THE GREAT VICTORY--CONCLUSION
During the ten-minute intermission there was the wildest sort of
excitement all through the crowds of spectators. Of course the Columbia
backers were wrought up into almost hysterical delight. They had hoped
to hold their own, but the fact that their team had scored two goals to
Clifford's none was almost too good to be true. Clifford stock took a
great tumble about then. All they were hoping for now was a tie.
Lef Seller, who had been openly boasting of what would happen to
Columbia, found himself in a fight with an indignant and disgusted
fellow student, who accused him of rank treachery. They kept at it,
hammer and tongs, until Chief Hogg drew the attention of the sheriff
to this infraction of the peace of the community, with the result that
the two fellows with discolored optics were carried off to cool in the
Columbia lock-up until their fathers could come to the rescue.
"Time's up! There they go back to work! Now Clifford _do_ something!
Get together, boys, and give them some encouragement," and with that
the cheer squad from up the river started a song that had in times past
inspired their athletes to deeds of valor.
"They need some sort of tonic," jeered Buster, comfortably; "for what
Frank Allen and his husky fellows are doing to them this day is a
shame!"
It could be seen that Hastings had made a slight change, substituting
Hollingsworth for McQuirk, who had showed signs of being rattled in
his defense of the net. As for Columbia, there was not a face missing,
from Frank all down along the line. And a more determined lot of young
athletes certainly never faced one another than those hockey players
from the rival schools along the Harrapin.
Hastings had also determined on another change. He now stood up to open
play in place of Coots, who had failed to hold Frank more than a third
of the time. But it was Lanky Wallace who toed the mark there with the
captain of the Clifford seven; for Frank believed it good policy to
also make a change, since the enemy must by now be getting familiar
with his various dodges to gain possession of the puck.
Lanky was a swift dodger, and could evade being caught in a pinch
better than any other of the Columbia boys. He could also hold
possession of the puck in a way little short of marvelous, now
dribbling it along foot by foot, watching in every direction for an
aggressive play, and then tantalizingly shoving it forward as if to
bait the enemy, only to send it flying off when a hostile move was made.
Hastings lost the first set-to with Lanky. His men, however, were
now worked up to top-notch speed. They who had never as yet tasted
of defeat in hockey were now being apparently put in a hole by the
despised Columbia High Seven. It could be seen that they fought
wickedly to get the advantage.
Many times the game was called while the referee warned some of the
eager participants against reckless work. Sometimes it was one of
Frank's men thus taken to task; but three to one it was a Clifford
player; for in their furious efforts these fellows were continually
getting off-side, and even fouling.
It took over ten minutes for a goal to be shot. Then it was Clifford
that gained the point; but as their friends admitted, it had been the
hardest fought goal that ever came to them.
Of course Clifford colors waved frantically after this goal had been
won; but the Columbia cheers sounded above any noise the up-river
people could evoke. It seemed a battle of giants, and was the finest
thing they had ever seen, no matter which side eventually won.
Once more the battle was on, with Hastings getting the puck, and
running with it ten yards and more before he had to shoot it ahead.
Away flew the sprinters like the wind, rounding up with a furious swirl
as they headed off the spinning rubber, and the hockey sticks got busy
with their work.
Every one in the scrimmage did gallant work. When the roll of heroes
was made up at the end of the fight not a single name could be left
out. There were times when each member of both teams had his turn, and
many surprising and bewildering plays were worked with a celerity that
called forth involuntary cheers from the gaping crowds, irrespective of
which school profited from the wonderful maneuvering.
When fifteen minutes of the second half had gone a tremendous whirlwind
of cheers announced that Columbia had managed to get past the able
defense of Hollingsworth, and planted the puck in the net of the enemy.
Three to one! And only five minutes more for play!
No wonder Columbia stock went soaring at this point; and that each
player under Frank's able lead made up his mind to hold this advantage
to the end. The up-river fellows were wild with eagerness to get the
puck in motion, for every second lost counted with them now. Columbia
on the other hand, seemed in no hurry, though of course they did not
purposely try to delay the game.
When play had once more started the pace of Clifford was indeed
furious. Each member of her team seemed to be possessed with a fire
that could not be held in check. But on the other hand the Columbia
fellows did everything in their power to hold the puck away from their
goal, and many were the magnificent dashes intended to delay matters.
In two minutes the tide of battle had been carried so far that Hastings
himself shot the disc for the net. Ralph West, to be known under
his new name of Langworthy from this time forth, stood there as the
guardian of the interests of his school. And never was a trust more
worthily defended.
The puck came flying at him with furious speed; he dared not interpose
a part of his body lest he be taken to task by the watchful referee,
and a forfeit paid in the way of a goal. So it became necessary that he
use his hockey stick to advantage in the breach.
Then it was that the sure eye that had never failed Ralph in his
position on the baseball nine, and with his football comrades, came
into play. He interposed his stick with such faithful accuracy that the
puck was brought to a sudden halt, even as it was about to shoot into
the net. Then came a swift stroke that sent it caroming over the ice,
full fifty feet away, with a horde of eager skaters in pursuit.
"All over!" shouted Buster, standing on his toes to see the finish.
"All but the shouting!" echoed Jack Eastwick; for well did they know
that when that swift shot of Hastings headed for the Columbia net it
was high water mark in the Clifford advance.
And true enough, the heart seemed to be quite taken from the Clifford
seven after that failure of Hastings to make good. They fought on
doggedly, but lacked the vim and fire that they had so recently been
showing. With but two minutes left it was utterly out of the question
to dream of making the twin goals necessary to tie the score, let alone
enough to win out.
And presently the referee's whistle signified that the match had
reached its legitimate conclusion!
Columbia High had finished her most remarkable year in a blaze of
glory! Everything had indeed come her way that season, and it would
long remain as the most wonderful in all the history of the famous
institution.
Cheers immediately arose, and let it be said to the honor of Columbia
that the very first her sons and daughters put up were in honor of the
gallant Clifford team. Beaten they might be, and for the first time in
their history; but there was not an atom of disgrace attached to such a
defeat.
And that night it snowed--yes, fully a foot of the feathery stuff came
down ere it cleared again; and every fellow along the Harrapin declared
that even the weather had been in the conspiracy with Columbia that
year, since the storm held off until the last stirring victory had been
honorably won.
But though Frank Allen had led his comrades upon so many victorious
fields was no reason to believe that there would not appear other
valorous athletes in good old Columbia when he was far away in college,
earning his sheepskin. So long as that spirit reigned so long would new
leaders arise to carry the dearly-loved orange and purple to the front,
when rival schools sent their best to try conclusions with the boys of
Columbia High.
Columbia High still moves majestically on year after year, turning out
her graduating class of thirty-odd young people, and receiving twice as
many from the ranks of lower-graded schools. Professor Parke is still
in charge, and even honest old "Soggy" looks after the custody of the
buildings as of yore, while Mrs. Louden caters to the appetites of the
hungry hordes at intermission.
After those Christmas holidays Lef Seller gave our friends no more
trouble. That last disgrace, when he was arrested for brawling, and
locked up for three hours in the town headquarters, seemed to be the
last straw on the camel's back, so far as his father was concerned.
When Lef failed to return to school, inquiry developed the fact that
he had been sent away to a strict military establishment, where it was
hoped that he might be disciplined until perhaps he would see his duty
toward the father who had always been too indulgent toward him.
Columbia High did not weep, for while there were a few who would miss
the leadership of the scapegrace Lef, the balance of the community
could heave a sigh of relief. Many a time had his escapades set the
entire town in a whirl; and the citizens only hoped it would be a long
period ere his equal arose.
Lanky of course, took occasion the very afternoon of the victory over
Clifford, to skate up to the Baxter farm in order, as he claimed, to
make sure that the long-missing "Willie" was once again restored to the
bosom of his family.
He found a happy group, and Bill was already showing an intense
interest in the new farm, which he expected to help his father run.
And the rosy-cheeked Dora no doubted thanked Lanky for the part he had
taken in the restoration of her brother. At any rate, Lanky lingered so
long that the storm broke and they would not allow him to start home.
So he spent two very delightful days up at Baxter's. He, too, seemed to
take quite an interest in the farm, as though he contemplated changing
his avowed future vocation from that of a lawyer to a tiller of the
soil.
Ralph was now known by his new name. His mother purchased a lovely home
adjoining Columbia, and Ralph for the first time in all his tempestuous
life knew what it was to have such an abiding-place. Of course he and
Frank Allen would always be the best of chums; and Frank's pretty
sister was a loadstone that frequently drew young Langworthy to the
Allen house. Then there were Lanky and Paul, who shared the fond regard
of the others--the time would come doubtless when these boys might find
themselves scattered far and wide, in the various business pursuits
that must occupy their attention after they reached man's estate; but
they would never, never forget those glorious days when they fought
upon many a stubbornly contested field for the honor of good old
Columbia High.
THE END.