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diff --git a/15801.txt b/15801.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8a15bf3 --- /dev/null +++ b/15801.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8156 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Winning His "W", by Everett Titsworth +Tomlinson + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Winning His "W" + A Story of Freshman Year at College + + +Author: Everett Titsworth Tomlinson + +Release Date: May 8, 2005 [eBook #15801] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WINNING HIS "W"*** + + +E-text prepared by Elaine Walker, David Garcia, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +WINNING HIS "W" + +A Story of Freshman Year at College + +by + +EVERETT T. TOMLINSON + +M.A. Donohue & Company +Chicago New York + +1904 + + + + + + + +PREFACE + + +In this book I have endeavored to relate the story of a boy's early +experiences in college life--a boy who was neither unnaturally good nor +preternaturally bad, wholesome, earnest, impulsive, making just such +mistakes as a normal boy would make, and yet earnest, sincere, and +healthy. We all have known just such boys and are grateful that they are +neither uncommon nor unknown. + +Perhaps it may add a little to the interest of this tale if it is stated +that many of the events described in it actually occurred. I have not +tagged a "moral" upon it, for if the story itself shall not bear its own +moral, then the addition will not add to it. + +EVERETT T. TOMLINSON. + +Elizabeth, New Jersey. + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. THE OPENING TERM + + II. PETER JOHN'S ARRIVAL + + III. NEW FRIENDS AND NEW EXPERIENCES + + IV. A CLOUD OF WITNESSES + + V. UNSOUGHT ATTENTIONS + + VI. A RACE IN THE DARKNESS + + VII. SPLINTER'S QUESTIONS + + VIII. THE PARADE + + IX. THE WALK WITH MOTT + + X. A VISITOR + + XI. THE PERPETUAL PROBLEM + + XII. THE MEET + + XIII. WAGNER'S ADVICE + + XIV. THE ADVICE FOLLOWED + + XV. A REVERSED DECISION + + XVI. TELEGRAMS + + XVII. PETER JOHN'S DOWNFALL + +XVIII. AN ALARMING REPORT + + XIX. A RARE INTERVIEW + + XX. A CRISIS + + XXI. THE EXAMINATION + + XXII. A FRESH EXCITEMENT + +XXIII. THE RUSH TO COVENTRY CENTER + + XXIV. THE MYSTERY OF THE CANES + + XXV. ON THE TRAIL + + XXVI. ST. PATRICK'S DAY + +XXVII. CONCLUSION + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE OPENING TERM + + +"I've got a letter from Peter John." + +"What's the trouble with him? He ought to have been here yesterday or +the day before." + +"I'm afraid Peter John never'll be on time. He doesn't seem to have +taken that in his course. He'd never pass an 'exam' in punctuality." + +"What does he want?" + +"The poor chap begs us to meet him at the station." + +"What train?" + +"The two-seventeen." + +"Then we've no time to waste. Is he afraid he'll be lost?" + +"He's afraid, all right." + +"What's he afraid of?" + +"Everything and everybody, I guess. Poor chap." + +Will Phelps laughed good-naturedly as he spoke, and it was evident that +his sympathy for "Peter John" was genuine. His friend and room-mate, +Foster Bennett, was as sympathetic as he, though his manner was more +quiet and his words were fewer; their fears for their friend were +evidently based upon their own personal knowledge. + +For four years the three young men had been classmates in the Sterling +High School, and in the preceding June had graduated from its course of +study, and all three had decided to enter Winthrop College. The entrance +examinations had been successfully passed, and at the time when this +story opens all had been duly registered as students in the incoming +class of the college. + +Foster Bennett and Will Phelps were to be room-mates, and for several +days previous to the September day on which the conversation already +recorded had taken place they had been in the little college town, +arranging their various belongings in the room in Perry Hall, one of the +best of all the dormitory buildings. The first assembling of the college +students was to occur on the morrow, and then the real life upon which +they were about to enter was to begin. + +The two boys had come to Winthrop together, the parents of both having +decided that it was better to throw the young students at once upon +their own resources rather than to accompany them, reserving their +visits for a later time when the first novelty of the new life would be +gone. + +And on this September day the novelty certainly was the most prominent +element in the thoughts of both boys. The task of arranging their +various belongings in their new rooms had kept both so busy that +thoughts of the homes they had left were of necessity somewhat rare, and +the vision of the family life in which they had been so vital a part had +not as yet come to take the place in their minds which it soon would +occupy. + +At the hotel where they had been staying there were many other boys who +were in a predicament not unlike their own, but the very fact that all +were alike new to the life and its surroundings had made every one +somewhat diffident and the warm friendships and cordial relations that +soon were to be formed were as yet not begun. + +Will Phelps and Foster Bennett, however, had been so completely taken up +with their own immediate tasks that they had little thought for other +things. At the time when this story opens their study room was ready for +callers, as Will expressed it, and the adjoining sleeping rooms were in +a fair way for occupancy. Indeed, the boys planned that very night to +sleep in the dormitory, and the experience was looked forward to as one +which they both would enjoy. + +Will Phelps, a sturdy young fellow of eighteen, of medium height, with +strong body and a bright, keen expression in his dark eyes, had been the +most popular of all the boys in the high school from which he had +recently graduated. Not over-fond of study, he had somewhat neglected +his tasks until his final year, and though he had then begun to work +more seriously, his late effort had not entirely atoned for the neglect +of the preceding years. An only son and not rigidly trained in his home, +he had not formed the habits of study which his more serious-minded +room-mate, Foster Bennett, possessed. But almost every one who met the +young student was drawn to him by the fascination of his winning ways, +and realized at once the latent possibilities for good or ill that were +his. His success would depend much upon his surroundings, and though +Will was sublimely confident in his ability to meet and master whatever +opposed him, it nevertheless had been a source of deep satisfaction to +his father and mother that he was to room with his classmate, Foster +Bennett, for Foster was of a much more sedate disposition than his +friend. Taller than Will by three inches, as fond as he of certain +athletic sports, still Foster was one whom enthusiasm never carried away +nor impulse controlled. When people spoke of him they often used the +word "steady" to describe him. Not so quick nor so brilliant as Will, he +was not able to arouse the response which his room-mate seldom failed to +elicit, nor was his promise in certain ways so great. Will might do +brilliant things, but of Foster it was said that 'one always knew where +to find him.' Naturally, the two boys in a measure complemented each +other, and their friendship was strong and lasting. + +Peter John Schenck--no one ever thought of referring to him by another +term than "Peter John"--the third member of the high-school class to +which reference has already been made, was a boy who every morning had +driven into the little city of Sterling from his country home, and in +his general appearance was decidedly unlike either of his classmates. +The influences of his home had been of a different character from those +which had surrounded his two friends. Not that the love for him had been +less, but certain elements of refinement had been lacking and his +familiarity with the ways of the world was much less. Besides, his +father had been in humbler circumstances, and Peter John was to room in +college in Leland Hall, one of the oldest of the dormitories, where the +room rent was much less than in Perry Hall and more in accord with +Peter John's pocket. In school he had been made the butt of many a joke, +but his fund of good nature had never rebelled and his persistence was +never broken. Tall, ungainly, his trousers seemed to be in a perpetual +effort to withdraw as far as possible from his boots, while his hands +and wrists apparently were continually striving to evade the extremities +of his coat sleeves. His face was freckled, not the ordinary freckles +produced by the heat of the sun, but huge splotches that in color almost +matched his auburn-tinted hair--at least his sister was prone to declare +that the color of his hair was "auburn," though his less reverent +schoolmates were accustomed to refer to him as a "brick-top." + +But Peter John was undeterred by the guying of his mates, and when he +had first declared his intention to go to college his words had been +received as a joke. But it was soon discovered that in whatever light +they might be received by others, to Peter John himself they were the +expression of a fixed purpose; and so it came to pass that he too had +passed the entrance examinations and was duly enrolled as a member of +the freshman class in Winthrop College. + +When his determination had been accepted by his mates, some of them had +made use of their opportunities to enlarge upon the perils that lay +before him--perils for the most part from the terrible sophomores who +were supposed to be going about seeking their prey with all the +fierceness of a roaring lion. Peter John had listened to the marvelous +tales that were poured into his ears, but so far as his expression of +face was concerned, apparently they had been without effect. +Nevertheless, deep in his heart Peter John had stored them all and his +fear of the class above him had increased until at last just before he +departed from home he had written to his friend Will Phelps informing +him of his fears and begging that he and Foster would meet him at the +station and protect him from the fierce onslaughts, which, he confessed, +he expected would await him upon his arrival. This letter Will Phelps +had found at the little post office when he made inquiries for his mail, +and upon his return to his room it had provided the basis for the +conversation already recorded. + +"We'd better go right down to the station, then, Will," Foster had said. + +"All right. Peter John will be in mortal terror if he shouldn't find us +there. He probably believes the sophs will have a brass band and knives +and guns and will be drawn up on the platform ready to grab him just the +minute he steps off the car." + +"Not quite so bad as that," laughed Foster. "But we'll have to help the +poor chap out." + +"Sure. Come on, then," called Will as he seized his cap and started +toward the hallway. + +"Hold on a minute. Wait till I lock the door." + +"'Lock the door?' Not much! You mustn't do that." + +"Why not?" + +"It isn't polite." + +"What are you talking about?" demanded Foster. + +"Just what I'm telling you. Freshmen mustn't lock their doors, that's +not the thing. The janitor told me not to, because the sophs will take +it as a challenge to break it in. He said the college had to put sixty +new locks this summer on the doors here in Perry." + +"Looks as if something had happened for a fact," said Foster slowly, as +he glanced at some huge cracks that were plainly visible in the panels. +"Sure 't'll be safe?" + +"It'll be all right. The janitor says so. Come on! Come on, or we'll be +too late!" + +The two boys ran swiftly down the stairway (their room was on the third +floor of the dormitory) and soon were on the street which was directly +in front of the building. As they walked rapidly in the direction of the +station, which was a half-mile or more distant from the college +buildings, the sight which greeted their eyes was one that stirred the +very depths of their hearts. The very buildings themselves were +impressive, some old and antiquated, dating back a century or more and +venerable with age, and others new and beautiful, the recent gifts of +some loyal alumni. From the huge clock in the tower of the chapel rang +out the chimes which announced that the hour of two was come and gone. +The beautifully kept grounds, the stately buildings, the very leaves on +the huge elms that grew about the grounds were all impressive at the +time to the boys to whom the entire picture was new. + +In the wide street that led directly through the midst of the college +buildings, were passing young men of their own age, some of whom would +suddenly stop and grasp with fervor the hands of some students just +returned from the long summer vacation. From the windows of the +dormitories could be seen the faces of students who were leaning far out +and shouting their words of greeting to friends on the street below. The +September sun was warm and mellow, and as it found its way through the +thick foliage it also cast fantastic shadows upon the grass that seemed +to dance and leap in the very contagion of the young life that abounded +on every side. The very air was almost electric and the high hills in +the distance that shut in the valley and provided a framework for the +handiwork of nature, lent an additional charm to which Will Phelps was +unconsciously responding. + +"I tell you, Foster, this is great! I'm glad I'm here!" he exclaimed. + +"Are you?" replied Foster in his more subdued manner. "Well, I'm glad +too." + +The scene upon the platform of the station was as animated and inspiring +as that about the college grounds. Groups of students were here awaiting +the coming of friends, and yet their impatience was hidden by the +enthusiasm of the moment. One group, consisting of twenty or more young +men, particularly interested Will, for their noise and exuberance seemed +to know no bounds. At last a young man, evidently a student though +slightly older than the most in the group, approached them and said: +"Here, you sophs! You're making too much noise. Children should be seen, +not heard." + +"All right, pop," responded one; and for a time the noise decreased. But +it was not long before it broke forth afresh and became even more +violent than before. Both Will and Foster were curiously watching the +group; they almost instinctively looked upon them as natural enemies and +yet were compelled to laugh at their antics. + +"Here you, taxi-driver," suddenly called out one of the sophomores +advancing from the midst of his classmates and approaching one of the +cabs, a line of which were drawn up near the platform. + +"Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Here you are! Here you are! This way!" responded a +half-dozen of the taxi-drivers. + +"Be still!" replied the young man solemnly to the noisy men. "Can't you +see I'm engaged with John? Now, John, tell me honestly, are you free?" + +"Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Take you anywhere ye say," responded the driver +glibly. + +"You're sure you're at liberty?" + +"Yes, sir. Yes, sir." + +"All right, then. I'm glad to hear it. I've a great respect for liberty. +That's all I wanted to know; thank you," he added, politely bowing; then +turning to his classmates he said: "I say, fellows, make it three for +liberty!" + +The cheers were given with a will, and then the leader added solemnly, +"Let's make it three for our class, the best class that ever entered old +Winthrop! Now then!" + +These cheers also were loudly given, but they ceased abruptly when it +was seen that the train, for whose coming they had been waiting, was now +approaching. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +PETER JOHN'S ARRIVAL + + +Before the rumbling train halted at the station, there was a rush of +students toward it, all eager to welcome the incoming crowd, and every +one apparently being desirous of being the first to greet his friends. +Upon the platforms of the cars also crowds of students were to be seen, +waving their hats in the air or standing with their traveling bags in +their hands, all as eager as the boys at the station to be foremost in +the reunion scene. + +Will Phelps and his room-mate stood a little back from the assembly and +watched the proceedings with an interest which neither could conceal. It +was all so stimulating, this animation and bustle and manifest eagerness +in renewing the college life, and to feel that they too were to have a +share in the possessions of these young men, scarcely one of whom was +known to them personally, was in itself sufficient to quicken their +pulses and arouse all the dormant forces of their nature. The train was +a long one and yet from every car came pouring forth the stream of +students and the excitement continued for several minutes. + +Suddenly a shout went up from the crowd and there was a rush of students +toward the rear car. "There's Baker! Good old Sam! Hurrah for the +captain!" were among the cries that could be heard as the students +surged toward the platform, from which a sturdy young man could be seen +descending, apparently unmindful of the interest his coming had aroused +and striving to be indifferent to the cheers that greeted his arrival. + +Will Phelps and Foster Bennett almost unconsciously moved with the +throng though they were not fully aware of the cause of the sudden +interest of the students. "It may be that he's the captain of the +football team," said Will in a low voice to his companion. "At any rate +the captain's name is Baker and probably this is the man." + +Foster nodded his head but made no other reply as he stood watching the +young man as he stepped down from the platform. There could be no +question as to who he was, for the conquering hero was writ large upon +his powerful frame and the universal deference of the student body could +be accounted for only by the fact that a leader in Winthrop had arrived. + +"Look there, Will," said Foster suddenly. "There's Peter John." + +"Where?" + +"Right behind Baker. Just coming out of the door. See him?" + +"Yes," responded Will as he obtained a glimpse of his classmate just as +he was emerging from the doorway. Travel-stained, his hat pushed back on +his head, his eyes wildly staring about at the crowd, a huge carpet-bag +in his hand, his appearance certainly would have attracted the attention +of the spectators had it not been that their interest was apparently +centered in the mighty captain of the football team and they had no +thought for any one else. + +Just as Baker stepped down, Peter John emerged from the car directly +behind the captain, and a cheer louder than any that before had been +given rose from the assembly. + +Poor Peter John! Nervous and excited, conscious only of himself and his +strange surroundings, the startled freshman had no other thought than +that the cheers were meant for him and doubtless were intended as a war +cry from those enemies of whom he had heard such marvelous tales--the +sophomores. Wild-eyed, for a moment he seemed to be well-nigh paralyzed. +He stood motionless and gazed out at the surging mass of students almost +as if he were minded to turn back into the car and escape from the +threatening peril. But the pressure from behind was too strong to permit +him to carry out his intention and he was compelled to move forward. As +yet he had not seen his two waiting friends and his feeling of utter +loneliness swept over him afresh. From the lowest step he was about to +move when another mighty shout went up from the assembly and Peter John +looked helplessly about him as if he were convinced that his doom was +sealed and for him there was to be no escape. + +Suddenly he darted from the midst of the crowd, sending two or three +young men who chanced to be in his way sprawling, and with his quaint +carpet-bag still tightly grasped in his hand fled directly back over the +railway ties. He had not gone far before his flight was perceived and a +shout of laughter and derision arose. Even the mighty Baker was ignored +in the fresh excitement and instantly a crowd of students started in +pursuit of the fleeing freshman. + +"Hi, there! Stop, freshman! Wait a minute; we'll help carry your bag! +Look at the sprinter! Going home? Good-bye! Good-bye!" were among the +derisive cries that he heard. There could be no mistake, the attention +of the entire student body was upon him, he was convinced, and his speed +increased. His long legs, his flying coat tails, his flapping +carpet-bag, indeed his entire appearance was such that shrieks of +laughter arose from his pursuers, but Peter John never once glanced +behind him. Every fresh call served to increase his terror. Life, +liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were about to be taken from him +and his sole hope depended upon his own exertions. It was do or die, and +Peter John preferred the former. + +In a brief time the good-natured crowd abandoned its pursuit, and Peter +John Schenck was left to continue his lonely flight. Will Phelps and +Foster Bennett had joined in the laughter at first, for the ridiculous +flight of their classmate was well-nigh irresistible; but when it soon +became apparent that Peter John's terror was real and that he firmly +believed the entire college was in swift pursuit of him, their attitude +changed. + +"It's too bad, Will," said Foster. "The poor chap is scared almost to +death." + +"We can't help it. He'll have to learn some things, if not others," +laughed Will. + +"They're coming back," suggested Foster, as the pursuit was abandoned +and the students laughing boisterously returned to the station. + +Peter John, however, was still fleeing and his long strides and his +wildly flapping carpet-bag could be distinctly seen as the frightened +freshman sped up the track. The body of students, however, had now +turned into the street that led back to the college grounds, and +apparently Peter John's wild flight was already forgotten. + +"We must go after him," said Foster thoughtfully. + +"Oh, leave him alone," replied Will. "He'll come back all right." + +"You go up to the room and I'll go and look him up." + +"Not much! If you go, then I go too! I may be the next victim and I +don't intend to be offered up alone. Come on, or he'll be clear back in +Sterling before we find him." + +Will laughed as he spoke, and at once the two boys started up the track +in the direction in which their classmate had fled. He could not be seen +now for a bend in the road had concealed him from sight, and for a time +his two friends did not dare to run, being fearful that they too might +attract an undue amount of attention and bring upon themselves the many +ills from which they were striving to save their friend. + +Apparently their departure from the station had not drawn the attention +of any one, and, as they became convinced that they were not being +followed, their own speed increased until they too had passed the bend +in the road, when they began to run swiftly. Nothing could be seen of +Peter John, and when they had gone a considerable distance Will Phelps +stopped and whistled. + +At first there was no response, but when the signal had been thrice +repeated both boys heard the voice of their friend apparently coming +from behind the bushes growing on the bank directly beside them. + +"All alone, Will?" called Peter John timidly. + +"Yes. Yes. Where are you, Peter John?" responded Will, peering about +him, but as yet unable to determine where his friend was hiding. + +"Here I am." + +"Where's that?" + +"Right here." + +"Come out here where we are. Stand up like a little man and be counted." + +"Sure nobody's with you?" + +"Foster's here, that's all." + +Slowly Peter John arose from his hiding-place and peered anxiously about +him. "It's all right. Come on!" called Will encouragingly. Thus bidden, +Peter John stepped forth, still holding tightly in his grasp his +precious carpet-bag. Will Phelps did not even laugh nor did he have any +inclination to do so as he perceived how genuine was the suffering of +the terrified boy. + +"You needn't be afraid now, Peter John," he said soothingly. "You're all +right." + +"That was a close call." + +"Call for what?" demanded Foster sharply. Will turned and looked in +surprise at his room-mate, for the tone of his voice was very unlike +that which he had used when he had insisted that they should go to the +aid of their classmate. + +"I tell you they were after me!" said Peter John, wiping his brow with a +huge handkerchief as he spoke. + +"Who were after you?" demanded Foster still more sharply. + +"The sophomores." + +"Don't you believe it!" + +"Why, they'd have got me if I hadn't put in my prettiest." + +"Nobody would have paid any attention to you if you hadn't run. You drew +it all on yourself and have no one else to blame." + +"Guess you weren't there when I landed! They gave such a yell when I +started from the cars as I never heard before in all my born days." + +"Did you think they were yelling for you?" + +"Of course I did. I knew they'd be waiting for me." + +"Peter John, you've made a fool of yourself. There wasn't a soul there +except Will and me that knew there was such a fellow in all the world as +Peter John Schenck. Everybody in college will know it now, though." + +"What made 'em yell so, then?" demanded Peter John. + +"They weren't yelling for you at all. They were cheering for Baker, the +captain of the football team. He was just ahead of you." + +"They were?" + +"That's what I said." Foster smiled slightly as he spoke, for the +expression upon the face of Peter John was a study. Consternation, +incredulity, and partial unbelief in what Foster had said were all +expressed there, and his entire attitude was so indescribably ludicrous +as almost to be pathetic. + +"Swan! I didn't know that," he said at last slowly. + +"Well, you know it now." + +"What shall I do?" + +"'Do'? Do nothing. Just attend to your own business and let everything +else go." + +"I thought I was attending to my own business," said Peter John +woefully. + +"Oh, well, never mind, Peter John," broke in Will with a laugh. "It's +all over now and no bones broken." + +"I wish it _was_ all over," said Foster in a low voice to Will. + +"I wish it was too. He'll be the center of interest by to-morrow. And +really, Foster, it did beat anything I ever saw." + +Foster Bennett smiled but made no reply, and together the three boys +began to retrace their way to the station. Peter John evidently was +somewhat crestfallen and seldom spoke. At the station no students were +seen, and the trio at once started up the street toward the college. + +"I suppose my things are in my room," Peter John ventured to suggest. + +"Yes, they're there all right. I went over this morning to see about +them." + +"Thank you. I'll be pretty busy for the rest of the days I take it." + +"That won't do you any harm. You can come over and sleep on the couch in +our room to-night if you would like to," suggested Foster. + +"Are you all settled?" + +"Pretty much. Enough so that we can make room for you. There's always +room for one more, you know." Foster spoke pleasantly and Peter John was +quick to respond. They were now near the college grounds, however, and +the interest of Peter John was quickly taken up in his surroundings. +Both Will and Foster were familiar with the name of every building by +this time, and their residence of three days in the college town had +already given to them a sense of part possession, and they glibly +explained to their classmate the name and use of each building as they +passed it until at last they halted before Leland Hall, where Peter John +was to have his room. + +"I'd like to know who's to be my room-mate," he said as all three turned +into the low entry and began to mount the worn stairway. + +"Probably he's thinking of the same thing too," laughed Will. "Here you +are," he added as he stopped before the door of a room on the third +floor. "Yours is twenty-six, isn't it?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, here it is." + +"Come on in, fellows," urged Peter John, opening the door as he spoke, +and all three found themselves in the presence of a young man of their +own age, who glanced quickly up from the box which he was unpacking as +they entered. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +NEW FRIENDS AND NEW EXPERIENCES + + +"One of you, I fancy, is Schenck, who is to room here with me. I haven't +the remotest idea which one of you is the man, but whichever it is I'm +glad to see him." + +The young man laughed heartily as he spoke, and all three of the +freshmen laughed in response so contagious was his good nature. But his +appearance was even more striking than his words, for he stood before +them like a young giant. He was at least six feet and three inches in +height, his shoulders were so broad that they made the very doorway +appear narrow, and as he stood before them without his coat and with his +shirt sleeves rolled back over his arms, the great knots of muscles +could be plainly seen. Altogether he presented a most impressive sight, +and his young classmates were duly impressed by his huge size and +evident physical strength. + +"I'm Schenck," said Peter John, after a momentary hesitation. + +"Glad to see you," exclaimed the young giant, stepping forward and +grasping his room-mate's hand in such a manner as to make Peter John +wince. "You know what my name is, I suppose. I'm Hawley. 'Cupe' Hawley +they called me in school because I was such a dainty and delicate little +specimen." And again his laughter broke forth. "Friends of yours, +Schenck?" he added, as he glanced inquiringly at the two companions of +his room-mate. + +Will Phelps and Foster Bennett were at once introduced, and warmly +greeted their classmate. + +"Sorry I can't offer you any seats, fellows," said Hawley, still +laughing, though there was no apparent cause for his enjoyment. "Haven't +got everything unpacked yet; but if you'll just wait a minute we'll find +something for you to sit on." + +"We'll help you," said Will Phelps, at once laying aside his coat. + +In their room he and Foster had done but little of the labor required in +unpacking their belongings, for neither had been accustomed to such +tasks in the homes from which they had come. Their fathers both were +well-to-do and it had not occurred to either of the boys that the manual +labor in settling their room was something to be expected of them. For a +moment Foster glanced quizzically at his friend as if he was puzzled to +account for his unexpected proffer, but knowing Will's impulsiveness as +he did he was quick to respond, and in a brief time the few belongings +of Peter John and his room-mate were unpacked and the beds were set up, +the shades at the windows, and the few scanty belongings all arranged. + +"I didn't bring a carpet. Did you?" inquired Hawley of Schenck. + +"No," replied Peter John. + +"We can get along without one. I haven't any money to spare, and carpets +are luxuries anyway. If we feel like it we can buy one afterwards. +They're dangerous things though," and Hawley laughed as he spoke. "My +doctor says they're the worst sources of contagion in the world, and +whatever else I do I must be careful of my health." Again the laugh of +the young giant rang out, and in its contagion all three of his +classmates joined. + +And yet as Will Phelps glanced about the room its appearance was +pitifully bare. The furniture was of the plainest, the walls were bare +of pictures, there were none of the numerous pillows and other tokens of +the warm regard of friends that had accompanied himself and his +room-mate into the new life upon which they had entered. Apparently, +however, Hawley was as delighted over his surroundings as he and Foster +over theirs, perhaps even more, and Will was thoughtful for a moment as +he silently watched his newly made friend. + +"How did you happen to come to Winthrop?" he inquired at last when the +task of settling the room was measurably complete and all four had +seated themselves on the rude wooden chairs which made up most of the +furnishings of the room. + +"I didn't 'happen' to come." Somehow everything appeared to be a source +of enjoyment to Hawley, and questions or remarks were alike greeted with +a laugh. + +"What made you, then?" + +"Isn't Winthrop the best college in the United States?" demanded Hawley. + +"Yes, or at least that's what my father thinks. He graduated here and it +may be that his opinion is a little prejudiced. Is that why you came?" + +"Partly." Again Hawley laughed and closed one eye as he spoke. + +"I can give a guess what the other reason was," said Foster. + +"What was it?" + +"Football." + +Hawley laughed loudly this time as he replied, "You're 'a very Daniel +come to judgment.' That's from the 'Merchant of Venice,' isn't it? Well, +if it is, it's about all I remember of my English course. Well, I'll be +honest with you. I did see Baker this summer, and he set before me the +advantages of coming to Winthrop in such a way that I couldn't very well +say no. And I didn't, so here I am." + +"Did he offer to pay you?" demanded Peter John. + +"Did he offer _what?_" demanded Hawley. + +Somewhat abashed Peter John did not repeat his question, and his +room-mate at once turned the conversation into other lines. "We had a +pretty good football team in the academy where I fitted for college, and +there were several colleges, or at least the football men of the +college, who seemed to be quite willing that some of our fellows should +go to them. We had a half-back who was a dandy! His name was Patrick +O'Hara, and he passed better in football than he did in any other +subject in the course." And Hawley stopped to laugh at the recollection +of his former fellow-student. "Pat wasn't very much of a hand to study, +and when one of the men from White College suggested to him that he +should come there, why Pat was delighted. 'What studies will you take?' +asked the fellow, for you see he knew without being told that Pat +wouldn't be valedictorian of his class whatever other honor he might +take, and he was trying to make it easy for him. 'Well,' said Pat, +''bedad, an' if it's all th' same t' yez, I'm thinkin' I'll just be +afther takin' a bit o' the spellin' an' perhaps a bit o' figurin'. How +do thot be afther suitin' yez'?" + +All the boys joined in the laugh with which Hawley related the story, +and Will Phelps said, "Where did Pat go?" + +"Well," said Hawley slowly, "he has gone to White College." + +"Do you mean to say he has _entered_ there?" demanded Will. + +"That's what they tell me, though I've a notion he'll come out the same +door he went in, and he won't tarry long either. Probably soon after the +season ends." + +"But we play White College. It's one of our nearest rivals," suggested +Will. "But then," he added, "that's just like them. They never do a +thing on the square anyway!" + +Hawley pursed his lips as if he was about to whistle, but he did not +speak though his eyes twinkled with merriment as if Will's statement +somehow was hugely enjoyed by him. Foster Bennett noticing the +expression on Hawley's face, also laughed, but he did not reply to his +room-mate's very positive declaration. There were some things which Will +could not understand, for with his intense and impulsive disposition the +one thing which impressed him at the time was capable of only one +interpretation. His confidence in Winthrop and his dislike of its rival +college were therefore only what were to be expected of his friend. + +"Obliged to you, fellows," said Hawley, as Will Phelps and Foster +Bennett rose to depart. "Come in and see us often." + +"You'll see enough of us from now on," responded Will as he and his +room-mate departed. + +As the two passed out into the street and returned to their own room +Foster said, "It's pretty bare there in Leland, isn't it, Will?" + +"Yes. They both seem to be happy though." + +"Not much like our room." + +"No. But then, Foster, you see they don't know the difference." + +Foster smiled but made no response, and Will continued. "You see +everything in this world is relative. A man doesn't miss what he never +had, does he?" + +"Perhaps not." + +"Now look here, Foster. Do you think a blind man suffers because he +can't see? I mean a man who was born blind, of course." + +"What then?" + +"Why, the man I'm sorry for is the one that could see once and has lost +his sight. He knows, let me tell you, what he's lost. But the other man +doesn't appreciate it. He never could see, so he couldn't lose his +sight, could he? Tell me that." + +"So you wouldn't do anything to help him?" + +"I didn't say that. I didn't say that at all. All I say is that the +fellow I'm sorry for is the one who has had and lost, not the one who +never had. Now look at Peter John, and Hawley. Their room isn't so good +as ours, but it probably is just as good as they expected, or have been +used to, so they don't suffer any." + +"And if you and I had to put up with their room--" + +"Why, we'd feel it." + +"It's a mighty comfortable way of looking at things, that's all I have +to say." + +"But it's the true way," said Will glibly. "There's one thing I'm mighty +glad of for Peter John's sake." + +"What is it?" + +"That he rooms with Hawley. I don't believe the sophs will bother him +very much." + +"Not when Hawley's on hand." + +"You think they will when he's not?" + +"Yes, sir, I do. Peter John just invites them. It stands right out on +his face." + +"Sort of a standing invitation, so to speak?" laughed Will Phelps. +"Well, for my part, I hope he won't be too fresh. There's everything in +that, you know." + +"And therefore we'll go scot free?" + +"Well, Hawley is a great fellow anyway; and I'm glad he's in our class." + +"He's big, anyway." + +"That's what I said." + +"No you didn't, you said great." + +"Same thing." + +"Not much. A man can be big without being great, can't he? Caesar and +Napoleon were not big men, but I think you'd sum up that they were +great." + +"Great butchers, if that's what you mean. You always spin it out too +fine for me, Foster." + +Foster Bennett laughed and both boys entered their room to prepare for +dinner. They still were taking their meals at the hotel, as their +boarding-place had not been selected. In the thoughts of both it was a +selection of too much importance to be made hastily, and they were +therefore waiting until they became more familiar with the details of +their new life. + +It was all novel and interesting, and on the following day the first +class meeting was held. A dignified junior presided at the meeting, and +after explaining what was expected and that the class officers to be +selected were to serve only for a month, when it was thought that the +members of the class would have become sufficiently acquainted with one +another to enable them to act with becoming wisdom, he called for +nominations for class president. + +Peter John Schenck immediately arose and said, "I nominate Hawley." + +The nomination was seconded, and there were calls for Hawley to step to +the platform and stand where all the class could see him. The young +giant obediently advanced and taking his place beside Spencer, who also +was nominated for the office, awaited the verdict. There were cheers +when it was announced that Hawley had won, and the junior then called +for nominations for secretary and treasurer. + +Again Peter John arose to the occasion and said, "I nominate Phelps." + +Will's face flushed scarlet at the unexpected words but his room-mate +at once had seconded the nomination, and he was compelled to advance to +the platform and stand beside Farmer and McVey, whose names were also +presented for the same office. There was some confusion for a time, but +quiet was restored when the result of the ballot was announced. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A CLOUD OF WITNESSES + + +Will Phelps had been elected temporary secretary and treasurer of his +class, the choice having been made chiefly because his appearance, as he +stood on the platform, pleased his classmates, and not because of any +general acquaintance that had been formed. And yet his election had +brought him at once into a certain prominence, and doubtless Will was +duly appreciative of the honor bestowed upon him. + +The member of the junior class to whom had been entrusted the organizing +of the freshmen now rose to give some general words of advice before the +meeting was adjourned. "There are some things in college," he was +saying, "that have the force of laws. Some of them will appear foolish +to you, it may be, and yet it will be more foolish to disregard them. +For example, freshmen are not expected to go up to the hotel parlors in +the evening, it would be decidedly better for them not to display on +their caps or jersey the letters or numerals of the schools from which +they have come, and they must not tack their cards on the doors of their +rooms." Walker, the junior, continued his directions until he thought he +had covered most of the details of the life upon which the incoming +class was entering, but his remarks were not completed when Peter John +Schenck arose from his seat and stood facing the president. There was a +momentary pause as Walker ceased speaking, and the eyes of all the +class were turned toward Peter John. + +After due deliberation, Peter John said in a loud voice, "Mr. President, +I move that we adjourn." + +The hush that followed was broken by a loud laugh which had been started +by Walker himself. Peter John, however, glanced about the room as if he +was unable to perceive what it was that had caused the outbreak. +Apparently unabashed, he again turned to the class president and said, +"Isn't a motion to adjourn always in order, Mr. President? If it is, +then I repeat my former motion. I move that we adjourn." + +Hawley was too good-natured to treat the interruption as it deserved, so +he said, "Is the motion seconded?" + +Apparently it was not, and still unabashed, Peter John again took his +seat while Walker resumed his remarks. + +"I don't know that I have anything more to say, only to tell you fellows +to be careful. College traditions and customs have all the force of +laws, and though some of them may seem to be foolish, still I believe in +the main they help to make the life here what it is, and that's what you +all want to get. If you have any questions to ask, don't be afraid to +come to me with them, or to any of the juniors, and you'll be given all +we know, which, though I can promise you it may not be much, still may +be just a little more than you know. Or, perhaps, some of you," he +added, glancing quizzically in the direction of Peter John Schenck as he +spoke. + +When Walker departed from the room, Peter John was again the first to +arise. "I move we adjourn," he said in a loud voice. + +"Second the motion," said Foster Bennett quickly. The motion was put and +instantly carried, and the class passed out from the room. + +"It was anything to shut up Peter John," Foster explained to Will as he +joined his room-mate. "Did you ever see the like?" + +"I never did," laughed Will. "I feel almost guilty to be acting as +secretary for the class. If we had ten other offices to vote upon, I +believe Peter John would have made the first nomination for every one." + +"He certainly is the freshest freshman in the whole bunch." + +"Yes, he doesn't know enough to know that he doesn't know, and that's +about as far down as a fellow can go in his ignorance, you know." + +"What shall we do for him?" + +"Nothing." + +"But he'll have trouble." + +"Sure." + +"I'd hate to see him catch it too hard." + +"You can't save him, Foster. He's got to learn his lesson. The idea of +his being on his feet so much to-day." + +"Well, he helped us to some good officers anyway, I'll say that much for +him," laughed Foster. "But if he made such an impression on our class, +what'll he do for the sophomores?" + +"You'd better be thinking about what they'll do for him." + +Walker now joined the two boys, introducing himself to each, and +accompanying them to their room, where he entered and took a seat at +their invitation. He was a fine-looking young man and of most agreeable +manners, so that soon both Will and Foster were delighted with him +personally and appreciative of the honor of the visit from their +visitor. + +"No," Walker was saying, "the hazing doesn't amount to anything much in +Winthrop. It's nothing more than a little good-natured 'horse play' for +the most part. Of course, once in a while a fellow gets a little more +attention than the rest of the class; but as a rule it's his own fault. +You have a classmate that'll be very popular with the sophs, if he +doesn't look out," he added with a laugh. + +"Who's that?" inquired Will, with a wink at his room-mate. + +"The chap that was on his feet so much in the class meeting this +afternoon." + +"We were just talking about him," said Foster quickly. "You know he +fitted at the same school where we did, and naturally we want to lend +him a hand when we can. What had we better do?" + +"Nothing." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Just what I say. You can't do much for such a fellow; he has to learn +it all for himself. The trouble is that he doesn't know how much or what +he's got to learn yet. You can't do much for such a--" + +Walker stopped abruptly as Peter John himself entered the room. His face +was beaming, and as he removed his hat his stiff red hair seemed almost +to rise on his head. "Well, fellows," he said, "we did things up brown +this afternoon, didn't we?" + +"You did too much," said Walker quietly. + +"Haven't I as good a right as anybody to make a motion?" demanded Peter +John hotly. + +"You have as much right, but you don't want always to take all your +rights, you know." + +"Why not? I'll stand up for my rights every time. Now, I don't believe a +word of what you said this afternoon." + +"You're complimentary; but you're under no obligations to believe me," +laughed Walker. + +"I don't mean just that. What I mean is that I'd like to see the +sophomore who'd tell me what I could wear or what I couldn't; or where I +could go and where I couldn't. He hasn't anything to say about that." + +"He thinks he has," suggested Walker quietly. + +"I don't care what he thinks. I know my rights, and I intend to stand up +for them too!" + +"Is that why you were running up the railroad track the day when you +came to Winthrop?" demanded Will Phelps. + +"Never you mind about that!" retorted Peter John in nowise abashed. +"That was when I didn't know as much as I do now." + +"Three or four days will do great things for a fellow," remarked Walker +dryly. + +"Yes, sir, that's so. You're right about that," acknowledged Peter John +graciously. "Say, fellows, what are you going to do about these Greek +letter societies?" he inquired abruptly, turning to his two classmates +as he spoke. + +Both Will Phelps and Foster Bennett glanced uneasily at Walker, but the +junior only smiled and made no response. It was apparent though that the +topic Peter John had broached was one upon which all three had been +conferring. + +"We haven't done anything as yet," said Foster. + +"Neither have I," acknowledged Peter John. "I thought I'd take my time +before I decided which one I'd join. I suppose I'll have to write home +to pa, but he won't know as much about it as I do." + +"We live and learn," said Walker as he rose to depart. "I'll see you +to-night?" he inquired of Will and Foster as he stopped for a moment in +the doorway. Will glanced questioningly at his room-mate and then said: +"Thank you, Walker. We'll be very glad to come." + +"Where you going? What did he want?" demanded Peter John when Walker was +gone. + +"It was something personal," said Foster. "Walker thinks you'll have to +walk the chalk line, Peter John, or you'll have trouble with the sophs." + +"He does, does he? Well, I'll show him. I'd like to know what right +they've got to tell me what to do. I'll do as I please! My chum--" + +It was instantly plain to the boys now the cause for this sudden and +strange change in Peter John's attitude. He was relying upon the prowess +of Hawley to protect him now and apparently was confident that he would +not be molested since he roomed with the young giant whose name already +was known throughout the college and from whom such great things were +expected for the football team. + +"Don't depend too much upon Hawley! He can't be everywhere, remember," +said Foster warningly. + +"I'll show 'em, if they come near me!" retorted Peter John as he +departed. + +For several days the college life went on quietly and the boys were +becoming somewhat accustomed to their new surroundings. There had been a +"sweater rush" between the two lower classes, in which Hawley had been +entrusted with the precious sweater, and, surrounded by his classmates, +successfully defended it against the onslaught of the sophomores. The +struggle had been severe but in good part, and the worst results had +been some torn clothing and bruised faces. The freshmen wore upon their +arms a strip of white cloth to enable them to distinguish their own +comrades, and great was their elation when after the time limit had +expired, it was discovered that the coveted sweater was unharmed. The +strength of Hawley had been as the strength of ten and his praises were +in every mouth. + +Into this struggle Will Phelps had thrown himself with all his might, +and when he joyfully emerged from the struggling mass of humanity +gathered about Hawley his rejoicing was great and his cheers for the +class were among the loudest. + +On the border of the crowd he had perceived Peter John, but his +classmate displayed no evidence of the recent struggle and Will was +about to question him, when Peter John himself said, "Come over to my +room to-night, Will." + +"All right." Will Phelps had promised readily, and then the matter +departed from his mind as he rushed about among his classmates. + +That evening he suddenly glanced up from the book he was studying and +said to his room-mate: "Foster, I agreed to go over to Peter John's room +to-night. Want to go?" + +"Can't say that I'm pining for it. What does he want?" + +"I don't know. He seemed to be very much in earnest about it, though." + +"Is it much nearer from here to his room than it is from his room to +ours? If he wanted to see you so much, why didn't he come over here?" + +"That isn't Peter John's way," laughed Will. "I promised to go, so I +think I'll run over for a minute. I'll be back pretty soon." + +"If you need me let me know," called Foster as Will departed, and he +then at once resumed his task. + +Will Phelps ran across the campus to Leland Hall, and as he turned in at +the dimly lighted hall the contrast between his own surroundings and +those in which he now found himself was for the moment almost painful. +The stone step at the entrance had been worn away by the passing of +boyish feet over it for more than a century. For a moment there flashed +into his mind the thought of the eager lives that there had been trained +and long since had passed over into the land beyond. Will himself was +the fourth generation in direct descent in his own family to enter +Winthrop, and as he now passed slowly up the rough, narrow, and worn +stairway, he found himself thinking of his own father and grandfather +and great-grandfather, all of whom doubtless had many a time been in the +very same hallway where he himself then was. Even then from far down +the street came the sounds of song and laughter of some passing body of +students and the faint sound he could hear was for the moment almost +like the echo of long past days. The very hall seemed to echo also with +the footfalls of students who had long since completed their course and +passed on. He was surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. + +Suddenly from the floor above him came the sound of noisy shouts and +shrieks of laughter. The vision of other days and other men instantly +departed, and the full force of the appeal of the present swept over +him. Bounding up the steps, two at a time, he swiftly came to the third +floor and then stopped abruptly as the shouts were redoubled and +evidently came from Peter John Schenck's room. + +For a moment Will hesitated, almost tempted to turn back, but his +feeling of curiosity was strong and resolutely he advanced and rapped +upon the door. This was quickly opened and Will stepped inside the room. +The door had instantly been closed and bolted behind him, but Will was +hardly aware of that so interested was he in the sight upon which he +gazed in the room which was filled with a noisy group of students. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +UNSOUGHT ATTENTIONS + + +One glance about him had been sufficient to convince Will Phelps that +his classmates were suffering from a visit of the sophomores, a dozen or +more of whom he recognized as being in the room. He looked quickly +behind him at the door, but this already had been closed and three of +the stalwart sophomores were standing with their backs against it, the +others being stationed at different points about the room. In the center +stood Mott, a lusty sophomore whom he had frequently seen and whose +general bearing he had intensely disliked, for his face bore the +unmistakable traces of dissipation and his bearing was that of a rowdy. +The fact that Mott had secured a high position among the college +athletes had in a measure made amends for his low tendencies of life in +the eyes of his thoughtless mates, but though he was by nature somewhat +of a leader still his personal popularity was low, and it was only his +physical prowess that gave him any standing. + +Seated upon one end of his study table was Hawley, his face beaming with +good nature and smiling broadly as he faced the assembly in the room. In +one corner Peter John was standing, his back against the wall and in his +hands was one of the heavy wooden chairs which he was grasping by the +rounds. Even in the somewhat dim light Will could see that the great +splotches of red on Peter John's face appeared to be larger and of a +more fiery tint than usual, and his coarse red hair fairly stood on +end. There was an expression of mingled terror and wild, almost +ungovernable, rage on his face, and Will knew what that portended at +that time. A brief silence had followed Will's entrance, and Mott had +turned to some of his comrades and a meaning smile appeared for a moment +on his face as he perceived who the new-comer was. In a moment, however, +the tense stillness of the room returned, and Mott, turning to Peter +John, said: + +"Now, then, freshman, are you ready?" + +"I'll brain the first man that comes near me! Don't you lay a finger on +me or I'll break your head! This is my room and I'll have you understand +that you can't play any of your dirty tricks on me!" + +Peter John's voice rose almost to a shriek, and lifting the chair he +gazed menacingly at Mott, almost as if he was minded to rush upon him. +Hawley laughed as his room-mate spoke, but Will's face became pale and +he could almost hear the beating of his own heart, so intensely excited +was he. He understood Peter John's disposition better than any of those +who were in the room, and his fear of what might follow was great. + +"We'll give you one more chance," said Mott slowly. + +"I don't want any more chances. I want you to get out of this room! I +didn't ask you to come! You've no right here!" shouted Peter John. + +"You didn't have to ask us," retorted Mott. "We came because you need us +and for the good of the college. Come, freshman, do what I tell you." + +"Don't you come near--" began Peter John, but the sentence was not +completed. At some unseen signal a half-dozen sprang upon him. Before he +could bring down the chair which he still was holding above his head he +was suddenly seized by his adversaries, the chair was wrenched from his +hands, he was thrown heavily to the floor, and in a moment his hands and +feet were fast bound with cords, and he was a helpless prisoner. Still +he did not cease his struggling, but as he twisted and writhed he only +drew the cords more tightly and made his own helplessness more apparent. + +"I know who you are!" he shrieked. "I'll report you, every one! I'll +give the whole list of your names to the president! I'll have you +arrested! I'll put you in jail! You're a lot of thieves and low-down +scoundrels! I'll have you put where you won't abuse anybody any more!" +Peter John's voice rose with every fresh threat until at last it almost +broke in a sob. He was almost beside himself, and Will Phelps, though he +shared in the anger of his classmate, was rejoiced that he was helpless +and could not do what his desperation prompted. + +"Tie your handkerchief over his mouth, Hines," said Mott to one of his +companions. "We must hush the infant's wailings or he'll have the whole +of Winthrop up here. He seems to have some language besides that of the +ordinary 'infant crying in the night'." + +At Mott's direction Hines and two of his classmates at once securely +bound a handkerchief about Peter John's face, a task that was not +accomplished without a desperate struggle. + +"Now then, since he seems to be quieted," said Mott at last, when his +bidding had been done, "we'll turn to the other part of the program. +Here, you freshman," he added, turning to Will Phelps as he spoke, "step +up here and take your seat beside your classmate." + +For an instant Will hesitated. The sight of Peter John roused every +instinct of combativeness which he possessed, and that was by no means +small, but a laugh from Hawley restored a measure of self-possession, +and quietly and without a word he seated himself on the table by the +side of his friend. + +"Good! That's the way to do it! Now then, Hawley," said Mott, "you've +got to get rid of that eternal grin of yours. Wipe that smile off your +face and throw it out of the window." + +Hawley laughed aloud as he said, "I've been trying to get rid of it for +nineteen years, but I haven't succeeded yet. If you fellows will show me +how to do it I'll be yours truly now and for evermore." + +Some of the sophomores laughed, but Mott glared angrily at them as he +said, "Quit that!" Then turning again to Hawley he said, "Oh, we'll help +you all right enough. Just do as I tell you!" + +"How shall I do it?" + +"Take your handkerchief and wipe that smile off your face and throw it +out of the window as I tell you." + +Hawley drew a huge handkerchief from his pocket with which he vigorously +rubbed his face, and then going soberly to the window pretended to throw +something out; but when he returned to his seat his laughter became +uncontrollable and he broke forth into a loud guffaw, in which some of +the assembly joined. + +At Mott's rebuke the laughter ceased, and then he said again to Hawley, +"That won't do, freshman. You're not rid of it yet. Try it again!" + +Six times the huge and good-natured freshman was compelled to repeat his +senseless and silly performance, and then Mott declared that he was +satisfied. + +"Don't have a relapse," he said warningly, and then, turning to Will +Phelps, he said, "Now I want my nice little boy, mamma's pet and papa's +joy, to show what a good little boy he really is. He isn't going to do +any of the naughty things that some of the wicked little college boys +do. He is strong, he is, and he promised mamma he wouldn't, and he +won't. Let's give him a song, fellows," he added, turning to his +classmates, and at once the boys began to sing: + + "We're coming, we're coming, our brave little band, + On the right side of temperance we always do stand; + We don't use tobacco, for this we do think, + That those who do use it most always do drink." + +Some of the singers had very musical voices and the simple little ditty +sounded very clear and strong as they all joined in it. Will Phelps, +however, was thinking of what it was that would be required of him. Then +flashed into his mind the last conversation he had had with his mother +and in which he had given her a promise not unlike that at which Mott +had hinted. And he intended to keep it too, he assured himself. Come +what might, he would not break it. He even smiled slightly as he +thought of what his mother's feelings would be if she could look into +Peter John's room and see what was then going on there. + +As the song ceased abruptly Will said, "What is it you want me to do, +Mott?" + +"Well, now, freshman, that's cool. You can't help being a freshman, but +it's not well even for a freshman to be too fresh. Ever hear the like of +that, fellows?" he inquired of his classmates. + +"Never did. Never did," responded several, shaking their heads soberly. + +"Just think of it," began Mott again. "Here's a freshman who is so +anxious to get into our good graces that he's not only willing to do +what we tell him but he even comes and asks us what it is we want him to +do. That beats anything old Winthrop has ever seen yet." + +Will's face flushed, but he was silent, though Hawley began to laugh +again. "Now, then, freshman," said Mott, pointing his finger at Will, +"we want you to get down on the floor and wrestle with temptation." + +"There's nothing here that tempts me very much," replied Will coolly, +and Hawley promptly laughed aloud. + +"You do as I tell you! Get down on the floor and wrestle with +temptation," demanded Mott sharply. + +"I don't mind doing it if it will please you any," responded Will as he +slipped from his seat on the table to the floor. + +"That's the way. Now then, papa's joy and mamma's pet, show us how it +is that you do the trick." + +Stretched upon the floor, Will Phelps went through his struggle with an +imaginary foe. He twisted and writhed and struggled, shrieks of laughter +greeting his efforts from the assembled sophomores, and even Hawley +joined in, so ridiculous was the appearance which Will presented. + +"That's very good, very good indeed!" remarked Mott when several minutes +had elapsed. "You'd better get up now and take a seat beside your +friend." + +Will quickly did as he was bidden, laughing slightly as he glanced at +Hawley, whose imperturbable good nature was not in anywise ruffled. + +"Hawley, you're a great football player, I understand," said Mott. + +"I'm a big player, can't say that I'm great. Some fellows might think +so, but it depends on whether they've seen much or know much, I fancy." + +"That's right. You're as modest as Mary's little lamb. I hear you're a +great sprinter," he added, turning abruptly to Will Phelps. + +"Oh, I can run a little. If you'll give me the chance now I'll show you +how I can leave the sophs behind," said Will with a laugh, for he was +now feeling somewhat the effects of Hawley's manner of meeting his +tormentors, and as he glanced down at Peter John it required no deep +insight to perceive which was the better way. + +The boys in the room laughed good-naturedly and one of them said, +"That's enough, Mott. They don't need any more." + +"Hold on, I'm not done yet," replied Mott. "Tell me what's the name of +the little school from which you came," he demanded of Will. + +"The Sterling High School." + +"And you ran there?" + +"A little." + +"Get any medals?" + +"A few." + +"Nice ones! Got any here?" + +On his fob Will wore the gold medal he had won the preceding June, but +he laughed and made no reply to Mott's question, fearful of incurring +further ridicule if he should display the trophy. + +"Did you run against the track team of the Meadowbrook Academy?" +inquired Mott. + +"No. Is that where you fitted?" replied Will simply. Hawley broke into +another loud laugh and Mott's face flushed. Will perceived that he had +made a mistake and his better plan would be to say as little as +possible, whatever the provocation might be or the opening his adversary +might give him. + +"Did you beat the fast sprinter from the Toad Hollow Institute?" +demanded Mott. + +"Can't say that I did. I never heard of the school till now." + +"Ever run against anybody from the Honeyville Classical Seminary?" + +"No." + +"Or from the Smartville Four Corners team?" + +"We didn't have anything to do with those schools. We weren't in their +class." + +"Oh, let up, Mott. We've done enough. Let 'em go now," suggested one of +the sophomores. + +"Not yet," responded Mott. "We must have these freshmen give us an +exhibition of what they can do. You fellows take off your collars," he +said, turning again to Will and his classmate. + +For an instant Will Phelps hesitated and there was a sudden tightening +of the muscles in his arms, but Hawley, good-natured and imperturbable +as ever, at once removed his collar and Will quietly followed his +example. + +"That's good," said Mott encouragingly. "Now take out your collar +buttons." + +Both freshmen obeyed, wondering what was to be required of them. Their +curiosity was speedily relieved when Mott said, "We'll have a +collar-button race. You two athletes put these buttons on the floor and +push them across to the other side of the room with your noses. The one +that wins will make the track team here I haven't a doubt." + +Hawley again laughed loudly as he and Will took the places assigned +them. For a moment their faces were near together and Hawley whispered a +few words in Will's ear. His companion's eyes flashed in response, but +he did not reply, and in a moment, at Mott's word, the race was begun. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A RACE IN THE DARKNESS + + +Slowly and steadily the two freshmen began to push the collar buttons +across the floor. The floor itself was uncarpeted and not particularly +clean, and the position and actions of the two boys certainly did not +add to their dignity; but there was not a trace of a smile to be seen on +the face of either as they complied with the demands which had been +made. The sophomores in the room were also serious, that is, all were +save one, and, as he laughed aloud at the ridiculous aspect of their +victims, Mott said savagely, "Put him out! He's no business here? Get +out of this room!" + +The offending sophomore, despite his protests and his promise to "be +good," was thrust out from the room, and the race was then resumed. +Whenever either of the contestants lagged or one seemed to be gaining +slightly upon the other he was sharply bidden to make good his loss, and +when the two freshmen had come near the side of the room which they were +seeking to gain the collar buttons were close together and each freshman +could see the expression on his companion's face. Perhaps it was well +for them both that the members of the rival class could not see the +quiet glance which Hawley gave Will nor its equally keen response, but +the look was understood by both freshmen and they were aware that the +critical time in the contest was approaching. + +They were by this time within two feet of the door which opened into +the hall. The sophomores who had been standing in front of it now moved +back to give the contestants room, and as Hawley perceived that the way +was clear, after looking up for a moment and glancing keenly at his +classmate, he suddenly leaped to his feet and Will instantly followed +his example. Before the astonished sophomores were fully aware of what +was occurring both had darted through the doorway after Hawley had with +almost incredible quickness flung open the door. Instantly it was +closed, and Hawley, seizing the iron handle of the catch and putting +forth all his strength, braced his feet against the wall and prepared to +hold the inmates prisoners in the room. + +"Get Andrews and Briggs!" whispered Hawley, and Will quickly darted +across the hallway to the room of his two classmates. A word was +sufficient to inform them of what was occurring, and in an incredibly +brief time all three were standing beside Hawley. + +The giant freshman was holding the door, which opened inward, easily, +though the sophomores in the room were striving desperately on their +side. But Hawley had the strong handle and only the tiny latch could be +seized from within. Numbers counted for nothing in this struggle, as +only one could pull at a time. + +The silence in the building was unbroken, though the first thought of +the bold freshmen had been that their sophs would throw open the window +and summon their classmates to their aid. Whether it was due to their +excitement or to the fact that they did not wish to have their +predicament known, Will Phelps never learned, but no outcry was made, +though the steady pull upon the door continued. + +"I've got 'em!" whispered Hawley gleefully. "If the latch doesn't give +way they won't see outdoors again till I give 'em leave. Run, Will!" he +added hastily. "Get twenty of our fellows here as soon as you can and +we'll fix 'em yet. I can hold on here forever!" + +Leaving his classmates at the doorway, Will Phelps ran swiftly down the +stairs and sped across the campus to his own room. He found his +room-mate seated at his desk, evidently hard at work. Foster glanced up +reprovingly as Will burst into the room and said, "I thought, Will, you +were--" + +He stopped abruptly as he perceived how excited his classmate was, but +before he could make any inquiries Will broke in: "We've got a lot of +sophs shut up in Peter John's room! Get some of the fellows and make for +the room! Hawley's holding 'em in! Tell Jones and Camp to come and then +tell them to get some more and every one to bring two or three with him. +Get some more yourself and I'll do the same." + +Before his astonished room-mate could make any further inquiries, Will +darted out of the room and ran down the stairway covering three steps at +a leap. But Foster understood what it was that was demanded of him, and, +without hesitating an instant, seized his cap and swiftly followed. + +The scheme worked marvelously well, and within five minutes a band of +twenty-five freshmen had assembled in the hall in front of Peter John's +and Hawley's room in Leland. Hawley was still holding the door and no +outcry from within the room had been heard. + +"How many sophs room in this entry?" said Will quickly. + +"Four," replied Hawley. "Two in the front corner room on the second +floor and two in the back corner." + +"Can you hold on till we can fix them?" + +"I can hold on forever. But you'd better be quick about it." + +At Will's word four of his classmates followed him to the floor below +and two were speedily assigned to hold one door while two more held the +other. They were to be quiet, and, if no outbreak was made, then they +were not to make their presence known, but under no circumstances were +the sophomores to be permitted to come out from their rooms. + +As soon as this arrangement had been perfected Will ran swiftly back to +join Hawley and his classmates on the floor above. Hawley was still +standing at his post of duty, but as Will approached he laughed silently +and whispered: + +"What'll we do now, fellows?" + +Several whispered suggestions were made, but at last it was agreed that +the assembled freshmen should step back on either side and that Hawley +should permit the door to be partly opened. It was confidently believed +that the sophomores would rush out, and, if they did, a half-dozen were +to be permitted to come forth and these were to be seized as silently as +possible and bound by the freshmen as their own unfortunate classmate, +Peter John Schenck, had already been treated. When a few had emerged +and been seized then Hawley was to strive to close the door again and +hold the others within, and, with the force thus divided, no strong +resistance could be made and the treatment which they were to receive +could be determined upon. + +As soon as this decision had been made Hawley withdrew from the door, +but there was no pressure upon it from within, and for a moment the +assembled freshmen stared blankly at one another as if they feared that +their game had escaped them and that they themselves were the ones to +appear in the unenviable light. Will Phelps advanced as if he was about +to open the door, but a silent gesture from Hawley caused him to abandon +the project. As he stepped back the latch clicked and the door was +suddenly opened. Evidently the inmates were surprised that the door was +free, and three or four cautiously stepped forth to peer into the dimly +lighted hall. Before they were fully aware of the true condition of +affairs they were seized by the waiting freshmen. There were sounds of a +momentary struggle, but when those who were within the room attempted to +come forth the door was quickly closed in their faces and they were +prisoners again. The four who had been seized were quickly bound, and +then the assembly turned once more to the door itself. + +"We'll go in," said Hawley, "and you musn't let a soph get past you. We +must hold every one in there. Now then!" he added, as he pushed gently +against the door. + +But the door failed to yield to the pressure. For a moment the astounded +freshmen knew not what to make of the unexpected resistance, and then +as a slight sound from within the room could be heard, Hawley grimly +braced himself against the door and whispering to his classmates began +to exert all his strength in his endeavor to open it. + +For a brief time it resisted all their efforts, and then with a +resounding crash it suddenly yielded. But it seemed to the startled +freshmen as if the very walls themselves were giving way. There were the +sound of falling pieces of furniture and in the midst of the confusion +several of the sophomores suddenly darted from the room, and before +their enemies could recover from their surprise had gained the head of +the stairway and were fleeing from the building. + +"Take after 'em! Don't let 'em get away!" called Hawley. "Hold on, it's +all right," he quickly added as he perceived Mott in the room. "We don't +care for anybody else for we've got the ringleader right here. Let 'em +go! Let 'em all go! We don't want anybody else." + +There was a momentary hesitation on the part of the sophomores as if +they were minded to stand by their classmate, but as they peered about +them it seemed almost as if the entire freshman class were present, and +instantly discretion became the better part of valor, and they fled in a +body from the room and also from the building. + +Several of the freshmen had seized Mott by this time, and his desperate +attempts to free himself were unavailing. Peter John had been quickly +freed by Will Phelps, and then Will said hastily to Hawley: + +"We've stirred up the hornets' nest enough, haven't we? The sophs will +be back here with all their class. Shall we let him go?" + +"Let him go?" laughed Hawley, whose enjoyment seemed to be increasing +with every passing moment. "Well, I rather think not." + +"What shall we do? They'll be back here in a minute." + +"Send everybody to his room. We'll look after this fellow ourselves." + +Will Phelps turned to his classmates and said: "Get away from this +fellows. The sophs will be here in a minute and we may all be hauled up +before the faculty. We'll look after Mott." + +Instantly the freshmen ran from Leland Hall, leaving Will Phelps and +Foster Bennett, and Peter John and his room-mate to look after the +captive sophomore. + +"What'll we do with him?" inquired Will hastily. + +"Take him over to your room." + +"That'll be the first place they'll come to when they don't find him +here. Still, I'm perfectly willing--" + +"Take him out in the grove," suggested Foster quickly. "If we can get +away from here without being seen we'll be all right there." + +"That's the thing," assented Hawley. "Foster, you run ahead and see if +the coast is all clear, for we may have to carry this fellow, and we +might attract some attention if we should happen to be seen on the +street." + +"No, you won't. I'll go along all right," spoke up Mott. "It's your turn +now, but it'll be mine again, you know, and I'll see that you freshmen +pay up all your scores with good interest!" + +"Don't you threaten us!" said Peter John angrily, speaking now for the +first time. + +"I'm not threatening you, freshman, I'm just telling you what you'll +have to go through, that's all. You can do with me what you please, but +whatever you do you musn't forget that it'll be paid back five times +over." + +"Don't stop here any longer. Come ahead, fellows," said Hawley quickly. + +The party with Mott in their midst swiftly passed down the stairway and +turned into the street that led toward "the grove," a clump of huge pine +trees that had stood for many years on the borders of the rear campus of +the college. The freshmen glanced anxiously about them, but apparently +their presence was not noted by the few who were to be seen on the +street, and they quickly increased the pace at which they were moving. + +As they turned into the campus, Mott suddenly broke away from his +captors who had been somewhat deceived by the apparent willingness with +which he had followed them, and began to run swiftly back toward the +college buildings. The sophomore was known as one of the fleetest footed +men in college, and already Will Phelps had had him pointed out as one +of the few who had "made" the track team in his freshman year. He had +looked up to him with the respect that only a freshman can know for the +prominent men in college life, and now was his opportunity to test his +own ability against that of the fleeing member of the sophomore class. + +Quickly he darted in pursuit, feeling rather than perceiving that his +own classmates were speedily left far behind him. He was exerting +himself to the utmost and ran as though the prize he was seeking was the +greatest of coveted honors. As he sped over the grass his respect for +his rival increased greatly, for whatever Mott's defects might be, there +certainly was in him no lack of ability to run. The distance between the +runners was steadily maintained, and indeed, it seemed to Will as if it +was being increased. On and on he ran, and the college buildings were +now near-by, and if the fleeing sophomore should once gain an entrance +in one of them then Will knew all further pursuit would be useless. + +Suddenly the form of Mott disappeared in the dim light and Will Phelps +stopped abruptly and peered keenly before him. But when his classmates +joined him and all four cautiously advanced, several minutes elapsed +before a solution for the mystery was found. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SPLINTER'S QUESTIONS + + +Directly before them the boys could see a long ditch or trench which had +been dug the entire length of the back campus and of whose existence +they had not been aware. Doubtless Mott had known of it, however, and in +his flight had made for it with all the speed he could command, either +hoping to lead his pursuers into difficulty or trusting that it in some +way would provide a means of escape for himself. + +Whatever his plan may have been it succeeded admirably, for when the +four freshmen stood together on the border of the trench not a sign of +the presence of Mott could be discovered. In which direction he had fled +they were also ignorant. It was evident however that he was gone and +after a careful search had confirmed the conviction in their minds that +the sophomore had escaped, Will Phelps said: + +"We'll have to give it up, fellows. He's gone." + +"We can go up to his room and get him," suggested Peter John, who was +becoming exceedingly bold under the confidence which the presence of his +friends gave him. + +"We can, but we won't," said Hawley bluntly. + +"Why not?" demanded Schenck. + +"It's one thing to defend yourself, but it's another to fly straight +into the arms of the sophs. I don't wonder that some of the freshmen get +into trouble, they're so fresh. If the sophs didn't take it out of them +I think our own class itself would." + +"That's so," responded Peter John cordially, "I've thought of it myself +lots of times. Now there's Merrivale--he rooms next to me, you know--he +ought to be shown that he's too fresh." + +"What's he done?" inquired Foster. + +"Why he came into my room last week and borrowed fifty cents, and he +hasn't paid it back yet, either!" + +"Oh, well, just remember what Mott said, Peter John." + +"What did he say?" + +"He said every freshman would be paid back with interest." + +"I don't want any interest," declared Peter John in all seriousness. +"I'll be satisfied if I'm paid back without that." + +"You'll get it, though," laughed Will; and as his two companions also +joined in his laugh Peter John said no more, except that he "couldn't +see anything very funny in _that_." + +The boys, however, did not longer delay where they were but quietly +returned to their rooms, nor were they again disturbed that night. +Indeed, for several days the quiet of the college life was not ruffled +and both Will Phelps and his room-mate began to hope that their troubles +were at an end. Mott, whom they saw on the following morning when they +were departing from chapel, laughed good-naturedly as he greeted them +and indeed his friendship for them seemed to be increased by the recent +experiences through which he had passed. Several times he came to the +room of Will and Foster and remained until his welcome was decidedly +that was displeasing to both the boys, though there threadbare. There +was something in his bearing was a certain indefinable something about +him that was not altogether unpleasant. His language, his bearing, and +his general appearance all betokened a certain coarseness of fibre that +somehow grated upon the feelings of Will and his room-mate, though they +could not have explained even to themselves just what it was. He was +such a marked man in college, however, and was looked up to by so many +that there was a certain pleasure in his personal attention and both +Will and Foster felt in a measure the flattery of his evident favor. + +The college work had now begun to settle into its regular grooves and +when another week had elapsed, Will and Foster began to feel that the +spirit of their surroundings had to an extent been received by them and +that they were indeed a part of the life. There were moments now that +came to Will, when do what he might he could not banish from his mind +the thought of the home in Sterling of which practically he was no +longer a part. The vision of his father seated in his easy-chair in the +library of an evening, before the fire that glowed upon the hearth, his +paper in his hands and the very manner in which he occasionally glanced +up and read to his mother something he had noticed seemed to be one that +Will could not shake off. The pictures on the walls, the very rugs on +the floor, and the chairs in the room could all be distinctly seen, and +somehow the sight never failed to bring a certain depression with it. +Will Phelps would indignantly have denied that he was homesick, but as +the days came and went his manner became somewhat subdued and when he +rose from his bed in the early morning and peered forth from his +bedroom window at the towering hills that were all aglow with the glory +of the rising sun, somehow their very beauty and grandeur seemed to +deepen his feeling that he was "a good way off," as he expressed it, +though just what it was that was so far away he could only have vaguely +expressed or defined. Doubtless his room-mate could have explained to +him that it was the little city of Sterling that now seemed to be so +remote, for he too was suffering slightly from the same malady that +troubled his friend. + +Why is it that most boys are so afraid to acknowledge that they are ever +homesick? Is it the fear that they may appear too dependent and less +manly if they confess their longing for home? Certainly no boy who comes +from a good home detracts from his own strength of character by +acknowledging that he misses the home from which he has gone. Indeed, is +it not a reflection upon the boy and the home alike, if he declares when +he goes from his father's house that he misses nothing? To yield to the +feeling of homesickness, to permit it to overmaster one and prevent him +from performing his tasks in the place wherein he finds himself may be a +confession of weakness, but to suffer nothing from it is to declare a +weakness or defect greater still. And Will Phelps, though he was silent +as to his own feelings, was suffering keenly in the early days of his +life in Winthrop. + +A week had elapsed since the events recorded in the preceding chapter +and Will and Foster were studying busily in their rooms one evening, +striving to hold their wearied minds to their work, for there had been +an unexpected written test that day in their Greek and both were +somewhat anxious as to the results of their efforts. + +Suddenly the door opened and in walked Peter John, who had already +acquired the collegiate habit of never inquiring if his presence was +welcome in the room into which he came. His face was beaming and it was +at once evident to both Will and Foster that their classmate had +something of importance to declare. + +"How'd you get along in the test to-day, fellows?" was Peter John's +first question. + +"Not very well," replied Will, motioning for his visitor to be seated. + +"I just killed it." + +Will and Foster laughed as they heard Peter John already indulging in +college slang. It seemed so out of keeping with his general bearing and +appearance. The gap between his trousers and his shoes had never been so +apparent, his splotches so vivid, nor his hair so belligerent as now. + +"There's that question, 'Who were the mercenaries of the Greeks, and +what was a mercenary?' I got that right, I know I did." + +"How did you answer it?" inquired Foster. + +"Why, I said 'a mercenary was a man that sold himself to some one,' and +I showed what I meant by illustrating it." + +"How?" + +"I said the professors were the mercenaries of the college." + +"You did?" exclaimed Will, sitting instantly erect. + +"Yes, sir; I did. What's the matter?" he added, as both boys began to +laugh loudly. "Isn't it true?" + +"Oh, it's too good to be true. Tell us some more, Peter John." + +"I can't see what you fellows are laughing at," said Peter John soberly. +"That answered the question all right. I'll get an 'A' on that paper. +Then there was that question, 'What was the Greek law and conception of +vengeance?' That bothered me a bit at first, but I got it, I'm sure." + +"What did you say?" inquired Will. + +"Why, that's as plain as the nose on your face," responded Peter John +glibly. "I said that vengeance was a low-down, mean, spiteful attempt to +pay back. 'Vengeance is mine and I will repay,' saith the Lord." + +"Oh, you'll get more than 'A' on that," said Will in the extremity of +his delight, as he was compelled to go to the window and gaze out into +the night. "You'll get at least A square." + +"No, I won't. They don't give that. 'A' is the highest mark they give. +But I think I got everything right. How did you answer that question +about what Christian tenet the Greeks believed in?" he added, glancing +at the copy of the questions which he held in his hands. + +"How did _you_ answer it, Peter John?" inquired Foster quickly. + +"I answered it that they believed in the immorality of the soul." + +"In the _what?_" demanded Foster soberly. + +"In the immorality of the soul." + +"You meant immortality of the soul, didn't you?" + +"Y-e-s, I suppose I did," assented Peter John somewhat ruefully. "But +old Splinter will understand," he added quickly. "Splinter will know I +just left out a 't', and he won't count that against me." + +"No, a little thing like a 't' doesn't count for much, not any more than +a decimal point. It doesn't make any difference whether a decimal point +is placed before or after a figure, you know. It's only a little thing +anyway." + +"Yes," assented Peter John, failing to perceive what Foster was saying. +"Then there was one other question that was dead easy," he added. + +"Which one was that?" + +"The one about the animals." + +"Let me see, what was that question?" said Foster thoughtfully. + +"Why, don't you remember? It was 'Name six animals that were common +among the Greeks'." + +"Oh, yes; I recall it now; but I don't think I had it right. I could +think of but four." + +"Pooh! Easiest question of the whole lot." + +"What was the answer?" + +"Easy! Dead easy! I just said, 'Six dogs'." + +The laughter that rang out in the room might have been heard across the +campus; but Peter John was only slightly ruffled, and said: + +"Oh, well, you fellows may laugh if you want to, but you'll find out +when you see my marks." + +"They'll put you in Splinter's place as soon as you graduate," suggested +Foster when at last he regained control of himself. + +"I wish they would," responded Will heartily. + +"Splinter" was the term by which the Winthrop boys were accustomed to +speak of Professor Hanson, who was in charge of their Greek work. The +title did not appear in the college catalog, it was true; but it was the +only one by which he was known among the irreverent students. He was an +elderly man, whose sensitive nature had suffered for many years from the +inadequate preparation of successive classes, until at last not only +were his teeth on edge, but his entire disposition as well. He had +become somewhat soured and sarcastic in his dealings with the students, +and was more unpopular than any other professor in the college. His +scholarship was accurate. His ability to impart his knowledge to such +students as were eager to learn was also unquestioned, but for the +indifferent and lazy, or for the dull or poorly prepared, his words were +like drops of vitriol. + +His popular title of Splinter had been bestowed upon him because of +certain physical characteristics however. He was a very tall man and +exceedingly thin, and the very beard which he wore imparted by its sharp +point an additionally suggestive emphasis to his slight and slender +frame. No one knew how the title originated or how it came to be +bestowed upon the professor; but its appropriateness had at once +fastened the term and every entering class received it as a heritage +from those which had preceded it. + +Will Phelps already had acquired a keen dislike for the man, and he had +laughed heartily when Mott one night had declared that the student body +had been compelled to give Professor Hanson the new name he had +received. "You see," Mott had said, "the faculty and the trustees +decide what titles a man can wear _after_ his name; so it's only fair +that the students should decide what titles he shall wear _before_ his +name. Now this man's name used to be simply John Hanson. Then some +college or other said it should be John Hanson, PH.D. Well, the students +here have only gone a step further and they've not taken anything away +from the old fellow. They've added to him, that's what they have; and +now it's Prof. Splinter John Hanson, PH.D. He ought to be grateful, but +it's a cold world and I sometimes fear he doesn't appreciate what was +done for him. In fact such bestowments are rarely received as they +should be." + +The suggestion Will's room-mate had made that Peter John soon might take +Splinter's place had recalled his own difficulties with the man, but +soon even the thoughts of the unpopular professor of Greek were +forgotten in the new interest that was aroused by the entrance into the +room of three young men who were at once recognized as members of the +junior class. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE PARADE + + +"You're just the fellows we're looking for," said Allen, the leading +spirit of the three young men who entered the room. + +"You haven't very far to look, then," replied Will laughingly, for in +his heart he felt honored by the unexpected visit of the upper classmen. + +"That's right, freshman. How are you getting on?" + +"They've kept us busy, to say the least." + +"You mean the sophs?" + +"Yes. That's the only class we have to think of, isn't it?" + +"No. Your own class is first." + +"It's the best class in college," interrupted Peter John quickly, and +all who were in the room laughed as the uncouth freshman's face flushed. + +"That's the way to talk," responded Allen. + +"But it is. I'm not joking," persisted Peter John seriously. + +"No doubt. No doubt. But what we've come for is to tell you about the +parade." + +"Parade? What parade?" inquired Foster. + +"Why, every fall there is a parade of the freshmen. They have a band +usually, at least most of the classes have had one and as yours is the +best class that ever entered college, why you won't want to fall behind +the others I know." + +"Who pays for the band?" demanded Peter John. + +"You do, that is, your class does." + +"I won't pay a cent," retorted Peter John. + +"You don't have to," laughed Allen. "Some of the others will make it up. +I'm just telling you what the custom is and only for your own good." + +"Go on with your story," interrupted Will. "Let's hear about the +parade." + +"It's to come off next Saturday afternoon, and we juniors usually help +out in the scheme, you see. We try to arrange a part of it for you and +help you out in some of the details. The whole thing is 'horse play,' +just a sort of burlesque, and the more ridiculous you can make it, the +better." + +"I'll not make a fool of myself for anybody," spoke up Peter John +sharply. + +"You don't have to. It won't be necessary," replied Allen quietly, but +in the laugh that followed, Peter John took no part. + +"What do you want us to do?" inquired Foster. + +"Well, we suggest that this young man--I've forgotten his name," said +Allen, turning to Peter John as he spoke. + +"Schenck. Peter John Schenck--that's my name, and I'm not ashamed of it +either!" said that worthy promptly. "But I don't propose to hire a band +and march around the streets making a fool of myself for anybody." + +"You don't have to," and again a laugh arose at the junior's words. "I +was only suggesting, that's all. But if you want to know what I think, +I'm of the opinion that if you'd be one to help haul the committee from +the senior class around in their chariot it would be a good thing for +you. That's only a suggestion on my part, as I told you, and you can do +as you please about it." + +"I don't please to do it," replied Peter John sulkily. + +"What's the 'chariot' you spoke of, Allen?" inquired Will. + +"Oh, it's only an old hay wagon. It's been the custom for some of the +freshmen to haul the officers of the senior class around in it. It +doesn't amount to much, but honestly I think it will be a good thing for +you to do it." + +"All right, you can count on me," said Will quickly. + +"I don't want to count on that from you. I've something else for you and +Bennett to do." + +"What's that?" + +"I'll explain it to you." And Allen at once went into the details of the +scheme he proposed. Both Will and Foster laughed as he laid it before +them, and willingly consented to do their part. Peter John, however, +said not a word, and when the visitors prepared to depart, Allen said, +"You're to assemble at the gym, you know, and the parade will be formed +in front of it on the street. It'll march up Main Street, down East End +Avenue, around through Walker Street, up West Street, across Drury Lane +and then back into Main Street and then on down to the ball ground. +There the parade will break up and the freshmen and sophomores will have +their annual ball game. It'll be great fun if you take it in the right +spirit, and you'll have plenty of spectators too." + +"How's that?" said Foster. + +"Why, the whole college, faculty and all, will turn out to see it, and +of course all the village people will be on hand, and if it's a good +day there'll be a crowd here from out of town. The trains will be +crowded that day, and there'll be a good many who'll come into Winthrop +with their automobiles. You'll never forget the day as long as you +live." + +"Great!" exclaimed Will. "I wish it was to-morrow. Where shall we get +these things we're to wear?" + +"You can find them in the stores, or maybe I'll be able to help you out +some. Come down to my room to-morrow and I'll see what can be done. Good +night," Allen added, as he and his classmates started down the stairway. + +"Good night," responded Will and Foster, and then closed the door. + +"Of all the foolishness I ever heard that beats all," said Peter John +when the freshmen were by themselves once more. "They don't get me into +it." + +"Oh, yes, Peter John. Don't pull off that way," said Will cordially. + +"Not much. I'm not so big a fool as they take me to be." + +"You'll be a bigger one if you keep out." + +"Maybe I will, but I'm not going to go into any such doings." + +"Now look here, Peter John. You're a freshman, but you can't help that +and no one blames you for it. I'm--" + +"I'm no more a freshman than you are," retorted Peter John warmly. + +"Right you are. But you don't want to make a bad matter worse. If you +keep out you'll be a marked man and everybody in college will hear +about it. It'll be a great deal better for you to go in quietly, and +whatever you think about it, just keep your thoughts to yourself, and +don't call the attention of the whole college to you by your +foolishness. It'll be simply a challenge for the sophs, if you don't do +it, and you'll be the one to suffer." + +"You think so?" + +"I know so." + +"I guess the sophs found out what sort of a fellow I was the other +night. I'd have brained the first one that laid hands on me." + +"You didn't though, and you wouldn't. It's a great deal better to do as +Hawley did and just laugh it off." + +"Oh, I laughed all right, and I'd have given those fellows something to +laugh about too, if they hadn't tied me up." + +"Of course, but the trouble is they did tie you up, and the next time +it'll be worse than that. It isn't worth while to kick too hard, Peter +John. A fellow has just got to take some things in life as he finds them +and not as he'd like to have them. It's the only way, and the sooner he +learns it the better." + +"But my father told me never to let anybody impose on me," said Peter +John dubiously. + +"Nobody is going to impose on you. You won't be doing anything more than +every fellow in the class, and if you don't go in you'll be the one +marked exception. The sophs will take it as an invitation." + +"You think so, do you?" + +"Yes, sir, I do. Come along, Peter John, and don't make any more fuss +about it." + +"Well, I'll think about it," replied the freshman as he departed for +his own room in Leland Hall. + +Saturday dawned bright and clear and the interest and excitement in the +college over the parade rose to its highest point. A band had been +secured from a neighboring city, and in the afternoon, when its stirring +strains were heard from the steps of the gymnasium, all the freshmen +were made aware that the time for their assembly had arrived. There were +crowds of strangers to be seen about the streets and the little town was +all active with unwonted bustle. Automobiles were arriving, the +sophomores were assembling at the various buildings, and their jeers and +cries could be heard as they greeted the appearance of the members of +the class below them when they started for the gymnasium. + +Will Phelps and Foster Bennett felt keenly the prevailing excitement, +and when they entered the gymnasium building they found a large number +of their own classmates already assembled and keenly alive to the +demands that were soon to be made upon them. + +Under the experienced guidance of the committee of juniors the freshmen +were soon equipped for their various parts and the procession was +formed. In advance moved the band and behind it was a huge hay wagon in +which in great dignity were seated six of the seniors. The wagon itself +was drawn by sixteen freshmen, all of whom had a tight grasp upon the +ropes that had been fastened to the wagon tongue. Directly behind the +wagon came Will Phelps and Foster Bennett and two of their classmates, +all dressed in the garb of firemen, with red jackets and helmet hats of +paper. In their hands was a huge rope at least two and a half inches in +diameter, which was attached to a tiny tin fire engine not more than a +foot in length. Behind the firemen came Hawley, who was dressed as an +infant with a lace cap on his head and carefully tied bows under his +chin, while in his hands he was carrying a bottle of milk. He was seated +in an improvised baby carriage, which was being pushed by one of the +smallest members of the freshman class. "Sunny Jim," Charley Chaplin and +Ben Turpin were among the characters that could be seen in the long +lines of freshmen that, three abreast, were arranged still farther back +in the procession, and at last, at the word of Allen, the junior who was +acting as the marshal of the day, the march was begun. Frequently Will +turned and glanced behind him at the long, tortuous line, and its +ridiculous appearance caused him to laugh and say to Foster: + +"Did you ever see anything in your life like that?" + +"I never did." + +"Silence there in the ranks!" called Allen sharply, for he chanced to be +marching near the "fire engine." Not a trace of a smile could be seen on +his face, and to all appearances he was engaged in what he considered +one of the most serious events of his life. + +In the streets the people were lined up and their laughter and +good-natured applause could be heard on every side. Small boys followed +the line of march or walked beside the long column, and their derisive +remarks were frequent and loud. The sophomores also added their +comments, but there was no open disturbance throughout the march. It +was one of the events of freshman year and as such was evidently not to +be entered upon lightly or unadvisedly, like certain other important +epochs in life. + +At last the procession arrived at the athletic field and there broke up +for the baseball game with the sophomores. The grand stand was already +filled with the people and students that had watched the march, and, as +soon as Will and Foster had donned their baseball suits, for both had +been selected to play on the freshman nine, they appeared upon the +field, where already the other members of the team were awaiting their +coming. + +"I didn't see Peter John, did you, Foster?" inquired Will. + +"No. It'll be all the worse for him, I fancy." + +"No doubt about that. What are we going to do with him, Foster?" + +"Nothing." + +"I don't like to see the chap suffer for his own foolishness." + +"Neither do I. But he'll have to learn for himself. You can't tell him +anything." + +"You can _tell_ him all right enough, but I'm afraid that's all the good +it does. You might as well try to polish sponge." + +The conversation ceased as the call for the game to be begun was heard +and both boys hastened to take the positions in which they were to play. +The noise among the spectators increased as the signal was given, but +for three innings both nines played earnestly and seriously. At the end +of the third inning, with the score standing five to four in favor of +the sophomores, a radical change was made. The batter was blindfolded +and compelled to stand upon an upturned barrel, which was substituted +for the home plate. The pitcher and catcher were each also to stand upon +a barrel and the pitcher was ordered to throw the ball with his left +hand. Naturally it was impossible for the batter to hit the ball, since +he was blindfolded, and when three strikes had been called he tore the +bandage from his eyes and upon his hands and knees was compelled to +crawl toward first base. The baseman stood with his back to the field +and naturally found it difficult to secure the ball which had been +thrown by the left hand of the catcher. Shrieks of laughter arose from +the spectators, shouts and class cries were heard on every side, tin +horns mingled their noise with the blasts of the band, and altogether +Will Phelps thought that the scene was unique in the experiences of his +young life. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE WALK WITH MOTT + + +In the days that immediately followed the freshman parade and the +burlesque game of baseball with the rival class, the work before Will +Phelps and his room-mate settled more deeply into its regular grooves. +The novelty of the new life was now gone and to Will it almost seemed +that ages had passed since he had been a member of the household in +Sterling. His vision of the hilltops from his bedroom window became +longer and he could see in his mind far behind the towering barriers of +the hills into the familiar street and well-remembered rooms of his +father's house. The foliage on the hillsides now had assumed its +gorgeous autumn dress and wherever he looked the forests seemed to be +clad as if they were all on dress parade. The sight was beautiful and +one which in after years was ever present with him; but in those early +days of his freshman year in Winthrop, it seemed somehow to impress him +as a great barrier between his home and the place where he then was. + +However, he never referred to his feeling to any one, not even to +Foster, and strove manfully to bear it all. He was working well, but in +his Greek he was finding increasing difficulty. This he acknowledged in +part was due to his own neglect in the earlier years of his preparatory +course, but boy-like he attributed most of his lack of success in that +department to "Splinter," for whom he came to cherish a steadily +increasing dislike. The man's personality was exceedingly irritating to +the young freshman and his dislike for the professor was becoming +intense--a marked contrast to his feeling for his teacher in mathematics +for whom he entertained a regard that was but little short of adoration. +His knowledge evidently was so great, and his inspiring personality in +the classroom was so enjoyable that Will soon found himself working in +that department as he never before had worked in his brief life. +Already, the boys were referring to him as a "shark," and the praise of +his classmates was sweet. But in Greek--that was an altogether different +affair, he declared. Splinter was so cold-blooded, so unsympathetic, and +sarcastic, he appeared to be so fond of "letting a fellow make a fool of +himself in recitation," as Will expressed it, that he found but little +pleasure in his work. And Will had already suffered from the keen shafts +of the teacher's merciless ridicule. One day, when in fact he had spent +an additional hour in the preparation of his lesson in Greek, though the +results he had achieved left him still troubled as he thought of the +recitation, he had been called upon to translate and make comments upon +a portion of the lesson of the day. He could feel as well as see, or at +least he fancied that he saw, the drawing down of Splinter's lips that +presaged an outburst of sarcasm. Will had been permitted to go through +his task without interruption and then the professor had said dryly, +"That will do, Mr. Phelps. That is what one might term 'making Greek' of +it. It certainly is justice neither to the Greek nor to the English." A +partly suppressed titter had run through the class at the biting words, +and with face flushed scarlet Will Phelps had resumed his seat, feeling +that in all the world there could not be found another man so thoroughly +despicable as Splinter. And his feeling of dislike had increased with +the passing days. He had come not only to detest the man, but the Greek +as well. If he could have followed his own desire he would have +abandoned the subject at once and substituted something in its place, +but Will understood fully his father's desire for him to become +proficient in that department and how useless it would be for him to +write home for the desired permission. In sheer desperation he began to +devote additional time to his study of Greek, until he felt that he was +almost neglecting certain other studies in his course that in themselves +were far more enjoyable. But his progress under Splinter seemed to be in +no wise advanced, and soon Will was cherishing a feeling that was +something between a hopeless rage and an ungovernable detestation. + +One break had occurred, however, in that both he and Foster had joined +one of the Greek letter fraternities--the Phi Alpha. Both freshmen were +now taking their meals at the fraternity house and in the good +fellowship and the presence of his fellow-members he found a measure of +relief from the homesickness that was troubling him and his difficulties +with the detested professor of Greek. It was also a source of some +comfort to him to learn that his own feeling for Splinter was one that +was commonly held by all the students who had been under him; but though +his misery may have loved the company, his problem still remained his +own and appeared to be as far from solution as ever. + +Not long after Will and Foster had joined the Phi Alpha fraternity, +Peter John had dropped into their room one evening and quickly +discovered the neat little badge or pin that each boy wore on his vest +directly over his heart. + +"Hello!" exclaimed Peter John; "you've joined the Phi Alpha, have you?" + +"Yes," replied Will quietly, striving then to change the topic of +conversation, for the subject was one not to be cheapened by ordinary +remarks. + +"It's about the best in college, isn't it?" persisted Peter John. + +"That's not for us to say," laughed Will. + +"I haven't joined any fraternity yet," said Peter John. "My father told +me I'd better wait and perhaps he'd come up to Winthrop a little later +and then he'd tell me which one to join." + +Will and Foster glanced at each other, but neither spoke. In fact there +was nothing to say. + +"If you feel sure the Phi Alpha's the best, I might write home to my +father and perhaps he'd let me join now," suggested Peter John. "He +thinks that whatever you two fellows do is about right." + +As only about half the students in Winthrop were members of the Greek +letter fraternities, and as those who were elected were chosen because +of certain elements in their characters or lives that made them +specially desirable as companions or comrades, the election was +naturally looked upon as an especial honor and many of the entering +class had been eagerly awaiting the invitation for which all longed. +Peter John Schenck's unique personality and his sublime self-assurance +had been qualities, if no other defects had been apparent, that would +have debarred him, but he was so sublimely unconscious of all this--"Not +even knowing enough to know that he didn't know, the worst form of +ignorance in all the world," Foster had half angrily declared--that not +for a moment did he dream that his membership was something perhaps +undesirable of itself. + +"I might write home and ask him," suggested Peter John when neither of +his classmates responded. "I think I like the Phi Alpha pretty well +myself." + +"I wouldn't do it," said Foster. "How are you making out with Splinter?" +he added, striving to change the subject. + +"Oh, Splinter's all right." + +"Glad you think so," said Will bitterly. + +"Some of the fellows think he's hard, but he's all right if you know how +to handle him," declared Peter John pompously. "I'll put down a good +mark for him." + +"Good for you, Peter John!" laughed Foster. "Wait till he puts down your +mark." + +"I'll get an 'A' in Greek." + +"I hope you'll give me a part of it then," said Will. "Did you ever see +such a fellow?" he said to Foster when their visitor had departed. + +"I never did. I don't mind him myself, but for his own sake I wish he +could learn something. I don't believe he'll ever do it though." + +"I'm afraid he'll be taught some things that are not in the course of +study." + +"Do him good," remarked Foster, as he turned once more to his work. + +The following day was Saturday, and in the afternoon there were no +recitations. Will had promised Mott that he would go for a long walk +with him, and promptly after luncheon the sophomore appeared. For some +reason which Will could not explain, Mott appeared to have taken a +decided fancy to him, and had paid him many special attentions. There +was little about him that was attractive to Will, but somehow he found +it difficult to avoid him. He certainly was a well dressed handsome +young fellow, and was prominent in college chiefly because of his +success in athletics, for already he had the reputation of being one of +the swiftest runners in college. But in the college vernacular he was +commonly referred to as a "sport," a term for which Will instinctively +had little liking, and less for the young man himself. However, he had +found it difficult to avoid him, and somewhat reluctantly he had +consented to take the long walk to a distant village with him on the day +to which reference has been made. + +For a time after the two young men had departed from Winthrop, and had +made their way up the road that led along the steep hillside, the +exhilaration of the bracing air and the superb view had made Will keenly +alive to the beauties of the surrounding region. A soft halo covered the +summits of the lofty hills, and the quiet of the valley was almost as +impressive as the framework of the mountains. Mott too had been +exceedingly pleasant in all that he had said, and Will was almost +beginning to feel that he had misjudged his companion, and that his +reputation was worse than the fellow himself. + +They had now left the hillside road and were once more in the valley and +not far from the village they were seeking. + +"I hear you're quite a fair sprinter," suggested Mott, as they +proceeded. + +"I do a little," assented Will, laughing lightly as he spoke. + +"Where did you run?" + +"On the high school team." + +"What high school?" + +"Sterling." + +"Run against the other schools in the league?" + +"Yes," replied Will, wondering how it was that Mott happened to know of +the existence of the league. + +"How did you come out?" + +"Oh, I happened to win. There wasn't very much to run against, you see." + +"What time did you make?" + +"Ten, two." + +"Going to run here?" + +"Going to try to." + +"I find this taking long walks is good for me," said Mott. "It keeps my +muscles in trim and gives me wind." + +This, then, was the object which Mott had in view in inviting him to +take the walk, Will hastily concluded. He wanted to find out all he +could learn about his ability as a runner, and in spite of himself Will +was flattered by the evident interest and attention. They were now +within the confines of the village, and excusing himself for a moment +Mott left Will, but when he returned it was evident from the odor about +him that the sophomore had been to some speakeasy. Will had known of +Mott's habits, and the fact that he had left him and gone alone to +secure his drink argued that the fellow was not altogether bad. + +There was not a long delay in the village, and the return by a different +road from that by which they had come was suggested by Mott, and Will +had acquiesced. They had not gone far, however, before Mott discovered a +farmer approaching with a team and a heavy but empty farm wagon, and +quickly suggested that they should ride, and as Will at once agreed, his +companion hailed the passing man. + +"Hi, grandpa! Will you give us a ride?" he called. + +Without a word the farmer, who was an old man, halted his team and +permitted the boys to clamber up into the wagon. + +"This is more like it," said Mott, forgetful of the benefits of walking, +as the horses started. + +"It's not half bad," replied Will, as he glanced at the old man who was +driving. A straw hat covered his gray head, and his untrimmed gray beard +as well as his somewhat rough clothing could not entirely detract from +the keen twinkle in his eyes. + +"I fancy," said Mott, addressing the driver, "that the beauties of this +country have added much to your longevity?" + +"My which?" demanded the farmer sharply. + +"Your longevity." + +"I never had no such complaint's that. I've had the rheumatiz, but +that's all that ever bothered me any." + +"You are to be congratulated," murmured Mott. + +"Guess that's so. See that buryin' ground over there?" inquired the +driver, pointing as he spoke to a quaint little cemetery by the +roadside. + +"Yes," replied Mott. "Probably most of the people died of longevity." + +"It don't tell on th' gravestones. Jest got a new gravedigger." + +"How's that?" + +"Third we've had inside o' a year. Had one fur nigh onto forty year, but +he up an' died." + +"Longevity?" gravely inquired Mott. + +"Like enough; though some folks thought 'twas softenin' o' th' brain; +but my 'pinion is he never had any brains to get soft. Still he were a +good digger, but the man we got next was no good." + +"What was the trouble with him? More longevity?" + +"No; he buried everybody with their feet to the west." + +"Isn't that the proper thing?" + +"No, 'tisn't!" + +"Why?" + +"Any fool knows ye ought t' be buried with yer feet t' the east." + +"Why's that?" + +"So't ye can hear Gabriel's trumpet better when he blows, an' can rise +up facin' him an' be all ready t' go when he calls." + +"I hadn't thought of that." + +"Like 's not. Some folks don't. We've got another digger now, an' he +knows." + +For a time conversation ceased, and the farmer drove briskly along the +country road. When an hour had elapsed, Mott said, "I don't see that +we're getting anywhere near Winthrop." + +"Winthrop? Is that where ye want t' go? Students there, maybe?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, we've been goin' straight away from Winthrop all the time. Ye +didn't say nothin' 'bout it, an' I didn't feel called upon t' explain, +for I supposed college students knew everything." + +"How far is it to Winthrop?" inquired Will blankly. + +"'Beout ten mile," responded the farmer, his eyes twinkling as he reined +in his team. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A VISITOR + + +The boys both hastily leaped to the ground and the old farmer quickly +spoke to his team and started on, leaving his recent passengers in such +a frame of mind that they even forgot to thank him for his courtesy and +kindness. As the wagon drove off, Will fancied that he heard a sly +chuckle from the driver but he had disappeared around the bend in the +road before the young freshman recovered from his astonishment +sufficiently to speak of it. + +"That old chap wasn't such a fool after all," said Mott glumly. + +"That's what he wasn't," responded Will beginning to laugh. + +"What are you laughing at?" demanded Mott sharply. + +"At ourselves." + +"I don't see the joke." + +"Might as well laugh as cry." + +"You'll sing another song before you're back in Winthrop to-night. Ten +miles isn't any laughing matter after we've tramped as far as we have +to-day." + +"But it'll help us for our track meet," suggested Will, laughing again. + +"Bother the track meet!" + +"It'll help our longevity then. I've always heard that walking was the +best exercise." + +"The old fellow was foxy. He never said a word but just let us talk on. +I'd give a dollar to hear his account of it when he gets home." + +"Cheap enough. But say, Mott, have we got to tramp all the way back to +Winthrop?" + +"Looks that way." + +"Can't we get a car here somewhere?" + +"Hardly. We might try it at that farmhouse over yonder," replied Mott +pointing toward a low house not far away as he spoke. + +"Come ahead! Let's try it anyway," suggested Will eagerly. + +The boys at once hastened to the place, and after a brief delay +succeeded in summoning the young farmer who lived there. They made their +wishes known, but in response the man said, "Can't do it anyhow. My +wife's sick and I'm goin' for the doctor now." + +"Where is he?" demanded Will eagerly. + +"Over at the Junction." + +Will knew where the Junction was, a little hamlet about seven miles from +Winthrop. How far it was distant from the place where he then was, +however, he had no idea. It was easy to ascertain, and in response to +his question the farmer explained that it was "about three mile." + +"You might take us there, then," said Will quickly. "I don't know just +how the trains run for Winthrop, but it'll be three miles nearer +anyway." + +"Yes, I'll be glad to take you there." + +"How much are you going to charge us?" demanded Mott who did not plan to +be caught again by the "guilelessness" of any of the people of the +region. + +"Oh, I sha'n't charge ye anything. Glad t' do ye the favor," responded +the farmer heartily. + +In a brief time his car was ready, and, acting upon his suggestion, the +boys at once took their places on the seat, and the driver soon was +briskly speeding down the roadway. + +Conversation lagged, for the boys were somewhat wearied by their long +tramp and the young farmer was silent, doubtless anxious over the +illness in his home. When a brief time had elapsed he deposited the boys +on the platform of the little station at the Junction, and again +declining any offer on their part to pay for the service he had rendered +them at once departed in his search for the physician. + +Approaching the little window in the ticket office Mott inquired, +"What's the next train we can get for Winthrop?" + +"No more trains to-night," responded the man without looking up from the +noisy clicker over which he was bending. + +"No more trains?" + +"That's what I said. The last one passed here fifteen minutes ago." + +"Isn't there any way we can get there?" + +"I s'pose there is." + +"What is it?" demanded Mott eagerly. + +"Walk." + +"How far is it?" + +"Seven miles." + +"And there's no other way?" + +"You won't be the first that have counted the ties between Junction and +Winthrop." + +"Isn't there a freight train that comes along pretty soon?" inquired +Will. + +"There's one that's due in 'bout an hour. But you never can depend on +it. It may be here in an hour and it may be three hours. You never can +tell." + +"What shall we do, Phelps?" inquired Mott, turning sharply to his +companion. + +"I don't care much, but I believe it would be better for us to start. It +isn't so very far and besides it'll be good for our longevity and help +us for the meet." + +There was an exclamation of anger from Mott who doubtless had become +somewhat sensitive to the frequent references to his favorite expression +of the day, but he made no protest and the two boys at once started up +the track. Both were hungry and weary but the distance must be +traversed, and there was no time or breath to waste in complaining. +Steadily they trudged onward, the monotony of the walk increased by the +deepening darkness. They had been gone from the station only about an +hour when the shrill screech of the whistle from a locomotive +approaching from behind them was heard, and in a few minutes the long +and noisy freight train thundered past them. + +Mott was almost beside himself with rage as he watched the passing cars +and heaped all manner of maledictions upon the head of the station +agent, who, he declared, must have known the train was coming, and with +malice aforethought had withheld his knowledge and advised the boys to +walk. "Everybody was against the college boys," he declared, "and looked +upon it as legitimate to take advantage of them in every possible +manner." But Will only laughed in response and made no protests though +he was as thoroughly wearied as his companion. + +At last the lights of the college could be seen and shortly after ten +o'clock they arrived at their dormitory. "We'll remember this walk, I +take it," said Mott glumly as he turned toward his room. + +"We certainly shall," replied Will. "The 'longevity' of that old farmer +was something wonderful." + +"Bother his longevity!" exclaimed Mott as he turned quickly away. + +Left to himself Will slowly climbed the stairs until he arrived at his +own room, but as he was about to enter he suddenly stopped and listened +intently to the sound of voices within. Surely he knew that voice, he +thought, and in an instant opened the door and burst into the room. + +Seated in the easy-chair was his father. Instantly Will's weariness was +forgotten and with a shout he rushed upon his visitor throwing his arm +about his neck and laughing in a way that may have served to keep down a +stronger emotion. + +"How long have you been here?" he demanded. "Where's mother? When did +you come? How's everybody at home? Anything wrong? My, but I'm glad to +see you! How long are you going to stay?" + +The questions and exclamations fell from Will's lips in such confusion +that it was impossible to reply and even Foster who was in the room +joined in the laugh with which his room-mate's excitement was greeted. + +"Not too fast, Will," laughed his father. "I had to come near here on +business and I thought it would be a good thing to stop at Winthrop over +night and have a little visit with my boy. I didn't know that I should +be able to have one," he added smilingly, "for he wasn't anywhere to be +found." + +"I'm sorry! I wish I'd known it. I've been out for a walk with Mott. And +we certainly have had one!" he added as he recounted some of the +experiences of the afternoon. + +His recital was greeted with laughter and even Will himself could enjoy +it now that it was all past and he was once more safe in his room. For +an hour Mr. Phelps remained in the room listening to the tales of the +boys of their new life in the college, laughing as he heard of their +pranks, and deeply interested in all they had to relate. At last when he +arose to go to his room in the village hotel, he promised to come and +attend church in the morning with the boys and then explained that he +would have two hours to spend with Will on the morning following as his +train did not leave until half-past ten. + +"But I have a recitation the first hour," said Will blankly. "I'll 'cut' +it, though, for it isn't every day one has his daddy with him, and I +wouldn't lose a minute of your time here, pop, for ten hours with old +Splinter. I have Greek, you know, the first hour in the morning. Oh, +I've got 'cuts' to burn," he added hastily as an unspoken protest +appeared in the expression on his father's face. "You needn't worry +about that." + +"I don't want you to lose any recitation because I am here," said his +father quietly. "I sha'n't want to come again if my coming interferes +with your work, and as it is I have serious doubts--" + +"All right, pop," replied Will patting his father affectionately on the +shoulder. "I'll go to Splinter's class, though I know he'll 'go for' me +too. I won't do a thing that'll ever keep you from showing up here in +Winthrop again." + +On Monday morning after the exercises in the chapel, Mr. Phelps went to +Will's room and waited till the hour should pass and the eager-hearted +boy should return. As the great clock in the tower rang out the hour he +arose and stood in front of the window peering out across the campus at +the building where Will was at work, but the stroke had scarcely ceased +before he beheld the lad run swiftly down the steps and speed along the +pathway toward his room as if he were running for a prize. The +expression in the man's eyes was soft and there was also a suspicious +moisture in them as well as he watched his boy. Was it only a dream or +reality? Only a few short years ago and he had been an eager-hearted boy +speeding over the same pathway (he smiled as he thought how the "speed" +was never displayed on his way to the recitation building), and now it +was his own boy who was sharing in the life of old Winthrop and +doubtless he himself was in the minds of the young students relegated to +that remote and distant period when the "old grads" were supposed to be +young. Doubtless to them it was a time as remote as that when Homer's +heroes contended in battle or the fauns and satyrs peopled the wooded +hills and plains. And yet how vital it all was to him. He watched the +groups of students moving across the campus, and as the sound of their +shouts or laughter or the words of some song rose on the autumn air, it +seemed to the man that he needed only to close his eyes and the old life +would return--a life so like the present that it did not seem possible +that a great gulf of thirty years lay between. + +Mr. Phelps' meditations were interrupted by the entrance of Will, who +burst into the room with the force of a small whirlwind. + +"Here I am, pop!" he exclaimed as he tossed his books upon his couch and +threw his cap to the opposite side of the room. "Old Splinter stuck me +good this morning, but I can stand it as long as you are here." + +"Who is Splinter?" + +"Why, don't you know? I thought everybody knew Splinter. He's our +professor of Greek and the biggest fraud in the whole faculty." + +"What's the trouble with him?" Mr. Phelps spoke quietly but there was +something in his voice that betrayed a deeper feeling and one that Will +was quick to perceive and that gave him a twinge of uneasiness as well. + +"Oh, he's hard as nails. He must have 'ichor' in his veins, not blood. I +don't believe he ever was a boy. He must have been like Pallas Athenae. +Wasn't she the lady that sprang full-fledged from the brain of Zeus? +Well, I've a notion that Splinter yelled in Greek when he was a baby. +That is, if he ever was an infant, and called for his bottle in dactylic +hexameter. Oh, I know lots about Greek, pop," laughed Will as his father +smiled. "I know the alphabet and a whole lot of things even if Splinter +thinks I don't." + +"Doesn't he think you know much about your Greek?" + +"Well, he doesn't seem to be overburdened with the weight of his opinion +of me. He just looks upon me, I'm afraid, as if I was not a bright and +shining light. 'Learn Greek or grow up in ignorance,' that's the burden +of his song, and I've sometimes thought that about all the fun he has in +life is flunking freshmen." + +"How about the freshmen?" + +"You mean me? Honestly, pop, I haven't done very well in my Greek; but I +don't think it's all my fault. I've worked on it as I haven't worked on +anything else in college. I've done my part, but Splinter doesn't seem +to believe it. What am I going to do about it?" + +Will in spite of his light-hearted ways, was seriously troubled and his +father was silent for a brief time before he responded to the boy's +question. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE PERPETUAL PROBLEM + + +"I was aware that you were having trouble with your Greek," said Mr. +Phelps quietly, "and that was one of my reasons for stopping over here." + +"You were? How did you know?" + +"I had received word from the secretary of the faculty. He sent me a +formal note announcing that your work was so low that it was more than +probable you would fail in your mid-year examination." + +For a moment Will Phelps was silent. His face became colorless and his +heart seemed almost to rise in his throat. Fail in his mid-year's? A +"warning" sent home to his father? To the inexperienced young student it +seemed for a moment as if he was disgraced in the eyes of all his +friends. He knew that his work had been of a low grade, but never for a +moment had he considered it as being at all serious. So many of his +newly formed friends in the college had been speaking of their +conditions and low grades as a matter of course and had referred to them +laughingly, much as if they were good jokes to be enjoyed that Will too +had come almost to feel that his own trouble was not a serious one. And +Splinter was the one to be blamed for the most of it, he was convinced. +The words of his father, however, had presented the matter in an +entirely different light, and his trouble was vastly increased by its +evident effect upon him. Will's face was drawn and there was an +expression of suffering upon it as he glanced again at his father and +said: + +"What shall I do? Will it drop me out of college?" + +"I think not necessarily. You must pass off more than half your hours to +enable you to keep on with your class; but failure in one study will not +bring that of itself, for your Greek is a four-hour course. But the +matter is, of course, somewhat serious and in more ways than one." + +"Yes, I know it," replied Will despondently. + +"Well, if you know it, that's half the battle won already. The greatest +trouble with most unsuccessful men is that they have never learned what +their own weaknesses and limitations are. But you say you know, and I +wish you'd tell me what you think the chief difficulty is." + +"My Greek," said Will, trying to smile. + +"But what's the trouble with the Greek?" + +"The trouble is that the Greek troubles me. I suppose the Greek is all +right and I'm all wrong." + +"In what way?" + +"I don't know it as I ought to." + +"Is that 'Splinter's' fault?" + +"No, it's mine. You know how hard I worked in the closing half of my +last year in the high school, but that didn't, and I suppose couldn't, +make up for what I hadn't done before." + +"Are you working hard now?" + +"On my Greek?" + +"Yes." + +"I'm putting more time on that than on everything else." + +"I didn't ask you about the 'time,' but about the work." + +"Why, yes. I don't just see what you mean. I spend three hours on my +Greek every day we have it." + +"It's one thing to 'spend the time' and another to work. Some men will +accomplish more in an hour than others will in three." + +"I do my best," said Will gloomily. He felt almost as if his father was +unfair with him and was disposed to question what he had said. + +"Now, Will," said Mr. Phelps quietly, but in a tone of voice which his +boy clearly understood, "it would be an easy thing for me to smooth over +this matter and make light of it, but my love and interest in you are +too strong to permit me to think of that for a moment. I believe in you, +my boy, but there are some things in which I cannot aid you, some things +which you must learn and do for yourself. Last year you faced your +crisis as a man should, and I believe you will face this one too." + +"It seems as if there was always something to be faced." + +"There is. That's it, exactly. My boy, Splinter, as you call your +professor in Greek, is not limited to the faculty of Winthrop College. +In one form or another he presents himself all through your life. His +name is simply that of the perpetual problem." + +"I don't see, then--" interrupted Will. + +"No, you don't see; but it is just because I do, and I am your father, +that I am talking in this way. Why do you think I have sent you to +college? It isn't for the name of it, or for the fun you will get out of +it, or even for the friendships you will form here, though every one of +these things is good in itself. It is to have you so trained, or rather +for you so to train yourself, that when you go out from Winthrop you +will be able to meet the very problems of which I am speaking and master +them. They come to all, and the great difference in men is really in +their ability to solve these very things. I think it is Emerson who +says, 'It is as easy for a large man to do large things as it is for a +small man to do small things.' And that is what I want for you, my boy, +the ability to do the greater things." + +"But I'll never use Greek any. I wish I could take some other study in +its place." + +"Just now it is not a question of Greek or something in its place. It is +a question of facing and overcoming a difficulty or permitting it to +overcome you. You must decide whether you will be a victor or a victim. +There are just three things a man can do when he finds himself compelled +to meet one of these difficult things that in one form or another come +to everybody. He can turn and run from it, but that's the part of a +coward. He can get around it, evade it somehow, but that's the part of +the timid and palterer, and sooner or later the superficial man is found +out. Then there is the best way, which is to meet and master it. +Everybody has to decide which he will do, but do one of the three he +must, and there is no escape." + +"You think I ought to hit it between the eyes?" + +"Yes, though I should not put it in quite that way," said his father +with a smile. + +"I'd like to smash it! I don't like it! I'll never make a Greek scholar, +and I detest Splinter. He's as dry as a bone or a Greek root! He hasn't +any more juice than a piece of boiled basswood!" + +"That does not alter the matter. It won't change, and you've got to +choose in which of the three ways I have suggested you will meet it." + +"I suppose that's so," said Will quietly. "But it doesn't make it any +easier." + +"Not a bit." + +"I know what you would say." + +"Then it isn't necessary for me to say another word. There's one thing I +am thankful for, Will, and that is that you and I are such good friends +that we can talk this trouble all over together. The dean was telling me +this morning--" + +"Have you seen the dean?" interrupted Will quickly. "What did he say?" + +"The dean was telling me," resumed Mr. Phelps smiling and ignoring the +interruption, "that he sees so many of what might be termed the tragical +elements of college life, that he sometimes feels as if he could not +retain his position another day. Fathers and mothers broken-hearted, +boys discouraged or worse, but the most tragical experience of all, he +says, is to try to deal with fathers who have no special interest in +their boys, and between whom there is no confidence. Whatever troubles +may come to us, Will, I am thankful that that at least will not be one +of them." + +As he spoke Mr. Phelps arose, for the machine which was to convey him to +the station could now be seen approaching and the time of his departure +had arrived. His good-bye was hastily spoken for he knew how hard it +would be for Will to be left behind, and in a brief time he had taken +his seat in the auto. He saw Will as he hastily ran back to his room and +then he could see him as he stood by the window in his room watching the +departing auto as long as it could be seen. He gave no signal to show +that he saw his boy, but his own eyes were wet as he was carried swiftly +down the street, as he thought of the predicament in which Will was and +how the testing-time had come again. But the young student must be left +to fight out his battle alone. To save him from the struggle would be to +save him from the strength. If it were only possible for a father to +save his boy by assuming his burden, how thankful he would be, was Mr. +Phelps' reflection, but he was too wise a man and too good a father to +flinch or falter now, and, though his heart was heavy, he resolutely +kept on his way leaving Will to fight his own battle, and hoping that +the issue would be as he most fervently desired. + +Left to himself, for a moment Will was almost despondent. The departure +of his father seemed to leave the loneliness intensified, but he was +recalled as he heard some one run up the stairway and rush into the +room. His visitor was Mott, and perhaps the sophomore almost +instinctively felt that his presence was not welcome, for he said: + +"Governor gone, Phelps? Hope he left a good-sized check with you! I've +come over to be the first to help you get rid of it." + +"What's the trouble?" inquired Will quietly, glancing up as he spoke. +"Your money all gone? Want to borrow some?" + +"I'm always ready for that," laughed Mott, "though I'll have to own up +that I've got a few cents on hand yet. No, I don't know that I want to +borrow any; but I thought you might want a little help in getting rid of +that check, and I'd just run over to oblige you. Just pure missionary +work, you see." Mott seated himself in the large easy-chair and +endeavored to appear at his ease, though to Will it still seemed as if +there was something which still troubled his visitor. + +"I haven't any special check." + +"That's all right. My 'old man' never has been up to see me since I +entered Winthrop, but as I look around at the fellows whose fathers and +mothers have been up, I've noticed that they're usually pretty flush +right after the old gentleman departs." + +"Hasn't your mother ever been up?" inquired Will in surprise. + +"No. Why should she? She hasn't any time to bother with me. She's on +more than forty boards, and is on the 'go' all the time. She has to +attend all sorts of 'mothers' meetings' too, and I believe she has a +lecture also, which she gives." + +"A lecture?" + +"Yes. She has a lecture on 'The proper method of bringing up boys.' How +do you suppose she ever has any time to visit me?" Mott laughed as if +the matter was one of supreme indifference to him, but Will fancied that +he could detect a feeling of bitterness beneath it all. For himself, the +condition described by the sophomore seemed to him to be incredible. His +own relations with his father had been of the frankest and most friendly +nature. Indeed, it never occurred to him in a time of trouble or +perplexity that there was any one else to whom he so naturally could go +as to his own father. Since he had entered Winthrop, however, he had +discovered several who were not unlike Mott in their feelings toward +their own families; and as Mott spoke he almost unconsciously found a +feeling of sympathy arising in his heart for him. Some of his apparently +reckless deeds could be explained now. + +"Mott, you must go home with me next vacation," he said impulsively. + +"That's good of you, but it's too far off to promise. Say, Phelps, +what's become of that man Friday of yours?" + +"Who's he?" + +"Schenck." + +"Oh, he's flourishing." + +"He's the freshest freshman that ever entered Winthrop. What do you +suppose he had the nerve to say to me to-day?" + +"I can't imagine." + +"Well, he told me that he thought the Alpha Omega was the best +fraternity in college, and that he'd made up his mind to join it." + +As this was the fraternity to which Mott himself belonged, Will laughed +as he said, "Oh, well, don't be too hard with Peter John. He doesn't +know any better now, but he'll learn." + +"That's what he will," replied Mott with a very decided shake of his +head. "I thought I'd come over to tell you that the sophomore-freshmen +meet is to come off on Saturday afternoon." + +"Not next Saturday?" exclaimed Will aghast. + +"Yes, that's the very day." + +"They told me it wasn't to be for two weeks yet." + +"All the same it's on Saturday. I thought I'd tell you, though I'm going +to do my best to keep you from winning your numerals." + +Mott rose and departed from the room, and when Foster returned he found +his room-mate hard at work, with his Greek books spread out on the desk +before him. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE MEET + + +The fact that the track meet between the two lower classes had been +placed at an earlier date than that for which it had first been +announced was a serious disappointment to Will Phelps. His success in +the school athletics had made him quietly hopeful, if not confident, +that he might be able to win some laurels in college, and he also was +aware that the gold medal he wore upon his fob had made his own +classmates expect great things from him. And the changed date now +prevented him from doing any training and he must enter the contest +without any preparation. + +Reports had come to him that Mott and Ogden, the two fleetest-footed +sophomores, had already been working hard, and rumors were also current +that he himself was to be kidnapped and prevented from entering the +games. Will had given but slight heed to any of these reports, but he +had in his own mind decided that he would begin training at once for the +contest, for if he should by any chance win then he would be the first +member of his own class to gain the coveted privilege of wearing his +class numerals upon his cap and sweater. And, not unnaturally, Will was +eager to secure the honor. + +As he thought over Mott's words he was half inclined to believe that the +sophomore himself had been the cause of the unexpected change in the +date of holding the games, and his feeling of anger and desire to win +both became keener. There was no time, however, afforded in which he +might make preparations for the meet, and he must simply do his best +under existing circumstances. There was to be no burlesque or "horse +play" in this contest, and the entire college would be on hand and +interested to note the promise of the entering class in a department of +college life that appealed strongly to all the students. Even his new +determination to push his work in his Greek harder than ever he had done +and his feeling of homesickness did not in the day that intervened +between the present and the day of the games prevent his interest and +excitement from increasing during the passing hours. + +Saturday afternoon finally arrived, clear and cool, an ideal day for the +contest. When Will stepped forth from the dressing-room, clad in his +light running suit and with his bath robe wrapped around him, as he +glanced over the track he could see that a crowd was already assembled. +The sophomores were seated in a body in one portion of the "bleachers," +and their noisy shouts or loud class cries rose steadily on the autumn +air. Opposite was the freshman class, but its members were still too +unfamiliar with their surroundings and with one another to enable them +to join in anything like the unison of their rivals. In the grand stand +were numbers of the members of the families of the faculty and the +townspeople and visitors, and altogether the scene was one that strongly +stirred Will and his room-mate, Foster Bennett, who also was to compete +in the games. + +Suddenly a loud, derisive shout arose from the sophomores, and Will +glanced quickly up to discover its cause. In a moment the cause was +seen, when Peter John Schenck came running across the field toward the +place where Will and Foster were standing beside a few of their +classmates, who were also waiting for the game to begin. + +The sight of Peter John was one that caused even Will and Foster to +smile, for their classmate was dressed as if he too was about to become +a contestant, and this was something neither of them had expected. It +was Peter John's garb, however, which had so greatly delighted the +beholders, for it was unlike anything to be seen upon the +field--"fearfully and wonderfully made," as Mott, who had joined them +for a moment, had expressed it. Evidently it was the result of Peter +John's own handiwork. His running trousers came to a place about halfway +between his knees and ankles before they stopped, and were fashioned of +coarse bagging or material very similar to it. He wore no running shoes, +but a pair of gray woolen socks, plainly "hand made," provided a +substitute. His "running shirt" was a calico blouse which had at one +time doubtless served him as a garment in which he had done the daily +chores upon his father's farm, but, as if to make matters still worse, a +broad band of ribbon, the colors of the class, was diagonally fastened +to his blouse in front, and Peter John's fierce shock of bright red +hair, uncut since he had entered Winthrop, served to set off the entire +picture he presented. + +"Well, I guess we'll do 'em to-day, Will," exclaimed Peter John as he +approached the group of which his friend was a member. + +"I guess we will," remarked Mott soberly. + +"I'm going to do my prettiest," continued Peter John. + +"If you let anybody once get ahead of you, Schenck," said Mott, "you'll +never catch him. If he sees you after him he'll run for his life." + +"He'll have to!" + +"What are you entered for?" inquired Mott, glancing at his program as he +spoke. + +"The half-mile run." + +"Ever do it before?" + +"Once or twice." + +"What time did you make?" + +"I don't just recollect." + +"Never mind. You'll make a new record to-day." + +"That's what I want to do," replied Peter John, sublimely unconscious +that he was being made sport of by the sophomore. + +The conversation was interrupted by the call, "All out for the +hundred-yard dash!" and, as Will was to run in the first heat, he drew +off his bath robe and tossing it to Foster, turned at once for the +starting-place. He had already been indulging in a few trials of +starting, but his feeling of confidence was by no means strong as he +glanced at those who were to be his competitors. There were four runners +in his heat, and one of them was Ogden, the sophomore of whose +reputation as a "sprinter" Will already was aware. The other two were +freshmen and therefore unknown quantities, but Will's chief interest was +in Ogden. He could see the knots of muscles in his arms and back and +legs, and his own feeling of confidence was in nowise strengthened by +the sight. Certainly Ogden was a muscular fellow, and a competitor as +dangerous as he was striking in his appearance. + +The call, "On your marks," was given, and Will, with the other three, +advanced and took his place on the line. Every nerve in his body seemed +to be tingling with excitement and his heart was beating furiously. + +"Get set!" called the starter, and then in a moment there followed the +sharp report of the pistol and the runners were speeding down the +course. Will felt that he had secured a good start, and but a few yards +had been covered when he realized that he and Ogden were running almost +side by side and had left the other two contestants behind them. Nor +were their relative positions changed as they sped on down the track +except that the distance between Will and Ogden and the two freshmen +behind them was steadily increased. Will was dimly aware as he drew near +the line that the entire sophomore body had risen and was noisily +calling to their classmate to increase his speed. There was silence from +the seats occupied by the freshman class, but Will was hardly mindful of +the lack of support. Glancing neither to the right nor the left, he +could almost instinctively feel that Ogden was a few inches in advance +of him and all his efforts were centered upon cutting down the +intervening distance. + +As the contestants came within the last ten yards of the course, Will +gathered himself together for one final burst of speed. His feet seemed +scarcely to touch the ground as he darted forward. But Ogden was not to +be outdone, for he too increased the pace at which he was running, and +when they touched the line that was stretched across the course, the +sophomore was still ahead by a few inches and had come in first in the +heat, while Will was second. + +Foster was standing near to catch his room-mate, and as he wrapped the +bath robe around him, he said: "It's all right, Will; you're in the +finals." + +"First two taken?" gasped Will. + +"Yes." + +"Hold on. Let's hear the time," said Will, stopping abruptly as the +announcer advanced. + +"Hundred-yards dash, first heat," called the senior, "Won by number ten. +Second, number fifteen. Time, ten and two-fifths seconds." + +"That's good for the heat, Will," said Foster warmly. + +"I'm not in training," said Will despondently. + +"The others aren't either, or at least not much. You had Ogden nearly +winded, and when it comes to the finals you'll do him up," said Foster +encouragingly. + +Will did not reply, for the call for the second heat was now made and he +was intensely interested in watching Mott's performance, for his +reputation in the college was even greater than Ogden's. And if he +himself had been beaten by Ogden, what chance would he have against +Mott? The question was not reassuring, but as the five men in the second +heat could now be seen taking their positions on the line, it was for +the moment ignored, as intensely interested he turned to watch the race +that was about to be run. + +In a moment the pistol was fired and the five contestants came speeding +down the course. It was soon seen that Mott was leading, but only by a +little, though he did not appear to be exerting himself strongly. + +"Easy, dead easy!" Will heard a sophomore near him remark, and as he +watched Mott's easy stride he heartily concurred in the opinion. + +The runners were nearing the line now, and as Mott drew near he almost +stopped for a moment and glanced smilingly behind him at his +contestants. Instantly his nearest competitor darted forward and before +the sophomore could recover himself he had touched the string and won +the heat, with Mott a close second. Mott, however, appeared to be in +nowise disconcerted and laughingly received the bantering words of his +classmates. He laughed again when the time was announced as ten and +four-fifths seconds, and approaching the place where Will and Foster +were standing, said: + +"You did well, freshman. Made better time than I did." + +"I had to, if I kept anywhere near Ogden." + +The other events of the meet were now being run off, and as Peter John +Schenck took his place on the line for the half-mile run the uproar +became almost tumultuous, and when the freshman apparently took it all +in his most serious manner and bowed gravely to the sophomores, +evidently appropriating to himself all the noisy demonstrations of +delight, the shouts and laughter redoubled. + +In a moment, however, the runners were off and Peter John quickly +advanced to the first place, followed by a line of five that were well +bunched together. There were many derisive calls and cries and Peter +John's work seemed to be taken as a joke by all the spectators, who were +loud in their declarations that he was "making a mistake" and would +"never be able to maintain his stride." Around the course sped the +runners until at last they were on the home stretch and still Peter John +was in advance, his arms working like the fans of a Dutch windmill and +his awkward movements becoming more awkward as the strain of the final +part of the race came upon him. Still he was in the lead, however, and +the derisive cries were giving place to shouts of approval and +encouragement from his own classmates. + +The increasing excitement seemed to provide an additional spur to the +awkward freshman, for his speed suddenly increased and he darted across +the line far in advance of his rivals who were bunched behind him. +Laughter was mingled with the applause that greeted him, and when the +captain of the college track team advanced and extended his hand in +congratulation, the genuineness of the applause that followed was +unquestioned. + +Peter John, highly elated by his success, approached Will and said +glibly: "There, Will, I rather guess that'll add five points to our +score." + +"I rather guess it will," laughed his classmate cordially. He was as +greatly surprised as any one that day, but he was too generous to +begrudge any praise to Peter John. + +"Now see that you do as well," said Peter John, as the call for the +finals in the hundred-yard dash was made. + +Will made no response as he advanced to take his place. Foster had +already won the running broad jump and was in a fair way to win the +shot-put as well. Peter John had been successful too, and to Will it +seemed that he must win his race or his disappointment would be almost +too bitter to bear. + +At the report of the pistol the contestants darted from the line and +came speeding down the track toward the finish, which was near the place +where the spectators were assembled. Vigorously, lusty, the perfection +physically of young manhood, the four runners sped on with the swiftness +of the wind, but when they touched the tape it was evident that Mott was +first by a small margin and that Ogden was second, being an almost +imperceptible distance in advance of Will Phelps, who had finished third +in the race. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +WAGNER'S ADVICE + + +The applause that greeted the winners was sounding but dimly and like +some far-away shout in Will Phelps' ears when he staggered into the +outstretched arms of Hawley, who was waiting to receive his classmate. +Mortification, chagrin, disappointment were all mingled in his feelings, +and it was all intensified by the fact that both Foster and Peter John +had won their "numerals" and were now marked men in the class. Not that +he begrudged either the honors he had won, but his own reputation as a +sprinter had preceded his coming to Winthrop, and Will knew that great +things had been expected of him. + +"It was a great race, Phelps," said Hawley, "and you've added another +point to our score." + +Will could understand the attempt at consolation which his huge +classmate was making, but it only served to increase the bitterness of +his own defeat. He smiled, but made no response. He could see Peter John +strutting about and receiving the half-bantering congratulations of the +students, and his heart became still heavier. + +"Never mind, Phelps, you didn't have any chance to train," said Hawley. +"Mott and Ogden have been down on the track every evening for the past +three weeks." + +"They have?" demanded Will, a ray of light appearing for the moment. + +"Sure. And besides all that they got the date of the 'meet' changed +too." + +"They beat me," said Will simply. + +"Everybody expected them to. They all know you're a good runner, Phelps, +but they say a freshman never wins. Such a thing hasn't been known for +years. You see, a freshman is all new to it here, and I don't care how +good he is, he can't do himself justice. You ought to hear what Wagner, +the captain of the college track team, had to say about you." + +"What did he say?" inquired Will eagerly. + +"He said you had it in you to make one of the best runners in college, +and he's going to keep an eye on you for the team too." + +"Did he say that?" + +"That's what he did." + +"The two-twenty hasn't been run yet. I believe I'll go in for that." + +"That's the way to talk." + +"Let me see when it comes," said Will, turning to his program as he +spoke. + +"Fifteen minutes yet," said Hawley. "Come into the dressing room, +Phelps, and I'll give you a good rubbing down." + +Will at once accompanied his friend to the dressing room, and when the +call for the two hundred and twenty yards' dash was made, he took his +place on the line with the other competitors. There were only four, the +same four that had run in the final heat of the hundred yards, the +defeated contestants all having dropped out save one. + +When the pistol was fired and the racers had started, Will was at once +aware that again the victory was not to be his. The lack of training +and practice, and perhaps also the depression which his previous defeat +had produced in his mind contributed to his failure; but whatever the +cause, though he exerted himself to the utmost, he found that he was +unable to overtake either Mott or Ogden, who steadily held their places +before him. It was true when the race was finished that he was less than +a yard behind Mott, who was himself only about a foot in the rear of the +fleet-footed Ogden, and that the fourth runner was so far behind Will +that he was receiving the hootings and jibes of the sophomores, but +still the very best that Phelps was able to do was to cross the line as +third. It was true that again he had won a point for the honor of his +class, but it was first place he had longed to gain, and his +disappointment was correspondingly keen. + +It was Hawley who again received him in his arms, and once more the +young giant endeavored to console his defeated classmate, for as such +Will looked upon himself, in spite of the fact that he had come in +third, and therefore had scored a point in each race. But as Hawley +perceived that his friend was in no mood to listen, he wisely refrained +from speaking, and both stood near the track watching the contestants in +the various events that were not yet run off. Too proud to acknowledge +his disappointment in his defeat by departing from the field, and yet +too sore in his mind to arouse much enthusiasm, he waited till the games +were ended and it was known that the sophomores had won by a score of +sixty-four and a half to forty-eight and a half. Then he quietly sought +the dressing room, and as soon as he had donned his garments went at +once to his own room. + +It was a relief to find that not even Foster was there, and as he seated +himself in his easy-chair and gazed out at the brilliantly clad hills +with the purple haze that rested over them all, for a time a feeling of +utter and complete depression swept over him. Was this the fulfillment +of the dreams he had cherished of the happiness of his college life? +Already warned by Splinter that his work in Greek was so poor that he +was in danger of being dropped from the class, the keen disappointment +of his father apparent though his words had been few, the grief in his +home and the peril to himself were all now visible to the heart-sick +young freshman. And now to lose in the two track events had added a +weight that to Will seemed to be almost crushing. He had pictured to +himself how he would lightly turn away his poor work in the classroom by +explaining that he could not hope to win in everything, and that +athletics had always been his strong point anyway. But now even that was +taken away and his failure was almost equally apparent in both. + +He could see Peter John coming up the walk, receiving the +congratulations of the classmates he met and giving his "pump-handle" +handshake to those who were willing to receive it. It was maddening and +almost more than Will thought he could bear. It was a mistake that he +had ever come to college anyway, he bitterly assured himself. He was not +well prepared in spite of the fact that he had worked hard for a part of +his final year in the preparatory school. Greek? He detested the +subject. Even his father came in for a share of blame, for if he had +not insisted upon his taking it Will never would have entered Splinter's +room. He might have taken German under "Dutchy," or English under +Professor Jones, as many of his classmates were doing, and every one +declared that the work there was a "snap." + +It was not long before Will Phelps was in a state of mind wherein he was +convinced that he was being badly treated and had more to contend +against than any other man in his class. His naturally impulsive +disposition seldom found any middle ground on which he was permitted to +stand. His father had one time laughingly declared that the comparative +degree had been entirely left out of Will's make-up and that things were +usually of the superlative. "Worst," "best," "poorest," "finest" were +adjectives most commonly to be found in his vocabulary, and between the +two extremes a great gulf appeared to be fixed. He had also declared +that he looked for Will to occupy no middle ground. He would either be a +pronouncedly successful man or an equally pronounced failure, a very +good man or a man who would be a villain. And Will had laughingly +accepted the verdict, being well assured that he knew, if it must be one +of the two, which it would of necessity be. All things had gone well +with him from the time of his earliest recollections. His home had been +one of comfort and even of elegance, any reasonable desire had never +been denied, he had always been a leading spirit among the pupils of the +high school, and that he was too, a young fellow who was graceful in his +appearance, well dressed, and confident of his own position, doubtless +Will Phelps was aware, although he did not give expression to the fact +in such terms. + +And now the "superlative degree" had certainly displayed itself, Will +thought in his wretchedness, only it had manifested itself in the +extreme which he never had before believed to be possible with him. He +listened to the shouts and laughter of the students passing along the +street below and every fresh outburst only served to deepen his own +feeling of depression. Not any of the enthusiasm was for him. + +He was roused from his bitter reflection by the opening of the door into +his room, but he did not look up, as he was convinced that it was only +his room-mate, and Foster understood him so well that he would not talk +when he saw that he was in no mood for conversation. + +"Hello, Phelps! What's wrong?" + +Will hastily sat erect and looked up. His visitor was Wagner, the +captain of the track team, the one senior of all others for whom Will +cherished a feeling of respect that was almost unbounded. He had never +met the great man before, but he had looked up to him with awe when +Wagner had been pointed out to him by admiring students, and he was +aware that the captain's reputation was as great in the college for his +manliness as it was for his success in athletics. Unpretentious, +straightforward, without a sign of "cant" or "gush" about him, the +influence of the young leader had been a mighty force for good in the +life of Winthrop College. And now as Will glanced into the face of the +tall, powerful young fellow and realized that it was indeed himself +whom his visitor was addressing, his feeling of depression instantly +gave place to surprise and in the unexpected honor he found it difficult +to express himself. + +"Nothing much. I wasn't just looking for any--for you," he stammered. +"Won't you take this chair, Mr. Wagner?" Will pushed the easy-chair +toward his visitor as he spoke and again urged him to be seated. + +"That's all right, Phelps. Keep your seat. I'll just sit here," replied +Wagner, seating himself upon the edge of Will's desk. "How do you feel +after the games?" he inquired. + +"I'm a bit sore outside and worse still inside." + +"What's the trouble?" + +"I came in only third." + +"Only third? Where did you expect to come in?" + +"Why--why, I was hoping I'd get first in the hundred," Will managed to +reply. + +"You're a modest youth," laughed Wagner, surveying his long legs and +laughing in such a manner that Will was compelled to join. + +"Well, the fellows rather thought I'd win and that's what makes me feel +worse about it." + +"They're only freshmen; they don't know any better," laughed Wagner. +"Don't let that bother you for a minute. I think you did well myself, +and besides, the freshmen very seldom win in the sprints. I don't know +that I ever saw one since I've been in college." + +"Did you win the hurdles when you were a freshman?" + +"Oh, I just happened to. 'Twas an accident of some kind, I fancy. Yes, +I think the soph who was ahead of me tripped and fell, so I crawled in +first." + +"That will do for you to tell." + +"Perhaps I did win. But that's neither here nor there. It isn't what I +came for. I didn't want to talk about myself but about you." + +Will looked up eagerly but did not speak, though his question was to be +seen in the expression of his face. + +"My advice to you is to go to work and try for the track team in the +spring." + +"Do you think I can make it?" said Will breathlessly. + +"I don't say that," laughed Wagner. "That's something to be decided +later. All I said was that you'd better 'try' for it. You've nothing to +lose if you fail and something to win if you succeed." + +"But if I should try and then not make it." + +"Yes, that's a possibility, of course. No man can ever tell about that. +But I shouldn't let it break my heart if I didn't make the team the +first year. Very few do that. All I say is go ahead and try. No man can +ever tell what's in him till he tests himself, can he?" + +"No, I suppose not." + +"Now don't have any nonsense about it, Phelps, and don't misunderstand +me. I believe in every man doing his best and then just resting there +and not crying over what he can't ever have. If a man does his best and +then doesn't have the whole world bowing and scraping before him because +he isn't very high up, that isn't any reason why he should kick. Take +what you've got, use it, test it, and then if you find you're not a star +but only a candle, why, just shine as a candle and don't go sputtering +around because you can't twinkle like a star. At least that's the way I +look at it." + +"Perhaps a fellow's father and mother don't look at it that way." + +"Are you having trouble with Splinter?" demanded the senior sharply. + +"A little. Yes, a good deal. I detest the fellow!" said Will bitterly. + +"No wonder you lost the hundred," responded Wagner with a smile. "Do you +know, Phelps, I had the same experience you're having with him when I +was a freshman." + +"What did you do?" + +"Do? There's only one thing to do and that is to do his work. But I +advise you to go down to his house and see him and talk it over." + +"He won't want to see me." + +"Yes, he will. He's not half so bad as you think. Try it; I did." + +"He'll think I'm trying to boot-lick." + +"No, he won't. You can run if you have to, can't you?" demanded Wagner. +"You've got a good stride, and, like trying for the track team, you've +nothing to lose and everything to gain." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE ADVICE FOLLOWED + + +For a time after the departure of Wagner, Will Phelps sat thinking over +the stirring words of his visitor. His feeling of positive +discouragement, with the natural rebound of his impulsive temperament, +had in a measure given place to one of confidence and even of elation. +To be recognized by the great captain was an honor of itself, but to +receive a personal visit from him and a warm invitation to try for a +place on the track team was a distinction for which he never had even +dared to dream. Even his other pressing problem--his work in +Greek--appeared slightly more rosy-hued now, and a sudden determination +seized upon him to do as Wagner had suggested and see Splinter that very +night. + +Accordingly, soon after dinner--the meal at his fraternity house which +he had dreaded in view of the semi-defeat of the afternoon--he started +toward the home of his professor of Greek, resolved to talk over the +entire situation with him and strive to learn exactly where he stood and +what his prospects were likely to be. + +As he approached the walk that led from the street back to the +professor's home he came face to face with Mott and Peter John Schenck. +His surprise at meeting them was not greater than that he should find +them together, and the fact to his mind boded little good for his +classmate. + +"Going in to see Splinter?" inquired Mott. + +"Yes." + +"Better not." + +"Why?" + +"Boot-licking isn't in very high favor here at Winthrop." + +Will was glad that the darkness concealed the flush which he knew crept +over his face, but his voice was steady as he replied: "That's all +right, Mott. I'm not going in to see Splinter because I want to, you may +let your heart rest easy as to that." + +"How long are you going to be in the house?" + +"I'm afraid that will not be for me to decide. If I have my way, it +won't be long." + +"Well, good luck to you!" called Mott as he and his companion passed on +down the street. + +Will rang the bell and was at once ushered into the professor's study. +The professor himself was seated at his desk with a green shade over his +eyes, and evidently had been at work upon some papers. Will even fancied +that he could recognize the one which he himself had handed in the +preceding day and his embarrassment increased. + +"Ah, good evening, Mr. Phelps," said the professor extending his hand +and partly rising from his seat as he greeted his caller. "Will you be +seated?" + +"Good evening, professor," replied the freshman as he took the chair +indicated. + +An awkward silence followed which Will somehow found it difficult to +break in upon. He heartily wished that he had not come, for the reality +was much worse than he had thought. Even the very lines and furrows in +the professor's face seemed to him to be forbidding, and he felt that it +would be well-nigh impossible for him to explain the purpose of his +coming. + +"Was there something concerning which you desired to consult me?" +inquired the professor. The voice seemed to be as impersonal as that of +a phonograph, and every letter in every word was so distinctly +pronounced that the effect was almost electric. + +"Yes, sir." + +Again silence intervened. The professor's lips moved slightly as if, as +Will afterwards declared, "he was tasting his Greek roots," but he did +not speak. The freshman shifted his position, toyed with his gloves and +at last, unable to endure the suspense any longer, he broke forth: + +"Yes, sir, there is, professor. I have not been doing very well in my +Greek." + +"Ah. Let me see." The professor opened a drawer and drew forth a little +notebook which he consulted for a brief time. "Yes, you are correct. +Your work is below the required standard." + +"But what am I to do about it?" demanded Will. + +"Yes, ah, yes. I fancy it will be necessary for you to spend a somewhat +longer period of study in preparation." + +"But _how_ shall I study?" + +"Yes. Yes. Ah, yes. Exactly so. So you refer to the method to be +employed in the preparation for the classroom?" + +"Yes, sir. That's it. I'm willing enough to work, but I don't know how." + +"Well, I should say that the proper method would be to employ a tutor +for a time. There are several very excellent young gentlemen who are +accustomed to give their services to deserving youth--" + +"I don't want them to give it. I'll pay for it!" interrupted Will. + +"I was about to say that these young gentlemen give their services for a +consideration--a proper consideration--of course." + +The professor's thin lips seemed to be reluctant to permit the escape of +a word, so firmly were they pressed together during the intervals +between his slowly spoken words. His slight figure, "too thin to cast a +shadow," in the vigorous terms of the young freshman, was irritating in +the extreme, and if Will had followed his own inclinations he would at +once have ended the interview. + +"I knew I could get a tutor, and if it is necessary I'll do it. But I +did not know but that you might be able to make a suggestion to me. I +know I'm not very well prepared, but if you'll give me a show and tell +me a little how to go to work at the detestable stuff I'll do my best. I +don't like it. I wouldn't keep at it a minute if my father was not so +anxious for me to keep it up and I'd do anything in the world for him. +That's why I'm in the Greek class." + +"You are, I fancy (fawncy was the word in the dialect of the professor) +doing better work in the various other departments than in your Greek?" + +"Yes, sir. I think so." + +"You are not positive?" + +"Yes, sir. I know I'm doing fairly well in my Latin and mathematics. Why +the recitation in Latin never seems to be more than a quarter of an +hour, while the Greek seems as if it would never come to an end. I +think Professor Baxter is the best teacher I ever saw and he doesn't +make the Latin seem a bit like a dead language. But the Greek seems as +if it had never been alive." + +"Ahem-m!" piped up the thin voice of the professor of Greek. + +Will Phelps, however, was in earnest now and his embarrassment was all +forgotten. He was expressing his own inward feelings and without any +intention or even thought of how the words would sound he was describing +his own attitude of mind. He certainly had no thought of how his words +would be received. + +"Ahem-m!" repeated the professor shrilly and shifting a trifle uneasily +in his seat. "I fawncy that a student always does better work in a +subject which he enjoys." + +"Yes, but doesn't he enjoy what he can do better work in too? Now I +don't know how to study Greek, can't seem to make anything out of it. As +you told me one day in the class 'I make Greek of it all.' Perhaps not +exactly the kind of Greek you want, though," Will added with a smile. + +"Ah, yes. I fawncy a trifle more of work would aid you." + +"Of course! I know it would! And that's what I'm willing to do and what +I want to do, professor. But the trouble is I don't know just how to +work." + +"I--I fail to see precisely what you mean." + +"Why, I spend time enough but I don't seem to 'get there'--I mean I +don't seem to accomplish much. My translation's not much good, and +everything is wrong." + +"Perhaps you have an innate deficiency--" + +"You mean I'm a fool?" Will laughed good-naturedly, and even the +professor smiled. + +"Ah, no. By no means, Mr. Phelps, quite the contrary to that, I assure +you. There are some men who are very brilliant students in certain +subjects, but are very indifferent ones in others. For example, I +recollect that some twenty years ago--or to be exact nineteen years +ago--there was a student in my classes who was very brilliant, very +brilliant indeed. His name as I recall it was Wilder. So proficient was +he in his Greek that some of the students facetiously called him +Socrates, and some still more facetious even termed him Soc. I am sure, +Mr. Phelps, you have been in college a sufficient length of time to +apprehend the frolicsome nature of some of the students here." + +"I certainly have," Will remarked with a smile, recalling his own +compulsory collar-button race. + +"I fawncied so. Well, this Mr. Wilder to whom I refer was doing +remarkable work, truly remarkable work in Greek, but for some cause his +standing in mathematics was extremely low, and in other branches he was +not a brilliant success." + +"What did he do?" inquired Will eager to bring the tedious description +to a close, and if possible receive the suggestions for which he had +come. + +"My recollection is that he finally left college." + +"Indeed!" Will endeavored to be duly impressed by the startling fact, +but as he recalled the professor's statement that the brilliant Wilder +was in college something like twenty years before this time, his +brilliancy in being able to complete the course and now be out from the +college did not seem to him to indicate any undue precocity on the part +of the aforesaid student. + +"Yes, it was so. It has been my pleasure to receive an annual letter +from him, and I trust you will not think I am unduly immodest when I +state that he acknowledges that all his success in life is due to the +work he did here in my own classes in Winthrop. My sole motive in +referring to it is the desire to aid you." + +"You think I may be another Wilder?" inquired Will lightly. + +"Not exactly. That was not the thought that was uppermost. But it may +serve as an incentive to you." + +"What is this Wilder doing now?" + +"Ahem-m!" The professor cleared his throat repeatedly before he spoke. +"He is engaged in an occupation that brings him into contact with the +very best that has been thought and said, and also into contact with +some of the brightest and keenest intellects of our nation." + +"He must be an editor or a publisher then." + +"Not exactly. Not exactly, Mr. Phelps. He is engaged rather in a +mercantile way, though with the most scholarly works, I do assure you." + +"Is he a book agent?" + +"Ahem-m! Ahem-m! That is an expression I seldom use, Mr. Phelps. It has +become a somewhat obnoxious term, though originally it was not so, I +fawncy. I should hardly care to apply that expression as indicative of +Mr. Wilder's present occupation." + +"And you think if I try hard I may at last become a book agent too?" + +"You have mistaken my implication," said the professor scowling slightly +as he spoke. "I was striving solely to provide an incentive for you. You +may recall what Homer, or at least he whom in our current phraseology we +are accustomed to call Homer--I shall not now enter into the merits of +that question of the Homeridae. As I was about to remark, however, you +doubtless may recollect what Homer in the fifth book of his Iliad, line +forty-ninth, I think it is, has to say." + +"I'm afraid I don't recall it. You see, professor, I had only three +books of the Iliad before I came to Winthrop." + +"Surely! Surely! Strange that I should have forgotten that. It is a +pleasure you have in store then, Mr. Phelps." + +"Can you give me any suggestions how to do better work, professor?" +inquired Will mildly. + +"My advice to you is to secure Mr. Franklin of the present junior class +to tutor you for a time." + +"Thank you. I'll try to see him to-night," said Will rising and +preparing to depart. + +"That might be wise. I trust you will call upon me again, Mr. Phelps. I +have enjoyed this call exceedingly. You will not misunderstand me if I +say I had slight knowledge of your classic tastes before, and I am sure +that I congratulate you heartily, Mr. Phelps. I do indeed." + +"Thank you," replied Will respectfully, and he then departed from the +house. He was divided between a feeling of keen disappointment and a +desire to laugh as he walked up the street toward his dormitory. And +this was the man who was to stimulate his intellectual processes! In his +thoughts he contrasted him with his professor in Latin, and the man as +well as the language sank lower and lower in his estimation. And yet he +must meet it. The problem might be solved but could not be evaded. He +would see Franklin at once, he decided. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A REVERSED DECISION + + +In the days that immediately followed, Will Phelps found himself so busy +that there was but little time afforded for the pleasures of comradeship +or for the lighter side of college life. Acting upon the one good point +in the advice of his professor of Greek he secured a tutor, and though +he found but little pleasure in the study, still he gave himself to it +so unreservedly that when a few weeks had elapsed, a new light, dim +somewhat, it was true, and by no means altogether cheering, began to +appear upon his pathway. It was so much more difficult to catch up than +to keep up, and perhaps this was the very lesson which Will Phelps +needed most of all to learn. There was not much time given to recreation +now, and Will acting upon the advice of the instructor in athletics had +abandoned his projected practice in running though his determination to +try to secure a place on the track team was as strong as ever. But he +had substituted for the running a line of work in the gymnasium which +tended to develop the muscles in his legs and keep his general bodily +condition in good form. He was informed that success in running was +based upon nerve force as well as upon muscular power, and that "early +to bed" was almost as much a requisite here as it was in making a man +"healthy and wealthy and wise." This condition however he found it +exceedingly difficult to fulfill, for the additional work he was doing +in Greek made a severe draught upon his time as well as upon his +energies. + +"I hate the stuff!" he declared one night to his room-mate after he had +spent several hours in an almost vain effort to fasten certain rules in +his mind. "You don't catch me taking it after this year." + +"You don't have to look ahead, Will," suggested Foster kindly. + +"No, the look behind is bad enough. If I had worked in the early part of +the high-school course as I ought to I'd not be having all this bother +now." + +"And if you work now you won't have the trouble ahead," laughed Foster. + +"I suppose that's the way of it." + +"Of course it is. A fellow reaps what he sows." + +"I'd rather _rip_ what I sewed," said Will ruefully. "Do you know, +Foster, sometimes I think the game isn't worth the candle. I'd give it +all up, even if I had to leave college, if it wasn't for my father." + +"You wouldn't do anything of the kind and you know it, Will Phelps! +You're not the fellow to run when the pinch comes." + +"I'd like to, though," said Will thoughtfully. "My fit in Greek was so +poor I'll never get much of the good from studying it." + +"You'll be all the stronger for not giving up, anyway." + +"That's the only thing that keeps me at it. I'm so busy I don't even +have time to be homesick." + +"Well, that's one good thing." + +"Perhaps it is, but if I flunk out at the mid-year's--" + +"You won't if you only keep it up and keep at it." + +"I'd feel better if I thought I wouldn't." + +"You'll be all right," said Foster soothingly, for he understood his +friend so well that he knew he was in one of his periods of mental +reaction, and that what he needed was encouragement more than anything +else. + +"And just think of it," continued Will gloomily, "you're about the only +one of the fellows I ever see nowadays. I don't believe I've seen Hawley +in three weeks, that is to have a word with him." + +"Who has?" + +"I don't know. All the fellows, I suppose." + +"Not much! Hawley is working like a Trojan on the football team. You +know that as well as I do." + +"I suppose that's so. Still I'd like to see the fellow once in a while." + +"He's a good man all right and I've a notion that he's saved Peter John +from more than one scrape because he roomed with him." + +"I haven't seen Peter John either for more than a week." + +"We ought to look him up and keep an eye on him." + +"'Keep an eye on him'? You want to keep both eyes and your hands and +your feet too, for the matter of that. He certainly is the freshest +specimen I ever saw, and the worst of it all is that he doesn't seem to +know that he lacks anything. He's just as confident when he marches up +to Wagner and gives him some points in running the track team as he is +when he's telling you and me how to work up our Greek. And the fellow +has flunked in Greek every time he's been called up for the past ten +days." + +"Yes, I know it. That's why I said we ought to look out for him." + +"He's got to learn how to look out for himself." + +"He needs a tutor, though, Will--" + +"Same as I do in my Greek? That's not nice of you, Foster. It's bad +enough to have to work up the stuff without having it rubbed in. And +yet," said Will quietly, "I suppose I am in the same box with Peter +John. He doesn't know some things and I don't know others." + +"No one has everything," said Foster quickly. + +"Startling fact! But we fellows who live in glass houses mustn't throw +stones I 'fawncy,' as my learned instructor would put it. There I am +again, finding fault even with Splinter when I ought to be boning on +this Greek to make up for my own lacks. Here I go!" And Will resolutely +turned to the books which were lying open on his desk. + +The silence that reigned in the room was broken in a few minutes when +Hawley opened the door and entered. His coming was greeted +enthusiastically, and when he had accepted the invitation to be seated, +he said quickly, "I can't stay, fellows." + +"You never can nowadays, Hawley. Since you've been on the team you've +shaken all your old friends." + +"You'd shake too, if you had the captain over you that we have." + +"Is he hard?" + +"Hard? He beats every coach we've got. He goes into the game as if there +wasn't anything else to think of." + +"It counts though," responded Will emphatically. "We haven't lost but +two games so far this season, and they were with ---- and ----. Of +course we couldn't expect to win those." + +"Oh, we've done fairly well. But the hardest rub is coming next +Saturday. That's when we're going down to the city to have our game with +Alden. There'll be a big crowd out, and the Alden alumni are mighty +strong around town there too, and they'll be out in bunches. We've got +to keep up our end, and that's why I've come over to see you fellows. I +want you both to go next Saturday." + +"Sure!" shouted Will, leaping to his feet. "We'll be on hand. You rest +your soul easy about that." + +"How many are going, Hawley?" inquired Foster quietly. + +"So far, about half the college have agreed to go. We'd like to get +another hundred to go along. It will make a big difference to the team. +Last year there were six thousand people on the grounds, and it rained +hard too, all the time. This year, if we have a good day, there'll be +ten thousand on hand anyway." + +"How are the fellows going down?" said Foster. + +"Chartered a special train." + +"What's the fare?" + +"About six dollars for the round trip." + +"Come back the same day?" + +"Can if you want to, the train is coming back that night after the game. +But a good many will stay over till Monday." + +"When do you have to know?" + +"You ought to give in your names by to-morrow night. Peter John is going +along. I think he'll be a good mascot, don't you?" laughed Hawley. + +"I'm sorry Peter John is going," said Foster thoughtfully. + +"Sorry!" exclaimed Hawley aghast. "Why, man alive, he'll have the time +of his life." + +"That's what I'm afraid of, and besides he ought not to spend the +money." + +"I don't know anything about that," said Hawley quickly. "But he may +make enough on the game to pay all his expenses." + +"Has he staked money on the game?" said Will. + +"You'll have to ask him," retorted Hawley somewhat sharply. "We can +count on you two fellows then, can we?" + +"That's what you can!" replied Will heartily. + +"I'll think about it and let you know in the morning," said Foster. And +Hawley at once departed from the room. + +"What do you suppose it means that Peter John is going?" was Foster's +first question after their visitor had departed. + +"I don't know, but I don't like the look of it," responded Will. + +"Neither do I. Can we do anything to stop it?" + +"No, I'm afraid not. Peter John is getting beyond us." + +Foster shook his head thoughtfully but made no response, and the work +was resumed. For an hour each boy labored at his desk, and then Foster +was the first to break in upon the silence. + +"Will," he said, "I think I'll go with you on that trip with the team." + +"I don't think I'll go," said Will quietly. + +"Not go? Why not?" demanded Foster in astonishment. + +"I've been thinking it over and I've made up my mind that it won't do +for me to break in on the regular program I've mapped out for myself. +You see Saturday is the day when I always have a double dose with my +tutor, and it won't do for me to spoil it," and Will Phelps made a wry +face as he spoke. + +"But, Will," protested Foster, "you can make up the work before then and +not lose a bit." + +"Yes, I've thought of that, but I don't think I'll do it. It's a bitter +dose I know, but I might as well swallow it first as last." + +"Do you mean it?" + +"Don't I act as if I did?" + +"All right. I'll not say another word. Maybe it'll be a way out for +Peter John. I'd like to fix it for the fellow if I can." + +"I don't just see--" began Will; but he stopped when he perceived that +his room-mate had risen from his seat and was about to depart from the +room. + +On the following day the excitement among the students of Winthrop +increased when a mass meeting was held and various leading spirits of +the college delivered very florid and perfervid addresses in which the +student-body was urged to support the team and take advantage of the low +rates offered to accompany it and be on hand on the field to cheer it on +to victory. Shouts and cheers greeted the speakers, and when the meeting +broke up and the boys were returning to their rooms Mott and Peter John +joined Will on his way to Perry Hall. + +"Have the time of your young life on Saturday, Phelps," said Mott +loudly. + +"I'm not going." + +"Why not? All the fellows are." + +"I'd like to, but I've some work I _must_ do, and I can't break in on +it." + +"You must be a 'shark' Phelps," laughed Mott. "I'd like to see the work +that would keep me away. Peter John Schenck and I intend to take it all +in, don't we, freshman?" he added, turning to his companion as he spoke. + +"Ye-es, I guess so," responded that worthy who had been addressed. + +"You'll have a good time," said Will. "I wish I could go too, but I +can't, and the only thing for me to do is to stand up and not whine over +it." + +"You'll be sorry for it," laughed Mott, as he and Peter John turned +toward the latter's room. "All we can do will be to try to make up for +what you're going to lose." + +And Will Phelps did almost feel that he was too strict in his demands +upon himself when the student-body formed in line early Saturday morning +and, preceded by a band, started down the street on the way to the +station. His room-mate had said no more to him concerning the trip, but +as Will marched by Foster's side he could feel the deep sympathy of his +friend. His heart almost misgave him. It was not too late even yet to +go, for doubtless he could borrow money of some one. Perhaps it was too +much a mere sentiment to hold himself to his work as he was doing. And +he detested the work so heartily too. + +Still he held rigidly to his decision, and even when the heavily laden +train pulled out from the station and the words of the song which was +sung came back to him he did not falter, though his heart was heavy +within him. + + Gaudeamus igitur + Juvenes dum sumus + Gaudeamus igitur + Juvenes dum sumus + Post jucundam juventutem + Post molestam senectutem + Nos habebit humus + Nos habebit humus. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +TELEGRAMS + + +When Will Phelps returned to the college, the entire place to him seemed +to be deserted, and a stillness rested over all that was almost +oppressive. Even the few college boys who were to be seen about the +grounds all shared in the prevailing gloom and increased the sense of +loneliness in the heart of the young freshman. When he entered his room, +the sight of his room-mate's belongings was almost like that of the +possessions of the dead and Will Phelps was utterly miserable and +dejected. + +Work he decided was his only cure and at once he busied himself at his +task from which he was aroused in the course of an hour or two by the +coming of the senior who was tutoring him. + +"I'm mighty glad to see you," said Will impulsively. "I feel as if I was +about the only one of my kind in the world." + +"You're downhearted over deciding to stay in town, to-day?" replied his +tutor pleasantly. "Oh, well, never mind. It will be a good tonic for you +and when you've passed your mid-year's in Greek, you'll never once think +of this trip with the team to-day." + +"I'm afraid that's cold comfort just at the present moment. I've just +been hanging on and that's all there is to it." + +"Sometimes it's the only thing a fellow can do. It may bring a lot of +other good things with it, though." + +"Maybe," replied Will dubiously. "There's one thing I've learned +though, and if I ever come to know my Greek as well as I know that, I'll +pass all right." + +"What's that?" + +"Never to get behind. I'll keep up and not catch up. When I see what a +fool I made of myself in my 'prep' days, I wonder sometimes that I ever +got into college anyway. I never really worked any except in a part of +the last year." + +"You're working now," suggested the senior. + +"Yes, I have to. I don't like it though. The descent to Avernus is the +easy trip, if I remember my Virgil correctly. It's the getting back +that's hard." + +"Do you know, I never just believed that." + +"You didn't? Why not? Why, you can see it every day! It's just as easy +as sliding down hill. It's dragging the sled back up the hill that makes +the trouble." + +"That isn't quite a fair illustration. If I'm not mistaken, it seems to +me that somewhere, sometime, some one said that 'The way of the +transgressor is hard.' He didn't seem to agree with Virgil's statement +somehow, did he?" + +"But that means it's hard afterward." + +"That isn't what it says. I think it means just what it says too." + +"I don't see." + +"Well, to me it's like this. In every fellow there's a good side and a +bad side. Sort of a Doctor Jekyl and Mr. Hyde in every one of us. I +heard the other day in our laboratory of a man who had taken and grafted +one part of the body of an insect on the body of another. He tried it +both on the chrysalis and on an insect too. I understood that he took +the pupa of a spider and by very careful work grafted upon it the pupa +of a fly. Think of what that monstrosity must have been when it passed +out from the chrysalis and became a full-fledged living being. One part +of it trying to get away from the other. One wanting to fly and the +other to hide. One part wanting to feed on flies and the other part in +mortal terror of all spiders." + +"Was that really so?" inquired Will deeply interested. + +"I didn't see it myself, but it was told over in the biological +laboratory and I don't think there was any question about it. It struck +me that it was just the way some of us seem to be built, a sort of a +spider and fly combination and not the ordinary combination either, when +the fly is usually inside of the spider and very soon a part of his +majesty. And yet when you've told all that you know, it's a sort of +monstrosity after all, and that the truth is that a fellow really _is_ +his best self if he'll only give that part half a chance. That's why I +say the way of the transgressor is hard and not easy. A fellow is going +against the grain of his best side. He throws away his best chances +under protest all the while, and _he_ doesn't want to do it either. No, +Phelps, I believe if a fellow goes down hill it's like a man dragging a +balky horse. It looks easy but it isn't, and he himself is pulling +against it all the time." + +"I never thought of it in that way before." + +"Then on the other hand this very kind of work you're doing now is the +sort that stirs your blood. I expect that those fellows who live down in +the tropics and about all the work they have to do to feed themselves is +to pick a banana off a tree and go through the exertion of peeling it, +don't really get half the fun out of life that some of us boys had up on +the hillside farms in Vermont. Why, when we'd have to get up winter +mornings, with the weather so cold that we'd have to be all the while on +the lookout that we didn't freeze our ears or noses, and when we'd have +to shovel out the paths through three feet of snow and cut the wood and +carry water to the stock, it did seem at times to be a trifle strenuous; +but really I think the boys in Vermont get more fun out of life than the +poor chaps in the tropics do who plow their fields by just jabbing a +hole in the ground with their heel, and when they plant, all they have +to do is to just stick a slip in the ground. It's the same way here, +Phelps. This sort of thing you're doing is hard, no doubt about that; +but it's the sort of thing that really stirs up a live man, after all." + +"I'm afraid I'll be all stirred up if we don't get at this work pretty +soon," laughed Will, who was nevertheless deeply impressed by the words +he had heard from the prospective valedictorian of the senior class. +"Why can't we do it all up this morning?" he inquired eagerly. + +"All?" + +"Oh, I mean all we were planning to do to-day. I'd like to go down to +the gym this afternoon and watch the bulletins of the game. I decided +not to go, but if I can get my work off that'll be the next best thing; +and besides it'll help to pass the time. It's going to be a long day for +me." + +"All right, I'm agreeable," replied the senior cordially. + +Until the hour of noon was rung out by the clock in the tower, Will +labored hard. The words of his tutor had been inspiring, but he could +not disguise from himself the fact, however, that he had little love for +the task. It was simply a determination not to be "downed," as Will +expressed it, that led him on and he was holding on doggedly, +resolutely, almost blindly, but still he was holding on. About three +o'clock in the afternoon the few students who were in town assembled at +the telegraph office where messages were to be received from the team at +intervals of ten minutes describing the progress of the game. One of the +seniors had been selected to read the dispatches and only a few minutes +had elapsed after the assembly had gathered before the senior appeared, +coming out of the telegraph office and waving aloft the yellow slip. A +cheer greeted his appearance but this was followed by a tense silence as +he read aloud: + +"They're off. Great crowd. Winthrop line outweighed ten pounds to a man. +Holding like a stone wall." + +"That's the way to talk it!" shouted the reader as he handed the +dispatch to the operator, and then began to sing one of the college +songs, in which he was speedily joined by the noisy group. + +The song was hushed when again the operator appeared and handed another +slip to the leader. Glancing quickly at it the senior read aloud: + +"Ball on Alden's twenty-five yard line. Great run by Thomas. Hawley +playing star game." + +Hawley, Thomas, and the captain of the team, and then the team itself, +were cheered, and once more the group of students gave vent to their +feelings in a noisy song. It was all stimulating and interesting, and +Will Phelps was so keenly alive to all that was occurring, that for the +time even his disappointment in not being able to accompany the team was +forgotten. + +A groan followed the reading of the next dispatch. "Alden's ball on a +fumble. Steadily forcing Winthrop line back by superior weight. Ball on +Winthrop's forty-yard line." + +"That looks bad," said Will's tutor, who had now joined the assembly and +was standing beside Will Phelps. "We've a quick team, but I'm afraid of +Alden's weight. They've two or three men who ought not to be permitted +to play, anyway." + +"Professionals?" inquired Will. + +"Yes, or worse." + +"Have we any on our team?" + +"Hardly," laughed the senior. But Will was thinking of the conversation +he had had with Hawley when they had first entered college, and was +silent. Besides, another dispatch was about to be read and he was eager +to hear. + +"Ball on Winthrop's five-yard line. Hawley injured and out of the game." + +"Too much beef," muttered the reader disconsolately, and the silence in +the assembly was eloquent of feelings that could not be expressed. + +Less than the regular interval had elapsed when another yellow slip was +handed to the reader, and the suspense in the crowd was almost painful. +The very silence and the glances that were given were all indicative of +the fear that now possessed every heart. + +"Alden makes touchdown. No goal," read the leader. + +"Six nothing! Team's no good this year, anyway!" declared one of the +students angrily. "Had no business to play Alden, anyway! Ought to have +games with teams in our class." + +"Alden seemed to be in our class last year, or rather she didn't," said +the reader quietly. "Remember what the score was?" + +"No. What was it?" + +"Twenty-four to nothing in our favor. If they win this year it will be +only following out the regulation see-saw that's been going on for seven +years. Neither college has won its game for two successive years." + +"Alden will win this time all right enough." + +"Perhaps. The game isn't ended yet. You haven't learned the Winthrop +spirit yet, which is never to give up till the game is played clear +through to the end. You've got something to learn yet." The rebuked +student did not reply, but the expression upon his face betrayed the +fact that he was still unconvinced, and that he did indeed have the +first of all lessons taught at Winthrop yet to learn. + +The score was unchanged at the end of the first half, and the students +scattered during the period of intermission, assured that no further +information would be received until after the second half of the game +was begun. The confidence in victory was, however, not so great when +they assembled once more, though the interest apparently was as keen as +at the beginning. For some unaccountable reason the dispatches were +delayed and a much longer interval than usual intervened before the +welcome yellow slip was handed to the announcer. Murmurs of +disappointment were heard on every side, and it became more evident with +every passing moment that hope had mostly been lost. At last, however, +the welcome word was received, and even Will Phelps was so eager to hear +that he crowded forward into the front ranks of the assembly. + +"Alden scores touchdown and goal. Winthrop fighting desperately, but +outweighed and outplayed since Hawley taken out." + +"It's all over but the shouting," said the sophomore whose gloomy views +had been so sharply rebuked by the senior. "There isn't any use in +hanging around here. Come on, fellows! Let's go where there's something +a little more cheerful." + +He made as if to depart from the crowd, but as no one followed him, he +apparently abandoned his purpose and remained with his fellows. Only two +more dispatches were read, the second of which announced the end of the +game with the score still standing in favor of Alden thirteen to +nothing. + +"Rotten!" exclaimed the sophomore angrily. "Just what we might--" He +stopped abruptly as the senior advanced to a place where he could be +seen by all and began to harangue the assembly. + +"Now, fellows," he began, "the best test of our spirit is that we can +stand up and take this in the right way. Of course, we wanted the game, +and some of us hoped and expected we would have it too. But the other +team, and doubtless the better one, has won. Next year we'll be ready +for them again, or rather you will, for I sha'n't be here, and the time +to begin to win then is right here and now. But I want to put in a good +word for our team. I haven't a doubt that they did their level best, and +if we could see them now, we'd be almost as proud of them as if they had +won. I know every man put in his best work. And what I propose is that +we go down to the station to-night and meet them with as hearty a cheer +as if they had won the game, for we know they did their best to uphold +the honor of old Winthrop to a man!" + +A cheer greeted the senior's words, and at ten o'clock that evening all +the students who were in town assembled at the little station to greet +the returning members of the team. But Will Phelps, when the train came +to a standstill and the boys leaped out upon the platform, speedily +forgot all about the game in the sight which greeted his eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +PETER JOHN'S DOWNFALL + + +In the midst of the cheering and shouting that greeted the return of the +team and its supporters, Will Phelps attained a glimpse of the sturdy +heroes themselves who had fought the battle of the gridiron. Some of +them were somewhat battered and he could see that Hawley carried his arm +in a sling. His classmate's face was pale, but as he was surrounded by a +crowd of students, Will found it was impossible to make his way to him +and soon gave up the attempt. He was standing somewhat back from the +train eagerly watching all that was going on about him, but only in a +half-hearted way joining in the excitement, for the defeat of the team +and his own disappointment in not being able to make the trip had +chilled his enthusiasm. + +Suddenly he caught sight of Foster as he stepped down upon the platform +and instantly Will began to push his way forward to greet him. As Foster +stepped down he turned back as if to assist some one, and Will perceived +that it was Peter John Schenck who was being assisted. But his actions +were strange and his general appearance was woebegone in the extreme. + +"What's the matter with Peter John? Sick?" inquired Will as he pressed +forward. + +"Sick? Sick nothing!" retorted Foster in a low voice. "Can't you see +what ails him? The fool!" + +The maudlin expression on Peter John's face, his wabbling steps, the +silly smile with which he greeted Will at once disclosed what his +condition was and with a feeling of disgust Will turned away. + +"Hold on, Will," called Peter John tremulously, beginning to cry as he +spoke, "don't go backsh on a fellow now. I los' all my money. Seven +dollar I put up on the team an' they jis' sold out," and Peter John's +tears increased and he threatened to fall on Foster's shoulder. + +Will had turned back sharply at the words, his disgust and anger so +plainly stamped upon his face that even Peter John was moved by it and +began to sob audibly. "Sold out, Will! Seven dollar all gone! Too bad! +Too bad!" + +"Get a taxi, Will," said Foster in a low voice. "If we can get the +fellow up to his room without attracting too much attention we may be +able to put him in bed." + +As Will turned away, he was rejoiced to notice that his classmate's +condition had apparently not attracted the attention of the crowd, which +was too much occupied in the excitement of greeting the team to be +mindful of other matters. Disgust and anger were so mingled in Will's +feelings that he was hardly aware of what he was doing, but at last he +succeeded in getting a taxi, and bidding the driver hold it near the end +of the platform, he hastened back to the assistance of Foster. + +As he returned he noticed that Mott was now with Peter John, and only +one glance was required to show that he was in a condition similar to +that of Peter John, though not quite so helpless. + +"Glad t' see you, freshman," stammered Mott as Will approached. "Great +sport, that fellow," and he pointed stupidly at Peter John as he spoke. +"Put up his monish like li'le man. No squeal from him, no, not a squeal. +No, goo' man. Goo' man, freshman." + +"Shall we take him too?" inquired Will of Foster. + +"Yes, if there's room." + +"I think there will be." + +"He can make his way all right, I think, but you'll have to help me with +Peter John. Get hold of his other arm. That's right," he added as Will +grasped his maudlin classmate by the left arm, while Foster supported +him by the right. + +"Come on, Mott, if you want to ride up," said Will sharply to the +sophomore. + +"That ish good o' you, freshman," drawled Mott. "Broke, dead broke! Do +ash much for you some day. You get broke some daysh, I s'pose." + +"Shut up, Mott," said Foster savagely. + +"A'-a' right. Just's you say, not's I care." + +A few in the assemblage noted the condition of the boys and laughed +thoughtlessly, but neither Will nor his room-mate was in a frame of mind +to respond. Disgusted, angry, mortified beyond expression, they +nevertheless assisted the boys to the seats in the taxi which Will had +secured, and quickly doing as he was bidden, the driver started rapidly +up the street. Peter John had fallen heavily against Will's shoulder and +was instantly asleep, but Mott was not to be so easily disposed of. +Peering out from the window at the crowds that were moving up the street +and by which the taxi was passing, he emitted three or four wild whoops +and then began to sing: + + "We're coming, we're coming, our brave little band, + On the right side of temperance we always do stand; + We don't use tobacco, for this we do think, + That those who do use it most always do drink." + +"Mott, if you don't keep quiet I'll throw you out," exclaimed Will +mortified as he perceived that the passing crowd was turning about to +discover what the noisy commotion meant. + +"A'-a' right," responded Mott in a shout that could have been heard far +away. "I'll be as sthill as an intensified hippopotamus! Not a sound of +my voice shall awake the echoes of these purple hills. I'll not be the +one to arouse the slumbers of this peaceful vale." + +"Driver," interrupted Will sharply, "stop your cab." + +"No, no, Will, you'll only make a bad matter worse. Let's keep on and do +the best we can. It'll only call attention to ourselves," said Foster +hastily. + +"Thatsh sho," assented Mott noisily, swaying in his seat as he spoke. +"Keep on, driver. Go straight up to prexy's house; I've got something +p'ticular to shay t' him. Shame, way the team sold out t'-day! Disgrace +to old Winthrop! Have a good mind to leave the college myself an' go to +Alden; they're men there! They know how to stan' up an' take their +med'cine. Great place, Alden! Guess they'll be shorry here when they +shee me with a great big A on my sweater!" + +"Mott, keep still," exclaimed Foster. + +"Keep still yerself, freshman. Don't talk t' me." + +There was nothing to be done except to endure it all in silence or put +the noisy student out of the taxi. Poor Will felt that the people they +were passing looked upon all four of the occupants of the cab as if they +were all in the same disgraceful condition. His eyes blazed and his +cheeks were crimson. To him it seemed as if the cab was scarcely moving +on its way to Leland Hall. The way was interminable, the suffering +almost too great to be endured. + +At last, however, the driver stopped before the dormitory where Mott had +his room and Foster said, "Will, I'll look after this fellow if you'll +attend to Peter John." + +"Nobody--no freshman in p'ticular--ish going to help me!" exclaimed Mott +noisily. "I can walk a chalk line, I can. Keep your eyes on me and +you'll see how it's done." + +"All right. Get out, then," said Foster hastily. + +Mott lurched out of the cab, and the driver, at Foster's word, at once +started on and neither of the boys glanced behind to see how it fared +with the intoxicated sophomore. They were eager now to dispose of their +classmate, and as soon as the taxi halted in front of Leland Hall they +tried to arouse the slumbering freshman. At last, by dint of their +united efforts, they succeeded in lifting him to the ground, and then +they somehow got him up the stairway and soon had him in his bed. When +their labors were ended Will exclaimed, "It must be midnight. Surely the +people couldn't see who we were except when the cab passed the street +lights, but I'm afraid some of them knew then." + +"That isn't so bad. I don't care half so much about their seeing as I do +about something else." + +"What's that?" + +"What they saw. Poor fool!" he added bitterly as he turned and glanced +at the bed whereon Peter John was lying and noisily sleeping. "I did my +best to hold him back, but he would go on with Mott." + +"Do you think he lost his money too?" + +"Haven't a doubt of it." + +"And he didn't have very much to lose." + +"It was all he had. It would have been the same if it had been seven +thousand instead of just plain seven. He was so set up by the attentions +of Mott that he was an easy mark. I never saw anything like it." + +"Well, all I can say is that I hope I sha'n't again, but probably I +shall if he stays in college," said Will bitterly. + +"It's in him, that's about all one can say," said Foster. "If it hadn't +been here it would have been somewhere else. And yet they say that a +college is a dangerous place for a young fellow to be in." + +"I don't believe it." + +"No more do I. There are all kinds here the same as there are pretty +much everywhere, and all there is of it is that a fellow has a little +more freedom to follow out just what he wants to do." + +"Come on," suggested Will, starting toward the door. "We can't do +anything more for Peter John. He'll probably be around to see us +to-morrow." + +As the boys approached the doorway they met Hawley and at his urgent +request turned back into the room with him. The big freshman glanced at +his sleeping room-mate and then laughed as he said, "Too young. Ought +not to have left his mother yet." As neither of the boys replied, Hawley +continued, "He'll have to quit that or he'll queer himself in the +college. I don't know that he can do that any more successfully than he +has done already though," he added. + +Will was irritated that Hawley should take the matter in such a light +way and said half-angrily, "Do you suppose he'll be hauled up before the +faculty?" + +"Not unless they hear of it," laughed Hawley, "and I don't believe they +will." + +"Tell us about the game," interrupted Foster. + +"My story is short and not very sweet," retorted Hawley grimly, glancing +at his arm as he spoke. + +"How did that happen?" + +"Nobody knows. It's done and that's all there is to it. I'm out of the +game for the rest of this season." + +"That's too bad. Did Alden really have such a tremendous team?" + +"Look at the score. You know what that was, don't you?" + +"Yes, I heard. Come on, Will. We'd better be in bed. We'll get Hawley to +tell us all about the game some other time. Come on." + +The two freshmen at once departed, but when they were in their own room +it was not the lost game which was uppermost in their minds and +conversation, but the fall of Peter John. And when at last they sought +their beds it was with the conviction that Peter John himself would seek +them out within a day or two and try to explain how it was that his +downfall had occurred. This, they thought, would give them the +opportunity they desired, and if the faculty did not discover the matter +and take action of their own then they might be able to say or do +something to recall Peter John to himself. + +On the following day, however, their classmate did not appear, and in +the days that followed he did not once come to their room. Mott they had +seen, but he had only laughed lightly when he met them and made no +reference to the ride he had taken in their taxi. + +"I don't believe Peter John knows that we know anything about what +happened on his trip," said Foster thoughtfully one day. + +"What makes him keep away from us all the time, then?" + +"That's so. Probably his conscience isn't in the best of condition. You +don't suppose he's waiting for us to make the first move, do you?" + +"I don't know." + +"I hate to leave the fellow to himself," said Foster. "He'll go to the +dogs as sure as you're born if he is." + +"If he isn't there already." + +"Well, if he's there we must help to get him out." + +"You're the one to do it, Foster. You aren't working up your Greek." + +Will had been working with even greater intensity than before and was +beginning to see the results of his labors. With his disposition there +was no comparative degree. Everything was at one extreme or the other +and now he was giving himself but little rest and even Peter John's +disgrace was not so keenly felt by him as at the time when it had +occurred. + +"I think I'll have to do something," assented Foster, "or at least try +to." + +But on the following day an excitement broke out among the students at +Winthrop that speedily and completely banished from the minds of Will +and Foster even their well-intended efforts to aid their weak and +misguided classmate. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AN ALARMING REPORT + + +The excitement first came to Will Phelps when one night he was returning +to his room from his dinner in the fraternity house. The house, together +with four or five other similar houses, was situated in the same street +with the dormitory, but was distant a walk of seven or eight minutes, +and there was usually a crowd of the college boys to be seen on the +village street three times a day when they passed to or from their +boarding places. + +On this particular evening Will chanced to be alone, and as he went on +he perceived Mott approaching. He had had but little to say to the +fellow since the escapade, and now as he recognized the sophomore his +feeling of anger or disgust arose once more, and he was inclined to pass +him with only a light nod of recognition. + +But Mott was not to be so lightly turned aside or ignored, and as he saw +Will he stopped, and his manner at once betrayed the excitement under +which he was laboring. + +"Have you heard the news, Phelps?" he demanded. + +"I haven't heard anything," replied Will coldly. + +"You haven't? Well, you ought to. It's all over college now." + +"What's all over college?" + +"Why, the report of the typhoid." + +"What?" demanded Will, instantly aroused. + +"I mean what I say. And there are all sorts of reports about what's to +be done. Some say the faculty have decided to shut up shop for a few +weeks, and some say they've sent for experts, and I don't know what +all." + +"Who are the fellows that are down with it?" + +"Schenck--" + +"Peter John?" demanded Will sharply. + +"Yes, and there are seven others. He's the only freshman; there are two +sophs, two juniors, and one senior. Wagner is the senior." + +"Where are they?" + +"They're all in the infirmary, and the whole shop has been quarantined." + +"When was it found out?" + +"Only to-day, this afternoon, I think. You see all eight have been under +the weather for a while, and the doctor here thought it was first one +thing that ailed them and then another. Last night or this morning they +had a consultation, and decided that every one of the eight had typhoid +fever. It's a great go, isn't it?" + +"And you say Peter John is one?" + +"Sure." + +"Is he in the infirmary?" + +"Yes, every one of them is there." + +"Is he very much sick?" + +"Can't tell yet, but he's sick enough." + +"Can anybody see him?" inquired Will thoughtfully. + +"No. There isn't any one allowed in the building except the nurses, +doctors, and the families of the fellows, that is, when they come. I +understand that word has been sent to all the families, and nurses have +already been engaged, and that some of them are on the ground now." + +"It's terrible!" said Will with a shudder. + +"I know what I'm going to do," said Mott glibly. + +"What's that?" + +"I'm going home. Of course, the governor won't believe me at first when +I tell him why I've returned to the ancestral abode, but you may rest +easy when he sees it in the papers, then he'll believe it all right +enough. Fine to have your daddy believe a lying newspaper before he +takes the word of his own offspring, isn't it?" + +"May not be all his fault." + +"Yes, it is. I'd have been as decent a fellow as you or any fellow in +college if I'd been treated halfway decently. But I wasn't." + +Will had his own ideas as to that, but he did not express them, for the +full sense of the calamity of the college was now strongly upon him. +Even the shadows of the great hills seemed to him to be more sombre than +usual, and in whichever direction he looked there was an outer gloom +corresponding to the one within. In the first shock of the report a +nameless fear swept over him, and already he was positive that in his +own case he could discover certain symptoms that were the forerunners of +the dreaded disease. He hastily bade Mott good-night and ran all the way +back to his room. + +Foster was already there, and at once he exclaimed: + +"Foster, have you heard about it?" + +"The typhoid?" + +"Yes. They say Peter John and Wagner and six others are down with it." + +"It's true." + +"What's going to be done?" + +"You mean what the college is going to do or what we're to do?" + +"Yes, that's it. Both." + +"I've telephoned home," said Foster quietly. + +"You have?" + +"Yes. I have just come back from the office." + +"Did you telephone my father?" + +"No. I telephoned my father and told him to ring up your house." + +"And did he?" + +"Of course he did." + +"Did you hear anything--I mean--" + +"Now, look here, Will," said Foster quietly. "Don't get rattled. I know +it's bad, but there isn't any use in losing your head over it. I've been +down to see the dean and have talked it over with him." + +"What did he have to say?" + +"He said the report was true and the eight fellows were all down with +the typhoid, and that every one of them had been taken to the +infirmary." + +"What else?" demanded Will, his excitement increasing in spite of his +effort to be calm. + +"That's what I'm trying to tell you, if you'll give me half a chance. He +said the president had sent for the best experts in the country, and +that everything that it was possible to do would be done. He said too, +that they would deal absolutely squarely with the boys, and if it was +discovered that there was the least danger of it spreading they would +tell us, and if necessary they'd close for a while till the whole thing +had been ferreted out." + +"That's square." + +"Of course it is." + +"What are you going to do, Foster?" + +"Nothing, that is, for a day or two anyway. I've told my father, and if +he thinks I'd better come home he'll say so." + +"But he may not know." + +"He will in a day or two." + +"What are you going to do now?" + +"Study my Greek." + +"I ought to, but I'm going out for a little while. I've got to cool off +a bit before I can settle down to work." + +"Don't be gone long. You'll only see the fellows and get stirred up all +the more. I'd drop it and go to 'boning.' It's the best cure." + +"It is for a fellow like you, Foster. I can't do it yet. I've got to get +outdoors till I can get my breath again." + +Seizing his cap Will went out into the night. He passed by Leland Hall +and glancing up discovered that there was a light in Peter John's room. +Instantly he entered the building and bounding up the stairway knocked +on his classmate's door, and in response to the invitation entered and +found Hawley within and alone. + +"Hello, Hawley. What's the news about Peter John?" + +"Oh, he's got it. Temperature a hundred and four and a half and all that +sort of thing." + +"Any idea where or how he got it?" + +"Not the least." + +"Have you seen him?" + +"Since he went to the infirmary? Yes, once; but I sha'n't see him again +till he comes out well or--" + +"Is he the worst?" + +"No. Wagner seems to be the hardest hit, but they told me you couldn't +tell very much about it yet. Have to wait a few days anyway." + +"Mott says he is going home." + +"Yes, there probably will be a lot of the fellows leaving by to-morrow." + +"Are you afraid?" + +"Some." + +"Going to leave?" + +"I'm going to wait a day or two and see what turns up before I decide +just what I shall do." + +On his way back to his room Will fell in with several others of his +classmates, and the exciting conversation was repeated in each case +until at last when he joined Foster, whom he found still poring over his +lesson in Greek for the morrow, his feelings were so overwrought that he +was almost beside himself. + +"Everybody's going to leave, Foster," he declared. + +"Not quite, for I'm not going yet myself." + +"But--" Will ceased abruptly as he perceived that a messenger boy was +standing in front of his door. Quickly seizing the envelope he perceived +that it was directed to himself and instantly tearing it open he read: + +"If new cases develop within three days come home. Otherwise remain. +Wire me daily." The message was signed by his father. + +"That settles it!" exclaimed Will, "I'm going to bed. Splinter will be +easy on us to-morrow anyway." + +Foster smiled as he shook his head and continued his own work, but his +room-mate was not aware of either action. + +In chapel on the following morning the president of the college +reiterated the statement which the dean already had made to Foster, and +after trying to show the students that a panic was even more to be +feared than the fever, and promising to keep them fully and frankly +informed as to the exact status of affairs, he dismissed them to their +recitations, which it was understood were to be continued without +interruption, at least for the present. + +In his Greek that day Will failed miserably and completely, and his +anger at Splinter was intensified when the professor near the close of +the recitation said: + +"It is quite needless, I fawncy, for me to emphasize, young gentlemen, +the necessity there is at the present time for you all to adopt the +utmost care in all matters pertaining especially to your health. I refer +to you individually as well as collectively. My advice to you is to use +only mineral water--I refer obviously to the water you drink--and it +might be well to avoid the undue use of milk--" + +A shout of laughter interrupted the professor which caused his face to +flush with anger and he arose abruptly from his seat, the signal that +the class was dismissed. + +As Will, who was among the last to pass out, came near the desk the +professor said to him, "Mr. Phelps, I should be pleased if you would +remain for a brief time. I should like exceedingly to have a word with +you." + +Accordingly, Will stood by the desk till all the class had passed out, +and then the professor said, "Ah, Mr. Phelps, would you kindly inform me +what your opinion is as to the cause of the students receiving my +remarks a few minutes ago with such an outburst of laughter? I assure +you I had not the least intention to say anything that should even +appear to be liable to excite the mirth of the young gentlemen. I do not +know that I was ever more serious in my entire life." + +"I think, professor, it was your reference to milk." + +"Why should I not refer to it? In times of fear, when typhoid fever +is--is--ah, at least somewhat feared, it is wise to be extremely +cautious, and I have it on the authority of men of the highest +reputation that milk is a medium through which the germs of the disease +transmit themselves most readily." + +"Yes, but you know, professor, the college is supposed to think the +freshmen feed on milk. That's supposed to be their diet." + +"Ah, yes," replied the professor, smiling in a manner that proclaimed +his entire inability to perceive the point. "That must be the point of +the joke. Ah, yes. I see it distinctly now. It is very good! It is very +good, indeed!" + +"Professor, can you tell me my marks? How am I doing in my Greek +lately?" + +"I am not supposed to reply to such a question from any of the young +gentlemen, but I fawncy in a general way I may be able to respond to +your query. Ah, yes," he added, glancing at the page in the little book +before him wherein Will's record was contained, "there is an +improvement, not great, it is true, but still an improvement; and if +your work continues it will bring you almost up to the mark required." + +"Almost?" exclaimed Will aghast. "You don't mean to say, do you, Mr. +Splinter--" + +"Mr. _who?_" demanded the professor, instantly rising and his face +flushing again with anger. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A RARE INTERVIEW + + +Instantly Will Phelps was overwhelmed with confusion. His face flushed +crimson and his knees shook under the excitement which quickly seized +upon him. The opprobrious title by which the Greek professor was known +among the students and by which he was commonly spoken of by them had +slipped from his tongue almost unconsciously. He stood staring stupidly +into the professor's face, while visions of expulsion and future +difficulty flashed into his troubled mind. + +"I beg your pardon, professor," he managed to ejaculate at last. "I did +not mean to say that. The word slipped out before I knew it. I am very +sorry for it, for I certainly did not intend to be disrespectful in any +way." + +"You insulted me!" exclaimed the professor in a rage that under other +circumstances would have seemed almost ludicrous to Will. It was like +the anger of an infuriated canary bird or of some little child. + +"Then I want to apologize," said Will quietly. "As I said, I certainly +did not intend to do anything of the kind." + +"But you did," persisted the outraged teacher. "You most assuredly did." + +"Can't you believe me when I say it was not intentional?" + +"That does not excuse it, but I fawncy the tendency among the young +gentlemen of the college is to bestow appellations upon the various +members of the faculty that are not warranted." + +"I have heard some of them spoken of in that way, but I don't think the +fellows meant either to be disrespectful or unkind," said Will eagerly. + +"No, I fawncy it may in part be due to the thoughtlessness of youth and +I would not be unduly harsh with you after your ample apology. Then you +have been accustomed to hear me myself referred to as Splinter, have +you?" + +"I--yes--that is--" stammered Will. + +"Precisely. Now what in your opinion is the basis upon which the +students have added such a derisive epithet to my name?" + +Will was silent, though in spite of his efforts the expression of his +face betrayed somewhat the feeling of blank amazement which possessed +him. + +"I fawncy I can trace its derivation," said the professor simply. +"Doubtless when I first became a member of the faculty the appellation, +or, let me see, is it an appellation or a cognomen, as you commonly have +heard it?" + +"Yes, sir," Will managed to respond. + +"It is, then, as I fawncied, and doubtless was bestowed upon me as +indicative of my lack of avoirdupois. And it was not entirely unnatural +that they should do so, for at the time when I came to Winthrop I was +very slight, very slight indeed. The appellation, or cognomen, was +without doubt given in recognition of that fact, a custom not unknown, +among the classical nations and one prevalent among the Hebrews and even +among the Indians of America. The history of names would provide an +exceedingly interesting field of study for you, Mr. Phelps." + +Will bowed but did not speak, for he was afraid to interrupt or to +divert the childlike man from the channel in which his thoughts appeared +to be running. + +"Such a name once given," resumed the professor, "would doubtless cling +to one long after physical changes had been made that would no longer +afford an accurate basis for the nomenclature. But I was very slight, +very slight indeed, Mr. Phelps, when I first came here some seventeen +years ago, or, to be exact, seventeen years and four months, that is, +four months lacking a few days. Why, I believe I weighed only one +hundred and seventeen pounds at the time." + +Will strove to be duly impressed by the fact, but as he looked at the +man who was somewhat above six feet in height and whose body did not +give many tokens of having increased materially in breadth or thickness +since the time to which the professor referred, he found it extremely +difficult to repress the smile that rose to his lips. + +"Yes," resumed the professor quickly, "I have increased in weight since +that time but the appellation still clings and doubtless will as long as +I remain in Winthrop." + +"How much do you weigh now, professor?" The moment Will asked the +question he regretted it, but the temptation was too strong to be +resisted. + +"I cannot say exactly," said the professor in some confusion, "but my +weight has very materially increased. If I recall aright, the last time +when I was weighed I had added two and three-quarters pounds. It is +true it was in the winter and doubtless heavier clothing may have +slightly modified the result. But still I can safely affirm that I am +much heavier than I was at the time when I joined the Winthrop faculty." + +"Do you find that you feel better now that you are more corpulent? I +have heard it said that addition to the body is subtraction from the +brain. Do you think that is so, professor?" + +"It is true, most assuredly. All classifical literature confirms the +statement you have just made." + +"Then you don't believe in athletics, do you, professor?" + +"Assuredly not. Most assuredly not." + +"But didn't the ancient Greeks have their racecourses? Didn't they +believe in running and jumping and boxing and I don't know what all?" + +"That is true, but the times were very different then. They had not in +the least lost the sense of the poetry of life. They were not so crassly +or grossly materialistic as the present age undoubtedly is. Every grove +was peopled with divinities, every mountain was the abode of the unseen. +Why, Mr. Phelps, the Greeks were the only people that ever lived that +looked upon mountains as anything but blots or defects." + +"Is that so?" inquired Will in surprise. + +"It certainly is. It is true that since the days of the poet Gray there +has been a tendency among English-speaking people to affect a veneration +for the mountains, but it is, I fawncy, only a faint echo of the old +Greek conception and is a purely superficial product of an extremely +superficial age and people." + +"Didn't the Hebrews have a feeling like the one you tell of? Isn't +there a psalm that begins 'I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from +whence cometh my help'? Didn't they describe the high hills that were +round about Jerusalem?" + +"Ah, yes. That is true," assented the professor in some confusion. "I +had not thought of it in that light precisely. You have given me a new +insight to-day, Mr. Phelps. I shall at once go over my data again. I am +grateful to you for acceding to my request to remain to-day." + +"But, professor," persisted Will, "what about my work in Greek? I've had +a tutor ever since you told me to get one and I've been working hard +too. Today I didn't do very well, but I was so excited about the fever, +for Peter John--I mean Schenck--is one of the fellows to come down with +it, you know, and we've been telephoning and telegraphing home--" + +"Ah, yes. But you heard my remarks to-day concerning the necessity of +increased work in Greek as a preventive, did you not?" + +"I did. But, professor, I'm willing to work. If I'm to be shut out of +the exam--I mean the examination--as you seem to think I will, anyway, I +don't see any use in my trying any more." + +The expression on the professor's face became instantly harder as he +said, "I fawncy the effort to curry favor with the various members of +the faculty is not very popular with the student body." + +"Do you think I'm trying to 'boot-lick'?" demanded Will quickly. + +"I look upon that term as somewhat objectionable, but I fawncy in the +vernacular of college life it is one that is quite expressive." + +"I'm not trying to boot-lick you or any other professor!" retorted Will, +now feeling angry and insulted as well. "I didn't stay here to-day +because I wanted to. You yourself asked me to do it. And I asked you a +perfectly fair question. I knew I hadn't been doing very well, but after +I saw you I've been trying, honestly trying, to do better. And all the +encouragement you give me is to say that if I work harder I may almost +come up to the passing mark." + +"Pardon me, Mr. Phelps, but you are the one to change your record, not +I. All I do is merely to jot down what you have been doing. I do not do +the work--I merely record it." + +For a moment Will Phelps was almost speechless with anger. He felt +outraged and insulted in every fibre of his being. He hastily bade the +professor good-morning, and, seizing his cap, rushed for his room, a +great fear being upon him that unless he instantly departed he would say +or do something for which he would have a lifelong regret. + +As he burst into his room he found Foster already there, and, flinging +his books savagely across the room, Will seated himself in his +easy-chair and glared at his room-mate. + +"Why? What's wrong? What's happened, Will?" demanded Foster, in +astonishment. + +"Oh, I've just had another delightful interview with old Splinter. He's +the worst I ever struck yet!" + +"Did you strike him, Will?" inquired Foster, a smile of amusement +appearing on his face. + +"No, but I'd like to! His soul would get lost in the eye of a needle! +He's the smallest specimen I have ever run up against. He may know +Greek, but he doesn't know anything else. I never in all my life saw--" + +"Tell me about it, Will," interrupted Foster. + +Thus bidden, Will related the story of his interview with his professor +of Greek. When Foster laughed as he told of Splinter's description of +his marvelously increased corpulence, Will did not join, for the +ludicrous side now was all swallowed up in his anger. And when his +room-mate scowled as he heard of the professor's insinuation that the +young freshman was trying to "boot-lick," Will's anger broke forth +afresh. "What's the use in my trying, I'd like to know?" he demanded. +"I've never tried harder in my life than I have for the last three or +four weeks. And what does old Splinter have to say about it? 'Oh, I'm +doing better and if I keep on I'll _almost_ come up to the passing +mark!' I tell you, it isn't fair! It isn't right! He's just determined +to put me out!" + +"Perhaps he thinks he's bound to stick to the marks he's given you +before." + +"Yes, that's it. But think of it, Foster. Here I am doing better and +putting in my best work. And the old fellow acknowledges it too, for he +says so himself. But what does it all amount to? He doesn't give me any +credit for what I've been doing lately. No, he's just tied up to the +marks I got at the beginning of the year. What fairness is there in +that, I'd like to know? That's the way they do in State's prison, but I +didn't suppose old Winthrop was built exactly on that plan. I thought +the great point here was to wake a man up and inspire him to try to do +better and all that sort of thing. And I _am_ doing better, and I know +it, and so does he, but his soul is so dried up and withered that he +can't think of anything but ancient history. He hasn't the least idea of +what's going on here to-day. I'll bet the old fellow, when he has the +toothache, groans in dactylic hexameters and calls for his breakfast in +the Ionic dialect. Bah! What's all the stuff good for anyway? I haven't +any reason for trying any more." + +"Yes, you have." + +"I have? Well, what is it?" + +"Your father, if nothing else." + +Will instantly became silent, for Foster's words only seemed to call up +before him the vision of his father's face. He was the best man that had +ever lived, Will declared to himself, and his conviction had been +strengthened as he had seen the relations between many of his college +mates and their fathers. How he would be grieved over it all. And yet +Will knew that never an unkind word would be spoken. It was almost more +than he could bear, he thought, and his eyes were glistening when he +arose from his seat to respond to a knock on the door. As he opened it +he saw standing before him his own father and the father of Peter John +Schenck, and with a yell of delight he grasped his father's outstretched +hand and pulled him hastily into the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A CRISIS + + +In response to Will's eager questions, Mr. Phelps explained that he had +come to Winthrop to satisfy himself as to the exact status as to the +fever that had broken out. Before he had come up to Will's room he had +consulted the college officials and now felt that he was in a position +to decide calmly what must be done by his son. + +"And what's the verdict?" inquired Will. + +"It will not be necessary for you to return. I think everything is being +done that ought to be and though we shall be anxious, still I am not +unduly alarmed. I have confidence in you, Will, and I am sure you will +not be careless in a time like this. The president informs me that there +have not been any new cases since the first outbreak, and he is of the +opinion that all these cases were due to one cause and that was found +outside of the village." + +"Then you don't want me to go home with you?" inquired Will quizzically. + +"What I might 'want' and what is best are two different matters," said +his father with a smile, "Just at present what I want and what you need +happen to be one and the same thing." + +"What's that?" + +"Your Greek." + +Will's face clouded and then unmindful of the others who were in the +room he told his father of his recent interview with his professor of +Greek. The smile of amusement on the face of Mr. Phelps when Will began +soon gave way to an expression of deep concern. To Will, who understood +him so thoroughly, it was evident that his father was angry as well as +disappointed, and for a moment there was a feeling of exultation in his +own heart. Now something would be done, he felt confident, and the +injustice under which he was laboring and suffering would be done away. + +"Your other work is all right, Will?" inquired his father after a brief +silence. + +"Oh, yes! Fine! If old Splinter was only half the man that Professor +Sinclair is, there wouldn't be a bit of trouble. Why the recitation in +Latin never seems to be more than fifteen minutes long. But the +Greek--bah! The hour is like a week of Sundays!" + +"Still, Will, there is only one way out of it for you." + +"I suppose so," responded Will, his heart sinking as he spoke. + +"Yes, it must be faced. I know it's hard, but you can't get around it, +Will, and I'm sure you don't want to run from it. As I told you, it +isn't as if your Greek professor was the only one of his kind you will +meet in life, for his name is legion and you will find him everywhere. +The only thing for you to do is to keep on with your tutor and prove +yourself to be the master. If you do that, the experience, hard as it +is, may prove to be one of the best that could come to you." + +Will was silent for a moment before he spoke, and then he said +impulsively, "Well, pop, I suppose you are right. I'll do my best." + +"Of course you will," responded his father quietly, though his eyes +were shining. "It isn't so hard for you as it is for Mr. Schenck." + +"Is Peter John worse?" inquired Will quickly. + +"Yes." + +"Isn't there something we can do?" said Will eagerly. + +"No, nothing," said Mr. Schenck. "My boy is very sick, but all we can do +is to wait. He is having good care. The only comfort I have is what they +tell me about him and what he has been doing since he came to college." + +Both boys looked up quickly, but neither spoke and Mr. Schenck +continued. "Yes, there's a young man I have met since I've been here who +has told me many things about my boy that comfort me now very much." + +"Was it Mott?" interrupted Will. + +"Yes, that was his name. You know him too, I see. He seems to be a very +fine young man. He told me that Peter was one of the leaders in his +class, and that everybody in the college knew him. He said too, that he +had won his numerals--though I don't just understand what that means." + +"It means that he has the right to wear the number of his class on his +cap or sweater," said Will. "That's more than I've won." He had not the +heart to undeceive the unhappy man, though both he and Foster were aware +that Mott had been overstating the facts in his desire to comfort Peter +John's father. + +"Well, I hope he'll get well," said Mr. Schenck with a heavy sigh, +"though it does seem as if such things always happened to the brightest +boys. I'm going to stay here for a few days till I know he's better +or--" The sentence was not completed and for a time there was a tense +silence in the room. + +At last the men departed, Mr. Schenck to go to his son's room where he +was to sleep while he remained in Winthrop, and Mr. Phelps to the +station where he was to take the train for his home. Will accompanied +his father, but the subject that was uppermost in the mind of each was +not referred to for there are times when silence is golden. + +In the days that followed, Will Phelps worked as he never had worked +before in all his brief life. His distaste for the Greek and dislike of +the professor were as strong as before, and at times it almost seemed to +him that he could no longer continue the struggle. His sole inspiration +was in the thought of his father and in his blind determination not to +be mastered. + +An additional element of gloom in those days were the reports that came +from the infirmary of the condition of Peter John. All the other +patients appeared to be doing well, but the daily word from the watchers +by Peter John's bedside was that he was worse. A pall seemed to be +resting over the entire college. The noisy songs and boisterous shouts +were not heard in the dormitories nor upon the campus. + +A part of the general anxiety was gone when as the days passed there +were no reports of new cases developed, but the fear of what was to be +the issue in the case of Peter John was in every heart--even with those +who had not exchanged a word with him since he had entered Winthrop. + +Will Phelps found himself even wondering how it was that the "old +grads" when they returned always spoke in such enthusiastic terms of +their own college days. How they laughed and slapped one another on the +back as they recalled and recounted their exploits. It was Will's +conviction that those days must have been markedly different from those +through which he was passing, for he was finding only hard work and much +trouble, he dolefully assured himself. He was too inexperienced to +understand that one is never able to see clearly the exact condition of +present experiences. There is then no perspective, and the good and +evil, the large and small, are strangely confused. It is like the +figures in a Chinese picture wherein the background and foreground, the +little and the big, are much the same in their proportions. Only when a +man looks back and beholds the events of the bygone days in their true +perspective is he able to form a correct estimate of the relative +values. Even Will Phelps would not have believed that there might come a +day when the very struggle he was having in mastering his Greek would be +looked upon by him as not unpleasant in the larger light in which all +his college days would be viewed. + +Mr. Schenck still remained in Winthrop, and his face every morning when +Will went to inquire about Peter John was a sure indication of the +report which was to be made even before a word had been spoken. Steadily +lower and lower sank the freshman, who was desperately ill, until at +last the crisis came, and with the passing of the day the issue of life +or death would be determined. + +In the interval between his recitations Will ran to see the suffering +man and learn how the issue was going, and when at last the word was +received that Peter John, if no relapse occurred, was likely to recover, +he felt as if a great load had been lifted from his mind. It was his +first experience with the deep tragedy that, like a cloud, rests over +all mankind, and in the glimmer of hope that now appeared it seemed to +him that all things appeared in a new light. Even his detested Greek was +not quite so bad as it previously had been, and in the reaction that +came Will bent to his distasteful task with a renewed determination. + +When several weeks had elapsed, and the time of the Christmas vacation +was near, for the first time Will was permitted to enter the room where +Peter John was sitting up in bed. It was difficult for Will to hide the +shock that came when he first saw his classmate, his face wasted till it +almost seemed as if the bones must protrude, his head shaved, and his +general weakness so apparent as to be pathetic. + +Striving to conceal his real feelings and to appear bright and cheery, +Will extended his hand and said nervously: "I'm mighty glad to see you, +Peter John, and so will all the fellows be. I don't think you've taken +the best way of getting a vacation." + +Peter John smiled in a way that almost brought the tears to Will's eyes, +and said, "I'm much obliged to you, Will." + +"No, you're not. We're all much obliged to you for getting well. I don't +know what the track team would have done without you." + +"Guess I won't bother the track team this year. That's what the doctor +says." + +"Oh, well," said Will hastily, "that won't make any difference. You'll +be all right for another year and that will do just as well." + +"Say, Will," said Peter after a brief pause: + +"What is it?" inquired Will kindly. + +"There's something I want to say to you." + +"Say it, then," laughed Will. + +"I'm never going to touch a drop again." + +"That's all right. Of course you won't," assented Will cordially. + +"And, Will--" + +"Yes?" + +"I'm not going to have anything charged up to you any more." + +"'Anything charged up to me'? I don't know what you mean." + +"I mean those cakes and pies I had charged to you down at Tommie's." +"Tommie" was the name by which the proprietor of one of the little +restaurants and bakeshops in Winthrop was familiarly called by the +college boys. + +"I didn't know you had anything charged to me." + +"You didn't?" + +"No. I haven't had any bill for it, anyway." + +"You'll get it. You'll have one," said Peter John nodding his head +decidedly. "I don't know what I ever did it for anyway. At first I +thought it was a good joke on you. M--some of the fellows said it would +be. And then somehow I kept it up." + +"Never mind, Peter John. I'll fix it. It'll be all right." + +"Did you tell my father?" inquired Peter John anxiously. + +"No. I haven't told him anything." + +"I'm glad. I lost some money on that trip with the football team, Will." + +"How much?" + +"Seven dollars and a half. It was all I'd got." + +"Do you want--" Will started to take out his pocketbook, but stopped +abruptly, for he was not certain just how Peter John might receive his +offer. He did not see the light that came for a moment into his +classmate's eyes or the look of disappointment that quickly followed it. + +"I'm never going to bet any more," remarked Peter John simply. + +"Of course not." + +"But my money is gone and I sha'n't be able to pay for those things I +had charged to you at Tommie's, as I fully meant to." + +"Never mind that." + +"I'm going to study harder too." + +"Not just yet. I shouldn't bother my head about such things now, Peter +John. Wait till you are up and around before you do that." + +"I'm afraid that'll be a long time." + +"No. Oh no, it won't," said Will cheerily. "You'll be all right before +you know it." + +Peter John shook his head and was about to reply, when Mott entered the +room and at the same time the physician also came. The latter glanced +keenly at his patient, and then said to the visitors, "That's enough +this time, boys. You'd better cut it short now and come again." + +Will and Mott at once departed after bidding Peter John good-bye, and +when they were out on the sidewalk Mott began to laugh. + +"What's struck you? I don't see anything so very funny," said Will +irritated by his companion's manner. + +"Peter John has made a clean breast of it." + +"What of it?" + +"Oh, nothing much. Only when the 'devil was sick the devil a monk would +be.' You know the words probably. It strikes me as absolutely funny." + +"I don't see anything to laugh about," retorted Will warmly. + +"You wait and maybe you will later, Phelps. Tra, la, freshman!" and Mott +abruptly departed. + +His words, however, still lingered in Will's mind, and throughout the +evening the jingling rhyme that the sophomore had repeated kept running +through his thoughts. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE EXAMINATION + + +Vacation had come and gone. How Will Phelps did enjoy that break in his +work! He almost begrudged the swiftly passing hours while he was at +home, and as the vacation drew near its close he found himself computing +the hours and even the minutes that yet remained before he must return, +just as he had previously reckoned the time that must pass before he +could return to Sterling. It was not that he did not enjoy his college +life, for as we know he had entered heartily into its spirit, but the +work was hard and his handicap in the one subject had robbed him of the +enthusiasm which perhaps otherwise he might have had. + +When the day at last arrived when he was to return he was unusually +quiet and seldom had a word to say to any one. Uppermost in his thoughts +was the expression of the principal of the school where he had prepared +for college, who had said to him: "Well, Will, with all the fun of +college there is still another side to it, and that is, that when a +fellow enters college he really is leaving home. From that time forward +he may come back for his vacations, but it is nevertheless the break +that sooner or later comes to every man." Will had thought much of the +saying, and its truthfulness was so apparent that he was unable entirely +to shake off the somewhat depressing effect it had produced upon +himself. + +When the hour came and the good-byes must be said he strove desperately +to be calm, but he dared not trust himself to say much. He did not once +glance behind him as he walked away from the house to the street, though +he knew that his father and mother were standing on the piazza and were +watching him as long as his sturdy form could be seen by them. + +On the train he found several of his college friends and it became +somewhat easier for him in their company to forget his own heaviness of +heart, and as he sped on toward Winthrop the numbers increased and the +noisy shouts of greeting and the enthusiasm of the students diverted him +from the feeling to which otherwise he might have yielded. + +Peter John and Foster were in the number of the returning students, the +former having recovered sufficiently to warrant him in taking up a part +of his work. Wagner also and several of the other students who had been +victims of the fever were on the train when it arrived at Winthrop, and +in the warmth of their reception by their student friends there was a +tonic such as even the physicians' prescriptions had not afforded. Will +found a slight return of his depression when he first entered his room, +but when a few days had passed his life had once more settled into the +grooves of the daily routine and assumed its former round of tasks. + +The mid-year examinations came within a month after the reopening of the +college, and the chagrin and anger of Will Phelps were keenly aroused +when he learned that although he had done well in his other studies he +was conditioned in his Greek. He stormed and raved about the injustice +with which he was being treated, and finally, at Foster's suggestion, +sought a personal interview with his professor. + +"I don't understand it, professor," he said warmly. "I never felt more +sure of anything in my life than I did that I had passed that exam--I +mean that examination." + +"Ah, yes," replied the professor. "Quite likely if you had had the +decision to make, you would have passed _cum laude!_ Ha, ha! Yes, I +fawncy it might have been so, but unfortunately the decision had to be +made by other parties." + +"But didn't I pass the examination, professor?" demanded Will. + +"I do not exactly recollect as to that. Quite likely you failed, since +that impression seems to be vivid in your thoughts. Were you so +reported?" + +"Yes, sir. Have you got that paper, professor?" + +"I _have_ it. I should not say I have _got_ it." + +"May I see it?" Will's manner was subdued, but there was a flush on his +cheeks which those who knew him well would at once have understood. + +"I will look it over with you," assented the professor. "It is against +our rules to return papers to students, and I fawncy our rules are made +to be obeyed, not ignored." + +"Yes, sir." Will was hardly aware of what he was saying so impatient and +eager was he for the paper to be produced. + +The professor unlocked a drawer in his desk and drew forth a package of +papers that were carefully tied with a piece of ribbon. Even the knot +was exact and the loop on one side did not vary from that on the other +by the smallest fraction. In his impatience Will noticed even this +detail, but it was ignored in a moment when the professor slowly and +with care examined the headlines of the papers and at last drew forth +one which he placed on the desk in front of him and said: "Ah, yes. Here +is the paper in question. It is credited with being two points above the +mark required to pass a student." + +"It is?" demanded Will enthusiastically. "I thought there must be a +mistake." + +There was a slight scowl on the professor's brow as he said: "Ah, yes. I +will now refer to your true mark," and he drew forth a little book as he +spoke and carefully examined the record. "Ah, yes," he murmured, not +lifting his eyes from the page on which he had placed a forefinger. "Ah, +yes. It is as I fawncied. Your average for the term in your recitations +is what brings you below. It is true you are two above the required mark +in your examination, but you are three below in your recitation work, +and that, I regret exceedingly to say, brings you still one point below +the mark necessary to pass you." The professor looked up and smiled +blandly. + +But Will Phelps was not smiling and his vigorous young heart was filled +with wrath. By a desperate effort, however, he contrived to control his +voice and said quietly: "Was I not doing better? Was I not improving in +my work?" + +"I should not care to speak positively, but my impression is that you +were. Ah, yes," he added as he glanced again at his record. "You were +improving. I may even say there was a marked improvement." + +"And I passed the exam?" + +"I have told you that you were two points above the mark required for +passing the examination," said the professor with dignity. + +"Then I don't see what I'm stuck for." + +"You are not 'stuck'." + +"I'm not? Thank you, professor. I thought I was. You can't understand +what a load--" + +"Excuse me, Mr. Phelps. I did not affirm that you were not conditioned. +I merely declared that you were not 'stuck'." + +"Then I am conditioned, am I?" said Will, his heart instantly sinking. + +"Most certainly." + +"What shall I have to do?" + +"Pass the examination." + +"But I have passed it! I passed this one!" declared Will promptly. + +Again the professor's scowl returned and his thin lips were tightly +compressed as he said, "I fawncy it will not be necessary for me to +repeat what I have already said. You were deficient in the term work and +therefore are conditioned." + +"Then you mean to tell me, do you," said Will, no longer able to repress +his rising indignation, "that, though I steadily improved in my class +work, and then passed the examination, in spite of it all you are going +to give me a condition because according to your figures I am still one +point below?" + +"Most certainly." + +"And I'll have to take another exam?" + +"Precisely." + +"Good evening, professor," said Will, rising abruptly. + +There was nothing more to be said, and he felt that it would be wise to +withdraw from the professor's presence before, in his indignation, he +should say something he was certain to regret. When, however, he +returned to his own room, there the flood tides of his wrath broke +loose. He related the interview to Foster, and bitterly declared that if +a smaller specimen of a man could be found with a microscope he thought +he would be willing to spend his days and nights searching for him. +There was neither justice nor fairness in it. He had improved steadily, +even Splinter acknowledged that he had, and had passed the required +exam, and yet for the sake of the professor's pettiness and the red tape +of the college rules he must take another, and then if he should pass +_that_ he would be all right. Bah! Greek was bad enough, but Splinter +was worse. What kind of a man was he to put in charge of a lot of +fellows with live blood in their veins, he'd like to know. For his part +he wished he was out of it. Such things might do for kids, but it was +too contemptible to think of for college students. + +Foster wisely waited till the outburst had been ended and then said, +"Well, Will, you're up against it, whatever you say. What are you going +to do about it?" + +"Do about it? I'm going to pass that exam. There isn't any other way +out. I've got to do it! but that doesn't make it any nicer for me, does +it?" + +"Splinter's here and is likely to stay. And if you and I are going to +stay too, I suppose we'll have to come to his tune." + +"I fancy--you should hear Splinter say that." + +"Say what?" + +"'Fancy,' only he calls it 'fawncy'. I 'fawncy' my father is dead right +when he says that I'll find a splinter everywhere and just as long as I +live; but I don't believe I'll ever find one as bad as this one is." + +"He may be worse. Don't you remember that little bit of Eugene Field's +verse where he tells how when he was a boy he was sliding down hill with +some other little chaps in front of the deacon's house? And how their +yelling annoyed the deacon till at last he came out and sprinkled ashes +on the path? Well, Eugene said he always had found since that there was +some one standing ready to throw ashes on his path, it didn't seem to +make any difference where he was." + +"I don't remember, but it's like my father's words about finding +splinters everywhere. Oh, no, I'm mad about it, but I'm not running +away. I'm going to do it if that's the thing to be done." + +And when a month had gone by Will had passed the examination, and was +facing his work without the drag of work undone to hinder him. + +The final influence had come one Sunday in the college chapel where the +pulpit from week to week was occupied ("filled" was a word also +occasionally used) by men of eminence, who were invited for the purpose +of speaking to the college boys. Some of these visitors by words, +presence, and message were a great inspiration to the young men, and +others were correspondingly deficient, for in the vocabulary of Winthrop +there was no word by which to express the comparative degree. + +Will Phelps had regularly attended the services, not only because such +attendance was required by the college authorities but also from the +habit and inclination of his own life. With his fellows he had enjoyed +some speakers and had disliked others in his thoughtless manner, and in +the preceding week had laughed as heartily as any one over the +unconscious escapade of Mott. The preacher for the day had been +unusually prosy, having length without much breadth or thickness as +Foster had dryly described the discourse, and in the midst of the hour, +Mott had fallen asleep in his pew. Short and stout in figure, doubtless +doubly wearied by the late hours he had kept the preceding night, in the +midst of his slumbers he had begun to snore. From low and peaceful +intonations he had passed on to long, prolonged, and sonorous notes that +could be heard throughout the college chapel. Nor would any one of his +fellows disturb his slumbers, and when at last with an unusually loud +and agonizing gasp Mott was awakened and suddenly sat erect and stared +stupidly about him, the good-hearted, but boyishly irreverent audience, +it is safe to affirm, was decidedly more interested in the slumbering +sophomore than in the soporific speaker, though few doubtless thought +them related as cause and effect. + +On the following Sunday Will was thinking of Mott's experience and +wondering if he would give another exhibition. This thought was even in +his mind when the visiting speaker entered the chapel pulpit and +reverently began the service of the day. + +He had not been speaking long before it was evident that every eye was +fastened upon him. It was evident that here was first of all a man, and +then a man who was present because he had something to say and not +merely because he had to say something. + +"I am appealing to those of you," he was saying, "who are eager and +earnest, not to you who are indifferent or weaklings. Those of you who +are members of your college teams, who are leading spirits in the +college life, who are not living lives that are above reproach because +you have no temptation to be bad, but because if you do right it is +because you have to struggle and fight for it--it is to you I am +speaking this morning." + +Will was listening intently, as was every one in the chapel, and then +there followed a sentence that seemed to him almost electric with life +and that made a lasting impression upon his life. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +A FRESH EXCITEMENT + + +"What I want every one of you young men to do," the speaker was saying, +"is to give your better self a chance. There isn't one of you to-day who +is not proud of his physical strength, not one of you who, if he should +be urged to join one of the athletic teams, would not willingly, even +proudly go through all the training that would be required of him. And +that is right. In your intellectual work some of you see what the +desired end is--the development of power, getting your brains into form +so that you can meet and compete with the forces you will have to face +when you leave your college days behind you and go forth to make your +name and place in the great battlefield of life. Some of you, it may be, +do not as yet see this clearly, and when you can evade a task or dodge a +difficult demand upon you, count it as so much gained. But in your heart +of hearts you know better, and are dimly conscious that you are losing +and not gaining by your neglect." + +The earnestness, the sincerity, and naturalness of the speaker acted +upon Will Phelps with the effect of an electric shock. Never had he been +so thoroughly aroused, and every nerve in his body was tingling when he +left the chapel and started toward his own room. + +"That's the kind of a talk the fellows like." + +Will glanced up and beheld Wagner, who had overtaken him and now was +walking by his side. + +"I never heard such a man in all my life," said Will warmly. + +"There isn't a man that comes here who has such a grip on the students +as he has. One of the best things you have to look forward to is the +treat you will have every year of hearing him. There isn't a spark of +'cant' or 'gush' about him, but what he says goes straight home. I don't +think I'll ever forget some of the things he has said to us while I've +been in college." + +Accepting Will's cordial invitation, Wagner went with him to his room +and remained there for an hour, and for the most of the time their +conversation was of the man and the message they had that morning heard. + +"I'll never forget one thing he said," remarked Wagner thoughtfully. + +"What was that?" inquired Will, deeply interested at once. + +"He was talking once about the reason why women were supposed to be so +much more religious than men, and he said he didn't believe they were." + +"There are more in the churches, anyway," suggested Will. + +"Yes, that's what he said; but he said too, that the reason for it was +because one side of the life of Christ had been emphasized at the +expense of the other. He said so much had been made of his gentleness +and meekness and the kindly virtues, which were the feminine side of his +nature and appealed most to women, that he was afraid sometimes the +other the stronger side and the one that appealed most to men had been +lost. And then, he went on to speak of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, +and he pictured the temptation and the power of decision and the heroic +endurance and strength, and all that. I never heard anything like it in +all my life. It made me feel as I do when the team is in for a meet. +I'll never forget it! Never!" + +"I wish I'd heard it." + +"You'll have three more chances, anyway." + +"Maybe more than that if I don't pass in all my work," laughed Will. + +"Having any trouble?" + +"A little with my Greek, but I've passed off my condition now." + +"I think you're all right then, though Splinter is a hard proposition. +Just imagine him talking like this man this morning." + +Will laughed, and then becoming serious, he said, "Wagner, I've a +classmate who is bothering me." + +"Who is it?" + +"Schenck. Peter John everybody calls him." + +"What's he doing? What's the trouble with him?" + +"Well, to be honest, he's drinking hard." + +"Wasn't he one of the fellows who was down, with the typhoid when I had +it?" + +"Yes." + +"An awkward, ungainly, redheaded fellow?" + +"That's the one." + +"What have you been doing for him?" + +"Everything I could think of, but nothing seems to hold. He made all +sorts of promises when he was sick and he hasn't kept one of them. He +goes around with Mott and you know what that means." + +"Yes," said Wagner thoughtfully. + +"He's a queer chap. I was in school three years with him and in some +ways he was absolutely idiotic. For a while he'd work all right and then +without a word of warning he'd break out and do some of the most +absolutely fool things you ever heard of." + +"Not very much to appeal to, I fancy." + +"There might be if a fellow knew how, but I confess I don't." + +"You think it would do any good for me to see him?" + +"Yes, I do," said Will eagerly. "You know he might stand a show for the +track team--" + +"Is he the fellow that won the half-mile in the sophomore-freshman +meet?" inquired Wagner eagerly. "Is he the one?" + +"Yes." + +"I'll see him. I'll go right over there now. You're not letting up any +in your own work for the team are you, Phelps?" + +"I'm doing a little all the time," Will admitted, "but I don't suppose +it will amount to much." + +"Yes, it will. You never can tell till you try. If Mott does not do +better he'll find himself out of it. We'll need you and every one we can +get. You know I can't go in this year." + +"Why not?" + +"The typhoid. Doctor won't let me." + +"Then Peter John can't go in either." + +"That's so. I hadn't thought of that. All the more reason then why you +ought to do your best, Phelps. I'll see this John Henry anyway--" + +"You mean Peter John." + +"All right. Have it your own way. I'll go over to his room and look him +up anyway. Good-bye, Phelps." + +"Good-bye," responded Will, as the senior started down the stairway. + +Several days elapsed before Will heard anything of Wagner's interview +with Peter John and then all that Wagner told him was that the freshman +had promised faithfully to do better. But Will had already had so much +experience with Peter John's promises that he was somewhat skeptical as +to results. His classmate he knew was not essentially vicious, only +weak. He was so weak and vain that he was eager to gain the favor of +whatever person he chanced to be with, and his promise of better things +to Wagner was as readily given as was his response to Mott when the +latter happened to be his companion of the hour. + +Troubled as Will was, he nevertheless did for Peter John all that was +within his power, which was not much, and was heavy-hearted as the +reports steadily came of his classmate's downfall. Even Hawley, +good-natured as he was, had at last rebelled and declared that he would +no longer room with a fellow who had no more sense than Schenck, and +Peter John, left to himself, was quick to respond to Mott's invitation +to share his room, and was soon domiciled in the sophomore's more +luxurious quarters. + +Will Phelps found meanwhile that his own work in the classroom was of a +character that promised a fair grade, though by no means a high one. +Even his professor of Greek now appeared in a slightly more favorable +light, and Will was convinced that the change was in Splinter, not in +himself, so natural and strong were his boyish prejudices. + +As the springtime drew near, however, his thoughts and time were +somewhat divided in the excitement of the last great struggle between +the members of his own class and their rivals, the sophomores. For years +it had been the custom of the college for the two lower classes to bury, +or rather to burn the hatchet on St. Patrick's Day. For a week preceding +that time the tussles between the rival classes were keener than at any +other time during the year. + +At that eventful date the freshmen for the first time were permitted to +carry canes, and on the day itself there was to be a parade of the +freshman class, every member clad in some outlandish garment which he +wore outside his other clothing, and it was the one ambition of the +sophomore class to silence the music of the band that was at the head of +the procession and at the same time tear the outer garments from the +noisy freshmen. For a week preceding the time of the parade the freshmen +were striving by every means in their power to smuggle their canes into +Winthrop so that they would all be supplied when the day of emancipation +arrived, and the test of the sophomores' keenness was in being able to +thwart the plans of their adversaries and prevent the entrance of the +canes into the town. + +Every road leading to the village was strictly guarded by the vigilant +sophomores and spies were busy in the adjacent towns who were +continually on the lookout for the purchase or purchasers of the canes. +The excitement had become keener with the passing of the days until now +only two days remained before the great parade when the huge wooden +hatchet would be borne at the head of the procession and duly consigned +to the flames on the lower campus in the presence of the entire student +body. + +Will and Foster had shared in the growing interest and both knew just +where the coveted canes had been purchased by the duly authorized +committee and hidden till the time should arrive when they were to be +brought stealthily into the village. Their excitement became keener +still when on the evening of the day to which reference has been made +Peter John Schenck burst into Will's room with a report that instantly +aroused his two friends. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE RUSH TO COVENTRY CENTER + + +"The sophs have found out where the canes are," Peter John almost +shouted. + +"They have? How do you know?" demanded Will. + +"I was in my bedroom and I heard them talking with Mott in our study +room." + +"Who?" + +"Tucker, Spencer, and Goodman." + +"What did they say?" + +"They said the canes were over in Coventry Center, at the minister's +house there." + +Coventry Center was a little hamlet about seven miles distant from +Winthrop, and the excited freshmen had indeed stored a part of their +canes in the house of the worthy old minister of the village. They had +frankly explained to him what their purpose was and he had laughingly +consented to receive the coveted possessions in his home and store them +there for the four days that intervened between the time and St. +Patrick's day. And the freshmen had been confident that their +hiding-place would not readily be discovered. No one would suspect that +the parsonage would be selected or the worthy minister would act as a +guard. To make assurance doubly certain, however, only half of the canes +had been entrusted to the minister, and even those were divided--a +bundle containing a dozen being placed in the woodshed and the remaining +being stored beneath the hay in the little loft of the barn. The other +half of the class canes had been taken to a farmhouse a mile distant +from the parsonage and there concealed in an unused well, the mouth of +which was filled with rubbish and the _debris_ of a shed that had been +blown down by a severe windstorm that had occurred a few weeks before +this time. + +As the utmost care had been observed by the committee having in charge +the purchase of the canes, and they had stealthily in a stormy night +taken their precious burdens to the two places of concealment they had +been confident, over-confident now it appeared, that their actions had +not been discovered. + +Will and Foster had both served on the committee that had purchased and +hidden the canes, and when Peter John brought his unwelcome tidings that +the rival class was aware of the place where the canes had been stored, +it was difficult for them to determine whether anger or chagrin was +uppermost in their feelings. At all events they both were greatly +excited, and Will said as he hastily rose from his chair: + +"How did they find it out?" + +"I don't know. I didn't hear them say," replied Peter John. + +"Did they find out that you were there?" + +"No, they left before I came out of my room. The door was partly open +and I didn't dare stir hand or foot." + +"Lucky for you, Peter John." + +"Yes. I know it." + +"What are they going to do?" inquired Foster, who up to this time had +been silent. + +"They've gone over to get the canes." + +"Gone!" exclaimed Will aghast. + +"Yes. That's what Goodman said." + +"How many went, do you know, Peter John?" demanded Foster. + +"He said three." + +"Do you know who they were?" + +"No." + +"When did they start?" + +"Goodman said they went about an hour ago." + +"Which road?" + +"I don't know." + +"Why didn't Mott go?" + +"I don't think he knew anything about it before these fellows came and +told him." + +"What did he do after they told him?" + +"He slapped his legs and laughed." + +"You say he went away with those fellows that told him about it?" + +"Yes." + +"Did they say anything about any other canes--" began Will. But he was +sharply interrupted by Foster and abruptly ceased. + +"I didn't know there were any others," said Peter John. "Are there? +Where are they?" + +"We haven't any time to waste here," said Foster, hastily donning his +sweater and putting a cap on his head. "Peter John, you go back to your +room, and if you hear of anything more go straight to Bishop with the +word." + +"I'd rather go with you fellows." + +"Not this trip. You'll have to be on the lookout here. Somebody must do +it and you're the one, Peter John. Come on, Will," he added, calling to +his room-mate and instantly departed from the room. + +Ignoring Peter John, Will hastily followed Foster, and together the two +freshmen ran to Hawley's room. There a hurried consultation was held, +the result of which was that it was decided that Foster and Dana should +secure a car and drive swiftly to Coventry Center by one road, two other +classmates were to drive to the same destination by another road, while +Will and Hawley were to go on foot across the country and strive to +arrive at the minister's house by the time the others had done so. In +this way it was believed that every avenue of approach or retreat would +be covered, and that even if the sophomores had been first on the scene +they would still be unable to get away with their booty before they +would be discovered, and at least followed. + +In a brief time Will and Hawley were on their way across the country, +leaving their more fortunate comrades, who were to ride, to follow as +soon as their conveyances could be secured. The ground was still frozen, +and in places there were patches of snow and ice, although the heavy +snowfall of the winter for the most part was gone. Their way led through +woods and over plowed fields, but the steady run or "trot" was +maintained uphill and down, and within an hour and a half from the time +they had departed from Winthrop they arrived at the confines of the +little hamlet of Coventry Center. + +"See or hear anything, Will?" inquired Hawley, as the two freshmen +stopped and listened intently as they peered all about them. + +"Not a thing," whispered Will in response. + +The lights in the little homes were already out, for the people of +Coventry Center were not believers in keeping untimely hours, and the +twinkling lights of the little village for the most part disappeared +before ten o'clock arrived. It was about that hour when Will Phelps and +Hawley stopped at the end of the one straggling street to try to +discover if there were any signs of the presence of their enemies or +classmates. + +"Shall we wait or put straight for the minister's house?" inquired +Hawley. + +"Go there," replied Will. + +"Look out! Don't let any one see you," said Hawley in a low voice as +they stealthily began to make their way up the street. Occasionally they +stopped to make sure that they were not being followed or to strive to +discover if their own friends were near. They had passed the little +white wooden church building and were approaching the parsonage when +both stopped abruptly. + +"What's that?" demanded Hawley in a whisper. + +"You know as much about it as I do. Come on and we'll find out." + +The sound of voices could be heard from the rear of the house and from +the tones it was evident that the speakers were somewhat excited. +Furthermore Will was positive that he recognized the voices of two and +they were members of the sophomore class at Winthrop. + +"How many are there?" whispered Hawley. + +"Sounds as if there were six or eight. Hark! There's the minister +talking." + +"What's he saying?" + +"I can't make out. He's excited over something, though." + +"Come on," whispered Hawley, "let's creep up around the corner of the +barn. We can see and hear too there, and if we're careful they won't +suspect us." + +"It will be all day with us if they do," whispered Will in response. + +Slowly and cautiously the two freshmen crept along the side of the +street and diagonally across the vacant field till they had gained the +desired corner of the barn. Then crouching low they peered forth at the +sight which could be seen in the dim light. + +On the highest step of the rear piazza of his house stood Mr. Whitaker, +the minister of Coventry Center. He was a man at least sixty-five years +of age, genial and shrewd, the friend of every one in the region. On the +ground before him now five men could be seen and neither Will nor Hawley +had any difficulty in recognizing all five as sophomores. Will pinched +Hawley's arm in his excitement, but did not speak, though it almost +seemed to him that the thumpings of his heart must betray his presence +to the men who were before him. + +Mr. Whitaker was speaking and instantly Will's attention was centered +upon what was being said. "No, young gentlemen, I am not willing that +you should enter my house." + +"But, Mr. Whitaker," said one in reply whom Will took to be a sophomore +who roomed near him in Perry Hall, "we don't want to come into the +house--just into the woodshed, that's all." + +"I cannot consent even to that." + +"We'll not harm anything." + +"You certainly will not if you do not enter." + +"We've got to come in, Mr. Whitaker!" said the speaker a little more +boldly. + +"And I forbid it." + +An interval in the conversation then followed during which Will could +see that the sophomores were conferring. They had withdrawn to a place +about midway between the house and the barn and consequently were nearer +the hiding-place of the two freshmen than before, but both were +compelled to draw back for fear of being discovered and consequently +were unable to hear what was said. + +In a brief time the sophomores returned to the piazza where the minister +was still standing. "Mr. Whitaker," began the leader. + +"Yes, sir. At your service," responded the minister pleasantly. + +"Why do you object to our coming in? You know we won't do any harm to +the place. You know what we've come for." + +"Perhaps that's the very reason why I object." + +"You don't have to stay here. We'll give you our word we won't harm +anything. All we want is to get those freshmen canes. You're not +responsible for them and you certainly don't mean to say that you would +stand up for that class. Why it's the worst that ever entered Winthrop." + +"I have frequently heard of the class," said the minister laughing +genially as he spoke. "I have a grandson who chances to be a member of +it." + +"I beg your pardon. I didn't mean to say that every fellow in it was a +poor stick. All I meant was that as a class it's the most conceited one +that was ever seen. That's what every one says." + +"Doubtless," remarked Mr. Whitaker dryly. + +"You don't care anything about the squabbles of the classes. It's +nothing to you anyway, Mr. Whitaker," pleaded the sophomore. + +"What led you to suspect that the canes might be here?" + +"It wouldn't be fair to tell that," laughed the sophomore. "We know +they're here all right, and that's enough." + +"Would you believe me if I were to say to you that they are not here?" + +"Yes, sir, I suppose we should," replied the sophomore dubiously, "but +you won't say it." + +"Why not, since they are not here?" + +"What?" demanded the entire party almost together. + +"That is what I said. The canes are not in my house." + +"In the barn, then?" said the leader suspiciously. + +"No, they are not in the barn, either. There is not a cane on my place +except the one I occasionally use myself. If you think that will do--" + +"But, Mr. Whitaker, the man was seen when he brought the canes here." + +"Quite likely." + +"And yet you say they are not here?" + +"That is what I said. And what I still say." + +"I don't understand--" + +"I do not say they _were_ not here. All I say is that they _are_ not +here." + +"They're gone? They've been taken away? Is that what you mean?" demanded +the astonished sophomore. + +"Precisely." + +"Let's go in and search anyway," said one of the party now thoroughly +angry. + +"I advise you not to attempt that," said the minister quietly. + +"Why not?" said the sophomore impudently. + +"Because one of my neighbors is a deputy sheriff and housebreaking is a +somewhat serious offense." + +For a moment the assembly was nonplussed, but their uncertainty was +speedily relieved, or at least interrupted, by an occurrence that +instantly caused them all to turn and flee from the place at their +utmost speed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE MYSTERY OF THE CANES + + +At the very moment when the consternation of the sophomores was keenest +the sound of a sleigh turning into the yard in which they were standing +caused them all to look quickly toward the gateway. The ground was bare +in places, and the runners of the sleigh, as the iron bands passed over +the gravel, emitted shrieks and groans as if they were striving to warn +the sophomores of the impending peril. + +Seated in the sleigh were three men whom the assembly speedily +recognized as members of the freshman class, and their own fears for a +moment doubtless caused the sophomores to magnify the numbers as well as +the danger. + +"Look out, fellows! Here they come!" said one in a low voice whom Will +and Hawley recognized. It was Mott, who was again the spokesman and +leader of the little band. + +"Let's get out of this," responded one whose voice Will could not +determine, and as if a sudden panic had seized upon them the young men +turned and began to run swiftly. + +"Hold on! Hold on, fellows!" called Mott savagely, although his voice +was not loud. "Hold on! What are you running for? There are only three +of them, and we're good for any three freshmen in Winthrop. Don't run. +Come on back!" + +Mott's appeal served to restore a measure of confidence among his +companions, and instantly the flight was abandoned and all turned slowly +back toward the yard. Neither Will nor Hawley had yet moved from his +hiding-place, though they were leaning farther out from the corner of +the barn in their eagerness to discover what was occurring in the yard +before them. They could see that the driver in the sleigh was Foster, +and he had leaped out and was now as calmly tying his horse and +fastening the blanket upon it as if never a thought of his rival class +had entered his mind. Beside him two young men were standing, but in the +dim light it was impossible to determine just who they were. The +returning sophomores were now near the new arrivals, and the genial old +minister could also be seen, still standing on the piazza and evidently +not uninterested in the sight and presence of the young men before him. + +"What are you doing here, Bennett?" demanded Mott of Foster. + +"Oh, we're out for a sleigh ride," responded Foster glibly, "and we just +stopped here to see the fun. What are you doing here?" + +"Oh, we stopped to see the fun too," responded Mott gruffly. "It's worth +going miles to see freshmen who don't know any more than to go +sleigh-riding on bare ground. Had a good time, freshman?" + +"Yes. Have you?" + +"We're all right. If you've come for the canes you're too late." + +"Have you just found that out?" replied Foster with a loud laugh. It was +true that he was not aware that the canes had been taken away, but he +was not minded to betray his surprise to the members of the rival +class. + +There was a brief interval of silence which was broken by the old +minister, who said, "I shall be very glad, young gentlemen, to have you +come into the house. The night air is cold and you must be thoroughly +chilled. A little while ago I may have appeared somewhat lacking in +hospitality," he added, turning to Mott as he spoke; "but now I can +assure you I shall be very glad indeed to receive you." + +"Thank you," responded Foster. "We shall be glad to come in if the +others will come too." + +"We can't very well to-night," said Mott glumly. "We've got to go--" + +Suddenly there broke in a wild yell upon the silence of the night. The +sound was made by only two men, but these two were possessed of a lung +power that was well-nigh phenomenal. Hawley who with his companion had +been watching the events that were occurring before them had suddenly +turned to Will and whispered, "Let's go in and take a hand! Yell, +Phelps! Make them hear you clear over in Winthrop!" + +"Hi-i-i-i!" the two lusty freshmen had shouted together as they leaped +forward, and the prolonged yell was repeated when all the assembly had +instantly turned and for a moment in sheer astonishment were gazing at +the startling approach of men from behind the barn. + +"Come on, fellows!" shouted Hawley again. "Come on! We'll get every one +of them! Come on! Come on!" + +To the startled sophomores it seemed as if myriads of their foes were +rushing upon them, and after a momentary confusion every one had started +swiftly across the narrow field that intervened between the yard and the +road that approached Coventry Center from another direction. + +"Come on, Foster! Come on all you fellows!" shouted Hawley. "Come on! +We'll get every soph that's here and will put 'em where they won't do +any harm till long after St. Patrick's Day." + +Obediently every freshman started to follow Hawley, and across the +rough, plowed field they ran swiftly toward the road where the +sophomores had already disappeared from sight behind the bushes that +were thick and high by the roadside. When once they had gained the road +they could see the forms of two men speeding away in the distance, and +with a renewed shout the freshmen started in swift pursuit. + +On up the long hill they sped until at last they stood together on the +summit. Not a sight of their rivals was to be seen, and blankly the +freshmen stood and stared about them till Hawley said: + +"No use, fellows. They've got away and we might as well go back. +Foster," he added, "did you know the canes were gone?" + +"Gone? Gone where?" replied Foster blankly. + +"I haven't the slightest idea. All I know is that Mr. Whitaker told Mott +that the canes _had_ been in his house but they had been taken away." + +"Who took them?" + +"I haven't the slightest idea." + +"You don't suppose the sophs got them, do you?" said Foster hastily. + +"I hadn't thought of that. It never entered my mind that anybody but our +own fellows had come for them." + +"I don't believe it was anybody else that got them," said Will. "You +ought to have heard Mr. Whitaker talk to Mott and the other sophs. They +were just determined to go into his house, but the old man would not let +them. No, you can rest easy about it, Mr. Whitaker never let the canes +go out of his house without knowing who had come for them. No, sir. Not +much." + +Somewhat comforted by Will's positiveness, the boys began to retrace +their way down the long road, and after a moment Hawley said, "We'll +find out all about it anyway, for Mr. Whitaker will tell us. He's all on +our side. That's what comes of having his grandson in our class. Say, +fellows, you just ought to have heard Mott rake over our class. He had +the nerve to stand there and tell Mr. Whitaker that we were the worst +lot that had ever entered Winthrop." + +"I wish we had caught him!" said Foster warmly. "We would have made him +come up in his estimate of the freshmen." + +"Oh, he was just talking to hear himself," said Will Phelps lightly. "He +knows who we are all right enough, and he isn't going to forget us right +away either. But I wish we had caught him." + +"Here we are, fellows," said Hawley, as the five young men clambered +over the fence and once more were in Mr. Whitaker's yard. "Let's go in +and ask him about it now." + +"All right," responded Foster as they started toward the door. "Hold on +a minute. Let me take a look at my horse first. I'll be with you in a +minute. Gre-a-at--" he suddenly began. "The horse is gone!" + +"What!" exclaimed Will in astonishment. + +No heed was given his expression, however, as all five ran quickly to +the post to which the horse had been tied. But the horse and sleigh were +gone, and not a trace remained to show in which direction they had +departed. + +"Sure you fastened him all right?" inquired Hawley anxiously. + +"I know I did," replied Foster. + +"If you did then he couldn't have got loose. I wonder if Mott and the +sophs could have done it? Come on! We'll go in and tell Mr. Whitaker and +he may be able to give us a point or two. There's a light in the +kitchen, and we'll probably find him there. Come on, fellows!" + +Hastily the boys ran to the kitchen door, and in response to their knock +Mr. Whitaker himself opened the door and stood before them. + +"Mr. Whitaker," began Foster, "do you know who took our horse and +sleigh?" + +"Why! Why, I supposed that you did. Two young men came into the yard not +more than three minutes ago and took them away." + +"They did? Then it _was_ the sophs," said Foster turning to his +comrades. "We'll never hear the last of it. We can't get a horse here, +can we, Mr. Whitaker?" he inquired eagerly. + +"I fear not. I have none of my own, and there are not many to be had +here anyway." + +"Did they start toward Winthrop?" + +"I think so. They turned toward the lower road." + +"Let's get after them," suggested Foster. + +"A long way after them," said Will grimly. "We never could catch up with +them." + +"Mr. Whitaker," said Hawley, "how long ago were the canes taken away +from here?" + +The good man hesitated, and the freshman without waiting for him to +speak began again. "We belong to the same class as your grandson. We're +freshmen and we don't want the sophs to get those canes." + +"I regret exceedingly that I had anything to do with it, but my grandson +over-persuaded me and so I consented. I should say that it was about an +hour ago when they came for the canes." + +"Who came?" + +"There were two young gentlemen, and they brought me a note which +informed me that I was to let them take the canes away." + +"A note?" demanded Hawley. "What did it say? Who signed it?" + +"It was signed by Hawley--Albert Hawley, if I recollect aright, and also +by my grandson." + +"My name is Hawley and somebody forged it. The sophs have the canes and +I'm afraid it's too late--" + +"Too late nothing, Hawley!" said Will impulsively. "What kind of a rig, +I mean wagon or sleigh or whatever it was, did they have?" he inquired +of the minister. + +"It was a box wagon, a farm wagon, and they had a farmer to drive for +them." + +"Did you know the man?" demanded Will. + +"No. I cannot say that I did. He was a stranger to me. But the note--" + +"Probably some soph disguised as a farmer. Did he have any other load in +the wagon box?" + +"Yes. I noticed some bags of meal." + +"Good. And you say they took the lower road?" + +"Yes. I recollect that distinctly." + +"Isn't there a short cut? Can't we cut across lots and head them off? +They would have to go slow, and it might be that we could head them +somewhere and get those canes away from them." + +"Yes," replied Mr. Whitaker. "I don't know that I am doing right to tell +you, but inasmuch as the canes were secured by a forgery I shall +certainly tell you all I know of the matter. If you go down to that +little valley," and as he spoke he pointed in a direction in the rear of +the barn, "you will find a pathway that leads beside the brook almost in +a straight line to what we call the ford. It saves between three and +four miles to Winthrop, and whenever I walk I take the path. I--" + +"Thank you! Thank you, Mr. Whitaker! Come on! We'll try it anyway, +fellows. We've nothing to lose and everything to gain. Good night, Mr. +Whitaker! Thank you for what you've told us," called Will Phelps, as he +quickly turned and began to run. + +Obediently the boys all followed Will as he ran swiftly across the +field, and in a brief time they discovered the pathway to which the old +minister had referred. There was no conversation now, for the fear in +every heart was that they would arrive at the ford too late to avail. +Besides, there was the likelihood that the canes would be disposed of +before the wagon had gone very far from Mr. Whitaker's house. A +multitude of fears possessed them, but they ran swiftly along the path +where Will Phelps, eager and strong was leading the way. Not once did +they stop for rest. The night air was chilling, and the clouds that +swept across the face of the sky did not hide the light of the moon. + +On and on they sped, steadily maintaining the dogged pace which the +leader was setting for them, until at last, well-nigh winded and +thoroughly tired by their exertions, they arrived at the place where the +pathway joined the road and they knew that Winthrop was not more than +three-quarters of a mile away. There they halted, but they had not +recovered from the effects of their long run when they perceived a farm +wagon, apparently filled with bags, coming down the hill that was near +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +ON THE TRAIL + + +As the eager freshmen peered out at the approaching wagon the suppressed +excitement threatened to break all bounds. "Let's stop him and get the +canes," suggested Hawley in a whisper. + +"No. What'll be the good of that? It'll be better to follow up the wagon +quietly, and then if we can find out where they put the canes, maybe a +little later we can get them away without the sophs knowing anything +about it. Don't you see we'll be making it all the worse for them." + +"We don't _know_ that the canes are in the wagon," suggested Foster. + +"Of course we don't, and it's all the same whether we try to find out +now or follow it up and find out a little later." + +"Phelps is right about it," said Hawley. "If the canes shouldn't be +found in the wagon, we would be making fools of ourselves if we stopped +it, but if we let it go on and follow it up we'll be all the better." + +Meanwhile the wagon itself had passed the place where the boys were +concealed, and groaning and creaking had begun the ascent of the +opposite hill. Only the driver was to be seen, and his appearance and +actions were unmistakable. He was a farmer and well advanced in years, +and if he was aware of the contest that was being waged between the +rival classes in Winthrop it was evident that he had no share in the +excitement. + +"How'll we do it, fellows?" inquired Hawley anxiously. "He'll get away +before we get our eyes open, if we don't look out." + +"Let's follow him," said Will Phelps quickly. "We mustn't go in a bunch, +but string out. But we mustn't be so far apart that we can't hear if one +of us calls or whistles." + +"Come on, then," said Foster. "You go ahead, Will, and we'll come along. +You're a runner, and if the old fellow begins to start up his horses you +can follow him better than any of us can. But we'll have to do our +best." + +Quickly the suggestion was adopted, and Will ran swiftly along the road +until he discovered the wagon not far in advance of him. It was moving +at the same monotonous pace as when it had passed the hiding place of +the boys. Will Phelps, when he came within a hundred yards of the wagon +he was following, decreased his own speed and endeavored to keep close +to the fences by the roadside, so that he would not be seen by the +driver if he should chance to look behind him. + +They were soon within sight of Winthrop, and the shadowy towers of the +college buildings could be discerned in the distance. It was long past +midnight, and the only lights that could be seen were those of the +twinkling stars and the occasional flash of the moonlight when the +broken clouds that were moving across the face of the sky parted +sufficiently for the face of the moon to be seen. + +Suddenly Will was aware that the wagon had stopped at a corner where a +road or street that led to the lower part of the village joined the road +that led past the college buildings. He darted behind a huge tree that +grew close to the roadside, and eagerly peered forth to discover what +the next move of the farmer would be. He could see that some one +approached the wagon, and after a brief delay climbed up on the seat +beside the driver and then the team started on once more. Will was +keenly excited by this time, and his suspicions were confirmed that the +canes were indeed in the wagon before him. He was eager to follow +swiftly, but he quickly decided that it would be wiser to wait until +Hawley came up to the place where he himself was waiting and explain to +him the change in the direction of the party they were following. + +The huge form of Hawley soon appeared, and impatiently Will ran out into +the road to meet him. "They've turned in here," he said excitedly, "and +you must stop here and tell the fellows. I'll run on ahead and find out +where the wagon goes." + +Quickly Will darted across the fields and soon came into the lower road. +The wagon could be seen not far in advance of him, and was still moving +at a slow pace from which it had not varied since it first had been +seen. It was evident that the sophs were either indifferent or +absolutely confident, Will could not determine which. For a moment his +heart misgave him. What a plight he would be in if it should appear that +he and his classmates had been following a purposely designed trick of +their rivals. The thought was by no means reassuring, but there was no +time afforded for reflection, for the wagon he was following even then +turned into a lane that led to a farmhouse and barns that were not far +from the road. The climax had almost been reached and it would be soon +known what the issue was to be. + +Will waited now for his classmates to join him. The wagon could not +escape, for the lane came to an abrupt end in the yard, and if it should +turn back it could not pass the place where he was waiting without being +seen. + +It was not long before Hawley joined him, and, as he approached, Will +said: "They've gone down this lane. Somebody was waiting here and has +gone with the driver. There may be a good many others down there by the +barn for all that we know. What do you think we'd better do?" + +"There's a haystack out there by the barn," said Hawley, pointing to a +stack of some kind that could be seen in the rear of the nearest barn. +"If you could only get behind that you could see what was going on." + +"I can, all right enough. But where will you fellows be? I may need your +help if I get into trouble." + +"I don't know. We won't be far away. Whistle if you want us and we'll +make a break for you. Don't let them see you," he added warningly, as +without waiting to reply, Will started at once, running swiftly along +the ground near the crooked rail fence that extended the entire distance +between the main road and the farm buildings. + +He was convinced that he had not been seen when at last he gained the +shelter of the haystack, and, crouching within its shadows, he peered +forth at the wagon and the group of four men that were standing near it. +He was positive that one was Mott, but his greatest surprise came when +he perceived a horse and sleigh in the barnyard which he instantly +recognized as the very ones with which Foster and his two classmates had +gone to Coventry Center. He reached forward and strove to hear what was +being said, for the little group were conversing eagerly but in tones so +low that Will was unable to hear a word. He could see what was done, +however, for after a brief delay the four men turned to the wagon, +several sacks were lifted from their places in the load, and then two +other sacks were taken from the wagon and carried by Mott and another +man into the barn. Several minutes elapsed before Mott came forth +again, and when he did he was alone. The sophomore stopped for a moment +with the men, handed some money to the farmer, and then he and the +fourth man, whom Will fancied he recognized as another sophomore, +climbed into the sleigh and at once started back up the lane, the +runners of the sleigh screeching as they passed over the bare places as +if they were doing their utmost to alarm the neighborhood and to protest +against what was being done. The farmer too, soon followed and passed up +the lane, but his departure was of slight interest to Will, who was +puzzling himself about the man who had entered the barn with Mott and +had failed to reappear. To Will's mind there was but one explanation, +and he was eager to confer with his own classmates, but he dared not +leave his hiding-place for fear that the man in the barn might come +forth and depart without being seen. + +For a half-hour he waited but the stillness of the night was unbroken. +He was becoming chilled and he dared not remain longer where he was. At +last he decided to return to the place where he had left his own +classmates and report to them what he had seen. + +Hastily withdrawing from his shelter he ran swiftly across the fields +until he came to the corner, and then whistling softly was rejoiced when +he perceived his friends rise from the ground in an angle of the crooked +fence and advance to meet him. + +"Is that you, Will?" said Foster in a low voice. "We didn't know what +had become of you. What's up? What's wrong?" + +Will hastily described what he had seen and then said, "I'm dead sure, +fellows, that that soph has been left in the barn to watch those canes." + +"Why didn't you run away with the horse and sleigh?" inquired Hawley. + +"I did think of trying it. But I made up my mind that even if I should +succeed in doing it, it would give the whole thing away. They'd know +that we'd found out where they had hidden our canes and there wouldn't +be much use in our trying to get them again. Now we know where they are +and the sophs don't even know that we know." + +"You mean you think they don't know that we know," suggested Foster. + +"I know it!" asserted Will positively. "Now what shall we do?" + +"Put straight back to the barn, tie up the soph and take the canes away +with us," said Hawley promptly. + +"I've thought of that," replied Will. "But do you think that's the best +plan? If we take the canes away we may lose them, for St. Patrick's Day +isn't till day after to-morrow, you know. If this soph, I don't know who +he is, has been left as guard he'll be relieved, and if they find he's +gone and the canes too, why it'll be all the harder for us." + +"What do you suggest, Phelps?" inquired Hawley. + +"How will this do? Some one of us can creep back there into the barn and +keep watch the same as the soph is doing. He can be relieved in the +morning and then some one else can take his place. If anything happens +in the barn he'll be pretty likely to know it, and if anything doesn't +happen then we can get up a good-sized crowd and go down there to-morrow +night and get the canes. We can distribute them among our fellows and +then the next morning every fellow in the class can march into chapel +with his cane." + +"Good! Good! That's the idea!" said Hawley warmly. "Who'll go down in +the barn and be guard for the night?" + +"Who's got the most cuts to spare?" inquired Will. + +"I have," said Foster promptly. "I have taken but four." + +"Then I should say you were the one to stand guard to-morrow," said +Will. "I'll go to-night myself," he added. "Come down just before it's +light in the morning, and come to the door in the rear of the barn. Rap +three times softly, and then if that doesn't work, whistle, but not too +loud." + +There was some demurring on the part of his classmates, each of whom +demanded for himself the privilege of taking the first watch, but Will +insisted, and then somewhat reluctantly he was left to make his way back +to the barn and all the others soon returned to the dormitories. + +When Will Phelps arrived at the rear door of the barn he discovered that +it was locked on the inside and he was unable to gain an entrance there. +He was fearful that to enter by the front door would be but to proclaim +his presence, but at last he perceived that there was an entrance by a +small door that was partly open above the roof of the little lean-to on +the side of the barn. Carefully he climbed up on the roof and cautiously +made his way to the door. He peered within but it was dark and at first +he was unable to discern anything. He waited until his eyes became +somewhat accustomed to the dim light and then saw that there was a bare +floor before him and that adjoining it was the haymow. + +With his utmost care he stepped inside, and his fears increased when he +discovered that the loose flooring creaked and groaned beneath his feet. +With every step he halted and listened intently. It seemed to the +excited freshman that he never had heard such sounds as those boards +emitted that night. So slowly and cautiously did he proceed that it +seemed to him that hours must have elapsed before he succeeded in +gaining the border of the low mow. Even then he halted and listened +intently, but not a sound broke in upon the oppressive stillness that +pervaded the barn. + +He next carefully and cautiously stepped over into the mow. A faint +glimmer of light came from one corner and there he concluded the ladder +must be which led to the floor below. If he could gain a place near +that, he assured himself he would be able to know if anything occurred +below, and at the same time he himself would be secure from observation. + +Once more he slowly and with the utmost care began to creep forward, and +at last he stretched himself at full length upon the hay and peered down +through the opening. It was too dark to permit him to see much and not a +sound could be heard. + +Satisfied that he had been successful he resigned himself to his watch. +The long hours dragged on until at last Will found it almost impossible +to keep himself awake. Desperately he strove to keep his eyes open, but +his feeling of drowsiness increased until at last it overpowered him and +the weary freshman was fast asleep. + +He was rudely awakened by sounds that came from the room below. He sat +quickly erect, and though the light was clearer now he at first could +not collect his thoughts sufficiently to show him where he was. Quickly, +however, as the sounds from below became louder, it all came back to +him, and he ran to the ladder and peered through the opening. What he +saw evidently startled him, for instantly he threw himself upon the +ladder and almost leaped to the floor below. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +ST. PATRICK'S DAY + + +The door in the rear of the barn was open and on the floor before it +stood Foster and Mott facing each other. Whether or not the sophomore +who had been left as a guard was still in the barn Will could not +determine, but, without waiting to find out, he almost leaped to the +floor below, and before Mott could recover from his surprise he was +helpless in the hands of his enemies. It was but the work of a moment +securely to bind his hands and feet, and the leading spirit of the +sophomore class was soon a helpless captive. + +Excited though the boys were, the entire adventure was completed in a +very brief time, and Will and Foster were both laughing when they gazed +at their helpless prisoner. Even Mott smiled as he said ruefully: + +"You've scored, freshmen. What are you going to do with me?" + +"Nothing," said Will quickly. + +Mott drew down the corners of his mouth and then a sudden light appeared +in his eyes that caused Will to look keenly at him for a moment. "Come +on, Foster," he said simply; "let's put this fellow where he won't do +any more harm, at least until after St. Patrick's Day." + +"Where'll we put him?" inquired Foster. + +Will turned and looked about him and perceived a small harness room on +the ground floor near him, and upon his suggestion the helpless +sophomore was placed within it for safe keeping. + +"Now then, Foster," said Will when he had closed the door of the room, +"we've just got to find the place where these canes are hidden. Mott has +come here to take the place of the guard that was here last night and +nobody knows how long it'll be before some one else comes. Come on, +let's get about it." + +At once the two freshmen began their search. Beginning near the +entrance, they examined every bin and peered into every possible place +of concealment. Even in the mangers before which the horses were tied +they peered and searched, but when they had carefully examined the +entire floor they had not been able to discover the place where the +coveted canes had been concealed. + +"What are we to do, Will?" demanded Foster at last. + +"Let's ask Mott." + +"He'll never let on." + +"Try it, anyway." + +The two boys returned to the harness room and Will at once addressed +their prisoner. + +"Mott," he said, "where are those canes?" + +The sophomore laughed loudly as he replied, "You certainly are the two +most innocent freshmen I have ever struck yet. Perhaps you'd like to +have me help you carry them back to the college." + +"We'll let you go if you'll tell us where they are." + +"Thanks muchly," replied Mott dryly. + +"Come on, Will," said Foster. "We can find them ourselves. No use in +wasting time here with this fellow. We'll get them ourselves." + +"You're certain they're here?" laughed Mott. + +Neither responded to his question, but both left the room and resumed +their search. + +"You don't suppose they have really got those canes somewhere else, do +you, Foster? They might be just trying to put us on the wrong track +here, you know?" inquired Will. + +"It's possible, but I don't believe it," said Foster positively. "If +that was their game Mott wouldn't be here." + +"Probably not," assented Will. "Let's begin again. We've no time to +waste." + +The freshmen now began to search in the loft of the barn. They seized +the pitchforks that were in the mow, and, thrusting the tines into the +hay, they continued their search, working with desperate determination +and throwing the hay about them until the entire mow presented the +appearance of having been almost completely overturned. + +But not a trace of the missing canes could they discover. At last, +satisfied that their efforts were vain, they ceased and for a moment +stared blankly at each other. + +"No use," said Will despondently. "They've made game of us this time, +Foster, just as sure as you live." + +"We won't give up yet, Will. Of course if the canes are here they were +not put where we'd be likely to stumble over them. We've just got to +think it out--" + +Foster stopped abruptly as a voice was heard calling up from below. "I +must bid you an affectionate and tearful farewell, freshmen. Keep on +with your good work and remember that perseverance conquers everything. +Even the best of friends must part--" + +Foster and Will waited to hear no more, but both plunged down the +ladder, but when they had gained the floor below it was to behold Mott +speeding up the lane as if he was "sprinting" for life itself. For a +moment the surprise and consternation of the two freshmen were so +complete that both were speechless. + +"Why didn't you take after him, Will?" said Foster, who was the first to +break in upon the awkward silence. "What are you standing here for?" + +"No use, Foster," replied Will, shaking his head. "He's got too good a +start. I don't see how he ever got loose." + +"Well, he is loose and that's all there is about it. What'll we do +next?" + +"Find those canes. They're here, I know they are." + +"Just tell me where they are, will you?" + +"They won't come to us, that's certain! We've got to look them up. And +if we don't find them pretty soon too it'll be the worse for us." + +Will turned as he spoke and once more opened the lid of a piano box that +was standing on the floor near them. The box apparently was filled with +oats and they had inspected it before, but as it had not presented any +appearance of containing the object of their search they had passed it +by and gone on to the loft above. + +This time, however, Will thrust his arm deep down into the oats and in a +moment he almost shouted. "Here's something, Foster! Help me clear away +these oats. There's something down in there!" + +Foster seized the scoop that was near the improvised oat bin and with +feverish haste threw the oats up on one side and then said exultantly, +"Here's something! Here they are!" + +Leaning over the box, he drew forth a bundle of canes carefully tied +together and partly hidden from sight beneath the oats. + +"Are they all there?" demanded Will in a hoarse whisper. He hastily +inspected the bundle and then exclaimed, "Here's only a part of them, +Foster!" + +"Where some are it's likely there are more," and Will at once resumed +his search. His efforts were speedily rewarded by the discovery of +another bundle similar to the one that had already been found, and, +dropping his scoop, he hastily began to count the canes. + +"Here they are!" he exclaimed joyfully. "Every last one of them is +here!" + +"Then the sophs must have been to both places where we had them." + +"Yes, but it's all the better for us. We'll now be--" + +Foster stopped abruptly as the farmer that owned the buildings appeared +in the doorway and for a moment stared blankly at them. + +"Good morning," said Will cheerfully. "We're here after these canes." + +"So I see," replied the farmer. "The freshmans didn't find ye out, +then?" + +"It's all right," responded Will glibly. "How much are we to pay you?" + +"They paid me last night. I guess 'twas 'beout right. I don't want +nothin' more." + +"We've tumbled your hay over more than we thought," said Will, as he +thrust a bill into the man's hand. + +"I don't know 'beout it," drawled the farmer, nevertheless thrusting the +money into his pocket. "Putty good pay, but I don't know but I might's +well take it." + +"Of course you're to take it!" said Will eagerly. "All we ask of you now +is not to tell anybody--anybody," he added with special emphasis, "that +we've taken the canes away. Don't tell any one of it or the whole game +will be spoiled." + +"I'll be as mum as a hitchin' post." + +Without waiting for any further words the two boys seized the bundles +and at once departed from the barn. When they came out into the lane +they looked carefully about them in every direction, but no one could be +seen and they soon came out into the open road. + +"What are we going to do with them now?" inquired Foster, as they halted +for a moment. + +"We can't take them back to our rooms," said Will. + +"No! No! That would never do." + +"I'll tell you," said Will quickly. "Let's take them down to that old +bridge yonder," pointing as he spoke toward a rude bridge that spanned +the stream not far away. + +"All right. Come along, then," responded Foster. + +Instantly the two boys began to run and in a brief time arrived at the +rude structure, and after a hasty inspection they placed the two bundles +on the piers beneath the bridge and then covered them with the driftwood +that had been cast up on the bank of the stream when its waters had been +swelled by the passing storms. + +When their work was at last completed they departed for Winthrop and +arrived just as the final strokes of the bell were given that assembled +the students in the chapel. They hastily passed in with the throng of +students and were in their seats in time to receive credit for +attendance. + +As they passed out from the chapel when the service was ended they came +face to face with Mott and a group of sophomores, who evidently were +waiting for their appearance; but as neither Foster nor Will betrayed +any emotion by the expression upon their faces it was impossible for the +sophomores to perceive whether or not the canes had been discovered. + +There was no question about their opinions, however, when later in the +day it was apparent that the sophomore class was possessed of a feeling +of intense excitement. Parties were sent forth in various directions, +and there was the keenest interest manifest in the entire college. Will +and Foster, however, were too wise to relate their experiences to any +except to the three or four leaders of their class; and when night fell, +by a circuitous route, and then only after a half-dozen parties had been +sent out in other directions to mislead any of their rivals who might be +watching their movements, they proceeded to the bridge, secured the +canes, and bringing them safely back to the college under the protecting +shelter of the darkness, distributed them among the members of the +class. + +Great was the elation of the freshmen when on the following morning they +formed in a body near the gymnasium just before the hour of morning +prayers in the chapel and then marched to the service every one carrying +in his hands one of the coveted sticks. + +The discomfited sophomores endured in silence the gibes of the students, +and the exultant freshmen received the applause that greeted their +success with an air that it is to be feared only served to increase the +chagrin of their rivals. And Will Phelps and Foster were at once, and by +a common though unspoken assent, awarded a place among the leaders of +their class for their success. + +Of the parade that took place that day Will Phelps did not tire of +talking for many a week. The assembled crowd of students, townspeople, +and visitors, the long line of freshmen in the parade and their +grotesque appearance, the stirring music of a brass band at the head of +the line, the march to the lower campus where the huge bonfire was +kindled, the weird songs and dancing as in dual lines the two lower +classes with joined hands leaped and danced about the blazing fire, and +then the final consignment to the flames of the huge wooden hatchet that +had been carried in the parade, were all incidents that duly impressed +him. And when at last the fires burned low and the final song was sung, +and it was declared that the hatchet was buried forever and all feelings +of animosity between the lower classmen were at an end, the boys +returned to their rooms feeling that a well-earned victory had been won. + +The escapades were doubtless silly, and in after years brought a smile +to the faces of the participants when they were then recalled, but +nevertheless they had formed a part of the experiences of college life +and had brought with them the development of certain qualities of +leadership which in other ways and in later days were to play no small +part in the lives of Will Phelps and his room-mate. + +The coming of springtime in Winthrop was always an occasion of general +rejoicing. The hills were once more covered with their garments of green +and the valleys were beautiful in their verdure. Among the students at +Winthrop there was usually a relaxing of effort then, but Will Phelps, +though the effort cost him much, still held himself resolutely to his +tasks. He had been learning not merely what to study but also how to +study, and in his spring vacation his father had explained to him that +this was his supreme purpose and desire. If a man did not learn how to +work while he was a student in college it was seldom the case that he +learned it afterward. And Will had responded. His Greek was still +distasteful to him, but he was doing somewhat better and was more +content. + +The crowning ambition in Will's heart as we know was to secure a place +on the college track team. And he had been working quietly yet +persistently under the guidance of Wagner for the desired end. At last, +early in May, came the trial meets of the college when the selections +for the team were to be made, and when Will donned his running suit and +went down to the track to all appearances he was calmer than his +room-mate. But in his heart there was a feeling such as he had never +known before. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +CONCLUSION + + +It was a noisy crowd of students that assembled at the Winthrop athletic +field on that day early in May when the trials for the track team were +to be held. Keen as was the interest in baseball the interest in the +track team was even keener, for hope was high among the students that a +championship team would be turned out and the competition among the +eight colleges that composed the league was at fever heat. The most +formidable rival of Winthrop was Alden, and, as within the past four +years each of the two colleges had won the championship twice, the +coming contest would decide the possession of the cup which the +association had voted should be held in the permanent possession of the +college which had won most of the meets within the limits of the five +years. + +Will Phelps was keenly excited although his movements were very +deliberate as he walked about the field clad in his running suit, over +which he was wearing his bath robe. His desire to secure a place on the +team was so strong that he hardly dared face the possibility of a +failure. The disappointments of the year would in a measure be atoned +for if only he might win the coveted honor. He had carefully followed +the instructions of Wagner, the captain of the team, who though, by his +physician's orders was not to compete, was nevertheless deeply +interested and for some reason had taken an especially strong liking to +Will Phelps. Upon his advice Will had retired early the preceding night +and had secured a rest that made him now feel that if ever he was to +win, the present opportunity was the supreme one. + +"Don't do your best in the heats, unless you have to," said Wagner as he +approached Will on the field and stopped for a moment to chat with him. +"Save your strength for the finals." + +Will smiled but did not reply. In his present state of mind he was +wondering if he could run at any pace that was not his best. The events +were being run off now and he was striving to become interested in them. +Anything that would call his thoughts away from himself and his own +contest was to be desired, he thought. Foster had tried and failed to +win a place and Peter John Schenck too had not been successful. Was his +own chance better than theirs? He could hardly believe that it was, and +yet if determination could aid he knew that his lack, if he should be +found wanting, would not be due to that cause. + +At last the supreme moment arrived and the call for the first heat in +the hundred yards dash was heard. Will's heart was beating furiously +when he cast aside his bath robe and tossed it to Foster who was waiting +to receive it. His room-mate smiled encouragingly but was too wise to +speak and Will advanced to the line. He perceived that three others were +with him in the heat, but Mott, whom he most feared, was not among the +number. That was a source of some consolation, and his hope increased +that he might at least win a place in the finals. + +As the pistol was fired, Will darted forward from the line, but in a +moment the runners were recalled and Will was penalized a yard for his +undue eagerness. Grimly he took his place this time a yard behind the +line and when the start was again made he sped down the track as if he +was possessed of the speed of the wind. Easily he was the first to touch +the tape, but when unmindful of the cheers of his classmates he turned +aside to don once more his bath robe, Wagner approached and shaking his +head, laughed as he said, "You forgot what I told you, freshman." + +"What was that?" + +"Not to run your best in the heat. You want something left for the +finals." + +"I couldn't help it," said Will grimly. "What was the time?" + +"Ten, two." + +Nothing more was said as they all turned to watch the runners in the +other heats. Mott with apparent ease won his, and Ogden won the third. +The final was to be run off between the three winners and Will stretched +himself upon the grass to gain such rest as he could obtain before the +supreme test arrived. + +Other events were now run off and a half-hour elapsed before the final +heat was called. "You'll get your place on the team anyway, Will," said +Foster encouragingly. + +"I'm not so sure of that." + +"I am. I heard Wagner say that three would be taken on the team for the +sprints, and even if you come in last you'll be sure of a place." + +"I don't know. I don't want to come in last." + +"Don't, then," laughed Foster as he reached forth his hand for his +room-mate's bath robe. Once more Will stood on the line and this time +there would be no "sneaking," he assured himself. Somehow the keenness +of his previous excitement was gone now and he was almost as calm as if +he had been a spectator and not a participant in the contest. He was +none the less resolved to do his utmost and when the pistol at last was +fired he leaped from the mark with every nerve and muscle tense. A +silence rested over all as the three runners came swiftly up the track. +Will could feel rather than see that he was ahead of Ogden, but Mott was +still in advance of him, and do what he might he did not seem to be able +to cut down that yard by which Mott was leading. Swiftly the racers sped +on and soon Will could see that the end of the course had almost been +gained. Only fifteen yards remained to be covered, and then by one +supreme effort Will called upon all his reserve powers and with what the +college paper afterward described as a "magnificent burst of speed," he +cut down Mott's lead and a moment later the two runners struck the tape +exactly together. + +A mighty shout arose from the assembled students and Foster and Hawley +both of whom were usually so self-contained ran out and threw their arms +about the neck of their classmate. The enthusiasm increased when the +time was announced as "ten, one." and Wagner came forward his face +beaming and his hand outstretched as he said: "You did it, freshman! I +knew you could, and I knew you would." + +Words of praise had never sounded sweeter in Will's ears. He had won a +place on the team and that coveted honor at least was his. + +His interest in the trials was mostly ended now and he returned to the +dressing rooms, where he donned his ordinary garb and then rejoined his +fellows. Their congratulations were sweet in his ears and the very +appearance of the beautiful valley to him seemed to have changed. He had +won and the stimulus of success was his. + +In the month that followed Will found himself excessively busy. He took +his meals now with the team at the training table and every day there +was work to be done on the track. And it was hard work too. But the +demands were almost forgotten in the elation which filled the heart of +the young student. His father's warm words of congratulation were prized +most of all, but Will felt that he did not require the caution which his +father gave him not to permit his success in athletics to interfere with +his work for the classroom. Even "Splinter's" demands had lost a part of +their unreasonableness, or so it seemed to Will, and even the detested +Greek could be mastered under the glow of success that was his. + +At last the eventful day arrived when the meet between the colleges was +to be held. Will had worked so hard and so faithfully that he was not +without hopes of winning some points for his college and he was aware +how much they were needed and how eager all the student body was that +the cup might come to Winthrop. Mott was the only one who had appeared +to be at all envious of him, but as Will had heard that the sophomore +had been careless in his training and there had been reports that Mott +and Peter John had been drinking heavily again, he felt that he could +well afford to ignore the slights. And in his heart he knew that he was +sincere when he declared to himself that if he could not win he heartily +wished that Mott might, for Winthrop would be the gainer in either +event. + +The team had been taken to the city where the meet was to be held, on +the day preceding the contest, and that night at the hotel Will +endeavored again to follow the advice of Wagner and secure a good sleep. +But his excitement and the novelty of his surroundings and thoughts of +the impending meet were too keen to be entirely overcome by the young +freshman, and on the following morning his heart was somewhat heavy and +his fears increased. + +When at last the hour arrived when the team, in a huge coach, was taken +to the field, a measure of calm had returned to him and as he looked out +over the great assembly his interest became intense. Students from the +various colleges had been assigned sections in the bleachers and +streamers and banners with the huge initial letter of the college +emblazoned upon them were much in evidence. The colors of the competing +colleges were also to be seen among the spectators and with shouts and +cheers and songs to be heard on every side Will felt that this was the +supreme moment of his life. He stood gazing at the inspiring sight until +he felt a touch on his shoulder that caused him quickly to turn about. + +"Why, pop!" he exclaimed delightedly as he perceived who it was that had +touched him. "I didn't have the remotest idea that you were here." + +"I had to come to see what my boy would do," replied Mr. Phelps quietly. + +"I'm afraid you won't see much." + +"I shall see him do his best, and that's worth the trip." + +"Come on, freshman!" interrupted Mott approaching. "It's time to dress." + +Will grasped his father's hand for a moment and then hastened to follow +the other members of the Winthrop team who were making their way to +their quarters. + +"Alden is going to win all the sprints," said Mott glumly while they +were dressing. + +"If they're the best runners they will," assented Will who despite his +eagerness was now in good spirits. + +"Wagner has figured it out and says if they do win the sprints they'll +take the cup." + +Will made no response though he knew that if Wagner had indeed said +that, then the college would look to Mott and to himself to do their +best. No praise would be too high if they should succeed, and no blame +too severe if they should fail. And his own determination and desire to +win for a moment faltered. What could he in his first great contest +hope to do? + +The appearance of the team on the field was greeted by a wild shout from +the Winthrop contingent. The team was cheered and every member of it +also was cheered by name. The entire scene was certainly inspiring and +Will's determination returned more strongly than before. The first event +was the four hundred and forty yard dash in which Alden received first +and Winthrop second. In the one hundred and twenty yard hurdles the +order was reversed, and so the record continued through the two-twenty, +the two-twenty hurdles, the eight hundred and eighty yards run. The +field events were also being carried out at the same time and with very +similar results. Alden was second in the shot put and Winthrop second in +the running high jump while neither scored in throwing the hammer nor in +the running broad jump. But again Winthrop was first in throwing the +discus, but Alden was first in the pole vault; and so the points scored +by each of the two rivals remained the same when at last came the trials +in the hundred yards dash, which as we know was the event in which Will +Phelps and Mott were entered. The color had fled from Will's face and he +was hardly conscious of the shouts or presence of the great assembly +when he advanced to the line, for he was to run in the first heat. +Thirty-two men were entered for the race and there were to be six heats, +only the winners in each to qualify for the finals. + +"You've nobody to fear here," whispered Wagner encouragingly. "Take it +easy." + +"I'll have to come in first if I get in the finals." + +"Yes, but you can do it all right." + +Wagner slipped back and the seven young men took their places on the +line. When the pistol was fired Will darted forward and held the lead +all the way, touching the tape first of all. + +Wagner again was there to receive him and as Will fell into his arms he +turned quickly and said. "What was the time?" + +"They'll announce it in a minute," replied Wagner compelling his friend +to don his robe. When the time was announced as "ten three," Will's +heart sank, but Wagner laughed gleefully as he said, "Good! That's the +way to do it. You've got some reserve left." + +Will Phelps was not so confident, but he turned eagerly to watch the +other contestants. Mott won his heat in ten two, each of two heats was +won by an Alden man in the same time, and the fifth heat was won by a +man from a smaller college of whom no one expected much and who was but +slightly feared. + +The mile run, the two mile run, and the half-mile were run off while the +sprinters were waiting for their finals and the excitement became +intense when it was known that the score of Winthrop and Alden was +exactly the same. Everything now depended upon the result of the finals +in the hundred yards dash. + +"Phelps, you _must_ get it!" whispered Wagner whose face was as pale as +that of the freshman. Will did not reply and at once took his place +beside his four competitors. + +"On your marks!" called the starter, and the silence that rested over +the field became intense. + +"Get set!" A sigh seemed to rise from the assembly and all were +standing. + +"Go!" The crack of the pistol was heard and instantly the runners were +speeding down the track. + +The day was warm and Will Phelps could feel that his face was as wet as +if he had plunged in the river. Never in all his young life had he +exerted himself as then. The tread of the running feet on the track +seemed almost like that of one man. On and on they sped, no one looking +to the right or left. Whether he was winning or not, Will was unable to +determine. He knew that all five were "bunched," for he could feel and +hear the others near him. The deafening shouts and the shrill calls and +cries sounded faint and dim in his ears. He could see the officials +standing near the end of the course--an end that seemed far away for all +that the runners were so swiftly approaching. + +Nearer and nearer the runners drew and the shouts increased in violence. +Every one in the assembly was standing erect and leaning forward, +breathless with interest. Fifteen, ten, then only five yards remained. +With one supreme effort Will darted ahead. He felt the tape, and not +knowing whether he had won or not he plunged into the outstretched arms +of Wagner. + +For a moment everything was dim about him and there was a sound as of a +roaring in his ears. Then above the din he heard the wild shout of the +Winthrop boys and he heard Wagner say, "The cup's ours, Phelps! We've +got it! We've won it!" + +"Was I first?" inquired Will simply. + +"No, second." + +"I don't see then. Who did win?" + +"Crafts from Tech was first and you were second and the Alden man +third," said Wagner hilariously. "You put us two points ahead of Alden! +You've won your 'W' and we've got the cup!" + +Before Will could respond a body of the Winthrop boys made a rush upon +him and lifting him upon their shoulders advanced to the middle of the +field followed by the entire body of their fellow-students. Then in +fantastic steps and winding column they marched about the field, singing +their college songs and uniting in their college yell for the team and +for Phelps again and again. The interested spectators stopped and +watched the proceedings until at last the team returned to their +dressing rooms and the day was done. + +On the return to Winthrop Will was seated beside his father, and as they +drew near the college town Mr. Phelps, who was not to stop, but was at +once going home, said: "Well, Will, what of the year? It's done now." + +"Yes," responded Will simply. "It's not been so bad." + +"What about the Greek?" + +"Oh, Splinter's not half-bad either," laughed Will. "I think I'll go +down and see him before I come home." + +"I should. And you're not sorry that you didn't give up to Greek?" + +"Not a bit." + +"And you think winning the 'hundred' to-day is worth it all?" + +"It isn't that. It's the feeling that I haven't given up. Of course I'm +glad to get my 'W' and I was mighty sorry not to get my numerals. But +this makes up for it. I'm glad I won out for myself and more for the +college. I tell you, pop, Winthrop is the best college in the world!" + +"And you wouldn't like to leave now?" + +"Leave? Well, I guess not!" + +"I hear that Peter John is not to come back," said Mr. Phelps soberly. + +"Why not?" + +"I can't say. I don't even know that he is not to return. I have heard +it, that's all; but I fancy you know more about it than I." + +Will was silent till the train was near Winthrop. "Well, Will," said his +father, breaking in, "I'm to leave you here. Do you want to know what I +value most in your year's work?" + +"What is it?" + +"That you've learned how to work. When a man learns that, much of the +problem of his life is solved. Some men run from hardness, some endure +it, and some overcome it." + +"It hasn't been so hard." + +Mr. Phelps smiled but all he said was, "Good-bye, Will, we'll look for +you soon at home. I think you've made a good investment this year." + +"In what?" inquired Will in surprise. + +But his father only smiled and grasped his son's hand for a moment and +soon the train pulled out from the little station; but as long as the +crowd of students, noisy, boisterous, happy, could be seen as they moved +up the street he watched them with shining eyes. Then as he resumed his +seat he thoughtfully said to himself, "Yes, Will has learned it. I did +not know for a time whether he would or not. But he has and I don't +think Splinter, or Mott, or Peter John, or anything, or any one can take +it away from him now." + +And he resumed the reading of his evening paper, while the noisy train +sped on bearing him farther and farther from Winthrop, but the Winthrop +college boy was nearer to him all the time. + +THE END + + + + +BOOKS FOR BOYS + + +THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SERIES + +H. IRVING HANCOCK + +These intensely active young men, known to their thousands of loyal +readers as Dick and Co., lead the vanguard in scholarship as well as in +athletic activities. A vigorous breezy spirit of outdoor life permeates +the entire series. + +THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN +THE HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER +THE HIGH SCHOOL LEFT END +THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM + + +THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VACATION SERIES + +H. IRVING HANCOCK + +Outdoor sports are the keynote of these four wonderful volumes. 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