CUPID'S TOUCHDOWN.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12989, 17 December 1907, Page 2

CUPID'S TOUCHDOWN.

(By MARJORIE BENTON COOKE in the "Chicago Tribune.") "Going to Henley Hall to the blowout to-night, Dab?" asked Ferris, ac he met Dabney on the way to the gym. "Nope—guess not. I haven't got much use for blowouts these days. Sly head's too full of tho Thanksgiving game." "Best reason for going. You have it on your mind too much. Cut it out." "Much obliged, little un, but I " He stopped absently as his eye caught the smile of a girl who came toward them. Ferris turned and looked, and flushed. "How are the heroes to-day?" asked the girl. "You're laughing at ac, Mies Gardner," said Dabney. "No, she isn't, she's jollying us, you old parson," Ferris interposed. "The heroes are in fit condition to enter the ring and fight for thoir lady's favour," he continued. ' "Goodl" said Miss Gardner, looking from Ferris, slight, blond, almost girlish, to the swarthy giant who stood beside him. "What is the guerdon to bo?" "The heroes must ask their lady." "They do," said Ferris promptly. "Shall it be a blue ribbon she wore in her hair?" laughed Miss Gardner. "Alas! we don't wear blue ribbons in our hair now." "Why not make it a heart?" said Dabney, seriously. Miss Gardner flushed, and Ferris turned to Dabney in astonishment. "Well, by gad, when Dabney the Silent speaks he says his say to the point. Splendid idea, Dab. Tair fadye, make it a heart.' " ''We'll ccc," said the girl, smiling, and, with a nod, she went on. "Isn't she great?" said Ferris, wistfully. * Dagney put his hand on his shoulder and marched him along. "Pretty hard hit, aren't you, little un?" "Yep, it's all day with mc, Dab. How about you? Sometimes I've thought that you sort of—kind of " The hand on his shoulder tightened. "She'd never look at mo," Dabney answered, evasively. "Never look at you, you chump I Why, there isn't a girl on the campus but would have a jag of joy if you looked at her twice. , "Shut up, Ferris. You talk like a rabbit," said Dab, giving him a whack on the back. "Get into your togs—it s time for practice," he added, as they turned into the gym. Lydifl Gardner's look of surprise was not the only one that followed Dabnev that night as he m.-ulc bis wj»v t* <=r>pnl< to the head of the hall at the Henley reception. That duty performed. Iw made his way promptly td Miss Gardner. , . . "Good even/iug. Uhie w a eurprase," she said. ■ ... "I cam© to toll y»n that the little un that Mr Ferris—oouldnft com© tonight. Hβ twisted his leg practice, and the ooach has 6ent him to bed. You see, wo have to liave him in shape for the big game." "Why, of course. I hopo it isn*t anything serious. It wae good of you to com© and toll mc." H© looked at hor in surprise. "Why, no. The little urn wanted you to know, so. of course, I came." Lydia smiled slightly at the tactless speech. "You and Mr Ferris are great friends, aren't you?" "Yes, he's the only real friend I Bver had." "Posebily that is your own fault, Mr Dabney. It is hard to be friends with you. You make people come tho whole way. You won't take a step." Hβ lodked at her closely to ccc that ahe was in earnest. "Why, I, never thought of amy one panting to bo friends with mo. Belideß, I have had neither time nor nomey for friends." "Tim© and money havo nothing to lo with friendship," she said. "You fiee, I don't know amprthing libont anything." he replied. "WJiy, Hiss Gardner, tih;ree yoars ago I was ihe lowest lout, that idled about tic ifctlo lowa town where I was horn. I *iv 25 years old befbro I ever heard »r thougjht of college/ "What made you wake uip and :ome?" she asked. "A man -who came out there to teach ichool got hold of mo and took mc in land, and finally loaned mc money snouigh to get here. I had just 22 rente vrhon I struck the campus." lie idded smiling, "I was the greenest. vorst looking customer you over saw, wit the proxy was awfully good to

"Why not? Tt was splendid of you to come and face it, and try to make a man of yourself." A slow- flush crept over his face, amd made hhn handsome for a moment. Then ho shook himself.

'Oh. no, there was nothing splendid about it. It was just a sordid struggle for food and clothes tho first two voars. I worked all day and most of tho night. You see, I was so much older than tho other fellows, and so far behind. You can imagine what it meant to mc when a chap like Ferris picked mc out to chum with," he added, shyly. "And then, when the fellows made mo captain of the team this year—well, I don't suppose a girl like you could know what that means to a fellow like mc."

"I Bee," she answered, with a quick sympathy that made him flush. "And this Thanksgiving game is your great battle. It is to bo a great day for you."

"Yes—i-if I can help win that gam© it will be the greatest day in my life. You see I havo to chow the boys how

' grateful I am, because I never can tell them. , "I don't thinlk you need to tell them. You see, Mr Ferris tells mc about you and I know a few thinge " "Well, you mustn't put too much stock in what the little 'un says abont roe. He can't do or say enough for his friends. Do you know what a trump he is, Miss Gardner. If I were a woman the little 'un is the sort I'd ti* to." She flushed, and then smiled. "John Alden is such a hopeless role, Mr Dabney," she said, lightly. His evident embarrassment made her add, "I agree with you entirely. Any woman ought to be proud of Mr Ferris' friendship." "I don't know much about women, but I do know about the little- 'un, and he's true blue. I guess I'd better be off before I bore you to death. 1 have never talked so much about myself to a girl before." "Thank you. I -appreciate it. Suppose you let mc teach you something about girls and their friendship. Will

you?" "You mean that you'll—that you'll be friends with mc?" "I mean just that. Is it a bargain?" '•O, thanks, thanks. I—l —good night." "Poor soul!" said Lydia, who watched him plough his way through the crowd. "I frightened him nearly to death. It isn't simple to try to put a mountain lion into a drawing-room humour." Thanksgiving day, the day of the great Walden-Colfax game, was clear, cold, and snappy—ideal football weather.

The two teams practised passing tho ball at either end of the field, and enthusiastic rooters compared sizes and weights. To Lydia Gardner there were only two figures on the field—that of - tho big Colfax captain and tho little fair-haired chap who stood always besido him. Tho two teams lined up amid deafening cheers, and before the referee's whistle- had died away the ball was in play. Both teams fought like tigers, - tooth and nail, and it soon became s obvious to the merest tyro that the 3 Colfax team had a slight advantage in Ferris's end runs. Three times in t the first few minutea of play Colfax got f the ball, and Dabiiey sent Ferris round I tho end for good gains, and then Walden settled down to a concerted effort - to put Ferris out of tho game. fc Dabney sized up the situation nt , once, and epent aU his efforts in trying to protect and save the half; but s Colfax didn't mako an inch by straight bucking—it had to gain by end runs. So Dabney undertook the interference I himself. Time and again Lydia's keen oyee saw the long arms -ward off dan- . ger, and the big frame go down under Ferris's lighter one. In spite of his i efforts, however, after one mix-up tho j little half lay still, and the crowd i scarcely breathed -while tho doctor and ' the trainer rubbed and boat him into shapo again. I "Cheer up, little 'un, you're all • right," Dabney said, bending over him. "They're after mc, Dab," Ferris muttered, "but they haven't killed mc yet." Hβ struggled up, end the crowd went wild with relief. He was Oolfax's hope. ' Again Dabney. tried to get through th« Walden lino. It was like going up 1 against a wall of adamant. It was nearing the ond of the first half, and they must score before time was called, , so, reluctantly, ho gave the signal for Ferris to carry tho ball. The half ehot , out from the crowd like a rockot, and , started down the field. But tho Walden full-back tackled him fiercely, and threw him on the back of his head, and as he went down the Walden halt kicked him viciously in the head. It looked as if it wore all over with poor Ferris, and th© crowd surged to the ropes in an agony of rage and suspense. For a minute it seemed as if the whole multitude would join in the shouting, yelling fight between referee, captains, and men. Tho crowd yelled, Rule him off!" "Put him out!" until it was hoarse, and when the Walden half back was suspended and peace restored Ferris was gotten on his feet, ' quite off his head, but mad with lust far battle, and after two minute*; plajy time was called—the score nothing to nothing. . In the shanty, during intermission, Ferris lay on an improvised cot, crying, and ehouting, and begging to go back. It wae too much for the fellows. They couldn't etond it, so they sneaked out on© by one, and eat shivering outside, talking in low tones. Ferris kept calling for Dabney, and when the captain bent over him ho said, again an< again, "They're after mo, but I'm no dead yet. She's out there. They tried to kill mc. but eho wouldn't let them. I have to go back, Dab. She'll never forgive mo if I don't I"—end other heart-breaking things, so that the tears rolled down Dabney's face. "You did good work, fellows, but this time we have to play without the littlo un, so work like blazes for his sake." < . They followed him back, white-faced and stern, mouths set. Just as they reached tho field Dabney heard his name, and turned to see Ferris running after them, getting into his nose guard. "I'm all right. Dab!" ho panted. "I havo got to go back. I toll you, you can't put anybody in my place. I must go back I I—l " It was the hottest fight *>ver fought on Sherry field. Up and down the field they pushed the ball. Again and again it seemed as if one eide or tho other must make * goal, and then back went the ball to tho middle of the field and hope dwindled. Both teams were nearly worn out, and time was taken out after every mixup. Colfax had just gotten tho ball on d'vwns, when the referee gavo the five minute warning. It was almost dark, and Dabney knew ho had to risk everything on tlio next throw, so ouco again ho gave tho signal for Ferris to carry tho ball. By the time tho signal was out of his mouth the big captain was thundering down the field in front of tho littlo '>alf. Ferris had practically a clear fiold ahead for a twonty-fivo run, and Dabney handled all comers. The crowd was so still that you could almost hear Ferris breathe. Ho wae tfoll toward the goal, when suddenly ho tripped and fell, and Dabney almost fell on him —but not quite. Instead he grabbed him under the arms, without apparently slackening speed, and hauled him along. A Walden man caught hold of his knees, but ho struggled on, and fairly threw Ferris across tho line, the bn-. huggrd tight to his hreaet. Why try to describe 15,000 people suddenly struck with madness? When tho referee's whistle blew the crowd surged over the ropes, danced, howled, wept, and kissed, like tho inmates of tho violent ward just let loose. They carried tho Colfax team about on their shoulders —all but the captain, and they could not find him, for he had hurried away to a little 6ide gate in the fence, under cover of tho darkness, and would not have been eren by anyone if it had not been that a radiantfaced girl waited for him there, both hands outstretched". "0, it was splendid—splendid!" she cried. "It was a great game," he said. "We couldn't have done it if it hadn't been for the little un. "I'm not thinking of him. I'm thinking of you—you —you., It was you who did it all—it was yonr game—your touchdown—your victory. You said that if you won it would bo the greatest dar of your life " "And you* caro like this, Lydia ?" he interrupted her, Suddonly sho put her face down and laid her cheek on his wet. grimy hand, and there, in the half dark, he took her in his arms. It was, indeed, the greatest day in Dabney's lifol

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