the grandstand lie cotild see his ‘ ‘ angel ’ ’ (this was the terra by
which Tod addressed her photograph in the privacy of his room)
wearing the Cranston colors as well as his own, and he wondered,
in a vague way, whether she would throw away his ribbons if
they were defeated.
More yet, Tod had never had the opportunity to play in any
game to which she was a witness. He was a Senior now, and as
this was near the end of the seaons it was doubtful whether he
would have another chance to display his prowess before her ap
proving eyes. True, Tod was a very fair end rush, but his play
ing was exceedingly irregular. One day he would put up a game
which would amaze even himself; the next it would be a rank
failure. It was that element of uncertainty that put him on the
side-line.
As Tod pondered over these things, a chance conversation,
wafted to his ears, brought him back with a rush to the present.
“ Who’s the Cranston full-back ?” asked some one near him.
“ That—oh,'that’s Bascombe. Plays an out-of-sight game,
doesn’t he?” replied another.
Tod clenched his fists and set his lips hard together. It was
bad enough to be compelled to sit back calmly and watch his team
being beaten inch by inch, but to hear his rival praised was too
much.
11 Took at that,” cried a voice dolefully, as the opposing team
plowed through the line for a ten-yard gain. “Oh, what will
happen next?”
Tod looked on with strained eyes and tense muscles. Another
swift rush and then another, and Cranston had the ball on the
fifteen-yard line, almost directly in front of the goal.
‘‘Third down, two yards to gain,” called the referee.
‘‘Oh, if we can only hold them this once,” thought Tod, and
his wish was almost a prayer.
All in vain however. Cranston evidently did not intend to
lose any such opportunity. With increasing consternation Tod
saw his rival fall back to try at goal from the field. A moment
later the ball was snapped, there was a dull thud, and it rose
gracefully into the air to fall fairly over the goal. The Cranston
rooters went wild with delight, while the gloom only deepened on
the faces of those who wore the Blue and White. Then, before
either team had time to score again, the short half ended. '
In the interval Tod turned his attention to his divinity. But
The Free Lance.
[November,