University High School - Cub Yearbook (Oakland, CA)

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'H- success or failure of his college, the college he had fought for for three years. He was determined, in spite of the doctor, to give him every point of every play, even the formations and the direction each play was taking. Especially he planned to tell him the playing of the man who went in at left end. just as the teams lined up for the kick-off the operator at the telephone exchange by some error closed the line to the Infirmary. It was five minutes before connections could be again opened. As he was told that Holmes, Markham's star kicker, had kicked a field goal, that the ball had been brought into position by Stiles, who was playing left end, that only a fumble and an uncompleted forward pass was all that saved Altamont from a touchdown, Carter broke out sobbing. Stiles, he cried, Stiles, you big bum, get in and break that up- As Professor Setvens told him the plays, Carter played them in his mind. As the game progressed, Stiles' playing became stronger and stronger. He displayed trick after trick that was characteristic of Carter, and only of Carter, but still Altamont could not score. Three periods had passed. Twice Renolds had attempted field goals from the thirty-yard line. Twice he had failed. But three minutes remained of the last period. Markham had not scored again, but their lead looked safe as they were in possession of the ball on Altamont's forty yard line. Three plays gained but six yards. Wlith four yards to go on the last down, Markham forme-d in punt formation, Holmes dropping back as though to at- tempt a field goal. There seemed but little chance of his making it, however, as he must kick from the forty-two yard line at the side of the field. They wonlt kick, cried Carter, as word came over the telephone of the formation. They know if they can hold the ball, they can kill time until the end of the game. XVatch the fake. Look out for a pass on the short sideg on your side, Stilesf, As the ball was snapped, Holmes poised as though to kick, then hurled it down the held where a Markham end was sprinting toward the Altamont line. Stiles had guessed the play and had followed the end. As the ball was about to go over his head' into the outstretched arms of the Markham man, he leaped and caught it. Stiles has intercepted the pass, came across the wire, and the hospital jumped at Carter's frenzied cry of Go it Stiles! Go it as you never went before l If Stiles had not shown speed before, he showed it now. Through the en- tire Markham team he dodged. In the open field, King, the fastest man in the state, who could do the quarter in fifty, started after him, but as they raced down the field he gained but little. Stiles dashed across the line and planted the ball between the posts. The game was not yet over, one minute remained to play. Markham re- fused to kick, as is customary to a team that has been scored upon. They elected to receive the kick. Renolds kicked to Holmes on the ten yard line. Holmes ran it back to mid field. A forward pass gained twenty yards. A buck by Holmes gained ten. Then King got away on a trick circling right

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season that they play in the big game. Some play well, others fall down. This happens all season. If I hadn't played on the same team that you did for three years, I'd say you knew nothing about football. Seeing the coach was in no mood to argue his friend left him as they passed the inlirmary. Professor Stevens firmly believed that thought could be transmitted from one brain to another. He believed if two person's minds were concentrated upon one subject the suggestion of the stronger mind would triumph and the body in which the weaker mind was situated would do the bidding of the stronger mind. He also believed that the persons did not have to be in the same room or even in the same building. Many times he had argued this point with Joe. Always Hanley refused to be convinced. I-Ie would always declare the demonstration in the theatres were faked, that they were only possible through the use of confederates. Some day I'll get a chance to prove it to youf' Stevens would say. XN'hen you do, let me know about it, was always I-Ianley's scoffing re- sponse, There is nothing in itf' Professor Stevens had stopped at the inhrmary to tell Carter how the game had resulted. He had been to see him the night before and had prom- ised to return after dinner. I-Iow did it go ? asked Carter eagerly as the professor entered the room. Havens dislocated his shoulder today. He will not be able to play Sat- urday, answered Stevens. He did? groaned Carter, 'fThen they have no one to go in. If only I could be there, he groaned, 'fIf I could only go in. I must at least see the game. They must let me go. But, argued the other , You won't be able to leave your bed by next Saturdayf' Dbl I must see the game. It would kill me to keep me waiting, Carter sobbed. Professor Stevens went from Carter's bedside to the office of the chief sur- geon and asked to be allowed to install a telephone to Carter's room so that he could tell him of the game as it progressed. Do you think he could stand the excitement? asked the surgeon. He could hear the cheering from the field anyhow, returned the Profes- sor. That wouldn't hurt him much as the suspense. It may do him some good, ventured the surgeon, I think .we'll try it. The morning of the game dawned brightly. It was a perfect day for the gay crowd assembled. The Markham red and gold and the purple of Alta- mont were everywhere in sight. Pretty girls wearing huge red. dahlias and yellow chrysanthemums dotted the Markham section. Violets bloomed on the Altamont side. Some of the more reckless youths had even obtained lavender orchids for their fair companions. It was a gala day for the crowd but a poor day for football. Professor Stevens took his place among the pressmen and prepared to tell every detail of the play to the boy whose anxious ears waited for news of the

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end. A touchdown seemed certain. The Markham stand was in an uproar. Across the Field dashed Stiles. On the live yard line he threw himself forward in a reckless tackle. I-Ie struck his man badly, bringing him down on his own head, but saving a score. The pistol sounded as they lay there. Stiles was knocked out, but his arms had to be forced away from King's legs so tightly did he hold them. The next day as Carter was reading the account of the game in the morn- ing paper, he heard someone sobbing in the bed next to his. I-Ie turned and saw it was Stiles. XVhat is the trouble ? he asked. 'IYhat are you crying for? It was my fault we lost yesterday. The fellows will never forgive me. They will tell of it even after I have left college, he said brokenly. They will tell of your playing yesterday for some time to come, replied Carter, you can bet your last dollar on that. just then the door opened, and Hlhitney, captain of the team, Coach Han- ley, and Professor Stevens filed in. The coach was laughing for the First time in months. Stiles, old man, said IVhitney, you played a splendid game yesterday. I want you to take this as a souvenir of your hrst and last game of college foot- ball. I-Ie drew from his coat the ball the game had been played with. On it was marked in white paint Markham 3, Altamont 7. You should have seen him, Carter, said the coach. After the first Five minutes he was in every play. Wfhen he caught that pass he dodged throught just as you used to do, only you were never half as fast as he was yesterday. King looked as if he were standing still, he added. VVhen he scored I could have run out and hugged him. And when he tackled King, I nearly died from joy. XVhat do you mean?-When I scored?-Wlhen I tackled King?-Didn't they win ?,' asked Stiles. VVhat are these figures on the ball and all this talk about my playing? I don't remember a thing after they scored. XN'ell, can you beat that, gasped the coach. Sure we won. I-Iere, take a look at this,', he said as he handed Stiles the sporting page of the paper that Carter had been reading. Across the page ran this heading: Altamont wins great game from Markham 7 to 3. Sensational run by Stiles turns defeat into victory. IVell, Said Stiles at length, half dazed. I don't remember a thing about 1t.', IVhat are these for? asked the coach as he noticed the telephone re- ceivers Carter had used in following the game. Professor Stevens had a telephone installed so I could get the returns ot the game, play by play, said Carter. W'e were cut off in the first of the game. After they scored we were connected again. After that everything went fineg I just closed my eyes and imagined I was playing. As he told me where each play was going, I could feel myself going right with it. It was so real that I was all in when the game was over.