WHEN THE GREAT GAME OPENED
It must be Marshall's great field day, that was evident. Business
would be almost suspended while the game was in progress, only the
most necessary stores keeping open. The grandstand was already filled
to overflowing, newly arrived crowds trying to find seats anywhere
they could, but with small success. Those who had the affair in charge
must have underestimated the immense throng that would be attracted to
the field by the fine Fall weather, and the prospect of a rattling
good game.
As usually happens, the Chester crowds kept pretty much together. They
could be picked out as a rule by the swirl of waving school colors,
for every Chester girl and boy who had journeyed to Marshall to see
their team win the game, made sure to carry the favorite combination.
Of course Marshall did likewise, and as this was their home town, they
possibly outnumbered the Chester young people two to one. What they
lacked in numbers, however, the visitors seemed able to make up for in
noise. From time to time songs rang out over the field, that carried
the sentiments of the confident Chester girls, over there with the
sole purpose of encouraging their team to carry off the prize.
At one place a large number of boys from the other town seemed to be
gathered, and there was always something doing in that especial
quarter. Seated in the front rank was a lively little chap who carried
a tremendous megaphone. This fellow was no other than the redoubtable
Packy McGraw, Chester's cheer captain, who had done such yeoman
service during the baseball games in leading the pack to hurl defiance
at the enemy, and to encourage the home boys in every way possible.
When the humor seized Packy, or some stage in the game made such
action desirable, he would leap the barrier, and jumping up and down
like a harlequin in front of the bleacher benches, start his cohort
into a combined school yell that must make the hot blood leap through
the veins of everyone who called Chester his or her home town.
It was really a most inspiring sight, that immense gathering of
people, all filled with animation, and a desire to see one or the
other of the contesting teams carry the ball to goal and touchdown,
until the victory had been won.
The best, of course, was yet to come, when, game being called, every
eye would be riveted upon the figures in the arena, crouching like
wildcats ready to bound into life in concert.
While the necessary preliminaries were being attended to, and the
players were under close surveillance, naturally much of the talk
being indulged in was connected with their appearance.
Some seemed to be of the opinion that Marshall looked much stronger in
the way of beef and brawn. It was undoubtedly true that, taken as a
whole, the home players did outweigh the visitors. This might prove of
advantage to them in certain mass plays, where their machine could mow
down all opposition through sheer avoirdupois. But, on the other hand,
it is not always given to the heaviest team to win. Speed counts for
more than heft in many of the fiercest struggles that take place on
the gridiron; and a fellow who can run like the wind, and dodge all
interference, is more likely to bring his side success than the slower
and more stocky individual who lacks this advantage.
Mollie Skinner and her two chums sat there in the front row of the
grandstand where they could have an uninterrupted view of everything
that took place. They had come over very early, just to secure these
splendid seats, sacrificing their customary warm lunch, it seemed, for
each of them had brought a "snack" along, which they had calmly
devoured while waiting for the crowds to assemble.
They felt amply repaid, however, for they found themselves envied by
many who came later, and could not find a vacant seat. From where they
sat they could watch the two teams as they stood in clumps and chatted
and laughed, doubtless trying to appear quite unconcerned, for they
knew how a myriad of critical eyes must be focused on them just then.
"Well, what do you think of the boys now, Mollie?" demanded Lucy
Marsh, upon noticing that the little girl with the clever tongue was
observing the players critically.
"I tell you what's bothering me," Mollie hastened to say. "It's that
Big Bob Jeffries."
"Why, what ails him?" asked Adelaide in turn. "I always thought Bob
Jeffries was to be depended on any time he was needed. Remember how he
played in those ball games, and with never an error. Yes, and didn't
he knock out more than a few dandy two-baggers, with men on bases? Why
should you be worried about him, Mollie?"
"Really I don't know," came the puzzling reply; "only I've heard
several people say they didn't believe Big Bob could be feeling
himself. He's been acting queer lately. Even Fred Badger admitted that
to me when I quizzed him, though he hastened to say that so far it
hadn't seemed to interfere with his playing, for he kept holding his
own right along. But something seems to tell me that if we lose this
game today it's going to be through some bungling play on his part."
"Listen, Mollie," said Lucy just then, "don't speak quite so loud,
because Bob's father and mother are just back of us, I've discovered."
"Well, that's a queer thing," said Mollie, without even turning to
look. "No one ever knew Mr. Jeffries to take the least interest in
outdoor sports before. He must have waked up from his Rip Van Winkle
sleep, apparently. I even heard that he declined to contribute a
dollar to the new gymnasium that some of the town people are building
to satisfy the craving of the boys for physical exercise, saying he
guessed boys ought to be able to thrive without all those costly
adjuncts; that as a boy he had never found the need for anything of
the sort, and that he didn't mean to squander his hard-earned money on
any such nonsense."
"Well," put in Adelaide Holliday, "whoever told you that must have
been poorly informed, or else there has been a sudden revolution in
Mr. Jeffries' beliefs; because my father, who is one of the committee
to raise funds to pay the first expense of fitting up the new gym,
with all sorts of modern appliances, said just last night at supper
that he had had a visit from Mr. Jeffries that afternoon, who asked
how the subscription list was coming on, and upon learning that there
was still a whole lot needed, handed in his check for a cool hundred
dollars. He also told him that if they still fell short when settling
things up, to call on him for an additional hundred."
"You certainly surprise me, Adelaide," said Mollie, "but I'm glad to
hear that Bob's father has waked up at last to understand just what
such things mean in a civilized, up-to-date community like Chester.
Old things have passed away, it seems, and everybody who has any sense
will get on the band wagon before he finds himself lonesome. But that
doesn't ease my mind about our big fullback."
"Why, he seems to be just the same as ever to me, looking from here,"
expostulated Lucy Marsh.
"Yes, that's because of the excitement, and the fact that his folks
are present," explained the doubting Mollie. "I saw him wave his hand
to his mother just then. All I can say is I hope he'll do himself
credit. Jack Winters assured me there wasn't a weak link in the chain,
and when I mentioned Big Bob to him he turned a little red, and
hastened to say that he would be found doing his duty as he invariably
had in the past. But, all the same, I tell you Jack is a little
nervous about him; I could read that in his face when he answered my
question so hurriedly."
"Oh! look! they're going on the field, girls!" exclaimed Adelaide just
then, and all minor matters were allowed to rest while they watched
the opposing players run out and start to take their positions.
A tremendous salvo of cheers greeted their appearance on the gridiron,
destined to be the battle ground on which they must struggle for
supremacy, utilizing every ounce of strength, and backed up with such
generalship as their chosen leaders could bring to bear.
They were certainly a fine looking lot of youngsters, and those near
and dear to them had a right to feel proud at that moment when the
great game was about to open. The cheering died away as though by some
prearranged signal; indeed, it is simply astonishing how during the
progress of a game the volume of sound will suddenly break out like a
hurricane, and then cease almost as abruptly, so that the whistle of
the referee may be heard in its piercing intensity.
As the young athletes lined up on the field they stood in the
following order:
CHESTER
Fullback
Jeffries
Halfback Halfback
Mullane Winters (Captain)
Quarterback
Hopkins
End Tackle Guard Center Guard Tackle End
Douglass Badger Hemming Griffin McGuffey Jackman Jones
MARSHALL
End Tackle Guard Center Guard Tackle End
Smith Everett O'Toole Needham (Capt.) Willets Bennett Haldy
Quarterback
Lighthart
Halfback Halfback
Collins Trowbridge
Fullback
Budge
Of course, as the sides faced each other the left end of Chester,
Jones, found himself confronting the right end of Marshall, Haldy. And
while the fullback bore the ominous name of Budge, it was apparent
from his bulky frame that this was just about the last thing he might
be expected to do, for he looked as though a mountain would not move
him.
Silence fell upon the vast throng. If anyone had ventured to speak
above a whisper just at that critical moment, he would have found
himself frowned upon by a dozen angry persons close by.
Out there in the arena the twenty-two contestants crouched in their
favorite attitudes, and with nerves strained to the utmost, waited for
the ball to be put in action. It was a picture never to be forgotten,
and no wonder the eyes of the gathered multitude of spectators
remained glued upon the motionless figures, looking like statues of
famous gladiators in the arena waiting to battle before a Nero, who by
the crook of his thumb, either up or down, would seal their fate
eventually one way or the other.
Then all at once there was a sudden concerted movement, every one of
the players leaping into life; and from that moment on there would be
something constantly doing.