These was no moisture in the little easterly wind that blew across the field when Alton kicked off to Kenly, but the clouds were heavy and the afternoon was gray and chill. Lack of sunshine, however, had not affected the attendance. The stands were filled, the rows of settees from the gymnasium and chairs from the halls were occupied and the crowd spilled over the ground in large numbers and sat on rugs, newspapers, anything that would serve. Alton was present, Academy and town, and so to a lesser degree was Lakeville. Gray-and-gold banners, arm-bands and megaphones lighted one side of the field, the cherry-and-black of Kenly sprinkled the other. Earnest youths, white-sweatered, bareheaded, gesticulated and cavorted while rival cheers and songs rose to the sullen sky. At two o’clock, having won the toss, Kenly spread her warriors over the north end of the gridiron. Warriors they looked, too, rangy, broad-shouldered youths, red-sleeved, black-helmeted. Captain Jonas swung a sturdy leg and the ball rose in the air. But there were no tees that year and the pigskin’s flight was short and low. Alton’s backs Two plunges, with a tackle carrying, ripped the Alton line wide and made it first down almost in the middle of the field. But a third attempt was stopped short and a full-back smash on Wick yielded but two yards. Kenly shifted to the left and sent her quarter through Lowe for four more. Then, however, with four to go, Kenly had to punt. The effort, aided slightly by a gust of wind, was good for forty yards and dropped close to the side-line and into Storer’s arms. Nip made six before he was nailed by a Kenly end and the ball lay on the Alton twenty-one. Galvin tried the left wing from punting position but was unable to gain, and on the second down Storer kicked to the enemy’s forty-six where Dutch Kruger slammed the catcher to the earth. Time was taken out for Kenly while her quarter-back was ministered to. The Cherry-and-Black showed her system then. Using a shift she divided the attack and alternated the ball between the short and long side of the line, gaining first down on three plunges and again on four. Alton was puzzled by the method and had difficulty in finding the runner. The Kenly backs were heavy and, although they started slow and failed to get under full steam by the time they reached the line, they gained consistently. Gus Thomas was hurt and Dozier took his place at left That Alton was due to be scored on was fairly certain, and cherry-and-black banners waved wildly. One smash at the center of the defending team put Kenly on the twelve. Then, using the puzzling shift and split attack, the enemy right half charged past Haines and went to the three yards with Bert attached to his waist. It was Galvin who brought him down. It took two attempts to get the Kenly full-back across the goal line, but get there he did, choosing Captain Jonas as a final victim. Bert lined up under his goal post fuming at himself for not making a better tackle. If he had got lower that runner would never have reeled off nine yards. He should have stopped him well short of the five. Regrets, however, were vain, for there Again Captain Lowe booted the ball from midfield, and this time it sailed high and far and Savell and Haines were both ready for the catcher on his twelve yards and no amount of squirming could get him free. The whistle blew for the period then. Alton retreated slowly to the enemy’s twenty-six, and there Kenly punted. The kick went for only twenty-four yards and it was Storer who pulled it down and, with Ted Ball speeding ahead, eluded two of the enemy and carried back to Kenly’s thirty-six before he was smothered. On the first play Bert took the ball and tried a straight plunge past tackle, making a scant two. Galvin smashed into the left of the line for two more. Galvin then threw a forward-pass to the left and Storer missed it by inches. Storer went back to the forty-yard line and punted to the seven. Kenly let the ball roll over and lined up on her twenty. On the first play she was caught off-side and was set back. A fake kick with the punter sliding off Haines got four yards and then Kenly punted to Alton’s forty-three, Ball catching and coming back six. A sweep to the left, with Galvin carrying, netted seven, and the same play with Bert in possession added four more. Storer smashed out two through It was Walsh who ate his way by short, irresistible attacks on the enemy line from the eighteen yards to the seven, Walsh only once relieved by Galvin. The chain had to be dragged in to decide matters after the eighth down, but Alton was safe by a few inches. Storer went wide for a scant yard and left the ball nearly in front of the posts, with less than forty seconds of playing time left. Galvin retired to the fifteen-yard line, took the pass from Patten, faked a drop-kick and hurled straight past the right-hand goal post to Savell. Fitz, although apparently hopelessly surrounded by foes, pulled the pigskin down and went to earth four yards behind the line! Storer added a point from the try and Alton shouted frantically and loudly. Coach Cade For fifteen minutes the rival cheering sections entertained with song while anxious enthusiasts discussed past and future. So far neither team had shown an attack quite good enough to warrant implicit faith on the part of its friends. Kenly had actually gained more ground by rushing and had proved herself somewhat more irresistible than Alton, but no great advantage had been exhibited by either contender. So far as the final outcome was concerned, that first half might as well not have been played. Alton took the field again about as she had ended the second period, the only difference in her line-up being at right end where Chick had succeeded Savell. Kenly kicked off and Alton caught on her twelve yards and went to the sixteen before she was stopped. On three sweep plays Galvin and Storer made it first down on the twenty-eight. Galvin tried a long pass down the field, but Storer failed to get near it and the ball grounded. Walsh poked his way through the right for three yards and then was stopped behind his line for a loss of Lovell was thrown hard on his five-yard line and gave way to Ted Ball. Storer got free around left end and reeled off eight yards before he was thrown out of bounds. Walsh failed to gain in the line and Storer punted to Kenly’s forty where Chick nailed the catcher. On the first play Kenly fumbled and recovered for a seven-yard loss. An off-side penalty set her farther back and, after a sweep that was good for two yards, she punted to Storer on Alton’s forty-four. Galvin made three and then four more. Walsh was stopped for no gain, and with three to go on fourth down, Ball used a double-pass and sent Storer around left end for five. The third period ended. Bert went in and Walsh retired. On the first play from the Kenly twenty-seven Bert took the ball from Patten and shot around left end behind strong interference. Past the line, he was hit by a tackler and went down. But he rolled over, found his feet and went on again to the fifteen. There Ted Ball tried to kick the goal but sent the pigskin into the line instead, and Alton had to be satisfied with the six points. It sounded as though she was! Kenly kicked off to Howard who caught on the sixteen and plowed through a small army of opposing players to his twenty-two. Ted tried Number 14 for the second time and Galvin ripped through between guard and center on the left for twelve yards. Galvin got four more on the other side but was hurt and gave way to Couch. Dozier came around and slid off tackle for three and Kruger made the same trip for three more and first down on the Alton forty-five. Kenly broke through and stopped Storer for a loss. Ball scampered around the right for three and Bert added two off tackle on the other side of the line. Storer went back to the forty-two yards and faked a punt, throwing the pigskin far and to the right. Chick found no one to dispute his right to the ball, made a clean catch of it and went on along the side-line from the fifty to the twenty-six, where he was forced out. Kenly tried desperately to turn back the invasion This time Storer made the try and sent the pigskin neatly across, and the score-board proclaimed Kenly 7, Visitor 20, and Tommy Parish swallowed a peanut shell and almost choked! With less than three minutes left, Kenly substituted generously and Coach Cade made a few changes; Tate for Kruger—Dutch was about played out—, Tifton for Captain Lowe and Ness for Storer. Ness took the kick-off, was toppled where he caught and then ripped off eight yards past the Kenly left tackle. Kenly, although dismayed, fought desperately and two downs left the ball a half-foot short of the distance. Ted Ball sent the backs around the right and snaked a hidden ball over for the needed distance. Substitutes The Kenly safety man was almost on him when Chick got his fingers on the ball, but Chick was not to be stopped. Somehow he twisted himself aside, felt the tackler’s frantic hands slip away, staggered back and saw a clear field ahead. But pursuit was close behind him as he started away, pursuit composed of friend and foe jumbled confusedly. Perhaps Chick was thinking of the countenance framed on Johnny Cade’s mantel, perhaps he was remembering that here and now were his last moments of preparatory school football, perhaps he wasn’t thinking a thing but that thirty yards between him and the goal. That as may have been, he ran faster than he had ever run in his life in a football game. Behind him interference and attack met and dropped from the chase, but right to the last white line a red-and-black-legged No one cared a mite that Pete Ness fumbled the pass and so never had a chance to add a goal to that touchdown. Twenty-six points were enough! Not for years had Alton triumphed so signally over the ancient rival, and Alton made much of the victory. Over the field she marched, cheering, singing, throwing caps and megaphones aloft, while twilight gathered fast and the Kenly horde, standing with bared heads, sung the school song. The Alton players, heroes all, bobbed about on the shoulders of maniacal youths, Lum Patten with the scarred football clasped in triumph under one tattered gray sleeve. “I guess he’s got it by now,” mused Tommy Parish. “Some present, if you demander moi.” “No one has any idea of asking you, Tommy,” replied Bert. “As a matter of plain and unvarnished fact, it wasn’t so blame much of a present after all.” “What? Why wasn’t it?” exclaimed Tommy, outraged. “Well, was it? There are more than four hundred “Well, a lot of tightwads didn’t subscribe!” Tommy protested. “I know. That’s the answer.” “Shut up, you two,” grumbled Chick. “For Pete’s sake, Tommy, don’t you ever do any studying?” Tommy nodded and dropped a hand into a pocket. The nod wasn’t an emphatic nod, for he was undergoing an attack of boils just now, but its meaning was plain. “Sure, I have to study,” he replied untroubledly, “but I don’t believe in overdoing it. Say, Chick, don’t you think the wedding present we sent Johnny was all right?” “Of course it was. He’s got enough plated silver to last him a lifetime. Say, by the way, the wedding’s to-morrow, isn’t it?” Chick leaned back from the table and looked thoughtful. “Well, I hope he will be happy. That’s sure a nice girl he’s marrying!” Bert chuckled. “I believe you’re sweet on her yourself, Chick.” Chick grinned but made no denial. Tommy said: “Wish he’d change his mind and come back next year, though.” “He won’t,” said Chick positively. “You fellows will have some one else to boss you next fall.” “He won’t boss me,” said Tommy comfortably. “Say, Chick, what train you going on Wednesday?” “First one I can get. Why?” “Mind if I come along? I’m only taking a small bag home, so maybe I can help you with your stuff.” Chick shot an appealing look at Bert, but the latter only grinned and said: “Good scheme, Tommy. You New Yorkers must hang together. Maybe you can get Chick to play with you a bit during vacation!” Chick uttered a howl of rage. “Shut up, you dumb-bell! Tommy, for the love of lemons, beat it and let me study, won’t you?” “Sure!” Tommy bestowed a last lingering look of affection on Chick and ambled to the door. There, “Well, see you to-morrow!” he added cheerfully. “Heaven forbid!” moaned Chick devoutly under his breath. “Night, Bert.” Tommy almost vanished. Then, however, his round countenance came into view again. “Say, I almost forgot, fellows! Have some peanuts?” THE END Football and Baseball Stories Durably Bound. Illustrated. Colored Wrappers. In these up-to-the-minute, spirited genuine stories of boy life there is something which will appeal to every boy with the love of manliness, cleanness and sportsmanship in his heart.
Every boy wants to know how to play ball in the fairest and squarest way. These books about boys and baseball are full of wholesome and manly interest and information.
GROSSET & DUNLAP,Publishers,NEW YORK THE TOM SLADE BOOKS Author of “Roy Blakeley,” “Pee-wee Harris,” “Westy Martin,” Etc. Illustrated. Individual Picture Wrappers in Colors. “Let your boy grow up with Tom Slade,” is a suggestion which thousands of parents have followed during the past, with the result that the TOM SLADE BOOKS are the most popular boys’ books published today. They take Tom Slade through a series of typical boy adventures through his tenderfoot days as a scout, through his gallant days as an American doughboy in France, back to his old patrol and the old camp ground at Black Lake, and so on.
GROSSET & DUNLAP,Publishers,NEW YORK THE ROY BLAKELEY BOOKS Author of “Tom Slade,” “Pee-wee Harris,” “Westy Martin,” Etc. Illustrated. Picture Wrappers in Color. In the character and adventures of Roy Blakeley are typified the very essence of Boy life. He is a real boy, as real as Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. He is the moving spirit of the troop of Scouts of which he is a member, and the average boy has to go only a little way in the first book before Roy is the best friend he ever had, and he is willing to part with his best treasure to get the next book in the series.
GROSSET & DUNLAP,Publishers,NEW YORK THE PEE-WEE HARRIS BOOKS Author of “Tom Slade,” “Roy Blakeley,” “Westy Martin,” Etc. Illustrated. Individual Picture Wrappers in Color. All readers of the Tom Slade and the Roy Blakeley books are acquainted with Pee-wee Harris. These stories record the true facts concerning his size (what there is of it) and his heroism (such as it is), his voice, his clothes, his appetite, his friends, his enemies, his victims. Together with the thrilling narrative of how he foiled, baffled, circumvented and triumphed over everything and everybody (except where he failed) and how even when he failed he succeeded. The whole recorded in a series of screams and told with neither muffler nor cut-out.
GROSSET & DUNLAP,Publishers,NEW YORK THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS SERIES Handsomely Bound. Colored Wrappers. Illustrated. This series presents early American history in a manner that impresses the young readers. Because of George and Martha Washington Parke, two young descendants of the famous General Washington, these stories follow exactly the life of the great American, by means of playing they act the life of the Washingtons, both in battles and in society. Their thrilling battles and expeditions generally end in “punishment” lessons read by Mrs. Parke from the “Life of Washington.” The culprits listen intently, for this reading generally gives them new ideas for further games of Indian warfare and Colonists’ battles. The Davis children visit the Parke home and join zealously in the games of playing General Washington. So zealously, in fact, that little Jim almost loses his scalp. The children wage a fierce battle upon the roof of a hotel in New York City. Then, visiting the Davis home in Philadelphia, the patriotic Washingtons vanquish the Hessians on a battle-field in the empty lot back of the Davis property. After the school-house battle the Washingtons discover a band of gypsies camping near the back road to their homes and incidentally they secure the stolen horse which the gypsies had taken from the “butter and egg farmer” of the Parkes. They spend a pleasant summer on two adjoining farms in Vermont. During the voyage they try to capture a “frigate” but little Jim is caught and about to be punished by the Captain when his confederates hasten in and save him. GROSSET & DUNLAP,Publishers,NEW YORK THE TOM SWIFT SERIES Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrappers. Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. Tom Swift is a bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the most interesting kind of reading.
Grosset & Dunlap,Publishers,New York THE DON STURDY SERIES Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations by In company with his uncles, one a mighty hunter and the other a noted scientist, Don Sturdy travels far and wide, gaining much useful knowledge and meeting many thrilling adventures. An engrossing tale of the Sahara Desert, of encounters with wild animals and crafty Arabs. Don’s uncle, the hunter, took an order for some of the biggest snakes to be found in South America—to be delivered alive! A fascinating tale of exploration and adventure in the Valley of Kings in Egypt. A great polar blizzard nearly wrecks the airship of the explorers. An absorbing tale of adventures among the volcanoes of Alaska. This story is just full of exciting and fearful experiences on the sea. A thrilling story of adventure in darkest Africa. Don is carried over a mighty waterfall into the heart of gorilla land. GROSSET & DUNLAP,Publishers,NEW YORK THE RADIO BOYS SERIES (Trademark Registered) Author of the “Railroad Series,” Etc. Individual Colored Wrappers. Illustrated. A new series for boys giving full details of radio work, both in sending and receiving—telling how small and large amateur sets can be made and operated, and how some boys got a lot of fun and adventure out of what they did. Each volume from first to last is so thoroughly fascinating, so strictly up-to-date and accurate, we feel sure all lads will peruse them with great delight. Each volume has a Foreword by Jack Binns, the well-known radio expert.
GROSSET & DUNLAP,Publishers,NEW YORK Transcriber’s Notes: Except for the frontispiece, illustrations have been moved to follow the text that they illustrate, so the page number of the illustration may not match the page number in the Illustrations. Printer's, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected. Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. The author’s em-dash style has been retained. |