Left Guard Gilbert

by Ralph Henry Barbour

  CHAPTER IX

  THE WIDTH OF A FINGER

  AT chapel the next morning Mr. Fernald, the principal, after the usualannouncements had been made, lifted a newspaper from the table at hisside and ran his eyes over an item there. "I have here," he said, "acopy of this week's Brimfield _Times_, which tells of an incident ofwhich I had not learned. In telling of a fire on Saturday night lastwhich destroyed a barn and damaged other buildings on the farm of Mr.William Corrigan, some three miles from the village, the _Times_ makesmention of the valuable assistance of a Mr. Grover Brady and four boysof this school. According to the _Times_, Mr. Brady and four boys dashedto the scene in a high-powered automobile, organised a bucket brigadeand saved"--Mr. Fernald consulted his authority again--"saved thedwelling house from the devouring element. The metaphor is that of thepaper. Possibly the _Times_ is misinformed with regard to the heroicyoung firemen, although I hope not. I should be very pleased todiscover that they were really Brimfieldians. If they were, if they arebefore me at this moment, I trust they will signify the fact by standingup. I'm sure we'd all like to know their identity and give themwell-deserved applause. Now then, will the modest heroes kindly revealthemselves?"

  Silence ensued, a silence broken only by a few whispers and someshuffling of feet. Every fellow's eyes searched the room, or, at least,that is true of almost every fellow. Tim smiled innocently andexpectantly at the principal, Clint studied the back of the head infront of him most interestedly, Don observed the scar in his handabsorbedly and Tom grinned because Steve Edwards was whispering from theside of his mouth: "Why don't you get up, you bloomin' hero, why don'tyou get up?" Harry Walton was smiling that knowing smile of his anddoing his best to catch Don's eye. And Don somehow knew it and didn'tdare look toward him.

  "I'm disappointed," said Mr. Fernald after a minute. "Either the paperis mistaken or the fellows are over-modest. Well, if they won't speakfor themselves perhaps someone else will volunteer to wrest them fromthe obscurity they so evidently court. How about that, boys? Anyone knowwho the heroes are?"

  Again silence for an instant, and then, in various parts of the room,the sudden moving of seats or tramping of feet as though someone wasabout to get up. But no one did, and some of the younger boys in frontbegan to titter nervously. Mr. Fernald smiled and laid the Brimfield_Times_ back on the table.

  "No heroes amongst us, eh? Well, doubtless if any of you had been thereyou'd have performed quite as well as these unknown young gentlemen did.I like to think so. Dismissed."

  "Do you think he suspects us?" asked Tom as he ranged himself beside Timon the way out. "Gee, I thought once he was looking right at me!"

  "That's what it is to have a guilty conscience," replied Tim, in avirtuous tone. "Of course he doesn't suspect. If he did he'd have namedus, sure as shooting. The funny part of it is that he hasn't thoughtabout what time the fire was! Maybe the paper didn't say. If he knewthat he'd probably be a sight more anxious to find us!"

  "I was scared stiff that Harry Walton would blab. I didn't dare look athim."

  "Harry doesn't know you were with us. He recognised Don, or says he did,and he naturally thinks I was along, but he doesn't know who the othertwo were. If he opens his mouth I'll brain him."

  "I guess he won't. He's a sort of a pup, but he isn't mean enough forthat. Gee, but it almost ruined my appetite for breakfast!"

  "Even if Josh did find out," said Tim as they turned into Wendell, "hewouldn't do much to us, I guess. It wasn't our fault the fire was latein getting started, and the paper calls us heroes----"

  "I don't believe it does. That's some of Josh's nonsense. I'm going toget a copy of the _Times_ and see what it does say."

  "Take my advice and let the _Times_ alone," advised Tim. "Why, Iwouldn't be seen with a copy of it in my possession! It would becircumstantial evidence, or corroborative evidence or something horrid,and I'd get pinched for sure. You keep away from the _Times_, dearie."

  There was a good deal of interested speculation as to the identity ofthe four youths who had participated in the rescue of Farmer Corrigan'sdwelling, but the general opinion was to the effect that the local paperhad erred. One fellow made the suggestion in Don's hearing that iffaculty would look it up and see who had leave of absence Saturday nightthey might spot the chaps. Don sincerely hoped the idea wouldn't occurto Mr. Fernald!

  But interest in the matter soon waned, for Brimfield was to play BentonMilitary Academy that afternoon and what sort of a showing she wouldmake against that very worthy opponent was a far more absorbing subjectfor speculation. Benton had been defeated handily enough last year, butreports from the military academy this Fall led Brimfield to expect ahard contest. And her expectations were fulfilled.

  Benton brought at least a hundred neatly uniformed rooters along and thefield took on a very gallant appearance. The visitors seemed gailyconfident of victory and from the time they marched into the field andtook their places in the stand until the kick-off there was no cessationof the songs and cheers from the blue-clad cohorts. Coach Robey startedhis best men in that game and, as was quickly proved, needed to. Thefirst period was a bitterly contested punting duel in which Rollins,and, later, St. Clair came off second best. But the difference in thekicking of the rival teams was not sufficient to allow of muchadvantage, and the first ten-minute set-to ended without a score. Infact, neither team had been at any time within scoring distance of theother's goal line. When play began again Benton changed her tactics andstarted a rushing game that for a few minutes made headway. But a fumblecost her the ball and a possible score on the Maroon-and-Grey'stwenty-yard line and the latter adopted the enemy's plan and banged atthe soldiers' line for fair gains. A forward pass brought the spectatorsto their feet and gained twenty-two yards for Brimfield, Steve Edwardsbeing on the receiving end of a very pretty play. But Benton stiffenedpresently and Brimfield was forced to kick.

  That kick spelled disaster for Brimfield. Rollins dropped back to nearhis own thirty yards and sent a remarkable corkscrew punt to Benton'stwenty. It was one of the prettiest punts ever seen on the Brimfieldgridiron, for it was so long that it went over the quarter-back's head,so high that it enabled the Maroon-and-Grey ends to get well down underit and was nicely placed in the left-hand corner of the field. TheBenton quarter made no effort to touch it while it was bounding towardthe goal line, for with both Edwards and Holt hovering about him afumble might easily have resulted, and it was only when the pigskin hadsettled down to a slow, toppling roll and it was evident that it did notmean to go over the line that the Benton quarter seized it. Whathappened then was little short of a miracle. Both Captain Edwards andHolt took it for granted that the quarter-back meant to drop on the balland call it down, and, since there was no necessity to smother theopponent, each waited for the other to tackle and hold him. But thefirst thing anyone knew the Benton quarter had the ball in his hands,had squirmed somehow between Edwards and Holt and was speeding up themiddle of the field!

  Between him and the fifty-yard line friend and foe were mingled, and towin through seemed a preposterous undertaking. And yet first one andthen another of the enemy was passed, team-mates formed hastyinterference for the runner and, suddenly, to the consternation of theBrimfield stand, the quarter, with the ball snuggled in the crook of hisleft elbow, was out of the melee, with a clear field before him and twoBenton players guarding his rear. Crewe made a desperate effort to gethim near the thirty-yard line, but the interference was too much forhim, and after that, although Brimfield trailed the runner to the goalline and over, there was no doubt as to the result. And when the Bentonquarter deposited the ball squarely between the posts and laid himselfdown beside it friend and foe alike arose from their seats and cheeredhim long and loudly. Never had a more spectacular run been made there,for not only had the quarter practically traversed the length of thefield, but had eluded the entire opposing eleven.

  Benton deserved to secure the odd point by kicking goal, butgoal-kicking was the quarter-back's business and he was far too
tuckeredto try, and so the player who did make the attempt failed miserably, andBenton had to be satisfied with those six points. Probably she was, forshe cheered madly and incessantly while the period lasted and then spentthe half-time singing triumphant paeans. And those military academychaps could sing, too! Brimfield, a bit chastened, listened andapplauded generously and only found her own voice when theMaroon-and-Grey warriors trotted back again.

  Carmine had given place to McPhee at quarter and Holt to Cheep at rightend. Otherwise Brimfield's line was the same as in the first half.McPhee opened his bag of tricks soon after play began and double-passesand delayed-passes and a certain fake plunge at guard with quarterrunning wide outside the drawn-in end made good gains and took the balldown the field with only one halt to Benton's twenty-three yards. Therethe military academy team solved a fake-kick and St. Clair was laid lowbehind his line. Rollins made up the lost distance and a little morebesides, and finally, with the ball on Benton's nineteen yards on fourthdown, Captain Edwards called for a try-at-goal and Rollins dropped backto the thirty. Fortunately the Maroon-and-Grey forwards held back theplunging enemy in good style, Rollins had all the time he wanted, thepigskin dropped neatly over the bar, and the score-board figuresproclaimed 6 to 3.

  Benton kicked off and once more Brimfield started up the field, St.Clair, Tim Otis and Rollins banging the line from end to end and Edwardsvarying the monotony by sweeping around behind and launching himself offon wide runs. But the advance slackened near the middle of the field andan attempted forward pass was captured by Benton. That play brought theten-minute period to an end.

  Benton tried the Brimfield centre and got through for four yards, hit itagain and made three and placed the ball on the home team's forty-yardline. Time was called for Brimfield and Danny Moore trotted on toadminister to Gafferty. The left guard was soon on his feet again,although a trifle unsteady, it seemed, and Benton, with three yards togain, swung into the other side and pushed a half-back through for thedistance. Carmine replaced McPhee and Holt went back to end position.Benton once more thrust at Gafferty and, although the secondary defenceplugged the hole, went through for two yards. Time was again called andthis time the trainer led Joe Gafferty off the field, the latterprotesting bitterly, and Harry Walton was hurried in. Benton tried aforward pass and made it go for a small gain and then, on third down,got past Thayer and reached the eighteen before Carmine tipped up therunner. Across the gridiron, Benton's supporters yelled mightily and asecond touchdown looked imminent.

  Benton fumbled and recovered for a two-yard loss and then sent thatheroic quarter up the field to try a drop kick. It looked easy enough,for the ball was near the twenty-eight yards and in front of the righthand goal post. Captain Edwards implored his men to block the kick andcomparative quiet fell over the field. Back shot the ball and thequarter's foot swung at it, but the left side of the Benton linecrumbled and Hall and Crewe flung themselves into the path of the ball.Four seconds later it was snuggled under Tim Otis's chest near thethirty-five yards, for Tim had followed the forwards through andtrailed the bouncing pigskin up the field.

  That misadventure seemed to take the heart out of the visitors, and whenBrimfield, with new courage and determination, smashed at her line shefell back time and again. Substitutes were sent in lavishly, butalthough the right side of the Benton line stiffened for awhile, theleft continued weak. Coach Robey sent in Compton to replace SteveEdwards and, later, Howard for St. Clair. With the best part of fiveminutes left, Brimfield hoped to put over a winning touchdown, and thebacks responded gallantly to Carmine's demands. Near the enemy'sforty-yard line Rollins threw a neat forward to Holt and the latterraced along the side of the field for a dozen yards before he was forcedover the line. That took the ball to Benton's twenty-one. Two tries atthe line netted but six yards and Compton took the pigskin on anend-around play and just made the distance.

  Brimfield hammered the enemy's left wing and reached her five-yard linein three downs, but Benton, fiercely determined, her feet on the lastline mark, was putting up a strong defence. Tom Hall, captain pro tem.,and Carmine consulted. A forward pass might succeed, and if it did wouldwin the game, but Benton would be watching for it and neither Holt norCompton was a brilliant catcher of thrown balls. A goal from the fieldwould only tie the score, but it seemed the wisest play. So Rollinsdropped back to the twenty and stretched his arms. But Benton was sure aforward was to result and when the ball went back her attempts to blockthe kick were not very enthusiastic. That was fortunate for Brimfield,for Thursby's pass had been short and Rollins had to pick the ball fromthe turf before he could swing at it. That delay was almost his undoing,since the Benton forwards were now trickling through, and it was only bythe veriest good fortune that the ball shot between them from Rollins'stoe and, after showing an inclination to pass to the left of the goaland changing its mind in mid-air, dropped over the bar barely inside thepost. Brimfield cheered and the 3 on the board changed to 6. Coach Robeycalled Rollins and Tim Otis out, replacing them with Martin and Gordon.Brimfield kicked off once more and, with a scant minute and a half toplay, the Maroon-and-Grey tried valiantly to add another score.

  Carmine caught on his twenty and took the ball to the thirty-six beforehe was stopped, and Brimfield cheered wildly and danced about in thestand. Plugging the line would never cover that distance to the farthergoal line and so Carmine sent Gordon off around the left end. But Gordoncouldn't find the hole and was run down for no gain. A forward pass,Carmine to Compton, laid the ball on the forty-eight yards. Howard slidoff right tackle for six and, on a fake-kick play, Martin ran aroundleft end for seven more. Brimfield shouted imploringly from the standand, across the field, Benton cheered incessantly, doggedly, longing forthe whistle.

  The Benton team used all allowable methods to waste time. The timekeeperhovered nearby, his eyes darting from the galloping hand of his watch tothe players. "Twenty-nine seconds," he responded to Tom Hall's question.Carmine clapped his hands impatiently.

  "Signals now! Make this good! Left tackle over! 27--57--88--16! Hep!27--57--88----"

  The backs swung obliquely to the right, Carmine dropped from sight, hisback to the line, Benton's left side was borne slowly away, fightinghard, and confusion reigned. Then Carmine whirled around, sprang,doubled over, through the scattered right side of the enemy's line,challenged only by the end, who made a desperate attempt at a tackle butfailed, and, with only the opposing quarter between him and the goalline, raced like the wind. About him was a roaring babel of sound,voices urging him on, shouts of dismay, imploring shrieks from behind.Then the quarter was before him, crouching with out-reached hands, astrained, anxious look on his dirt-streaked face.

  They met near the twenty-yard line. The Benton quarter launched himselfforward. Carmine swung to the left and leaped. A hand groped at hisankle, caught, and Carmine fell sprawling to the turf. But he found hisfeet like a cat, wrenched the imprisoned ankle free and went staggering,stumbling on. Again he fell, on the five-yard line, and again the Bentonquarter dived for him. But Carmine was not to be stopped with the lineonly five short yards away. He wrested himself to his feet again, thearms of the Benton quarter squirming about his knees, plunged on astride, dragging the enemy with him, found his legs locked firmly now,struggled desperately and then flung himself sidewise toward the lastwhite streak. And as he fell his hands, clasping the ball, reachedforward and a whistle blew.

  It was said afterward that a half-inch decided that touchdown. And thehalf-inch was on the wrong side of the line! Carmine wept frankly whenhe heard the decision and Tom Hall had to be held away from the referee,but facts were facts and Carmine had lost his touchdown and Brimfieldthe victory by the width of a finger!

  Benton departed joyously, cheering and singing, and Brimfield tried hardto be satisfied with a drawn game. But she wasn't very successful, andfor the next few days the referee's decision was discussed and deridedand regretted.

  What sorrow Don felt was largely mitigated when, after supper thatevening, Steve
Edwards found him in front of Billings. "You come to usMonday, Don," said the captain. "Robey told me to tell you. JoeGafferty's got a rib caved in and is out of it for a fortnight at least.Get Tim to coach you up on the signals. Don't forget."

  As though he was likely to!