CLASSIFIED CONTENTS New England Weather. Fashionable Parties in New Neth- The Deacon's Masterpiece. A Parental Ode to My Infant Son. Polonius's Advice to Laertes. EIGHTH READER THE FOOTBALL GAME 1 (From "The Varmint") SATURDAY came all too soon and with it the arrival of the stocky Andover eleven. Dink dressed and went slowly across the campus-every step seemed an effort. Everywhere was an air of seriousness and apprehension, strangely contrasted to the gay ferment that usually announced a big game. He felt a hundred eyes on him as he went and knew what was in every one's mind. What would happen when Ned Banks would have to retire and he, little Dink Stover, weighing one hundred and thirty-eight, would have to go forth to stand at the end of the line. And because Stover had learned the lesson of football, the sacrifice for an idea, he too felt not fear but a sort of despair that the hopes of the great school would have to rest upon him, little Dink Stover, who weighed only one hundred and thirtyeight pounds. He went quietly to the Upper, his eyes on the ground like a guilty man, picking his way through the crowds of Fifth Formers, who watched him pass with critical looks, and up the heavy · stairs to Garry Cockrell's room, where the team sat quietly listening to final instructions. He took his seat silently in an obscure corner, studying the stern faces about him, hearing nothing of Mr. Ware's staccato periods, his eyes irresistibly drawn to his captain, wondering how suddenly older he looked and grave. 1 Copyright, 1910, by Little, Brown & Co. By his side Ned Banks was listening stolidly and Charlie De Soto, twisting a paper-weight in his nervous fingers, fidgeting on his chair with the longing for the fray. "That's all," said the low voice of Garry Cockrell. "You know what you have to do. Go down to Charlie's room; I want a few words with Stover." They went sternly and quickly, Mr. Ware with them. Dink was alone, standing stiff and straight, his heart thumping violently, waiting for his captain to speak. "How do you feel?" "I'm ready, sir." "I don't know when you'll get in the game probably before the first half is over," said Cockrell slowly. "We're going to put up to you a pretty hard proposition, youngster." He came nearer, laying his hand on Stover's shoulder. "I'm not going to talk nerve to you, young bulldog, I don't need to. I've watched you and I know the stuff that's in you." "Thank you, sir." "Not but what you'll need it more than you've ever needed it before. You've no right in this game. "I know it, sir.” "Tough McCarty won't be able to help you out much. He's got the toughest man in the line. Everything's coming at you, my boy, and you've got to stand it off, somehow. Now, listen once more. It's a game for the long head, for the cool head. You've got to think quicker, you've got to outthink every man on the field and you can do it. And remember this; no matter what happens never let up-get your man back of the line if you can, get him twenty-five yards beyond you, get him on the one-yard line but get him!" |