Show A FOOTBALL HERO The morning dawned clear and cold an anid id ideal al day for the game Everybody realized realized realized real real- that and Big Bill tossed restlessly on the iron cot in room 64 Twice the old bell had tolled the hour hour- and twice Bills Bill's face had lighted up Each time he lie had raised himself from his his' bed and with a moan had sunk back among the pillows A cool bre breeze ze came in through the window window window win win- dow and brushed the h heated brow of Big Bill He opened his eyes the sound of voices came to his ear clear young voices girls' girls and boys' boys It was time for the game the big game gam of the year They were going toward the campus they were going to win It was his team his fellows that were going going- to win Bill Dill tried to lift his head Painfully he lie raised himself on on his elbows and strained every nerve to catch th the words that they said They were not praising Bill they didn't care for him now The nurse entered the room closed the blinds and looked for a moment at the fac face buried in the pillows She touched his forehead forehead fore fore- head it was hot his lips were parched She gave him a sip of ice water He Ie said nothing noth noth- nothing ing b but lt his fists were tightly clenched d. d Through the racked pain-racked brain the football game went on two touchdowns had been made by Billy he lie was their hero The The nerves in that muscular body twitched the ey eyes s were glaring Bill Dill was in the midst of the crowd He tIe had called out to Billin Billings 1 lings to tackle hard There was a moments moment's sease ease the big body was once more relaxed relaxed- I he was exhausted exhaust d. d A faint hurrah came carne with the can canyon Yon w wind n I Bill 1 was again d. d disturbed l With on one mighty effort he lie sat upright on the nar narrow cot ot TI There was excitement in his eyes H He H thrust one foot out the upon floor and i in n none one n moment ol en t B Big Ig Bill was vas 1 standing a at th the window his Ius head inclined against tl ti frame Again there was a mighty hurrah I they were cheering for him for Billy I 7 Th Th six feet of wasted muscle gradually drooped the knees es gave way and he sank down upon the floor his elbows on the window i sill J Just a month before Bill had been th hero of the college he lie had won the greatest greatest honors in the football world In that gam he lie had been injured and for thirty one days day he lie had lain in the hospital pain sapping sapping his vitality drop by drop The enthusiastic crowd surged past past their banners flying and their horns blow blo Bills Bill's team had ing won His head was wa too full of pain to know what the college fellows were saying Th They y did not e ever even n look up tip to the hospital window where a hand was frantically waved to them Bill Bil thought that they were cheering for him hirr but they neither turned nor looked A moment mo tilo- ment later a tumultuous crowd came cam dOwn the avenue bearing a fellow high upon their shoulders just as they had carried hina hina hima hin him a month before For the first time Bill real realized realized reali they were not ch cheering ering for him an arH other fellow v had lead taken away what had been his They had won the game they had won it and without Bill they hadn't needed Bill His lis head fell upon his hands nobody thought of him hall now nobody cared his laurels ls had been won and quickly lost There was a sound of hurrying feet a yell loud lond and clear awakened the weary heart Rah Rah Rah Rah Rah Rali Rah Rali 1 Bill Bill Bill Did they mean him They surely did He Ie had really won the game I-I I He e cr crept pt back once more to his cot H H still was vas their hero He Ie had won the fight GL GLADYS ADYS STE STEWART |