I have every confi- dence we will, then I believe that our running attack will go, as the Aksarben team will be entirely demoral- ized and will be running around panicky, trying to stop the forward passes. These, however, from that point on will be withheld. There is only one thing I want you to bear in mind on defense. “Besides being a great ball carrier, Lord is also a great receiver of forward passes. Why he is so vul- nerable against forward passes when he is playing de- fense is beyond me, but getting back to my main point, Lord is a great receiver of forward passes. He is the man whoruns deep. Therefore it is the quarter- back on defense—because he is the man playing farth- est back—who will have to cover him on all forward passes. Don’t let him get past you. This would be fatal. We'll continue to play an offensive game of football all through and if any of the men tire out at all, Rip will let me know so that we can keep putting fresh men in there all the time. We must go at full speed every minute of the sixty.” Friday afternoon the team merely played dummy defense against the Freshmen, who used the Aksarben formations as they interpreted them. The team then practiced returning the kick-off a few times, after which they went back to the gymnasium. The work- out was extremely light, just enough being done to put on the finishing touches that were needed. All through this Elmer was surprised to find that instead of being nervous he was filled with a deep determination and a 174 FOUR WINNERS confidence in himself which he had never before ex- perienced. In fact the whole team seemed to feel the same way. Rip was the only exception. His duties of captainship were beginning to act a little on his nerves, but his powers of leadership were still at their best. CHAPTER XVI THE COMEBACK FTER dinner on the memorable Friday evening before the Aksarben game the entire squad of thirty-five men were loaded into busses and taken out to the Country Club. Elmer found the Country Club a delightful place at this time of the year, not like a club at all, but like a huge country home; for there was no one there but the caretaker. A bright fire was burning in the big open grate, so as soon as the boys had put their luggage away in their rooms they came down to the main hall to sit around and enjoy the com- fort and satisfaction which comes from a log fire; all the more so since it was already quite cool out doors in the evening. Spending their time at cards, the vic- trola, and in good natured talk around the fire, they put in a happy and restful evening. The trainer, Daddy Moore, was a great believer in having boys keep their minds off the game, and he was around in this group and that, busying himself telling stories and in general keeping them in good humor. Everyone was up for breakfast at seven-thirty. It was an ideal day. “Our forward passing game ought to go great,” said Rip at the breakfast table. “Our main forte is speed, but T would hate to think of playing that giant Aksar- 175 176 | FOUR WINNERS ben team in the mud,—but then, why worry about mud?—we’'ll run them ragged today because they : haven’t anybody fast enough to catch Miller or Cre-_ don.” | As the boys took a walk around the golf course after breakfast, Dad Moore smiled to himself. It was evi- | dent that every man had the color, and the suppleness - of muscle, that denotes perfect physical condition. It_ was also evident to Dad’s experienced eye that the. team as a unit was absolutely right mentally, in ex- actly the state of mind men should be in before a game. There was no playfulness in their mood this morning. That was all right the night before; but now they were serious and recollected. There was a grim silence as the groups walked along. “There will be no lunch today,” said the trainer, Dad Moore. “The whole crowd of you are so nervous and keyed up that I am afraid to feed you anything.” _ So the team waited at the Country Club longer than had been expected. They left in busses so as to reach the university gymnasium about one o’clock. Arrived there, they began dressing immediately. The half- backs and ends had the thigh guards ‘taped directly on to the thigh. The halfbacks and ends also had their ankles taped. The linemen had their wrists taped. Dad Moore rubbed one of the linemen’s legs with win- tergreen. This lineman had been suffering from a charley-horse, but had recovered. The wintergreen was added here merely to keep the leg warm, and to prevent it from becoming tight again and hence more susceptible to another charley-horse. : THE COMEBACK 177 At one-thirty, the team was all dressed and all three centers sat nervously playing, each with a football. There was no one in the dressing room, but the team, Dad Moore, the student managers and the coach. The assistant coaches were all away scouting. Just at this moment, in through the door came a delegation of men, at the head of which was Windy Bill Biggs. Coach Brown greeted them with a smile and shook hands all around. “T’m glad to see you here today, gentlemen. Boys,” and he addressed the team, “these men here are all alumni who have come a long way to see Dulac play Aksarben today.” Windy Bill pulled the coach to one side. ‘Do you mind if a couple of us talk to the team before the game?” Elmer overheard this with astonishment, but he was not surprised at Coach Brown’s response. ‘Nobody talks to the team except myself,” said the coach. “You men mean well, but you don’t understand.” “Why, man,” protested Windy Bill, “Lou Harmon- ica, the greatest jury lawyer in America, is with us, and he could send that team out there in a state of mind where they would fight their weight in wildcats.” “T’m sorry,” said the coach firmly, “but I have made it a policy never to allow anyone to talk to the team except myself.” “Well, it’s your own funeral, not mine,’ and Windy Bill turned and made his way out the door followed by the rest of the alumni group. At a quarter to two the coach called for silence, and 178 FOUR WINNERS then he surprised the team by making the shortest talk on record. “T want a silence of one minute,” he began, ‘“‘abso- lute silence, while every man here prepares himself for an hour of the hardest playing he has ever done in his life.” | The silence that followed was indeed profound; it lasted not one minute but several; the place was tense with it. Finally the coach spoke. “Captain Ruggles, do you and your ten men feel that you are going out there to represent Dulac with credit to Dulac, to yourself, and to your fathers and mothers?” : “Yes,” they yelled in chorus. “All right, then,” said the coach. “Let’s go.” As Elmer stood out on the field, catching now and then one of the long twisting spirals which Jones sent down the field, he thought, between kicks, how much more effective had been that silence and those few words of Coach Brown’s, than the lengthy tirades de- livered by his old high school coach, Smith, or such “oratorical eloquence” as Windy Bill and his friends had wished to indulge in. Everything that could be done, had been done during the week, and if it hadn’t been done, it was too late, fifteen minutes before the game, to do it. The whole point was, the Dulac team — was mentally fit for a real contest, and the coach had — said nothing to upset this status. A barrage of ora- torical emotionalism by Lou Harmonica, or any of — the other alumni, would have ruined them. Elmer ap- | preciated for the first time the trials and tribulations — THE COMEBACK 7 179 to which a college coach is subject, and still more he appreciated the fact that the Dulac coach was pre-em- inently a man of sound common sense. Rip won the toss and chose to take the wind. The Aksarben captain elected to kick off. The game was beginning. The eleven men all shook hands before they went out, and as they lined up to receive, Elmer for the first time took a look around the field. Every available seat was taken and both stands were a riot of color, noise and music. He heard faintly the “Fight, fight, fight!’? com- ing as a chant from the Dulac sections, while from the Aksarben sections, even more faintly, he heard the words of their state song, “We’re from Aksarben.” He was surprised to find how cool and collected he was and how his every faculty was at his command. That full year’s experience, two years previous, had done its fruitful work. “Are you ready, Captain Ruggles?” called the ref- eree. “Are you ready, Captain Bay?” The whistle sounded and an instant later Lord, the giant Aksarben halfback, had sent the ball soaring far over the goal line. The great game was begun. Jones went back and fell on the bail for a touch- back. The ball was brought out to the twenty yard line. Instead of calling for the customary punt forma- tion, Elmer called for “Close formation A, right, 82, 98, 46, 15, hip,” and the backfield shifted to the right. | Elmer faked the ball to Jones who went through all the motions of a line plunge—but Jones didn’t have the ball. Elmer still held it. Running straight back, 180 | FOUR WINNERS with his back to the other team, Elmer suddenly whirled and threw the ball diagonally over his left shoulder; forty yards across the field the ball traveled, just far enough and just high enough so that Kerr, the left end, running full speed down the field, was able to reach it. He bobbled it for an instant, but finally tucked it away; then, on and on, straight down the field, he continued, not being tackled until, just as he crossed the goal line, the Aksarben safety man lunged for him, Elmer went jogging down the field with the rest of the team and found the referee carrying the ball out to the five yard line. “Place kick formation,” called Elmer, “89, 49, 56, 15;” and instantly the ball was snapped back to Elmer _ who, resting on his left knee, placed it straight up and down on the ground alongside of him, holding it in place with the index finger of his right hand. A frac- tion of a second later, Jones sent the ball sailing be- tween the goal posts for the extra point. The score was seven to nothing. The crowd had not had time to realize what had happened. As the team which has a touchdown scored against it has the choice, the Aksarben captain chose to re- ceive. Jones kicked off for Dulac, sending the ball high in the air to the Aksarben fullback. The Aksarben fullback was extremely slow in getting started and was tackled on his own fifteen yard line. Aksarben, finding itself unable to gain on the first two plays, kicked on the third down to midfield. Elmer was back there to receive the punt, but when he saw both Ak- THE COMEBACK 181 sarben ends right on top of him, ready to tackle him, he signalled for a fair catch. “That’s the old head work!” said Credon, running up. An instant later, they lined up. “This is a Dulac year,” yelled Rip. ‘Come on, boys, let’s show them what we’re made of.” “84 38, 29, 52,” called Elmer. This time the back- field shifted to the left, Elmer got the ball from the center, and went through all the motions, facial and otherwise, that would indicate his intention to again throw a pass to Kerr; although Kerr, this time, was well covered by the fleet Lord. Elmer faked the pass to Kerr, stopped it with his left hand, and threw the ball short, right into the arms of the right end who had cut across into the territory vacated by Lord. Ten yards he travelled, after catching the ball, before he was tackled by another Aksarben back. Aksarben took time out. It was apparent that they were pan- icky; quite demoralized for the time being. The two minutes allowed for time out being up, both teams lined up again. It was first down ten for Dulac. Again Elmer called a series of numbers that shifted his players to the right. Faking as though he had the ball, Elmer was running wide and an instant later, Jones, the fullback, went crashing through center for twelve yards. The Aksarben defensive center had pulled out, leaving his position undefended. It was first down on Aksarben’s twenty yard line. On the next play the team again shifted to the right and again Elmer went streaking out to the right. This 182 7 FOUR WINNERS time nobody watched him, or followed him; and in an-. other instant, Credon, who had received the ball from, the center, placed a beautiful pass into Elmer’s arms, and in two steps he was across the goal line for the sec- ond touchdown. | Jones again kicked goal, making the score fourteen to nothing. The Aksarben team again chose to re- ceive, but being deep in their own territory, were un- able to gain. Dulac scored two more touchdowns that. half, though there were no more forward passes thrown. The Aksarben team had gone to pieces completely; they seemed hopelessly outclassed from then on; they had never, from the very beginning, been in a position where they could exert their full offensive strength. Elmer had outguessed them at every turn, and the third and fourth touchdowns were the result of beau- tiful parades down the field. The second half was a repetition of the first, except that Aksarben fought harder and with more cohesion. They stopped Dulac twice when touchdowns appeared imminent, and in the fourth quarter launched a beau- tiful offensive, headed by the giant Lord, which yielded them one touchdown. When the gun went off at the end of the game the score stood thirty-four to seven in favor of Dulac. The Aksarben team had fought doggedly and tenaciously, but except for the last five or six minutes they lacked that exhilaration and en- thusiasm which is so essential to success. An instant later the crowd swept out on the field and it was with some difficulty that Elmer made his way out, and over to the gymnasium. To his sur- THE COMEBACK 183 prise he felt no particular emotional joy in the vic- tory; just a keen sense of satisfaction. Everyone seemed to be happy, but happy with restraint. ~ “South Square and Kingston haven’t got much this year,” announced Rip to the boys in the shower baths, “but I don’t think we have much of a chance to win from that State team.” ‘We'll win from State,” said Elmer, “or they’ll have to come out and carry my dead body off the field.” A student manager just then came in hunting for Rip and Elmer. ‘Coach Brown wants you and Hig- gins to come into his office.” | Entering the coach’s office a minute later with Rip, Elmer saw that the room was filled with the same group of alumni that had been in the dressing room before the game. They were noisy, filled with en- thusiasm, singing college songs, and slapping one an- other and Coach Brown on the back, though the coach, to Elmer’s eye, was plainly bored. He gave Rip and Elmer a sly, good-humored look as they came in. “T congratulate you, boys!” exclaimed Windy Bill, as he spied Elmer and Rip entering. “The greatest game of football ever played by any team anywhere! Ruggles, as a guard, you are magnificent, and Higgins, your strategy was superb, immense. And we have the best little coach there is in the business. Anybody that ever criticizes Coach Brown will have to reckon with me. The way he planned that game today ought to satisfy anybody. It was the greatest piece of strate- gy I ever saw.” When Elmer and Rip, after a minute or two of 184 | FOUR WINNERS this, turned and went out, the last sound they heard was Windy Bill’s voice still rolling out its noisy praises of coach and team. As they stood on the steps of the gym, Rip shook Elmer by the hand. “Boy, you have sure come back!” “Thanks a lot, Rip,” said Elmer, “but I won’t be satisfied till we’ve beaten State.” CHAPTER XVII RIVALS LMER was late in arriving at the hotel where the dance was being held. The rush at the tailor’s ha delayed the delivery of his tuxedo to such an ex- tent that Rip had to go ahead in a cab, and take the girls to the ballroom. Elmer was to join them there las soon as he could. He was still further delayed by the fact that it took him over a half hour to tie his dress tie—Rip had always previously performed this ritual. However, at last he had his studs properly ad- justed and the tie smoothed out so that it satisfied his critical eye. The dance was already in full swing when Elmer arrived. It was a formal party, and a very expensive orchestra had been imported from Chicago. Checking his hat and overcoat, Elmer had no more than entered the ballroom when he was surrounded by at least a dozen persons, all wishing to congratulate him on the game of the afternoon. Visibly embarrassed by these attentions, Elmer could do nothing except stand there and discuss the various points of the game with the crowd, and answer divers questions; and all the time he grew more and more nervously anxious to join his own group. Finally he spied Rip and the two girls 185 186 | FOUR WINNERS standing together at one side. He excused himself from the crowd, and immediately went over to them, “T thought you were going to give us the ritz,” Ruth laughed. ‘Now that you’re so famous, I didn’t know whether you’d care to come over and associate with common people.” | “Were you waiting here long? I’m awfully sorry,” Elmer answered. “Really, I broke away just as soon as I could.” “Tt was certainly thrilling this afternoon,” said Es- telle. “I was never so surprised in my life as when I saw you out there playing quarterback.” “Yes,” continued Ruth, “you might at least have given us a hint or something,—we wouldn’t have told anybody.” “Well, we gave our word to the coach,” said Rip, “and I know you wouldn’t want us to break our word, would you?” “T think it was wonderful,” said Estelle, “and all the more wonderful because it was such a surprise.” At that instant the orchestra struck up one of the prevalent “blues” and both boys immediately took out. their programs, to see what arrangements they had made for exchanging dances. “Rip,” said Ruth, “we’ve got to save a few dances for the two young men who took us to the game this. afternoon.” | “Oh, you mean Joe College and Dan Dormitory— are they here tonight?” | “Now, Rip, I think it’s perfectly outrageous for you’ to try to ridicule those two boys. They were kind RIVALS 187 mough to take us to the game this afternoon, and hey’re very nice boys, too.” “Of course, they’re nice!” laughed Rip, “and, of sourse, we'll save these men all the dances which you hink they may want.” But there was mischief in his syes as he spoke. “T believe this is our dance, Estelle,’ interpolated ¢Imer, and excusing himself, he and Estelle swung off cross the floor. There was a gay crowd at the dance, and an atmos- shere of brightness and relaxation that made Elmer ‘eel that he was on top of the world as he glided round the floor with his charming partner. That iumber finished, the four of them were again standing ogether in the same corner. Suddenly, “Here come the two anecdotes,” whis- nered Rip to Elmer, as two young men sauntered ucross the floor towards them. “No funny stuff, now,” aid Elmer, “remember, try to be a gentleman.” _ The two young men were effusive in their greetings 0 the girls, and on being introduced to Rip and Elmer vere painfully polite. Their real names proved to be ‘ilbert Magg and Maurice Day. “A ripping game you played this afternoon,” ven- ured Filbert. ~“Vhank you,” said Rip, “very glad you enjoyed it.” “Quite interesting,” volunteered Maurice. “It’s ather seldom that I enthuse, but I must say this af- ernoon was an exception.” _ “Very nice of you to say so,” replied Elmer. _ “Are you gentlemen stagging it tonight?” asked Rip. | | 188 | FOUR WINNERS “Yes,” replied Filbert, “and we're having a jolly time.” “Well, here are our programs,” volunteered Rip, tak- ing his and Elmer’s and proffering them to the boys. “Fill in what you wish, as I know it is the ladies’ pleasure.” Elmer noticed the flicker of a smile creeping around the corner of Rip’s mouth, and he was so afraid that at any time Rip might iss something” in his usual unexpected style, that he decided it might be best to break up the conversation until later on. He turned to Messrs. Filbert and Maurice. “When the intermission comes won’t the two of you join us, while we go out on the mezzanine?” he asked. “We should be very happy to.” The answers came so nearly like a chorus that Rip nearly laughed. Any- way, the “twins” were rid of for a while. Elmer danced the next dance with Ruth. “T believe I’m going to like your two friends,” said Elmer, trying to draw Ruth on. | “T think they’re perfectly all right,” returned Ruth. “T know Rip doesn’t like them at all, and I felt sure’ he would say something that would hurt their feel- ings.” i “Hurt their feelings? Oh, no,—why should he do that?” But Ruth merely gave him a sly look, and said not: ing. The evening was passing very pleasantly and swiftly.: In no time at all, it seemed, came the intermission.’ The ‘six of them moved out to the mezzanine, and RIVALS 189 seated at a large table were presently served with ices; and then the fun began for Rip, and Elmer, saying nothing but listening to the conversation of the two “staggers.” “How do you like your new Stutz roadster?” said Filbert to Maurice. “Oh, I don’t know; I haven’t been able to get more than sixty-five out of it so far,” replied that airy young gentleman. “You know,” hesexplained, turning to the girls, “father promised me a fast car for going on that frumpy yacht trip this summer—always such a bore to me—and I was a little bit disappointed when he gave me the Stutz.” “T smashed up the family Cunningham last summer, up in the woods, and the family won’t let me have a car now for a whole year,” Maurice complained. The girls looked at Rip, and Elmer looked at Rip, but that young gentleman displayed an inscrutable countenance; his manner indicated only the most polite interest. Maurice made some more remarks to the effect that he would have to join the folks down in Florida during the Christmas holidays. Filbert’s re- marks were something to the effect that possibly he might not return to school the second half as he might have to go with his people to Europe. But no matter what was said Elmer and Rip still remained scrupu- lously attentive. And as the game played on, the girls grew plainly more and more ill at ease. They tried, time and again, unsuccessfully, to swerve the conver- sation over to football. Shortly after the intermission, Elmer and Rip took 190 | FOUR WINNERS the girls home; their families did not permit them to keep the usual midnight-and-after hours of dancing parties. “Well, I suppose Maurice will take you to the dance next Saturday night,” said Elmer to Estelle, as they drove along in the taxi. “He may,” Estelle answered, “but really I’m afraid he isn’t the gentleman I thought he was.” “Why, I think he’s a perfect gentleman,” said Elmer. “A gentleman doesn’t make other people envious by telling them about all the good things he has in life.” “Under that definition your friend is still a gentle- man,” replied Elmer, “because I can assure you that he didn’t arouse any trace of envy so far as I am con- cerned.” “Well, I was disappointed,” Estelle admitted frankly. “He was so nice at the game.” “Tsn’t he still nice—nicer than I am?” asked Elmer, as the cab stopped in front of her door. But Estelle only laughed, and called out ‘“Good- night” as she ran up the walk to her door. The following week end the Varsity, twenty-four strong, went down and beat the ancient and honorable foe, South Square, fourteen to nothing. Elmer played almost the entire game at quarterback, though he did no spectacular playing. The game was really won by the spectacular off-tackle dashes of Credon and Miller. South Square’s attack was powerful, and they were able to gain quite a bit of ground in the middle of the field. However, Dulac stopped them whenever they became dangerous. RIVALS 191 The team arrived home the Monday morning after the game. That afternoon they began active prepara- tions for the Kingston game at home, the following Saturday. Kingston, however, was reported to be weak, and Coach Brown instructed the quarterbacks to try to win the game without throwing a single forward pass. However, there was no let up in the forward pass practice during the week. Perfection in the execution of the pass was the one thing above all others aimed at daily, the coach having in mind the State game, the last game of the year, as a climax to the season. The coach, in fact, continually kept drum- ming into the ears of the boys the State game, while he apparently paid but little attention to the game the coming Saturday; and this, of course, kept Elmer keyed to pitch, for to him the State game, and victory over Smith, was the be-all and end-all of the season. After dinner at the Fellowship Club Friday evening, Rip motioned Elmer to a chair alongside him. “Something has happened to our friends, Joe and Dan,” said Rip. ‘The girls are going to the game to- morrow with Ruth’s mother. Something has hap- ’ pened, but I haven’t heard what it is. We’re both in- vited up to Ruth’s house tomorrow night for dinner. We may and we may not hear what has happened to our two friends. I’m inclined to believe that they talked themselves out of the league.” “T had a letter from home today,” said Elmer, chang- mg the subject, “and my folks are going to be down for the State game.” “Yes,” said Elmer, “and the folks are going. Mother 192 | FOUR WINNERS writes that father is all het up over football, and has his chest out so you can’t touch him with a ten-foot pole.” “Tt certainly makes a difference, when his boy is playing quarterback,” laughed Rip. “Oh, keep quiet,” said Elmer, “but I sure am glad to see the old gentleman changing around. He cer- tainly was strong the other way for a long time.” “My father was just the opposite,” said Rip. “T know he would have been keenly disappointed if I hadn’t made the team. In fact, in high school, I don’t believe I would have gone out at all, but for his en- couragement.” They were interrupted then by Professor Noon, who strode over and challenged Elmer to a game of chess. This was a favorite diversion of the old professor, and he was more than a match for anyone in the club. “How is it you’re not going out to the Country Club tonight?” he asked Elmer during the course of their game. “Tt’s a little late in the year,” said Elmer, “and be- sides I don’t believe the coach is taking the game to- morrow quite as seriously as he might. We're quietly spending most of our time preparing for the State game.” ) “We have a surprisingly good team this year,” said. Professor Noon, “but I don’t believe we have much. chance against State. They seem to be running rough: shod over all their opponents, and with very little diff- culty.” | RIVALS 193 Elmer’s eyes flashed and his jaw set, but he said nothing further. The game against Kingston proved a great deal more dificult than was expected. Kingston displayed its traditional aggressiveness which for a time completely neutralized the speed and cunning of the Dulac team. However, in the third quarter the Dulac team marched fifty yards to the eighteen yard line, from which point Miller scored on one of his eel-like runs. The final score, seven to nothing, was rather disappointing to the Dulac adherents, who packed the stands, but the coaches and the players themselves were entirely sat- isfied. “It may not look so good,” said Elmer to Rip in the dressing room after the game, “but, anyway, we didn’t have to show anything. We have at least a dozen plays which the State scouts have never seen, and if they work as well in the game as they have in prac- tice, we'll give Coach Smith the surprise of his life.” “Coach Smith,” said Rip, winking to his roommate, “who is he? Is he the fellow who coaches State?” “Don’t try to be funny,” said Elmer, “the State pame is one thing that I’m serious about.” The dinner at Ruth’s home that night was the good old-fashioned family kind. Mrs. Fife was a motherly soul who took such pride and satisfaction in prepar- ing a real meal, that both Elmer and Rip had a hard time to keep from eating more than was proper. “I don’t know much about this game of football,” said Mrs. Fife, “but I sure do enjoy watching the cheer leader.” 194 | FOUR WINNERS “Oh, mother, don’t you think that Rip and Elmer played a wonderful game?” “Oh, my yes,” said her mother. “They were just grand, but I did enjoy watching that cheer leader turn somersaults. All his antics are so interesting.” Rip and Elmer enjoyed that. “Don’t you think, Mrs. Fife, that you could get away and come down and see the State game?” “Oh, my, no,” she replied, ‘““my husband would think there was something wrong with my mind!” “Where were your friends this afternoon?” asked Rip later that evening, during a pause in the music. “T don’t think it was very gallant of them to let you girls go to the game with your mother alone.” Elmer noticed a little rising color in Estelle’s cheeks, but she ventured no reply. “What a great pair of heroes they’d be in case our country were at war,’ Rip went on banteringly. “I imagine both of them would qualify very nicely for a job delivering telegrams in Washington, D. C.” “T think it’s horrid of you, Rip, to be making re- marks like that,” said Ruth. “They may have their faults, but they are fine boys.” . “Admitting that they might be ‘fine boys’,” parried Rip, “what might their faults be?” “Oh, don’t make out that you don’t know,” said Ruth. “You know as well as I do that Filbert Mage’s father is just an ordinary practicing physician in De- troit, and Maurice Day’s father is in the butter and egg business in Cincinnati. They like to pretend a bit, but they don’t mean any harm.” 9 RIVALS 195 “Fourflush, you mean,” said Rip. “Now, Rip, it isn’t nice of you to talk like that.” “Well, I believe in speaking frankly,” said Rip. “What you have said has been all news to me, but I will say this, it was very welcome news.” “Oh, is that so,” laughed Ruth, but she was plainly growing self-conscious in the face of Rip’s outright talking. The situation, however, was relieved, as Ruth’s mother came along at this moment and entered the circle. Rip and Elmer left an hour later, both in high spirits. “What’s the idea of these fellows trying to put this bonton stuff over on us? I thought they were exaggerating a little the other night when they were talking about yachts and all that sort of rot, but I didn’t think they were just a pair of bold-faced liars.” “As Ruth said,” replied Elmer, “they were just pre- tending. But what’s the harm, since the girls have seen through them?” “Yes, they must have got the air, all right. But if they bother the girls again they’ll get more than that from me.” “Now, remember, sonny, you must always be a gen- tleman,” Elmer cautioned in a paternal way. “Well, I mean it!” said Rip; then he paused for a moment and thought. “You’re right; there’s no use paying any more attention to those chaps—we’ll for- get them.” Two things ran through Elmer’s mind that night. One of them was the impending game with State, now 196 | FOUR WINNERS three weeks off; he knew within himself that his foot- ball efforts so far were trivial compared with the ef- forts he would put forth in that game. His other thought was of Estelle. Her coolness and indiffer- ence provoked him. It was two o’clock before he fell asleep. CHAPTER XVIII A SCOUTING TRIP HE following Friday afternoon, as Elmer stepped into the locker room preparatory to dressing for practice, he was met by one of the student managers. “The coach wants to see you in his office.” Wondering what was up, Elmer hurried back and en- tered the coach’s room. He found Rip and Jones al- ready there. “What’s up?” inquired Elmer. “We don’t know any more than you do, but the coach will be back in a minute.” A few minutes later in strode the coach. He busied himself about his desk for a minute, after having greeted the boys. Then he turned to them. “This Hochtel game tomorrow doesn’t amount to much, and we would possibly win it with our third team, if necessary, so I have suddenly decided that the three of you and I will go down and look over State’s game tomorrow.” Elmer’s heart fairly jumped. “They are playing Tecumseh,” the coach continued. “Tecumseh has a real good team and ought to give them at least a fair contest. Of course, our scouts have seen every game State has played so far this year, and 197 198 | FOUR WINNERS we have accurate information on their offense and de- fense, but I believe we can learn a little more. So far, their defense appears impregnable and their offense almost irresistible. So it will be up to the four of us to see if we can’t find some weak spot in their play which we can take advantage of when our game comes. We have a half hour to catch the train, so hurry up, pack your bags, and meet me at the station.” The boys quickly dispersed. Elmer and Rip hurried to their rooms and in five minutes had their bags packed and were swinging down the avenue towards the station. “T certainly am glad the coach picked me to go along,” said Rip. “It has been so long since I’ve seen a game I won’t know what to look for.” “Tt sure was a welcome surprise to me, too,” said Elmer. “I can hardly wait to see what kind of a de- fensive game State plays. They must be vulnerable to some kind of an attack.” “T wonder where we will sit,”’ said Rip. “Presumably in the press box,” replied Elmer. “Coach Brown has probably wired to State for tickets up there.” | About a block from the station they encountered two of the students who were also members of the Fellow- ship Club. One of them was the editor of the Daily, and the other the manager of the Glee Club. “Where are you two going?” asked one of them. “Haven’t we got a game here tomorrow?” “Yes,” replied Rip, “but Coach Brown is taking three of us down to see the State game tomorrow.” A SCOUTING TRIP 199 “Huh, I wonder if I can say anything about that in the Daily?” “You’d better come down to the station and see the coach,” replied Rip; “that would be the safest thing to do.” Coach Brown was in front of the ticket agent’s win- dow, purchasing the tickets, when the boys arrived at the station. “T understand that you and three of the players are going down to State tomorrow to scout,” said the Daily editor. ‘Do you mind if I run that story in the Daily tomorrow morning?” “Not at all,” said Coach Brown, turning around to see who it was talking. “I’ve already wired Coach Smith at State that we are coming, and asked for seats in the press box. There’s nothing at all mys- terious about this scouting; it’s all open and above board. We’re going down to see just how strong State is—to look over their strength, and to discover, if pos- sible, any weaknesses. State will have two scouts up here tomorrow, though in a game such as we will play against Hochtel they won’t see very much.” Just then the train pulled in, and the four Dulac men, coach and players, boarded the chair car. “We could have ridden up in the day coach,” Brown remarked as he relaxed in the big soft spacious Pull- man seat, “but it’s a long five-hour run to State and there’s no use tiring ourselves unnecessarily. We'll make ourselves as comfortable as we can here; we can go back into the diner about six. “We might as well talk over some of the details of 200 : FOUR WINNERS what we are going to do tomorrow right now,” con- tinued Coach Brown. “After dinner we may be too full of food to think clearly and tomorrow morning we may not have time for any detailed talk. When State has the ball I want you, Rip, to watch the offensive line play. I have here a pair of field glasses which T’ll loan you. Focus these on the individual men and see if you can detect any weakness in their stance or in the secondary reaction of their charge. If you have any line men pulling out to run interference in any of their plays let me know at once, and also how they go out. “Elmer, on offense I want you to make notes on what plays they use in the various parts of the field, under the varying conditions, so that you can get a definite idea of their tactics and strategy. “Jones, I want you to watch how their interference works. Sometimes they use straight line interference and other times they use the echelon type. Watch closely and see if there are any signs by which you can tell ahead of time which type of interference they will use. Also watch the ball carriers, and see if they have any peculiarities of any sort. “T will be watching everything in general myself, checking up on their plays, particularly their forward pass plays. When State is on defense I want you, Rip, to watch the guards and tackles the same as you watch the line on offense. Jones, I want you to concentrate on the center and fullback and see how they play un- der the varying conditions. Elmer, I want you to watch particularly their defense against forward passes. A SCOUTING TRIP 201 I understand they use the strict zone defense and I want to verify this. Also check up and see just where the various backs and the center are when Tecumseh executes a forward pass. I’ll watch their ends myself and also their varying defensive formations. “T hope Tecumseh is strong enough on offense so that we can get a good line on State’s defense, and I also hope that Tecumseh is weak on defense so that State’s offense will function smoothly. If State’s of- fense does function smoothly it will be much easier for us to find the various things we are looking for. “From what I have been able to gather,” continued Coach Brown, “our only chance lies in being able to forward pass them. From all reports we have re- ceived, they have a wonderful line, wonderfully coached by the assistant coach down there, a man named Green. The four backs are all natural football men, athletes who do the right thing more by natural instinct than because they have been told. However, a team is no stronger than its line. It’s that wonderful line of theirs which accounts for most of their success. Behind a weak line no backs would ever have a chance to get started. A powerful line can make an ordinary back look like a star.” “Might it not be possible that they will use a differ- ent defense against us than they will use against Te- cumseh?” inquired Elmer. “Yes, that’s quite likely. It is quite likely that they will change their formations on defense, but their per- sonnel can’t change. It’s personnel and individual 202 | FOUR WINNERS proficiency that we'll be analyzing tomorrow, to a large extent.” | After dinner they called for a table, which was- brought to them by the Pullman porter, and they played whist the rest of the way. They arrived at. State at about nine-thirty that night and went imme- diately to the hotel. Feeling tired from the rather long ride, Rip and Elmer went up to bed. The next mor- ning Coach Brown called them at seven-thirty with in- structions to be down to breakfast at eight-thirty. After breakfast Coach Brown called a taxi and they . were driven out to the immense stadium which was situated about a mile from the center of the town. The athletic office of State was situated across the street from the stadium and it was there Coach Brown in- | structed the taxi driver to pull up. They found Coach Smith alone in his office. He was apparently busily engaged at a long table which was entirely covered with newspaper clippings. “How are you, Mr. Brown? We feel highly honored to have you pay us a visit.” | “Thank you,” replied the Dulac coach, “we just thought we would come up here and see if we could find out how you do it.” : Coach Brown then introduced the others, and when Coach Smith shook hands with Elmer, he remarked, turning to Coach Brown, “So you made a quarterback of my young friend here from Springfield—you are certainly to be congratulated. By the way, before I forget about it, here are your four seats in the press box for this afternoon.” A SCOUTING TRIP 203 “Do you mind if the four of us go over to your stadium this morning and look over your field?” asked Brown. “You certainly have a wonderful edifice there and if you don’t mind we would enjoy looking around 4 Dit.” “Certainly! Ill send one of my assistants over with you to let you in, and show you around. I would go with you myself, only—you see! Busy! busy! Too much work!” “Publicity?” Brown inquired, glancing at the news- paper clippings covering the desk. “Yes; I’ve made several speeches in several of the ig cities near here, and the talks have attracted quite 1 bit of attention in the papers. You'll see here I have lippings from papers from coast to coast, reporting 1bout them. I certainly made some fine statements, particularly along the line of athletics, and these ‘lippings here don’t begin to do me Justice.” “T’ve heard you could go on a chautauqua any time,” aid Coach Brown. “If you should quit coaching you vouldn’t have to worry about a livelihood.” “Well, there are a lot of people who have the wrong mpression on a lot of things, and it’s up to some of 1s to correct them,” Coach Smith said, with a gesture. “You certainly had nice success with your team this rear.” | “Yes, I feel very gratified,” replied Coach Smith. “TI ook a lot of green boys two years ago, and they have leveloped so you would hardly know them today.” “Do you have much assistance in your coaching?” nquired Coach Brown. | 204 FOUR WINNERS “Not any to speak of. I have a couple of men who just carry out my orders as best they can, but the brunt of the work falls on me individually. But you have to know how to handle men, you know, to get the best results out of them.” “Well, we must be going,” said Coach Brown, “Tf I have time I hope I can see you for about a minute after the game.” “Fine,” replied Coach Smith, “Pll look for you. And if there’s anything we can do to make you more comfortable when you come down in two weeks, please feel free to call on us. Goodbye, Mr. Brown; goodbye, boys; it’s very nice of you to come up here to see me. By the way, Higgins, when you are down looking over the stadium, you will find that it has a real high fence all around it.” As they went down the steps, Rip turned to Elmer. “What the deuce did he mean by that last crack of his?” “T guess he means that when the game starts, I'll try to run out of the park, but the fence will be too high —but I’ll fool him, the conceited donkey. Did you ever see a man who loved himself like he does?” “He does use the first person now and then,” Rip replied smiling; “but then, of course, he may have a right to.” } “Oh, shucks,” Elmer answered, “from what Pve heard, Green, his assistant coach, does most of the real coaching, and Smith does the handshaking. It’ll be mn- teresting to hear the alibis he'll have to offer after we beat them.” A SCOUTING TRIP ! 205 The stadium proved to be beautifully arranged. Every seat was evidently a good point of vantage from which to watch the game. The facilities for handling the crowd were well taken care of in every way; but what impressed Elmer most of all was the wonderful quality of the turf—the resiliency and toughness of it. It was as smooth as a carpet, and it was evident, even to his inexperienced eye, that the field would be fast un- less there was an exceptionally heavy rain. “This is certainly a wonderful stadium” Rip ex- claimed. “Yes, but I bet it’s worrying somebody about who’s going to pay for it. The interest and overhead on a place of this sort must be fremendous. How about those air-currents we’ve read about?” Elmer in- quired of Coach Brown. “Don’t worry about any air-currents,’ the coach replied. “They’re all a myth. You'll catch a punt here just exactly as you would back home.” A quarter of two that afternoon found all four of the Dulac men nicely located in the press box. At their end of the enclosure there were several scouts from another school who were there to look over the Tecumseh team. The other end of the press box was occupied entirely by sports writers. Alongside of each sports writer was a Western Union operator, with an instrument at his elbow. The clatter and the noise of the instruments during the game were confusing to one not used to them. Elmer turned his attention to the field. The usual preliminaries over, the two captains met 206 } FOUR WINNERS in the middle of the field with the officials, and a few minutes later Tecumseh kicked off to State. The game was just about as Coach Brown had hoped it would be. Tecumseh was powerful on offense, but weak on de- fense. However, powerful as Tecumseh was it was un- able to score, while the wonderful State team ran up a grand total of thirty-five points during the course of the afternoon. Paying no attention to the ball, or to the game in general, Elmer found himself engrossed with the task at hand. He had four sheets of paper, each one rep- resenting a diagram of the field. He used one of these for each quarter. He charted the game for each quar- ter, and, alongside of each down, he put the kind of play which the State quarterback used. When Tecum- seh had the ball, Elmer concentrated on State’s de- fense against the forward pass, and found that they were using the zone defense. It was quite effective that afternoon. However, Elmer could readily see that this was due both to the individual proficiency of the men in State’s backfield, and to the lack of deception in Tecumseh’s forward passing attack. The game was drawn out much longer than had been expected; and so, immediately after the game, without again seeing the State coach, Coach Brown called a cab and they hurried to the station just in time to catch their train home. Elmer was surprised to find that, despite his inac- tivity, he had a keen appetite. “Immediately after dinner,’ announced Coach A SCOUTING TRIP 207 Brown, “we'll spend one-half hour completing our notes, then we’ll get together for a conference.” The conference, hower, failed to produce the results expected. “Tf there are any weak spots in that line, offensively’ or defensively, I failed to find them,” said Rip. “I never saw such a line for cohesiveness, leg drive, and sustained power. It looks as if the forward pass will be our only chance. They use the wedge line almost entirely on offensive, but they had such perfection of execution that they just lifted the Tecumseh line out of the way.” “To be perfectly honest,” said Jones, “I didn’t see very much. If they use both the straight line and the staggered type of interference, I couldn’t distinguish between them. Their fullback, Renfrew, on defense is the best I’ve ever seen. Their defensive center stayed on the line all afternoon, but Renfrew seemed to have a wonderful nose for plays. He was up close on line plays and he was back against forward passes.” “What did you notice, Higgins?” asked the coach. “Well, my notes show that today their tactics and strategy are absolutely orthodox. Inside their own twenty yard line they kick on first down and then up nearer to the middle of the field they kick on third down. They throw no forward passes in their own ter- ritory. In fact they play very cut-and-dried zone football. They’ll never surprise the defense, as far as I can see. Their defense against passes is the zone type. Tecumseh’s passes, however, were so simple that they were never tested. Renfrew, their fullback, 908 | FOUR WINNERS comes up awfully fast on line plunges, and it’s my opinion that a fake line plunge followed by a forward pass will fool him. “Good!” the coach commented enthusiastically. “Now, is there anything about their offense that you noticed which might be of value or interest?” “Just this,” replied Elmer, ‘‘and I noticed it late in the second half—their quarterback leads every play except their fake reverse play.” “Very good. Our other scouts have brought back that point, too, and I paid particular attention to it today to verify it. I believe that is a point which will prove a valuable asset to us. Their quarterback does lead every play except the fake reverse play.” “What do you mean by a fake ‘reverse play,’ ” in- quired Rip, “if you’ll pardon my ignorance?” “Well, Pll explain it,’ said the coach. “A reverse play is where the back behind center gets the ball, fakes off-tackle, and then passes the ball back to an- other back, generally the outside back, who runs around the opposite end. Some people call it a criss-cross play. Now, on that play the quarterback headed the interference back toward the opposite end. However, in the fake reverse play, the halfback who gets the ball from the center fakes off-tackle and then acts as if he passes the ball back to the halfback the same as he did on the reverse play. However, he hangs on to the ball and spins back through the line. Our defensive tackles can stop the fake reverse play if they get enough prac- tice on it. Our defensive full and center, by watching the offensive quarter, should be in on every play. With A SCOUTING TRIP 209 our team thoroughly trained on that point, I’m certain we can stop them; but I will say that I’ve never seen ‘a team with such power and speed. Personally, I have come to the conclusion that Jones can hold his own with Hunk Hughes in kicking, and I therefore believe we'd better try a kicking game and play for the breaks. If there are any fumbles we must get the ball. It’s useless to think of trying to make any kind of a march against that kind of a team, and forward passing against them appears to be dangerous. “However, I agree with you, Elmer, that a fake line plunge, followed by a forward pass up the middle of the field, looks like our best bet. Renfrew does come forward a little too fast to be able to stop that kind of a forward pass. However, he won’t be susceptible to that kind of a pass very often, and you’d better save that play for a time when it will do the most good. “That line of theirs is wonderfully coached; for all practical purposes it will be impregnable to our rush- ing attack. However, you, Jones, will have to crash in through that line for some gains. If you can make a few gains successfully it will bring Renfrew up closer, thus giving our forward pass plays a much better chance. “There was no general weakness on defense that I could see outside of these points. Their quarterback handles the punts remarkably well, though he is not particularly adept at returning them. Our plan will have to be a strong kicking game with every man alert for a fumble. If we can get the ball up deep in their 210 -- FOUR WINNERS territory, we will have to score either by means of a forward pass or a place kick by Jones.” They discussed the game until about eleven o’clock, when the porter announced that they were pulling into Dulac. CHAPTER XIX THE SCENE OF BATTLE ONDAY noon Coach Brown began his work with the team by congratulating them on playing good football in defeating Hochtel the previous Sat- urday. “T’m sorry I couldn’t have been here to see it, but the coaching staff tells me there was marked improve- ment in the play all along the line. Jones, Captain Ruggles, Higgins, and myself went down and saw State wallop Tecumseh. I want to say right here that State has as fine a football team as I have ever seen. They: can hit the line, they can run the ends, they can for- ward pass, and their kicking game is strong. _ “They have no weakness whatsoever on defense. They don’t fumble and they are alert. They have wonderful aggressiveness, perfect morale, and they are going to play us on their own field—don’t forget that! When they open up that line attack of theirs, driving those fast starting, crashing backs behind that powerful line, they may go through us five and ten yards at a play; whereas our attack, when it hits those tackles of theirs, may break like waves hitting a rockbound shore. “And yet, I think we can beat them. We are Dulac. We are representing an institution with personality 211 212 3 FOUR WINNERS and soul, with almost a century of time-honored tra- dition. I have confidence in every one of the men here, and I believe we can rise to heights because of this glorious background behind us. Whereas, State has become such a large school, such a tremendous prop- osition, that it has almost lost its personality and soul, and most of its traditions have been forgotten. And I believe that when we go out there, man to man, where nothing else counts but sheer grit, pluck, aggressive- ness, mental and physical alertness and control, I be- lieve that you boys will prove their masters. “The margin of difference between victory and de- feat is very slight. I want every man to take complete notes on the defense I have planned against State— and I am also going to add two plays to our repertoire. These plays are very similar to the ones we already have, except that in their denouement there is an ele- ment of surprise. I am not any particular disciple of Coué, but I do believe that if we keep repeating to ourselves, for the next two weeks, ‘we will win, we must win, we can win,’ that it will bolster up our de- termination and put backbone in our will to win.” There was no scrimmage work at all during the week. Two or three of the players who were still suf- fering from the effects of the Kingston game and one or two suffering from injuries in the Hochtel game, were rounding into shape nicely. “The coach says we may get a few minutes on de- fense and offense next week, just to keep our judg- ment oi timing and distance on edge and to tune us up for the game,” said Rip, when he and Elmer were dis- THE SCENE OF BATTLE 213 cussing the situation. “He says there will be no more eruelling scrimmage, as he’s going to take absolutely no chance on any injuries. He said he’d rather have, the team a little under-scrimmaged, but chuck full of enthusiasm and vim, than to have them over-scrim- maged, which means they would be a little dull and listless the day of the game.” “T like to scrimmage, though,” said Elmer. “There’s nothing I like better, either,’ replied Rip, “but the coach has probably weighed all the values and with his experience he no doubt knows what is best.” _ The team eased up in its work on Friday. All during the week Elmer had practiced over and over again that one particular play in which he faked the ball to Jones on a line plunge and then running back passed it to Kerr, the left end, who would cut in towards the middle. The execution was nearing perfection. On Friday, however, the work consisted entirely of kick- ing and covering punts. Jones was punting better than at any time in his career, and he was lofting them high into the air, the ball sometimes carrying seventy yards before it finally nestled into the arms of some receiver, or hitting the ground went rolling up the field. The second team played the entire first half the next day against Reliance, scoring one touchdown in that time. At the start of the second half, when the Re- liance team found that they were up against the first team of Dulac, their morale cracked and they offered but a sporadic resistance during the rest of the game. Confining themselves to straight football, the first 214. . FOUR WINNERS string Varsity rolled up four touchdowns before the, end of the game. They were not relieved, but played the entire second half. “What was the coach’s idea in not letting us in until the second half?” inquired Credon of Elmer as they both stood under the same shower bath, soaping them- selves down. “T don’t know for sure,” said Elmer, “but I believe he has the theory that most of the hard bumps in a football game come in the first fifteen minutes in a game like today’s. It was not a question of who would win the game, but there was uneasiness in his mind, probably, on the question of injuries to the regulars. He didn’t put us in there until the second half, feeling that by that time the Reliance boys would not be hit- ting so hard, and hence the dangers of injury would be greatly minimized.” Just then Rip entered the shower rooms and an- nounced that the coach requested that every man be in bed at ten o’clock every evening until after the State game, | “T ’phoned the girls, and called off the dance engage- ment for tonight,” he said, turning to Elmer. ‘They were real good sports about it. But I’ve made an engagement for us to go to the first show at the Palace, which lets out at nine o’clock, so we can get back to our room easily before ten.” “That suits me,” said Elmer. The picture at the Palace proved rather uninterest- ing to Elmer, and he was glad to get out at its con- THE SCENE OF BATTLE 215 slusion, which came shortly before nine o’clock. Ten minutes’ walk brought them to Ruth’s home. “Won’t you boys stop in just for a minute?” asked Ruth. “Thank you,” said Rip, “we can, but just for a minute. I’d be a poor captain to break the rule which [ am supposed to see enforced.” “T have a little surprise for you,” said Ruth, as they sat in the parlor chatting. “Mother and I are going Jown to the game next Saturday, and I’m trying to persuade Estelle to come along, too.” “Oh, you must come,” said Rip, turning to Estelle. “Well, I don’t know,” Estelle replied. “Mother loesn’t think it quite proper for me to go running away lown there, just for a football game; she isn’t well snough to go along herself.” “T wish you’d change your mind and come,” said Hlmer. “My folks will all be there and so will Rip’s, and with Ruth and her mother coming the party wouldn’t be complete without you.” “Oh, do come,” Rip teased. “Come on, Estelle, and l’ll arrange to see that you all get tickets in the same location, and after the game is over, since this is the last game of the year, we can all have dinner together. We'll have one big time!” “T certainly love a good football game,” said Estelle, a, little wistfully. “Tl let you know next week. I’d love to be with you. Rip had all the arrangements worked out in his man- ner before they left. “Good-night, Ruth,” he said a few minutes later. 216 | FOUR WINNERS “T’ll see you next Saturday after the State game, on the mezzanine of the hotel. Il send one of the student managers up with your tickets Thursday,” and then, turning to Estelle, he continued, “and as for you, little mascot, if you want Dulac to win, you'd better come along. I know Elmer won’t be worth a nickel unless he knows you’re up there cheering for him.” “Doesn’t that sound romantic!” Estelle laughed, “just like a story book, and I used to think you were such a sincere young man.” “Do you think she’ll go?” asked Elmer later, as he and Rip were undressing for bed. “Will she go? Try and keep her away! You’re just as unsophisticated regarding girls now as you were two years ago—though I will say you have a suave polished manner that knocks them dead.” “Oh, lay off me! Can’t you ever be serious?” “That’s the trouble with you,” said Rip, “you’re al- ways serious.” : “The trouble with you,” replied Elmer, “is that you're always too whimsical, but, by George, you’d better be serious next Saturday.” ) “That’s a different story,” said Rip. “There’s a time and a place for everything.” ; “All right,” said Elmer, “this is the time for sleep; put out the light.” | Monday’s practice was one of feverish activity. Whereas the team frolicked and played around before the coach’s whistle sounded for official practice to be- gin, after the whistle everything was serious attention and concentration. The team at this time of the sea- THE SCENE OF BATTLE 217 on was a unit of one; the boys all liked each other mmensely. Whatever bad points they had, they over- ooked; they counted only the good points in one an- ther, and as a result, from a psychological point of iew, they were a potent organization. They were in , State of mind where all petty jealousies and selfish- ess were entirely eliminated;—instead there was a eeling of all for one and one for all. It made no dif- erence who carried the ball, the other ten men exerted hemselves to the utmost to try to keep from the ball arrier any would-be tacklers. The Dulac team was oted for its effective interference, more than any other ne thing. Tuesday afternoon the Freshmen, using the State lays for ten minutes, were unable to make even a dent n the Varsity defense. “Just keep watching whichever way the quarterback oes,” called Coach Brown, to the center and fullback, and that will tell you everything. Wherever the State juarterback goes, you go. Our defensive tackle, end nd guard can stop their fake reverse. You tackles ush that passer harder. Don’t give him time to pick ut his man—make him throw hurriedly, and, there- ore, inaccurately. Against those passes, you backs over the man who goes into your zone, until the ball s in the air, then play the ball. Relax all you can so hat you can jump high in the air against the forward ass. We're not going to knock down any forward asses next Saturday. When State forward passes, ve’re going to catch them, except, of course, on fourth lown. 218 | FOUR WINNERS “T want every man to keep in mind, constantly, the down and the yards to gain, position on the field, the score, and the time left to play. State will play a very orthodox zone game and you can anticipate in a large measure every play they’re going to use. Every man govern himself accordingly. If you halfbacks see the ends start down the field call ‘Pass’ loud enough to be heard in the next county, so that the other members of the team are warned in time. Don’t lisp it out like a timid little girl; bark it out loud, so that everyone can hear you. “Don’t pay any attention to any of their talk on offense. They have a clever bunch, and they may try a little chatter to throw you off your guard. However, as regards the State team, use your eyes only; don’t pay any attention to anything they may say. “Here, you Freshmen, try that spinner play again, where the end goes around and takes the ball from the fullback. When he gets the ball the quarterback leads the interference out around the other end and the center and the fullback should help the end stop the play. When he doesn’t get the ball the quarterback doubles up as an extra man on one of our linemen, a very simple thing to diagnose, so when the fullback sprints back into the line with the ball, the guards and the tackles should stop him. If the center and full are watching the quarterback, they should be re- inforcing the tackles and guards. Don’t be fooled.” And so the work went on for half an hour before the coach announced the end of defense practice for that ‘day. THE SCENE OF BATTLE 219 The Varsity then went on offense, confining itself tirely to a forward passing attack. Although the reshmen knew that nothing but forward passes were yming, yet Elmer completed many nice passes to err, through sheer individual excellence of perform- nee, Wednesday they had some work covering kicks and d some tackling in the open. Near the end of the actice the entire squad went in for some live tack- ag. A half dozen wind sprints completed the work- t. Thursday the workout consisted merely of some bering up exercises; nothing of a serious nature as attempted. Friday morning the entire squad left r State. The Dulac boys limbered up on State field that fternoon. Elmer was surprised to find that catching unts in the big stadium was just just as easy as atching them back home, exactly as Coach Brown had uid it would be. If there were any wind currents resent, they never dallied with any of the punts hich Jones sent down that afternoon. After the ‘orkout the entire squad dressed and were driven out ) a nearby country club, where they were to spend the smaining hours before the game. As they were riding out on the bus Elmer remarked >) Rip that he had seen his old druggist friend from pringfield, who had told him that half the town of pringfield would be there on the morrow, coming on a oecial train. . “TY guess they’ve a complete sell-out,” said Rip. The president of the Senior class told me that every i 220 | FOUR WINNERS | Dulac student had signed up for the special leaving there tomorrow morning. The band was rather peeved because they couldn’t come up today, but the faculty refused to allow them to miss any classes. Well, to- morrow at this time it will be all over, and we'll be either heroes or dubs.” “T hope it’s heroes,” said Elmer. “I hate to snl Hunk Hughes’ great record at State, and I think he is a good enough sport to feel the same way about us; but we must beat Coach Smith. GOs state wouldng be big enough to hold him if they win.’ “They say the betting odds are two to one on State. | “Oh, this betting stuff gives me a distinct pain,’ ’ said Elmer. “Some of these pikers when ae bet and win, pat themselves on the back and say ‘aren’t we great fellows?’ and if they lose, they sob out loud sae it, and want to fire the coach.” | Arriving at the Country Club, the boys went to their rooms, after which they came down and partook of a wholesome well-cooked meal. During the dinner @ student manager came in. i “There’s a crowd of fellows out here from Spring- field,’ he said. ‘They want to talk to Mr. Higgins.” “Station yourself at the front door,’ Coach Brown instructed the manager, “and tell everyone, I don’t care who it is, that they can’t see any of the players until after the game tomorrow. After the game they'll have plenty of time to do all their visiting.” The coach also detailed two other student managers to help out the first one, as it was evident that they THE SCENE OF BATTLE 221 rere to be busy all evening keeping away visitors and vell-wishers. | Immediately after breakfast the next day the team vas again loaded into busses and driven into town to he hotel. The coach had reserved the entire top loor of the hotel for the team, and instructed them to ake off their shoes and to lie at full length on the bed intil the call for lunch. Whereas breakfast had con- isted of an orange, a large steak, toast and milk, the uncheon consisted of nothing but consommé with very ittle toast. After lunch, which was served at eleven clock, the team was again instructed to lie at full ength on the bed for another hour. At twelve-thirty he phone in each room rang, and the voice of the ‘tudent manager called, ‘““Everybody downstairs.” The hotel was a maelstrom of excited, jabbering hu- nanity; but, under the leadership of the head student nanager, the entire squad made its way to the side door vhere they were loaded into the bus for the stadium. Arriving at the players’ entrance they found there a arge crowd, apparently hopeful of being able to sneak nto the game some way or another. Eaeh player, in ‘act, did take in with him one small boy or maybe two, (0 which the gate keeper made no exception. But that was the end of it. After the student manager had gassed the last of the players in, the burly gate keeper slammed the gate. “That’s all!” he yelled. “There'll oe no gate crashers slipping through here today.” Yet, ‘or long afterward, that excited and still hopeful crowd stood jammed around the players’ entrance. At every sate it was the same. The scene was set for the battle. | 222 | FOUR WINNERS | The air was electrical with mass excitement. It was unquestionably the greatest sporting event in the his- tory of the Middle West—Dulac and State! And in the heart of Elmer Higgins, more than any other man on the visiting team, a grim determination to win, to achieve victory! CHAPTER XX THE GREAT GAME UMBER twenty-seven,” called the student man- ager. “Here,” replied Elmer, as he walked over and took harge of the sailor bag which the manager picked out _ f a large trunk. Slowly and carefully, Elmer began to don his foot- pall clothes. He spent a little time adjusting his shoul- ler pads to just the proper place under the jersey. He vas painfully exact as he rolled up his stockings in the ootball pants with the rubber sponge which went to srotect the patella. He re-adjusted the tape around 1is ankles twice before he felt satisfied. The new shoes which he had broken in the previous week were now snug and comfortable. He squatted down once or wice and feeling that the tape around his thigh guards was a little too tight, loosened the pants, and getting 1ew tape, taped the thigh guards anew. This time they were too loose. Again he experimented, until he felt satisfied that the tape was on tight enough so that it vould hold, and not too tight, in which case a sudden ensing might break the tape. For the first time that year Elmer felt nervous, ex- eedingly nervous! He shook as he thought of the 223 224 : FOUR WINNERS impending conflict. For an instant that little sal of cowardice which is present in all of us asserted itself, Wouldn’t it be better if Mull or Berlin went out there) and played today? He felt weak in the pit of his stomach while the thought of his tremendous respon= sibility overwhelmed him. An instant later his teeth) crunched, and his fists clenched, and a rush of blood| carried new stiffening to his backbone. | “T’ve lived a lot preparing for today,” said Elmer to himself. “Only a yellow dog would go out there now and quit. I’m just a little bit nervous now, but as soon as the first kick-off is over I’ll settle down. Steady, old man, aay There’s a lot depending on you today, and you’ve got to come through.” He walked over to the fountain in the corner for | drink. He heard voices in the corner. “T tell you,” said one voice, “if you would pull that old shoestring play on the opening play, you would score a touchdown right away.” “That’s nay kind of you to come in and tell me about this,” said the second voice, which Elmer recog- nized as hat of Coach Brown, “but I’m afraid.a play of this sort wouldn’t work against a veteran team like State.” “Oh, the stupidity of you football coaches makes me sick!” the first voice now exclaimed. “I saw Osceola high pull the shoestring play against Niles, and it was the most beautiful thing you ever saw. If you don’t pull it on State this afternoon, I’m off you for life.” “Well, thanks for dropping in,” said Coach Brown, “and many thanks for your tip.” q THE GREAT GAME 225 Elmer went back to his bench and continued putting j the finishing touches to his dressing. _ “What a lot of queer people there are in the world,” 1e thought. “Here is a man who is probably either a uccessful lawyer, a doctor, business man, salesman, r a barber; like as not he might be unsuccessful in is own line of work, and yet he takes it upon himself 0 instruct a professional and successful football coach, znd to do it just an hour before the big game of the year!” It was hard for Elmer to understand how Coach Brown held his temper so evenly under all these trying -onditions. But here Elmer’s reflections were broken; some one walked over and was standing by his side. He looked ip—it was Rip. “T have a note here from Ruth,” said Rip. ‘She aid they all met without any trouble and had lunch ogether. They’ll see us after the game on the mezza- uine. Estelle is in the party, and the setting is com- jlete. We're all ready, aren’t we, old boy?” Elmer tried to be nonchalant. “A football game is just a football game,” he began; out inwardly he was glad—glad that Estelle was pres- nt with his own people, to watch him make his su- sreme effort. Completely dressed Elmer went over to the rosin bag and smeared a quantity of rosin over his jersey, chest, and forearm, and on his pants. Dad Moore smeared a, lot of molasses over the front and forearm of the jer- sey of Berlin, as that young man still had a tendency 226 . FOUR WINNERS towards fumbling. This was not necessary in Elmer’s case, and he was glad, as the stuff was horribly sticky. Then—“Everybody out but the players!” called the coach, and the players all arranged themselves in Py circle on the floor. The only ones allowed to remain were three old alumni—three successful business men, whose hobby was football—enthusiasts for the school and the team. They always worked with the coach in every way, and were of invaluable assistance in getting points of view or impressions across to the players. In- variably, they were afraid the team was going to lose and it was because of this gloom complex that the coach always insisted that they be around the team before the game and sit with him on the bench. With the team now gathered in a circle before him, the coach named the opening line-up—the same line-up that had started the game against Aksarben. — “You're all a little bit too nervous and high strung,” he said. “You’re too over-anxious, and that means you're going to be off-side a lot; and that means pen- alties. Let’s relax just a little physically, without re- laxing mentally. We're going to play a kicking game today, and lay for the breaks. That means we will have to present an impenetrable defense. I’m going to review just a few points that we’ve been going over during the last few weeks, just to make sure that these ideas are all positively clear in our minds. “When State uses close formation, I want our ends in there a mile a minute smashing up the formation before it gets a chance to get started. I want the de- fensive tackles roving around in and out so that the THE GREAT GAME 297 State quarterback can’t tell where to expect to find you. I want the defensive guards submarining down under- neath, all afternoon, so that the State line can’t lift you. But don’t play ostrich, or think that for the time being you are a Mohammedan. Never go flat to your stom- ach. On your second reaction get your head up and have your arms free so that when the man carrying the ball gets near you, you can grab him. “You defensive center and fullback, you must keep roving around, must keep moving, so the State quarter- back can’t tell where to find you either. But be at the ight place when the ball is snapped. Don’t hesitate. Ren and analyze at the same time and meet every play with all the punch, force, and determination you can put into it.” _ He turned next to the defensive halfbacks. “You ik responsible mostly for passes,” he told them. “Keep talking to each other on defense and keep in contact—know what the other fellow is going to do. ‘Defensive quarterback is responsible for any sneakers, like the shoestring play, where one man will hide out on the sidelines. Every man must be alert every instant, but relax physically whenever you can. Indomitable spirit, irrepressible fight, and an active mind—those are the things that win! No matter what happens, every man must keep saying to himself, ‘We Will Win.’ I want no one talking to the officials except Captain Ruggles. This is going to be a fierce contest, but I don’t want any Dulac man to do anything that isn’t fair or within the rules. . “But let’s play it hard, boys—there’s nothing in the | 228 | FOUR WINNERS rules against playing the game hard, so hard, in fact, that some of the State boys will begin to think of home, mother, and the sidelines. As the game wears. on, youre going to get tired; you’re going to be bruised; you’re going to feel all in; but that’s the time | to figure that the boys on the Sve team feel exactly the same—then nothing else counts but guts. Is there | anything you want to say, Rip? This is the last game for you, too, Credon, Jones, Higgins, and Kerr.” “Nothing except this,” said Rip and his eyes blazed, , and his jaw protruded “this is the last game I’ll ever” play for old Dulac. We’ve been a lot of pals together all fall, and we’ve played together, have had a lot of fun together, have studied together, and have fought together. This is the last game for Higgins, Kerr, Credon, and Jones. I know how they feel—they’re going out there to give all they have. But how about the rest of you fellows? Are you going out with us, to be one of us, so that regardless of what happens we can hold our heads high and proud?” “We are,” they all chorused; and the heart of every man there contracted with the impact of that promise. “Then, let’s go,” said Rip. And the Dulac team) stormed out of the door. k As they lined up in the runway of the big stadium, Rip pressed a note into Elmer’s hand. On a piece of hotel paper was scrawled in the handwriting of his father, which he knew so well, these words, “Good luck, Mother and Dad.” He felt the tears swelling in his eyes; but an instant later he was sprinting in through the gate and on to the gridiron, with his team- THE GREAT GAME 229 mates, and everything was forgotten but the game at hand. Up and down the field they went, until the ‘perspiration began to appear on their foreheads. Then to the sidelines, the whole team, except the kickers and receivers. Jones sent a half dozen kicks soaring fifty to sixty- five yards, down the field. Elmer watched each one of them right into his arms, with never a trace of fumbling or bobbling. His powers of concentration were so in- tensified that he could not have taken his eyes off the ball if he wanted to. Then he walked over to the sidelines, and sat down beside Coach Brown. “What’s the last word?” “There’s nothing more that I can tell you now, noth- ing that will be of any help. Meet conditions as they arise, on your Own initiative, and if you get behind, don’t be discouraged. You have resourcefulness and T have every confidence that you can outwit these other fellows.” Rip came running off the field at this moment. “We've won the toss, and are kicking off.” The three shook hands, and out the players went. Taking the ball from the referee, Elmer held it on the ground with one finger for Jones, who was kicking off. “Who'll make the first tackle?” called out Captain Rip; and as Elmer glanced around he could see that his ten teammates were like ten race horses, straining at the leash. “Are you ready, Captain Hughes? Are you ready, Captain Ruggles?” 230 3 FOUR WINNERS The referee’s whistle sounded, and an instant ig Jones sent the ball soaring far over the goal line. The game had actually begun. Ten Dulac men went sprinting down the field, but. Elmer had to stay back as safety. The ball was brought to the twenty yard line, a State player having ‘ touched it for a touchback. State lined up in slosell formation, but Elmer still stayed back, almost forty yards, as ie knew that even from close formation his_ friend Hunk Hughes could punt over fifty yards. } But there were no punts coming. Driving right through the tackles and guards and center, the irre-_ sistible golden avalanche from State rolled up the field. Three to five yards a down they came. : “We'll stop them as soon as they get to our thirty yard line,” thought Elmer. But there was no stopping © them on the thirty yard line. Once Renfrew was held > for no gain, but on the next play Hughes plunged right - over the Dulac left guard for nine yards, landing squarely on his nose, so terrific had been his forward — impetus. Elmer called the signal which changed the defengal to the square formation. He, himself, who was sup-— posed to be back playing safety, found himself up al-_ most on the line of scrimmage, tackling with every ounce of energy that was in him. Still they came on irresistibly pushing the lighter Dulac team before’ them. Straight to the one yard line—State’s ball on the one yard line, first down, four tries to make a touchdown! Elmer called for time out. The Dulac boys gathered around him in a circle. | THE GREAT GAME 231 ip had one eye partly closed, his face was so dirty he was almost unrecognizable, and he was sobbing softly. The little one hundred and sixty pound left guard was proggy; already it was apparent that he was all in. ‘The rest of the team were dazed and battered from the terrific storm which had hit them. At that instant out came the only two hundred pounder on the Dulac team, to replace the gallant little left guard who was led to the sidelines, incoherently muttering that “it wasn’t fair’—he wanted to be in there “when the ball was kicked off.” | _ “We've got to hold them here or we're licked,” said Rip to the other nine teammates, the incoming player being still over to one side, as the rules were quite clear that an incoming substitute was not allowed to com- municate with his teammates until one play had elapsed. - “T'll move up to the line of scrimmage,” suggested Jones, “making an eight-man line. I'll get between you, Rip, and the tackle. They may not recognize this point, and one of us ought to slip through the line every time.” “Good,” said Rip, “let’s go back, boys, because if we don’t hold them here we’re licked—so let’s hold them.” The time being up the referee blew his whistle and both teams lined up again. “We're going to score right through you, Ruggles,” said the State quarterback. “T dare you to,” replied the indomitable Rip, as the State quarterback began barking his numbers. Just before the ball was snapped Jones unobtrusively 232 | FOUR WINNERS and unobservedly slipped up to the line between Rip and the tackle. The ball was snapped and the two lines met and for the first time that afternoon the Dulac line, rising to emotional heights, held the giant State line even. But even so, the preponderance of power of the great State backfield must have been such that it would surely have carried them across the goal - line, had not Jones slipped through and with his legs” well under him met the hard driving Hunk Hughes squarely on the shoulder and tackled him for no gain. As the two teams scrambled from the ground there was a dazed look in the eyes of the entire State team. Elmer moved up alongside Jones and whispered, “They’re watching you now, so you stay back and Pll creep up in your place this time.” At exactly the same spot the State quarterback again sent Hunk Hughes; and this time it was Elmer who slipped through and tackled him for less than six inches gain. Lying under the immense pile, Elmer looked © right up into the sweating boyish face of his old friend, Hunk—‘“Well, you didn’t make it that time, old boy.” “Gee whiz, where did you come from?” } A little bit dazed from the shock of the impact, Elmer now lined up back in his usual position. As_ the State quarterback, looking over the entire Dulac team, was trying to analyze what new angle there was in the Dulac defense, Elmer walked over and patted Jones on the back, and as he did so, he turned his head and whispered back to Credon, “It’s your turn to go up on the line between the left guard and tackle.” Once more the trick worked, the guess was correct; THE GREAT GAME 233 the State quarter this time sent Renfrew plunging through the opposite side of the line, only to be met by redon just before he got to the line of scrimmage. It was fourth down, and still one yard to go. As they were lining up, Elmer whispered into the ears of Miller, Jones, and Credon, “Look out for a forward pass this time, boys; we'll have to stay back.” _ The morale of the Dulac line had risen one hundred per cent. in the last three downs, and on the next play they stopped Renfrew without gain, mainly, however, because the State quarterback made the mistake of shooting the play directly at Rip. The Dulac team had held them for four downs when it seemed an im- possibility. It was now their ball. _ “Punt formation,” called Elmer, and as Jones went back in the kicking position Elmer took his place as the second man in the tandem on the right. State played their center over to the strong side and their fullback came over to the weak side. Elmer had an impulse te call for a plunge through center, or for a forward pass; however, he stifled the impulse as he realized that their entire safety here depended on a long kick up the field. _ “Ends in tight,” he called and the two ends, who were out wide, lined up close to the tackles so as to help them keep out the fullback and the center who were trying to crash in the flanks. As Elmer was calling the signals, he sauntered back towards Jones. “Jonesey, old boy, you'll have to kick it out of bounds.” Faultlessly the center passed the ball back to Jones, and, as Elmer picked himself off the ground 234 , FOUR WINNERS after having blocked the big tackle coming through, he found that Jones had sent a wonderful punt down the field, which rolled out of bounds after having trave eled sixty-six yards. “Well, that wins the game for us,” said Rip to his teammates as they were lined up on defense. “Now let’s take the ball away from them, and we'll march for a touchdown.” But his prediction was not true. Stung to the quid by the unexpected resistance offered at the goal line, the State team now began to hit, if anything, even harder than before. Straight down the field they came for a second march. No deception—no doubt as to who had the ball or where he was going, as the quarter- back headed every play. It was simply irresistible power. Three and five yards at a down they came, straight to the eight yard line. At this point Hunk Hughes went crashing off tackle and though both Credon and Elmer tackled him, he had so powerful a leg drive that he shook them both off and rolled across the goal line clear for the first touchdown. Elmer felt his heart sink as they lined up between the goal posts, while the State team was making its effort to score the extra point. j “At this rate,’ he thought, “they will beat us twenty-eight or thirty points. My, what a team!” Renfrew place-kicked the ball squarely between the goal posts and the score stood seven to nothing. | “What shall I do?” asked Rip of Elmer. “Kick off to them,” said Elmer. “If they can march THE GREAT GAME — 235 ighty yards against us again, we can’t beat them no natter what we do. Our only hope lies in letting them ave the ball and tiring themselves out.’ _ Again Jones kicked the ball across the goal line, but n instant after he had done so the official time-keeper innounced the end of the quarter and both teams hanged goals. Now the State team started up the ield, five and six yards at a try, reaching Dulac’s forty rard line before the first break of the game occurred. Renfrew fumbled, and like a flash, Kerr, Dulac’s left nd, pounced on it. It was a lucky break for Dulac, s her morale was in suspense. “Tf they had marched for one more touchdown,” hought Elmer, “there’s no telling how many they vould have romped on to during the rest of the game.” On the first play, Elmer called Credon off-tackle, put he failed to gain. Elmer then tried the other side, ind found that State’s right tackle was just as relent- ess a driver, and Miller lost a yard—making it third lown. He heard Hunk Hughes warning his teammates bout the forward pass, so he lined up on punt forma- ion and called for a punt. Standing on his own thirty vard line, Jones got away a beautiful punt which rolled ut of bounds on the fifteen yard line. Elmer again locked the big tackle who was coming through trying o block the punt, and this time he felt a twinge of ain in his side as he charged into the big hulk of hu- nanity which was on its way to the kicker. How- ver, he felt no after effects, but got up, and jogging lown the field, slapped Jones on the back. “That’s the greatest kicking you’ve ever done in 236 | FOUR WINNERS your life, old boy! If we can get a few breaks, we'll win this game yet.” ) The State team kicked on first down and as Elmer caught the punt in midfield, despite the fact that he was thrown heavily to the ground by the State end, he laughed to himself. He would win; he would be victorious; he knew what he would do. From his present advantageous position he could keep running two plays, and with Jones kicking as well as he was, he would keep State in a hole the remaining half. Then in the second half he would open up with his passes and there was still a chance that they could show up well. And this was just exactly what hap- pened. For some reason State now played a kicking game. Elmer would run off two plays as slowly as he could, and then on third down Jones would punt it back to State again. The half ended with the ball in Dulac’s possession in the middle of the field. As Elmer sat down in the dressing room between the halves he felt that same twinge of pain in his side again, but it was gone in an instant. For seven or eight minutes the entire Dulac team, tired, battered, and bruised, lay at full length, resting up for the next half. Coach Brown came over and knelt down beside Elmer. “Our only chance is to forward pass as soon as we get the ball next half, Elmer, because if State starts that offense of theirs again they’ll simply push us off the field. Coach Smith will probably tell his quarter- back to do this and I don’t believe you'll find them making the mistake this next half of playing the kick- THE GREAT GAME 237 ing game with us. So take a chance; throw a flock of forward passes. They are our only hope.” As the State captain had the choice at the start of the second half, he chose to receive. “Gosh, if they march for a touchdown,” thought El- mer, “it’s all off with us. We'll have to play for a break.” Now almost entirely recuperated, and full of fresh vim and vigor, the Dulac team lined up, talking it up, and full of aggressive spirit. For the third time that day, Jones on the kickoff, sent the ball far over the goal line. “Well, they have eighty yards to go,” thought Elmer to himself, “and it’s a long way.” Starting on her own twenty yard line, again the State team moved up the field, at a pace and with a power that made the Dulac line seem helpless to resist them. As they got to midfield, however, again Dulac got a break. With second down, five yards to go, Hunk Hughes started for the line and stumbled; before he could recover his feet he was downed by three or four blue-jerseyed athletes. “Third down, seven,” an- nounced the referee. “Move up close,’ whispered Elmer to all the backs, “but be alert for the forward pass which is sure to come as a result.” The State quarterback pondered for an instant—saw how close all the Dulac backs were and began calling his numbers. “Signals,” Hunk Hughes sang out,—again the State quarterback gave his numbers; and once more Hunk bellowed, “signals!” 938 FOUR WINNERS They wrangled for an instant; then, as the State © quarterback repeated his numbers there was no inter- — ruption. Straight back to Hunk Hughes came the ball, — and Hunk faded back and to one side. Elmer saw that — the State left end had got by Miller and was streaking towards him. Elmer was dropping back to cover him, as he saw the ball launched into the air. He relaxed and coiled himself, and at just the right time he jumped as high into the air as he could, though he could feel the body of the State end bump alongside him. Extending himself to the utmost, Elmer felt the ball hit his fingers, and he pushed it as hard as he could to one © side. The next instant he was lying flat on his back — with the State end on top of him. The wind was entirely knocked out of him. It was a queer sensation. Rip called for time and Dad Moore ran out from the sidelines, thumped him on the back a few times, wiped his face, and Elmer felt himself again. “Dulae’s ball, first down,’ announced the referee, — waving his arms towards Dulac’s goal. “What happened?” asked Elmer, turning to his teammates. “Why, you knocked the ball right into my arms,” said Miller, “so it’s our ball.” | “Another break in our favor,” thought Elmer; and — taking stock of the situation, he saw that they had the ball on their own twenty-five yard line. “49, 57, 18, 42,”—they shifted to the right, Elmer — took the ball from center, and made as if he were giving it to Jones, who plunged right into the line. But Elmer © THE GREAT GAME 239 had not given the ball to Jones, he still held it himself, and taking several steps back until he was sure he was five yards behind the line of scrimmage, he turned and whipped the ball straight up the middle of the field, right into the arms of Kerr, the left end, who had run in behind Renfrew. Renfrew had been sucked up into the line, and Kerr would have gone for a long gain, but for a spectacular tackle by Hunk Hughes. Jones was hurt in the play and time was taken out. The injury proved to be only a painful wrench of the ankle, which caused Jones to limp during the rest of the game. The ball was now in midfield; the first play had gained thirty yards. “What to play?” “Never mind about any line plunges,” Elmer heard Hunk Hughes call to Renfrew. “Our line can stop them. Lay back, Renfrew, for passes.” So on the next play Elmer shot Jones into the line. Two yards was the best that Jones could gain, and next he called on Credon to run tackle. There was no gain on this play, so Elmer tried a trick play which was smothered by the hard charging State line. “Fourth down, ten,” announced the referee. “T’m afraid you'll have to punt,” said Jones. “TI can run on my ankle, but I’m afraid I can’t kick at all with ite, So they lined up on punt formation, with Elmer back in the kicker’s position. Elmer was now standing on his own forty yard line. He ran over in his mind quickly the various angles to the situation. He could punt forty yards only, which 240 | FOUR WINNERS would mean that State would get the ball on about their twenty or twenty five yard line, and then, of © course, State would come back again with that same offensive. The light Dulac line were not superhuman, and the chances were that they would go to pieces any minute, beaten right into the ground. Quickly he made his decision, called his numbers, and the next instant found the ball in his arms. Going through all the preliminary motions of a punt, he stopped just before the completion, checked the ball, and whirled it straight into the arms of Miller, the : halfback, just beyond the line of scrimmage. Thirty yards up the field was Hunk Hughes, thinking a punt was coming and as a result chasing and trying to block the Dulac right end. He had been caught en- tirely napping. Down the field like a flash went Miller, and with a beautiful sidestep he swept by Hughes, and Elmer, coming up the field, could see all the disap- pointment and surprise in Hunk’s face as he sprawled — on the ground clutching frantically at the empty air. The Dulac right end interfered with the State quarter- — back just enough so that Miller outsprinted him for the goal line. It was a touchdown!—Dulac’s first touchdown! There was exultation in Elmer’s heart, and his feet, which the minute previous had been heavy and leaden, were now light and full of spring. Dulac lined up on the five yard line to make their extra point. ‘You'd better try it yourself,” said Jones. — “My ankle is getting weaker every minute”; and so with Jones holding the ball, Elmer essayed the place THE GREAT GAME 241 kick. His leg, however, instead of inscribing the ver- tical arc, had a little lateral motion to it and the ball swung to one side of the posts. Elmer was so out- raged he was helpless. The score board read State seven, Dulac six. The loud cheering in the Dulac sec- tions had died down, and there was renewed activity in the State sections. The State captain elected to kickoff. Elmer felt him- self growing moody and despondent as he walked back to receive the kickoff. ‘Here I had the chance to tie ‘the score and missed it! Here I had the chance—just a measly little place kick, and I botched it!” He be- rated himself unmercifully as he looked over toward the sidelines, and there, as clear as a photograph, he could see the face of Coach Smith looking out his way, and laughing uproariously. Instantly all the despon- dency and gloom was gone—in its place came a flame of vigor and determination. He fought with himself to stay cool and found it difficult. Renfrew kicked off for State, and failing to be ac- ‘curate, the ball curved to the left and was caught by Kerr, Dulac’s left end. Without hesitation, Kerr started forward, and covered ten yards before he was downed on the thirty-five yard line. Elmer called his numbers and shifted to the right, the same play that he had tried earlier so successfully, a fake line plunge, followed by a pass to Kerr. But this time it failed to work. Renfrew covered Kerr and al- most intercepted the pass. First an end run, and then a trick play failed to gain; so Elmer decided to drop back and punt. He punted 242 | FOUR WINNERS forty yards. The State quarterback was tackled in his tracks by Kerr, who was playing the game of his life. To his surprise, Elmer now saw State introduce the complex part of its offense—double passes, triple passes, spinner plays. Yet, for some reason or other, this stuff failed to work. The Dulac team watched the quarterback closely ; it seemed impossible for the State team to get going again. After several exchanges of kicks in the fourth quarter, State even tried the fake reverse play. Even that failed to gain. The fire seemed to have gone out of State’s offense, and as the game drew towards a close it was evident to Elmer that Dulac’s opponents were already becoming satis- fied with their one point margin. In desperation, Elmer, when Dulac had the ball, tried one or two long passes, fifty yards in length, but these were either incomplete or intercepted. Standing on his own forty yard line, first down, ten, Elmer was perplexed as to what to try. The line was still in there, doggedly doing the best they could. He turned around and looked at his own backfield; but only Credon was in any shape to do himself justice. Jones’ ankle was paining so badly that he could hardly run at all. Miller had absorbed an awful lot of punishment, and there was a dazed look in his eyes—he was out there, but that was about all. There was no use calling on Credon to carry the ball, since neither Miller nor Jones were able to furnish any interference. The kicking game would get him nowhere. The forward passing game was not the thing, as State’s backfield men were lying back waiting for them. State’s ends, who in the first THE GREAT GAME 243 part of the game had been playing rather wide, were now playing closely, and smashing. Elmer determined to use himself. He called the numbers; they shifted to the right. He took the ball from center and gave it to Jones, who plunged into the line for no gain. Again Elmer called out his numbers; they shifted to the right again; and once more Elmer, the same as before, apparently gave the ball to Jones—but in actuality, hid it for an in- stant, then went sprinting around the State end who had been sucked in. A new flash of exultation swept through Elmer’s breast, but it was short lived. The next instant some- thing hit him, and he was down with a dull thud. Looking up, he saw the face of his old friend, Hunk. It was Hunk who had spoiled the run. The joy of victory was in Hunk’s eyes. “T hated to do it, Elmer, but we’ve got to win this game,” he said as he got up. As Elmer stood to his feet he found that he ached In every joint. He suddenly felt tired,—listless; what was the use? State had too good a team and Dulac had already made a far better showing than her friends had any right to expect. He turned to the referee. ‘How much time left to play?” “A minute and thirty seconds.” “Punt formation,” called Elmer. He was close to the side where the State bench was situated. As he stood back in kicker’s position his eyes rolled over to the bench and to his surprise and 244 : FOUR WINNERS anger, he saw Coach Smith with his hand cupped, call- ing out to his backfield men. It must have been that the referee looked over at exactly the same time, be- cause he instantly walked up and picking up the ball, announced. “Fifteen yards, penalty. Coach Smith coaching from the side line.” And picking up the ball he carried it fifteen yards, which placed the ball on State’s forty-five yard line. Out on the field came the furious Smith. He was so enraged that his face was livid. Up to the referee he came, shaking his finger. “What are you trying to do, give Dulac the game? Why don’t you make them earn what they get?” “Fifteen more yards for coming on the field without permission,” said the referee. “This is the last time you’ll ever work in a State game,” bellowed Smith. “T’ll make it so hot you'll never get any games refereeing around this part of the country again.” “Tf you don’t get off the field real quick, and keep quiet, I’ll make it fifteen more,” said the referee, ap- parently unperturbed. Smith stopped talking at once and sullenly made his way back to the sidelines. The ball now rested on State’s thirty-yard line— though quite a bit over toward the sidelines. “Call on everything you have,” whispered Elmer to Miller, “and try to get tackled in the middle of the field. I want to try a place kick on the next play.” Drawing on all his reserve strength, Miller sprinted around the end, and though he gained only a yard he had put the ball in fine position for a place kick. THE GREAT GAME 245 “Well, Jonesey, Pll put it up to you. Don’t you hink, you can take that leg of yours and forget about our bad ankle for just about two or three seconds?” “T wish I could,” said Jones, “but it’s absolutely im- ossible. Ill hold the ball, and you kick it.” Just then Elmer heard a voice: ‘Referee, I’m taking ones’ place at fullback,” and turning around he rec- gnized Berlin. With tears streaming down his cheeks, Jones hobbled off the field, carrying with him the congratulations of is teammates. Leaning down, exactly on State’s forty yard line, Imer signaled Berlin back to the kicker’s position. They were in place-kick formation. Just at that in- a out came a substitute from the State bench who eplaced Renfrew at fullback. “What was that for, I wonder?” said Elmer to him- self. “It’s fourth down, ten—about all we can do is kick.” And as the referee blew his whistle announcing that play might start, Elmer began calling numbers de- noting a kick. But as he did so, he noticed the State fullback sneak up on to the line between the guard and tackle on his left side. Quick as a flash Elmer weighed the facts. A forty yard place-kick was too far for Berlin. He was only accurate on short place kicks inside the twenty-five yard line. _ Elmer kept on calling out numbers, and the whole team was quivering, waiting for the snap signal, when suddenly, he interjected the check number—thirty- } 3 a SS 246 | FOUR WINNERS three. This check number, thirty-three, meant that all numbers called previously were null and void and that new numbers denoting a new play were forthcoming. . There was not a sign on Elmer’s face that he had seen anything or that there had been any change in his plans. Quickly he called the numbers, “45, 54, 69.” Back came the ball, but before it reached him Elmer had risen up and catching it cleanly, dropped back into the right, several yards. The State left end change his course, stopped, and stood still until it was too late —he was evidently expecting Elmer to try to run around him. Throwing the ball straight over his shoulder Elmer sailed a bullet-like pass right into the arms of Miller, who, after a short delay had run right into the terri- tory vacated by the new defensive fullback. With the ease and grace of an outfielder in the big leagues, Miller got the ball, sidestepped the State quarterback, and was over the goal line. Elmer could hardly believe it. He had acted more on impulse than anything else. He could still hardly believe it was true, even when Credon kicked the extra point, and the score board read, Dulac thirteen, State seven. Dulac was ahead! State elected to receive and Elmer himself, kicking _ off, purposely kicked short so that time would be con- sumed. Sure enough, just as the State tackle who re- ceived the kickoff was downed, there came a sharp crack of the referee’s pistol, and the next instant the crowd was all over the field. Dulac had won! Dulac had beaten State! THE GREAT GAME 247 Fighting himself clear from some delirious Dulac ooters who insisted on carrying him on their shoulders, Elmer worked himself to one side and finally got to the dressing room. There, through a strange coinci- dence, the very first player he met was Hunk Hughes. The two old chums rushed together to shake hands. No game or contest could come between their friend- ship. “Well, we beat you,” said Elmer, “but you sure had ye better team.” / “Oh, I don’t know about that,” said Hunk, “but I want to congratulate you. You certainly think too quickly for us. And I guess you’re right about Coach Smith—I want to apologize for his actions this after- noon.” “No apologies necessary,’ Elmer laughed. “He won the game for us!” “Well, I’ve got to congratulate you, Elmer, on the fine team you’ve got—a wonderful bunch of boys.” “The same to you—and say, Hunk, I'll see you up at the hotel this evening, won’t I?” After his shower bath, as Elmer was putting on his street clothes he was surprised to feel no particular spirit of exultation, after all his years of preparation for this greatest event of his life. True, he found a certain sense of satisfaction in the victory; but that was all. He felt sorry for the State team and for Hunk Hughes, his old friend; and he even felt sorry for Coach Smith. He began to see things more at their true value; he began to realize that a football game is just a football game, and not a thing of vital importance after all. He 248 FOUR WINNERS found that what he imagined was hatred for Coach Smith had been purely boyish emotion, and that it had grown simply because he had made no attempt to check it. He realized now that he no longer hated Coach Smith,—the idea was absurd!—and that so far as aver- age human beings go, Coach Smith, after all, was not such a bad fellow. He was a man with certain frail- ties—but no one is perfect. As Elmer and Rip walked up the street toward the hotel a few minutes later, there was no gloating or “crowing” in their hearts; even the exhilaration which had carried them through the game, was gone. A com- fortable sense of satisfaction, that comes from duty well done, of a task well performed—this was the sum total of the boys’ feelings. As Elmer sat at the dinner table a little later in the evening he relaxed and felt happy, quietly happy in a new and restful way. He felt happy because of his parents, who seemed to take such a keen pride in his achievements; because of the good friends he had made, worthwhile friends; because those in whom he was most interested were sitting around the same table with him now, happy with him. His parents were there, Estelle was there, and Ruth, Ruth’s mother, and Rip’s father and mother, old Pro- fessor Noon—they were all there. The crowd was a jolly one, in an extremely Joyous mood. But to Elmer Estelle seemed shy and a little remote, a little far away. Where the others in their congratulations had been profuse, she had been very brief and rather de- tached. Only once during the course of the dinner did THE GREAT GAME 249 he catch her eye. She smiled sweetly, then, but Elmer couldn’t quite tell whether it was a smile for himself or for his mother who sat next to him. There was a lull in the conversation while they were waiting for their coffee. | “Well, now that you have achieved your ambition in athletics, my dear Elmer,” said Professor Noon, “and with your scholastic work of such a calibre that I be- lheve I can safely say you will be graduated in June, what new worlds are you geing out to conquer? Come, speak up a bit; you’ve been too quiet and reserved down there all evening.” | “I’m just tired out, I guess,” Elmer answered; T hope you'll pardon my quietness this evening. Bu I have a little good news that I know will interest you. ‘I had a talk just before dinner with Coach Brown and his friend, Judge Sommers—you know he’s the biggest lawyer in town; and what do you think?—this sum- mer I can go into the Judge’s law office to take a posi- ‘tion which I hope will be permanent. And more than ‘that, Coach Brown has seen the authorities at Dulac and has carte blanche to offer me a position as assistant coach next fall at a good salary. The coaching work won’t interfere with my law work in any way.” _ Here Elmer’s father spoke up. “Yes,” he said, “it’s jall true—and of course Elmer’s mother and I are ae especially about the chance to go with Judge Sommers. = 7) c wu > = =) Ppt a 9b ; Sivpadadenhalichreaeee-hodaiegas bath aul AS fale ca BY a UL De lp — ahh eden sh | ehh oh hE L ep re ¢ hale in PaCAe UBmnineue higadiadie pied mi pag etiam ah a " nto ib ek Shu-uatnbeenbahaeiBobe-gel bags neee , ee ee BNE R SAAR N= ah oy ne ASS : ai nptinls gednivnirr itll nh if jejapasbeneyn en sel os mics Be abi ion) Ahad, Pj ak AWS pn aia dna tap eR whekot Peta ne PV Ri RES Ai) BR OGD 6 VAIS Af. 28h 9 Ente Sod font me tid hcaniabob ania Fey eet hy Apa bOl RMA ERE WP yn pelea we Poe ee ohh amy - mica adhe Palen Fa aT ay ae PEW BO te Btwn UR eel Akin SGA IR 9 he ata nines cpsiarrt a8 NA oS -afbsfimiicey.chingrmd niga é Se ee lone git TAR i Aah aE RBS th OR ao Korth 8s hyped viel) sang alin teat .ntrnageierc ooo - . mien pth. Fae i ned eis Leo LODO LA TOR ah Mime hn ohn Lbs Anumaskel chal ie td ert do TADS Ie hooky A SEMPRE Mo tS MAM oll date Bar tee (a) cik . cet AAS HC NOE ap A hte Got eS Ga Rent ohn Aap Serer cut Se tee Tere eae, Stier oa enna wed sin - OB GRE R re eth GREK Made (aM Mtognis, be 342K (jae york ayachojh>pateee sew yb esl gateaes he Pa EE oe HAG Re eR = AAPA AG Ghee) Fey iran 4 sa ed reine ie Ais PM Pe Toe Pn kr - “ ~ STADE om oR fl Rh aoe rpm eket afait + aGntat ob hal tethrPefes—toway ay, indlinnduaepe ee Sa eed Healt ot gh EOD od af). 4 OB tie het orracte to. 4 ps 0h peep at YY aims ame Ko ee ey ee ee ee en a jeri abe pneleteue eee wea te a b ® eens