Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 145, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1919 — Outside the Game [ARTICLE]

Outside the Game

By S. B. HACKLEY

(.Copyright, 1919. by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) “Rah-Rnh-Rah! Camden!” “Warren! Warren! Warren!” fa m den’s oldest inhabitants could not remember a finer Thanksgiving day—sunny and dry, and the trig yellow chrysanthemums Herman Seidler, Camden's florist, had brought to perfection in his greenhouses near the football grounds, quivered under the volume of yells of the boosters of the rival teams. =? Camden and Warren colleges had taken up athletics In general and football In particular a little late in life; perhaps for this reason their enthusiasm was all the greater. And nearest the two warring teams were the two most enthusiastic football men In Camden town —Branham Rlker, the young professor of Greek in Camden college, and Clement Sen, bookkeeper for Grimes & Quincy, the Camden wholesale grocers. Sea’s enthusiasm was of the silent variety. Though hfs blue eyes saw every move, he stood as quiet as a post. But Hiker’s black eyes flashed; his dark, Spanlsh-looking face glowed or glowered as his team scored or lost. Pretty Jane Fithian, the daughter of the professor of mathematics, fh* twrr~ enthiuaUmfH rattier than the game, a worried expression in her hazel eyes. Clement Sea loved her —that she knew, and Rlker Was going to tell her this evening that he loved her. Which did she care for? Clement had never asked her to marry him; he had not even called on her since Professor Riker had been going out with her so much, hut It wasn’t that he didn't wish to—hut because ho believed she loved Riker. That, too, Jane knew. If she accepted Riker she would be the envy of the other girls of the town. Most any of them would think they were lufky to marry a college professor that looked like Branham Riker.

Out driving the day before in Hiker's new car, Jane saw Clement, released from his afternoon’s work, watching the teams at practice. “It’s a bit queer to see a sissy interested in football,” Riker remarked. “Indeed Clement Sea Is no sissy!” Jane averred Indignantly. Rlker laughed. “Well, anyway, he’s the bind that gets henpecked after marriage and tells everything he knows to his wlfey!” Jane laughed a bit unwillingly, but tinder the spell of his fascination her resentment soon died. “Warren! Warren!” The yell was louder, more exultant than ever. A crowd of visitors from Warren waved Warren’s colors, red and blue. The white and yellow of Camden, too, waved defiantly, but it was evident that Cnmden was playing a losing game. Then the ugly thing happened. The spectators had crowded up close. Jane and one other only saw a sudden mad act. The next Instant the game was won. by Warren. When The “wounded" were helped off the field, it was found that the coach of the Warren team was suffering from three, fractured ribs. When . Jhe young man was treated at the home rs President Sayre, black and blue spots were found on his side, Inflicted by the bard heel of a shoe not in the game and not by accident. Who did it? Jane Fithian could have told. Jane, who, in the twinkling of an eye, had had the cobwebs of fancy swept from her brain and the illusions of attractive personality, unaccompanied by decent self-control, dispelled. The college president entertained the winning team at dinner, and at a twoo’clock feast, held at the home of the English professor, Shelby Frederick. Rlker was one of the guests; Jane Fithian, an animated creature, with brilliant flags of color in her cheeks, another. Soon after the guests left .the’dining room Jane sought her young hostess in the dressing room. “Yon're not'going, Jane?” she exclaimed in surprise. “Are you forgetting we’re all going for a moonlight ride This evening—and—-and isn’t Professor Riker taking you?" “I’ve got to go home, Elsie.” Jane answered. “They’re all dining out—there’s nobody there, and I’ve just rememberedsomething I—perhaps I will come back after a while.” “Let Upton take you In the car if you must go, Jane,” her friend suggested. Jane shook her brown head. “No, I want to walk.” . “I’m behind on my work since I’ve been losing sleep of night. I’ve got to go to the office now and begin a long afternoon’s work,” Jane had heard a man say In refusing a dinner invitation at the grounds that morning. When Clement Sea took down the telephone receiver the voice came over the wire sent his heart leaping. “Vill you please come up to the house —right now?” It said. “I—l am very busy,” he stammered. “Qli, Clementthe voice was tremulous, “I will keep you but a few minutes. I—l must see you”. Five minutes later Jane answered hie ring at the Fithian doorbell and led him. to the parlor. “Why haven’t jqs been §ffiund to

see us this long timet" she demanded lightly. He tried to answer her as lightly, but ended In the stammered truth. ’T—l— Jane, do you think a felToW wanfs t'o hang around the girl he’s loving until his heart aches for her —whenj he knows he’s outside the game?” Jane’s breath came quick, then she smiled coquettiShiy. “Clement," she asked irrelevantly, “who was It hurt Mr/Swift today. Who wis it kicked him when he slipped and fell ?’„’ Clement reddened to the roots of his hair, then as quickly paled. He bad thought he alone saw that rash act. . “Jane —I —m+bedy- would believe me If I told what I saw. I —l mustn’t tell you!” “I would believe you,” she answered. ‘ “That’s all the more reason why I shouldn’t tell you.” he said soberly; “it might make you unhappy. I can’t tell you that, Jane; don’t ask me Jane’s henrt beat a raptflrous tune. “I knew he wouldn’t,” she exulted. “I knew all the time that he wouldn’t!” “I —Clem —” she went on, “if I tell you I want one —do you think you can get Innis or the other jeweler to open his shop this afternoon to —to get me an engagement ring?" The petals of the pink chrysanthemum she held In her fingers fell to the floor. Clement looked at her In a happy agony of incredulity. He felt like the heavens had opened and messenger—had called to him —who had stood for years at the gate, to come in. “Why the engagement ring today, my sweet?” lie demanded tenderly some moments later, of the ear that was not resting on his rough serge cont. “Can’t we be engaged until to-morrow without the ring?” The face that belonged to the ear raised a trifle. s“Clem; there’s a man—no, a thing—* going to ask me to marry him this evening, and I want —I want—” “Go on.” prompted Sen. as she hesitated, holding her a little closer; “I can stand even that now !” “I want to he wearing your ring then!" she cried. “I want to show him I belong— He's so—so dominant and sure, and —and —cruel —I’m afraid of him!” Clement released her. “Little coward,” he said. “Show me the telephone. I think I know where Innis Is spending his afternoon.”