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diff --git a/43796-0.txt b/43796-0.txt index fea23df..ffd33d1 100644 --- a/43796-0.txt +++ b/43796-0.txt @@ -1,35 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Fairfield's Schooldays, by Allen Chapman - -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: Tom Fairfield's Schooldays - or, The Chums of Elmwood Hall - -Author: Allen Chapman - -Release Date: September 22, 2013 [EBook #43796] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS *** - - - - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43796 *** [Illustration: WITH GLARING EYES HE MADE A RUSH FOR THE CROWD OF STUDENTS.] @@ -6409,359 +6378,4 @@ gridiron and diamond. 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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: Tom Fairfield's Schooldays - or, The Chums of Elmwood Hall - -Author: Allen Chapman - -Release Date: September 22, 2013 [EBook #43796] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS *** - - - - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - -[Illustration: WITH GLARING EYES HE MADE A RUSH FOR THE CROWD OF -STUDENTS.] - - - - - Tom Fairfield's - Schooldays - - Or - - The Chums of Elmwood Hall - - BY - - ALLEN CHAPMAN - - AUTHOR OF "TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA," "TOM FAIRFIELD IN - CAMP," "THE DAREWELL CHUMS SERIES," "THE - BOYS OF PLUCK SERIES," ETC. - - ILLUSTRATED - - NEW YORK - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - PUBLISHERS - - - - -BOOKS FOR BOYS - -BY ALLEN CHAPMAN - -=TOM FAIRFIELD SERIES= - -12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. - - TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS - Or, The Chums of Elmwood Hall - - TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA - Or, The Wreck of the _Silver Star_ - - TOM FAIRFIELD IN CAMP - Or, The Secret of the Old Mill - - TOM FAIRFIELD'S PLUCK AND LUCK - Or, Working to Clear His Name - - -=THE DAREWELL CHUMS SERIES= - -12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. - - THE DAREWELL CHUMS - THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN THE CITY - THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN THE WOODS - THE DAREWELL CHUMS ON A CRUISE - THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN A WINTER CAMP - - -=BOYS OF PLUCK SERIES= - -12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. - - THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT - TWO BOY PUBLISHERS - MAIL ORDER FRANK - A BUSINESS BOY'S PLUCK - THE YOUNG LAND AGENT - -CUPPLES & LEON CO. PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK - - Copyrighted 1913, by - Cupples & Leon Company - - Tom Fairfield's Schooldays - - Printed in U. S. A. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. TOM HEARS STRANGE NEWS 1 - II. THE DRIFTING BOAT 13 - III. OFF FOR ELMWOOD HALL 20 - IV. TOM MAKES AN ENEMY 27 - V. TOM FINDS A CHUM 39 - VI. AN ANGRY PROFESSOR 47 - VII. BRUCE IS WORRIED 55 - VIII. THE CALL OF THE PIGSKIN 62 - IX. TOM'S TOUCHDOWN 68 - X. A COWARD'S TRICK 78 - XI. A CLASS WARNING 87 - XII. A RUNAWAY ICEBOAT 98 - XIII. THE SKATING RACE 107 - XIV. WINNING AGAINST ODDS 113 - XV. MORE TROUBLE 119 - XVI. TOM'S DARING PROPOSAL 128 - XVII. DEFIANCE 135 - XVIII. THE STRIKE 144 - XIX. NEGOTIATIONS END 151 - XX. PRISONERS 157 - XXI. THE ESCAPE 168 - XXII. THE BURNING EFFIGY 177 - XXIII. TOM'S FIND 183 - XXIV. THE SAVING OF BRUCE 191 - XXV. A MISSING PROFESSOR 201 - - - - -TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS - - - - -CHAPTER I - -TOM HEARS STRANGE NEWS - - -"Hi, Tom, give us a ride in your boat; will you?" - -"Take us across to the other side of the river." - -The request and the suggestion came from two lads who were walking -toward a small boathouse, on the edge of a rather wide river. The youth -to whom they spoke looked up from a small motorboat, the engine of which -he was cleaning. - -"What do you want to go over to the other side of the river for, Dick -Jones?" asked Tom Fairfield, of the lad who had made that suggestion. - -"Got to go on an errand for dad, and it's too far to walk away around by -the bridge. Take me over, will you?" - -"I will if I can get this engine to run." - -"What's the matter with it?" asked Will Bennett, the companion of Dick -Jones. The two were chums, and friends of Tom Fairfield, all of them -living in the village of Briartown. Tom, whose parents were quite well -off, had recently bought a motorboat, not very large, but of sufficient -size to enable him to take out several of his chums. "What's the matter -with the engine?" asked Will again, as he and his chum walked out on the -small dock, at the end of which the motorboat was made fast. - -"Matter with it? What isn't the matter with it?" asked Tom in some -disgust. "The cylinder is flooded with oil, that's what's the matter, -and I don't know how many more things I'll find wrong before I get -through. It's all that Dent Wilcox's fault." - -"How's that?" asked Dick, as he and his chum watched Tom trying to drain -some of the lubricating oil out through a small valve. - -"Oh, I took Dent out for a ride last night, and as I was in a hurry to -get up to the house when I got back, I asked him to shut off the oil -cups. But it's like everything else he does--he's too lazy, almost, to -breathe. He didn't turn off the oil, and all that was in the cups ran -into the cylinder during the night. I've tried for the last half hour to -get the engine started, but she won't run." - -"That's too bad," spoke Will sympathetically. - -"I'll never trust Dent to do anything for me again," went on Tom. "I -ought to have seen to the oil cups myself, and I will next time. Wait -until I catch him!" - -"There he goes now!" exclaimed Dick, pointing to a lad crossing a field -some distance away. "Shall I run and tell him you want to see him?" - -"No, it isn't worth while," replied Tom. "Besides, he's so lazy he -wouldn't walk down here. But I'll talk to him like a Dutch Uncle when I -do see him. Now let's see if the engine will work. If it does, I'll give -you fellows a ride." - -Once more Tom turned the flywheel over several times, but, though the -engine coughed, wheezed and spluttered, as though in apology at having -such poor health, it did not start. - -"Say, you haven't got your forward switch on!" suddenly exclaimed Will. -"There's no spark." - -"No wonder!" cried Tom. "I remember now, I had it on, and then, as I -didn't want to get a shock when I was cleaning the spark plug, I shut -it off. Then I forgot to put it on again. Hop in, and close the switch, -Will, and then maybe we can start. I guess most of the oil is out, now." - -The two chums got in the boat, and Will, making his way forward, closed -the connection. Then Tom, who had remained near the motor, again turned -over the flywheel. This time there was an explosion, and the engine -worked rapidly. The propeller churned the water, and the painter -strained as the boat moved forward. - -"Hurray!" cheered Dick. - -"That's the stuff!" exclaimed Will, at the prospect of a ride. - -"Yes, I guess it's all right now," assented Tom. He shut off the engine -by pulling out a switch near it, and added: "Wait until I get some more -oil from the boathouse, and I'll be with you." - -As Tom started up the dock toward the little building, which he had -built, with the help of his chums, to house his boat, he saw, coming -along the road that ran near the river, a young man in a small auto -runabout. The youth was well dressed, but on his face was a look of -sadness and worry, in contrast, Tom thought, to the cheerful expression -he should have worn. - -"If I had a natty little car like that, I wouldn't look so glum," -reasoned Tom, as he opened the boathouse door. The runabout came nearer, -and the lone occupant of it, bringing it to a stop opposite Tom, called -out: - -"Is there any place around here where I can hire a boat for a row of an -hour or so?" - -"Not near here," replied Tom. - -The young man's eyes rested on Tom's own trim rowing craft. - -"Is that one to hire?" he asked, nodding toward it. - -"No," replied our hero. "But if you'd like to take it I've no objections. -I've got a motorboat, and, if you like, I'll take you for a ride in that. -Did you want to go anywhere in particular?" - -"No, I just want to get off by myself, and worry over my troubles," and -the newcomer laughed, but the laugh had no merriment in it. - -"Troubles?" questioned Tom, now that the other had given him an opening. -"You don't look as if you had troubles." - -"Well, I have--lots of 'em. I've acted like a blamed chump, and now -I've got to pay the piper. A man is trying to make trouble for me, and -I guess he'll succeed, all right. I'm too easy, that's the trouble. But -I'm not going to bother you with my woes." - -"Do you want to come for a ride with me?" asked Tom. "I'm going to take -a couple of friends across the river." - -"No, thank you. I don't want to seem stiff, but really I'd be better off -by myself for a time. So, if you really mean it, and will lend me your -boat, I'll go for a row alone. I was out on a little country run--I live -in Camden--and when I saw this river, looking so calm and peaceful, I -just felt as though I'd like to row on it, and forget my troubles." - -"You may take the boat, and welcome," went on Tom, looking at the -other, and forming a liking for him at once. - -"Thanks. My name is Bennington--Bruce Bennington. I haven't a card, or -I'd give you one." - -"My name's Tom Fairfield," spoke our hero, and the two shook hands. - -"Know how to row?" asked Tom, as the newcomer started toward where the -small boat was moored. - -"Yes, I'm on the crew at Elmwood Hall. I'm a senior there," Bruce -explained. - -"Oh!" exclaimed Tom, for he had often heard of that place of learning. -"That's quite a school," he added. "I've often wished I could go there." - -"Yes, it's quite a place," admitted Bruce Bennington. "And we have a -pretty fair crew. You won't want your boat right away?" - -"No. And the reason I asked if you could row was because there are some -stiff currents in the river. You're welcome to come in the motorboat if -you like, though it isn't much of a craft." - -"No, thank you, I'd rather row off by myself, and do some good hard -thinking. I've got to go back to school as soon as the fall term opens, -which will be in about two weeks, and I'd like to find a way out of my -troubles before then, if I can." - -"It's too bad," spoke Tom sympathetically, for he had, somehow, come -to form a strange and sudden liking for this lad. Tom looked into the -other's frank and pleasant face, and really wished he could help him. - -"Well, I guess I'll have to squirm out of it the best I can," went on -Bruce. "A good row, and a rest in the cool shadows, will calm me down, -maybe, and I'll try to make some plans before I have to get back to the -grind. I'll take good care of your boat." - -By the manner in which he entered it, and took up the oars, Tom saw that -Bruce knew how to handle the craft. The auto runabout had been left near -the dock, and a little later the senior was sculling down the stream. - -"Who was that?" asked Tom's chums, as he rejoined them. - -He explained briefly, as he filled the empty oil cups, and soon he and -the two lads were puffing across the river in the motorboat. The rowing -craft had disappeared around a bend in the stream. - -"Troubles, eh?" mused Will. "I don't believe I'd let much trouble me if -I went to a cracker-jack school like Elmwood Hall, and had a runabout -like that." - -"Me either," added Dick. - -"Well, you never can tell," spoke Tom, as he thought of the sad look -on the senior's face--a look that had returned several times during the -talk, in spite of the frequent smiles. "He seems like a nice sort of -chap." - -"Did he say what his trouble was?" asked Will. - -"No, and I didn't ask him. Said some man had it in for him. Look out -where you're steering, Dick." - -"Why, what's the matter?" asked Dick, who had requested Tom to let him -take the wheel for a time. - -"There's a big rock somewhere out here," went on the owner of the -motorboat. "I must mark it with a buoy, or I'll hit it myself some -night. Keep more to the left." - -Dick spun the wheel over, and the boys rode on, talking of many things. - -"Where do you think you'll go to school this fall?" asked Will of Tom. - -"Oh, back to the Academy, I suppose." - -"Why, you graduated from there in June!" - -"I know I did, but there's going to be a post-graduate class formed, I -hear. Going to take up first year college work, and dad talks of sending -me. I wish I could go to Elmwood Hall, though, or some place like that." - -"So do I!" cried Will. - -"Boarding school's the place!" affirmed Dick, with energy. "I'd like to -go to one." - -They had reached the other side of the river now and Dick Jones, who had -been sent by his father to take a message to a lumberman, started off -on his errand, Will and Tom promising to wait for him in the motorboat. -When Dick returned on the run, Tom yielded to the request of the two -lads, and took them for a run up the stream. - -"That is, unless you have something to do, Tom," spoke Will. - -"No, I'm going to have all the fun I can before school opens, that's -all. And it will do the engine good to run a bit and get rid of the oil -that chump Dent let run in." - -The boys were out in the motorboat for about two hours, and, on nearing -the dock on the return trip, Dick remarked: - -"That fellow's auto is gone." - -"Is my boat there?" asked Tom, who was tinkering with the motor of his -craft. - -"Yes," replied Will, who was steering. - -"All right; I guess that fellow got tired of rowing, or maybe he thought -of a way out of his troubles, and came in." - -When Tom had made fast his motorboat, he went to the rowing craft to -see if it was in good condition. He saw a piece of paper on one of the -seats, held down by a little stone. Picking it up he read: - - "Many thanks for the use of your boat. I had a fine row, and - I feel better, though I'm as much up a tree as ever. I hope - to see you again, sometime. If ever you are near Elmwood Hall, - look me up. - - "BRUCE BENNINGTON." - -"That was nice of him," remarked Will, as Tom showed him the note. - -"And he didn't damage your boat any," spoke Dick. - -"No, he knows how to handle 'em--he rows on the Elmwood Hall crew," said -Tom. "Well, so long, fellows. I'm going for a long run to-morrow, if -you'd like to come." - -"Sure!" they chorused. - -But Tom was not destined to take that long run on the morrow, for, when -he reached his home, not far from the river, he heard strange tidings, -that made quite a difference in his plans. - -As Tom entered the house he saw his father holding a letter, that he had -evidently been reading to his wife, and discussing with her. There was a -look of concern on the faces of Mr. and Mrs. Brokaw Fairfield. - -"What's the matter?" asked Tom, quickly. "Any bad news?" - -"No, not exactly bad news, Tom," replied his father. "But it is news, -and it's going to make quite a difference to us--to you also." - -"What is it?" - -"You remember that property in Australia, Tom, which was left to me by -an uncle; don't you?" asked Mr. Fairfield. - -"Yes," replied our hero, for he had often heard the inheritance -mentioned. "What about it?" - -"Well, I've been trying to dispose of it, and have the money from -the sale sent to me here, but it seems that some trouble has arisen, -and I've got to go there to straighten it out. I tried to do it by -correspondence, but I have just received a letter from a lawyer in -Sydney, saying that my personal presence is needed, or I may lose it -all. So--" - -"Your father and I have decided to go to Australia!" suddenly broke in -Mrs. Fairfield, anxious to get the worst over. "Oh, Tom, I don't want to -go at all, and leave you behind, but I've got to!" - -"What!" cried Tom. "Can't I go? You two going to Australia, and leaving -me alone here? Oh, say, now--" - -"Wait, Tom," cautioned his father with a smile, "we're not going to -leave you alone, exactly. Besides, there is your education to think of, -and we may be gone for many months." - -"Oh, but I say--" began Tom again. - -"Now, dear son," began his mother in a gentle voice, "we have it all -planned out for you. You are to go to boarding school while we are away." - -"Boarding school!" Tom's eyes began to sparkle. After all, this might be -as good as going to Australia. - -"Yes," said his father, "and we have picked out--" - -"Elmwood Hall!" broke in Mrs. Fairfield, unable to let her husband tell -all the news. - -"Elmwood Hall!" cried Tom, thinking of the note in his pocket from Bruce -Bennington. - -"Yes," spoke Mr. Fairfield, "though if you'd rather go to some other -place it may be arranged. But your mother and I picked out Elmwood Hall, -and--" - -"Elmwood Hall!" cried Tom again. "Say, that's all right. I'm satisfied! -That beats Australia. When are you going? When can I start for Elmwood? -Have you got a catalog from there? Say, I've got something to tell you!" -and Tom, overcoming a desire to stand on his head, pulled out the note -Bruce had left in his boat. - -"Elmwood Hall!" exclaimed Tom again. "This is the best ever!" - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE DRIFTING BOAT - - -"What makes you so enthusiastic about Elmwood Hall, Tom?" asked Mr. -Fairfield, when his son had somewhat calmed down. "I didn't know you -knew much about it." - -"I don't except what I've heard and read, but it just happens that I -met a fellow from there to-day." And Tom told of his talk with Bruce -Bennington, showing his parents the letter. - -"Hum, that is rather odd," spoke Mr. Fairfield. "I wonder what his -trouble could have been? Bennington--Bennington. I've heard that name -before. Oh, I know; Mr. Bennington is a millionaire manufacturer. That -must be his son, though if he's in trouble I should think Mr. Bennington -would help him out." - -"Maybe it isn't money," spoke Tom. "But, anyhow, I'm glad I'm going to -Elmwood, and maybe I'll get chummy with Bruce Bennington, though there's -not much chance, for he's a Senior, and I'll be a Freshman." - -"I hope, if you can, that you'll help him," said Mrs. Fairfield. "And -oh, Tom, do you think they'll haze you?" - -"If they do, I guess I can stand it," replied her son. "Everyone has -to be hazed. I won't mind. But now tell me something about going to -Australia." - -"It's going to be quite a trip," said Mr. Fairfield, "and one I wish I -could get out of, but I can't. We'll start as soon as we can, Tom. We're -to go to San Francisco by train, and take a steamer there. I'll write at -once, and make arrangements for you to go to Elmwood Hall. Your mother -will see to getting what clothes you need. Here is a catalog of the -school." - -Tom eagerly looked the pamphlet over, while his father went to his -library to write some letters and Mrs. Fairfield, not without some -misgivings as to what might happen to Tom at boarding school, or to -herself and her husband on their long trip, went to look over her son's -wardrobe. - -As I have explained, Mr. Fairfield was quite well off, and had the -prospect of more wealth. He did not care to lose his Australian -inheritance, and, though the journey meant some trouble for him, in that -it would complicate his business affairs at home, he decided to make it. -He had long promised his wife a trip abroad and now was the chance for -it, as they intended to come home by way of Europe. - -Tom Fairfield was a tall, well built youth, fond of all out-doors -sports, and about as lively a lad as you would care to meet. - -He had lived in Briartown all his life, though he had traveled -extensively with his father and mother, and knew considerable of the -world. He was an only son, a sister having died when a little girl. - -Tom had many friends in the village, where his father's silk factory -was located, and our hero took part in the scenes and activities of -the place. He had attended the Academy there, and was one of the best -football and baseball players. He always had a liking for the water, -and since getting his motorboat, had been on Pine river more often than -ever. He had tried to get up a crew at the Academy, but could not seem -to interest enough boys, or get them to subscribe the necessary funds. - -Tom had one or two enemies, too, chiefly because he would not let them -bully him, but they did not worry him, for any lad of spirit is as -likely to have enemies as friends, and Tom had plenty of the latter. - -"Jove! To think that I'm really going to Elmwood Hall!" Tom whispered -to himself, as he leafed over the catalog, and looked at the pictures -of the various buildings. "That'll be great! I wish I knew some of the -fellows who were going there, but I guess I can soon get acquainted. I -wonder if I can pass the entrance examinations?" - -He looked at the requirements for the Freshman class, and noted that -there was no study but what he had had at the Academy. - -"I guess I can do it," he said. - -There were soon busy days in the Fairfield household. - -Besides making arrangements for the voyage, and getting their business -affairs in shape to leave, Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield had to arrange for -Tom's stay at Elmwood. This was done by correspondence and, about a week -after Tom had heard the news, he went to the school to take the entrance -examinations. He met a few lads in like case, all rather miserable, and -Tom felt a feeling of pride as he walked about the campus, and thought -that soon he would be a student there. - -"That is, if I pass," he mused. "That Latin exam. was a bit stiff, and -so were the maths. Maybe the others will be easier. I hope so, anyhow." - -Tom's hopes were realized, for on the second day--the test extending -over that time--he had no difficulty in answering the entrance -questions. Then he went back home, to receive, a few days later, word -that he had passed, and would be admitted to the Freshman class. - -"Wow!" he cried, as he read the formal announcement. "That's great! I'm -going to tell the boys!" - -He rushed off to find Dick and Will, his most particular chums. But, on -visiting their houses, he was informed that they had gone fishing on the -river. - -"I'll find 'em," he said. "I know the fishing hole. I'll go down in my -motorboat." - -He hurried back to the dock, and, as he reached a point where he could -look down to it, he uttered an exclamation of dismay. - -"My motorboat!" he cried. "It's gone! Some one has it! If it's stolen--" - -He broke into a run, and as he had a good view of the river he saw his -boat out in the middle of the stream. - -"Well, of all the nerve!" he cried. "Dent Wilcox has taken my boat -without asking me. I'll fix him!" - -Then he noticed that the boat was not running under her own power, but -was drifting down stream. - -"Hi there, Dent! What's the matter with you?" Tom cried. "What did you -take my boat for? Why don't you start up and run her back here?" - -The lazy lad addressed looked up from what was evidently a contemplation -of the stalled engine. - -"Start her going!" cried Tom. "Start the engine, or you'll be on the -rocks!" - -"I can't," yelled back Dent. "She's stopped." - -"Crank her," ordered Tom. "Turn the flywheel over!" - -Dent did so, but in such a lazy and slow fashion that even from shore -Tom could see that the lad was not exerting himself enough. The wheel -needed a vigorous turn. - -"Oh, put some muscle into it!" cried Tom. "You'll never get her going -that way!" - -"I've tried three or four times, and she won't go," retorted Dent, -leaning back against the gunwale, and looking at the engine, as though a -mere glance would set it going. - -"Keep on trying!" cried Tom. "Don't you see where you're going? You'll -be on the rocks in five minutes more! Can't you even steer? Next time -you take my boat I'll wallop you good!" - -"I didn't think you'd care," came the answer over the stretch of water. - -"Well, I do. Now you crank up!" - -Dent Wilcox tried again, but his inherent laziness was against him, -and nothing resulted. The boat was in the grip of the current, and was -rapidly drifting toward the dangerous rocks. - -"By Jove! He'll wreck my boat!" thought Tom. "Say!" he cried desperately, -"can't you get that engine going somehow, and avoid the rocks?" - -"I guess there's no gasolene," retorted Dent. - -"Yes, there is, the tank's full." - -"Then the batteries have given out." - -"Can't be. They're new. Oh, you big chump, to take out my boat when you -don't know how to run her!" and Tom looked at his drifting craft in -despair. - -"Can't you come out and get me?" suggested Dent, as he looked helplessly -at the engine. - -"Well, of all the nerve!" cried Tom. "But I'll have to, I guess, if I -want to save my boat!" - -He hurriedly cast off his rowing craft, jumped in, and was soon pulling -out toward the drifting motorboat. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -OFF FOR ELMWOOD HALL - - -"Talk about lazy fellows!" murmured Tom, as he bent to his oars, "that -Dent Wilcox certainly is the limit. He's too lazy to row, so he borrows -my motorboat. Then he's too lazy to learn how to crank the engine, and -too lazy to turn the flywheel over hard enough. It's a wonder he ever -got started, and when he does get going he doesn't take enough pains to -look out where he's steering. If he wrecks my boat I'll make him pay for -her." - -Tom cast a glance over his shoulder toward his craft, and the sight of -the boat nearer the rocks made him row faster than ever. - -"Why don't you try to steer, or crank her?" he yelled to Dent. - -"What's the use?" asked the lazy lad indifferently. - -"Use? Lots of use? Do you want to go on the rocks?" - -"No, not exactly," spoke Dent, and his voice was quicker than his usual -slow tones, as he saw his danger. "But you'll be here in a minute, and -you can run things." - -"Yes, that's just like you," retorted Tom. "You want someone else to do -the work, while you sit around. But I'll make you row back, and pull the -boat too, if I can't get her going." - -"Oh, Tom, I never could pull this boat back." - -"You'll have to," declared our hero grimly, "that is if the engine won't -run. Stand by now, to catch my painter." - -Dent stood up in the stern of the drifting motorboat, and prepared to -catch the line Tom was about to throw to him. Tom was near enough to his -motorcraft now so that the headway and the current of the river would -carry him to her. - -"I hope I can get that engine going," he remarked to himself, as he saw -how dangerously near he was to the rocks. - -"Catch!" he cried to Dent, throwing the end of his line aboard, and -Dent, forgetting his usual lazy habits, made a quick grab for the -painter. He reached it, took a turn around a cleat, and in another -moment Tom was aboard. - -"Pull my rowboat closer up," he ordered Dent. "I'm going to have a try -at the motor, and if she doesn't go, we'll have to row out of danger." - -He gave a quick look at the engine, and then cried: - -"Well, you're a dandy!" - -"What's the matter?" - -"You didn't have the gasolene turned on." - -"I did so. Else how could I have run out from the dock?" - -"With what was in the carbureter, of course. But when that was used -up, you didn't get any more from the tank. You're a peach to run a -motorboat! Don't you ever take mine out again!" - -"I won't," murmured Dent, thoroughly ashamed of himself. - -With a quick motion Tom turned on the gasolene, saw that the switches -were connected, and, with a turn of the flywheel, he had the motor -chugging away a second later. - -"There you are!" he exclaimed, as he sprang to the steering wheel. - -"Glad I don't have to pull in," said Dent, thinking of the work he had -escaped. - -"Well, it was a narrow squeak," said Tom, as he steered out of the way -of the rocks, and then sent his boat around in a graceful curve. - -"How'd you come to take my boat?" asked our hero, when he had a chance -to collect his thoughts. - -"Oh, I just strolled down to the dock, and saw it there. I heard you -were out of town--taking the Elmwood Hall examination--and I thought you -wouldn't mind." - -"I did take the exams., and I passed," spoke Tom, his pride in this -rather making him forgive Dent now. "I'll soon be going there to -school, and I'll have swell times. I came down to tell Dick and Will -that I just got word that I'm to enter the Freshman class, when I saw -you had my boat. You want to be more careful after this." - -"I will," promised the lazy lad, as he settled himself comfortably on -the cushioned seats, and watched Tom steer. The latter, after running -ashore, and tying up his rowboat, started for the fishing hole, -intending to look for his chums. - -"Can't I come along?" asked Dent, who had not offered to get out, nor -help Tom tie his boat. "Take me along," he pleaded. "If you go to school -I won't get any more rides." - -"Well, you have got nerve!" laughed Tom, and yet he felt so elated at -the prospect before him that he did not seriously protest. "First you -take my boat without permission, then you nearly wreck her, and next -you want to have an additional ride. You have your nerve with you, all -right." - -"Might as well," spoke Dent, lazily, as he lolled back on the cushions. -"If you don't ask for things in this world you won't get much." - -"I guess that's right," agreed Tom. "You've got more sense than I gave -you credit for. But crank that motor now. Let's see if you can get it -going. You'll have to work your passage, if you come with me on this -voyage." - -Dent turned the flywheel over, and after a few attempts he did succeed -in getting the engine to go. Then Tom steered down to the fishing hole. -Dick and Will saw him coming, and called and waved their welcome. - -"Any luck?" asked Tom, as he ran his boat close to shore. - -"Pretty fair. Did you hear from Elmwood?" asked Dick. - -"Yes, just got word, and I passed. I'll soon be a Freshman. I wish you -fellows were coming along. Come on, get in, and I'll tell you all about -it. You've got fish enough." - -His chums were glad enough to ride back, and soon, with their fish, they -were in the motorboat. While Tom was showing them his letter from the -school, Dent managed, by a great effort, to steer properly. - -"How soon are you going there?" asked Will. - -"In about a week. I hope I make some friends there. I'm going to look up -that Senior, Bennington. He told me to." - -Talking with his chums of the prospects before him, Tom was soon at his -dock again, and this time he locked his boat fast so that Dent could not -take it without permission. - -"I'm going to let you two fellows run it while I'm at Elmwood," he said -to Dick and Will, much to their delight. - -The days that followed were busy ones. Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield had much -to do, and as for Tom, he had, or imagined he had, so much to take with -him, that he thought he would need three trunks at least. But his mother -sorted out his clothes, and reduced the number of his other possessions, -so that one trunk and a valise sufficed. - -In the meanwhile arrangements were made for Tom's father and mother to -sail for Australia. Their railroad tickets had been bought, and passage -engaged on the steamer _Elberon_, which was to sail from San Francisco. - -"I'm giving you enough money to last you for the term, Tom, I think," -said his father. "I want you to have everything you need, but don't -be wasteful. I will also leave a further sum in the bank here to your -credit, and you will have a check book. But I want you to give me an -account of your expenditures." - -Tom promised, and felt rather proud to have a bank account, as well as -go to a preparatory boarding school. His chums in Briartown envied him -more than ever. - -At last the day for Tom to start came. His parents were to leave two -days later, closing up their house for the fall, for it was early in -September. - -Good-byes were said, Tom's chums came in numbers to see him off, -and with rather a tearful farewell of his father and mother our hero -started for school, or rather, college, since Elmwood ranked with upper -institutions of learning in conferring degrees. - -"Be sure and write," begged Tom's mother. - -"I will," he said. "And you write, too." - -"Of course," his mother assured him. - -The train pulled in, Tom got aboard, and at last he felt that he was -really off. He waved his last good-byes, and could not help feeling a -little lonesome even though so many pleasures lay before him. - -As he took his seat, while his chums cheered and shouted "Rah, Rah, -Elmwood!" after him, Tom was aware that a lad across the aisle was -regarding him curiously. - -This lad was of athletic build. He had red hair, and a pleasant, smiling -face. - -"Are you going to Elmwood Hall?" he asked Tom. - -"Yes," was the answer. "Do you go there?" and then Tom saw that he need -not have asked, since he saw the pin of the college on the other's coat. - -"I do, Burke's my name--Reddy Burke they all call me. I'm beginning my -third year there. Come over and sit with me, and we'll have a talk. -Elmwood boys ought to be friendly." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -TOM MAKES AN ENEMY - - -Tom crossed the aisle of the lurching car, and was soon sitting beside -the red-haired youth who had made such friendly advances. - -"How did you know I was going to Elmwood?" asked our hero, as a sort of -opening. - -"Easy enough. You've got the air of a fellow going to college for the -first time sticking out all over you. Oh, no offense!" exclaimed Reddy -Burke as he saw Tom's start. "It's an honor to start at Elmwood Hall. -Lots of fellows would like to, but can't. I spotted you for a Freshman -right off the bat." - -"I suppose I do look a bit green," admitted Tom, with a smile. - -"Oh, no more so than usual. Then, too, I heard your friends giving an -imitation of the Elmwood yell, and that told me all I wanted to know. -I'm glad to meet you. I hope I see more of you when we strike the -school. Term opens to-morrow and next day you know, and there'll be no -end of fellows there. Opening day generally lasts a week. I thought I'd -go down a day early, and get settled in my room." - -"That was my idea," confessed Tom. - -"Where are you going to put up?" - -"I've got a room in Opus Manor. That seemed a nice place, and I picked -it out when I came down for the entrance exams.," replied Tom. - -"It is nice," admitted Reddy Burke. "It's where all the Freshmen like -to get, but usually it's so crowded that you have to go on the waiting -list. You're in luck, Fairfield." - -"Glad you think so. Where do you room?" - -"Oh, I put up with the rest of our crowd at the Ball and Bat. That's our -fraternity house you know." - -"Yes, I noticed it when I was down before. It's a beaut place, all -right." - -"Pretty fair. We have some good times there. You must come to some of -the blowouts. I'll send you a card when we get settled, and you know the -ropes." - -"Thanks," replied Tom gratefully. "And now tell me all about Elmwood -Hall." - -"Oh land! It would take a week!" exclaimed the red-haired athlete. -"There's lots to tell about it, but I guess you know the history of it -as well as I do, if you've seen a catalog." - -"Yes, but I mean tell me something about the fellows, and the -professors." - -"Well, the professors are no better nor worse than at other colleges, -I suppose," spoke Reddy, with something like a sigh. "They all seem -to have exaggerated notions about the value of Greek, Latin and -mathematics, though I'll be hanged if I like 'em. Baseball and football -for mine, though I suppose if I'm ever to become a lawyer, which dad -seems to think I'm cut out for, I'll have to buckle down sooner or -later, and assimilate some of that dry stuff. It's time I begin, I -reckon." - -"I should think so--if you're in your Junior year," spoke Tom with a -laugh. - -"That's right. Oh, I have done some boning, and I haven't cut lectures -any more than the rest of the team did. You simply _have_ to cut some -if you play all the games, and I didn't miss any contests, you can make -up your mind to that. Most all of us at the Ball and Bat play either on -the diamond, or gridiron, or row on the crew. I say though, maybe you're -that way yourself?" and Reddy looked questioningly at our hero. - -"Well," admitted Tom, modestly, "I can row a bit, and I like baseball. -I've never played football much. I wasn't quite heavy enough for the -team at our Academy." - -"You look husky enough," spoke Reddy, casting a critical pair of blue -eyes over his seatmate. "You ought to try for the eleven down at -Elmwood." - -"Maybe I will. Think I'd have a chance?" - -"It's too early to say, but have a try, anyhow." - -"Are any of the professors very savage?" asked Tom. - -"Only so-so. Doctor Pliny Meredith is head master, I suppose you know." - -"Yes. How is he?" - -"As full of learning as a crab is of meat in the middle of August, but -he's not very jolly. Rather stand-offish, and distant, though sometimes -he warms up. We call him 'Merry' because he's usually so glum. But he's -fair, and he thinks Elmwood Hall the greatest institution ever. To him -a fellow's word is as good as his bond. It all goes on the honor system -there. No profs. at the exams., you know, and all that. You have to be a -gentleman at Elmwood." - -"Do the fellows live up to it?" asked Tom. - -"Pretty much. There are one or two a little off color, of course. But -any fellow who would lie to Merry wouldn't stay long at Elmwood if the -fellows got on to it. - -"Then, the rest of the profs. are about like the average, except that I -don't mind admitting that Burton Skeel is a regular grinder, and as mean -as they make 'em. He's the Latin taskmaster and maybe that's why I hate -it so." - -"Aren't there any jolly professors?" asked Tom, beginning to think that -perhaps, after all, he wasn't going to like it at Elmwood as much as he -had hoped. - -"Oh, bless you, yes!" exclaimed Reddy. "I was almost forgetting Live -Wire. That would never do." - -"Live Wire? Who's he?" - -"Professor Livingston Hammond. He's fat and jolly and he almost makes -you like trigonometry, which is saying a lot, and, as for solid -geometry, and conic sections, well, if anybody can make them look like -the comic sheet of a Sunday newspaper it's the Live Wire. You'll like -him; all the fellows do. But he won't stand for any nonsense. You've got -to come 'prepared,' or he'll turn you back to make it up after class." - -"I like maths.," admitted Tom. - -"Then you and the Live Wire will be friends and brothers, I guess," -predicted Reddy. - -"Tell me something about the fellows," suggested Tom. "I know one -Senior, slightly." - -"You do? How'd you make his acquaintance?" - -"He's Bruce Bennington," replied our hero, as he told of the manner of -their first meeting. - -"That's odd," commented Reddy. "Bruce is one of the nicest chaps in -college. 'Easy Money Bennington' we call him, 'Easy' for short, though. -He's a good spender, and his own worst enemy." - -"How's that?" asked Tom. "I could see that something was troubling him -the day I met him, but he wouldn't say what it was." - -"No, that's his way," spoke the red-haired athlete. "I mean that he's -impulsive. He'd do anything for a friend, or an enemy too, for that -matter, and that often gets him into trouble. He doesn't stop to think, -but he's got a host of friends, and everybody likes him, even old Skeel -I guess, for I've seen 'em together lots of times." - -"I wonder what his special trouble is now?" speculated Tom. - -"Give it up. Bruce will never tell until it's settled. He's proud--won't -take help from any one if he can help it. So you know him?" - -"Well, I hardly can say I know him. He may not want to keep up the -acquaintance down here," spoke Tom. - -"Oh, yes he will. Bruce isn't that kind. Once he meets you he's always -friendly, and, if he takes a notion to you, why you couldn't have a -better friend." - -Tom was glad to hear this, and he felt a warm spot in his heart for the -somewhat unhappy Senior. He resolved to find out his trouble, if he -could, and help him if it were possible. - -"Of course there are some mean and undesirable chaps at Elmwood," -admitted Reddy. "Just as there are anywhere, I guess, only I wouldn't -want to name any of 'em. You'll find out who they are, soon enough. But -you just play straight and they'll soon let you alone. They may try to -pick a quarrel, and there are a few who are always trying to get up a -mill. Do you fight?" - -"I box a little," admitted Tom. - -"Good, then you can take care of yourself if it comes to a scrap, I -suppose. But don't get into a fight if you can help it. Not that I mean -to run away, but it's against the rules to fight, and you don't want to -be suspended, though there are more or less mills pulled off every term." - -"I'll fight if I have to; not otherwise," spoke Tom, quietly. - -"Good. Say, you'll think I'm trying to put it all over you, and do the -big brother act with such advice; won't you?" - -"Not a bit of it," replied Tom, stoutly. "I'm glad to have you give me -points." - -"All right then. I guess you'll do. We've got one funny character at the -school--Demosthenes Miller." - -"A student?" - -"Land no. He's our educated janitor. He's always around with a copy of -the classics, or some book on maths., and if he sees you getting at all -friendly he'll ask you to help him translate a passage, or work out a -problem. He says he might as well be getting an education on the side -as long as he's at college. He's good fun, but rather tiresome at times. -Demy, we call him." - -"He must be odd," agreed Tom. - -"There! I guess I've told you all I know," spoke Reddy, with a laugh. -"The rest you'll find out after you've been at the school a few days. -Now tell me something about yourself." - -Which Tom did, mentioning about his father and mother going to Australia. - -"That's a trip I'd like to take," said Reddy. "Cracky, what sport! I -love travel." - -The lads talked on various topics as the train sped along. They were -nearing Elmwood Hall, which was located in the town of the same name, on -the Ware river. Several other lads, whom Reddy pointed out to Tom as old -or new students, had meanwhile boarded the train. A number greeted Tom's -seatmate as an old friend and our hero was introduced to them. They -greeted him nicely enough, but talked to Reddy. - -Soon the latter was deep in conversation about the chances for a good -football season, and Tom did not like to break in, but listened with all -his might. - -"Here we are, Fairfield," said Reddy Burke, at length. "Get your grip, -and I'll show you the way to the Hall. Oh, I forgot, you've been here -before, though." - -"Yes, I can find my way up well enough," spoke Tom. "Don't let me hold -you back." - -"All right then. I'll see you later. There's Hen Mattock up ahead. He -was football captain last year. I want to talk to him, so I'll just -run on. See you again!" and with that Reddy rushed off, to clap on the -shoulder a tall, well-built lad, who looked every inch an athlete. Tom -gathered up his belongings, gave his trunk check to an expressman, and -headed for Opus Manor. - -This residence, or dormitory, was one of the school buildings, located -not far away from the main hall and was "within bounds," so that -the Freshmen, did they wish to spend an evening in town, had to get -permission, or else "run the guard," a proceeding fraught with some -danger, carrying with detection a penalty more or less severe. It was -the aim of the school proctor, Mr. Frederick Porter, to thus keep watch -and ward over the first year students. - -The others were allowed more liberty, or at least they took it, for many -of them lived in fraternity houses, and some Seniors boarded in private -families in town. Most of the Seniors, however, dwelt in a house near -the Hall. It was called Elmwood Castle, and Tom looked longingly at it -as he passed on his way to his own more humble, and less distinctive, -dormitory. - -As Tom was ascending the steps, intending to report to the monitor -in charge, and also seek out the matron, he became aware of a student -standing on the topmost platform, looking down at him. Beside him was -another lad, and, as our hero came up, one shoved the other against Tom, -jostling him severely. - -Instantly Tom flared up. He could see that it was done intentionally. -His face flushed. - -"What do you mean?" he asked quickly. - -"Whatever you like to think," was the reply of the student whom Tom had -first noticed. - -"Well, I think I don't like it," retorted Tom quickly. - -"You'll have to get used to it then; won't he, Nick?" and the lad who -had done the shoving appealed to his companion, with a sneering laugh. - -"That's what he will, Sam." - -"I won't then!" exclaimed Tom, "and the sooner you realize that the -better." - -"Oh ho! So that's the kind of talk, eh?" sneered the one called Sam. -"What's your name, Fresh?" - -"Fairfield--Tom Fairfield--Fresh!" retorted Tom, for he could see by the -other's cap that he, too, was a first year lad. - -"Well mine's Heller--Sam Heller, Capital 'S' and capital 'H,' and don't -forget it. This must be the fellow who's got my room, Nick," he added. - -"Probably," replied Sam Heller's crony, who was Nick Johnson. "Yes, -that was the name the monitor mentioned, come to think of it." - -"How have I your room?" asked Tom. - -"Because you have. I had the room last year, and I told 'em to save it -for me this term. But you came along and snatched it up, so--" - -"I took it because it was assigned to me," spoke Tom, and from the -other's talk he understood that the lad was a Freshman who had not -passed, and who, in consequence, was obliged to spend another year in -the same grade. Perhaps this made him bitter. - -"Well, you've got my room," grumbled Sam, "and I'm going to get square -with somebody." - -"You can get square with me, if you like," said Tom quietly, "though I -told you I had nothing to do with it. One thing, though, if you do any -more shoving I'll shove back, and it won't be a gentle shove, either." - -"Is that a threat?" growled Sam. - -"You can take it so if you like." - -"I will, and if you don't look out--" - -What Sam was going to say he did not finish, for, at that moment, the -monitor in charge of Opus Manor came to the door, and the two who had -sought to pick a quarrel with Tom slouched off across the campus. - -"New student here?" asked the monitor, who did not seem to remember Tom. - -"Yes. I'm Fairfield." - -"Oh yes, I recall you now. Come, and I'll introduce you to my wife. -She's matron here. Blackford is my name." - -"I remember it," spoke Tom, who had met the monitor when down for his -examinations. - -As the two were about to enter the building Tom saw his new friend, -Reddy Burke, hurrying along, beckoning to him to wait. - -He halted a moment, and the Junior ran up the steps. - -"I just saw you talking here to a couple of students," began the -athlete, "and as I passed them just now I heard Sam Heller say he was -going to get even with you. What happened?" - -Tom told him and Reddy whistled. - -"Why, what's up?" asked our hero. - -"Nothing, if you don't mind it, only you've made an enemy right off the -bat. That Heller is one of the few undesirables here. His crony, Nick -Johnson, is another. Heller is down on you all right, though it isn't -your fault." - -"I don't mind in the least," spoke Tom. - -"He's one of the scrappers," went on Reddy. "Look out!" - -"I can take care of myself," replied Tom. "Thanks, just the same," and, -as he followed Monitor Blackford into the dormitory, he realized that he -had made an enemy and a friend in the same day. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -TOM FINDS A CHUM - - -"This is the room assigned to you," said the monitor, pausing in a long -corridor, after he had introduced Tom to Mrs. Blackford. "It is one of -the best in the Manor, though I don't quite understand why you picked -out a double apartment." - -"Is it a double one?" asked Tom in some surprise. "I did not know it. As -I was requested in the circular I received, I indicated the section of -the building where I would like to be, and this room was assigned to me. -I supposed it was a single one." - -"No, it is intended for two students, and I suppose it was assigned to -you by mistake. I'm sorry, as it is too late to change now, since all -the reservations are taken, and--" - -"Oh, I don't want to change!" exclaimed Tom quickly, as he entered the -apartment shown him by the monitor. He saw that there were two beds in -it, and that it was large and airy. "I'll keep this," our hero added. -"It's fine." - -"Have you a chum who might like to share it with you?" asked Blackford. -"The expense may--" - -"Oh, I don't mind that part of it," said Tom. "My father knew how much -it was to cost, and he did not object. I haven't a friend yet--that is, -a Freshman friend--but I may find one." - -"There is one, a Sam Heller, who had this room last term," went on the -monitor. "He would doubtless be very glad to come in with you." - -"I'm afraid not," replied Tom with a smile. "He and I had a little -difference of opinion just now, and--" - -"Very well," interrupted Mr. Blackford. "You needn't explain. Suit -yourself about the room. It is yours for the term." He knew better than -to enter into a talk about the disagreements of the students. There were -other troubles to occupy him. - -Left to himself, Tom sat down and looked about the room that was to -be his for the Freshman year. It had a good view of the campus and -buildings, and he liked it very much. - -"Though I should be glad if I had a good chum to come in with me," -reflected the new student. "I may get in with somebody, though. It's -rather lonesome to have two beds in one room, but I can sleep half the -night in one, and half the night in the other I suppose," he ended, -with a smile. - -Tom was unpacking his belongings from his valise when the expressman -arrived with his trunk, and a little later the matron knocked at the -door to ask if our hero found himself at home. - -"Yes, thank you," replied Tom, accepting the clean towels she brought. -He had begun to hang up his clothes. - -"I do hope you get a nice young man in with you," suggested Mrs. -Blackford. "One who won't be cutting up, and doing all sorts of -mischievous pranks." - -Tom proceeded with getting his room to rights as she left him, and a -little later, finding that it wanted an hour yet to twelve o'clock, our -hero strolled out on the campus. - -He looked about for a sight of Sam Heller, or his crony, Johnson, who, -it appeared later, had passed his examinations, and was a Sophomore, -while Sam had to remain a Freshman, much to his disgust. But the two, -whom Tom had come to feel were his enemies, were not in sight. Nor was -Reddy Burke, and, though Tom strolled over past Elmwood Castle, he did -not get a sight of Bruce Bennington. - -Tom strolled about until lunch, and the mid-day meal was not a very -jolly affair. About twenty Freshmen, who had come a day before the term -formally opened, were at the tables and they were all rather miserable, -like fishes out of water, as Tom reflected. Still our hero talked with -them, experiences were exchanged, and the ice was broken. - -"But I don't exactly cotton to any of them enough to have one for a -roommate," reflected Tom. - -That afternoon, having formally registered, and being told about the -hours for chapel, and his lecture and recitation periods, Tom wrote a -long letter to his father and mother. - -He was coming back, from having posted it, when he noticed, standing on -the steps of Opus Manor, a solitary figure. - -"I hope that isn't Sam Heller, waiting to renew the quarrel with me," -reflected Tom, as he drew nearer. "Still, if it is, I'll meet him half -way, though I don't want to get into a fight my first day here." - -But he was soon made aware that it was not the bully who stood on the -steps. It was a lad about his own age, a tall, straight youth, with a -pleasant smiling face, and merry brown eyes. No, I am just a trifle -wrong about that face. It was naturally a jolly one, but just now it -bore a puzzled and unhappy look. - -"Hello," said Tom pleasantly, as he mounted the steps, and was about to -pass in. - -"Hello!" greeted the other. "Do you room here?" - -"Yes. This is my first day." - -"Say, you're in luck. It's my first day too. I'm a stranger in a strange -land, and I'm stuck." - -"What's the matter?" asked Tom. - -"Well, very foolishly, I delayed settling about my room until I got -here. I thought there'd be plenty of places, and, when I did arrive I -found that Opus Manor was the only desirable place for us Freshmen. Up I -steps, as bold as brass, and asks for a room and bath. 'Nothing doing,' -answers the worthy monitor, or words to that effect. Consequently, -behold yours truly without a place to sleep, unless he goes into town to -a common boarding house. And I _did_ want to get in with the Freshmen! -It's tough luck!" - -Tom was doing some rapid thinking. - -"I don't suppose you know of a good place in town; do you?" went on the -other. "My name is Fitch--Jack Fitch. I'm from New York city." - -"Mine's Tom Fairfield, from Briartown," said our hero. - -"Well, Tom Fairfield, have you been here long enough to recommend a -place to room, where I can also get the eats; especially the eats, for -I'm a good feeder. Know of a likely place?" - -Tom's mind was made up. - -"Yes, there's a place here," he said. - -"Here? Are you stringing me? They told me every room was taken." - -"So it is, but I have a large double one, and I was looking for a chum. -So--" - -"You don't mean you'll take me in?" cried Jack. "Oh, end the suspense! -Fireman save my child! Don't torture me!" and he gave a good imitation -of a woe-begone actor. - -"I'll be glad to have you," said Tom, who had taken a sudden liking to -Jack. "That is, if you'd really like to come. You might look at the -room." - -"Say no more! Come? Of course I'll come! Will a duck swim? But I say, -you know, you don't know much about me." - -"I'll take a chance--if you will," said Tom, laughing. - -"All right. Then we'll call it square. Lead on and I'll follow. To think -that, after all, I'm going to get in Opus Manor! It's great, Fairfield!" - -"Call me Tom, if you like." - -"I like. I'm Jack to you, from now on. Shake!" and he caught Tom's hand -in a firm clasp. The two looked into each other's eyes, and what they -read satisfied them. They were chums from then on. - -"I'll take you to my room--_our_ room," Tom corrected himself. "It's a -fine one!" - -"I'm sure it must be. But do you reckon the Lord and Lady of this castle -will allow me to share it with you?" - -"Yes. In fact Mrs. Blackford spoke of me getting some one in with me. So -that will be all right." - -"Great! Do you mind if I do a little dance? Just a few steps to show my -joy?" asked Jack, and Tom perceived at once that his new friend was a -jolly lad. - -"Not at all," Tom answered, and Jack gravely did a hop skip and jump on -the top platform of the steps. - -As he finished there came a laugh from a couple of lads passing. - -"Look at the ballet lady!" mocked a voice, and Tom saw Sam Heller and -Nick Johnson approaching. - -"Did you like it?" asked Jack, coolly. He was not to be easily -disconcerted. - -"Oh, it was great!" declared Sam with a sneer. "We'll have you in the -Patchwork Club if you keep on." - -There was no mistaking the sneering tone of his voice, and Jack flushed. - -"Friends of yours?" he asked Tom. - -"Just the reverse. But don't bother with them now. We can attend to them -later--if we have to." - -"And I think I shall have to," said Jack quietly, as he looked Sam full -in the face. "I don't mind fun, but I like it to come from my friends. -Lead on, Tom, and, as you say, we'll attend to those two later." - -He followed Tom, and, as they disappeared into Opus Manor there floated -to them the mocking laughs of the two cronies. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -AN ANGRY PROFESSOR - - -"Tom, did you ever balance a water pitcher on your nose? I mean full of -water. The pitcher full, that is to say, not the nose." - -"Never, and I'm not going to begin now." - -"Well, I am. Watch me. I used to be pretty good at juggling." - -"Say, you want to be careful." - -"Oh, I will be. I've never done it, but there must always be a first -time. And, though balancing water pitchers may not be an accomplishment -taught in all schools, still there may come a time when the knowledge of -how to juggle one will come in handy. Here goes." - -Tom and Jack were in their room--the room our hero had decided to share -with his new chum. The matron and monitor had been interviewed, and -Mrs. Blackford was very glad, she said, to know that Tom was to have a -companion. - -"And such a nice, quiet-appearing lad as he is, too," she confided to -her husband. Alas, she did not know Jack Fitch! - -"The other one seems very quiet, also," said Mr. Blackford. "I wish all -the students were like those two." - -But if he and his wife could have looked into the chums' room at that -moment, perhaps they would not have held to that opinion. - -For Jack had taken the large water pitcher, and was preparing to balance -it on his nose, while Tom, rather fearing how the experiment would -terminate, had gotten safely out of the way in case of an accident. - -"I wouldn't do it, if I were you," spoke Tom, though he could not help -laughing at his chum's odd notion. - -"Why not?" demanded Jack. - -"Well---- Oh, because it might fall." - -"No reason at all, Tom. If would-be jugglers hesitated on that account -there'd be no experts. Give me a hand until I get it up on my nose; will -you?" - -"I'd rather not." - -"Why?" - -"I'm afraid it will fall." - -"Oh, pshaw! Why fear? Never mind. I'll balance it on my chin instead of -my nose. On second thought it's a little too heavy for the nose act, and -my nose is like a bear's--it's tender. Watch me!" - -Jack carefully lifted the pitcher of water, and managed to get it on -his chin. He steadied it with his two hands, bending his head back, -and then, when he thought he had it where he wanted it, he lowered his -palms, and the pitcher--for an instant--was balanced on his chin. - -"Look!" he called to Tom, not taking his eyes from the vessel of water. -"Talk about jugglers! Some class to me; eh, Tom?" - -"Yes, I guess so." - -"Now bring me a chair," requested Jack. "I'm going to do it standing on -a chair." - -"You'll never do it!" predicted Tom. - -"Yes, I will. I'll get the chair myself, then." - -This was his undoing. As long as he remained in one spot, with his head -carefully held still, the pitcher did not tilt enough to upset. But, as -soon as Jack moved, there was an accident. - -"Look out!" yelled Tom, but his warning came too late. - -Jack made a wild grab for the slipping vessel, but his hands did not -grasp it in time. A moment later there was a heavy crash, pieces of -china flew about the room, and a shower of water drenched the chums. - -For a moment there was a grim silence. Then Jack said: - -"Well, I'll be jiggered!" - -"You certainly ought to be!" and Tom laughed in spite of himself, for -his new chum was much wetter than he. - -The sound of rapidly approaching footsteps was heard. - -"Oh pip!" whispered the luckless juggler. - -"What is the matter? Has anything happened?" demanded the voice of -Matron Blackford, in the corridor. - -"Well--er--yes--we have had a slight--er--happening," replied Tom, -grabbing the clean towels, and proceeding to mop up the water from the -carpet. - -"Oh, is anyone hurt? May I come in?" - -"Come!" called Jack, following his chum's example, and the matron -entered. - -"What happened?" she asked, as she saw the water, the drenched boys, and -the pieces of the broken pitcher. - -"It--it sort of--fell," replied Jack calmly, mopping away at the carpet. - -"And broke," added Tom. "We're sorry----" - -"And the water all spilled out," needlessly interrupted Jack. "We are -very sorry for that, too." - -"Oh you boys!" exclaimed the matron, raising her hands in despair. "I -was afraid something would happen. What were you doing?" - -"I was reciting my lesson in juggling," replied Jack gravely. "And the -pitcher slipped. I'll pay for it." - -"Oh, no, as long as you were at your lessons when it happened, it was -an accident, and you needn't pay," said the matron, but, later, Jack -insisted, and then the story came out. - -"I'll bring you some clean towels," said Mrs. Blackford. "Luckily there -is a wooden ceiling below, or the plaster would have fallen, if there -had been any," and she hurried away. - -Tom's first day at Elmwood Hall ended quietly enough, as did Jack's, at -dinner in the big Freshman class dining room, and the two went to bed -early, as they were rather tired. There was very little excitement in -the school that night. A few of the older students sang some choruses on -the campus, but the real life of the institution had not yet begun. - -The next day was full of activity. Students--old and new--arrived by the -score, and the professors, the matrons, the monitors, the proctor, and -Doctor Meredith himself, had their hands full. Opus Manor filled with a -laughing, chattering crowd, and Tom was glad he had selected his room -in advance, as there were many disappointed boys, when they found they -could not get the apartments they wanted. - -"I struck it right!" declared Jack. - -"And so did I!" added Tom, for he liked his new chum more and more. They -made the acquaintance of several lads. On one side of them roomed Bert -Wilson, to whom Tom and Jack at once took a liking, and on the other -side was George Abbot, a rather lonely little chap. - -"I'm sure we're going to like it here," declared Jack, after their -first lecture, when both he and Tom found that they were well up in the -subject presented. - -"Sure," assented Tom. - -"It's a jolly place, all right," declared Bert. "I wonder if there'll be -any hazing?" - -"Of course," declared Jack. "I don't mind, though." - -"Nor I," said Tom. - -Several days passed, and nearly all the students, save a few Seniors, -had arrived. Bruce Bennington was among the missing, and Tom found -himself wondering if he would come back. - -"Maybe his trouble will keep him out of college," thought our hero, and -he felt some regret, for he had formed a liking for the lad, though he -had met him but once. - -"Come on down to the river," proposed Tom one day, after the last -lecture for himself and his chum. "I'm just aching to get into a boat, -and I understand there are some on the Ware river that a fellow can -hire. I wish I had my motorboat here." - -"Why don't you send for it?" - -"Guess I will. Say, don't you think the Latin is pretty stiff here?" - -"A bit. But old Skeel makes it so. He's fierce. I guess Reddy Burke was -right about what he said of him." - -"Sure he was. But never mind. Maybe it'll be easier when we've been here -a few weeks. Here's a short cut to the river," suggested Tom, as they -came to the rear of a fine residence. "Let's take it." - -"Looks as if we'd have to cross private grounds. One of the profs. lives -here, I understand." - -"What of it?" asked our hero. "He won't mind, I guess. I like to take -cut-offs when I can." - -"Go ahead. I'm with you," answered Jack. - -The two cut across a lawn in the rear of the house, for they could -see the glittering river just beyond a fringe of trees, and they were -glad of the by-path, as they had gone a longer and more roundabout way -several times. - -Tom was in the lead, and he had just passed a summer house, -vine-encumbered, on the rear lawn, when an angry voice hailed him. - -"Where are you going?" was demanded. - -"To the river," replied Tom. - -"Who told you to go this way?" - -"No one." - -As Tom answered he saw a man come from the summer house, a man he at -once recognized as Professor Burton Skeel, the grim Latin instructor. - -"Well, you boys can just go back the way you came," went on the angry -professor. "These are my private grounds, and I allow no students to -trespass. If I find you doing it again I shall take sterner measures. Go -back the way you came, and don't come here again. Ah, I see that you are -Elmwood students," the professor went on. "That makes it all the worse. -You should have known that I permit no trespassing, nor trifling. Be -off!" - -He fairly yelled the last words at the chums, who, though abashed, were -not much alarmed by the angry instructor. - -As they turned to retrace their steps Tom saw another figure in the -summer house. He had a glimpse of the face, and it was that of Bruce -Bennington. The Senior had been in close conversation with the angry -professor. - -"He looks sad," mused Tom, referring to Bruce. "I guess his trouble -isn't over yet. I wonder if that glum professor can have anything to do -with it?" - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -BRUCE IS WORRIED - - -"Nice, pleasant sort of a chap for a professor--not!" exclaimed Jack, as -he and Tom went a more roundabout, and public, way to the river. - -"He certainly is grouchy," agreed our hero. "Who'd think he'd rile up -just because we cut through his back yard? He may take it out of us in -class." - -"Shouldn't wonder. His kind usually does." - -"Did you see who was with him?" asked Tom. - -"I saw a fellow, but no one I knew." - -"That was Bruce Bennington, the Senior I was telling you about." - -"The one you said had some trouble?" - -"Yes, and to judge by his looks he has it yet. I wonder what he was -doing with old Skeel?" - -"Maybe explaining why he hadn't been to lectures before this." - -"No, I understand the Senior class doesn't have to report as punctually -as we poor dubs of Freshmen. It must be something else." - -"Well, we have our own troubles, Tom. Don't go to looking for those of -other fellows." - -"I won't, Jack, only I'd like to help Bennington if I could." - -"So would I. Look, there are some boats we might hire," and Tom pointed -to a small structure on the edge of the river, where several boats were -tied. A number of students from Elmwood Hall were gathered about, and -some were out in the rowing craft. - -Tom and Jack learned that the man in charge kept boats for hire, and -the two chums were soon out in one, pulling up the river so, as Tom -explained, they would have it easier coming back with the current. - -"There goes the Senior shell!" exclaimed Jack, as from the college -boathouse the long, slender craft was rowed out, looking not unlike some -big bug, with long, slender legs. "They're practicing for the race, I -guess." - -"I wish I was with them," remarked Tom. "I'm going to try for the -Freshman crew." - -"And I'm with you." - -The two rowed on, and soon found a quiet, shady nook, where the trees -overhung the river. There they tied their boat, and talked in the -shadows. - -Coming back they again saw the Senior shell, the lads in it rowing more -slowly, for they were tired after their practice sprint. Turning in -their hired boat, Tom and Jack went to the college crew's headquarters, -and there Tom, on making cautious inquiries, learned to his regret that -there would be no Freshman crew organized that fall. - -"You see," explained Reddy Burke to the two lads, who were much -interested in water sports, "our rowing season is in the spring. This -is only a little supplementary race the head crew is going to row with -Burkhardt college, which is five miles down stream. We beat them in the -spring, but they asked for another meet, and we gave it to them. - -"But rowing is practically over for this year, so I guess there's no -chance for you to get in a shell. Try in the spring, if you want to." - -"We will," decided Tom. - -"Meanwhile you'd better be thinking of football," advised Reddy. -"Candidates for the team as well as for the class elevens will soon be -called for." - -"That hits us!" exclaimed Jack. "I'm going to train hard. Do you think -our crew will win." - -"Sure," declared Reddy, and I might add here that when the auxiliary -race was rowed, two weeks later, Elmwood did win easily over her rival. - -"Bennington is here," remarked Tom, as with Jack he walked toward the -campus with Reddy. - -"Is that so? It's about time he blew in. Where did you see him?" - -Tom explained, telling of the peremptory manner in which Professor -Skeel had ordered them from his lawn. - -"Oh, you mustn't mind that," advised Reddy. "He certainly is getting -worse every term. I don't see why Dr. Meredith keeps him. He's the worst -one of the faculty, and if he doesn't look out he'll get what's coming -to him." - -"Well, what shall we do this evening?" asked Jack, as he and his chum -were in their room after supper. "I've done with my boning." - -"So have I. What do you say to a lark? Let's run the guard and go to -town." - -"I'm with you. Let's get some of the other fellows," proposed Jack. -"Bert Wilson will come, and so will George Abbot, I guess, if he can -stop asking questions long enough." - -"Sure we'll go," declared Bert, when the chums made the proposal to him. - -"But what will we do when we get there?" George wanted to know. - -"Oh. Why, we'll stand on our heads!" exclaimed Tom with a laugh. - -"All of us?" demanded the inquisitive lad. - -"No, only you," retorted Jack. "For cats' sake, cut out some of those -questions; will you? We'll call you Interrogation Mark if you don't look -out, only it's too much of a mouthful to speak in a hurry. Cut along -now, before we're caught." - -It was dark enough to elude a possible spying monitor, or one of the -proctor's emissaries, and soon the four lads were on their way to town. -They went to a moving picture show, enjoying it greatly. - -"Now if we can get in without being seen, we'll be all right," remarked -Tom, when they had neared the college on the return trip. - -"Pshaw, I shouldn't much mind getting caught," declared Jack. "It would -be fun." - -"Doing double boning, or being kept in bounds for a week wouldn't -though," declared Tom with conviction. "I vote we don't get caught, if -we can help it." - -"Maybe we can't," suggested Bert. - -"Why not?" George wanted to know. - -"Oh, ask us something easier," laughed Tom. "Come on now, and don't make -too much noise." - -They were about to cross the campus, and make for their dormitory, when -there was a movement behind a clump of shrubbery, and a figure was seen -to emerge. - -"There's some one!" whispered Bert. - -"Caught!" murmured Tom. - -"I wonder who it is?" came from George. - -"It's Bruce Bennington, the Senior," came from Tom. "We are safe." - -"You won't be if you continue on this way," came grimly from Bruce. -"One of the proctor's scouts is out to-night, just laying for innocent -Freshies. You'd better cut around the side, and go in the back basement -door. It's generally open, or if it isn't I've got a key that will do -the trick." - -"You know the ropes," laughed Tom. - -"I ought to. I was a Freshman once. Come on, I'll show you the way, but -don't work the trick too often." - -Bruce walked up to Tom, and remarked: - -"Oh, it's you, is it, Fairfield. Glad to see you again. I didn't -recognize you in the darkness. I just got in to-day." - -"Yes, I saw you," remarked our hero as he introduced his chums. - -Bruce continued to walk on beside Tom, the others following. The Senior -led the way along a little-used path, well screened by trees from spying -eyes. - -"Won't you get caught yourself?" Tom wanted to know. - -"No, we lordly Seniors are allowed a few more privileges than you -luckless squabs. Though I shouldn't much mind if I was nabbed. It would -be like old times," and Tom detected a sigh in the words. Clearly Bruce -was still worrying. - -"I saw you in Professor Skeel's summer house this afternoon," went on -Tom. - -"Oh, so you were the lads he warned away! Yes, Skeel is a--well I guess -I'd better not say anything," spoke Bruce quickly. "It might not be -altogether healthy." - -"For you?" asked Tom. - -"Yes. I'm under some obligations to him, and--well, I don't like to talk -about it," he finished. - -"Then you haven't gotten over your trouble?" asked Tom sympathetically. - -"No, it's worse than ever. Oh, hang it all, what a chump I've been!" -exclaimed Bruce. "This thing is worrying the life out of me!" - -"Why can't some of your friends help you?" asked Tom. "If I could----" - -"No, thank you, Fairfield, no one can do anything but myself, and -I can't, just now. It may come out all right in the end. Don't say -anything about it. Here we are. Now to see if the door's open." - -Letting Bruce lead the way, the other lads cautiously followed. They -saw him about to try the knob of the basement portal, when suddenly Tom -became aware of a light flickering through a side window. - -"Hist!" he signalled to Bruce. "Someone's coming!" - -"All right. You fellows lay low, and I'll take a look," volunteered -their guide. "I don't mind being caught." - -"He's got nerve," said Jack, admiringly, as he and his chums crouched -down in the darkness. - -Tom and the others saw Bruce boldly look in the window through which the -light shone. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE CALL OF THE PIGSKIN - - -"Maybe it's Professor Skeel," whispered George, apprehensively. - -"Or Merry himself," added Jack. - -"Nonsense!" replied Tom. "Neither of them would be in our dormitory at -this hour." - -"Unless they got wise to the fact that we went out, and they're laying -to catch us when we come in," declared Bert. "If I'm nabbed I hope my -dad doesn't hear of it." - -"Come on, fellows," came in a shrill whisper from Bruce. "It's only -Demy, our studious janitor. He's boning over some book, and if you help -him with his conjugation, or demonstrate a geometric proposition for -him, he'll let you burn the school down and say nothing about it. Come -on; it's all right." - -They entered through the door, which was not locked, so that Bruce did -not have to use his key, and at their advance, into what was a sort of -storeroom of the basement, the studious janitor looked up from a book he -was reading. - -"Well, well!" he exclaimed. "Is this--ahem! young gentleman, I hardly -know what----" - -"It's all right, Demy," interrupted Bruce with a laugh. "I brought -'em in. They want to help you do a little--let's see what you're at, -anyhow?" and he looked at the book. - -"It's Horace," said the janitor. "I want to read some of his odes in the -original, but the translating is very hard, to say the least. Still, I -am determined to get an education while I have the chance." - -"Good for you!" exclaimed the Senior. "I'll help you, Demy. Horace -is pie for me. You fellows cut along to your rooms," he added, -significantly. "You haven't seen them, have you, Demy?" - -"No, Mr. Bennington, not if you don't wish me to," and the janitor, -with a grateful look at the Senior, prepared to listen to the Latin, -while Tom and his chums, grateful for the aid given them, hurried up the -stairs to their apartments. - -"That was fine of him, wasn't it?" remarked Jack, as good-nights were -being whispered. - -"It sure was," declared Tom, wishing more than ever that he could help -the unhappy Senior. - -"I wonder why the janitor wants to know Latin?" came from the human -question mark. - -"Oh, answer that in your dreams," advised Tom. - -From the fact that no mention was made of their little night excursion, -Tom and the others concluded that the studious janitor had kept his pact -with Bruce. The latter told Tom afterward that he was kept busy giving -Latin instruction until nearly midnight. - -"It was good of you," said our hero. - -"Oh, pshaw! I'm glad I can do somebody good," was the rejoinder. That -was Bruce Bennington's way. As Reddy had said, the Senior was his own -worst enemy. - -"Hear the news?" burst out Jack, as he entered the room where Tom was -studying, a few afternoons later. - -"No, what news?" - -"Call for Freshmen and regular football candidates is posted. Practice -begins to-morrow. Let's get out our suits." - -"Fine!" cried Tom, tossing his book on the table, and scurrying for his -trunk where he had packed away his moleskin trousers and canvas jacket. -Jack soon had his out, looking for possible rents and ripped seams. - -"I've got to do some mending--worse luck!" exclaimed Tom, as he saw a -big hole in his trousers. - -"Can you sew?" asked Jack. - -"Oh, so-so," laughed Tom. "I can make a stab at it, anyhow," and he -proceeded to close up the rent by the simple process of gathering the -edges together like the mouth of a bag, and winding string around them. -"There! I guess that'll do," he added. - -It was a clear, crisp day, and "the call of the pigskin" had been -heard all through the college. Several score of lads, in more or less -disreputable suits, that had seen lots of service, assembled on the -gridiron under the watchful eyes of the coaches. - -"I hope I make the regular eleven," said Tom, as he sent a beautiful -spiral kick to Jack. - -"So do I," was the reply. "But I hear there are lots of candidates for -it, and almost a whole team was left over from last season, so there -won't be much chance for us." - -The practice was more or less ragged, and, in fact it was only designed -to let the coaches see how the new lads "sized-up." Several elevens were -tentatively formed, and taken to different parts of the field to play -against each other. - -Tom worked hard, and he was glad to note that one of the older players -had regarded him with what our hero thought were favorable eyes. Jack -was also doing well. - -This practice was kept up for several days, and about a week later Reddy -Burke, meeting Tom, exclaimed: - -"Say, you fellows are in luck!" - -"How so?" asked Jack, who was with his chum. - -"You've made the eleven, I hear. You'll probably get notice to-day." - -"The regular?" cried Tom in delight. - -"Hardly! There's only one new fellow going on that, I understand, though -you might fill in as subs. But you're both going to play on the first -Freshman eleven." - -"The Freshman team," spoke Jack, somewhat disappointedly. - -"Say, what do you want?" asked Tom. "I think it's fine. Of course I wish -it was the regular, but maybe next year----" - -"That's the way to talk," declared Reddy, who was on the leading team -himself. "But I tell you that you're in luck to make the Freshman team. -There are no end of candidates, but you two seemed to hit the mark." - -Tom rejoiced exceedingly, and when he received his formal notice, as -did Jack, our hero at once wrote to his parents, who were soon to reach -Australia. Tom had had several letters from them since leaving home, but -had yet to hear of their safe arrival. He sent the letter to Sydney, in -care of his father's lawyer. - -There were busy days for our hero and his chums now. With lectures to -attend, studying to do, and football practice, their time was pretty -well occupied. Bert Wilson had made the Freshman eleven, and the three -chums played well together. - -Tom had not seen much of Bruce Bennington since the night the Senior -aided the first year lads, for Bruce was busy too, as he was on the -'varsity. - -Tom found that football, as played at Elmwood, was very different from -the Academy games, but he was made of tough material, and he soon worked -well into his place as right half-back, while Jack was left tackle. -Several scrub games had been played, and the Freshman coaches seemed -satisfied with the work of their charges. - -"Hurray!" yelled Tom, running up to Jack one afternoon, as his chum was -strolling across the campus. "Yell, old man!" - -"What for?" - -"We play our first regular game Saturday against Holwell college. -They've got a strong team, but we're going to win! I'm going to make a -touchdown!" - -"Good! Oh, say, it's great here!" and in the excess of their good -spirits Tom and Jack fell to pummelling each other in hearty fashion. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -TOM'S TOUCHDOWN - - -"Come on now, boys, line up!" - -It was the call of Coach Jackson for the final practice of the Freshmen -eleven before their first big game. The regulars were to play against -the scrub, and, as some of the positions were yet in doubt, there were -some anxious hearts. For not a substitute but wanted to fill in on the -regular eleven. - -Tom and Jack, because of the good showing they had made, were assured of -places, but Sam Heller, who, to do him credit, was a fairly good player, -was not so certain. It lay between him and Bert Wilson, as to who would -be quarter-back. - -"But if I had my rights, and if that Fairfield chap hadn't come butting -in," declared Sam to his crony, Nick, "I would be sure of my place." - -"That's right," agreed Nick. "We'll have to get up something on -Fairfield, and make him quit Elmwood." - -"I wish I could. Say, the Sophs haven't done any hazing this term yet; -have they?" - -"No, but they will." - -"I suppose so. Well, just have 'em let me down easy; will you? I'm a -Soph myself, by rights, if old Hammond hadn't marked me low in maths. -But have the Sophs give it to Fairfield and his chum good and proper; -will you?" - -"Sure I will. We're going to do some hazing after the football game. We -thought we'd put it off until then." - -"All right, only do Tom Fairfield up if you can." - -"I will. I don't like him any more than you do. He's got too many airs -to suit me--he and that Jack Fitch." - -"Line up! Line up!" called the coach, and the practice began. Sam Heller -was called on to take his place in the scrub, which he did with no -good grace, casting envious eyes at Bert Wilson, and with a feeling of -bitterness in his heart toward Tom. And with no good cause, for Tom had -done nothing to Sam. - -"Now, boys, play your heads off!" ordered the coach. "I want to see what -sort of stuff you're made of. The best players will go against Holwell -to-morrow." - -Then the scrub game began, with the Freshmen players doing their best to -shove back their opponents, and the latter equally determined to make as -good a showing as possible. Back and forth the battle of the gridiron -waged, with Tom jumping into every play, looking for openings where he -might wriggle through with the ball, or help the man who had it to gain -a yard or two. - -"Touchdown! Touchdown!" yelled the members of the first eleven, as they -got the ball well down toward the scrub goal. "Make it a touchdown!" - -It would have been, but for the fact that Bert Wilson fumbled the ball -in passing it back from centre. A scrub player broke through, grabbed -the pigskin, and was off down the field like a shot. - -"Get him, boys!" cried Morse Denton, the Freshman captain, and Jack -Fitch, who was as fleet as some ends, was after the fleeing youth. He -caught him in time to prevent a score being made, but the coach shook -his head at the next line up. - -"Heller, you go in at quarter to replace Wilson," he said. "I am sorry," -the arbiter added, at the look of gloom on the face of Tom's chum, "but -fumbles are costly. I can't afford to take any chances." - -Bert said nothing, but he knew that he was not altogether at fault, -for the centre had not passed the ball accurately. Sam Heller, with a -triumphant smile at Tom, went to quarter, and the game proceeded. But -it was noticed that Sam, who was giving signals, and deciding on most -of the plays, did not give Tom as many chances as when Bert had been in -place behind the centre. - -"You want to look out for Sam in the game to-morrow," said Jack to Tom -that night, when, after gruelling practice, the regular Freshmen had -shoved the scrub all over the field. - -"Why so?" - -"Because I think he has it in for you. He'll spoil your plays if he can, -and he won't give you a chance. Look out for him." - -"I will. But at the same time I don't believe he'd do anything to spoil -the chance of the team winning." - -"I wouldn't trust him. At the same time he may do nothing worse than not -give you a chance. It's going to be a big game, I hear, and the fellow -who makes good will be in line for the 'varsity next season." - -"I'll watch out. Now let's do something. Come on in Bert's room. He -feels bad about not playing to-morrow." - -"I know. But it's forbidden to visit in other fellows' rooms after -hours." - -"Oh, what of it?" asked Tom, who liked to take chances. "We've got to do -something. It isn't so late, and there are no lectures to-morrow." - -"All right, go ahead. I'm with you. But I hope we don't get caught. It -might mean being ruled out of the game to-morrow." - -Bert was grateful for the sympathy of his chums, and soon felt in better -humor. Jack offered to repeat his water pitcher juggling act, and was -only prevented by force on the part of Tom. There was a merry scuffle, -and George Abbot came in to see what was going on, at the same time -bringing warning that a sub-monitor had been patroling the corridors. - -"Then we've got to be quiet," declared Tom. "Cut out your juggling, -Jack." - -The four chums talked for an hour or more, and then the three, who were -out of their rooms, taking a cautious survey of the hall, prepared to go -to bed, ready for the big game on the morrow. Jack and Tom just escaped -being caught as they slipped into their apartment, but, as Tom remarked, -"A miss was as good as a mile." - -Then came the day of the great game. - -"Line up! Line up!" - -"Over here, Elmwood!" - -"This way, Holwell!" - -"Rah! Rah! Rah!" - -"Toot! Toot! Toot!" - -These were only some of the cries that burst forth from hundreds of -throats at the annual game between the Elmwood and Holwell schools, as -the Freshmen prepared to clash in their gridiron battle. - -The game was to take place on the Elmwood grounds, and both teams were -out for practice. The crowds were beginning to arrive, and the bands -were playing. - -"Say, there's a mob here all right," remarked Jack to Tom. "A raft of -people." - -"Yes. I hope we win." - -"Oh, sure we will. Don't get nervous. I only wish Bert was at quarter -instead of Sam Heller." - -"So do I, but it can't be helped. I guess it will be all right." - -"Line up!" - -It was the final call. The preliminaries had been all arranged, the -goals chosen, and the practice balls called in. Elmwood was to kick -off, and the new yellow pigskin was handed to her burly centre, who was -poising it on a little mound of earth in the middle of the field. - -"Ready?" asked the official. - -"Ready!" answered both captains. - -The whistle shrilled out its signal, and the toe of the big centre met -the ball squarely. It was well kicked into the Holwell territory. - -The full-back on the latter team caught it skillfully, and started to -return with it, well protected by interference, but Jack Fitch worked -his way through it, and tackled his man hard. - -"Good! Good!" screamed the Elmwood enthusiasts, and then the first -scrimmage was prepared for. - -I am not going to describe for you that game in detail, for it formed -but a small part in the life of Tom Fairfield. Sufficient to say that -the gridiron battle was fairly even, and that at the end of the third -quarter the score was a tie. - -"But we've got to win!" declared the Elmwood captain, during the rest -period. "We've _got_ to." - -"And we will, if there's a change made," declared Jack Fitch boldly. - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean that Tom Fairfield isn't getting a fair show." - -"Oh, Jack!" exclaimed Tom. - -"That's right! You're not!" declared his chum. "Sam hasn't called on -you three times during the game. It's been all wing shift plays, or -place kicks, or forward passes, or fake kicks or something like that. -Why can't we have some straight, old-fashioned football, with a rush -of the half-back through tackle and guard or centre? Tom's a good -ground-gainer." - -"I've played him as much as I saw proper," snapped Sam. - -"You have not!" declared Jack hotly. - -"Easy, boys," cautioned the coach. "There must be no personal feeling. -Perhaps some straight football would go well, Heller." - -"All right, I'll give it to 'em." - -The whistle blew to start the last quarter. - -"Remember, boys, a touchdown will do the trick, and win the game!" -pleaded the Elmwood captain. - -"Look out for yourself, Tom," cautioned Jack. - -"Why?" - -"Because Sam is just mad enough to make you fumble the ball and spoil a -play. Then he'll accuse you of losing the game." - -"I'll watch out." - -The play was resumed. It was give and take, hammer and tongs, with the -best players making the most gains. The ball was slowly forced down the -field toward the Holwell goal. - -"Touchdown! Touchdown!" screamed the supporters of our hero's college, -and there were many of them. - -"Seven, eleven, thirty-three, Elmwood! Eight--nine--twenty-one!" called -Sam. - -It was the signal for the full-back to take the ball through centre. It -was almost the last chance, for the time was nearly up, and Tom had not -been given a single opportunity that quarter. His heart burned against -his enemy; yet what could he do? - -The quarter-back dropped his hands as a signal for the centre to snap -the ball back. Sam caught it fairly, and turned to pass it to the -full-back. Then, that always fatal element in football developed. There -was a fumble. The ball was dropped. - -"Grab it! Fall on it!" yelled half a dozen Holwell players. - -The Elmwood line wavered. Could it hold? - -Tom Fairfield, a mist before his eyes, saw the pigskin rolling toward -him. He picked it up on the jump. In another moment Jack Fitch and Joe -Rooney, his guard, had torn a hole in the opposing line. - -"Come on, Tom!" yelled Jack hoarsely. - -And Tom, with lowered head, with the ball held close to his breast, -plunged into the line. He hit it hard. It yielded. He went through with -a rush, pushed by Jack and Joe. Then, seeing but a single man between -himself and the coveted goal, he rushed for it. - -All but the opposing full-back had been drawn in at the sight of the -fumble, and the chance to secure the ball. Tom rushed at this lone -player. - -There was a shock. Tom reeled, but managed to retain his footing. He -shoved the full-back aside, and ran on. - -"Oh, great!" he heard hundreds yell. "Go on! Go on!" - -How he ran! It was the opportunity for which he had waited. In spite of -Sam Heller it had come to him. Over the white chalk marks Tom scudded, -until, with panting breath, with a heart that seemed bursting, and with -eyes that scarcely saw, he fell over the last line, and planted the -ball between the goal posts, making the winning touchdown. The other -players--his own and his opponents--straggled up to the last mark. The -whistle blew, ending the game. - -"Oh wow!" shrilled hundreds of voices. "Elmwood! Elmwood! Elmwood -forever!" - -"Tom, you won the game! You won the game!" yelled Jack in his chum's -ear, as Tom got up, holding his foot on the ball. "You won in spite of -Sam!" - -"I--I'm glad--of--it!" panted Tom, scarcely able to breathe even yet, -for he had run hard. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -A COWARD'S TRICK - - -"Three cheers for Fairfield!" - -"Rah! Rah! Rah!--Elmwood!" - -"Three cheers for Holwell!" - -There were shouts, cries and cheers of joy at the victory on the part of -our hero's followers, while there was corresponding gloom in the camp of -their unsuccessful rivals. - -"Great work, old man!" complimented Tom's captain. "You did the trick -for us!" - -"It was an accident. I just managed to get the ball, and run," explained -Tom. - -"Lucky for us you did. It was an accident that might have counted -heavily against us. What was the matter with you, Sam, in passing the -ball?" - -"Aw, it wasn't my fault. It slipped. Anyhow our full-back had his hands -on it, and he dropped it." - -"I did not!" declared that player. "You didn't pass it to me fairly." - -"That'll do!" interrupted the captain sharply. "We don't want any -quarrels. Besides, we won the game." - -Tom was surrounded by a joyous crowd of his chums, and other admirers, -as the team raced from the field, and the throng of spectators filed out -of the stands. - -"Well, how do you feel?" asked Jack of his chum, as they were in their -room together, after a refreshing bath in the gymnasium. - -"Great! I expect I'll be a little lame and stiff tomorrow though. -Somebody gave me a beaut dig in the ribs." - -"And I guess our whole team, and half of the other one, was piled on me -at one stage of the game," remarked Jack ruefully, as he rubbed his back -reflectively. "But it was a glorious win all right. And how you did run, -Tom!" - -"I just had to, to make that touchdown." And then the two boys fell to -talking of the game, playing it all over again in detail. - -"I just thought Sam would be mean enough not to give you a chance," -remarked Jack. - -"Oh, maybe it wasn't intentional," replied our hero, who did not like to -think ill of anyone. - -"Get out! Of course it was. Ask any of the fellows. But he fooled -himself. That fumble spoiled his plans, and you grabbed your -opportunity." - -"And the ball too," added Tom, as there came a knock on their door. - -"Come!" called Jack, and Bert Wilson and George Abbot entered. - -"Came to pay our respects," spoke Bert. "How does it feel to be hero? -Aren't your ears burning, with the way the fellows are talking about -you?" - -"Not exactly." - -"Why should his ears burn?" asked George. "Is it because he--" - -"Now you quit, or I'll fire the dictionary at you," threatened Bert. -"I told you I'd bring you in on one condition, and that was that you -wouldn't be a question box." - -"But I just wanted to know," pleaded George. - -"Then look it up in an encyclopedia," directed Jack, with a laugh. "I'm -not going to answer any more questions." - -"I hope you get a chance next game," said Tom to Bert. "Maybe you will -after the fumble Sam made." - -And Bert did. For there was a conference between the Freshman captain -and coach that night, which resulted in Sam being sent back to the -scrub. He protested mightily. - -"It wasn't my fault--that fumble," he declared. - -"I think it was," spoke the coach. "Anyhow you didn't run the team -as well as I thought you would. Why, you didn't give Fairfield half a -chance, and he showed what he could do when he did get a show." - -"Aw, he can't play football." - -"I think he can. Anyhow, you'll shift back, but if you do good work I'll -play you on the regular team again before the season is over." And with -this Sam had to be content. - -Football practice was resumed on Monday, and the team seemed to do -better with the change in quarter-backs. There was a match in the middle -of the week, and again Elmwood won handily, Jack Fitch distinguishing -himself by a long run, while Tom made some star tackles, once saving a -touchdown by catching the player a short distance from the goal. - -"I'll get even with Fairfield yet!" threatened Sam to Nick. "He needn't -think he can run things here." - -"Go in and do him," advised his crony. "Can't you pick a quarrel with -him, and have it out?" - -"I'll try. If you see a chance, sail in and lick him." - -"I will," promised Nick, but Sam's chance came sooner than he expected, -or, rather, he made the opportunity. - -There is a certain fine powder, a sort of a pepper-snuff so fine that -it can not be seen floating about, yet which, if scattered about a room, -will irritate the eyes, nose and throat in a marked degree. Sam bought -some of this powder, and making it up into a small paper parcel, he -watched his chance to slip it into Tom's handkerchief pocket. - -"He'll pull it out in class," Sam explained to Nick, "and set the whole -room to sneezing. I'll try and have him do it in Latin recitation, and -Skeel won't do a thing to him, for Tom sits in the front row, and the -prof. will see him." - -"Suppose Fairfield catches you?" - -"I'll take care that he doesn't," declared Sam, and he was lucky enough -to bring about his cowardly trick undetected. As the students went into -the Latin class, presided over by Professor Skeel, Sam slipped the -sneezing powder into Tom's pocket, on top of his handkerchief. It was -quickly done, and, in the press, our hero never noticed it. Then Sam -quickly joined one of his classmates, with whom he was more or less -thick, to prevent detection. - -The recitation was about half over, and Tom, who had been called on, had -made a failure, for a very hard question, and one he had never dreamed -would be brought up in class, was asked him. - -"Remain after the session, and write me out fifty lines of Cæsar," -ordered the mean instructor. Tom shut his laps grimly. A little later -he pulled out his handkerchief, and, as might have been expected, the -powder flew out, scattering from the paper. A few moments later a -boy began to sneeze, and soon the whole room was doing it--even the -professor. - -Now Professor Skeel was no simpleton, if he was mean, and he at once -detected the irritating powder. He realized at once that some one had -done it for a trick, and he had seen the paper fall from Tom's pocket, -as the stuff scattered. - -"Fairfield!" he exclaimed angrily, "did you scatter that powder?" - -"Not intentionally, sir." - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean that I did not know it was there. Some one must have put it in -my pocket for a joke." - -"Nonsense! Do you expect me to believe that?" the professor asked -sharply of Tom. - -"It's the truth, sir." - -"Preposterous! I don't believe you!" - -"Sir!" exclaimed our hero, for he was not in the habit of being told -that he spoke an untruth. - -"Don't contradict me!" stormed the teacher. "I say you did it on -purpose--er--a-ker-choo! On purpose--ker-choo! I have known it to -be done before, in other classes, but never in mine. I will have no -nonsense! Ker-choo!" - -The professor was having hard work to talk, for he sneezed quite often, -as, in fact, did every one in the class. - -"This foolishness will have to stop!" he declared. "I am certain you put -that powder in your own pocket, Fairfield." - -"I did not, sir." - -"Ha! Did any one here put that powder in Fairfield's pocket?" asked the -professor. - -Naturally the guilty Sam did not answer. - -"There, you see!" exclaimed Mr. Skeel, triumphantly. "I knew you did -it--ker-choo! But I have no doubt others may have been implicated, and I -will punish the whole class. You will all of you write me out a hundred -lines of Cæsar." - -"That is not fair, sir," spoke Tom boldly. - -"What! You dare to tell me that!" stormed Mr. Skeel. - -"It is not fair," insisted Tom. "Either I alone am responsible, which I -deny, or some one else is. I assure you, sir, that no one in the class -entered with me into any trick to do this thing." - -"I don't believe you. The whole class will be punished unless the guilty -one confesses--and that includes you!" and the professor looked angrily -at Tom. - -Sam, of course, would not admit his part in the affair, and as it was -impossible to have the class remain longer in the powder-infested room, -the students were dismissed. But Professor Skeel would not remit the -punishment. - -"Say, this is tough luck--to have to write out all that Latin, for -something we didn't do," complained Frank Nelson. - -"I should say so," added Harry Morse. "Why don't you own up to it, -Fairfield, and save our hides." - -"Because I didn't do it intentionally." - -"Honestly?" - -"Of course." - -"Say, if Tom says he didn't do it, he didn't," declared Jack. - -"I guess that's right," agreed Harry. "Excuse me, Tom," and, to the -credit of Tom's classmates, one and all expressed their belief in his -innocence. That is, all but Sam, and he kept quiet, avoiding our hero. -But, to ward off suspicion, Sam growled louder than anyone about the -task. - -"I'd like to get hold of the fellow who used that powder," complained -Ed. Ward. - -"You won't have to look far for him, I guess," said Jack, in a voice -that only Tom heard. - -"Do you think Sam did it?" asked Tom. - -"I sure do. But you want to be certain of your proof against him before -you accuse him!" - -"I will," declared Tom. "I'll do a bit of detective work." - -But he had no clews to work on, and, though he was sure his enemy had -made him and the others suffer, he could prove nothing, for the paper in -which the powder was wrapped was blank. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -A CLASS WARNING - - -"Well, if any of you young gentlemen have any more powder to scatter -around, you had better do it, and have done with it," remarked Professor -Skeel a day or so later, when Tom and his chums came in to recite. "Only -if you do," he added sarcastically, "the punishment I meted out before -will be doubled, and, in case the offense is repeated a third time, I -will go on doubling the task, if necessary in arithmetical progression." - -He looked at the lads, with a sneering smile on his face. There were -mutterings of discontent from all, save perhaps Sam Heller, for the lads -felt not only the injustice of the uncalled-for remarks, but the former -punishment still rankled in their minds. - -"No one seems inclined to take advantage of my offer," went on Professor -Skeel, "so we will go on with the lesson. Fairfield, you may begin. -We'll see if you are prepared." - -Tom was, fortunately, and it seemed not only to him, but to some of the -others, as if the teacher was displeased. Very likely he would have been -glad of a chance to punish Tom. But he did not get it--at least that day. - -"Unmannerly brute!" murmured Tom, as he sat down. "I'll pay you back -yet. Not because of what you did to me, but because you're unfair to the -rest of the class." - -Tom hated unfairness, and he also felt that, in a way, he was to blame -for the punishment the class had unjustly suffered. He had not been able -to learn anything about how the powder came to be put in his pocket, -though he suspected Heller more than ever, as he saw how vindictive the -Freshman bully was toward him. - -"I almost wish he'd pick a fight with me," thought Tom. "Then I could -give him what he deserves." - -But Sam saw no chance of doing any further harm to the lad whom he hated -with so little cause. - -"Why can't you think of something to help me out?" Sam asked of his -crony. - -"Think of something yourself," retorted Nick. "I've got my own troubles. -We're going to haze the Freshmen tonight, and I'm on the committee of -rules and regulations," and he laughed. - -"You are? Then this is my chance! Come over here where we can talk," -and the bully led his crony to one side. - -This talk followed the dismissal of Professor Skeel's Latin class, -during which nothing had occurred save that the instructor took every -chance of insulting the students. - -"Say, if this keeps up much longer, we'll have to do something, Jack," -declared Tom, as they proceeded on to another recitation. - -"That's right. But what can we do?" - -"Oh, I'm going to think of something. I wish we could haze him." - -"So do I. But I guess we'll be hazed ourselves first." - -"How's that?" - -"Why it's this week that the Sophs get after us. We may expect them any -night now. Going to crawl?" - -"I am not! Might as well have it over with." - -"That's what I say." - -Though Tom and his Freshmen chums rather expected the advent of their -traditional enemies, the Sophomores, they hardly looked for visits that -same night, and so, when a knock came on the door of the room occupied -by Tom and Jack, they opened it unsuspectingly. - -"Here are two!" exclaimed a voice, as several masked figures entered. -"We're in luck! Grab 'em!" - -The orders of the ringleader were obeyed. Tom and Jack could not tell -who their captors were. - -"I say, Tom, shall we fight 'em?" asked Jack, always ready for a battle. - -"No, what's the use--in here?" asked Tom significantly. - -"Ha! Scrappers, eh?" remarked another Sophomore. "You're the kind we're -looking for!" - -"And maybe you'll get more than you want!" exclaimed Tom. Neither he -nor Jack resisted as they were led forth. It was a sort of unwritten -rule that no fighting against the hazers should take place in the -dormitories, as property was likely to be damaged. - -"Wait until we get in the open!" whispered Tom to Jack, as they were -being led down stairs. "Then we'll upset 'em if we can, and run. They -don't look to be very husky." - -"That's right," agreed Tom's chum. - -"Ha! No plotting!" cried the ringleader, giving Tom a dig in the ribs. - -"I'll give you that back with interest when I get the chance," murmured -our hero. - -Other parties of hazers made their appearance in the corridor, some -leading Bert Wilson and George Abbot. - -"Where are you taking me? What are you going to do? Is this allowed?" -fired George at his captors. - -"Sure it's allowed, you little question mark!" exclaimed a Sophomore. -"Trot along now." - -Tom and his chums were led over the campus. They could see other little -groups of prisoners in like plight, and the Sophomores, all of whom wore -masks, gathered together with their captives. - -"To the river!" ordered the ringleaders. "We'll make 'em wade a bit." - -"Oh, they're going to duck us!" whimpered George. "I wonder why they do -it?" - -"Oh, there goes Why!" exclaimed Jack. "He can't keep still." - -"They're not going to duck me!" murmured Tom. "Come on, Jack, now's our -chance. Make a break!" - -It was the best chance Tom had seen, and, with a sudden push, and a -putting out of his foot, he tripped the lad who had hold of his arm. -Then, with a well-directed punch, he paid him back for the dig in the -ribs. Tom was free to run. - -"Come on, Jack!" he called. His chum, performing a like trick, was also -free, and their two captors were down on the ground. But the flight did -not go unnoticed. - -"Two are loose! Grab the two Freshies!" yelled the lads who had held Tom -and Jack. The cry was taken up, and some of the Sophomores, who had -no Freshmen to take care of, ran after the two chums. Our heroes might -have gotten away but for the fact that two lads, masked, who were coming -across the campus to join their fellows, saw them, and waited to catch -the two fleeing ones. - -Tom and Jack tried to dodge, but could not. There was a clash, and Jack -was caught. In a moment other Sophomores came up, and had him. Tom was -struggling with his captor. - -"Take that!" cried the latter, when, finding he could not subdue Tom, he -struck our hero a blow in the face. - -"I won't take that from any one!" cried Tom fiercely. "Hazing customs -or not!" He retaliated, and with such good measure that he knocked the -other down. The black mask came off in the fall, and it was light enough -for Tom to see Sam Heller. - -"You!" he cried. "You're not a Sophomore! You have no right to haze!" - -"This is my second year here. I'm a Sophomore by rights!" growled Sam, -much put out that his trick had been discovered. "I'll get even with -you, too!" - -In his rage he leaped up and rushed at Tom. It was just the chance the -other wanted, and our hero promptly knocked Sam down again. He was wild -with rage. By this time a knot of Sophomores surrounded Tom. - -"Hold on there, Fresh!" cried some one who seemed to be in authority. -"This won't do, you know. You shouldn't fight back when you're being -hazed." - -"Has a Freshman the right to help the Sophs haze us?" demanded Tom, as -he recognized Bruce Bennington in the objector. "Here's Sam Heller, of -our class, joining against us." - -"Is that so?" asked Bruce in surprise. With some other Seniors he had -come out to see the fun. "That's not allowed, you know, Wendell," he -said, turning to the leader of the Second year lads. - -"I didn't know Heller was here," replied Wendell. "That's straight. He -has no right. We beg your pardon, Fairfield. Sam, how did this happen?" -Wendell was justly indignant. - -"Well, I claim I'm a Sophomore, and I would be if I had a fair show. -I thought I had a right to help haze." Sam was whining now, like all -cowards when found out. His trick, which he had formed with the aid of -Nick, had failed. The two had planned to get Jack and Tom off alone, -during the general excitement over the hazing, and thrash them. - -"You're not a Soph, and you can't do any hazing," declared Wendell -decidedly. "You ought to be hazed yourself, and you would be, only you -got yours last year. Come along now, Fairfield, and take what's coming -to you." - -"All right," agreed Tom good-naturedly. He was satisfied with what he -had done to Sam. The crowd of Sophomores was now so large that there was -no chance for our hero and his chum to escape. - -"Take your medicine, Fairfield," advised Bruce with a laugh. "It won't -be very bad." - -"All right," said Tom again, and he and Jack were led back to their -luckless mates, the little group of Seniors following. - -The hazing was not very severe. The Freshmen were made to wade in -the river up to their knees, and then, with coats turned inside out, -forced to dance in a ring, while the Sophomores laughed their delight, -and played mouth organs. Some few were tossed in blankets, and much -horse play was indulged in. But the discovery of Heller's trick rather -discomfited the second year lads, and they felt that there was a little -blight on their class. Otherwise the hazing might have been more severe. - -"Now then, form in line, and give three cheers for the Sophs, and you -can go home to your beds," declared Wendell. "Only remember, every -Freshman must wear his cap backwards every time he comes on the campus, -for the next two weeks, and salute every Sophomore he meets, under -penalty of being hazed over again. Remember! Now for the cheers!" - -They were given, and the hazing was over. No one had been much annoyed -by it, save perhaps Sam Heller. - -"It didn't work," he grumbled to Nick, later that night. "We had a -fight, though." - -"Did you lick him?" asked Nick, who had been separated from his crony -during the fracas with Tom. - -"I sure did." - -"How'd you get that bruise near your eye?" asked Nick. - -"Oh--er--I--sort of fell," stammered Sam. The bruise was where Tom had -hit him. - -And thus the hazing of Tom's Freshman class passed into history. - -Several weeks passed, and our hero came to like the school more and -more. He made many new chums, and no more enemies, though Sam and Nick -disliked him more than ever, and thought bitter thoughts, and devised -endless schemes to "get even," as they expressed it, though the debt -was on their side. But, though they annoyed Tom and his chum often, the -latter as often got back at them in hearty fashion. - -Tom heard from his parents, that they had arrived safely, and they said -the business was going on satisfactorily. The weather was getting -colder each day, and the boys began to have thoughts of skating and ice -boating as soon as the river should be frozen over. The football season -had closed. - -Then, unexpectedly, there came another clash with Professor Skeel. In -Latin class one day several students came unprepared, and failed in -reciting. - -"We'll stop right here!" exclaimed the professor. "It is evident to me -that an organized attempt to miss in Latin is under way. I shall double -the usual number of lines that you are all to write out. Perhaps that -will teach you not to trifle with me." - -Several protested at this, saying that the reason for their failure was -additional work in other classes. Others, who had not failed, declared -that it was manifestly unfair to make them suffer with the rest. - -"Silence!" snapped the professor. "You may stay here until your tasks -are done," and he prepared to leave the room, intending to send a -monitor to take charge of the lads. - -"Say, this is rank injustice!" exclaimed Jack. - -"It sure is," came from Tom. "And the ice on the river is thick enough -for skating, I believe. If we didn't have to stay here we could cut the -next lecture and have some fun." - -"We sure could. What'll we do?" - -"Let's haze Skeel!" suggested Bert Wilson, for there was no one in -authority in the room now. - -"Let's send him a warning," suggested Tom. "We'll write it out in Latin, -and threaten to go on a strike, or burn him in effigy if he doesn't act -more fair. How's that?" - -"Good!" exclaimed several. "Tom, you write out the notice." - -"I will!" agreed our hero, and then a monitor came in, and silence was -enforced. But Tom, after hurrying through the prescribed number of lines -of prose, began work on the warning. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -A RUNAWAY ICEBOAT - - -"How are we going to get it to him?" asked Bert Wilson, as the Latin -class, its members having finished their punishment, filed out on the -campus. - -"Mail it to him," suggested Jack. - -"No, leave it at his door," advised Henry Miller. - -"Huh! Who'd do it?" asked George Abbot. - -"There you go again, Why!" exclaimed Tom with a laugh, as he passed -around the warning he had composed. - -"Well, I mean who would have the nerve to go up and leave that at -Skeel's door?" went on the small lad. "I wouldn't." - -"I would!" declared Tom. "I'm tired of being imposed upon!" - -"And so am I!" exclaimed Jack. "I'm with you. Let's get a lot of -Freshmen, tog up in masks, or with pillow cases over our heads, and -leave the warning at his door. That'll make him be more decent, I -guess." - -"All right," agreed Tom. "We'll do it." - -That same night Tom, and several bold spirits, with pillow cases, or -white cloths over their coats, slipped from the dormitory where the -Freshmen lived, moved and had their being. Tom carried his warning. - -It was in Latin, more or less accurate, and in plain terms demanded on -the part of Professor Skeel a more tolerant attitude toward the Freshman -class, or, failure would be met with a burning in effigy of the disliked -instructor. And the boys meant it, too. - -"All ready now?" asked Tom as he and his chums, in the dark shadows of a -thick hedge around Mr. Skeel's house had adjusted their head-coverings. -"All ready?" - -"Lead on!" whispered Jack. "Who's going to knock at the door?" - -"I will," agreed Tom. "We'll go around to his 'study,' as he calls it. -It's got a door opening directly into the garden, and he'll answer the -knock himself." - -Advancing from amid group of his chums a little later, with the warning -held in the cleft end of a long stick, Tom knocked on Mr. Skeel's door. -The professor was in his study, poring over some book, and laying new -traps, in the way of difficult questions, for his pupils. - -"Who's there?" he cried sharply, at the sound of Tom's rap. - -A groan was the answer. - -"What nonsense is this?" demanded Professor Skeel, as he rose from his -chair. - -"If those are students they'll pay dearly for this nonsense!" he was -heard to exclaim, as he opened the door. The sight of the white-robed -figures, with one standing out from the others, holding forth a letter -in a cleft stick, was a distinct surprise to the professor. - -"What is the meaning of this?" he cried. "Who are you? I demand to know!" - -Groans were his only answer, and Tom waved the letter before the -professor's face. In very wonderment the instructor took it and then, -with a final series of groans, Tom and the others turned and hurried -away. - -"Come back. I demand that you return. Take those silly cloths from your -heads, and let me see who you are!" cried Professor Skeel, but our hero -and his chums knew better than to tarry. - -"Halt!" cried the professor. He started after the lads, but, as he -reached the bottom step he tripped on a stick, and fell and, as he had -on light slippers, the contact of his toes with the ground was anything -but comfortable. - -Uttering an exclamation of anger, the professor went back into his study -with the letter, while Tom and his chums hurried to their rooms, getting -to them undetected. - -"What's this?" burst out Professor Skeel, as he read Tom's Latin -warning. "They demand better treatment! Burn me in effigy, eh? Why this -is a threat! A threatening letter! I'll have the entire Freshman class -suspended! I shall see Dr. Meredith at once!" - -In his anger he did go over and see the head master, showing him the -letter. - -"Hum! Well," mused Doctor Meredith. "That is a sort of threat, Professor -Skeel, but--er--would not it be well to--er--to grant the class a -few more privileges? Remember they are first year lads, unused to -the discipline of a college, and, therefor, not to be dealt with too -harshly. Could you not grant their request?" - -"What? My dear sir! Grant a request coupled with a threat? Never! -I demand the suspension of the entire Freshman class, until the -perpetrators of this outrage are discovered, and then I demand their -expulsion. Why, Doctor Meredith, they had the audacity to call on _me_, -disguised. On _me_! They had the effrontery to threaten _me_ in a -miserably composed Latin scrawl. _Me!_ I demand the suspension of the -entire class!" - -"Hum! Well, I'm afraid I can't do that," said the head master. "I shall -take this under advisement, and act in the morning. But I can't suspend -the whole class. They are not all guilty, I'm sure," and nothing the -irate professor said could change this decision. - -In the morning Doctor Meredith referred to the matter, not half as -strongly, however, as Professor Skeel thought should have been done. -There was no threat to suspend the class, and all the doctor did was to -suggest that different measures be taken in the future. He also asked -those engaged in the affair to make themselves known. - -"As if we would!" exclaimed Tom, later. And I hardly believe Doctor -Meredith expected that the lads would. He had been a college master for -many years, and he knew boys, which Professor Skeel did not. - -"Oh, but we'll get it in Latin class," predicted Jack. "We'd better all -be prepared today." - -And they all were, very well prepared, but that did not save them from -an angry tongue-lashing, in which the professor, on his own account, -demanded to know those who had been instrumental in writing and bringing -the warning. - -Of course no one answered, and, as Tom had taken the precaution to -print out the letter, his handwriting was not recognized. Every device, -however, that an angry and bullying teacher could bring to bear, was -used on the class. But no one failed, and no punishment could be -inflicted. Though had the professor been able to use his power he would -have administered corporal punishment to all the Freshmen. - -The result was, however, that the Latin recitation was perfect, and, in -his heart the instructor was just a little bit afraid of the threat of -burning him in effigy. So, in a few days he did mend his ways somewhat, -and the class began to feel that Tom's plan had worked wonders. But the -end was not yet. - -"Well, Tom, I've had enough of this!" exclaimed Jack, one cold -afternoon, when the two chums had been "boning" away in their room for -some time. "Let's go hire that iceboat you were talking of, and have a -sail on the river. I guess she's frozen over thick enough." - -"I'm with you!" and Tom tossed his book to one side. "Let's get George, -Bert and some of the others." - -Some days before Tom had discovered that the man of whom the lads hired -their rowboats, had a couple of ice craft for rent, and he had engaged -one for the first good day. - -A little later Tom and several of his chums, including Jack, were on -their way to the frozen river, lessons being over for the day. - -"Well, where are you bound for?" asked Bruce Bennington, as he met Tom -and the others near the stream. - -"Ice boating. Come along," invited Tom. - -"Thanks. I believe I will. I was going for a skate, but somehow, I don't -feel like exerting myself." - -There was a look of worriment still on the Senior's face, and he talked -as though the trouble that was worrying him had not passed away. Tom -wanted to help him, but knew it was best to say nothing. - -A part of the river, where the water was not so deep, nor the current -under the ice so swift as elsewhere, had been set aside by the school -authorities as the place where the students might skate. They were -forbidden to use the steel runners elsewhere, as a matter of safety, -and, as the skating course was plenty long enough, none of the lads -ventured on the part of the river where the ice boats were used. In -fact the presence of those craft, of which there were several, made it -necessary that the numerous skaters keep clear of them. - -The place where Tom hired the iceboat was quite a distance from the -skating course, and, in consequence of a bend in the river, none of the -other pupils, who were indulging in sports on the steel blades, were in -sight. There was one iceboat out on the broad surface of the river as -our hero and his chums arrived. - -"Know how to sail one?" asked Bruce, as he took his place in the shallow -box that served as a sort of cockpit, while some of the boys perched on -the runners. - -"Fairly well," replied Tom, and soon they were skimming over the -slippery surface, with Tom at the helm. It was great sport, and they -liked it immensely. - -"This is fine!" exclaimed Bruce, with sparkling eyes, and something of a -return of his old manner. "It beats skating!" and he kicked his skates -that he had tossed into the box near him. - -"Oh, skating's all right!" declared Tom, as he changed the course -slightly. "We'll have some skating races soon, won't we?" - -"Yes, it's about time for them," answered the Senior. - -After sailing for several miles Tom decided to put up a sort of -auxiliary sail on the boat, to get more speed. It was fitted to a short -bamboo mast, about five feet high. - -"You'll all have to get out while I fix it," suggested Tom, as he let -the wind spill out of the big sail, and brought the boat up with a turn, -while it gradually came to a stop. - -They piled out, stamping up and down to warm their rather benumbed legs -and feet. Tom and Jack were soon putting up the little sail. - -"I've got to whittle down the end of the mast to make it fit in," -declared Tom after a trial. "Lend me your knife, Jack." - -Bruce had put on his skates for a little turn while he waited, and the -others were racing up and down. Tom and Jack were working over the -auxiliary sail, standing a short distance away from the iceboat, when -there came a sudden puff of wind. The main sheet became caught, the big -sail filled, and a moment later the empty iceboat was racing over the -smooth, frozen river at dangerous speed! - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -THE SKATING RACE - - -"Look at that!" cried Jack. - -"See it go!" shouted Bert. - -"How did it happen to get away?" the ever-questioning George wanted to -know. - -"By Jove!" murmured Bruce. "He'd ask questions if it was the end of the -world. He'd want to know why it hadn't happened before." - -"Wow!" came from Tom, as he started after the disappearing iceboat. -"That's bad! I'm responsible for it." He started off on a run, as though -he could catch the skimming craft. - -"You'll never get her!" yelled Bruce to him. He had taken off his -skates, and hurried up beside Tom. - -"I've got to get her!" cried our hero. "She may run against the bank and -go to smash." - -"You can't stop her. She's too far off. Look at her veer! She'll capsize -in another minute!" - -Indeed the unguided craft was slewing about, making quick turns and big -circles as the wind blew her. Then Tom cried out: - -"I'm going to catch her. Lend me your skates, Bruce." - -"You can't skate as fast as that boat is going!" - -"I can try. Besides I'm not going to do all skating." - -"What then?" asked Jack, curious to know what scheme his chum had in his -mind. - -"This!" and Tom pointed to the small sail he had been going to rig on -the craft when she went off by herself. "I can hold this at my back by -the mast, and the wind will blow me along." - -"Good!" cried Bruce, who understood. "That's the idea Fairfield, here -are my skates." - -Tom soon had clamped them on his feet, and then, holding the improvised -sail at his back, he headed for the runaway iceboat. The sail was almost -like the regular ones skaters use. - -Tom soon developed great speed, for the wind was strong and directly -at his back. The others started to run after him. The iceboat was some -distance ahead, but Tom was rapidly overhauling her. - -"I'll get her before she goes to smash," he murmured hopefully. The boat -suddenly heeled over, and Tom thought surely she was going to capsize. -But she righted, and then went off on a new tack. Tom saw his chance. - -"I can quarter across and get aboard, if she doesn't veer again!" he -cried, and he altered his course. Nearer and nearer he came to the -iceboat, until he saw that he would soon pass her. "If only she doesn't -veer around," he murmured hopefully. - -Fortunately, however, the wind held in that direction for a few minutes, -and the main sheet of the sail was caught in such a way as to hold the -craft steady. - -"Now to do some skating on my own hook!" cried Tom, as he cast aside the -little sail. He struck out with all his strength and speed, and, as he -came close to the boat, with a leap and a spring he hurled himself into -the blanket-covered cockpit, landing with a thud. - -It was the work of but a moment to seize the rudder, and put the boat -about, so that she was in control, though even as Tom did this she -nearly capsized. - -"Whoa, now!" he called, as to a restive horse, and then, settling -himself down, he sent the boat back on a series of tacks to pick up his -chums. - -"Say, did you see him skate!" exclaimed Bert Wilson in admiration, as he -called attention to the burst of speed on Tom's part. - -"I should say yes," admitted Jack. "If we have a race I'll back Tom." - -"He looks like a winner," commented Bruce quietly. - -Tom brought the iceboat up to his chums, and they got aboard. Jack -steered while Tom took off the skates he had not had time to remove, and -then he went to where he had dropped the little sail. - -"I guess we'll get along without it," he remarked. "We're going fast -enough." - -"I never thought you'd get the boat in time," spoke Bruce admiringly. -"Where'd you learn to skate, Fairfield?" - -"Oh, I could make pretty good time ever since I was a small lad, but I -sort of broke my record today, I guess." - -They were soon back at the boathouse, having talked on the way of the -little accident and of Tom's skill. - -"You'll enter for the class races, won't you?" inquired Reddy Burke of -Tom, a little later, when Bruce had told of the Freshman's skill. - -"I'll be glad to." - -"They'll come off in about a week if the ice holds," went on the -red-haired athlete. - -Practice for the skating races was soon under way. The affair was to -settle the championship of the school. Later, intercollegiate contests -would be held. - -"Going to try?" asked Nick of his crony, when the notice of the ice -sports was posted. "I hear Fairfield is a wonder." - -"What do I care? I can skate some myself, and if I can't win, maybe I -can spoil his chances." - -"How?" - -"Oh, I haven't made up my mind yet." - -It was a cold, clear day, the ice was firm and smooth, and it was just -right for a skating race. The elimination trials had been held, and the -representatives of each class selected. There were four each from the -Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior and Senior divisions. Tom, of course, was -picked, and so was Jack, and, somewhat to the surprise of many, Sam -Heller also represented the first year lads. - -"Look out for him," advised Jack to his chum, when they were getting -ready. "If he skates near enough to you he may try some mean trick." - -"I'll watch out, but I'm not worried." - -"I wonder if he'd be mean enough to squeal to our Latin prof. about the -warning letter you wrote?" went on Jack. "I've often thought of that. -He's equal to it." - -"Oh, I don't believe Heller would dare do a thing like that," spoke Tom. -"I'm not alarmed. There, I guess my skates are sharp enough," for the -two had been putting an extra edge on the steel runners in anticipation -of the contest. - -There was a big crowd present to watch the skaters, who were lined up, -receiving their last instructions from the officials. Clamps were being -tightened, straps made more snug, and the last little attentions being -given. - -"All ready?" called the starter. - -"Ready!" answered the lads in turn. - -"Look out for Sam. He's quite near you," warned Jack to his chum, in a -low voice. Tom nodded and looked across at the bully, who had his head -turned away. - -"Go!" cried the starter, and his pistol cracked out on the frosty air. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -WINNING AGAINST ODDS - - -The skaters were off together, almost like a line of well-drilled -soldiers on the double-quick, and, as they glided forward, there came a -shrill burst of cheers from the student spectators. - -"Rah! Rah! Freshmen! Elmwood Freshmen!" cried the members of that class, -to urge on their comrades. - -"Boom! Boom! Boomity-boom Seniors! Siss!" came the peculiar cry of the -four-year lads. - - "Sophomore! Sophomore! - Rah! Rah! Rah! - Going like a trolley car!" - -That was the second year boys cheering. - -Then came the call of the Juniors: - - "June! June, beautiful June. - We'll win the race and win it soon. - Siss! - Boom! - Rah! - Juniors!" - -The line was a trifle broken now, as one or two forged ahead of the -others, and among them was Tom. Yet he was holding himself in check, -and narrowly watching the others, for the race was not a short one, and -he knew the danger of getting winded too early in it, and spending his -strength so that he had none left for a final spurt. - -Jack was even with his chum, though he was not as good a skater as was -our hero. Sam Heller was a little behind, but in practice he had done -well, and Tom knew that in his enemy he had a dangerous rival. - -Bruce Bennington was skating well, the only one of the Seniors who -seemed to stand a chance, while a member each of the Junior and -Sophomore class was up in the front now. - -"Everyone is holding back," said Jack to Tom. - -"Yes, waiting for a break. I've a good notion to give it to 'em, and -take a chance." - -"Don't you do it. Let some one else set the pace. Hold back. We want to -win this race for the Freshman class, and we're depending on you." - -"Hope I don't disappoint you. There goes Blaisdell for the Juniors. Come -on!" - -One of the skaters had spurted and at once the others increased their -speed to keep up to him. The race was now on in earnest, and soon half -the distance was covered, with no one markedly in the lead. Several had -dropped out, hopelessly distanced, but there were enough of each class -left to make the result doubtful. - -"I wonder what Sam is going to do?" mused Nick Johnson, as he watched -his crony. "He'd better get busy." - -The skaters had turned, and were coming back toward the starting point. -They could hear the cheers of their comrades, and the cries of the -followers of the various classes could be distinguished. - -"Better hit it up, Tom," advised Jack. - -"I will. Here goes!" - -Tom struck out with more speed and power than he had previously used. He -imagined he was once more chasing the runaway iceboat, and he gripped -his fists and clenched his teeth as he made up his mind to win. - -But, even as he spurted, others glided up, almost beside him, and one of -them was Sam Heller. Tom watched out of the corner of his eye, and it -seemed to him that Sam was edging over toward him. - -"I wonder what he's doing that for?" mused Tom. - -So near were they to the finish line now that the calls of the class -cheerers came clearly through the cold, crisp air. - -"Come on, Freshmen! Come on! Win! Win!" - -"Don't let 'em beat you, Seniors!" - -"Skate. Skate. Oh you Sophs!" - -"Juniors forever. Juniors to the front!" - -Thus the students cheered. - -"I'm going to win!" whispered Tom fiercely to himself. - -The finish line was a hundred feet away. Tom looked ahead, and saw a -confused mass of excited spectators, waving flags and banners, tossing -caps in the air, dancing about and uttering yells at the tops of their -voices. He looked to left and right and saw on one side of him, Bruce -Bennington, and, on the other, Sam Heller. Jack Fitch was not in sight. - -"I guess Jack's out of it," mused Tom, regretfully. - -He gathered himself for a final effort, and, just as he struck out with -increased force he saw Sam lurch over toward him. - -"Look out!" Tom yelled. - -The bully returned no answer. He seemed to have lost control of himself. -Nearer and nearer he glided toward Tom. - -In vain did our hero try to get out of the way of what in a flash he -knew to be an intentional attempt to foul him. But he could not escape -without swerving so far to one side as to mean the loss of the race. - -"Look out for yourself!" warned Tom, determined to give way no longer, -and he braced himself for the shock. - -It came an instant later, when Sam's skate struck Tom's, staggering him. - -"Excuse me!" panted the bully, unnecessarily loud. "I couldn't help it!" - -Tom said nothing, but he thought a lot. - -Then he felt himself falling. There was but one thing to do, and Tom did -it. He was staggering forward, trying in vain to remain upright long -enough to cross the line. The only way he could do it was to gain more -momentum than that caused by Sam's foul interference. That was to jump, -and Tom did it. - -Up in the air he rose, remembering the time he had cleared barrels on -the ice in an obstacle race. - -Up and up he went, fairly hurling himself forward. As he did so he had a -confused glimpse of Sam Heller sprawling on the ice, and tumbling over -and over. Tom also saw Bruce Bennington looking at him in astonishment. -Our hero also had a glance at representatives of the Junior and -Sophomore classes fairly doubled up in a desperate effort to win the -race. - -"But I'll do it! I'll do it, if I don't break a skate when I come down, -or trip," thought Tom, desperately. - -The jump had accomplished the very purpose for which the plucky -Freshman intended it. Just as when you trip, and fall forward, if you -can suddenly jump, and equalize the momentum given the upward part of -our body, while overcoming the inertia of your feet, caused by the -contact with some obstacle--just in this way Tom had jumped. - -He saw the finish line but a few feet ahead. The next moment, amid a -perfect riot of cheers, he came down with resounding force on the ice, -his steel runners ringing out in the frosty air. - -For a second he feared that he could not keep his balance, but by a -desperate effort he did, and with great speed he slid across the mark, -and fairly into the crowd of students bunched beyond it. Tom was unable -to stop himself. - -A quick glance showed that he was alone when he crossed the finish mark. -He had won the race against big odds! - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -MORE TROUBLE - - -"Freshmen win!" - -"Rah, Freshmen! Elmwood forever! Freshmen win!" - -"Hurray for Tom Fairfield!" - -"And after a foul, too. He won after a foul!" - -"Never mind. We won't claim it. Maybe it was an accident. Heller may be -hurt!" - -"Seniors Second! Bruce Bennington is second!" - -These were only a few of the cries that greeted the achievement of our -hero as he won the school race. He had come to a stop amid a knot of his -classmates, who gathered about him, clasping him by the hand, clapping -him on the back, and generally congratulating him. - -"Great work, old man!" - -"Magnificent jump!" - -"How in the world did you do it?" - -"I don't know myself," confessed Tom, with a laugh. "I just had -to--that's all." - -"Are you hurt, Tom?" demanded Jack, anxiously, as he skated up to his -chum. "Did his skate hit your ankle?" for well he knew the agonizing -pain that follows the blow of the point of a skate against that tender -part of the foot. - -"No, not a bit," replied Tom. "His skate just glanced off mine, but I'd -have gone down if I hadn't jumped. Is Heller hurt?" - -"I guess not much, though he's limping to the finish. It would serve him -right if he was. He deliberately fouled you." - -"I think so myself, but I'm not going to say anything." - -"Well, maybe it's best. Class honor, you know." - -The officials of the race were marking down the time, and formally -declaring Tom the winner, with Bruce Bennington second and Peter Ranson, -of the Sophomore class, third. The Juniors were not in the race at all, -much to their disappointment. - -"I--er--I presume your collision with Fairfield was an _accident_--was -it not, Heller?" asked Professor Livingston Hammond, the fat and jolly -professor who had acted as one of the officials. "We saw it from here." - -"It was an accident--certainly," replied Sam, sharply. He had taken off -his skates, and came limping up. "I could not help it. My skate struck a -small piece of wood, and I slid over toward him. I tried to warn him, -but it was too late. If anyone doubts my word--" - -"No one dreamed of doubting you--or even mentioned it," interrupted Mr. -Hammond with a smile, yet he looked at Sam narrowly. - -"Three cheers for Professor Hammond!" called someone, and they were -given with a will. Out on the fringe of spectators stood Professor -Skeel, with a frown on his face. No one had cheered him, and he felt no -elation that a member of his Freshman Latin class had won the race. In -fact, there was a sneer on his face as he saw the ovation accorded to -Tom. - -"I more than half believe that he wrote that insulting and threatening -letter to me," Professor Skeel muttered. "I must find out, and if he -did--" a cruel smile played over his features. "Ah, there is some one -else I must have a talk with!" he exclaimed as he saw Bruce Bennington -walking along, swinging his skates. "Come here Bennington," he called, -and the face of Bruce went rather white, and there was a nervous air in -his manner, not to say a tinge of fear, as he approached the unpleasant -instructor. - -"Well, sir?" he asked. - -"Are you ready to settle with me?" asked Professor Skeel, in a frosty -tone. - -"No, Professor, I'm sorry to say I am not." - -"When will you be?" - -"I can't say. Really, I am having it harder than you can imagine." - -"Harder? Don't you suppose that I have my own troubles, too? Have you -appealed to your folks?" - -"No, and I'm not going to!" Bruce spoke fiercely. - -"You may have to," and the Latin instructor's tone was threatening. "I -shall not wait much longer, and if you do not make the appeal I shall do -so myself." - -"Oh, Professor Skeel, surely you wouldn't do that!" - -"I certainly shall, unless you settle with me soon. I will wait but a -little longer." - -"Well, I'll see what I can do," spoke Bruce, wearily. - -"You'd better," answered the professor significantly, as he turned aside. - -Tom, coming along with Jack and some of his chums, heard the last -words, though no one else seemed to have done so. He also noticed the -threatening attitude of the Latin instructor, and was aware of the -despondent attitude of the Senior student. - -"I wish I knew what was up between them," mused Tom. "I would do a lot -to help Bruce. Maybe it's some trouble about examination papers. And yet -I know Bruce wouldn't be guilty of cheating, or anything like that. I -wonder what it is?" - -But Tom had little time to think by himself quietly, for his chums were -jostling all about him, talking of the race, congratulating him over and -over again, while some spoke significantly of Heller's action. - -"Oh, forget that," advised Tom. "He came out of it worse than I did." - -"I should say yes," agreed Jack. "He might have broken his leg trying a -trick like that." - -Tom's chums crowded into his room, and that night there was an impromptu -and surreptitious little spread, held there in violation of the school -rules. - -Professor Skeel got word of it through one of the monitors, and went to -notify Doctor Meredith. - -"Hum, some of the Freshmen eating in the room of young Fairfield, eh?" -murmured the good doctor. - -"Yes. In direct violation of rule twenty-one. If you come with me now, -we can catch them in the act." - -"Hum. Yes! Let me see, didn't Fairfield win the skating race today, -Professor Skeel?" - -"He did, certainly, but I don't see what that has to do with it," -snapped Mr. Skeel. - -"Well, perhaps it has. I--er--I think--well, on the whole, I think I -won't disturb the boys tonight, Professor Skeel." - -"What! You will suffer a rule to be broken?" - -"Well, in view of the facts, and under the circumstances, I guess it -won't do the rule much harm," spoke the doctor dryly. - -Professor Skeel threw up his hands helplessly, and walked off, muttering -to himself. And Tom and his chums were not disturbed that night. - -"But I'll take that Fairfield lad down a peg," the irate Latin -instructor muttered as he went into his house. He sat up late that -night, evolving a plan to discover who had sent him the threatening -letter, and at last he exclaimed: - -"I believe I have it. That will give me a clew. And then--!" - -He smiled sourly as he took out the screed Tom had printed, and looked -closely at it. - -"I will find out who composed that!" he went on, "and when I do he shall -suffer for it!" - -The Freshman class little realized what it was in for at the hands of -Professor Skeel. - -It was a day or so after the great skating race, when the Freshmen filed -into Latin recitation, that they became aware of something unusual in -the air. Professor Skeel looked at them individually and collectively -with a mocking smile on his face. - -"He's got it in for some of us," murmured Tom to Jack. - -"Silence!" exclaimed the instructor, banging a ruler on his desk. "I -will permit no levity!" - -The boys filed to their seats more than usually silent. The professor -opened his book, and some one sneezed. It was a perfectly natural and -unavoidable sneeze, yet it set off the mine that had been smouldering in -the professor's breast for many days. - -"Stop that!" he cried. "If I find that any more of that abominable -powder has been scattered about I will, on my own responsibility, -personally chastise the guilty student!" - -He paused and looked about. Suspiciously he sniffed the air, but there -was none of the powder in evidence. - -"It was well for the entire class--the entire class I repeat," he said, -"that there is none. Now we will proceed!" - -He was unusually severe that day. The slightest slip was noticed, and -the culprit was made to sit down with a lesson to write out. Scarcely -one escaped, and when an error was made the professor, instead of -correcting it in a gentle manner, referred sarcastically to the -"imbecility" of the lad, and, in bullying language, demanded to know -where he had received his early instruction. - -There were murmurs of discontent. Tom flushed angrily when he was -needlessly insulted, and there came a look on his face that made Jack -Fitch think: - -"Tom won't stand much more of this. There'll be a blow-up pretty soon, -and I'll be glad of it. So will the rest of the class. Tom has something -up his sleeve against Skeel, and the sooner it comes out the better. I'm -going to sit tight and watch. It's time for an eruption!" - -The recitation went on, from bad to worse. Student after student was -rigged and browbeaten, until even those who had come to class well -prepared felt their knowledge slipping from them, and they floundered, -and made all sorts of wild answers and impossible guesses as to the -right translation. - -"It is just what I should expect of a class of cowards who would write -an anonymous letter!" snarled the professor. "You must have had nice -bringings-up--all of you!" - -There were one or two hisses. - -"Stop!" exclaimed the teacher. "I'll not permit that! I will have -silence in my classes. Now, Fairfield, try again, and see if you can -make any more errors than the last boy!" - -Tom, with flushed face, began to recite, but he was stopped almost -before he had begun. - -"How many times must I tell you that your pronunciation of that word is -hopelessly wrong?" snarled Professor Skeel. - -"I don't believe that you ever told me so," answered Tom quietly. - -"Sir!" The professor fairly glared at our hero. - -Tom repeated his remark respectfully. - -"That's enough!" cried the teacher. "I will not be insulted by you! -Nor by any one in the class! It is evident that none of you know this -lesson. You will have it again tomorrow, and, in addition twice the -usual amount of Latin to do. I will hammer some knowledge into your -heads in spite of yourselves!" - -It was a most unfair and unjust task to inflict, and every boy resented -it. Yet what could they do? All eyes seemed turned on Tom, and our hero -bit his lips to keep back his temper. - -"We will pass over this part of the lesson," went on the professor. -"I now want you to print out for me--print out, mind, the following -sentences in Latin. You will not write them, but you will print them!" - -A gasp of surprise ran around the room. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -TOM'S DARING PROPOSAL - - -"Silence!" proclaimed Professor Skeel, as he heard the indrawn -breathing. "Not a word!" - -No one seemed likely to utter it under the circumstances, but the lads -were doing some hard thinking. - -"As I stated, you will print this lesson," went on the instructor. "I -want to see if you can _print_ as well as you _write_," he added with a -mocking smile. - -In a flash it came to Tom and the others what the object of the queer -task was. It was to gain some evidence, or clew, to the printing in the -threatening letter. All eyes were turned on Tom, and then, as if aware -that this might implicate him, the lads looked in various directions. - -Fortunately Professor Skeel was at the board setting down the sentences -he wished copied, or he might have noticed the glances turned toward our -hero, and have guessed the secret. Then he would have been at no pains -to try his little trick. As it was he proceeded with it, chuckling to -himself as he thought that it would give him the information he desired. - -But Tom was wise in his day. It was not the first time he had matched -his wits against some unfair instructor, and he at once resolved on his -plan. - -He had printed the threatening letter in the usual, straight up and down -characters. As he now began to print out the Latin exercise he used, in -part, letters that sloped forward, and others that sloped backward. Not -once did Tom use an upright character. - -"There," he thought, as he neared the end of the short exercise, "if he -thinks he can compare any of the words in this, with the words in the -letter I handed him on the end of the stick, he's a good one." - -Tom noticed, as did some of the others, that the words in the exercise -were, in many cases, the same ones used in the letter. The professor had -been enough of a detective to think of this, and he chuckled to himself -many times as he thought of his cuteness. But it was not to avail him. - -"You may hand in your papers as you finish," he said, "and leave the -room. Don't forget--to-day's lessons, and two additional ones for -to-morrow." - -One by one boys filed up to his desk, laid their papers down, and passed -out. - -"Humph!" exclaimed Professor Skeel, as Tom passed over his exercise. -"Is this your usual style of printing, Fairfield?" - -"I am not used to such work, and I have no decided style. I vary it, I -suppose, not having had much practice at it." - -"So I see," remarked Professor Skeel, with a sharp glance at our hero--a -glance that Tom returned unabashed. - -"Say, what do you think of it?" asked Jack of his chum a little later, -when both were in their room. - -"Think of it? That it's getting worse and worse," remarked Tom bitterly. -"I've had about all I can stand. Elmwood would be a perfect school, and -a most jolly one, if it wasn't for Skeel." - -"That's what we all think, I guess. But what's to be done?" - -"Something, and that pretty soon," declared Tom with energy. "I'm not -going to stand it much longer." - -"Neither am I. Say, he wanted us to print that lesson so he could -compare the letter with it." - -"Of course. But I fooled him," and Tom told of his scheme. - -"Good! I was afraid you'd be caught. We all ought to have printed part -of that ultimatum, and then the responsibility would have been divided." - -"Oh, I don't mind that. But if things don't turn for the better soon -we'll either burn Skeel in effigy, or----" - -"What?" asked Jack, as Tom paused. - -"I'm not quite ready to tell yet, but it will be something rather new, I -think. Now let's get at this Latin. We don't want to give him an excuse -to bullyrag us any more." - -"No, that's right." - -While his students were working hard, and denying themselves well-earned -recreation, in order to complete the unjustly imposed tasks, Professor -Skeel was in his study, poring over the printed exercises turned in. - -"I can't seem to identify any of the hands with the one that made up -the insulting and threatening letter," he murmured, as he stared at the -papers. "I thought surely Fairfield was the guilty one, and yet his -printing is totally different from that in the note." - -He compared the two papers--Tom's and the letter--and shook his head. - -"Unless Fairfield purposely disguised his print this time!" the -professor exclaimed. "I wonder if that could be it? I must get another -sample from him--a natural sample. Let me see; how can I do it?" and he -fell to scheming. - -"There's that Bennington, too," continued the professor. "I must put -the screws on him more strongly before he begins to suspect. And if I -should be found out----" - -The professor looked guiltily at the windows as if to make sure the -shades were drawn, and, finding that they were, he listened as if -fearful of hearing approaching footsteps. - -He rather hoped his class would not be prepared in the unusual task he -had set for them, and he was not disappointed. Few students could have -prepared so much Latin in one day, with their other tasks, and many -failed. - -"Just as I expected!" sneered the professor. "Well, you may all remain -in one hour and a half after the last lecture today, and study. -Remember, the entire class remains ninety minutes after the last -lecture, no matter by whom. You may go now, but return here to remain -after hours." - -There were gasps of dismay, for many lads had formed pleasure-plans for -the afternoon. Now they could not be carried out. More than this, there -were one or two students, Tom among them, who, by remaining up late -the night before, and studying unusually hard, and by cutting a safe -lecture, had recited perfectly. Yet they were punished with the others. - -"Fellows, we've reached the limit of endurance!" exclaimed Tom to his -classmates, as they filed out on the campus, and got a safe distance -away from the listening ears of Professor Skeel. - -"That's right!" came in a chorus. - -"But what's to be done?" asked Jack. - -"Hang him in effigy, and burn the scarecrow afterward!" suggested Bert -Wilson. - -"Can you do both?" asked George Abbot. - -"Dry up, Why!" came from several. - -"Let's hear from Tom," suggested Jack. - -"Hear! Hear!" came the shout. - -"Fellows, we've stood all we're called on to stand from Skeel," went on -Tom. "I'm sick and tired of being bullyragged." - -"What are we going to do?" - -"Strike! Rebel!" declared Tom daringly. "I suggest that we demand better -treatment from him, or we'll all go on a strike, and refuse to recite to -him any more, or enter his classroom!" - -"Good!" - -"Great!" - -"That's the stuff!" - -"Hurray for Fairfield!" - -"Are you in earnest, Tom?" asked Jack, who stood near his chum. - -"I surely am. I've stood more from him--and so have all of us--than I -would from anyone else. I say let's strike!" - -"And we're with you!" came in a chorus. - -"All of you?" asked Tom, looking around on the Freshman Latin class. -"Remember a strike is no good unless we're all in it." - -"We're all with you!" came the cry. - -Tom looked around, and saw Sam Heller sneaking off. - -"Here, come back, Heller!" he cried, and Sam turned, facing Tom with a -sneer on his face. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -DEFIANCE - - -"Well, what do you want?" demanded the bully, halting. - -"I want to know where you're going," replied Tom. - -"I don't know that it's any of your affair." - -"Well, it is, and the affair of every member of this class. We want to -know who is with us, and who against us. And it looks, the way you were -sneaking off just now, as though you weren't going to be with us." - -"I don't care how it looks," retorted Sam, and his tone was not as -defiant as it had been, "I've got some studying to do, and I want to get -at it." - -"Well, we've no objection to you doing all the studying you want to," -went on our hero, "but if things turn out the way I expect we won't do -much more Latin boning--until things are different." - -"That's what!" came in a chorus from the others. - -Sam Heller started to walk away, but Tom was not done with him yet. - -"Look here. Heller," went on his questioner. "What we want to know is, -whether you're with us or against us?" - -"Why shouldn't I be with you?" - -"That's not answering the question. We know how you trained in with the -Sophomores at the hazing, and that doesn't look as though you considered -yourself a Freshman, though I know why you did it, all right," and Tom -looked at his enemy significantly. - -"That's what!" shouted Jack Fitch. - -"Now, as I said," went on Tom, "if we do strike, and refuse to recite -to Skeel, it won't amount to anything unless the class stands together. -If even one member backs down it will look as though he didn't believe -our cause right and just, and we can't afford to have that. Now, are you -with us or against us? We want to know before we go any further." - -"And if you're not with us, it won't be healthy for you, Heller!" -exclaimed Frank Ralston. - -"Hold on!" cried Tom. "We mustn't have any threats. If he doesn't want -to join he doesn't have to, in which case, of course, he can no longer -consider himself a Freshman in the real sense of the word." - -"Coventry for his, if he doesn't join!" cried Jack. - -Sam started. He knew what it would mean to be given the "silence" by -every member of his class. He would be practically ignored. For, in -spite of his mean traits, he had a few friends beside Nick. - -"Well?" asked Tom. "What about it?" - -"I--I'm with you--of course." - -"To the end?" - -"Yes." - -"No matter what happens?" - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean will you chance expulsion if it comes to that in case we strike?" - -"I--I suppose so." - -"That's all I want to know," went on Tom. "We will have a meeting -to-night, and decide on a plan. Then we'll make a mutual promise to -stick together, and we'll wait our chance. Meeting's adjourned." - -"Say, Tom Fairfield is all right!" exclaimed Bert Wilson to Jack, as the -two walked on together. - -"That's true," agreed Tom's special chum. "I'm glad we've got him to run -things." - -"What makes him that way--always doing things?" George Abbot wanted to -know. - -"Because, Why," spoke Jack, "Tom eats rusty nails for breakfast. They -give him an iron constitution." - -"Really. Are you joking?" - -"Of course not," replied Jack with a sober face. "Run along now, and -ask Demy Miller if he knows his ancient history." - -The studious janitor was observed coming over the campus, a book, as -usual, under his arm. He saw the students and turned to meet them. - -"What is it now, Demy?" asked Jack, as he saw an anxious look on the -man's face. - -"Oh, it's this proposition about constructing squares on the sides -of a right-angle triangle and making the sum of them equal the one -constructed on the--er--hippenuse, I think it's called." - -"Hypothenuse--the hypothenuse!" laughed Jack, as he heard the odd -pronunciation. "Why, that's an easy problem, Demy. George Abbot here -will show you how. We're going for a skate." - -"Oh, I----!" began the human question box. He was going skating also, -but now he had to stop and explain to the janitor. And it was well to -keep in with the latter, for he often did the boys favors, and many a -night he let them in before some prowling monitor could spy them. "Well, -come over here, and I'll do it for you," ended George, as he saw his -chums making appealing signals to him. - -Soon he was explaining that comparatively simple geometrical problem -while the others, including Tom, went down to the frozen river. - -Early that evening there was secret meeting of the Freshman Latin -class, and a solemn agreement was entered into that, if they had to -strike, they would all stick together. Even Sam Heller was present, -though with no very good grace, and he made the promise with the others. - -"Now to await developments," suggested Tom. "We'll give that old -taskmaster one more chance, and if he takes it, and bullyrags us any -more, we'll defy him, and go on strike." - -"Hurray!" yelled Jack Fitch. - -"That's the talk!" came from several. - -"Meeting's adjourned," said Tom with a smile. "Come on, Jack, I feel -just like running the guard." - -"Oh, I don't know. Where you going?" - -"What's the matter with going into town, and seeing a moving picture -show." - -"We may be nabbed." - -"What of it? Might as well be killed for a sheep as a lamb. If we go -into this strike business we'll get in bad with the powers that be, -anyhow. And if we don't, why I'll feel so good at the change in Skeel, -that I won't mind a little rigging for being out after hours." - -"All right. I'm with you." - -The two chums went, with some other of their friends, and thoroughly -enjoyed themselves at the show, for the pictures were of a high class. -Coming back the boys were almost at their dormitory, when a friendly -Senior warned them that some of the proctor's scouts were on the watch. - -"Go around by Skeel's house, cut through his garden, and you can get in -through the cellar, I think," the Senior advised them. - -"Thanks," called Tom, as he and his chums moved off in the darkness. As -they passed the residence of the disliked instructor, they saw a light -in his study. The shade was drawn, but the shadow of two figures could -be seen on the shade. And, as the lads came opposite it they made out -one figure, which plainly was that of the professor, shaking his fist at -the other. - -"He's laying down the law to some one," murmured Jack. "Looks like he'd -be in a sweet temper to-morrow." - -"I'm going to see who it is," whispered Tom. "The shade is up a crack." - -"Better not," advised Bert Wilson, but Tom was daring. He crept up -to the window, and saw that it was Bruce Bennington who was with the -professor. - -"And it was him whom the professor was shaking his fist at," thought -Tom, as he stole back to his comrades with the information. "I wish -I could find out what is up between those two, and what is troubling -Bruce." - -Our friends managed to get to their rooms without being caught, though -one or two of them had narrow escapes. - -Tom's thoughts, as he dropped off to sleep, were on what might happen -the next day. Would it be necessary to strike? He imagined that it -would, for it could hardly be expected that Professor Skeel would change -his nature in a day. - -It was not without a little feeling of nervousness that Tom and his -associates filed into their Latin recitation the next morning. There -was a grim smile on the face of Professor Skeel as he looked over the -lads in their seats, and there was grim menace in the manner in which he -opened his book, prepared to go on with the doubly-imposed task. - -"Well," he began, omitting the usual "young gentlemen," with which jolly -Professor Hammond, and the others of the faculty, used to greet their -students. "Well, I trust you are all prepared; for if you are not, I -warn you all that it will go hard with you." - -There was a subdued murmur. Clearly there was to be no let-up in the -manner of conducting the Latin class. - -"Silence!" snapped Mr. Skeel. "I have had enough of this -insubordination." - -"You'll have more before we're through with you," thought Tom. - -"You may recite, Fitch," spoke Professor Skeel. "And I want a perfect -recitation from you to-day." - -Jack began. He did well enough for the first few lines and then began -to stumble and hesitate. - -"That will do!" snapped the professor. "You try, Fairfield." - -There was an indrawing of breaths. If the clash was to come, it would be -with Tom, all thought. - -Tom had the one day's lesson perfectly. He rapidly translated that and -stopped. - -"Well, go on," ordered Mr. Skeel, obviously ill-pleased that the student -he suspected had done so well. - -"That's as far as I'm going," said Tom quietly. - -"What?" - -"That's as far as I'm going. That is all that is ever assigned to us for -one day." - -"But I told you all to learn a double lesson." - -"And I refuse to do it. We all refuse to do it!" - -This was the signal Tom had agreed upon as marking the defiance and -revolt, in case there was no change in the professor's manner. - -For a moment Professor Skeel was dumb--as if he could not believe what -he had heard. - -"Will you kindly repeat that?" he asked Tom, in a quiet, menacing voice. - -"I said," began our hero, "that we have agreed that the double lesson -was unfair. We have agreed that if you insisted on it that we would not -recite. We will go no farther. Either we get better treatment, or we -will not come to your class any more." - -"Wha--what?" gasped Professor Skeel, turning pale. - -Tom repeated what he had said. - -"What does this mean? Have done with this nonsense!" - -"It means a strike!" cried Tom, turning to his classmates. "Boys, are -you with me? A strike for better treatment in the Latin class! Are you -with me?" - -"Yes! Yes! Yes!" came the cries from all parts of the room. - -"Silence! Sit down!" shouted Professor Skeel, as he saw the students -rise in a body. "Sit down!" He banged his rule on the desk. - -"Come on!" ordered Tom, and the boys--every one--followed his lead. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -THE STRIKE - - -For a moment amazement held Professor Skeel motionless. Several boys -were filing through the door before he could manage to make a move. Then -he sprang to the portal. - -"Stop!" he commanded. "I demand that this nonsense cease. Return to your -seats, and continue the recitation!" - -"Will you hear us on just one day's lesson--the usual length?" asked -Tom, turning back. - -"No! Certainly not! You will do exactly as I say, and recite the double -lesson. I will make no compromise." - -"Then it's a strike," replied Tom. "Come on." - -The boys continued to follow him. For a moment it looked as if Professor -Skeel would resort to physical measures and hold the boys in his room, -but he did not. - -He scowled at them, but the fact that there were several large lads in -the class, lads who had a reputation as boxers, probably deterred him. -The last student filed out, and under the leadership of Tom they all -stood in the corridor. - -"Well, we did it," remarked Jack, and there was a trace of awe in -his voice. It was the first time, in his experience that a class had -"struck," against a disliked teacher. He was a little doubtful of the -outcome. - -"Of course we did it," replied Tom. "It was the only thing to do." - -"And what's the next thing?" asked Bert Wilson. - -"Go to history lecture, as soon as it's time," declared Tom. "We've -half an hour yet. I suggest that we act quietly and as if nothing had -happened. Report as usual in history class." - -"But what will Skeel be doing?" inquired Jack. - -"We'll have to wait and see. It's up to him now. I know one thing, -though, I'll never go back to his class until he admits that he was in -the wrong, and releases us from double lessons. That's what I'm going to -do, and I don't care if they suspend me!" - -"The same here!" came from several, and then the lads dispersed to their -rooms, to do a little studying on history, or to various parts of the -campus. - -As for Professor Skeel, that worthy did not know what to do at first. -Clearly he had been outwitted, and by Freshmen! He must recover and -maintain his reputation as a disciplinarian, somehow, but how? - -"I'll--I'll suspend every one of them until they beg my pardon!" he -exclaimed. "As for that Fairfield, I'll see that he is expelled! The -insolent puppy!" - -But mere words never did any good yet, and Professor Skeel knew this. He -must act, and he resolved to hit on some plan that would give him the -victory. But first blood had been drawn by the students, and he realized -that. - -He decided to remain in his lecture room until the period was up, in -order that he might think, and so that none of his fellow members on the -faculty would not ask embarrassing questions as to how his class had -disappeared. - -"I'll get even with them," he declared. "They shall beg my pardon, and -do more work than ever before." - -He decided that he must first lay the matter before Doctor Meredith, -for he could not act on his own initiative. He would ask that stringent -measures be taken. With this in view, at the time when Tom and his chums -were filing into history class, as if nothing had happened, Professor -Skeel sought the head master. - -There was a little feeling of nervousness on the part of our hero and -his associates as they faced Professor Whitely, who had ancient history -at his finger tips, but, though he had heard some rumors of trouble in -the Freshman Latin class, he did not refer to it, but plunged at once -into the work of the day. - -Nor did anything take place during the remainder of the lectures which -filled up time until about two o'clock. In the meantime, however, -Professor Skeel had placed the matter before Doctor Meredith. - -"They went on strike, you say?" asked the head master. "Bless my soul! I -never heard of such a thing! I have known laboring bodies to refuse to -work, but how can students strike?" - -"By refusing to recite, or to remain in class," answered the Professor. - -"And did the Freshmen do that?" - -"They certainly did." - -"Dear, dear! What a situation!" exclaimed Doctor Meredith. "What a -peculiar position! I really never heard of one like it." - -"Nor I," admitted Professor Skeel dryly. "But something must be done." - -"Oh, assuredly; most assuredly," Doctor Meredith answered his colleague. - -"And something drastic!" went on the Latin instructor. - -"Oh, yes,--er--I suppose so. Really it is rather a novelty--a strike of -students." - -"Novelty!" puffed Professor Skeel. - -"Yes. I never heard of such a thing. Really I think some sort of -psychological study might be made of it--the causes and effects you -know. What peculiar action of the brain cells brought it about. The -reason for it. I think I shall write a paper on it for the International -society. It will create a sensation, I think." - -"I think so myself. But, in the meanwhile, something must be -done--something drastic. The strike must be broken." - -"Oh, of course. I--er--I perfectly agree with you," and Doctor Meredith -spoke dreamily. He was already forming in his mind the chief points for -a paper he determined to write on students striking. "We should have to -begin with the cause," he murmured. "Ah, by the way, Professor Skeel, -what was the reason the Freshmen walked out, and refused to recite?" - -"They declared they would not do the lessons I had set for them." - -"Why not?" - -"They said they were too long--or rather, their leader, Tom Fairfield, -did." - -"Ah, and so they have a leader, just as in an industrial strike. Very -interesting, very." - -"Interesting!" - -"Yes--er--that is from a psychological standpoint, of course." - -"Oh, I see. But something must be done. Even though, as a punishment -for careless work, I doubled the usual lesson, that is no excuse for -striking." - -"Oh, and so you doubled their lessons? Well, I suppose they naturally -resented that. But, of course, as you say, I presume that was no excuse. -But I will do something. I will act at once. I have thought of the best -plan." - -"What is it?" asked Professor Skeel, hoping it was the suspension of the -entire class, and the expulsion of Tom. - -"We will treat with the strikers, just as is done in industrial -strikes," said Doctor Meredith with an air of triumph, as if he -had discovered a most unusual way of settling the trouble. "We -will arbitrate. That is the best way. I will send them a personal -communication, when they have assembled. I must make some notes. If you -will kindly post a bulletin, requesting the class to assemble in, say, -the gymnasium, I will send a communication to them. That, I believe is -the usual way the authorities treat with strikers. I will personally -communicate with them," and with a delighted air, and a childish -eagerness, Doctor Meredith took out pen and paper. - -"I am to post a bulletin, calling the students together, am I?" asked -Professor Skeel, not altogether relishing his work. - -"Yes, and I will communicate with them. Wait, better still, I will speak -to them in person." - -"And what will you say?" - -"I will ask them to return to your class room, and resume the interrupted -session and lecture," spoke the head master with an air of triumph, as -though he had made a most astounding discovery. "I will point out to -them how foolish it was to strike, I will assure them that there will be -no more double lessons in the future, and I will talk with them, and get -at the reasons that impelled them to strike. I can use their answers in -the paper I propose to write." - -"Is--is that all you will do?" asked Professor Skeel, much disappointed. - -"That is all that will be necessary," replied Doctor Meredith mildly. -"You will see, Professor Skeel, I will soon break the strike. I think -that 'break' is the proper word; is it not?" - -"Yes, but it will not be broken that way, Doctor Meredith. Drastic -measures are needed. Very drastic!" - -"We will try my way first," decided the head master quietly. "Write out -the bulletin, Professor." - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -NEGOTIATIONS END - - -Much against his will, and very much opposed to the mild method proposed -by Doctor Meredith, Professor Skeel wrote and posted the following -bulletin: - - "Members of the Freshman Latin Class will assemble in the - gymnasium at once, at the request of Doctor Meredith, to - receive a personal communication from him. - - "BURTON SKEEL." - -It did not take long for it to be discovered, for some student or other -was always on the alert for notices, athletic or otherwise, posted on -the common bulletin board. - -Bert Wilson was the first Freshman to know of it, and he darted off, -post-haste, to tell Tom, who was in his room with Jack. - -"I say, Tom!" exclaimed Bert. "Come on! Something doing in the strike!" - -"How?" - -Bert told of the notice, and soon the board was surrounded by a curious -throng of students. From his window, where he was still in communication -with Professor Skeel, Doctor Meredith saw the throng. - -"There, you see!" he exclaimed triumphantly. "They are interested at -once. They will listen to reason, surely. I wish you would come in -person, and tell them that if they will recite to you the double lesson, -you will impose no more." - -"But I refuse to make any such agreement as that. And I don't believe -they will listen to reason. Moreover, I shall have something to say to -you after the meeting," snapped Professor Skeel. - -"Very well. See, they are filing off to the gymnasium now. I will soon -go there to speak to them." - -Tom and his chums were indeed hurrying to the athletic building, and -tongues were freely wagging on the way. - -"What do you suppose is up?" asked George Abbot. - -"Don't know," replied Jack shortly. - -"Doctor Meredith is going to take a hand," commented Luke Fosdick. - -"And he'll listen to reason," spoke Tom. "But, even if he requests it -we're not going to knuckle down to Skeel; are we?" - -"Surely not," came in a chorus. - -"The strike ends when he stops imposing double lessons on us for no -reason at all, but because he is ugly," went on Tom. "How about that?" - -"We're with you!" - -"And if he doesn't give in," proceeded our hero, "we'll----" - -"Burn Skeel in effigy, after we hang him!" came the cry from some one. - -"That's it," assented Tom, glad to see that his chums were with him. - -They filed into the gymnasium, and the buzz of talk continued until some -one announced that Doctor Meredith and Professor Skeel were approaching. - -"Ah, young gentlemen, good afternoon!" greeted the head master, as he -walked in and took his stand on the platform, where the secretaries and -officers of the various athletic committees presided, when there was a -class or school session. Professor Skeel, with a grim look in his face, -followed, and sat down. - -"I am informed that you are on a strike," began Doctor Meredith. "Very -interesting, I'm sure--I mean of course it is altogether wrong," he -added hastily. "You should have tried arbitration first. However, since -you have decided to strike, I am glad to be able to speak to you--to -reason with you. - -"I understand that you object to having to do a double lesson as a -punishment. Now I dislike to have a strike in the school, and, though I -do not, for one minute, admit that you are in the right, I wish to know, -if Professor Skeel agrees to give out no more double lessons, will you -return to your class?" - -"I will make no such agreement!" shouted the irate instructor. - -"Then the strike is still on!" exclaimed Tom, springing to his feet. - -"Silence!" stormed Professor Skeel. - -Doctor Meredith held up his hand. The commotion that had started, at -once ceased. - -"I will hear what Fairfield has to say," spoke the head master, quietly. - -"We have stood all we can," went on Tom. "We do not think Professor -Skeel treats us fairly. We protested once, and----" - -"By an anonymous letter!" broke in the Latin teacher. - -"Yes, that was hardly right," commented the doctor, gently. - -"It was the best way we could think of," spoke Tom. "We wanted better -treatment. We want it yet, and we are going to get it, or we will -continue to refuse to recite to Professor Skeel. We will continue to -strike." - -"Strong words," said the head master. "But may I ask how you came to -hit on--er this--er--rather novel form of rebellion? I am anxious to -know," and he prepared to make some notes in a book. Professor Skeel -fairly snorted with rage. - -"It began from the very first," explained Tom, and he went over the -different steps in their trouble with the unpopular professor. "Now we -can stand it no longer. We will leave school, if necessary, to gain our -rights." - -Doctor Meredith looked surprised at this. The loss of the Freshman Latin -class would mean a serious blow to the finances of the institution of -learning. Still he would have done his duty in the face of this if he -saw it clearly. But he was not at all in sympathy with the methods of -Professor Skeel, and the boys probably realized this. - -"And so we struck," ended Tom, concluding the history of the rebellion. - -"And it is my duty to end this strike," declared the head master. "I ask -you to return to your recitation in Professor Skeel's room, and I--er--I -have no doubt but what matters will adjust themselves." - -"We will not--we feel that we cannot--return and end the strike, unless -we receive some assurance that we will be treated like gentlemen, and -not imposed upon in the matter of lessons," declared Tom. - -"That's right!" chorused the others. - -"Silence!" commanded the professor, but he was not in command now, and -the lads realized it. "Then you will remain on strike?" asked Doctor -Meredith, as if surprised that his request had not been complied with. - -"We must, sir," replied Tom respectfully. - -"Then--er--then this ends the negotiations, I presume, young gentlemen," -spoke the doctor, rather sorrowfully. "I shall have to consider what -further will be done." - -"We're ahead--so far," commented Tom to his chums as they filed out. - -"I knew it would end this way," spoke Professor Skeel to Doctor -Meredith. "You will have to be firmer. You must take the most stringent -measures possible." - -"What would you suggest?" asked the head master, evidently at a loss. In -fact he was thinking more of writing the paper on the strike than he was -of ending it. - -"I will tell you my plan," spoke Professor Skeel, as he followed the -doctor into his study. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -PRISONERS - - -"Well, what do you think will be the next move?" asked Jack, as he -trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium. - -"I don't know, I'm sure. It's up to them now, and we can only saw wood, -and see what happens." - -"Do you think they'll punish us?" asked George Abbot. - -"Oh, there you go again!" cried Bert Wilson. "Can't you do anything but -ask questions, Why?" - -"Of course I can, but I want to know what's going to happen to us." - -"There can't much more happen than has happened already," said Lew -Bentfield, grimly. - -"That's right," agreed Tom. - -"They will probably suspend us until we give in," come from Jack. - -"What of it?" asked Tom. - -"Nothing, only if we're suspended we can't go to any lectures or -recitations, and we'll fall behind in our work, and be conditioned when -this thing is over. That means we may lose a year." - -"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "Besides, we agreed to stick this thing out." - -"Oh, I'm not going to back out!" cried Jack quickly. "Don't imagine that -for a second. Only this is a serious matter." - -"I know it," admitted Tom, quietly. "And it's a serious matter to be -treated as we have been treated in class nearly every day by Professor -Skeel. I'm tired of being bullyragged. This strike is for principle, not -for any material advantage. - -"But, anyhow, if they do suspend us it can't last for long. Why, nearly -every Freshman is in with us. That is, all but those who don't like -Latin, and they're mighty scarce. - -"Now practically the whole Freshman class of a college can't be -suspended for any great length of time, and the ban will soon be raised." - -"You mean we'll win?" asked Bert Wilson. - -"Of course we will!" declared Tom stoutly, "and the lessons we miss, if -we are suspended, we can easily make up. But I don't believe Merry will -suspend us." - -There were various opinions about this, and the talk became general as -the boys separated, going their different ways. Tom and a group of his -particular chums went to his room. - -"We ought to do something to celebrate this strike," declared Jack, -when there was a lull in the talk. - -"That's right!" cried Tom. "I'm for something to eat. I'm going to give -a little dinner here to as many as we can crowd in. Let's get busy, -Jack." - -"A spread!" cried Tom's chum. "Where are the eats to come from?" - -"Oh, I'll sneak out and get 'em as soon as it's dark enough. You can -work it so as to get some stuff from our worthy matron; can't you?" - -"I guess so." - -"Then leave the rest to me, and ask as many fellows of our particular -crowd as you can squeeze into the room. Pack 'em in like sardines. The -more the merrier. We'll make this a record spread." - -"Jove, a spread just after you've organized a strike!" exclaimed Bert -Wilson, admiringly. "Say, you do do things, Tom Fairfield." - -"Oh, what's the use sitting around like a bump on a log?" asked our -hero. "Now we'll go to supper, and mind, every fellow is to stow away in -his pockets anything not in a liquid form that he can. Bring it to the -feast, for I can't lug in any too much all by my lonesome." - -"I'll go with you," volunteered several eagerly. - -"No, if two of us go out together it will create suspicions, and all -eyes are on us now, as Napoleon said to his soldiers in Egypt, or was -it in South Africa? Anyhow, I'll sneak out as soon as it's dark enough, -and get what I can." - -There was a subdued air of expectancy at the Freshman supper that night, -and many whispers ran around. It was noticed, too, that many of the lads -had unusually large appetites, but they did not seem to be eating as -much as they asked for. There were sly motions which some of the waiters -could not understand, for they were caused when the diners slipped food -into their pockets. - -"Assemble in my room one at a time, as soon after the signal 'lights -out' as possible," explained Tom, when the meal was over. It was a rule -that the boys must have their rooms in darkness after 9:30 o'clock, -unless special permission for studying was obtained. "Don't go in -bunches," advised our hero, "but a few at a time. I'm off to town." - -Watching his chance, Tom managed to elude a monitor, though, truth to -tell, so amazing had the strike seemed to all the college authorities, -that they were dazed, and really did not keep as close a watch over the -Freshmen as usual. - -Tom was in town, buying a lot of indigestible, but toothsome, dainties, -dear to the palates of himself and his chums, when most unexpectedly, he -met Bruce Bennington coming out of a pawnshop. - -"Why, Bennington!" exclaimed Tom. "Oh, how are you?" and he quickly -tried to change his first astonished tone, which had said, as plainly as -anything: "What are you doing in such a place?" - -"Oh, hello, Fairfield," greeted the Senior, after a first start of -surprise. Then, in a cool voice, he added: "I suppose it looks rather -odd, to see me coming out of this place, but the truth of the matter -is----" - -"Not at all!" interrupted Tom, determined to make amends for his seeming -surprise. "I've done the same thing when I'm temporarily embarrassed. -Besides, for all I know you may have been making a psychological study -of the pawnbroker, eh?" - -"Oh, of course," laughed Bruce uneasily. "But say, youngster, you -fellows are making names for yourselves. Jove! We Freshmen never went on -a strike. You've got us beaten a mile, even if we did drive a cow up on -Merry's doorstep. But a strike! Never!" - -"Maybe you hadn't any need," spoke Tom. "Was Skeel as bad in your time -as he is now?" - -"Worse, if anything. And he's a----" Bruce hesitated. "Well, I'll not -say it," he concluded. "What's up, anyhow?" - -"Oh, I'm going to give a little spread." - -"Oh, I say now! That's adding insult to injury, as the Irishman said -when the parrot called him names after biting him. You Freshies are -laying it on rather thick." - -"Might as well get all we can while it's coming our way," explained Tom. -"No telling what may happen to-morrow." - -"No, that's so. Well, I wish I was a Freshman again," and, with -something like a sigh of regret, the Senior passed on. - -"There's something wrong with him," mused Tom, as he caught a car that -would take him near the school. "And I wonder why, with all the money -he is supposed to have, that he had to go to a pawn shop? Why didn't he -come to me, or some of the college boys? Too proud, I guess." - -There was snow on the ground and the weather, though cold, bore a -promise of more as Tom cautiously made his way by a roundabout course -over the campus and to a side door. - -"Well, you're all here, I see," he remarked as he entered his room, and -saw a crowd of congenial lads assembled there. The door communicating -with the apartment of Bert Wilson, which portal was seldom unlocked, -had been opened, making a fairly large apartment in which to have a -forbidden spread. - -"Make out all right?" asked Jack. - -"Sure, I've got a choice assortment of grub. Let's set the beds," for -they were to serve as tables, covered with large squares of newspapers -for table cloths. - -"I've got the windows and keyholes covered," explained Jack, pointing to -blankets tacked over the glass. - -"Good! Now let the merry feast go on, and joy be loosed. For we'll eat -to-day and starve to-morrow." - -"Starve to-morrow?" gasped George Abbot. "What do you mean, Tom?" - -"Nothing. I was just getting poetical, that's all. You needn't stare at -the sandwiches and olives, George, my boy; they are substantial, if my -poetry isn't, and they won't disappear. Come on, fellows, get busy." - -The feast was soon under way, and though the boys could have had nearly -everything displayed on the "bed" at their regular meal, they all agreed -that the viands tasted ever so much better served in the forbidden -manner that they were. - -"Pass those pickles, Jed, my boy!" commanded Tom to a lanky Freshman. - -"And keep that mustard moving," ordered Jack. "Those frankfurters are -prime, Tom." - -"I thought you'd like 'em," remarked our hero. - -"Put some more on to cook," pleaded Jack. - -"Sure," assented Bert Wilson, who presided at the "stove." - -This was an arrangement of wires, ingeniously made by Tom, so that -it fitted over the gas, and on which a saucepan could be set over the -flame. In this pan the sausages were simmering. - -Bert put in some more, and stood anxiously watching them, fork in hand, -while George buttered rolls, and passed them around. - -"I propose a toast!" exclaimed Frank Carter, rising, a bottle of ginger -ale in one hand, and a big piece of chocolate cake in the other. - -"Hush! Not so loud!" cautioned Jack. - -"Well, then, a silent toast to our host, Tom Fairfield!" went on Frank. - -"Tiger!" whispered Jack, waving his Frankfurter fork in the air. - -"Thanks, one and all," replied Tom, bowing. "I will----" - -"Hark!" suddenly cautioned Jack. - -The boys were silent on the instant. - -"I hear footsteps," whispered Bert. - -There was no doubt but that some one was out in the corridor, but as -silence replaced the rather noiseless celebration of the feast, the -footsteps could be heard retreating. - -"A spy sent to make a report," was Tom's opinion. "Well, we can't be -any worse off than we are. Keep things going, fellows," and the spread -proceeded. - -Meanwhile a curious scene was being enacted in the study of Doctor -Meredith. All the members of the faculty were present, and were being -addressed by Professor Skeel. - -"I think it is due _me_, as an instructor in this school, that this -class be punished," he said. - -"According to your own account they have been already--with extra -lessons," remarked jolly Professor Hammond. - -"That was for other breaches of discipline," declared Professor Skeel. -"They have not been adequately punished for sending me the anonymous -letter, nor for this strike. I think an example should be made of them." - -"Well, perhaps something should be done," admitted Professor Hammond. -"But I should favor a mild lesson, and then--a change of programme for -the future." - -"And I demand a severe lesson, and a firm hand in the future!" insisted -Professor Skeel. "Unless the Freshmen are punished I shall at once -resign, and the punishment I demand is the plan I first mentioned. Is it -to be done, Doctor Meredith?" - -"Ah--er--ahem!" stammered the mild head master. "I dislike exceedingly -to take such a step, but, I suppose something should be done." - -"It _must_ be done!" demanded Professor Skeel. - -"Very well then," sighed Doctor Meredith. "But it is a very strange -state of affairs. However," he added more brightly, "I will have some -additional matter for my paper on a strike in school," and he seemed -quite delighted. - -The faculty meeting broke up. So, too, in due time did the feast in -Tom's room. The boys sneaked to their respective apartments. And, rather -strange to say, none of them was detected. But they did not know that -a special order had come from the head master to Monitor Blackford, in -charge of Opus Manor. - -"Humph! It was all too easy," said Jack, as he and Tom were ready to -turn in at nearly midnight. - -"What was?" - -"This spread. Aside from that sneaking footstep we heard we were not -disturbed once. I'm afraid it's the calm before the storm. And it may be -a bad one. But we'll weather it." - -"Of course we will," declared Jack. "Say, talk about a storm," he added, -as he peered from the window, from which the blanket had been removed, -"it's snowing to beat the band." - -"Good," answered Tom. "We can get up a sleighing party to-morrow, if we -can't go to Latin class." - -When the Freshmen filed down to breakfast the next morning there was a -look of surprise on every face as they glanced at the table. For at -each place was a glass of water, and on each plate two slices of bread. - -"What's this?" - -"Is it April Fool?" - -"Who thought of this joke?" - -These were only a few of the remarks and questions. - -"I say!" called Tom to Mr. Blackford, who came into the room, a -quizzical look on his face. "Where is our breakfast?" - -"On the table." - -"Is that all?" - -"That's all. Orders from Doctor Meredith." - -"Oh, I see. He's trying to starve us into submission. I'll not stand for -that!" cried Tom. "Fellows, come on!" he added. "We'll go to town to a -restaurant!" - -He moved to the front door. - -"You can't go out, Mr. Fairfield," said the monitor firmly. - -"Why not, I'd like to know." - -"Because you, and all the others, in fact all the Freshmen in this -dormitory, are prisoners!" - -"Prisoners!" cried a score of voices. - -"That's it," went on Mr. Blackford. "You are to stay locked in this -building, on a diet of bread and water, until you give in!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -THE ESCAPE - - -Surprise, for a moment, held the boys dumb, and then a storm of protests -broke out. - -"We'll not stand it!" - -"Let's raid the pantry!" - -"They're trying to starve us into submission!" - -"It's a relic of the dark ages, boys!" cried Bert Wilson. "A prison diet -of bread and water." - -"Let's break out, and go over to the Seniors' place in Elmwood Hall!" -suggested Jack. "They'll feed us." - -"That's right!" cried several. - -"Hold on, fellows," called Tom. - -At the sound of his calm voice the rush that had begun toward the door -of the dining room, was halted. A look of relief came over the face of -Monitor Blackford. - -"Fellows!" said Tom, "this thing has come to a crisis. They're trying -to break this strike by unfair means. I've no doubt that the suggestion -came from Skeel. Doctor Meredith never would have done it of his own -accord. Skeel has a bad influence over him. Now then, it's up to us to -beat 'em at their own game!" - -"But we can't live on bread and water!" declared Ned Wilton. "At least -I won't. I'm not used to such fare. I always want fruit in the morning, -and eggs." - -"So do lots of us," said Tom quietly. "But we're not going to get it -this morning, at least. Now then, let's look at this thing quietly. -Let's accept it. It can't last forever. Sooner or later the story will -get out, and the college faculty will have to give in. Our cause is -right, and we'll win. All we ask is civil treatment, as the old sailor -said after the whale chase, and blamed little of that. Here's for a -hearty breakfast of bread and water." - -He made a move toward his place. - -"But there's not even butter on the bread!" cried Jack. - -"Prisoners aren't usually furnished with luxuries," commented Tom, -quietly. - -"Oh, say, I'm not going to stand for this!" burst out Bert Wilson. "I'm -going to leave, and wire home for permission to resign from Elmwood -Hall." - -He strode toward the front door, intending to see if he could get out, -but Mr. Blackford stood on guard, and he was not a small man. - -"It's no use, Mr. Wilson," said the monitor, quietly. "The door is -locked, and you can't go out unless you break out. And it's a very -strong door," he added, significantly. - -With a gesture of impatience Bert turned toward a window. To his -surprise he noted that the usual fastenings had been replaced by new -ones, and, in addition, the casements were screwed down. Then, to the -astonishment of the boys, who had not noticed it before, they became -aware that bars of wood had been screwed in place across the outside of -the frames. - -"By Jove! They have us boxed in, all right!" cried Tom, as his attention -was called to the precautions taken to keep the lads in Opus Manor. -"This is what they were doing last night when we were having our fun. -I've no doubt but that the spy came into the hall to see if we were -likely to stay up there eating, while they got in their fine work. Oh, -but we were chumps not to think of this!" - -"No one would," said Jack Fitch. "I say, though, I believe if we all go -together we can break out. We can handle Blackford!" - -Tom shook his head. He did not intend to submit quietly, but he knew -better than to act before he had a good plan. - -At that moment several of the men monitors from the other dormitories -were seen in the lower hall, and one or two were at a rear door. - -"They're prepared to meet force with force," said Tom to his chums. -"Just wait a bit, and there may be something doing. Meanwhile, eat your -grub." - -"Hot grub this!" exclaimed Jack. "I wish we'd saved some from last -night. Any left, Tom?" - -"Not a crumb. Never mind, this is good for a change," and Tom proceeded -to munch the dry bread, and sip the water. - -Monitor Blackford's face showed relief. He had been prepared to carry -out the orders of the faculty with force, if necessary, but he rather -hoped he would not have to do so, for he knew how lads can fight when -they want to. Still he was glad they had submitted quietly. And he was -not altogether on the side of the faculty, either. - -"I guess it won't be for long, young gentlemen," he said, as he passed -around the table. "I'm sure I'm very sorry to have to do it, but I'm a -poor man, and my living----" - -"That's all right," interrupted Tom good-naturedly. "We're not blaming -you. And, as you say, it won't be for long." - -"Then you're going to give in?" asked the monitor eagerly. - -"Not much!" exclaimed Tom. "The faculty is, and we'll make Skeel beg our -pardons. Then we'll have a roast turkey feast on Merry." - -"I'm afraid you never will," spoke the monitor. "The professor is very -determined. I expect he'll be over before long." - -"We'll be ready for him," said Tom grimly. - -Once they had made up their minds to accept the situation the boys made -merry over the meager breakfast. - -"Anyhow, we can cut all lectures!" exulted several who were not fond of -study. - -"And we'll have to pull our belts in a few holes if this sort of grub -keeps up long," commented Jack. - -"Yes, a fine sort of strike this is!" sneered Sam Heller. "I never -agreed to starve, Tom Fairfield." He glared at his rival. - -"You can starve with the rest of us," spoke our hero, grimly. "Besides, -you can live a long time on bread and water. I forget the exact figures, -but I think it is something over a month." - -"A month!" cried Jack. "I'll never last that long." - -"Neither will the strike," answered Tom, coolly. "I have something up my -sleeve." - -"What is it?" clamored half a dozen. - -"I'll tell you later. Now to get what amusement we can. Come on up to my -room, and we'll talk it over." - -They did talk it over, from all standpoints, but they could not agree on -what was best to be done. It was a cold, blowy, blustery day outside, -the storm being not far short of a blizzard. - -The dormitory was warm, but soon the healthy appetites of the lads -asserted themselves, and they felt the lack of their usual good -breakfast. Still, save for Sam Heller, no one thought of giving in. All -stuck by Tom. - -During the morning, groups of students from other dormitories, the -Senior, Junior and Sophomore, came past Opus Manor, and cruelly made -signs of eating, for of course the story of the imprisonment of the -Freshman class was known all through the college. - -"Say, I've got an idea!" exclaimed Jack, as he saw some of his friends -in the upper classes standing under his window in an angle of the -building. "Why can't they smuggle us something to eat? We can let down a -basket or a box, and haul it up." - -"That's the stuff!" cried Bert Wilson. "Let's drop 'em a note." - -One was written and tossed out to Bruce Bennington and some friendly -Seniors. They nodded assent as they read it, and hurried off. - -"Now to make a basket of some sort!" exclaimed Jack. - -"Take our fishing creels," suggested Tom, who seemed to be busily -engaged in thinking out something. Accordingly the fishing baskets were -tied to strings, which the boys collected from many pockets, and were -made ready to be lowered for food. - -In due time, under cover of the storm, which had grown so bad that the -swirling flakes hid objects ten feet away, the Seniors returned with -food which they had somehow obtained. There were also bottles of cold -coffee and soft drinks. - -"This is great!" cried Jack, as he hauled up the creels, several times, -well laden. "There isn't going to be a feast, but it's something." - -"And it has given me the idea I wanted!" cried Tom. - -"What is it?" demanded several. - -"We'll escape from the second story windows to-night! We can make ropes -of the bed clothes, in real story-book fashion, lower ourselves down, -and hie into town. We'll put up at some hotel or boarding houses there, -and the school can get along without us until they recognize our rights." - -"Good!" came in an enthusiastic chorus. "Let's start right away," added -Jack. - -"No, not until after dark," advised Tom. "We will be caught if we go -before." - -The sandwiches and other things which the Seniors had provided made a -welcome addition to the slim dinner. Professor Skeel came in as the boys -were about to arise from the table, probably to gloat over them. He was -received with a storm of hisses. - -"Stop that, instantly!" he cried, his face pale with anger. - -"Keep it up," ordered Tom, and keep it up the boys did, until the -discomfited instructor had to withdraw, vowing vengeance on the lads -whom even a diet of bread and water, and the humiliation of being made -prisoners, could not subdue. - -"But I'll break their spirit yet!" said the professor, grimly. - -The preparations for the escape went on. Several ropes were made from -torn sheets and light blankets, and fastened to heavy objects as -anchors, in various room whence the lads were to take French leave. -Several were to drop from Tom's window. - -The storm grew worse, and the boys put on their heaviest garments. Night -approached, the bread and water supper was served, and Mr. Blackford -remarked to his wife: - -"I don't see what makes the boys so cheerful." - -"Maybe they are up to some mischief," she suggested. - -"How could they be?" he asked. "They can't get out to get anything to -eat, for the doors and windows are all fastened." - -"Well, you never can tell what boys are going to do," she said. "I'd be -on the watch." - -"I will," agreed her husband, and he and the other monitors looked well -to the fastening of the doors and casements. - -"All ready now, boys?" asked Tom, as it grew darker. - -"All ready," answered Jack. "I don't believe they can see us now." - -"Go easy," advised Tom. "Hold on tight going down, and don't slip. -One at a time, and we'll meet at the twin oaks on the far edge of the -campus, and tramp into town. The car line is blocked, I guess, with all -this snow." - -One by one the boys slid down the improvised ropes, going from rooms -where they could drop to the ground unobserved from any of the lower -windows. - -"Are we all here?" asked Tom, when the escape was finally concluded, and -the crowd of students had assembled under the oak trees, the few brown -leaves of which rustled in the wintry blast. - -"I guess so," answered Jack. "But I didn't see Sam Heller." - -"I saw him slide down a rope from Pete Black's room," remarked Bert -Wilson, "and then I noticed that he sneaked off by himself." - -"Let him go," suggested Tom. "We're better off without him." - -"Unless he's going to squeal on us," came from Jack, suddenly. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE BURNING EFFIGY - - -"That's so!" exclaimed Tom, after a moment's consideration. "I never -thought of that. It would be just like Sam. Oh, but what's the use -worrying, anyhow? They'll know, sooner or later, that we've escaped, and -anything that sneak Heller can tell them won't do us any harm. Come on -to town." - -They headed into the storm, which seemed to become worse every minute, -with the wind whipping the stinging flakes into the faces of the lads, -who bent to the blast. - -"I say!" cried Horace Gerth. "This is fierce!" - -"The worst ever!" cried Jack. - -"You can turn back, if you want to," commented Tom, grimly. "Back to -bread and water." - -"Not for mine!" exclaimed Bert Wilson. - -"Me for a hot meal in town," declared Tom. "I'll stand treat if any -fellows are short of cash." - -"Good!" cried several, as they trudged on. - -It did not take very long to make the lads aware that they were in for -a bad time. The snow was drifted heavily and the road to town, never -good at the best, was almost impassable. As Tom had predicted, the -trolley cars had long since ceased running, and there was not a vehicle -track to be seen in the darkness, that was but faintly relieved by the -white snow. - -"We're going to have a hard pull of it," commented Jack, as he -floundered to Tom's side. - -"That's right. I wish we had had a better night for the escape, but we -had to take our chance." - -"Oh, of course. But it will be all right when we strike the town, and -get some hot coffee. How far is it, anyhow?" - -"Oh, about two miles, I guess." - -"Two miles of this!" groaned Jack, as he bent his head to a particularly -fierce blast. "It's heavy going." - -On and on the boys floundered. The first enthusiasm was wearing off, -and they became aware of the stinging cold and the fierce wind that cut -through even the heaviest coats. But they did not think of giving up. - -After an hour of tramping, during which the storm seemed to be doing -its best to drive the boys back, and during which time several began to -murmur discontentedly, Jack suddenly exclaimed: - -"I say, Tom, do you think we're on the right road?" - -"I don't know. What do you think?" - -A halt was called. - -"I can't make out anything," declared Jack. "It's as dark as a pocket, -and, even in day time, with this storm, we couldn't see very far. My -private opinion is that we are lost." - -"Lost!" - -"Yes, that is, not seriously lost," went on Tom, with a trace of jollity -in his voice, "but just lost enough so that we can't strike town -to-night." - -"Then what are we going to do?" asked George Abbot. - -"There you go again--the eternal question!" complained Jack. "We'll have -to go back, that's all, I guess." - -"I don't like to," said Tom. "Let's have another try for the road. -That row of trees over there looks like it." He pointed to a row dimly -visible through the storm. - -"Well, come on, one more try," assented Jack, and though there was some -grumbling, none of Tom's followers deserted him. - -On they floundered through the snow, only to find, when they go to the -trees, that they were on the edge of a gully. - -"But I know where we are, at any rate," declared Bert. "I believe I can -find our way back to school from here, even if I can't lead you to -town." - -"All right, then do it," assented Tom wearily, for he was tired, and -rather chagrined at the failure of his plan. "But, one thing, fellows, -if we do go back we've got to make a showing." - -"How?" asked several voices. - -"We'll burn Skeel in effigy before we go in, and then they can do as -they like to us." - -"Hurray!" - -"That's what!" - -"We'll have a demonstration," went on Tom, "and the whole school will -come out. We'll take advantage of it to ask the fellows to contribute -something to our support. We'll get more food and then--well, we'll see -what happens in the morning." - -"We're with you!" cried his chums. - -They turned back, hardly any but what were glad to get the wind and -stinging flakes out of their faces, and, led by Bert, they were soon on -familiar ground. - -"There's Elmwood Hall," said Jack to Tom, as they tramped on together -through the storm, when a dull mass loomed up before them. "What's the -programme?" - -"First to make the effigy." - -"How you going to do it?" - -"Oh, I've had it planned for several days. In the barn I've got some -old clothes hidden, and a hat just like Skeel wears. All we've got to do -is to stuff the coat and pants with straw, tie a rope to it, hoist it on -the flag pole halyards and set fire to it. Then things will happen of -themselves." - -"I guess they will!" exclaimed Jack, admiringly. - -It was quiet around the college when the Freshmen came back after their -partly unsuccessful escape. That their going had been discovered no one -doubted, but there seemed to be no one on the watch for them, and no -undue excitement in Opus Manor. - -"Now for the effigy!" exclaimed Tom, as he told the others his plans. -"Jack and I, and a few of us are enough. The rest of you stand ready to -give our yell as the fire starts." - -It did not take long, in the barn, and with the light of several -lanterns which Tom had hidden, to make the effigy of Professor Skeel. -It did not look much like him, but the hat added the necessary -identification. - -None of the school employees was about the stable, and the boys had easy -sailing. - -"Now to string it up, and set fire to it!" cried Tom. - -"How you going to burn it when it's up in the air?" asked Bert. - -"I'll make a sort of fuse of twisted straw that will hang down, and I -can touch that off from the ground," was the answer. - -With their mates crowding around them, Tom and his chums brought out the -effigy. A rope had been provided by our hero, who seemed to think of -everything, and soon it was attached to the flag halyards and the image -was mounting the pole through the blinding storm and darkness. - -"Here we go!" cried Tom, as, with some difficulty he struck a match and -set the straw fuse ablaze. "Now for the yell!" - -It was given with a will as the fire slowly enveloped the effigy, and, -in response, there was a rush from the dormitories of the various -classes, for it was not late yet. - -"Three hisses for Professor Skeel!" called someone, and it sounded as if -a den of snakes had been loosed. - -Brighter and brighter grew the flames. The effigy was shown in bold -relief. All the college seemed pouring out, heedless of the storm. - -A figure came running over the snow. A voice called out--a harsh voice: - -"I demand that this outrage cease at once!" - -It was Professor Skeel himself. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -TOM'S FIND - - -For a moment the Freshmen paused in their wild dancing about the pole, -from which hung suspended the burning effigy. And then, as they saw -the indignant figure of the disliked professor, and as they heard his -demand, they broke out into a further storm of hisses that sounded above -the blast of the wintry wind. - -"Stop it! Stop it at once! Take down that disgraceful image!" demanded -Professor Skeel. In spite of the crude way in which it had been made -he--and others as well--could easily recognize that it was intended for -him, by the hat. "Take it down!" he shouted. - -"Never!" came the defiant cry from the Freshmen. They were not so cold -now, but they were hungry and tired, and they saw in Professor Skeel the -individual who, they believed, was responsible for their troubles. - -"Three hisses for the professor!" called someone, and again they were -given with vigor. - -"Take it down! Take it down!" fairly screamed the enraged instructor. -He looked around. The whole school was witnessing the spectacle of -disgrace that had been arranged for his benefit. Every student was -present, arranged in a big circle about the jubilant Freshmen, and most -of the faculty had come to the doors of their residences to look on. - -"I demand that this outrage cease at once!" cried Professor Skeel, but -no move was made to heed his request. In fact, the Freshman only cheered -themselves, and hissed him the louder. - -Professor Skeel could stand no more. With glaring eyes he made a rush -for the crowd of students, darting through the storm that still raged. - -"Look out! Here he comes!" warned Jack to Tom. - -"All right. I'm ready for him," was the quiet answer. "But I don't -believe he'll do anything more than try to pull down the image." - -"Will you let him?" - -"I think not. Still I don't want to get into a personal encounter with -a teacher. Let's form a ring around the pole, and prevent him from -touching the ropes. The effigy will soon be burned out, anyhow." The -flames were eating the image slowly, as the cloth and straw was moist, -and the snow flakes further dampened them. - -"That's a good idea!" commented Jack. "Hi, fellows, no surrender. We -must protect our effigy!" - -"That's what!" came the rallying chorus, and under Tom's direction the -lads formed a cordon about the pole. - -Professor Skeel was speeding through the drifts. He reached the nearest -lads, and roughly thrust them aside. Tom had quickly whispered to those -nearest the pole not to fight back, but to offer passive resistance. So, -too, those on the outer edge did not make any hostile movement when the -irate instructor went through them with a rush. - -"Get away from that pole! Let me take that disgraceful image down! I -shall insist upon the most severe punishment to every one concerned in -this outrage!" stormed Professor Skeel. - -"Stick to your posts!" cried Tom. - -"As for you, Fairfield!" shouted the professor. "This will be your last -appearance here! You incited the students to do this!" - -"Correct guess!" whispered Jack with a grin. - -Professor Skeel did not find it as easy as he had thought, to thrust -the lads away from the pole, so that he might loose the ropes. As fast -as he shoved one lad aside, in which operation no active resistance -was offered, another Freshman took his place, and there was a constant -shifting and whirling mass of students about the pole. It was utterly -impossible for the professor to get to the ropes. - -"This must stop! It shall stop!" he cried. "I--I shall be under the -necessity of personally chastising you if you do not at once remove the -image!" he added. - -"Stick, boys!" sung out Tom. - -"Then take the consequences," shouted the instructor. He struck one of -the smaller lads, who drew back his fist. In another moment there would -have been presented the not very edifying sight of an encounter between -teacher and pupil. - -But Professor Skeel found himself suddenly clasped from behind, while -Tom, worming his way to the side of the lad who had been hit, caught his -upraised arm. - -"It's all right, Henry," he called in his ear. "It's all over I guess. -Hammond has hold of Skeel." - -This was true. The big fat, jolly professor, seeing how matters were -likely to turn out, had made his way into the throng, and had seized his -colleague. - -"You had better come with me," he advised, quietly. "You are forgetting -yourself, Professor Skeel. You can do no good here. The boys are past -reasoning with." - -"I shall not go until they have taken down that disgraceful effigy of -me." - -"It will soon burn down. Besides, Doctor Meredith is coming out to speak -to them. I have sent for him. You had better come with me." - -Much against his will, Professor Skeel allowed himself to be led away. -The boys had stopped hissing and cheering now, for they saw that the -crisis had come, and that they were either to win their strike, or that -some unusual measures would be taken. - -"Here comes Merry!" exclaimed Jack in a hoarse whisper, as he descried -the form of the venerable head of the school making his way through the -storm. The burning effigy still gave light enough to see, reflected as -it was by the snow on the ground and the swirling flakes in the air. - -Professor Skeel left with Professor Hammond, and, as they passed the -outer ring of Freshman, there came a cry: - -"Three cheers for Professor Hammond!" - -They were given with the "Tiger!" at the end. - -Doctor Meredith made his way to where he could command a view of the -class that had revolted. - -"Young gentlemen!" he began in a mild voice. - -"Three cheers for the Doctor!" were called for and given. - -"Young gentlemen," he went on, with a benevolent smile, "you will -kindly cease this demonstration, and return to your dormitory." - -"Does that mean we win?" asked Tom respectfully. "We went on strike for -better treatment in the Latin class. If we go back, and call the strike -off, do we get it?" - -"That's what we want to know," added Jack Fitch. - -"And we want something to eat, too," spoke Bert Wilson. - -"You will return to your dormitory," went on Doctor Meredith in an even -voice. "This must go on no longer." - -"But what about the Latin class?" asked Tom persistently. "Are we to be -prisoners? Aren't we to be allowed to recite, or attend lectures?" - -"I will settle all that tomorrow," said the doctor. "I may state, -however, that you will recite, if you do at all to-morrow, to another -Latin instructor." - -"Hurray! That's what we want to know!" yelled Tom. "Come on, boys!" he -added. "Back to bed. The strike is over!" - -"I don't see how," said Jack. "He hasn't said that Skeel will be any -different." - -"Aw, can't you see through a hole in a millstone?" asked Tom. "Can't you -see that Skeel isn't going to be our teacher any more?" - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean that there's going to be a shift. No more of Skeel's Latin for -us. The doctor has seen that it won't do, and he's put his foot down. -Skeel can't dictate to him any more. The strike is over--we've won, and -it will be admitted to-morrow. Come on to bed." - -"But about the eats?" suggested Bert. "I'm half starved. What about the -eats?" - -"Young gentlemen!" spoke Doctor Meredith again. - -Instantly there was silence. - -"Young gentlemen, you will return to your dormitory. But you may first -stop in the dining hall." - -"For bread and water?" asked some one. - -"For--er--for your usual hot supper," said the doctor, with a smile. - -"Hurray!" yelled Tom. "The strike is sure over! We win!" - -The last flickering embers of the burning effigy died out and the scene -was almost dark. Doctor Meredith returned to his house. The other -students turned back into their dormitories. The Freshmen made a break -from around the flag staff and ran toward the place where a much-needed -supper awaited them. - -As Tom, with Jack at his side, hurried across the spot where Professor -Skeel had struck the Freshman, our hero saw something black lying on -the snow. He stopped and picked it up. - -"Someone's pocketbook," he remarked. "I'll look inside for a name, and -return it. Oh, Jack, we win!" - -"And we're going to eat!" added Jack with a sigh of satisfaction. As -they entered the dining hall they saw Sam Heller there. He had sneaked -back when the others were escaping and had practically surrendered. He -was hissed when this became known. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -THE SAVING OF BRUCE - - -"What have you there, Tom?" asked Jack. They were in their room, some -time after the riot over the burning effigy, and following a more -bountiful supper than they had partaken of in many a long day. They had -talked over the events and Sam Heller's desertion. - -"Oh, but you should see those boys eat!" exclaimed Mrs. Blackford to her -husband, after a visit to the dining hall. - -"I don't blame them," was the answer. "I'm glad it's over, and that they -have won. I never did like that Skeel." The monitor had confided to Tom -that as soon as Doctor Meredith had word of the return of the students -from their unsuccessful trip toward the town, he had ordered a big -supper gotten ready. And now Tom and his chum were in their room, tired -but happy. - -"This," remarked Tom, as he looked at the object to which Jack referred, -"this is a pocketbook I picked up out on the campus near the flag pole. -Some one dropped it during the excitement, I guess. I'll see if there's -a name in it, so I can send it back." - -He opened it. There were some banknotes and a number of papers. Tom -rapidly looked the latter over, and, as he caught sight of one, he -uttered a whistle of amazement. - -"What's the matter?" asked Jack, who was getting ready for bed. "Whose -wallet is it?" - -"Professor Skeel's." - -"Nothing remarkable in that; is there?" - -"No, but it's what I found in it. Now I know why he has such a hold over -Bruce, and what that lad's trouble is. Look here, Jack," and the two -boys bent their heads over a slip of paper. - -"I should say so!" exclaimed Jack. "No wonder he looked troubled, and -acted it, too. What are you going to do about it?" - -"I'm going to save Bruce; that's what I'm going to do." - -"How?" - -"I don't just know yet, but I'll find a way." - -There was subdued excitement the next morning when the Freshmen filed -down to breakfast, and the talk was of nothing but the uprising of the -night before. Sam Heller was practically ignored, but he did not seem to -mind. - -"Are we to get bread and water this morning, Blackie?" asked Tom, of the -monitor, at the same time playfully poking him in the ribs. - -"No, sir, the usual meal." - -"And are we still locked in?" demanded Jack. - -"No, sir, you can go wherever you like. Chapel I should imagine, first." - -"Oh, of course," agreed Tom. "I want my eggs soft boiled," he added most -prosaically. - -On the way to the morning devotions Tom pulled out the wallet. - -"I guess I'll send this over to Skeel's house, instead of taking it -myself," he said to Jack. "It might raise a row if I went there." And, -requesting one of the assistant janitors to do the errand, Tom proceeded -to chapel. Thus the wallet was returned to its owner, but minus a -certain bit of paper. - -"Well, you fellows certainly cut things loose!" exclaimed Bruce -Bennington admiringly to Tom, as he met our hero later. "You won hands -down. I wish I could do things as easily as you seem to do," and he -sighed. Tom noticed that the look of worry and trouble on the Senior's -face was deepened. - -"Look here, Bruce!" exclaimed Tom. "I wish you would tell me exactly -what your trouble is. Maybe I can help you." - -"No you couldn't." - -"I think so," and there was a peculiar note in Tom's voice. "Tell me," -he urged. The two were walking by themselves over a deserted part of -the snow-covered campus. The storm had ceased, and the day, though -clear, was quite cold. The weather was crisp and fine. - -"Hanged if I don't tell you!" burst out Bruce. "I don't know why it is, -but I took a liking to you the first time I saw you. I had half a notion -to tell you then, but I didn't. I haven't told anyone--I wish, now, I -had. Now I'm going to tell you. It's come to a show-down, anyhow. I was -just on my way to see Professor Skeel. He's at the bottom of my trouble, -as you may have guessed. He has sent for me. The jig is up." - -"I'll go with you," volunteered Tom. "I fancy I know part of your -trouble, at least." - -"You do?" burst out Bruce in amazement. - -"Yes. Look at that," and Tom held out a bit of paper. - -"I say, Tom," hailed Jack from a distance, as he came running up. "What -are we to do? There's a notice posted, saying we are to go to Latin -recitation to Professor Hammond, temporarily, and then afterward the -Freshmen are to meet Doctor Meredith and Professor Skeel. That looks as -if we hadn't won after all. The boys are anxious." - -"I'll be with them in a little while," answered Tom. "It's all right. -We win the strike all right, only things have to be adjusted formally I -suppose. But I'll say this. I'll never apologize to Skeel, and he's got -to promise to be decent, or the strike will begin all over again." - -"Hurray! That's the stuff!" cried Jack. "That's what we want to know. -But aren't you coming to the lecture?" - -"In a little while--yes. I've got something else on hand now, Jack." - -"All right!" called his chum, knowingly. "I'm on. See you later," and he -ran off. Jack turned to Bruce. - -Over the face of the Senior had come a curious change. His trouble -seemed to have vanished. - -"Tom--Tom Fairfield!" he exclaimed. "You've done me a service I can -never repay. Look here, this is a forgery!" - -"A forgery?" asked the amazed Freshman. - -"Yes, that's never my signature to that promissory note! In fact, the -whole note is forged. It's a little like my writing, but I know I never -signed it. Say, I'm free, now!" - -"You'd better tell me more about it," suggested our hero. "If I'm to -have it out with Skeel for you, I'd better know all the facts." - -"Sure. I'll tell you. It won't take long. I made an idiot of myself, -to be brief. You know my father is well off, and he makes me a good -allowance. One of his rules, though, and one I never broke but once, was -never to gamble, and another was never to sign a note. I broke both. - -"Last year when I was a Junior I got in with a fast set of fellows. We -didn't do anything very bad, but one night there was a game of chance -in one of the rooms. I was urged to play, and, not wanting to be a -kill-joy, I foolishly agreed. I knew dad would never forgive me if he -found it out, but I didn't think he would. He had said I would have to -leave school, and go to work, if I gambled, or signed a note. - -"Well, I lost, as most anyone will if he keeps it up long enough. I lost -all my ready money, and I got in debt. I had no way of paying, and the -Junior to whom I was indebted suggested that I give him my I. O. U. for -the amount. I did, scribbling a promissory note on a piece of paper. The -sum was quite large, and I see now what a chump I was. But I expected to -be able to pay in time, and the fellow said there was no hurry. - -"But when my next allowance came I went out on a lark, and we did some -damage that we had to pay for. This took all the cash I had, and I -owed more. I dared not ask for additional money, for I did not want to -explain to dad how foolish I had been on two occasions. I went to the -Junior, told him my predicament, and he kindly offered to wait for his -debt, though the note was overdue. - -"Then, most unexpectedly, this Junior's father died, and left him a -lot of money. He left school in a hurry to arrange his affairs, and -go abroad. The night before he left he wrote me a letter saying he had -destroyed the promissory note, and said that I need not pay it, as it -was a foolish debt at best. - -"That made me happy until all at once the storm broke. Just before the -close of school last term Professor Skeel sent for me. He told me he -had a note of mine, and demanded payment. I was dumbfounded, and said I -didn't know what he meant. - -"He explained that before leaving, this junior, whose name I won't -mention, had sold my promissory note to him, and that as he now owned it -I must pay it to him. I said he was mistaken, and told about the letter -I had." - -"Why didn't you show it to him?" asked Tom. "That would have been good -evidence." - -"Very foolishly I had destroyed it as soon as I read of my release from -the obligation. I did not want a scrap of paper around to remind me of -it. So I had no proof, and Skeel only laughed at me. He said he held -the note, and he showed it to me hastily, but I thought it was the real -thing. He threatened, if I did not pay, to tell dad, and I knew what -that meant, for, somehow, Skeel had learned about the game of chance. - -"And that was my trouble. It's been hanging over me since last term -and Skeel has been at me several times this term to pay up. He's been -putting the screws on harder and harder, and today was the last day. If -I couldn't pay he was to send word to dad, and demand the money from -him. I did try to raise the cash to settle, and I've paid something on -account, but I never could raise enough, for something always seemed to -happen to use up my allowance, and I had no good excuse for asking for -more." - -"Why didn't you write to this Junior, asking if it was true that he had -destroyed your note, as he said in his letter?" Tom inquired. - -"I did, but I never could reach him. He went traveling in Europe. But -it's all right now. I see the whole game. The Junior did tear up my -note, but probably Skeel found the pieces, somehow. He made a forged -copy of the note, enlarged the amount, forged my name to it, and the -Junior's endorsement, and relied on my fear of publicity to make me pay. -But I can now see that this is a fake!" and Bruce held up the document. - -"Then the sooner we tell Skeel so to his face the better," said Tom, -firmly. "Come on, we'll beard the tyrant in his den!" - -And they went. - -"You sent for me, Professor Skeel," began Bruce, when he and Tom were -admitted to the study of the unpleasant Latin teacher. - -"I did, but I have no desire to see _this_ young man!" and he glared at -Tom. "I demand that he withdraw at once." - -"And I refuse!" exclaimed Tom. "I am here to represent Mr. Bennington, -as--er--a sort of counsel." - -"Then he has told you of his folly, eh?" sneered the professor. "There -is no longer need for me to keep quiet about it. Are you ready to pay -that note, Bennington, or shall I inform your father about your debts -of honor? Remember I came into possession of the note honestly, as the -third party, and the law will recognize my claim. You are not a minor, -and you can not plead that. I bought the note from the student to whom -you gave it. Now, are you ready to pay, or shall I expose you?" - -"I am not going to pay," said Bruce, quietly. - -"Then I'll disgrace you!" stormed Mr. Skeel. - -"Have you the note in question?" asked Tom, quietly. - -"Yes, but what is that to you? I can produce it when the time comes," -and the professor tapped a black wallet lying on the table before him. -It was the one Tom had found and returned. - -"You need not trouble," said our hero quietly. "_We_ can produce the -note now. Here it is--the forged note!" and he held it in view, but -safely out of reach of the professor, who had sprung to his feet in rage -and amazement. - -"Wha--what!" he cried. "Where--where did you get that?" - -Hurriedly, and with trembling hands, he began searching through the -wallet. - -"It was there--it's here now," said Tom, quietly. "And if you make any -more threats, or attempt in any way to annoy my friend here, I shall lay -the whole matter before Doctor Meredith," went on the calm Freshman. "I -don't know but it is my duty to do it anyhow," he added. "Forging notes -and names is a serious crime." - -Professor Skeel sank back in his chair, his face the color of chalk. His -lips moved, but, for a moment, no sound came forth. Then he hoarsely -whispered: - -"Don't--don't expose me--I--I'll apologize. It was all--all a mistake. -I--I--!" - -He faltered, and Tom, not wishing to prolong the unpleasant scene, said -to Bruce: - -"Come." - -The two walked out, silently, Tom handing the forged note to his friend. -No one had a claim on him now. - -"Tom Fairfield, you have saved me from disgrace!" said Bruce feelingly, -and the two clasped hands in a firm grip. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -A MISSING PROFESSOR - - -"Young gentlemen," began Doctor Meredith, as he faced the assembled -Freshmen class in the chapel, where he had requested that they meet him, -"this is a solemn occasion. I hardly know what to say to you. Never, in -the history of Elmwood Hall, have we gone through what has transpired in -the last few days. We have never had a strike, nor an occasion for one. -We have never had a burning in effigy. - -"I am at a loss what to say. I have tried to sit as an impartial judge -in this matter, and so far, I have to admit that there is some right on -both sides, and a great deal of wrong on one side--which side is yet to -be determined." - -Tom wanted to say something, but he refrained. The doctor was speaking -too solemnly to be interrupted. - -"I have considered this matter from all standpoints," went on the head -master, "and I have tried to see my duty. I want to do what is right by -all. For that purpose I have asked you to meet here, and I will now go a -step further and will send for Professor Skeel. Perhaps, when we have a -mutual conference, all differences will be explained, a new system can -be devised and all will go on peacefully and quietly, as it always has -at Elmwood Hall. - -"I will ask our worthy janitor, Mr. Demosthenes Miller to step over to -Professor Skeel's house, and request him to come here." - -It was about an hour after Tom's dramatic interview with the Latin -instructor. Our hero and Bruce had parted, Tom to go to Latin class, -and, later, with all the Freshmen in that division, to attend the -special meeting. - -While the janitor was gone there was a painful silence. Then the -footsteps of the returning messenger were heard. He came in alone. - -"Is Professor Skeel coming?" asked Doctor Meredith curiously. - -"No, sir, he is not," replied the janitor with a respectful bow. - -"Why not?" and Doctor Meredith was plainly surprised. - -"Because, Doctor Meredith, Professor Skeel has gone." - -"Gone?" - -"Yes, sir. Disappeared--_vanesco_ as the classic Latin puts it. His -servant just informed me that the professor packed up a few of his -belongings, and went to town to catch a train. He will have his other -things sent after him. So he will not be here. He also left word that he -would not come back." - -For a moment there was a silence. Then came a long breath of relief from -the students. It was echoed by Doctor Meredith. - -"This--er--this--rather simplifies matters," he said, a bit nervously. -"I had it in mind to have Professor Skeel beg your pardon, and you, as a -class, to beg his. Then matters would have gone on as before. But this -simplifies matters. Professor Skeel, it seems, is no longer a member of -the faculty of Elmwood Hall. I do not understand it, but I fear he has -left for good." - -"And I _know_ it--I don't _fear_ it," murmured Tom. "I'm glad of it, -too. It saves me the disagreeable duty of branding him as a forger. -All's well that ends well? I suppose." - -"The purpose of this meeting having been accomplished," went on Doctor -Meredith, "you may consider yourselves excused. You will report for -Latin recitation to Professor Hammond, until further notice, and I will -engage a new classical professor as soon as possible." - -"Three cheers for Doctor Meredith!" - -"Three more for Professor Hammond!" - -"Three big ones for the Freshmen class," called Tom, when the first two -had been given. - -"And three cheers for Tom Fairfield, the best leader in Elmwood Hall!" -shouted Jack Fitch, swinging his cap. - -That the roof remained on the chapel after all that excitement speaks a -good word for the workmen who placed it there. Certainly such cheering -was never before heard in the old school. - -"No more Skeel!" exulted Jack, as he walked out of chapel, his arm -linked in Tom's. - -"Nothing but fun from now on," declared Tom, "and it will soon be spring -and baseball." - -"What are you going to do this vacation?" - -"I don't know. I've got to wait and see how dad and mother make out in -Australia, I suppose. I must write and tell them all that happened here." - -What Tom did when school closed may be learned by reading the next -volume of this series, to be called, "Tom Fairfield at Sea; or, The -Wreck of the Silver Star." - -"And so Skeel forged that note?" asked Jack, when he and his chum were -in their room that night. - -"Yes, it was a rank copy of Bruce's signature. And he had raised the -amount, too. I guess he was after money, all right." - -"I wonder where he went?" - -"Far enough off, I imagine. He'll never trouble Elmwood Hall again." - -"Nor Bruce Bennington, either." - -And this was so. Bruce was a different lad, from then on. His face was -always smiling, as it had been before his trouble. - -"I never can thank you, Tom, for what you did for me," he said. "Only -for you Skeel would have carried out his threat, and his forgery never -would have been discovered in time to prevent my disgrace. But I've made -a clean breast of it to dad, and though he gave me a hard calling down, -he's forgiven me. Oh, I feel so glad!" - -"And so do I," added Tom. "We're going to have a new Latin prof. I -understand. A jolly young fellow." - -"That's good. Here comes Demy. I wonder what he wants?" spoke Bruce, as -the studious janitor approached, with a book as usual. - -"Well, what is it?" asked the Senior. - -"I fear I have made a grave mistake," said Mr. Miller. "In announcing -the disappearance of Professor Skeel the other day I used the Latin word -_vanesco_. I see now that I used the wrong tense. Will you kindly set me -right." - -"Demy!" exclaimed Tom, "if you will kindly follow the example of -Professor Skeel, and vamoose, it will be all the same. We'll give you -a Latin lesson later. And, in the meanwhile, here is a dollar to buy -a dictionary," and Tom passed over a bill to the man who was always a -friend to the students. - -As for Professor Skeel he was not heard of again for some time. But the -lads of Elmwood Hall did not care. They had Tom Fairfield, who became -more of a leader than ever after his successful strike. As for Sam -Heller, he led a miserable life as a Freshman--ignored by nearly all. - -"Come on in to town," invited Bruce that night. "I'll treat you fellows -to a good feed, Tom. And I've fixed it with Merry, so we won't have to -hurry back." - -"Good!" exclaimed our hero, and on his way with his chums to a good -time, we will say good-bye to him for a time. - - -THE END - - - - -[Illustration: Polly says "JELL-O for me"] - - - If cast upon a desert isle - Like Crusoe long ago, - How dull the diet soon would be - How jaded you would grow! - - Your gun would get you meat enough, - Your line would catch your fish, - But what a hunger you would have - For some nice snappy dish. - - Then just suppose one sunny day, - While striding on the beach, - You'd hear your jolly Polly give - A most delightful screech. - - And this is what old Pol would say---- - For he's a jolly fellow---- - "I don't want crackers, no-sir-ee, - When I can feast on Jell-O. - - "We've lots or nuts on this here isle; - Go pick 'em, Mr. Crusoe, - We'd like to eat a good dessert, - Get busy and we'll do so." - -There are six pure fruit flavors of Jell-O: Strawberry, Raspberry, -Lemon, Orange, Cherry, Chocolate. Every child wants the little book, -"Miss Jell-O Gives a Party," and we will send it free upon request, but -be sure your name and address are plainly written. - -_America's most famous dessert_ - -[Illustration: - - JELL-O - THE JELL-O COMPANY. Inc. - Le Roy, N. Y. - Bridgeburg, Ont. - - _Reprinted by - permission of - John Martin's Book, - the Child's Magazine_ -] - - - -THE BOYS' OUTING LIBRARY - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full color._ - -_Price, per volume, 65 cents, postpaid._ - -[Illustration] - - -=THE SADDLE BOYS SERIES= - -By CAPT. JAMES CARSON - - The Saddle Boys of the Rockies - The Saddle Boys in the Grand Canyon - The Saddle Boys on the Plains - The Saddle Boys at Circle Ranch - The Saddle Boys on Mexican Trails - - -=THE DAVE DASHAWAY SERIES= - -By ROY ROCKWOOD - - Dave Dashaway the Young Aviator - Dave Dashaway and His Hydroplane - Dave Dashaway and His Giant Airship - Dave Dashaway Around the World - Dave Dashaway: Air Champion - - -=THE SPEEDWELL BOYS SERIES= - -By ROY ROCKWOOD - - The Speedwell Boys on Motorcycles - The Speedwell Boys and Their Racing Auto - The Speedwell Boys and Their Power Launch - The Speedwell Boys in a Submarine - The Speedwell Boys and Their Ice Racer - - -=THE TOM FAIRFIELD SERIES= - -By ALLEN CHAPMAN - - Tom Fairfield's School Days - Tom Fairfield at Sea - Tom Fairfield in Camp - Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck - Tom Fairfield's Hunting Trip - - -=THE FRED FENTON ATHLETIC SERIES= - -By ALLEN CHAPMAN - - Fred Fenton the Pitcher - Fred Fenton in the Line - Fred Fenton on the Crew - Fred Fenton on the Track - Fred Fenton: Marathon Runner - - - _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue._ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE BOY RANCHERS SERIES - -By WILLARD F. BAKER - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors_ - -_=Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid=_ - - -_Stories of the great west, with cattle ranches as a setting, related in -such a style as to captivate the hearts of all boys._ - -[Illustration] - - - 1. THE BOY RANCHERS - _or Solving the Mystery at Diamond X_ - -Two eastern boys visit their cousin. They become involved in an exciting -mystery. - - - 2. THE BOY RANCHERS IN CAMP - _or The Water Fight at Diamond X_ - -Returning for a visit, the two eastern lads learn, with delight, that -they are to become boy ranchers. - - - 3. THE BOY RANCHERS ON THE TRAIL - _or The Diamond X After Cattle Rustlers_ - -Our boy heroes take the trail after Del Pinzo and his outlaws. - - - 4. THE BOY RANCHERS AMONG THE INDIANS - _or Trailing the Yaquis_ - -Rosemary and Floyd are captured by the Yaqui Indians but the boy -ranchers trailed them into the mountains and effected the rescue. - - - 5. THE BOY RANCHERS AT SPUR CREEK - _or Fighting the Sheep Herders_ - -Dangerous struggle against desperadoes for land rights brings out heroic -adventures. - - - 6. THE BOY RANCHERS IN THE DESERT - _or Diamond X and the Lost Mine_ - -One night a strange old miner almost dead from hunger and hardship -arrived at the bunk house. The boys cared for him and he told them of -the lost desert mine. - - - 7. THE BOY RANCHERS ON ROARING RIVER - _or Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers_ - -The boy ranchers help capture Delton's gang who were engaged in -smuggling Chinese across the border. - - - _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE WEBSTER SERIES - -By FRANK V. WEBSTER - - -[Illustration] - -Mr. Webster's style is very much like that of the boys' favorite author, -the late lamented Horatio Alger, Jr., but his tales are thoroughly -up-to-date. - -=Cloth. 12mo. Over 200 pages each. Illustrated. Stamped in various -colors.= - -=Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.= - - - Only A Farm Boy - _or Dan Hardy's Rise in Life_ - - The Boy From The Ranch - _or Roy Bradner's City Experiences_ - - The Young Treasure Hunter - _or Fred Stanley's Trip to Alaska_ - - The Boy Pilot of the Lakes - _or Nat Morton's Perils_ - - Tom The Telephone Boy - _or The Mystery of a Message_ - - Bob The Castaway - _or The Wreck of the Eagle_ - - The Newsboy Partners - _or Who Was Dick Box?_ - - Two Boy Gold Miners - _or Lost in the Mountains_ - - The Young Firemen of Lakeville - _or Herbert Dare's Pluck_ - - The Boys of Bellwood School - _or Frank Jordan's Triumph_ - - Jack the Runaway - _or On the Road with a Circus_ - - Bob Chester's Grit - _or From Ranch to Riches_ - - Airship Andy - _or The Luck of a Brave Boy_ - - High School Rivals - _or Fred Markham's Struggles_ - - Darry The Life Saver - _or The Heroes of the Coast_ - - Dick The Bank Boy - _or A Missing Fortune_ - - Ben Hardy's Flying Machine - _or Making a Record for Himself_ - - Harry Watson's High School Days - _or The Rivals of Rivertown_ - - Comrades of the Saddle - _or The Young Rough Riders of the Plains_ - - Tom Taylor at West Point - _or The Old Army Officer's Secret_ - - The Boy Scouts of Lennox - _or Hiking Over Big Bear Mountain_ - - The Boys of the Wireless - _or a Stirring Rescue from the Deep_ - - Cowboy Dave - _or The Round-up at Rolling River_ - - Jack of the Pony Express - _or The Young Rider of the Mountain Trail_ - - The Boys of the Battleship - _or For the Honor of Uncle Sam_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - - - - -THE BOB DEXTER SERIES - -By WILLARD F. BAKER - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_ - -_=Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid=_ - - -[Illustration] - -_This is a new line of stories for boys, by the author of the Boy -Ranchers series. The Bob Dexter books are of the character that may -be called detective stories, yet they are without the objectionable -features of the impossible characters and absurd situations that mark so -many of the books in that class. These stories deal with the up-to-date -adventures of a normal, healthy lad who has a great desire to solve -mysteries._ - - - 1. BOB DEXTER AND THE CLUB-HOUSE MYSTERY - _or The Missing Golden Eagle_ - -This story tells how the Boys' Athletic Club was despoiled of its -trophies in a strange manner, and how, among other things stolen, was -the Golden Eagle mascot. How Bob Dexter turned himself into an amateur -detective and found not only the mascot, but who had taken it, makes -interesting and exciting reading. - - 2. BOB DEXTER AND THE BEACON BEACH MYSTERY - _or The Wreck of the Sea Hawk_ - -When Bob and his chum went to Beacon Beach for their summer vacation, -they were plunged, almost at once, into a strange series of events, not -the least of which was the sinking of the Sea Hawk. How some men tried -to get the treasure off the sunken vessel, and how Bob and his chum -foiled them, and learned the secret of the lighthouse, form a great -story. - - 3. BOB DEXTER AND THE STORM MOUNTAIN MYSTERY - _or The Secret of the Log Cabin_ - -Bob Dexter came upon a man mysteriously injured and befriended him. This -led the young detective into the swirling midst of a series of strange -events and into the companionship of strange persons, not the least -of whom was the man with the wooden leg. But Bob got the best of this -vindictive individual, and solved the mystery of the log cabin, showing -his friends how the secret entrance to the house was accomplished. - - - _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, PUBLISHERS New York - - - - -THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES - -By LESTER CHADWICK - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_ - -_=Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid=_ - - -[Illustration] - -_Mr. Chadwick has played on the diamond and on the gridiron himself._ - - - 1. THE RIVAL PITCHERS - _A Story of College Baseball_ - -Tom Parsons, a "hayseed," makes good on the scrub team of Randall -College. - - - 2. A QUARTERBACK'S PLUCK - _A Story of College Football_ - -A football story, told in Mr. Chadwick's best style, that is bound to -grip the reader from the start. - - - 3. BATTING TO WIN - _A Story of College Baseball_ - -Tom Parsons and his friends Phil and Sid are the leading players on -Randall College team. There is a great game. - - - 4. THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN - _A Story of College Football_ - -After having to reorganize their team at the last moment, Randall makes -a touchdown that won a big game. - - - 5. FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL - _A Story of College Athletics_ - -The winning of the hurdle race and long-distance run is extremely -exciting. - - - 6. THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS - _A Story of College Water Sports_ - -Tom, Phil and Sid prove as good at aquatic sports as they are on track, -gridiron and diamond. - - - _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - - Transcriber's Notes: - - --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in - bold by "equal" signs (=bold=). - - --Printer, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently - corrected, except as indicated below. - - --Archaic and variable spelling is preserved. - - --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. - - --The Author's long dash style has been retained. - - --Inconsistencies in formatting and punctuation of individual - advertisements have been retained. - - --Page numbers in the Table of Contents for Chapters IV and V have - been changed to reflect the actual beginning page number in the - text. - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Fairfield's Schooldays, by Allen Chapman - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS *** - -***** This file should be named 43796-8.txt or 43796-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/7/9/43796/ - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: Tom Fairfield's Schooldays - or, The Chums of Elmwood Hall - -Author: Allen Chapman - -Release Date: September 22, 2013 [EBook #43796] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS *** - - - - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - -[Illustration: WITH GLARING EYES HE MADE A RUSH FOR THE CROWD OF -STUDENTS.] - - - - - Tom Fairfield's - Schooldays - - Or - - The Chums of Elmwood Hall - - BY - - ALLEN CHAPMAN - - AUTHOR OF "TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA," "TOM FAIRFIELD IN - CAMP," "THE DAREWELL CHUMS SERIES," "THE - BOYS OF PLUCK SERIES," ETC. - - ILLUSTRATED - - NEW YORK - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - PUBLISHERS - - - - -BOOKS FOR BOYS - -BY ALLEN CHAPMAN - -=TOM FAIRFIELD SERIES= - -12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. - - TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS - Or, The Chums of Elmwood Hall - - TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA - Or, The Wreck of the _Silver Star_ - - TOM FAIRFIELD IN CAMP - Or, The Secret of the Old Mill - - TOM FAIRFIELD'S PLUCK AND LUCK - Or, Working to Clear His Name - - -=THE DAREWELL CHUMS SERIES= - -12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. - - THE DAREWELL CHUMS - THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN THE CITY - THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN THE WOODS - THE DAREWELL CHUMS ON A CRUISE - THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN A WINTER CAMP - - -=BOYS OF PLUCK SERIES= - -12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. - - THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT - TWO BOY PUBLISHERS - MAIL ORDER FRANK - A BUSINESS BOY'S PLUCK - THE YOUNG LAND AGENT - -CUPPLES & LEON CO. PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK - - Copyrighted 1913, by - Cupples & Leon Company - - Tom Fairfield's Schooldays - - Printed in U. S. A. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. TOM HEARS STRANGE NEWS 1 - II. THE DRIFTING BOAT 13 - III. OFF FOR ELMWOOD HALL 20 - IV. TOM MAKES AN ENEMY 27 - V. TOM FINDS A CHUM 39 - VI. AN ANGRY PROFESSOR 47 - VII. BRUCE IS WORRIED 55 - VIII. THE CALL OF THE PIGSKIN 62 - IX. TOM'S TOUCHDOWN 68 - X. A COWARD'S TRICK 78 - XI. A CLASS WARNING 87 - XII. A RUNAWAY ICEBOAT 98 - XIII. THE SKATING RACE 107 - XIV. WINNING AGAINST ODDS 113 - XV. MORE TROUBLE 119 - XVI. TOM'S DARING PROPOSAL 128 - XVII. DEFIANCE 135 - XVIII. THE STRIKE 144 - XIX. NEGOTIATIONS END 151 - XX. PRISONERS 157 - XXI. THE ESCAPE 168 - XXII. THE BURNING EFFIGY 177 - XXIII. TOM'S FIND 183 - XXIV. THE SAVING OF BRUCE 191 - XXV. A MISSING PROFESSOR 201 - - - - -TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS - - - - -CHAPTER I - -TOM HEARS STRANGE NEWS - - -"Hi, Tom, give us a ride in your boat; will you?" - -"Take us across to the other side of the river." - -The request and the suggestion came from two lads who were walking -toward a small boathouse, on the edge of a rather wide river. The youth -to whom they spoke looked up from a small motorboat, the engine of which -he was cleaning. - -"What do you want to go over to the other side of the river for, Dick -Jones?" asked Tom Fairfield, of the lad who had made that suggestion. - -"Got to go on an errand for dad, and it's too far to walk away around by -the bridge. Take me over, will you?" - -"I will if I can get this engine to run." - -"What's the matter with it?" asked Will Bennett, the companion of Dick -Jones. The two were chums, and friends of Tom Fairfield, all of them -living in the village of Briartown. Tom, whose parents were quite well -off, had recently bought a motorboat, not very large, but of sufficient -size to enable him to take out several of his chums. "What's the matter -with the engine?" asked Will again, as he and his chum walked out on the -small dock, at the end of which the motorboat was made fast. - -"Matter with it? What isn't the matter with it?" asked Tom in some -disgust. "The cylinder is flooded with oil, that's what's the matter, -and I don't know how many more things I'll find wrong before I get -through. It's all that Dent Wilcox's fault." - -"How's that?" asked Dick, as he and his chum watched Tom trying to drain -some of the lubricating oil out through a small valve. - -"Oh, I took Dent out for a ride last night, and as I was in a hurry to -get up to the house when I got back, I asked him to shut off the oil -cups. But it's like everything else he does--he's too lazy, almost, to -breathe. He didn't turn off the oil, and all that was in the cups ran -into the cylinder during the night. I've tried for the last half hour to -get the engine started, but she won't run." - -"That's too bad," spoke Will sympathetically. - -"I'll never trust Dent to do anything for me again," went on Tom. "I -ought to have seen to the oil cups myself, and I will next time. Wait -until I catch him!" - -"There he goes now!" exclaimed Dick, pointing to a lad crossing a field -some distance away. "Shall I run and tell him you want to see him?" - -"No, it isn't worth while," replied Tom. "Besides, he's so lazy he -wouldn't walk down here. But I'll talk to him like a Dutch Uncle when I -do see him. Now let's see if the engine will work. If it does, I'll give -you fellows a ride." - -Once more Tom turned the flywheel over several times, but, though the -engine coughed, wheezed and spluttered, as though in apology at having -such poor health, it did not start. - -"Say, you haven't got your forward switch on!" suddenly exclaimed Will. -"There's no spark." - -"No wonder!" cried Tom. "I remember now, I had it on, and then, as I -didn't want to get a shock when I was cleaning the spark plug, I shut -it off. Then I forgot to put it on again. Hop in, and close the switch, -Will, and then maybe we can start. I guess most of the oil is out, now." - -The two chums got in the boat, and Will, making his way forward, closed -the connection. Then Tom, who had remained near the motor, again turned -over the flywheel. This time there was an explosion, and the engine -worked rapidly. The propeller churned the water, and the painter -strained as the boat moved forward. - -"Hurray!" cheered Dick. - -"That's the stuff!" exclaimed Will, at the prospect of a ride. - -"Yes, I guess it's all right now," assented Tom. He shut off the engine -by pulling out a switch near it, and added: "Wait until I get some more -oil from the boathouse, and I'll be with you." - -As Tom started up the dock toward the little building, which he had -built, with the help of his chums, to house his boat, he saw, coming -along the road that ran near the river, a young man in a small auto -runabout. The youth was well dressed, but on his face was a look of -sadness and worry, in contrast, Tom thought, to the cheerful expression -he should have worn. - -"If I had a natty little car like that, I wouldn't look so glum," -reasoned Tom, as he opened the boathouse door. The runabout came nearer, -and the lone occupant of it, bringing it to a stop opposite Tom, called -out: - -"Is there any place around here where I can hire a boat for a row of an -hour or so?" - -"Not near here," replied Tom. - -The young man's eyes rested on Tom's own trim rowing craft. - -"Is that one to hire?" he asked, nodding toward it. - -"No," replied our hero. "But if you'd like to take it I've no objections. -I've got a motorboat, and, if you like, I'll take you for a ride in that. -Did you want to go anywhere in particular?" - -"No, I just want to get off by myself, and worry over my troubles," and -the newcomer laughed, but the laugh had no merriment in it. - -"Troubles?" questioned Tom, now that the other had given him an opening. -"You don't look as if you had troubles." - -"Well, I have--lots of 'em. I've acted like a blamed chump, and now -I've got to pay the piper. A man is trying to make trouble for me, and -I guess he'll succeed, all right. I'm too easy, that's the trouble. But -I'm not going to bother you with my woes." - -"Do you want to come for a ride with me?" asked Tom. "I'm going to take -a couple of friends across the river." - -"No, thank you. I don't want to seem stiff, but really I'd be better off -by myself for a time. So, if you really mean it, and will lend me your -boat, I'll go for a row alone. I was out on a little country run--I live -in Camden--and when I saw this river, looking so calm and peaceful, I -just felt as though I'd like to row on it, and forget my troubles." - -"You may take the boat, and welcome," went on Tom, looking at the -other, and forming a liking for him at once. - -"Thanks. My name is Bennington--Bruce Bennington. I haven't a card, or -I'd give you one." - -"My name's Tom Fairfield," spoke our hero, and the two shook hands. - -"Know how to row?" asked Tom, as the newcomer started toward where the -small boat was moored. - -"Yes, I'm on the crew at Elmwood Hall. I'm a senior there," Bruce -explained. - -"Oh!" exclaimed Tom, for he had often heard of that place of learning. -"That's quite a school," he added. "I've often wished I could go there." - -"Yes, it's quite a place," admitted Bruce Bennington. "And we have a -pretty fair crew. You won't want your boat right away?" - -"No. And the reason I asked if you could row was because there are some -stiff currents in the river. You're welcome to come in the motorboat if -you like, though it isn't much of a craft." - -"No, thank you, I'd rather row off by myself, and do some good hard -thinking. I've got to go back to school as soon as the fall term opens, -which will be in about two weeks, and I'd like to find a way out of my -troubles before then, if I can." - -"It's too bad," spoke Tom sympathetically, for he had, somehow, come -to form a strange and sudden liking for this lad. Tom looked into the -other's frank and pleasant face, and really wished he could help him. - -"Well, I guess I'll have to squirm out of it the best I can," went on -Bruce. "A good row, and a rest in the cool shadows, will calm me down, -maybe, and I'll try to make some plans before I have to get back to the -grind. I'll take good care of your boat." - -By the manner in which he entered it, and took up the oars, Tom saw that -Bruce knew how to handle the craft. The auto runabout had been left near -the dock, and a little later the senior was sculling down the stream. - -"Who was that?" asked Tom's chums, as he rejoined them. - -He explained briefly, as he filled the empty oil cups, and soon he and -the two lads were puffing across the river in the motorboat. The rowing -craft had disappeared around a bend in the stream. - -"Troubles, eh?" mused Will. "I don't believe I'd let much trouble me if -I went to a cracker-jack school like Elmwood Hall, and had a runabout -like that." - -"Me either," added Dick. - -"Well, you never can tell," spoke Tom, as he thought of the sad look -on the senior's face--a look that had returned several times during the -talk, in spite of the frequent smiles. "He seems like a nice sort of -chap." - -"Did he say what his trouble was?" asked Will. - -"No, and I didn't ask him. Said some man had it in for him. Look out -where you're steering, Dick." - -"Why, what's the matter?" asked Dick, who had requested Tom to let him -take the wheel for a time. - -"There's a big rock somewhere out here," went on the owner of the -motorboat. "I must mark it with a buoy, or I'll hit it myself some -night. Keep more to the left." - -Dick spun the wheel over, and the boys rode on, talking of many things. - -"Where do you think you'll go to school this fall?" asked Will of Tom. - -"Oh, back to the Academy, I suppose." - -"Why, you graduated from there in June!" - -"I know I did, but there's going to be a post-graduate class formed, I -hear. Going to take up first year college work, and dad talks of sending -me. I wish I could go to Elmwood Hall, though, or some place like that." - -"So do I!" cried Will. - -"Boarding school's the place!" affirmed Dick, with energy. "I'd like to -go to one." - -They had reached the other side of the river now and Dick Jones, who had -been sent by his father to take a message to a lumberman, started off -on his errand, Will and Tom promising to wait for him in the motorboat. -When Dick returned on the run, Tom yielded to the request of the two -lads, and took them for a run up the stream. - -"That is, unless you have something to do, Tom," spoke Will. - -"No, I'm going to have all the fun I can before school opens, that's -all. And it will do the engine good to run a bit and get rid of the oil -that chump Dent let run in." - -The boys were out in the motorboat for about two hours, and, on nearing -the dock on the return trip, Dick remarked: - -"That fellow's auto is gone." - -"Is my boat there?" asked Tom, who was tinkering with the motor of his -craft. - -"Yes," replied Will, who was steering. - -"All right; I guess that fellow got tired of rowing, or maybe he thought -of a way out of his troubles, and came in." - -When Tom had made fast his motorboat, he went to the rowing craft to -see if it was in good condition. He saw a piece of paper on one of the -seats, held down by a little stone. Picking it up he read: - - "Many thanks for the use of your boat. I had a fine row, and - I feel better, though I'm as much up a tree as ever. I hope - to see you again, sometime. If ever you are near Elmwood Hall, - look me up. - - "BRUCE BENNINGTON." - -"That was nice of him," remarked Will, as Tom showed him the note. - -"And he didn't damage your boat any," spoke Dick. - -"No, he knows how to handle 'em--he rows on the Elmwood Hall crew," said -Tom. "Well, so long, fellows. I'm going for a long run to-morrow, if -you'd like to come." - -"Sure!" they chorused. - -But Tom was not destined to take that long run on the morrow, for, when -he reached his home, not far from the river, he heard strange tidings, -that made quite a difference in his plans. - -As Tom entered the house he saw his father holding a letter, that he had -evidently been reading to his wife, and discussing with her. There was a -look of concern on the faces of Mr. and Mrs. Brokaw Fairfield. - -"What's the matter?" asked Tom, quickly. "Any bad news?" - -"No, not exactly bad news, Tom," replied his father. "But it is news, -and it's going to make quite a difference to us--to you also." - -"What is it?" - -"You remember that property in Australia, Tom, which was left to me by -an uncle; don't you?" asked Mr. Fairfield. - -"Yes," replied our hero, for he had often heard the inheritance -mentioned. "What about it?" - -"Well, I've been trying to dispose of it, and have the money from -the sale sent to me here, but it seems that some trouble has arisen, -and I've got to go there to straighten it out. I tried to do it by -correspondence, but I have just received a letter from a lawyer in -Sydney, saying that my personal presence is needed, or I may lose it -all. So--" - -"Your father and I have decided to go to Australia!" suddenly broke in -Mrs. Fairfield, anxious to get the worst over. "Oh, Tom, I don't want to -go at all, and leave you behind, but I've got to!" - -"What!" cried Tom. "Can't I go? You two going to Australia, and leaving -me alone here? Oh, say, now--" - -"Wait, Tom," cautioned his father with a smile, "we're not going to -leave you alone, exactly. Besides, there is your education to think of, -and we may be gone for many months." - -"Oh, but I say--" began Tom again. - -"Now, dear son," began his mother in a gentle voice, "we have it all -planned out for you. You are to go to boarding school while we are away." - -"Boarding school!" Tom's eyes began to sparkle. After all, this might be -as good as going to Australia. - -"Yes," said his father, "and we have picked out--" - -"Elmwood Hall!" broke in Mrs. Fairfield, unable to let her husband tell -all the news. - -"Elmwood Hall!" cried Tom, thinking of the note in his pocket from Bruce -Bennington. - -"Yes," spoke Mr. Fairfield, "though if you'd rather go to some other -place it may be arranged. But your mother and I picked out Elmwood Hall, -and--" - -"Elmwood Hall!" cried Tom again. "Say, that's all right. I'm satisfied! -That beats Australia. When are you going? When can I start for Elmwood? -Have you got a catalog from there? Say, I've got something to tell you!" -and Tom, overcoming a desire to stand on his head, pulled out the note -Bruce had left in his boat. - -"Elmwood Hall!" exclaimed Tom again. "This is the best ever!" - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE DRIFTING BOAT - - -"What makes you so enthusiastic about Elmwood Hall, Tom?" asked Mr. -Fairfield, when his son had somewhat calmed down. "I didn't know you -knew much about it." - -"I don't except what I've heard and read, but it just happens that I -met a fellow from there to-day." And Tom told of his talk with Bruce -Bennington, showing his parents the letter. - -"Hum, that is rather odd," spoke Mr. Fairfield. "I wonder what his -trouble could have been? Bennington--Bennington. I've heard that name -before. Oh, I know; Mr. Bennington is a millionaire manufacturer. That -must be his son, though if he's in trouble I should think Mr. Bennington -would help him out." - -"Maybe it isn't money," spoke Tom. "But, anyhow, I'm glad I'm going to -Elmwood, and maybe I'll get chummy with Bruce Bennington, though there's -not much chance, for he's a Senior, and I'll be a Freshman." - -"I hope, if you can, that you'll help him," said Mrs. Fairfield. "And -oh, Tom, do you think they'll haze you?" - -"If they do, I guess I can stand it," replied her son. "Everyone has -to be hazed. I won't mind. But now tell me something about going to -Australia." - -"It's going to be quite a trip," said Mr. Fairfield, "and one I wish I -could get out of, but I can't. We'll start as soon as we can, Tom. We're -to go to San Francisco by train, and take a steamer there. I'll write at -once, and make arrangements for you to go to Elmwood Hall. Your mother -will see to getting what clothes you need. Here is a catalog of the -school." - -Tom eagerly looked the pamphlet over, while his father went to his -library to write some letters and Mrs. Fairfield, not without some -misgivings as to what might happen to Tom at boarding school, or to -herself and her husband on their long trip, went to look over her son's -wardrobe. - -As I have explained, Mr. Fairfield was quite well off, and had the -prospect of more wealth. He did not care to lose his Australian -inheritance, and, though the journey meant some trouble for him, in that -it would complicate his business affairs at home, he decided to make it. -He had long promised his wife a trip abroad and now was the chance for -it, as they intended to come home by way of Europe. - -Tom Fairfield was a tall, well built youth, fond of all out-doors -sports, and about as lively a lad as you would care to meet. - -He had lived in Briartown all his life, though he had traveled -extensively with his father and mother, and knew considerable of the -world. He was an only son, a sister having died when a little girl. - -Tom had many friends in the village, where his father's silk factory -was located, and our hero took part in the scenes and activities of -the place. He had attended the Academy there, and was one of the best -football and baseball players. He always had a liking for the water, -and since getting his motorboat, had been on Pine river more often than -ever. He had tried to get up a crew at the Academy, but could not seem -to interest enough boys, or get them to subscribe the necessary funds. - -Tom had one or two enemies, too, chiefly because he would not let them -bully him, but they did not worry him, for any lad of spirit is as -likely to have enemies as friends, and Tom had plenty of the latter. - -"Jove! To think that I'm really going to Elmwood Hall!" Tom whispered -to himself, as he leafed over the catalog, and looked at the pictures -of the various buildings. "That'll be great! I wish I knew some of the -fellows who were going there, but I guess I can soon get acquainted. I -wonder if I can pass the entrance examinations?" - -He looked at the requirements for the Freshman class, and noted that -there was no study but what he had had at the Academy. - -"I guess I can do it," he said. - -There were soon busy days in the Fairfield household. - -Besides making arrangements for the voyage, and getting their business -affairs in shape to leave, Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield had to arrange for -Tom's stay at Elmwood. This was done by correspondence and, about a week -after Tom had heard the news, he went to the school to take the entrance -examinations. He met a few lads in like case, all rather miserable, and -Tom felt a feeling of pride as he walked about the campus, and thought -that soon he would be a student there. - -"That is, if I pass," he mused. "That Latin exam. was a bit stiff, and -so were the maths. Maybe the others will be easier. I hope so, anyhow." - -Tom's hopes were realized, for on the second day--the test extending -over that time--he had no difficulty in answering the entrance -questions. Then he went back home, to receive, a few days later, word -that he had passed, and would be admitted to the Freshman class. - -"Wow!" he cried, as he read the formal announcement. "That's great! I'm -going to tell the boys!" - -He rushed off to find Dick and Will, his most particular chums. But, on -visiting their houses, he was informed that they had gone fishing on the -river. - -"I'll find 'em," he said. "I know the fishing hole. I'll go down in my -motorboat." - -He hurried back to the dock, and, as he reached a point where he could -look down to it, he uttered an exclamation of dismay. - -"My motorboat!" he cried. "It's gone! Some one has it! If it's stolen--" - -He broke into a run, and as he had a good view of the river he saw his -boat out in the middle of the stream. - -"Well, of all the nerve!" he cried. "Dent Wilcox has taken my boat -without asking me. I'll fix him!" - -Then he noticed that the boat was not running under her own power, but -was drifting down stream. - -"Hi there, Dent! What's the matter with you?" Tom cried. "What did you -take my boat for? Why don't you start up and run her back here?" - -The lazy lad addressed looked up from what was evidently a contemplation -of the stalled engine. - -"Start her going!" cried Tom. "Start the engine, or you'll be on the -rocks!" - -"I can't," yelled back Dent. "She's stopped." - -"Crank her," ordered Tom. "Turn the flywheel over!" - -Dent did so, but in such a lazy and slow fashion that even from shore -Tom could see that the lad was not exerting himself enough. The wheel -needed a vigorous turn. - -"Oh, put some muscle into it!" cried Tom. "You'll never get her going -that way!" - -"I've tried three or four times, and she won't go," retorted Dent, -leaning back against the gunwale, and looking at the engine, as though a -mere glance would set it going. - -"Keep on trying!" cried Tom. "Don't you see where you're going? You'll -be on the rocks in five minutes more! Can't you even steer? Next time -you take my boat I'll wallop you good!" - -"I didn't think you'd care," came the answer over the stretch of water. - -"Well, I do. Now you crank up!" - -Dent Wilcox tried again, but his inherent laziness was against him, -and nothing resulted. The boat was in the grip of the current, and was -rapidly drifting toward the dangerous rocks. - -"By Jove! He'll wreck my boat!" thought Tom. "Say!" he cried desperately, -"can't you get that engine going somehow, and avoid the rocks?" - -"I guess there's no gasolene," retorted Dent. - -"Yes, there is, the tank's full." - -"Then the batteries have given out." - -"Can't be. They're new. Oh, you big chump, to take out my boat when you -don't know how to run her!" and Tom looked at his drifting craft in -despair. - -"Can't you come out and get me?" suggested Dent, as he looked helplessly -at the engine. - -"Well, of all the nerve!" cried Tom. "But I'll have to, I guess, if I -want to save my boat!" - -He hurriedly cast off his rowing craft, jumped in, and was soon pulling -out toward the drifting motorboat. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -OFF FOR ELMWOOD HALL - - -"Talk about lazy fellows!" murmured Tom, as he bent to his oars, "that -Dent Wilcox certainly is the limit. He's too lazy to row, so he borrows -my motorboat. Then he's too lazy to learn how to crank the engine, and -too lazy to turn the flywheel over hard enough. It's a wonder he ever -got started, and when he does get going he doesn't take enough pains to -look out where he's steering. If he wrecks my boat I'll make him pay for -her." - -Tom cast a glance over his shoulder toward his craft, and the sight of -the boat nearer the rocks made him row faster than ever. - -"Why don't you try to steer, or crank her?" he yelled to Dent. - -"What's the use?" asked the lazy lad indifferently. - -"Use? Lots of use? Do you want to go on the rocks?" - -"No, not exactly," spoke Dent, and his voice was quicker than his usual -slow tones, as he saw his danger. "But you'll be here in a minute, and -you can run things." - -"Yes, that's just like you," retorted Tom. "You want someone else to do -the work, while you sit around. But I'll make you row back, and pull the -boat too, if I can't get her going." - -"Oh, Tom, I never could pull this boat back." - -"You'll have to," declared our hero grimly, "that is if the engine won't -run. Stand by now, to catch my painter." - -Dent stood up in the stern of the drifting motorboat, and prepared to -catch the line Tom was about to throw to him. Tom was near enough to his -motorcraft now so that the headway and the current of the river would -carry him to her. - -"I hope I can get that engine going," he remarked to himself, as he saw -how dangerously near he was to the rocks. - -"Catch!" he cried to Dent, throwing the end of his line aboard, and -Dent, forgetting his usual lazy habits, made a quick grab for the -painter. He reached it, took a turn around a cleat, and in another -moment Tom was aboard. - -"Pull my rowboat closer up," he ordered Dent. "I'm going to have a try -at the motor, and if she doesn't go, we'll have to row out of danger." - -He gave a quick look at the engine, and then cried: - -"Well, you're a dandy!" - -"What's the matter?" - -"You didn't have the gasolene turned on." - -"I did so. Else how could I have run out from the dock?" - -"With what was in the carbureter, of course. But when that was used -up, you didn't get any more from the tank. You're a peach to run a -motorboat! Don't you ever take mine out again!" - -"I won't," murmured Dent, thoroughly ashamed of himself. - -With a quick motion Tom turned on the gasolene, saw that the switches -were connected, and, with a turn of the flywheel, he had the motor -chugging away a second later. - -"There you are!" he exclaimed, as he sprang to the steering wheel. - -"Glad I don't have to pull in," said Dent, thinking of the work he had -escaped. - -"Well, it was a narrow squeak," said Tom, as he steered out of the way -of the rocks, and then sent his boat around in a graceful curve. - -"How'd you come to take my boat?" asked our hero, when he had a chance -to collect his thoughts. - -"Oh, I just strolled down to the dock, and saw it there. I heard you -were out of town--taking the Elmwood Hall examination--and I thought you -wouldn't mind." - -"I did take the exams., and I passed," spoke Tom, his pride in this -rather making him forgive Dent now. "I'll soon be going there to -school, and I'll have swell times. I came down to tell Dick and Will -that I just got word that I'm to enter the Freshman class, when I saw -you had my boat. You want to be more careful after this." - -"I will," promised the lazy lad, as he settled himself comfortably on -the cushioned seats, and watched Tom steer. The latter, after running -ashore, and tying up his rowboat, started for the fishing hole, -intending to look for his chums. - -"Can't I come along?" asked Dent, who had not offered to get out, nor -help Tom tie his boat. "Take me along," he pleaded. "If you go to school -I won't get any more rides." - -"Well, you have got nerve!" laughed Tom, and yet he felt so elated at -the prospect before him that he did not seriously protest. "First you -take my boat without permission, then you nearly wreck her, and next -you want to have an additional ride. You have your nerve with you, all -right." - -"Might as well," spoke Dent, lazily, as he lolled back on the cushions. -"If you don't ask for things in this world you won't get much." - -"I guess that's right," agreed Tom. "You've got more sense than I gave -you credit for. But crank that motor now. Let's see if you can get it -going. You'll have to work your passage, if you come with me on this -voyage." - -Dent turned the flywheel over, and after a few attempts he did succeed -in getting the engine to go. Then Tom steered down to the fishing hole. -Dick and Will saw him coming, and called and waved their welcome. - -"Any luck?" asked Tom, as he ran his boat close to shore. - -"Pretty fair. Did you hear from Elmwood?" asked Dick. - -"Yes, just got word, and I passed. I'll soon be a Freshman. I wish you -fellows were coming along. Come on, get in, and I'll tell you all about -it. You've got fish enough." - -His chums were glad enough to ride back, and soon, with their fish, they -were in the motorboat. While Tom was showing them his letter from the -school, Dent managed, by a great effort, to steer properly. - -"How soon are you going there?" asked Will. - -"In about a week. I hope I make some friends there. I'm going to look up -that Senior, Bennington. He told me to." - -Talking with his chums of the prospects before him, Tom was soon at his -dock again, and this time he locked his boat fast so that Dent could not -take it without permission. - -"I'm going to let you two fellows run it while I'm at Elmwood," he said -to Dick and Will, much to their delight. - -The days that followed were busy ones. Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield had much -to do, and as for Tom, he had, or imagined he had, so much to take with -him, that he thought he would need three trunks at least. But his mother -sorted out his clothes, and reduced the number of his other possessions, -so that one trunk and a valise sufficed. - -In the meanwhile arrangements were made for Tom's father and mother to -sail for Australia. Their railroad tickets had been bought, and passage -engaged on the steamer _Elberon_, which was to sail from San Francisco. - -"I'm giving you enough money to last you for the term, Tom, I think," -said his father. "I want you to have everything you need, but don't -be wasteful. I will also leave a further sum in the bank here to your -credit, and you will have a check book. But I want you to give me an -account of your expenditures." - -Tom promised, and felt rather proud to have a bank account, as well as -go to a preparatory boarding school. His chums in Briartown envied him -more than ever. - -At last the day for Tom to start came. His parents were to leave two -days later, closing up their house for the fall, for it was early in -September. - -Good-byes were said, Tom's chums came in numbers to see him off, -and with rather a tearful farewell of his father and mother our hero -started for school, or rather, college, since Elmwood ranked with upper -institutions of learning in conferring degrees. - -"Be sure and write," begged Tom's mother. - -"I will," he said. "And you write, too." - -"Of course," his mother assured him. - -The train pulled in, Tom got aboard, and at last he felt that he was -really off. He waved his last good-byes, and could not help feeling a -little lonesome even though so many pleasures lay before him. - -As he took his seat, while his chums cheered and shouted "Rah, Rah, -Elmwood!" after him, Tom was aware that a lad across the aisle was -regarding him curiously. - -This lad was of athletic build. He had red hair, and a pleasant, smiling -face. - -"Are you going to Elmwood Hall?" he asked Tom. - -"Yes," was the answer. "Do you go there?" and then Tom saw that he need -not have asked, since he saw the pin of the college on the other's coat. - -"I do, Burke's my name--Reddy Burke they all call me. I'm beginning my -third year there. Come over and sit with me, and we'll have a talk. -Elmwood boys ought to be friendly." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -TOM MAKES AN ENEMY - - -Tom crossed the aisle of the lurching car, and was soon sitting beside -the red-haired youth who had made such friendly advances. - -"How did you know I was going to Elmwood?" asked our hero, as a sort of -opening. - -"Easy enough. You've got the air of a fellow going to college for the -first time sticking out all over you. Oh, no offense!" exclaimed Reddy -Burke as he saw Tom's start. "It's an honor to start at Elmwood Hall. -Lots of fellows would like to, but can't. I spotted you for a Freshman -right off the bat." - -"I suppose I do look a bit green," admitted Tom, with a smile. - -"Oh, no more so than usual. Then, too, I heard your friends giving an -imitation of the Elmwood yell, and that told me all I wanted to know. -I'm glad to meet you. I hope I see more of you when we strike the -school. Term opens to-morrow and next day you know, and there'll be no -end of fellows there. Opening day generally lasts a week. I thought I'd -go down a day early, and get settled in my room." - -"That was my idea," confessed Tom. - -"Where are you going to put up?" - -"I've got a room in Opus Manor. That seemed a nice place, and I picked -it out when I came down for the entrance exams.," replied Tom. - -"It is nice," admitted Reddy Burke. "It's where all the Freshmen like -to get, but usually it's so crowded that you have to go on the waiting -list. You're in luck, Fairfield." - -"Glad you think so. Where do you room?" - -"Oh, I put up with the rest of our crowd at the Ball and Bat. That's our -fraternity house you know." - -"Yes, I noticed it when I was down before. It's a beaut place, all -right." - -"Pretty fair. We have some good times there. You must come to some of -the blowouts. I'll send you a card when we get settled, and you know the -ropes." - -"Thanks," replied Tom gratefully. "And now tell me all about Elmwood -Hall." - -"Oh land! It would take a week!" exclaimed the red-haired athlete. -"There's lots to tell about it, but I guess you know the history of it -as well as I do, if you've seen a catalog." - -"Yes, but I mean tell me something about the fellows, and the -professors." - -"Well, the professors are no better nor worse than at other colleges, -I suppose," spoke Reddy, with something like a sigh. "They all seem -to have exaggerated notions about the value of Greek, Latin and -mathematics, though I'll be hanged if I like 'em. Baseball and football -for mine, though I suppose if I'm ever to become a lawyer, which dad -seems to think I'm cut out for, I'll have to buckle down sooner or -later, and assimilate some of that dry stuff. It's time I begin, I -reckon." - -"I should think so--if you're in your Junior year," spoke Tom with a -laugh. - -"That's right. Oh, I have done some boning, and I haven't cut lectures -any more than the rest of the team did. You simply _have_ to cut some -if you play all the games, and I didn't miss any contests, you can make -up your mind to that. Most all of us at the Ball and Bat play either on -the diamond, or gridiron, or row on the crew. I say though, maybe you're -that way yourself?" and Reddy looked questioningly at our hero. - -"Well," admitted Tom, modestly, "I can row a bit, and I like baseball. -I've never played football much. I wasn't quite heavy enough for the -team at our Academy." - -"You look husky enough," spoke Reddy, casting a critical pair of blue -eyes over his seatmate. "You ought to try for the eleven down at -Elmwood." - -"Maybe I will. Think I'd have a chance?" - -"It's too early to say, but have a try, anyhow." - -"Are any of the professors very savage?" asked Tom. - -"Only so-so. Doctor Pliny Meredith is head master, I suppose you know." - -"Yes. How is he?" - -"As full of learning as a crab is of meat in the middle of August, but -he's not very jolly. Rather stand-offish, and distant, though sometimes -he warms up. We call him 'Merry' because he's usually so glum. But he's -fair, and he thinks Elmwood Hall the greatest institution ever. To him -a fellow's word is as good as his bond. It all goes on the honor system -there. No profs. at the exams., you know, and all that. You have to be a -gentleman at Elmwood." - -"Do the fellows live up to it?" asked Tom. - -"Pretty much. There are one or two a little off color, of course. But -any fellow who would lie to Merry wouldn't stay long at Elmwood if the -fellows got on to it. - -"Then, the rest of the profs. are about like the average, except that I -don't mind admitting that Burton Skeel is a regular grinder, and as mean -as they make 'em. He's the Latin taskmaster and maybe that's why I hate -it so." - -"Aren't there any jolly professors?" asked Tom, beginning to think that -perhaps, after all, he wasn't going to like it at Elmwood as much as he -had hoped. - -"Oh, bless you, yes!" exclaimed Reddy. "I was almost forgetting Live -Wire. That would never do." - -"Live Wire? Who's he?" - -"Professor Livingston Hammond. He's fat and jolly and he almost makes -you like trigonometry, which is saying a lot, and, as for solid -geometry, and conic sections, well, if anybody can make them look like -the comic sheet of a Sunday newspaper it's the Live Wire. You'll like -him; all the fellows do. But he won't stand for any nonsense. You've got -to come 'prepared,' or he'll turn you back to make it up after class." - -"I like maths.," admitted Tom. - -"Then you and the Live Wire will be friends and brothers, I guess," -predicted Reddy. - -"Tell me something about the fellows," suggested Tom. "I know one -Senior, slightly." - -"You do? How'd you make his acquaintance?" - -"He's Bruce Bennington," replied our hero, as he told of the manner of -their first meeting. - -"That's odd," commented Reddy. "Bruce is one of the nicest chaps in -college. 'Easy Money Bennington' we call him, 'Easy' for short, though. -He's a good spender, and his own worst enemy." - -"How's that?" asked Tom. "I could see that something was troubling him -the day I met him, but he wouldn't say what it was." - -"No, that's his way," spoke the red-haired athlete. "I mean that he's -impulsive. He'd do anything for a friend, or an enemy too, for that -matter, and that often gets him into trouble. He doesn't stop to think, -but he's got a host of friends, and everybody likes him, even old Skeel -I guess, for I've seen 'em together lots of times." - -"I wonder what his special trouble is now?" speculated Tom. - -"Give it up. Bruce will never tell until it's settled. He's proud--won't -take help from any one if he can help it. So you know him?" - -"Well, I hardly can say I know him. He may not want to keep up the -acquaintance down here," spoke Tom. - -"Oh, yes he will. Bruce isn't that kind. Once he meets you he's always -friendly, and, if he takes a notion to you, why you couldn't have a -better friend." - -Tom was glad to hear this, and he felt a warm spot in his heart for the -somewhat unhappy Senior. He resolved to find out his trouble, if he -could, and help him if it were possible. - -"Of course there are some mean and undesirable chaps at Elmwood," -admitted Reddy. "Just as there are anywhere, I guess, only I wouldn't -want to name any of 'em. You'll find out who they are, soon enough. But -you just play straight and they'll soon let you alone. They may try to -pick a quarrel, and there are a few who are always trying to get up a -mill. Do you fight?" - -"I box a little," admitted Tom. - -"Good, then you can take care of yourself if it comes to a scrap, I -suppose. But don't get into a fight if you can help it. Not that I mean -to run away, but it's against the rules to fight, and you don't want to -be suspended, though there are more or less mills pulled off every term." - -"I'll fight if I have to; not otherwise," spoke Tom, quietly. - -"Good. Say, you'll think I'm trying to put it all over you, and do the -big brother act with such advice; won't you?" - -"Not a bit of it," replied Tom, stoutly. "I'm glad to have you give me -points." - -"All right then. I guess you'll do. We've got one funny character at the -school--Demosthenes Miller." - -"A student?" - -"Land no. He's our educated janitor. He's always around with a copy of -the classics, or some book on maths., and if he sees you getting at all -friendly he'll ask you to help him translate a passage, or work out a -problem. He says he might as well be getting an education on the side -as long as he's at college. He's good fun, but rather tiresome at times. -Demy, we call him." - -"He must be odd," agreed Tom. - -"There! I guess I've told you all I know," spoke Reddy, with a laugh. -"The rest you'll find out after you've been at the school a few days. -Now tell me something about yourself." - -Which Tom did, mentioning about his father and mother going to Australia. - -"That's a trip I'd like to take," said Reddy. "Cracky, what sport! I -love travel." - -The lads talked on various topics as the train sped along. They were -nearing Elmwood Hall, which was located in the town of the same name, on -the Ware river. Several other lads, whom Reddy pointed out to Tom as old -or new students, had meanwhile boarded the train. A number greeted Tom's -seatmate as an old friend and our hero was introduced to them. They -greeted him nicely enough, but talked to Reddy. - -Soon the latter was deep in conversation about the chances for a good -football season, and Tom did not like to break in, but listened with all -his might. - -"Here we are, Fairfield," said Reddy Burke, at length. "Get your grip, -and I'll show you the way to the Hall. Oh, I forgot, you've been here -before, though." - -"Yes, I can find my way up well enough," spoke Tom. "Don't let me hold -you back." - -"All right then. I'll see you later. There's Hen Mattock up ahead. He -was football captain last year. I want to talk to him, so I'll just -run on. See you again!" and with that Reddy rushed off, to clap on the -shoulder a tall, well-built lad, who looked every inch an athlete. Tom -gathered up his belongings, gave his trunk check to an expressman, and -headed for Opus Manor. - -This residence, or dormitory, was one of the school buildings, located -not far away from the main hall and was "within bounds," so that -the Freshmen, did they wish to spend an evening in town, had to get -permission, or else "run the guard," a proceeding fraught with some -danger, carrying with detection a penalty more or less severe. It was -the aim of the school proctor, Mr. Frederick Porter, to thus keep watch -and ward over the first year students. - -The others were allowed more liberty, or at least they took it, for many -of them lived in fraternity houses, and some Seniors boarded in private -families in town. Most of the Seniors, however, dwelt in a house near -the Hall. It was called Elmwood Castle, and Tom looked longingly at it -as he passed on his way to his own more humble, and less distinctive, -dormitory. - -As Tom was ascending the steps, intending to report to the monitor -in charge, and also seek out the matron, he became aware of a student -standing on the topmost platform, looking down at him. Beside him was -another lad, and, as our hero came up, one shoved the other against Tom, -jostling him severely. - -Instantly Tom flared up. He could see that it was done intentionally. -His face flushed. - -"What do you mean?" he asked quickly. - -"Whatever you like to think," was the reply of the student whom Tom had -first noticed. - -"Well, I think I don't like it," retorted Tom quickly. - -"You'll have to get used to it then; won't he, Nick?" and the lad who -had done the shoving appealed to his companion, with a sneering laugh. - -"That's what he will, Sam." - -"I won't then!" exclaimed Tom, "and the sooner you realize that the -better." - -"Oh ho! So that's the kind of talk, eh?" sneered the one called Sam. -"What's your name, Fresh?" - -"Fairfield--Tom Fairfield--Fresh!" retorted Tom, for he could see by the -other's cap that he, too, was a first year lad. - -"Well mine's Heller--Sam Heller, Capital 'S' and capital 'H,' and don't -forget it. This must be the fellow who's got my room, Nick," he added. - -"Probably," replied Sam Heller's crony, who was Nick Johnson. "Yes, -that was the name the monitor mentioned, come to think of it." - -"How have I your room?" asked Tom. - -"Because you have. I had the room last year, and I told 'em to save it -for me this term. But you came along and snatched it up, so--" - -"I took it because it was assigned to me," spoke Tom, and from the -other's talk he understood that the lad was a Freshman who had not -passed, and who, in consequence, was obliged to spend another year in -the same grade. Perhaps this made him bitter. - -"Well, you've got my room," grumbled Sam, "and I'm going to get square -with somebody." - -"You can get square with me, if you like," said Tom quietly, "though I -told you I had nothing to do with it. One thing, though, if you do any -more shoving I'll shove back, and it won't be a gentle shove, either." - -"Is that a threat?" growled Sam. - -"You can take it so if you like." - -"I will, and if you don't look out--" - -What Sam was going to say he did not finish, for, at that moment, the -monitor in charge of Opus Manor came to the door, and the two who had -sought to pick a quarrel with Tom slouched off across the campus. - -"New student here?" asked the monitor, who did not seem to remember Tom. - -"Yes. I'm Fairfield." - -"Oh yes, I recall you now. Come, and I'll introduce you to my wife. -She's matron here. Blackford is my name." - -"I remember it," spoke Tom, who had met the monitor when down for his -examinations. - -As the two were about to enter the building Tom saw his new friend, -Reddy Burke, hurrying along, beckoning to him to wait. - -He halted a moment, and the Junior ran up the steps. - -"I just saw you talking here to a couple of students," began the -athlete, "and as I passed them just now I heard Sam Heller say he was -going to get even with you. What happened?" - -Tom told him and Reddy whistled. - -"Why, what's up?" asked our hero. - -"Nothing, if you don't mind it, only you've made an enemy right off the -bat. That Heller is one of the few undesirables here. His crony, Nick -Johnson, is another. Heller is down on you all right, though it isn't -your fault." - -"I don't mind in the least," spoke Tom. - -"He's one of the scrappers," went on Reddy. "Look out!" - -"I can take care of myself," replied Tom. "Thanks, just the same," and, -as he followed Monitor Blackford into the dormitory, he realized that he -had made an enemy and a friend in the same day. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -TOM FINDS A CHUM - - -"This is the room assigned to you," said the monitor, pausing in a long -corridor, after he had introduced Tom to Mrs. Blackford. "It is one of -the best in the Manor, though I don't quite understand why you picked -out a double apartment." - -"Is it a double one?" asked Tom in some surprise. "I did not know it. As -I was requested in the circular I received, I indicated the section of -the building where I would like to be, and this room was assigned to me. -I supposed it was a single one." - -"No, it is intended for two students, and I suppose it was assigned to -you by mistake. I'm sorry, as it is too late to change now, since all -the reservations are taken, and--" - -"Oh, I don't want to change!" exclaimed Tom quickly, as he entered the -apartment shown him by the monitor. He saw that there were two beds in -it, and that it was large and airy. "I'll keep this," our hero added. -"It's fine." - -"Have you a chum who might like to share it with you?" asked Blackford. -"The expense may--" - -"Oh, I don't mind that part of it," said Tom. "My father knew how much -it was to cost, and he did not object. I haven't a friend yet--that is, -a Freshman friend--but I may find one." - -"There is one, a Sam Heller, who had this room last term," went on the -monitor. "He would doubtless be very glad to come in with you." - -"I'm afraid not," replied Tom with a smile. "He and I had a little -difference of opinion just now, and--" - -"Very well," interrupted Mr. Blackford. "You needn't explain. Suit -yourself about the room. It is yours for the term." He knew better than -to enter into a talk about the disagreements of the students. There were -other troubles to occupy him. - -Left to himself, Tom sat down and looked about the room that was to -be his for the Freshman year. It had a good view of the campus and -buildings, and he liked it very much. - -"Though I should be glad if I had a good chum to come in with me," -reflected the new student. "I may get in with somebody, though. It's -rather lonesome to have two beds in one room, but I can sleep half the -night in one, and half the night in the other I suppose," he ended, -with a smile. - -Tom was unpacking his belongings from his valise when the expressman -arrived with his trunk, and a little later the matron knocked at the -door to ask if our hero found himself at home. - -"Yes, thank you," replied Tom, accepting the clean towels she brought. -He had begun to hang up his clothes. - -"I do hope you get a nice young man in with you," suggested Mrs. -Blackford. "One who won't be cutting up, and doing all sorts of -mischievous pranks." - -Tom proceeded with getting his room to rights as she left him, and a -little later, finding that it wanted an hour yet to twelve o'clock, our -hero strolled out on the campus. - -He looked about for a sight of Sam Heller, or his crony, Johnson, who, -it appeared later, had passed his examinations, and was a Sophomore, -while Sam had to remain a Freshman, much to his disgust. But the two, -whom Tom had come to feel were his enemies, were not in sight. Nor was -Reddy Burke, and, though Tom strolled over past Elmwood Castle, he did -not get a sight of Bruce Bennington. - -Tom strolled about until lunch, and the mid-day meal was not a very -jolly affair. About twenty Freshmen, who had come a day before the term -formally opened, were at the tables and they were all rather miserable, -like fishes out of water, as Tom reflected. Still our hero talked with -them, experiences were exchanged, and the ice was broken. - -"But I don't exactly cotton to any of them enough to have one for a -roommate," reflected Tom. - -That afternoon, having formally registered, and being told about the -hours for chapel, and his lecture and recitation periods, Tom wrote a -long letter to his father and mother. - -He was coming back, from having posted it, when he noticed, standing on -the steps of Opus Manor, a solitary figure. - -"I hope that isn't Sam Heller, waiting to renew the quarrel with me," -reflected Tom, as he drew nearer. "Still, if it is, I'll meet him half -way, though I don't want to get into a fight my first day here." - -But he was soon made aware that it was not the bully who stood on the -steps. It was a lad about his own age, a tall, straight youth, with a -pleasant smiling face, and merry brown eyes. No, I am just a trifle -wrong about that face. It was naturally a jolly one, but just now it -bore a puzzled and unhappy look. - -"Hello," said Tom pleasantly, as he mounted the steps, and was about to -pass in. - -"Hello!" greeted the other. "Do you room here?" - -"Yes. This is my first day." - -"Say, you're in luck. It's my first day too. I'm a stranger in a strange -land, and I'm stuck." - -"What's the matter?" asked Tom. - -"Well, very foolishly, I delayed settling about my room until I got -here. I thought there'd be plenty of places, and, when I did arrive I -found that Opus Manor was the only desirable place for us Freshmen. Up I -steps, as bold as brass, and asks for a room and bath. 'Nothing doing,' -answers the worthy monitor, or words to that effect. Consequently, -behold yours truly without a place to sleep, unless he goes into town to -a common boarding house. And I _did_ want to get in with the Freshmen! -It's tough luck!" - -Tom was doing some rapid thinking. - -"I don't suppose you know of a good place in town; do you?" went on the -other. "My name is Fitch--Jack Fitch. I'm from New York city." - -"Mine's Tom Fairfield, from Briartown," said our hero. - -"Well, Tom Fairfield, have you been here long enough to recommend a -place to room, where I can also get the eats; especially the eats, for -I'm a good feeder. Know of a likely place?" - -Tom's mind was made up. - -"Yes, there's a place here," he said. - -"Here? Are you stringing me? They told me every room was taken." - -"So it is, but I have a large double one, and I was looking for a chum. -So--" - -"You don't mean you'll take me in?" cried Jack. "Oh, end the suspense! -Fireman save my child! Don't torture me!" and he gave a good imitation -of a woe-begone actor. - -"I'll be glad to have you," said Tom, who had taken a sudden liking to -Jack. "That is, if you'd really like to come. You might look at the -room." - -"Say no more! Come? Of course I'll come! Will a duck swim? But I say, -you know, you don't know much about me." - -"I'll take a chance--if you will," said Tom, laughing. - -"All right. Then we'll call it square. Lead on and I'll follow. To think -that, after all, I'm going to get in Opus Manor! It's great, Fairfield!" - -"Call me Tom, if you like." - -"I like. I'm Jack to you, from now on. Shake!" and he caught Tom's hand -in a firm clasp. The two looked into each other's eyes, and what they -read satisfied them. They were chums from then on. - -"I'll take you to my room--_our_ room," Tom corrected himself. "It's a -fine one!" - -"I'm sure it must be. But do you reckon the Lord and Lady of this castle -will allow me to share it with you?" - -"Yes. In fact Mrs. Blackford spoke of me getting some one in with me. So -that will be all right." - -"Great! Do you mind if I do a little dance? Just a few steps to show my -joy?" asked Jack, and Tom perceived at once that his new friend was a -jolly lad. - -"Not at all," Tom answered, and Jack gravely did a hop skip and jump on -the top platform of the steps. - -As he finished there came a laugh from a couple of lads passing. - -"Look at the ballet lady!" mocked a voice, and Tom saw Sam Heller and -Nick Johnson approaching. - -"Did you like it?" asked Jack, coolly. He was not to be easily -disconcerted. - -"Oh, it was great!" declared Sam with a sneer. "We'll have you in the -Patchwork Club if you keep on." - -There was no mistaking the sneering tone of his voice, and Jack flushed. - -"Friends of yours?" he asked Tom. - -"Just the reverse. But don't bother with them now. We can attend to them -later--if we have to." - -"And I think I shall have to," said Jack quietly, as he looked Sam full -in the face. "I don't mind fun, but I like it to come from my friends. -Lead on, Tom, and, as you say, we'll attend to those two later." - -He followed Tom, and, as they disappeared into Opus Manor there floated -to them the mocking laughs of the two cronies. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -AN ANGRY PROFESSOR - - -"Tom, did you ever balance a water pitcher on your nose? I mean full of -water. The pitcher full, that is to say, not the nose." - -"Never, and I'm not going to begin now." - -"Well, I am. Watch me. I used to be pretty good at juggling." - -"Say, you want to be careful." - -"Oh, I will be. I've never done it, but there must always be a first -time. And, though balancing water pitchers may not be an accomplishment -taught in all schools, still there may come a time when the knowledge of -how to juggle one will come in handy. Here goes." - -Tom and Jack were in their room--the room our hero had decided to share -with his new chum. The matron and monitor had been interviewed, and -Mrs. Blackford was very glad, she said, to know that Tom was to have a -companion. - -"And such a nice, quiet-appearing lad as he is, too," she confided to -her husband. Alas, she did not know Jack Fitch! - -"The other one seems very quiet, also," said Mr. Blackford. "I wish all -the students were like those two." - -But if he and his wife could have looked into the chums' room at that -moment, perhaps they would not have held to that opinion. - -For Jack had taken the large water pitcher, and was preparing to balance -it on his nose, while Tom, rather fearing how the experiment would -terminate, had gotten safely out of the way in case of an accident. - -"I wouldn't do it, if I were you," spoke Tom, though he could not help -laughing at his chum's odd notion. - -"Why not?" demanded Jack. - -"Well---- Oh, because it might fall." - -"No reason at all, Tom. If would-be jugglers hesitated on that account -there'd be no experts. Give me a hand until I get it up on my nose; will -you?" - -"I'd rather not." - -"Why?" - -"I'm afraid it will fall." - -"Oh, pshaw! Why fear? Never mind. I'll balance it on my chin instead of -my nose. On second thought it's a little too heavy for the nose act, and -my nose is like a bear's--it's tender. Watch me!" - -Jack carefully lifted the pitcher of water, and managed to get it on -his chin. He steadied it with his two hands, bending his head back, -and then, when he thought he had it where he wanted it, he lowered his -palms, and the pitcher--for an instant--was balanced on his chin. - -"Look!" he called to Tom, not taking his eyes from the vessel of water. -"Talk about jugglers! Some class to me; eh, Tom?" - -"Yes, I guess so." - -"Now bring me a chair," requested Jack. "I'm going to do it standing on -a chair." - -"You'll never do it!" predicted Tom. - -"Yes, I will. I'll get the chair myself, then." - -This was his undoing. As long as he remained in one spot, with his head -carefully held still, the pitcher did not tilt enough to upset. But, as -soon as Jack moved, there was an accident. - -"Look out!" yelled Tom, but his warning came too late. - -Jack made a wild grab for the slipping vessel, but his hands did not -grasp it in time. A moment later there was a heavy crash, pieces of -china flew about the room, and a shower of water drenched the chums. - -For a moment there was a grim silence. Then Jack said: - -"Well, I'll be jiggered!" - -"You certainly ought to be!" and Tom laughed in spite of himself, for -his new chum was much wetter than he. - -The sound of rapidly approaching footsteps was heard. - -"Oh pip!" whispered the luckless juggler. - -"What is the matter? Has anything happened?" demanded the voice of -Matron Blackford, in the corridor. - -"Well--er--yes--we have had a slight--er--happening," replied Tom, -grabbing the clean towels, and proceeding to mop up the water from the -carpet. - -"Oh, is anyone hurt? May I come in?" - -"Come!" called Jack, following his chum's example, and the matron -entered. - -"What happened?" she asked, as she saw the water, the drenched boys, and -the pieces of the broken pitcher. - -"It--it sort of--fell," replied Jack calmly, mopping away at the carpet. - -"And broke," added Tom. "We're sorry----" - -"And the water all spilled out," needlessly interrupted Jack. "We are -very sorry for that, too." - -"Oh you boys!" exclaimed the matron, raising her hands in despair. "I -was afraid something would happen. What were you doing?" - -"I was reciting my lesson in juggling," replied Jack gravely. "And the -pitcher slipped. I'll pay for it." - -"Oh, no, as long as you were at your lessons when it happened, it was -an accident, and you needn't pay," said the matron, but, later, Jack -insisted, and then the story came out. - -"I'll bring you some clean towels," said Mrs. Blackford. "Luckily there -is a wooden ceiling below, or the plaster would have fallen, if there -had been any," and she hurried away. - -Tom's first day at Elmwood Hall ended quietly enough, as did Jack's, at -dinner in the big Freshman class dining room, and the two went to bed -early, as they were rather tired. There was very little excitement in -the school that night. A few of the older students sang some choruses on -the campus, but the real life of the institution had not yet begun. - -The next day was full of activity. Students--old and new--arrived by the -score, and the professors, the matrons, the monitors, the proctor, and -Doctor Meredith himself, had their hands full. Opus Manor filled with a -laughing, chattering crowd, and Tom was glad he had selected his room -in advance, as there were many disappointed boys, when they found they -could not get the apartments they wanted. - -"I struck it right!" declared Jack. - -"And so did I!" added Tom, for he liked his new chum more and more. They -made the acquaintance of several lads. On one side of them roomed Bert -Wilson, to whom Tom and Jack at once took a liking, and on the other -side was George Abbot, a rather lonely little chap. - -"I'm sure we're going to like it here," declared Jack, after their -first lecture, when both he and Tom found that they were well up in the -subject presented. - -"Sure," assented Tom. - -"It's a jolly place, all right," declared Bert. "I wonder if there'll be -any hazing?" - -"Of course," declared Jack. "I don't mind, though." - -"Nor I," said Tom. - -Several days passed, and nearly all the students, save a few Seniors, -had arrived. Bruce Bennington was among the missing, and Tom found -himself wondering if he would come back. - -"Maybe his trouble will keep him out of college," thought our hero, and -he felt some regret, for he had formed a liking for the lad, though he -had met him but once. - -"Come on down to the river," proposed Tom one day, after the last -lecture for himself and his chum. "I'm just aching to get into a boat, -and I understand there are some on the Ware river that a fellow can -hire. I wish I had my motorboat here." - -"Why don't you send for it?" - -"Guess I will. Say, don't you think the Latin is pretty stiff here?" - -"A bit. But old Skeel makes it so. He's fierce. I guess Reddy Burke was -right about what he said of him." - -"Sure he was. But never mind. Maybe it'll be easier when we've been here -a few weeks. Here's a short cut to the river," suggested Tom, as they -came to the rear of a fine residence. "Let's take it." - -"Looks as if we'd have to cross private grounds. One of the profs. lives -here, I understand." - -"What of it?" asked our hero. "He won't mind, I guess. I like to take -cut-offs when I can." - -"Go ahead. I'm with you," answered Jack. - -The two cut across a lawn in the rear of the house, for they could -see the glittering river just beyond a fringe of trees, and they were -glad of the by-path, as they had gone a longer and more roundabout way -several times. - -Tom was in the lead, and he had just passed a summer house, -vine-encumbered, on the rear lawn, when an angry voice hailed him. - -"Where are you going?" was demanded. - -"To the river," replied Tom. - -"Who told you to go this way?" - -"No one." - -As Tom answered he saw a man come from the summer house, a man he at -once recognized as Professor Burton Skeel, the grim Latin instructor. - -"Well, you boys can just go back the way you came," went on the angry -professor. "These are my private grounds, and I allow no students to -trespass. If I find you doing it again I shall take sterner measures. Go -back the way you came, and don't come here again. Ah, I see that you are -Elmwood students," the professor went on. "That makes it all the worse. -You should have known that I permit no trespassing, nor trifling. Be -off!" - -He fairly yelled the last words at the chums, who, though abashed, were -not much alarmed by the angry instructor. - -As they turned to retrace their steps Tom saw another figure in the -summer house. He had a glimpse of the face, and it was that of Bruce -Bennington. The Senior had been in close conversation with the angry -professor. - -"He looks sad," mused Tom, referring to Bruce. "I guess his trouble -isn't over yet. I wonder if that glum professor can have anything to do -with it?" - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -BRUCE IS WORRIED - - -"Nice, pleasant sort of a chap for a professor--not!" exclaimed Jack, as -he and Tom went a more roundabout, and public, way to the river. - -"He certainly is grouchy," agreed our hero. "Who'd think he'd rile up -just because we cut through his back yard? He may take it out of us in -class." - -"Shouldn't wonder. His kind usually does." - -"Did you see who was with him?" asked Tom. - -"I saw a fellow, but no one I knew." - -"That was Bruce Bennington, the Senior I was telling you about." - -"The one you said had some trouble?" - -"Yes, and to judge by his looks he has it yet. I wonder what he was -doing with old Skeel?" - -"Maybe explaining why he hadn't been to lectures before this." - -"No, I understand the Senior class doesn't have to report as punctually -as we poor dubs of Freshmen. It must be something else." - -"Well, we have our own troubles, Tom. Don't go to looking for those of -other fellows." - -"I won't, Jack, only I'd like to help Bennington if I could." - -"So would I. Look, there are some boats we might hire," and Tom pointed -to a small structure on the edge of the river, where several boats were -tied. A number of students from Elmwood Hall were gathered about, and -some were out in the rowing craft. - -Tom and Jack learned that the man in charge kept boats for hire, and -the two chums were soon out in one, pulling up the river so, as Tom -explained, they would have it easier coming back with the current. - -"There goes the Senior shell!" exclaimed Jack, as from the college -boathouse the long, slender craft was rowed out, looking not unlike some -big bug, with long, slender legs. "They're practicing for the race, I -guess." - -"I wish I was with them," remarked Tom. "I'm going to try for the -Freshman crew." - -"And I'm with you." - -The two rowed on, and soon found a quiet, shady nook, where the trees -overhung the river. There they tied their boat, and talked in the -shadows. - -Coming back they again saw the Senior shell, the lads in it rowing more -slowly, for they were tired after their practice sprint. Turning in -their hired boat, Tom and Jack went to the college crew's headquarters, -and there Tom, on making cautious inquiries, learned to his regret that -there would be no Freshman crew organized that fall. - -"You see," explained Reddy Burke to the two lads, who were much -interested in water sports, "our rowing season is in the spring. This -is only a little supplementary race the head crew is going to row with -Burkhardt college, which is five miles down stream. We beat them in the -spring, but they asked for another meet, and we gave it to them. - -"But rowing is practically over for this year, so I guess there's no -chance for you to get in a shell. Try in the spring, if you want to." - -"We will," decided Tom. - -"Meanwhile you'd better be thinking of football," advised Reddy. -"Candidates for the team as well as for the class elevens will soon be -called for." - -"That hits us!" exclaimed Jack. "I'm going to train hard. Do you think -our crew will win." - -"Sure," declared Reddy, and I might add here that when the auxiliary -race was rowed, two weeks later, Elmwood did win easily over her rival. - -"Bennington is here," remarked Tom, as with Jack he walked toward the -campus with Reddy. - -"Is that so? It's about time he blew in. Where did you see him?" - -Tom explained, telling of the peremptory manner in which Professor -Skeel had ordered them from his lawn. - -"Oh, you mustn't mind that," advised Reddy. "He certainly is getting -worse every term. I don't see why Dr. Meredith keeps him. He's the worst -one of the faculty, and if he doesn't look out he'll get what's coming -to him." - -"Well, what shall we do this evening?" asked Jack, as he and his chum -were in their room after supper. "I've done with my boning." - -"So have I. What do you say to a lark? Let's run the guard and go to -town." - -"I'm with you. Let's get some of the other fellows," proposed Jack. -"Bert Wilson will come, and so will George Abbot, I guess, if he can -stop asking questions long enough." - -"Sure we'll go," declared Bert, when the chums made the proposal to him. - -"But what will we do when we get there?" George wanted to know. - -"Oh. Why, we'll stand on our heads!" exclaimed Tom with a laugh. - -"All of us?" demanded the inquisitive lad. - -"No, only you," retorted Jack. "For cats' sake, cut out some of those -questions; will you? We'll call you Interrogation Mark if you don't look -out, only it's too much of a mouthful to speak in a hurry. Cut along -now, before we're caught." - -It was dark enough to elude a possible spying monitor, or one of the -proctor's emissaries, and soon the four lads were on their way to town. -They went to a moving picture show, enjoying it greatly. - -"Now if we can get in without being seen, we'll be all right," remarked -Tom, when they had neared the college on the return trip. - -"Pshaw, I shouldn't much mind getting caught," declared Jack. "It would -be fun." - -"Doing double boning, or being kept in bounds for a week wouldn't -though," declared Tom with conviction. "I vote we don't get caught, if -we can help it." - -"Maybe we can't," suggested Bert. - -"Why not?" George wanted to know. - -"Oh, ask us something easier," laughed Tom. "Come on now, and don't make -too much noise." - -They were about to cross the campus, and make for their dormitory, when -there was a movement behind a clump of shrubbery, and a figure was seen -to emerge. - -"There's some one!" whispered Bert. - -"Caught!" murmured Tom. - -"I wonder who it is?" came from George. - -"It's Bruce Bennington, the Senior," came from Tom. "We are safe." - -"You won't be if you continue on this way," came grimly from Bruce. -"One of the proctor's scouts is out to-night, just laying for innocent -Freshies. You'd better cut around the side, and go in the back basement -door. It's generally open, or if it isn't I've got a key that will do -the trick." - -"You know the ropes," laughed Tom. - -"I ought to. I was a Freshman once. Come on, I'll show you the way, but -don't work the trick too often." - -Bruce walked up to Tom, and remarked: - -"Oh, it's you, is it, Fairfield. Glad to see you again. I didn't -recognize you in the darkness. I just got in to-day." - -"Yes, I saw you," remarked our hero as he introduced his chums. - -Bruce continued to walk on beside Tom, the others following. The Senior -led the way along a little-used path, well screened by trees from spying -eyes. - -"Won't you get caught yourself?" Tom wanted to know. - -"No, we lordly Seniors are allowed a few more privileges than you -luckless squabs. Though I shouldn't much mind if I was nabbed. It would -be like old times," and Tom detected a sigh in the words. Clearly Bruce -was still worrying. - -"I saw you in Professor Skeel's summer house this afternoon," went on -Tom. - -"Oh, so you were the lads he warned away! Yes, Skeel is a--well I guess -I'd better not say anything," spoke Bruce quickly. "It might not be -altogether healthy." - -"For you?" asked Tom. - -"Yes. I'm under some obligations to him, and--well, I don't like to talk -about it," he finished. - -"Then you haven't gotten over your trouble?" asked Tom sympathetically. - -"No, it's worse than ever. Oh, hang it all, what a chump I've been!" -exclaimed Bruce. "This thing is worrying the life out of me!" - -"Why can't some of your friends help you?" asked Tom. "If I could----" - -"No, thank you, Fairfield, no one can do anything but myself, and -I can't, just now. It may come out all right in the end. Don't say -anything about it. Here we are. Now to see if the door's open." - -Letting Bruce lead the way, the other lads cautiously followed. They -saw him about to try the knob of the basement portal, when suddenly Tom -became aware of a light flickering through a side window. - -"Hist!" he signalled to Bruce. "Someone's coming!" - -"All right. You fellows lay low, and I'll take a look," volunteered -their guide. "I don't mind being caught." - -"He's got nerve," said Jack, admiringly, as he and his chums crouched -down in the darkness. - -Tom and the others saw Bruce boldly look in the window through which the -light shone. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE CALL OF THE PIGSKIN - - -"Maybe it's Professor Skeel," whispered George, apprehensively. - -"Or Merry himself," added Jack. - -"Nonsense!" replied Tom. "Neither of them would be in our dormitory at -this hour." - -"Unless they got wise to the fact that we went out, and they're laying -to catch us when we come in," declared Bert. "If I'm nabbed I hope my -dad doesn't hear of it." - -"Come on, fellows," came in a shrill whisper from Bruce. "It's only -Demy, our studious janitor. He's boning over some book, and if you help -him with his conjugation, or demonstrate a geometric proposition for -him, he'll let you burn the school down and say nothing about it. Come -on; it's all right." - -They entered through the door, which was not locked, so that Bruce did -not have to use his key, and at their advance, into what was a sort of -storeroom of the basement, the studious janitor looked up from a book he -was reading. - -"Well, well!" he exclaimed. "Is this--ahem! young gentleman, I hardly -know what----" - -"It's all right, Demy," interrupted Bruce with a laugh. "I brought -'em in. They want to help you do a little--let's see what you're at, -anyhow?" and he looked at the book. - -"It's Horace," said the janitor. "I want to read some of his odes in the -original, but the translating is very hard, to say the least. Still, I -am determined to get an education while I have the chance." - -"Good for you!" exclaimed the Senior. "I'll help you, Demy. Horace -is pie for me. You fellows cut along to your rooms," he added, -significantly. "You haven't seen them, have you, Demy?" - -"No, Mr. Bennington, not if you don't wish me to," and the janitor, -with a grateful look at the Senior, prepared to listen to the Latin, -while Tom and his chums, grateful for the aid given them, hurried up the -stairs to their apartments. - -"That was fine of him, wasn't it?" remarked Jack, as good-nights were -being whispered. - -"It sure was," declared Tom, wishing more than ever that he could help -the unhappy Senior. - -"I wonder why the janitor wants to know Latin?" came from the human -question mark. - -"Oh, answer that in your dreams," advised Tom. - -From the fact that no mention was made of their little night excursion, -Tom and the others concluded that the studious janitor had kept his pact -with Bruce. The latter told Tom afterward that he was kept busy giving -Latin instruction until nearly midnight. - -"It was good of you," said our hero. - -"Oh, pshaw! I'm glad I can do somebody good," was the rejoinder. That -was Bruce Bennington's way. As Reddy had said, the Senior was his own -worst enemy. - -"Hear the news?" burst out Jack, as he entered the room where Tom was -studying, a few afternoons later. - -"No, what news?" - -"Call for Freshmen and regular football candidates is posted. Practice -begins to-morrow. Let's get out our suits." - -"Fine!" cried Tom, tossing his book on the table, and scurrying for his -trunk where he had packed away his moleskin trousers and canvas jacket. -Jack soon had his out, looking for possible rents and ripped seams. - -"I've got to do some mending--worse luck!" exclaimed Tom, as he saw a -big hole in his trousers. - -"Can you sew?" asked Jack. - -"Oh, so-so," laughed Tom. "I can make a stab at it, anyhow," and he -proceeded to close up the rent by the simple process of gathering the -edges together like the mouth of a bag, and winding string around them. -"There! I guess that'll do," he added. - -It was a clear, crisp day, and "the call of the pigskin" had been -heard all through the college. Several score of lads, in more or less -disreputable suits, that had seen lots of service, assembled on the -gridiron under the watchful eyes of the coaches. - -"I hope I make the regular eleven," said Tom, as he sent a beautiful -spiral kick to Jack. - -"So do I," was the reply. "But I hear there are lots of candidates for -it, and almost a whole team was left over from last season, so there -won't be much chance for us." - -The practice was more or less ragged, and, in fact it was only designed -to let the coaches see how the new lads "sized-up." Several elevens were -tentatively formed, and taken to different parts of the field to play -against each other. - -Tom worked hard, and he was glad to note that one of the older players -had regarded him with what our hero thought were favorable eyes. Jack -was also doing well. - -This practice was kept up for several days, and about a week later Reddy -Burke, meeting Tom, exclaimed: - -"Say, you fellows are in luck!" - -"How so?" asked Jack, who was with his chum. - -"You've made the eleven, I hear. You'll probably get notice to-day." - -"The regular?" cried Tom in delight. - -"Hardly! There's only one new fellow going on that, I understand, though -you might fill in as subs. But you're both going to play on the first -Freshman eleven." - -"The Freshman team," spoke Jack, somewhat disappointedly. - -"Say, what do you want?" asked Tom. "I think it's fine. Of course I wish -it was the regular, but maybe next year----" - -"That's the way to talk," declared Reddy, who was on the leading team -himself. "But I tell you that you're in luck to make the Freshman team. -There are no end of candidates, but you two seemed to hit the mark." - -Tom rejoiced exceedingly, and when he received his formal notice, as -did Jack, our hero at once wrote to his parents, who were soon to reach -Australia. Tom had had several letters from them since leaving home, but -had yet to hear of their safe arrival. He sent the letter to Sydney, in -care of his father's lawyer. - -There were busy days for our hero and his chums now. With lectures to -attend, studying to do, and football practice, their time was pretty -well occupied. Bert Wilson had made the Freshman eleven, and the three -chums played well together. - -Tom had not seen much of Bruce Bennington since the night the Senior -aided the first year lads, for Bruce was busy too, as he was on the -'varsity. - -Tom found that football, as played at Elmwood, was very different from -the Academy games, but he was made of tough material, and he soon worked -well into his place as right half-back, while Jack was left tackle. -Several scrub games had been played, and the Freshman coaches seemed -satisfied with the work of their charges. - -"Hurray!" yelled Tom, running up to Jack one afternoon, as his chum was -strolling across the campus. "Yell, old man!" - -"What for?" - -"We play our first regular game Saturday against Holwell college. -They've got a strong team, but we're going to win! I'm going to make a -touchdown!" - -"Good! Oh, say, it's great here!" and in the excess of their good -spirits Tom and Jack fell to pummelling each other in hearty fashion. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -TOM'S TOUCHDOWN - - -"Come on now, boys, line up!" - -It was the call of Coach Jackson for the final practice of the Freshmen -eleven before their first big game. The regulars were to play against -the scrub, and, as some of the positions were yet in doubt, there were -some anxious hearts. For not a substitute but wanted to fill in on the -regular eleven. - -Tom and Jack, because of the good showing they had made, were assured of -places, but Sam Heller, who, to do him credit, was a fairly good player, -was not so certain. It lay between him and Bert Wilson, as to who would -be quarter-back. - -"But if I had my rights, and if that Fairfield chap hadn't come butting -in," declared Sam to his crony, Nick, "I would be sure of my place." - -"That's right," agreed Nick. "We'll have to get up something on -Fairfield, and make him quit Elmwood." - -"I wish I could. Say, the Sophs haven't done any hazing this term yet; -have they?" - -"No, but they will." - -"I suppose so. Well, just have 'em let me down easy; will you? I'm a -Soph myself, by rights, if old Hammond hadn't marked me low in maths. -But have the Sophs give it to Fairfield and his chum good and proper; -will you?" - -"Sure I will. We're going to do some hazing after the football game. We -thought we'd put it off until then." - -"All right, only do Tom Fairfield up if you can." - -"I will. I don't like him any more than you do. He's got too many airs -to suit me--he and that Jack Fitch." - -"Line up! Line up!" called the coach, and the practice began. Sam Heller -was called on to take his place in the scrub, which he did with no -good grace, casting envious eyes at Bert Wilson, and with a feeling of -bitterness in his heart toward Tom. And with no good cause, for Tom had -done nothing to Sam. - -"Now, boys, play your heads off!" ordered the coach. "I want to see what -sort of stuff you're made of. The best players will go against Holwell -to-morrow." - -Then the scrub game began, with the Freshmen players doing their best to -shove back their opponents, and the latter equally determined to make as -good a showing as possible. Back and forth the battle of the gridiron -waged, with Tom jumping into every play, looking for openings where he -might wriggle through with the ball, or help the man who had it to gain -a yard or two. - -"Touchdown! Touchdown!" yelled the members of the first eleven, as they -got the ball well down toward the scrub goal. "Make it a touchdown!" - -It would have been, but for the fact that Bert Wilson fumbled the ball -in passing it back from centre. A scrub player broke through, grabbed -the pigskin, and was off down the field like a shot. - -"Get him, boys!" cried Morse Denton, the Freshman captain, and Jack -Fitch, who was as fleet as some ends, was after the fleeing youth. He -caught him in time to prevent a score being made, but the coach shook -his head at the next line up. - -"Heller, you go in at quarter to replace Wilson," he said. "I am sorry," -the arbiter added, at the look of gloom on the face of Tom's chum, "but -fumbles are costly. I can't afford to take any chances." - -Bert said nothing, but he knew that he was not altogether at fault, -for the centre had not passed the ball accurately. Sam Heller, with a -triumphant smile at Tom, went to quarter, and the game proceeded. But -it was noticed that Sam, who was giving signals, and deciding on most -of the plays, did not give Tom as many chances as when Bert had been in -place behind the centre. - -"You want to look out for Sam in the game to-morrow," said Jack to Tom -that night, when, after gruelling practice, the regular Freshmen had -shoved the scrub all over the field. - -"Why so?" - -"Because I think he has it in for you. He'll spoil your plays if he can, -and he won't give you a chance. Look out for him." - -"I will. But at the same time I don't believe he'd do anything to spoil -the chance of the team winning." - -"I wouldn't trust him. At the same time he may do nothing worse than not -give you a chance. It's going to be a big game, I hear, and the fellow -who makes good will be in line for the 'varsity next season." - -"I'll watch out. Now let's do something. Come on in Bert's room. He -feels bad about not playing to-morrow." - -"I know. But it's forbidden to visit in other fellows' rooms after -hours." - -"Oh, what of it?" asked Tom, who liked to take chances. "We've got to do -something. It isn't so late, and there are no lectures to-morrow." - -"All right, go ahead. I'm with you. But I hope we don't get caught. It -might mean being ruled out of the game to-morrow." - -Bert was grateful for the sympathy of his chums, and soon felt in better -humor. Jack offered to repeat his water pitcher juggling act, and was -only prevented by force on the part of Tom. There was a merry scuffle, -and George Abbot came in to see what was going on, at the same time -bringing warning that a sub-monitor had been patroling the corridors. - -"Then we've got to be quiet," declared Tom. "Cut out your juggling, -Jack." - -The four chums talked for an hour or more, and then the three, who were -out of their rooms, taking a cautious survey of the hall, prepared to go -to bed, ready for the big game on the morrow. Jack and Tom just escaped -being caught as they slipped into their apartment, but, as Tom remarked, -"A miss was as good as a mile." - -Then came the day of the great game. - -"Line up! Line up!" - -"Over here, Elmwood!" - -"This way, Holwell!" - -"Rah! Rah! Rah!" - -"Toot! Toot! Toot!" - -These were only some of the cries that burst forth from hundreds of -throats at the annual game between the Elmwood and Holwell schools, as -the Freshmen prepared to clash in their gridiron battle. - -The game was to take place on the Elmwood grounds, and both teams were -out for practice. The crowds were beginning to arrive, and the bands -were playing. - -"Say, there's a mob here all right," remarked Jack to Tom. "A raft of -people." - -"Yes. I hope we win." - -"Oh, sure we will. Don't get nervous. I only wish Bert was at quarter -instead of Sam Heller." - -"So do I, but it can't be helped. I guess it will be all right." - -"Line up!" - -It was the final call. The preliminaries had been all arranged, the -goals chosen, and the practice balls called in. Elmwood was to kick -off, and the new yellow pigskin was handed to her burly centre, who was -poising it on a little mound of earth in the middle of the field. - -"Ready?" asked the official. - -"Ready!" answered both captains. - -The whistle shrilled out its signal, and the toe of the big centre met -the ball squarely. It was well kicked into the Holwell territory. - -The full-back on the latter team caught it skillfully, and started to -return with it, well protected by interference, but Jack Fitch worked -his way through it, and tackled his man hard. - -"Good! Good!" screamed the Elmwood enthusiasts, and then the first -scrimmage was prepared for. - -I am not going to describe for you that game in detail, for it formed -but a small part in the life of Tom Fairfield. Sufficient to say that -the gridiron battle was fairly even, and that at the end of the third -quarter the score was a tie. - -"But we've got to win!" declared the Elmwood captain, during the rest -period. "We've _got_ to." - -"And we will, if there's a change made," declared Jack Fitch boldly. - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean that Tom Fairfield isn't getting a fair show." - -"Oh, Jack!" exclaimed Tom. - -"That's right! You're not!" declared his chum. "Sam hasn't called on -you three times during the game. It's been all wing shift plays, or -place kicks, or forward passes, or fake kicks or something like that. -Why can't we have some straight, old-fashioned football, with a rush -of the half-back through tackle and guard or centre? Tom's a good -ground-gainer." - -"I've played him as much as I saw proper," snapped Sam. - -"You have not!" declared Jack hotly. - -"Easy, boys," cautioned the coach. "There must be no personal feeling. -Perhaps some straight football would go well, Heller." - -"All right, I'll give it to 'em." - -The whistle blew to start the last quarter. - -"Remember, boys, a touchdown will do the trick, and win the game!" -pleaded the Elmwood captain. - -"Look out for yourself, Tom," cautioned Jack. - -"Why?" - -"Because Sam is just mad enough to make you fumble the ball and spoil a -play. Then he'll accuse you of losing the game." - -"I'll watch out." - -The play was resumed. It was give and take, hammer and tongs, with the -best players making the most gains. The ball was slowly forced down the -field toward the Holwell goal. - -"Touchdown! Touchdown!" screamed the supporters of our hero's college, -and there were many of them. - -"Seven, eleven, thirty-three, Elmwood! Eight--nine--twenty-one!" called -Sam. - -It was the signal for the full-back to take the ball through centre. It -was almost the last chance, for the time was nearly up, and Tom had not -been given a single opportunity that quarter. His heart burned against -his enemy; yet what could he do? - -The quarter-back dropped his hands as a signal for the centre to snap -the ball back. Sam caught it fairly, and turned to pass it to the -full-back. Then, that always fatal element in football developed. There -was a fumble. The ball was dropped. - -"Grab it! Fall on it!" yelled half a dozen Holwell players. - -The Elmwood line wavered. Could it hold? - -Tom Fairfield, a mist before his eyes, saw the pigskin rolling toward -him. He picked it up on the jump. In another moment Jack Fitch and Joe -Rooney, his guard, had torn a hole in the opposing line. - -"Come on, Tom!" yelled Jack hoarsely. - -And Tom, with lowered head, with the ball held close to his breast, -plunged into the line. He hit it hard. It yielded. He went through with -a rush, pushed by Jack and Joe. Then, seeing but a single man between -himself and the coveted goal, he rushed for it. - -All but the opposing full-back had been drawn in at the sight of the -fumble, and the chance to secure the ball. Tom rushed at this lone -player. - -There was a shock. Tom reeled, but managed to retain his footing. He -shoved the full-back aside, and ran on. - -"Oh, great!" he heard hundreds yell. "Go on! Go on!" - -How he ran! It was the opportunity for which he had waited. In spite of -Sam Heller it had come to him. Over the white chalk marks Tom scudded, -until, with panting breath, with a heart that seemed bursting, and with -eyes that scarcely saw, he fell over the last line, and planted the -ball between the goal posts, making the winning touchdown. The other -players--his own and his opponents--straggled up to the last mark. The -whistle blew, ending the game. - -"Oh wow!" shrilled hundreds of voices. "Elmwood! Elmwood! Elmwood -forever!" - -"Tom, you won the game! You won the game!" yelled Jack in his chum's -ear, as Tom got up, holding his foot on the ball. "You won in spite of -Sam!" - -"I--I'm glad--of--it!" panted Tom, scarcely able to breathe even yet, -for he had run hard. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -A COWARD'S TRICK - - -"Three cheers for Fairfield!" - -"Rah! Rah! Rah!--Elmwood!" - -"Three cheers for Holwell!" - -There were shouts, cries and cheers of joy at the victory on the part of -our hero's followers, while there was corresponding gloom in the camp of -their unsuccessful rivals. - -"Great work, old man!" complimented Tom's captain. "You did the trick -for us!" - -"It was an accident. I just managed to get the ball, and run," explained -Tom. - -"Lucky for us you did. It was an accident that might have counted -heavily against us. What was the matter with you, Sam, in passing the -ball?" - -"Aw, it wasn't my fault. It slipped. Anyhow our full-back had his hands -on it, and he dropped it." - -"I did not!" declared that player. "You didn't pass it to me fairly." - -"That'll do!" interrupted the captain sharply. "We don't want any -quarrels. Besides, we won the game." - -Tom was surrounded by a joyous crowd of his chums, and other admirers, -as the team raced from the field, and the throng of spectators filed out -of the stands. - -"Well, how do you feel?" asked Jack of his chum, as they were in their -room together, after a refreshing bath in the gymnasium. - -"Great! I expect I'll be a little lame and stiff tomorrow though. -Somebody gave me a beaut dig in the ribs." - -"And I guess our whole team, and half of the other one, was piled on me -at one stage of the game," remarked Jack ruefully, as he rubbed his back -reflectively. "But it was a glorious win all right. And how you did run, -Tom!" - -"I just had to, to make that touchdown." And then the two boys fell to -talking of the game, playing it all over again in detail. - -"I just thought Sam would be mean enough not to give you a chance," -remarked Jack. - -"Oh, maybe it wasn't intentional," replied our hero, who did not like to -think ill of anyone. - -"Get out! Of course it was. Ask any of the fellows. But he fooled -himself. That fumble spoiled his plans, and you grabbed your -opportunity." - -"And the ball too," added Tom, as there came a knock on their door. - -"Come!" called Jack, and Bert Wilson and George Abbot entered. - -"Came to pay our respects," spoke Bert. "How does it feel to be hero? -Aren't your ears burning, with the way the fellows are talking about -you?" - -"Not exactly." - -"Why should his ears burn?" asked George. "Is it because he--" - -"Now you quit, or I'll fire the dictionary at you," threatened Bert. -"I told you I'd bring you in on one condition, and that was that you -wouldn't be a question box." - -"But I just wanted to know," pleaded George. - -"Then look it up in an encyclopedia," directed Jack, with a laugh. "I'm -not going to answer any more questions." - -"I hope you get a chance next game," said Tom to Bert. "Maybe you will -after the fumble Sam made." - -And Bert did. For there was a conference between the Freshman captain -and coach that night, which resulted in Sam being sent back to the -scrub. He protested mightily. - -"It wasn't my fault--that fumble," he declared. - -"I think it was," spoke the coach. "Anyhow you didn't run the team -as well as I thought you would. Why, you didn't give Fairfield half a -chance, and he showed what he could do when he did get a show." - -"Aw, he can't play football." - -"I think he can. Anyhow, you'll shift back, but if you do good work I'll -play you on the regular team again before the season is over." And with -this Sam had to be content. - -Football practice was resumed on Monday, and the team seemed to do -better with the change in quarter-backs. There was a match in the middle -of the week, and again Elmwood won handily, Jack Fitch distinguishing -himself by a long run, while Tom made some star tackles, once saving a -touchdown by catching the player a short distance from the goal. - -"I'll get even with Fairfield yet!" threatened Sam to Nick. "He needn't -think he can run things here." - -"Go in and do him," advised his crony. "Can't you pick a quarrel with -him, and have it out?" - -"I'll try. If you see a chance, sail in and lick him." - -"I will," promised Nick, but Sam's chance came sooner than he expected, -or, rather, he made the opportunity. - -There is a certain fine powder, a sort of a pepper-snuff so fine that -it can not be seen floating about, yet which, if scattered about a room, -will irritate the eyes, nose and throat in a marked degree. Sam bought -some of this powder, and making it up into a small paper parcel, he -watched his chance to slip it into Tom's handkerchief pocket. - -"He'll pull it out in class," Sam explained to Nick, "and set the whole -room to sneezing. I'll try and have him do it in Latin recitation, and -Skeel won't do a thing to him, for Tom sits in the front row, and the -prof. will see him." - -"Suppose Fairfield catches you?" - -"I'll take care that he doesn't," declared Sam, and he was lucky enough -to bring about his cowardly trick undetected. As the students went into -the Latin class, presided over by Professor Skeel, Sam slipped the -sneezing powder into Tom's pocket, on top of his handkerchief. It was -quickly done, and, in the press, our hero never noticed it. Then Sam -quickly joined one of his classmates, with whom he was more or less -thick, to prevent detection. - -The recitation was about half over, and Tom, who had been called on, had -made a failure, for a very hard question, and one he had never dreamed -would be brought up in class, was asked him. - -"Remain after the session, and write me out fifty lines of Caesar," -ordered the mean instructor. Tom shut his laps grimly. A little later -he pulled out his handkerchief, and, as might have been expected, the -powder flew out, scattering from the paper. A few moments later a -boy began to sneeze, and soon the whole room was doing it--even the -professor. - -Now Professor Skeel was no simpleton, if he was mean, and he at once -detected the irritating powder. He realized at once that some one had -done it for a trick, and he had seen the paper fall from Tom's pocket, -as the stuff scattered. - -"Fairfield!" he exclaimed angrily, "did you scatter that powder?" - -"Not intentionally, sir." - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean that I did not know it was there. Some one must have put it in -my pocket for a joke." - -"Nonsense! Do you expect me to believe that?" the professor asked -sharply of Tom. - -"It's the truth, sir." - -"Preposterous! I don't believe you!" - -"Sir!" exclaimed our hero, for he was not in the habit of being told -that he spoke an untruth. - -"Don't contradict me!" stormed the teacher. "I say you did it on -purpose--er--a-ker-choo! On purpose--ker-choo! I have known it to -be done before, in other classes, but never in mine. I will have no -nonsense! Ker-choo!" - -The professor was having hard work to talk, for he sneezed quite often, -as, in fact, did every one in the class. - -"This foolishness will have to stop!" he declared. "I am certain you put -that powder in your own pocket, Fairfield." - -"I did not, sir." - -"Ha! Did any one here put that powder in Fairfield's pocket?" asked the -professor. - -Naturally the guilty Sam did not answer. - -"There, you see!" exclaimed Mr. Skeel, triumphantly. "I knew you did -it--ker-choo! But I have no doubt others may have been implicated, and I -will punish the whole class. You will all of you write me out a hundred -lines of Caesar." - -"That is not fair, sir," spoke Tom boldly. - -"What! You dare to tell me that!" stormed Mr. Skeel. - -"It is not fair," insisted Tom. "Either I alone am responsible, which I -deny, or some one else is. I assure you, sir, that no one in the class -entered with me into any trick to do this thing." - -"I don't believe you. The whole class will be punished unless the guilty -one confesses--and that includes you!" and the professor looked angrily -at Tom. - -Sam, of course, would not admit his part in the affair, and as it was -impossible to have the class remain longer in the powder-infested room, -the students were dismissed. But Professor Skeel would not remit the -punishment. - -"Say, this is tough luck--to have to write out all that Latin, for -something we didn't do," complained Frank Nelson. - -"I should say so," added Harry Morse. "Why don't you own up to it, -Fairfield, and save our hides." - -"Because I didn't do it intentionally." - -"Honestly?" - -"Of course." - -"Say, if Tom says he didn't do it, he didn't," declared Jack. - -"I guess that's right," agreed Harry. "Excuse me, Tom," and, to the -credit of Tom's classmates, one and all expressed their belief in his -innocence. That is, all but Sam, and he kept quiet, avoiding our hero. -But, to ward off suspicion, Sam growled louder than anyone about the -task. - -"I'd like to get hold of the fellow who used that powder," complained -Ed. Ward. - -"You won't have to look far for him, I guess," said Jack, in a voice -that only Tom heard. - -"Do you think Sam did it?" asked Tom. - -"I sure do. But you want to be certain of your proof against him before -you accuse him!" - -"I will," declared Tom. "I'll do a bit of detective work." - -But he had no clews to work on, and, though he was sure his enemy had -made him and the others suffer, he could prove nothing, for the paper in -which the powder was wrapped was blank. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -A CLASS WARNING - - -"Well, if any of you young gentlemen have any more powder to scatter -around, you had better do it, and have done with it," remarked Professor -Skeel a day or so later, when Tom and his chums came in to recite. "Only -if you do," he added sarcastically, "the punishment I meted out before -will be doubled, and, in case the offense is repeated a third time, I -will go on doubling the task, if necessary in arithmetical progression." - -He looked at the lads, with a sneering smile on his face. There were -mutterings of discontent from all, save perhaps Sam Heller, for the lads -felt not only the injustice of the uncalled-for remarks, but the former -punishment still rankled in their minds. - -"No one seems inclined to take advantage of my offer," went on Professor -Skeel, "so we will go on with the lesson. Fairfield, you may begin. -We'll see if you are prepared." - -Tom was, fortunately, and it seemed not only to him, but to some of the -others, as if the teacher was displeased. Very likely he would have been -glad of a chance to punish Tom. But he did not get it--at least that day. - -"Unmannerly brute!" murmured Tom, as he sat down. "I'll pay you back -yet. Not because of what you did to me, but because you're unfair to the -rest of the class." - -Tom hated unfairness, and he also felt that, in a way, he was to blame -for the punishment the class had unjustly suffered. He had not been able -to learn anything about how the powder came to be put in his pocket, -though he suspected Heller more than ever, as he saw how vindictive the -Freshman bully was toward him. - -"I almost wish he'd pick a fight with me," thought Tom. "Then I could -give him what he deserves." - -But Sam saw no chance of doing any further harm to the lad whom he hated -with so little cause. - -"Why can't you think of something to help me out?" Sam asked of his -crony. - -"Think of something yourself," retorted Nick. "I've got my own troubles. -We're going to haze the Freshmen tonight, and I'm on the committee of -rules and regulations," and he laughed. - -"You are? Then this is my chance! Come over here where we can talk," -and the bully led his crony to one side. - -This talk followed the dismissal of Professor Skeel's Latin class, -during which nothing had occurred save that the instructor took every -chance of insulting the students. - -"Say, if this keeps up much longer, we'll have to do something, Jack," -declared Tom, as they proceeded on to another recitation. - -"That's right. But what can we do?" - -"Oh, I'm going to think of something. I wish we could haze him." - -"So do I. But I guess we'll be hazed ourselves first." - -"How's that?" - -"Why it's this week that the Sophs get after us. We may expect them any -night now. Going to crawl?" - -"I am not! Might as well have it over with." - -"That's what I say." - -Though Tom and his Freshmen chums rather expected the advent of their -traditional enemies, the Sophomores, they hardly looked for visits that -same night, and so, when a knock came on the door of the room occupied -by Tom and Jack, they opened it unsuspectingly. - -"Here are two!" exclaimed a voice, as several masked figures entered. -"We're in luck! Grab 'em!" - -The orders of the ringleader were obeyed. Tom and Jack could not tell -who their captors were. - -"I say, Tom, shall we fight 'em?" asked Jack, always ready for a battle. - -"No, what's the use--in here?" asked Tom significantly. - -"Ha! Scrappers, eh?" remarked another Sophomore. "You're the kind we're -looking for!" - -"And maybe you'll get more than you want!" exclaimed Tom. Neither he -nor Jack resisted as they were led forth. It was a sort of unwritten -rule that no fighting against the hazers should take place in the -dormitories, as property was likely to be damaged. - -"Wait until we get in the open!" whispered Tom to Jack, as they were -being led down stairs. "Then we'll upset 'em if we can, and run. They -don't look to be very husky." - -"That's right," agreed Tom's chum. - -"Ha! No plotting!" cried the ringleader, giving Tom a dig in the ribs. - -"I'll give you that back with interest when I get the chance," murmured -our hero. - -Other parties of hazers made their appearance in the corridor, some -leading Bert Wilson and George Abbot. - -"Where are you taking me? What are you going to do? Is this allowed?" -fired George at his captors. - -"Sure it's allowed, you little question mark!" exclaimed a Sophomore. -"Trot along now." - -Tom and his chums were led over the campus. They could see other little -groups of prisoners in like plight, and the Sophomores, all of whom wore -masks, gathered together with their captives. - -"To the river!" ordered the ringleaders. "We'll make 'em wade a bit." - -"Oh, they're going to duck us!" whimpered George. "I wonder why they do -it?" - -"Oh, there goes Why!" exclaimed Jack. "He can't keep still." - -"They're not going to duck me!" murmured Tom. "Come on, Jack, now's our -chance. Make a break!" - -It was the best chance Tom had seen, and, with a sudden push, and a -putting out of his foot, he tripped the lad who had hold of his arm. -Then, with a well-directed punch, he paid him back for the dig in the -ribs. Tom was free to run. - -"Come on, Jack!" he called. His chum, performing a like trick, was also -free, and their two captors were down on the ground. But the flight did -not go unnoticed. - -"Two are loose! Grab the two Freshies!" yelled the lads who had held Tom -and Jack. The cry was taken up, and some of the Sophomores, who had -no Freshmen to take care of, ran after the two chums. Our heroes might -have gotten away but for the fact that two lads, masked, who were coming -across the campus to join their fellows, saw them, and waited to catch -the two fleeing ones. - -Tom and Jack tried to dodge, but could not. There was a clash, and Jack -was caught. In a moment other Sophomores came up, and had him. Tom was -struggling with his captor. - -"Take that!" cried the latter, when, finding he could not subdue Tom, he -struck our hero a blow in the face. - -"I won't take that from any one!" cried Tom fiercely. "Hazing customs -or not!" He retaliated, and with such good measure that he knocked the -other down. The black mask came off in the fall, and it was light enough -for Tom to see Sam Heller. - -"You!" he cried. "You're not a Sophomore! You have no right to haze!" - -"This is my second year here. I'm a Sophomore by rights!" growled Sam, -much put out that his trick had been discovered. "I'll get even with -you, too!" - -In his rage he leaped up and rushed at Tom. It was just the chance the -other wanted, and our hero promptly knocked Sam down again. He was wild -with rage. By this time a knot of Sophomores surrounded Tom. - -"Hold on there, Fresh!" cried some one who seemed to be in authority. -"This won't do, you know. You shouldn't fight back when you're being -hazed." - -"Has a Freshman the right to help the Sophs haze us?" demanded Tom, as -he recognized Bruce Bennington in the objector. "Here's Sam Heller, of -our class, joining against us." - -"Is that so?" asked Bruce in surprise. With some other Seniors he had -come out to see the fun. "That's not allowed, you know, Wendell," he -said, turning to the leader of the Second year lads. - -"I didn't know Heller was here," replied Wendell. "That's straight. He -has no right. We beg your pardon, Fairfield. Sam, how did this happen?" -Wendell was justly indignant. - -"Well, I claim I'm a Sophomore, and I would be if I had a fair show. -I thought I had a right to help haze." Sam was whining now, like all -cowards when found out. His trick, which he had formed with the aid of -Nick, had failed. The two had planned to get Jack and Tom off alone, -during the general excitement over the hazing, and thrash them. - -"You're not a Soph, and you can't do any hazing," declared Wendell -decidedly. "You ought to be hazed yourself, and you would be, only you -got yours last year. Come along now, Fairfield, and take what's coming -to you." - -"All right," agreed Tom good-naturedly. He was satisfied with what he -had done to Sam. The crowd of Sophomores was now so large that there was -no chance for our hero and his chum to escape. - -"Take your medicine, Fairfield," advised Bruce with a laugh. "It won't -be very bad." - -"All right," said Tom again, and he and Jack were led back to their -luckless mates, the little group of Seniors following. - -The hazing was not very severe. The Freshmen were made to wade in -the river up to their knees, and then, with coats turned inside out, -forced to dance in a ring, while the Sophomores laughed their delight, -and played mouth organs. Some few were tossed in blankets, and much -horse play was indulged in. But the discovery of Heller's trick rather -discomfited the second year lads, and they felt that there was a little -blight on their class. Otherwise the hazing might have been more severe. - -"Now then, form in line, and give three cheers for the Sophs, and you -can go home to your beds," declared Wendell. "Only remember, every -Freshman must wear his cap backwards every time he comes on the campus, -for the next two weeks, and salute every Sophomore he meets, under -penalty of being hazed over again. Remember! Now for the cheers!" - -They were given, and the hazing was over. No one had been much annoyed -by it, save perhaps Sam Heller. - -"It didn't work," he grumbled to Nick, later that night. "We had a -fight, though." - -"Did you lick him?" asked Nick, who had been separated from his crony -during the fracas with Tom. - -"I sure did." - -"How'd you get that bruise near your eye?" asked Nick. - -"Oh--er--I--sort of fell," stammered Sam. The bruise was where Tom had -hit him. - -And thus the hazing of Tom's Freshman class passed into history. - -Several weeks passed, and our hero came to like the school more and -more. He made many new chums, and no more enemies, though Sam and Nick -disliked him more than ever, and thought bitter thoughts, and devised -endless schemes to "get even," as they expressed it, though the debt -was on their side. But, though they annoyed Tom and his chum often, the -latter as often got back at them in hearty fashion. - -Tom heard from his parents, that they had arrived safely, and they said -the business was going on satisfactorily. The weather was getting -colder each day, and the boys began to have thoughts of skating and ice -boating as soon as the river should be frozen over. The football season -had closed. - -Then, unexpectedly, there came another clash with Professor Skeel. In -Latin class one day several students came unprepared, and failed in -reciting. - -"We'll stop right here!" exclaimed the professor. "It is evident to me -that an organized attempt to miss in Latin is under way. I shall double -the usual number of lines that you are all to write out. Perhaps that -will teach you not to trifle with me." - -Several protested at this, saying that the reason for their failure was -additional work in other classes. Others, who had not failed, declared -that it was manifestly unfair to make them suffer with the rest. - -"Silence!" snapped the professor. "You may stay here until your tasks -are done," and he prepared to leave the room, intending to send a -monitor to take charge of the lads. - -"Say, this is rank injustice!" exclaimed Jack. - -"It sure is," came from Tom. "And the ice on the river is thick enough -for skating, I believe. If we didn't have to stay here we could cut the -next lecture and have some fun." - -"We sure could. What'll we do?" - -"Let's haze Skeel!" suggested Bert Wilson, for there was no one in -authority in the room now. - -"Let's send him a warning," suggested Tom. "We'll write it out in Latin, -and threaten to go on a strike, or burn him in effigy if he doesn't act -more fair. How's that?" - -"Good!" exclaimed several. "Tom, you write out the notice." - -"I will!" agreed our hero, and then a monitor came in, and silence was -enforced. But Tom, after hurrying through the prescribed number of lines -of prose, began work on the warning. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -A RUNAWAY ICEBOAT - - -"How are we going to get it to him?" asked Bert Wilson, as the Latin -class, its members having finished their punishment, filed out on the -campus. - -"Mail it to him," suggested Jack. - -"No, leave it at his door," advised Henry Miller. - -"Huh! Who'd do it?" asked George Abbot. - -"There you go again, Why!" exclaimed Tom with a laugh, as he passed -around the warning he had composed. - -"Well, I mean who would have the nerve to go up and leave that at -Skeel's door?" went on the small lad. "I wouldn't." - -"I would!" declared Tom. "I'm tired of being imposed upon!" - -"And so am I!" exclaimed Jack. "I'm with you. Let's get a lot of -Freshmen, tog up in masks, or with pillow cases over our heads, and -leave the warning at his door. That'll make him be more decent, I -guess." - -"All right," agreed Tom. "We'll do it." - -That same night Tom, and several bold spirits, with pillow cases, or -white cloths over their coats, slipped from the dormitory where the -Freshmen lived, moved and had their being. Tom carried his warning. - -It was in Latin, more or less accurate, and in plain terms demanded on -the part of Professor Skeel a more tolerant attitude toward the Freshman -class, or, failure would be met with a burning in effigy of the disliked -instructor. And the boys meant it, too. - -"All ready now?" asked Tom as he and his chums, in the dark shadows of a -thick hedge around Mr. Skeel's house had adjusted their head-coverings. -"All ready?" - -"Lead on!" whispered Jack. "Who's going to knock at the door?" - -"I will," agreed Tom. "We'll go around to his 'study,' as he calls it. -It's got a door opening directly into the garden, and he'll answer the -knock himself." - -Advancing from amid group of his chums a little later, with the warning -held in the cleft end of a long stick, Tom knocked on Mr. Skeel's door. -The professor was in his study, poring over some book, and laying new -traps, in the way of difficult questions, for his pupils. - -"Who's there?" he cried sharply, at the sound of Tom's rap. - -A groan was the answer. - -"What nonsense is this?" demanded Professor Skeel, as he rose from his -chair. - -"If those are students they'll pay dearly for this nonsense!" he was -heard to exclaim, as he opened the door. The sight of the white-robed -figures, with one standing out from the others, holding forth a letter -in a cleft stick, was a distinct surprise to the professor. - -"What is the meaning of this?" he cried. "Who are you? I demand to know!" - -Groans were his only answer, and Tom waved the letter before the -professor's face. In very wonderment the instructor took it and then, -with a final series of groans, Tom and the others turned and hurried -away. - -"Come back. I demand that you return. Take those silly cloths from your -heads, and let me see who you are!" cried Professor Skeel, but our hero -and his chums knew better than to tarry. - -"Halt!" cried the professor. He started after the lads, but, as he -reached the bottom step he tripped on a stick, and fell and, as he had -on light slippers, the contact of his toes with the ground was anything -but comfortable. - -Uttering an exclamation of anger, the professor went back into his study -with the letter, while Tom and his chums hurried to their rooms, getting -to them undetected. - -"What's this?" burst out Professor Skeel, as he read Tom's Latin -warning. "They demand better treatment! Burn me in effigy, eh? Why this -is a threat! A threatening letter! I'll have the entire Freshman class -suspended! I shall see Dr. Meredith at once!" - -In his anger he did go over and see the head master, showing him the -letter. - -"Hum! Well," mused Doctor Meredith. "That is a sort of threat, Professor -Skeel, but--er--would not it be well to--er--to grant the class a -few more privileges? Remember they are first year lads, unused to -the discipline of a college, and, therefor, not to be dealt with too -harshly. Could you not grant their request?" - -"What? My dear sir! Grant a request coupled with a threat? Never! -I demand the suspension of the entire Freshman class, until the -perpetrators of this outrage are discovered, and then I demand their -expulsion. Why, Doctor Meredith, they had the audacity to call on _me_, -disguised. On _me_! They had the effrontery to threaten _me_ in a -miserably composed Latin scrawl. _Me!_ I demand the suspension of the -entire class!" - -"Hum! Well, I'm afraid I can't do that," said the head master. "I shall -take this under advisement, and act in the morning. But I can't suspend -the whole class. They are not all guilty, I'm sure," and nothing the -irate professor said could change this decision. - -In the morning Doctor Meredith referred to the matter, not half as -strongly, however, as Professor Skeel thought should have been done. -There was no threat to suspend the class, and all the doctor did was to -suggest that different measures be taken in the future. He also asked -those engaged in the affair to make themselves known. - -"As if we would!" exclaimed Tom, later. And I hardly believe Doctor -Meredith expected that the lads would. He had been a college master for -many years, and he knew boys, which Professor Skeel did not. - -"Oh, but we'll get it in Latin class," predicted Jack. "We'd better all -be prepared today." - -And they all were, very well prepared, but that did not save them from -an angry tongue-lashing, in which the professor, on his own account, -demanded to know those who had been instrumental in writing and bringing -the warning. - -Of course no one answered, and, as Tom had taken the precaution to -print out the letter, his handwriting was not recognized. Every device, -however, that an angry and bullying teacher could bring to bear, was -used on the class. But no one failed, and no punishment could be -inflicted. Though had the professor been able to use his power he would -have administered corporal punishment to all the Freshmen. - -The result was, however, that the Latin recitation was perfect, and, in -his heart the instructor was just a little bit afraid of the threat of -burning him in effigy. So, in a few days he did mend his ways somewhat, -and the class began to feel that Tom's plan had worked wonders. But the -end was not yet. - -"Well, Tom, I've had enough of this!" exclaimed Jack, one cold -afternoon, when the two chums had been "boning" away in their room for -some time. "Let's go hire that iceboat you were talking of, and have a -sail on the river. I guess she's frozen over thick enough." - -"I'm with you!" and Tom tossed his book to one side. "Let's get George, -Bert and some of the others." - -Some days before Tom had discovered that the man of whom the lads hired -their rowboats, had a couple of ice craft for rent, and he had engaged -one for the first good day. - -A little later Tom and several of his chums, including Jack, were on -their way to the frozen river, lessons being over for the day. - -"Well, where are you bound for?" asked Bruce Bennington, as he met Tom -and the others near the stream. - -"Ice boating. Come along," invited Tom. - -"Thanks. I believe I will. I was going for a skate, but somehow, I don't -feel like exerting myself." - -There was a look of worriment still on the Senior's face, and he talked -as though the trouble that was worrying him had not passed away. Tom -wanted to help him, but knew it was best to say nothing. - -A part of the river, where the water was not so deep, nor the current -under the ice so swift as elsewhere, had been set aside by the school -authorities as the place where the students might skate. They were -forbidden to use the steel runners elsewhere, as a matter of safety, -and, as the skating course was plenty long enough, none of the lads -ventured on the part of the river where the ice boats were used. In -fact the presence of those craft, of which there were several, made it -necessary that the numerous skaters keep clear of them. - -The place where Tom hired the iceboat was quite a distance from the -skating course, and, in consequence of a bend in the river, none of the -other pupils, who were indulging in sports on the steel blades, were in -sight. There was one iceboat out on the broad surface of the river as -our hero and his chums arrived. - -"Know how to sail one?" asked Bruce, as he took his place in the shallow -box that served as a sort of cockpit, while some of the boys perched on -the runners. - -"Fairly well," replied Tom, and soon they were skimming over the -slippery surface, with Tom at the helm. It was great sport, and they -liked it immensely. - -"This is fine!" exclaimed Bruce, with sparkling eyes, and something of a -return of his old manner. "It beats skating!" and he kicked his skates -that he had tossed into the box near him. - -"Oh, skating's all right!" declared Tom, as he changed the course -slightly. "We'll have some skating races soon, won't we?" - -"Yes, it's about time for them," answered the Senior. - -After sailing for several miles Tom decided to put up a sort of -auxiliary sail on the boat, to get more speed. It was fitted to a short -bamboo mast, about five feet high. - -"You'll all have to get out while I fix it," suggested Tom, as he let -the wind spill out of the big sail, and brought the boat up with a turn, -while it gradually came to a stop. - -They piled out, stamping up and down to warm their rather benumbed legs -and feet. Tom and Jack were soon putting up the little sail. - -"I've got to whittle down the end of the mast to make it fit in," -declared Tom after a trial. "Lend me your knife, Jack." - -Bruce had put on his skates for a little turn while he waited, and the -others were racing up and down. Tom and Jack were working over the -auxiliary sail, standing a short distance away from the iceboat, when -there came a sudden puff of wind. The main sheet became caught, the big -sail filled, and a moment later the empty iceboat was racing over the -smooth, frozen river at dangerous speed! - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -THE SKATING RACE - - -"Look at that!" cried Jack. - -"See it go!" shouted Bert. - -"How did it happen to get away?" the ever-questioning George wanted to -know. - -"By Jove!" murmured Bruce. "He'd ask questions if it was the end of the -world. He'd want to know why it hadn't happened before." - -"Wow!" came from Tom, as he started after the disappearing iceboat. -"That's bad! I'm responsible for it." He started off on a run, as though -he could catch the skimming craft. - -"You'll never get her!" yelled Bruce to him. He had taken off his -skates, and hurried up beside Tom. - -"I've got to get her!" cried our hero. "She may run against the bank and -go to smash." - -"You can't stop her. She's too far off. Look at her veer! She'll capsize -in another minute!" - -Indeed the unguided craft was slewing about, making quick turns and big -circles as the wind blew her. Then Tom cried out: - -"I'm going to catch her. Lend me your skates, Bruce." - -"You can't skate as fast as that boat is going!" - -"I can try. Besides I'm not going to do all skating." - -"What then?" asked Jack, curious to know what scheme his chum had in his -mind. - -"This!" and Tom pointed to the small sail he had been going to rig on -the craft when she went off by herself. "I can hold this at my back by -the mast, and the wind will blow me along." - -"Good!" cried Bruce, who understood. "That's the idea Fairfield, here -are my skates." - -Tom soon had clamped them on his feet, and then, holding the improvised -sail at his back, he headed for the runaway iceboat. The sail was almost -like the regular ones skaters use. - -Tom soon developed great speed, for the wind was strong and directly -at his back. The others started to run after him. The iceboat was some -distance ahead, but Tom was rapidly overhauling her. - -"I'll get her before she goes to smash," he murmured hopefully. The boat -suddenly heeled over, and Tom thought surely she was going to capsize. -But she righted, and then went off on a new tack. Tom saw his chance. - -"I can quarter across and get aboard, if she doesn't veer again!" he -cried, and he altered his course. Nearer and nearer he came to the -iceboat, until he saw that he would soon pass her. "If only she doesn't -veer around," he murmured hopefully. - -Fortunately, however, the wind held in that direction for a few minutes, -and the main sheet of the sail was caught in such a way as to hold the -craft steady. - -"Now to do some skating on my own hook!" cried Tom, as he cast aside the -little sail. He struck out with all his strength and speed, and, as he -came close to the boat, with a leap and a spring he hurled himself into -the blanket-covered cockpit, landing with a thud. - -It was the work of but a moment to seize the rudder, and put the boat -about, so that she was in control, though even as Tom did this she -nearly capsized. - -"Whoa, now!" he called, as to a restive horse, and then, settling -himself down, he sent the boat back on a series of tacks to pick up his -chums. - -"Say, did you see him skate!" exclaimed Bert Wilson in admiration, as he -called attention to the burst of speed on Tom's part. - -"I should say yes," admitted Jack. "If we have a race I'll back Tom." - -"He looks like a winner," commented Bruce quietly. - -Tom brought the iceboat up to his chums, and they got aboard. Jack -steered while Tom took off the skates he had not had time to remove, and -then he went to where he had dropped the little sail. - -"I guess we'll get along without it," he remarked. "We're going fast -enough." - -"I never thought you'd get the boat in time," spoke Bruce admiringly. -"Where'd you learn to skate, Fairfield?" - -"Oh, I could make pretty good time ever since I was a small lad, but I -sort of broke my record today, I guess." - -They were soon back at the boathouse, having talked on the way of the -little accident and of Tom's skill. - -"You'll enter for the class races, won't you?" inquired Reddy Burke of -Tom, a little later, when Bruce had told of the Freshman's skill. - -"I'll be glad to." - -"They'll come off in about a week if the ice holds," went on the -red-haired athlete. - -Practice for the skating races was soon under way. The affair was to -settle the championship of the school. Later, intercollegiate contests -would be held. - -"Going to try?" asked Nick of his crony, when the notice of the ice -sports was posted. "I hear Fairfield is a wonder." - -"What do I care? I can skate some myself, and if I can't win, maybe I -can spoil his chances." - -"How?" - -"Oh, I haven't made up my mind yet." - -It was a cold, clear day, the ice was firm and smooth, and it was just -right for a skating race. The elimination trials had been held, and the -representatives of each class selected. There were four each from the -Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior and Senior divisions. Tom, of course, was -picked, and so was Jack, and, somewhat to the surprise of many, Sam -Heller also represented the first year lads. - -"Look out for him," advised Jack to his chum, when they were getting -ready. "If he skates near enough to you he may try some mean trick." - -"I'll watch out, but I'm not worried." - -"I wonder if he'd be mean enough to squeal to our Latin prof. about the -warning letter you wrote?" went on Jack. "I've often thought of that. -He's equal to it." - -"Oh, I don't believe Heller would dare do a thing like that," spoke Tom. -"I'm not alarmed. There, I guess my skates are sharp enough," for the -two had been putting an extra edge on the steel runners in anticipation -of the contest. - -There was a big crowd present to watch the skaters, who were lined up, -receiving their last instructions from the officials. Clamps were being -tightened, straps made more snug, and the last little attentions being -given. - -"All ready?" called the starter. - -"Ready!" answered the lads in turn. - -"Look out for Sam. He's quite near you," warned Jack to his chum, in a -low voice. Tom nodded and looked across at the bully, who had his head -turned away. - -"Go!" cried the starter, and his pistol cracked out on the frosty air. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -WINNING AGAINST ODDS - - -The skaters were off together, almost like a line of well-drilled -soldiers on the double-quick, and, as they glided forward, there came a -shrill burst of cheers from the student spectators. - -"Rah! Rah! Freshmen! Elmwood Freshmen!" cried the members of that class, -to urge on their comrades. - -"Boom! Boom! Boomity-boom Seniors! Siss!" came the peculiar cry of the -four-year lads. - - "Sophomore! Sophomore! - Rah! Rah! Rah! - Going like a trolley car!" - -That was the second year boys cheering. - -Then came the call of the Juniors: - - "June! June, beautiful June. - We'll win the race and win it soon. - Siss! - Boom! - Rah! - Juniors!" - -The line was a trifle broken now, as one or two forged ahead of the -others, and among them was Tom. Yet he was holding himself in check, -and narrowly watching the others, for the race was not a short one, and -he knew the danger of getting winded too early in it, and spending his -strength so that he had none left for a final spurt. - -Jack was even with his chum, though he was not as good a skater as was -our hero. Sam Heller was a little behind, but in practice he had done -well, and Tom knew that in his enemy he had a dangerous rival. - -Bruce Bennington was skating well, the only one of the Seniors who -seemed to stand a chance, while a member each of the Junior and -Sophomore class was up in the front now. - -"Everyone is holding back," said Jack to Tom. - -"Yes, waiting for a break. I've a good notion to give it to 'em, and -take a chance." - -"Don't you do it. Let some one else set the pace. Hold back. We want to -win this race for the Freshman class, and we're depending on you." - -"Hope I don't disappoint you. There goes Blaisdell for the Juniors. Come -on!" - -One of the skaters had spurted and at once the others increased their -speed to keep up to him. The race was now on in earnest, and soon half -the distance was covered, with no one markedly in the lead. Several had -dropped out, hopelessly distanced, but there were enough of each class -left to make the result doubtful. - -"I wonder what Sam is going to do?" mused Nick Johnson, as he watched -his crony. "He'd better get busy." - -The skaters had turned, and were coming back toward the starting point. -They could hear the cheers of their comrades, and the cries of the -followers of the various classes could be distinguished. - -"Better hit it up, Tom," advised Jack. - -"I will. Here goes!" - -Tom struck out with more speed and power than he had previously used. He -imagined he was once more chasing the runaway iceboat, and he gripped -his fists and clenched his teeth as he made up his mind to win. - -But, even as he spurted, others glided up, almost beside him, and one of -them was Sam Heller. Tom watched out of the corner of his eye, and it -seemed to him that Sam was edging over toward him. - -"I wonder what he's doing that for?" mused Tom. - -So near were they to the finish line now that the calls of the class -cheerers came clearly through the cold, crisp air. - -"Come on, Freshmen! Come on! Win! Win!" - -"Don't let 'em beat you, Seniors!" - -"Skate. Skate. Oh you Sophs!" - -"Juniors forever. Juniors to the front!" - -Thus the students cheered. - -"I'm going to win!" whispered Tom fiercely to himself. - -The finish line was a hundred feet away. Tom looked ahead, and saw a -confused mass of excited spectators, waving flags and banners, tossing -caps in the air, dancing about and uttering yells at the tops of their -voices. He looked to left and right and saw on one side of him, Bruce -Bennington, and, on the other, Sam Heller. Jack Fitch was not in sight. - -"I guess Jack's out of it," mused Tom, regretfully. - -He gathered himself for a final effort, and, just as he struck out with -increased force he saw Sam lurch over toward him. - -"Look out!" Tom yelled. - -The bully returned no answer. He seemed to have lost control of himself. -Nearer and nearer he glided toward Tom. - -In vain did our hero try to get out of the way of what in a flash he -knew to be an intentional attempt to foul him. But he could not escape -without swerving so far to one side as to mean the loss of the race. - -"Look out for yourself!" warned Tom, determined to give way no longer, -and he braced himself for the shock. - -It came an instant later, when Sam's skate struck Tom's, staggering him. - -"Excuse me!" panted the bully, unnecessarily loud. "I couldn't help it!" - -Tom said nothing, but he thought a lot. - -Then he felt himself falling. There was but one thing to do, and Tom did -it. He was staggering forward, trying in vain to remain upright long -enough to cross the line. The only way he could do it was to gain more -momentum than that caused by Sam's foul interference. That was to jump, -and Tom did it. - -Up in the air he rose, remembering the time he had cleared barrels on -the ice in an obstacle race. - -Up and up he went, fairly hurling himself forward. As he did so he had a -confused glimpse of Sam Heller sprawling on the ice, and tumbling over -and over. Tom also saw Bruce Bennington looking at him in astonishment. -Our hero also had a glance at representatives of the Junior and -Sophomore classes fairly doubled up in a desperate effort to win the -race. - -"But I'll do it! I'll do it, if I don't break a skate when I come down, -or trip," thought Tom, desperately. - -The jump had accomplished the very purpose for which the plucky -Freshman intended it. Just as when you trip, and fall forward, if you -can suddenly jump, and equalize the momentum given the upward part of -our body, while overcoming the inertia of your feet, caused by the -contact with some obstacle--just in this way Tom had jumped. - -He saw the finish line but a few feet ahead. The next moment, amid a -perfect riot of cheers, he came down with resounding force on the ice, -his steel runners ringing out in the frosty air. - -For a second he feared that he could not keep his balance, but by a -desperate effort he did, and with great speed he slid across the mark, -and fairly into the crowd of students bunched beyond it. Tom was unable -to stop himself. - -A quick glance showed that he was alone when he crossed the finish mark. -He had won the race against big odds! - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -MORE TROUBLE - - -"Freshmen win!" - -"Rah, Freshmen! Elmwood forever! Freshmen win!" - -"Hurray for Tom Fairfield!" - -"And after a foul, too. He won after a foul!" - -"Never mind. We won't claim it. Maybe it was an accident. Heller may be -hurt!" - -"Seniors Second! Bruce Bennington is second!" - -These were only a few of the cries that greeted the achievement of our -hero as he won the school race. He had come to a stop amid a knot of his -classmates, who gathered about him, clasping him by the hand, clapping -him on the back, and generally congratulating him. - -"Great work, old man!" - -"Magnificent jump!" - -"How in the world did you do it?" - -"I don't know myself," confessed Tom, with a laugh. "I just had -to--that's all." - -"Are you hurt, Tom?" demanded Jack, anxiously, as he skated up to his -chum. "Did his skate hit your ankle?" for well he knew the agonizing -pain that follows the blow of the point of a skate against that tender -part of the foot. - -"No, not a bit," replied Tom. "His skate just glanced off mine, but I'd -have gone down if I hadn't jumped. Is Heller hurt?" - -"I guess not much, though he's limping to the finish. It would serve him -right if he was. He deliberately fouled you." - -"I think so myself, but I'm not going to say anything." - -"Well, maybe it's best. Class honor, you know." - -The officials of the race were marking down the time, and formally -declaring Tom the winner, with Bruce Bennington second and Peter Ranson, -of the Sophomore class, third. The Juniors were not in the race at all, -much to their disappointment. - -"I--er--I presume your collision with Fairfield was an _accident_--was -it not, Heller?" asked Professor Livingston Hammond, the fat and jolly -professor who had acted as one of the officials. "We saw it from here." - -"It was an accident--certainly," replied Sam, sharply. He had taken off -his skates, and came limping up. "I could not help it. My skate struck a -small piece of wood, and I slid over toward him. I tried to warn him, -but it was too late. If anyone doubts my word--" - -"No one dreamed of doubting you--or even mentioned it," interrupted Mr. -Hammond with a smile, yet he looked at Sam narrowly. - -"Three cheers for Professor Hammond!" called someone, and they were -given with a will. Out on the fringe of spectators stood Professor -Skeel, with a frown on his face. No one had cheered him, and he felt no -elation that a member of his Freshman Latin class had won the race. In -fact, there was a sneer on his face as he saw the ovation accorded to -Tom. - -"I more than half believe that he wrote that insulting and threatening -letter to me," Professor Skeel muttered. "I must find out, and if he -did--" a cruel smile played over his features. "Ah, there is some one -else I must have a talk with!" he exclaimed as he saw Bruce Bennington -walking along, swinging his skates. "Come here Bennington," he called, -and the face of Bruce went rather white, and there was a nervous air in -his manner, not to say a tinge of fear, as he approached the unpleasant -instructor. - -"Well, sir?" he asked. - -"Are you ready to settle with me?" asked Professor Skeel, in a frosty -tone. - -"No, Professor, I'm sorry to say I am not." - -"When will you be?" - -"I can't say. Really, I am having it harder than you can imagine." - -"Harder? Don't you suppose that I have my own troubles, too? Have you -appealed to your folks?" - -"No, and I'm not going to!" Bruce spoke fiercely. - -"You may have to," and the Latin instructor's tone was threatening. "I -shall not wait much longer, and if you do not make the appeal I shall do -so myself." - -"Oh, Professor Skeel, surely you wouldn't do that!" - -"I certainly shall, unless you settle with me soon. I will wait but a -little longer." - -"Well, I'll see what I can do," spoke Bruce, wearily. - -"You'd better," answered the professor significantly, as he turned aside. - -Tom, coming along with Jack and some of his chums, heard the last -words, though no one else seemed to have done so. He also noticed the -threatening attitude of the Latin instructor, and was aware of the -despondent attitude of the Senior student. - -"I wish I knew what was up between them," mused Tom. "I would do a lot -to help Bruce. Maybe it's some trouble about examination papers. And yet -I know Bruce wouldn't be guilty of cheating, or anything like that. I -wonder what it is?" - -But Tom had little time to think by himself quietly, for his chums were -jostling all about him, talking of the race, congratulating him over and -over again, while some spoke significantly of Heller's action. - -"Oh, forget that," advised Tom. "He came out of it worse than I did." - -"I should say yes," agreed Jack. "He might have broken his leg trying a -trick like that." - -Tom's chums crowded into his room, and that night there was an impromptu -and surreptitious little spread, held there in violation of the school -rules. - -Professor Skeel got word of it through one of the monitors, and went to -notify Doctor Meredith. - -"Hum, some of the Freshmen eating in the room of young Fairfield, eh?" -murmured the good doctor. - -"Yes. In direct violation of rule twenty-one. If you come with me now, -we can catch them in the act." - -"Hum. Yes! Let me see, didn't Fairfield win the skating race today, -Professor Skeel?" - -"He did, certainly, but I don't see what that has to do with it," -snapped Mr. Skeel. - -"Well, perhaps it has. I--er--I think--well, on the whole, I think I -won't disturb the boys tonight, Professor Skeel." - -"What! You will suffer a rule to be broken?" - -"Well, in view of the facts, and under the circumstances, I guess it -won't do the rule much harm," spoke the doctor dryly. - -Professor Skeel threw up his hands helplessly, and walked off, muttering -to himself. And Tom and his chums were not disturbed that night. - -"But I'll take that Fairfield lad down a peg," the irate Latin -instructor muttered as he went into his house. He sat up late that -night, evolving a plan to discover who had sent him the threatening -letter, and at last he exclaimed: - -"I believe I have it. That will give me a clew. And then--!" - -He smiled sourly as he took out the screed Tom had printed, and looked -closely at it. - -"I will find out who composed that!" he went on, "and when I do he shall -suffer for it!" - -The Freshman class little realized what it was in for at the hands of -Professor Skeel. - -It was a day or so after the great skating race, when the Freshmen filed -into Latin recitation, that they became aware of something unusual in -the air. Professor Skeel looked at them individually and collectively -with a mocking smile on his face. - -"He's got it in for some of us," murmured Tom to Jack. - -"Silence!" exclaimed the instructor, banging a ruler on his desk. "I -will permit no levity!" - -The boys filed to their seats more than usually silent. The professor -opened his book, and some one sneezed. It was a perfectly natural and -unavoidable sneeze, yet it set off the mine that had been smouldering in -the professor's breast for many days. - -"Stop that!" he cried. "If I find that any more of that abominable -powder has been scattered about I will, on my own responsibility, -personally chastise the guilty student!" - -He paused and looked about. Suspiciously he sniffed the air, but there -was none of the powder in evidence. - -"It was well for the entire class--the entire class I repeat," he said, -"that there is none. Now we will proceed!" - -He was unusually severe that day. The slightest slip was noticed, and -the culprit was made to sit down with a lesson to write out. Scarcely -one escaped, and when an error was made the professor, instead of -correcting it in a gentle manner, referred sarcastically to the -"imbecility" of the lad, and, in bullying language, demanded to know -where he had received his early instruction. - -There were murmurs of discontent. Tom flushed angrily when he was -needlessly insulted, and there came a look on his face that made Jack -Fitch think: - -"Tom won't stand much more of this. There'll be a blow-up pretty soon, -and I'll be glad of it. So will the rest of the class. Tom has something -up his sleeve against Skeel, and the sooner it comes out the better. I'm -going to sit tight and watch. It's time for an eruption!" - -The recitation went on, from bad to worse. Student after student was -rigged and browbeaten, until even those who had come to class well -prepared felt their knowledge slipping from them, and they floundered, -and made all sorts of wild answers and impossible guesses as to the -right translation. - -"It is just what I should expect of a class of cowards who would write -an anonymous letter!" snarled the professor. "You must have had nice -bringings-up--all of you!" - -There were one or two hisses. - -"Stop!" exclaimed the teacher. "I'll not permit that! I will have -silence in my classes. Now, Fairfield, try again, and see if you can -make any more errors than the last boy!" - -Tom, with flushed face, began to recite, but he was stopped almost -before he had begun. - -"How many times must I tell you that your pronunciation of that word is -hopelessly wrong?" snarled Professor Skeel. - -"I don't believe that you ever told me so," answered Tom quietly. - -"Sir!" The professor fairly glared at our hero. - -Tom repeated his remark respectfully. - -"That's enough!" cried the teacher. "I will not be insulted by you! -Nor by any one in the class! It is evident that none of you know this -lesson. You will have it again tomorrow, and, in addition twice the -usual amount of Latin to do. I will hammer some knowledge into your -heads in spite of yourselves!" - -It was a most unfair and unjust task to inflict, and every boy resented -it. Yet what could they do? All eyes seemed turned on Tom, and our hero -bit his lips to keep back his temper. - -"We will pass over this part of the lesson," went on the professor. -"I now want you to print out for me--print out, mind, the following -sentences in Latin. You will not write them, but you will print them!" - -A gasp of surprise ran around the room. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -TOM'S DARING PROPOSAL - - -"Silence!" proclaimed Professor Skeel, as he heard the indrawn -breathing. "Not a word!" - -No one seemed likely to utter it under the circumstances, but the lads -were doing some hard thinking. - -"As I stated, you will print this lesson," went on the instructor. "I -want to see if you can _print_ as well as you _write_," he added with a -mocking smile. - -In a flash it came to Tom and the others what the object of the queer -task was. It was to gain some evidence, or clew, to the printing in the -threatening letter. All eyes were turned on Tom, and then, as if aware -that this might implicate him, the lads looked in various directions. - -Fortunately Professor Skeel was at the board setting down the sentences -he wished copied, or he might have noticed the glances turned toward our -hero, and have guessed the secret. Then he would have been at no pains -to try his little trick. As it was he proceeded with it, chuckling to -himself as he thought that it would give him the information he desired. - -But Tom was wise in his day. It was not the first time he had matched -his wits against some unfair instructor, and he at once resolved on his -plan. - -He had printed the threatening letter in the usual, straight up and down -characters. As he now began to print out the Latin exercise he used, in -part, letters that sloped forward, and others that sloped backward. Not -once did Tom use an upright character. - -"There," he thought, as he neared the end of the short exercise, "if he -thinks he can compare any of the words in this, with the words in the -letter I handed him on the end of the stick, he's a good one." - -Tom noticed, as did some of the others, that the words in the exercise -were, in many cases, the same ones used in the letter. The professor had -been enough of a detective to think of this, and he chuckled to himself -many times as he thought of his cuteness. But it was not to avail him. - -"You may hand in your papers as you finish," he said, "and leave the -room. Don't forget--to-day's lessons, and two additional ones for -to-morrow." - -One by one boys filed up to his desk, laid their papers down, and passed -out. - -"Humph!" exclaimed Professor Skeel, as Tom passed over his exercise. -"Is this your usual style of printing, Fairfield?" - -"I am not used to such work, and I have no decided style. I vary it, I -suppose, not having had much practice at it." - -"So I see," remarked Professor Skeel, with a sharp glance at our hero--a -glance that Tom returned unabashed. - -"Say, what do you think of it?" asked Jack of his chum a little later, -when both were in their room. - -"Think of it? That it's getting worse and worse," remarked Tom bitterly. -"I've had about all I can stand. Elmwood would be a perfect school, and -a most jolly one, if it wasn't for Skeel." - -"That's what we all think, I guess. But what's to be done?" - -"Something, and that pretty soon," declared Tom with energy. "I'm not -going to stand it much longer." - -"Neither am I. Say, he wanted us to print that lesson so he could -compare the letter with it." - -"Of course. But I fooled him," and Tom told of his scheme. - -"Good! I was afraid you'd be caught. We all ought to have printed part -of that ultimatum, and then the responsibility would have been divided." - -"Oh, I don't mind that. But if things don't turn for the better soon -we'll either burn Skeel in effigy, or----" - -"What?" asked Jack, as Tom paused. - -"I'm not quite ready to tell yet, but it will be something rather new, I -think. Now let's get at this Latin. We don't want to give him an excuse -to bullyrag us any more." - -"No, that's right." - -While his students were working hard, and denying themselves well-earned -recreation, in order to complete the unjustly imposed tasks, Professor -Skeel was in his study, poring over the printed exercises turned in. - -"I can't seem to identify any of the hands with the one that made up -the insulting and threatening letter," he murmured, as he stared at the -papers. "I thought surely Fairfield was the guilty one, and yet his -printing is totally different from that in the note." - -He compared the two papers--Tom's and the letter--and shook his head. - -"Unless Fairfield purposely disguised his print this time!" the -professor exclaimed. "I wonder if that could be it? I must get another -sample from him--a natural sample. Let me see; how can I do it?" and he -fell to scheming. - -"There's that Bennington, too," continued the professor. "I must put -the screws on him more strongly before he begins to suspect. And if I -should be found out----" - -The professor looked guiltily at the windows as if to make sure the -shades were drawn, and, finding that they were, he listened as if -fearful of hearing approaching footsteps. - -He rather hoped his class would not be prepared in the unusual task he -had set for them, and he was not disappointed. Few students could have -prepared so much Latin in one day, with their other tasks, and many -failed. - -"Just as I expected!" sneered the professor. "Well, you may all remain -in one hour and a half after the last lecture today, and study. -Remember, the entire class remains ninety minutes after the last -lecture, no matter by whom. You may go now, but return here to remain -after hours." - -There were gasps of dismay, for many lads had formed pleasure-plans for -the afternoon. Now they could not be carried out. More than this, there -were one or two students, Tom among them, who, by remaining up late -the night before, and studying unusually hard, and by cutting a safe -lecture, had recited perfectly. Yet they were punished with the others. - -"Fellows, we've reached the limit of endurance!" exclaimed Tom to his -classmates, as they filed out on the campus, and got a safe distance -away from the listening ears of Professor Skeel. - -"That's right!" came in a chorus. - -"But what's to be done?" asked Jack. - -"Hang him in effigy, and burn the scarecrow afterward!" suggested Bert -Wilson. - -"Can you do both?" asked George Abbot. - -"Dry up, Why!" came from several. - -"Let's hear from Tom," suggested Jack. - -"Hear! Hear!" came the shout. - -"Fellows, we've stood all we're called on to stand from Skeel," went on -Tom. "I'm sick and tired of being bullyragged." - -"What are we going to do?" - -"Strike! Rebel!" declared Tom daringly. "I suggest that we demand better -treatment from him, or we'll all go on a strike, and refuse to recite to -him any more, or enter his classroom!" - -"Good!" - -"Great!" - -"That's the stuff!" - -"Hurray for Fairfield!" - -"Are you in earnest, Tom?" asked Jack, who stood near his chum. - -"I surely am. I've stood more from him--and so have all of us--than I -would from anyone else. I say let's strike!" - -"And we're with you!" came in a chorus. - -"All of you?" asked Tom, looking around on the Freshman Latin class. -"Remember a strike is no good unless we're all in it." - -"We're all with you!" came the cry. - -Tom looked around, and saw Sam Heller sneaking off. - -"Here, come back, Heller!" he cried, and Sam turned, facing Tom with a -sneer on his face. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -DEFIANCE - - -"Well, what do you want?" demanded the bully, halting. - -"I want to know where you're going," replied Tom. - -"I don't know that it's any of your affair." - -"Well, it is, and the affair of every member of this class. We want to -know who is with us, and who against us. And it looks, the way you were -sneaking off just now, as though you weren't going to be with us." - -"I don't care how it looks," retorted Sam, and his tone was not as -defiant as it had been, "I've got some studying to do, and I want to get -at it." - -"Well, we've no objection to you doing all the studying you want to," -went on our hero, "but if things turn out the way I expect we won't do -much more Latin boning--until things are different." - -"That's what!" came in a chorus from the others. - -Sam Heller started to walk away, but Tom was not done with him yet. - -"Look here. Heller," went on his questioner. "What we want to know is, -whether you're with us or against us?" - -"Why shouldn't I be with you?" - -"That's not answering the question. We know how you trained in with the -Sophomores at the hazing, and that doesn't look as though you considered -yourself a Freshman, though I know why you did it, all right," and Tom -looked at his enemy significantly. - -"That's what!" shouted Jack Fitch. - -"Now, as I said," went on Tom, "if we do strike, and refuse to recite -to Skeel, it won't amount to anything unless the class stands together. -If even one member backs down it will look as though he didn't believe -our cause right and just, and we can't afford to have that. Now, are you -with us or against us? We want to know before we go any further." - -"And if you're not with us, it won't be healthy for you, Heller!" -exclaimed Frank Ralston. - -"Hold on!" cried Tom. "We mustn't have any threats. If he doesn't want -to join he doesn't have to, in which case, of course, he can no longer -consider himself a Freshman in the real sense of the word." - -"Coventry for his, if he doesn't join!" cried Jack. - -Sam started. He knew what it would mean to be given the "silence" by -every member of his class. He would be practically ignored. For, in -spite of his mean traits, he had a few friends beside Nick. - -"Well?" asked Tom. "What about it?" - -"I--I'm with you--of course." - -"To the end?" - -"Yes." - -"No matter what happens?" - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean will you chance expulsion if it comes to that in case we strike?" - -"I--I suppose so." - -"That's all I want to know," went on Tom. "We will have a meeting -to-night, and decide on a plan. Then we'll make a mutual promise to -stick together, and we'll wait our chance. Meeting's adjourned." - -"Say, Tom Fairfield is all right!" exclaimed Bert Wilson to Jack, as the -two walked on together. - -"That's true," agreed Tom's special chum. "I'm glad we've got him to run -things." - -"What makes him that way--always doing things?" George Abbot wanted to -know. - -"Because, Why," spoke Jack, "Tom eats rusty nails for breakfast. They -give him an iron constitution." - -"Really. Are you joking?" - -"Of course not," replied Jack with a sober face. "Run along now, and -ask Demy Miller if he knows his ancient history." - -The studious janitor was observed coming over the campus, a book, as -usual, under his arm. He saw the students and turned to meet them. - -"What is it now, Demy?" asked Jack, as he saw an anxious look on the -man's face. - -"Oh, it's this proposition about constructing squares on the sides -of a right-angle triangle and making the sum of them equal the one -constructed on the--er--hippenuse, I think it's called." - -"Hypothenuse--the hypothenuse!" laughed Jack, as he heard the odd -pronunciation. "Why, that's an easy problem, Demy. George Abbot here -will show you how. We're going for a skate." - -"Oh, I----!" began the human question box. He was going skating also, -but now he had to stop and explain to the janitor. And it was well to -keep in with the latter, for he often did the boys favors, and many a -night he let them in before some prowling monitor could spy them. "Well, -come over here, and I'll do it for you," ended George, as he saw his -chums making appealing signals to him. - -Soon he was explaining that comparatively simple geometrical problem -while the others, including Tom, went down to the frozen river. - -Early that evening there was secret meeting of the Freshman Latin -class, and a solemn agreement was entered into that, if they had to -strike, they would all stick together. Even Sam Heller was present, -though with no very good grace, and he made the promise with the others. - -"Now to await developments," suggested Tom. "We'll give that old -taskmaster one more chance, and if he takes it, and bullyrags us any -more, we'll defy him, and go on strike." - -"Hurray!" yelled Jack Fitch. - -"That's the talk!" came from several. - -"Meeting's adjourned," said Tom with a smile. "Come on, Jack, I feel -just like running the guard." - -"Oh, I don't know. Where you going?" - -"What's the matter with going into town, and seeing a moving picture -show." - -"We may be nabbed." - -"What of it? Might as well be killed for a sheep as a lamb. If we go -into this strike business we'll get in bad with the powers that be, -anyhow. And if we don't, why I'll feel so good at the change in Skeel, -that I won't mind a little rigging for being out after hours." - -"All right. I'm with you." - -The two chums went, with some other of their friends, and thoroughly -enjoyed themselves at the show, for the pictures were of a high class. -Coming back the boys were almost at their dormitory, when a friendly -Senior warned them that some of the proctor's scouts were on the watch. - -"Go around by Skeel's house, cut through his garden, and you can get in -through the cellar, I think," the Senior advised them. - -"Thanks," called Tom, as he and his chums moved off in the darkness. As -they passed the residence of the disliked instructor, they saw a light -in his study. The shade was drawn, but the shadow of two figures could -be seen on the shade. And, as the lads came opposite it they made out -one figure, which plainly was that of the professor, shaking his fist at -the other. - -"He's laying down the law to some one," murmured Jack. "Looks like he'd -be in a sweet temper to-morrow." - -"I'm going to see who it is," whispered Tom. "The shade is up a crack." - -"Better not," advised Bert Wilson, but Tom was daring. He crept up -to the window, and saw that it was Bruce Bennington who was with the -professor. - -"And it was him whom the professor was shaking his fist at," thought -Tom, as he stole back to his comrades with the information. "I wish -I could find out what is up between those two, and what is troubling -Bruce." - -Our friends managed to get to their rooms without being caught, though -one or two of them had narrow escapes. - -Tom's thoughts, as he dropped off to sleep, were on what might happen -the next day. Would it be necessary to strike? He imagined that it -would, for it could hardly be expected that Professor Skeel would change -his nature in a day. - -It was not without a little feeling of nervousness that Tom and his -associates filed into their Latin recitation the next morning. There -was a grim smile on the face of Professor Skeel as he looked over the -lads in their seats, and there was grim menace in the manner in which he -opened his book, prepared to go on with the doubly-imposed task. - -"Well," he began, omitting the usual "young gentlemen," with which jolly -Professor Hammond, and the others of the faculty, used to greet their -students. "Well, I trust you are all prepared; for if you are not, I -warn you all that it will go hard with you." - -There was a subdued murmur. Clearly there was to be no let-up in the -manner of conducting the Latin class. - -"Silence!" snapped Mr. Skeel. "I have had enough of this -insubordination." - -"You'll have more before we're through with you," thought Tom. - -"You may recite, Fitch," spoke Professor Skeel. "And I want a perfect -recitation from you to-day." - -Jack began. He did well enough for the first few lines and then began -to stumble and hesitate. - -"That will do!" snapped the professor. "You try, Fairfield." - -There was an indrawing of breaths. If the clash was to come, it would be -with Tom, all thought. - -Tom had the one day's lesson perfectly. He rapidly translated that and -stopped. - -"Well, go on," ordered Mr. Skeel, obviously ill-pleased that the student -he suspected had done so well. - -"That's as far as I'm going," said Tom quietly. - -"What?" - -"That's as far as I'm going. That is all that is ever assigned to us for -one day." - -"But I told you all to learn a double lesson." - -"And I refuse to do it. We all refuse to do it!" - -This was the signal Tom had agreed upon as marking the defiance and -revolt, in case there was no change in the professor's manner. - -For a moment Professor Skeel was dumb--as if he could not believe what -he had heard. - -"Will you kindly repeat that?" he asked Tom, in a quiet, menacing voice. - -"I said," began our hero, "that we have agreed that the double lesson -was unfair. We have agreed that if you insisted on it that we would not -recite. We will go no farther. Either we get better treatment, or we -will not come to your class any more." - -"Wha--what?" gasped Professor Skeel, turning pale. - -Tom repeated what he had said. - -"What does this mean? Have done with this nonsense!" - -"It means a strike!" cried Tom, turning to his classmates. "Boys, are -you with me? A strike for better treatment in the Latin class! Are you -with me?" - -"Yes! Yes! Yes!" came the cries from all parts of the room. - -"Silence! Sit down!" shouted Professor Skeel, as he saw the students -rise in a body. "Sit down!" He banged his rule on the desk. - -"Come on!" ordered Tom, and the boys--every one--followed his lead. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -THE STRIKE - - -For a moment amazement held Professor Skeel motionless. Several boys -were filing through the door before he could manage to make a move. Then -he sprang to the portal. - -"Stop!" he commanded. "I demand that this nonsense cease. Return to your -seats, and continue the recitation!" - -"Will you hear us on just one day's lesson--the usual length?" asked -Tom, turning back. - -"No! Certainly not! You will do exactly as I say, and recite the double -lesson. I will make no compromise." - -"Then it's a strike," replied Tom. "Come on." - -The boys continued to follow him. For a moment it looked as if Professor -Skeel would resort to physical measures and hold the boys in his room, -but he did not. - -He scowled at them, but the fact that there were several large lads in -the class, lads who had a reputation as boxers, probably deterred him. -The last student filed out, and under the leadership of Tom they all -stood in the corridor. - -"Well, we did it," remarked Jack, and there was a trace of awe in -his voice. It was the first time, in his experience that a class had -"struck," against a disliked teacher. He was a little doubtful of the -outcome. - -"Of course we did it," replied Tom. "It was the only thing to do." - -"And what's the next thing?" asked Bert Wilson. - -"Go to history lecture, as soon as it's time," declared Tom. "We've -half an hour yet. I suggest that we act quietly and as if nothing had -happened. Report as usual in history class." - -"But what will Skeel be doing?" inquired Jack. - -"We'll have to wait and see. It's up to him now. I know one thing, -though, I'll never go back to his class until he admits that he was in -the wrong, and releases us from double lessons. That's what I'm going to -do, and I don't care if they suspend me!" - -"The same here!" came from several, and then the lads dispersed to their -rooms, to do a little studying on history, or to various parts of the -campus. - -As for Professor Skeel, that worthy did not know what to do at first. -Clearly he had been outwitted, and by Freshmen! He must recover and -maintain his reputation as a disciplinarian, somehow, but how? - -"I'll--I'll suspend every one of them until they beg my pardon!" he -exclaimed. "As for that Fairfield, I'll see that he is expelled! The -insolent puppy!" - -But mere words never did any good yet, and Professor Skeel knew this. He -must act, and he resolved to hit on some plan that would give him the -victory. But first blood had been drawn by the students, and he realized -that. - -He decided to remain in his lecture room until the period was up, in -order that he might think, and so that none of his fellow members on the -faculty would not ask embarrassing questions as to how his class had -disappeared. - -"I'll get even with them," he declared. "They shall beg my pardon, and -do more work than ever before." - -He decided that he must first lay the matter before Doctor Meredith, -for he could not act on his own initiative. He would ask that stringent -measures be taken. With this in view, at the time when Tom and his chums -were filing into history class, as if nothing had happened, Professor -Skeel sought the head master. - -There was a little feeling of nervousness on the part of our hero and -his associates as they faced Professor Whitely, who had ancient history -at his finger tips, but, though he had heard some rumors of trouble in -the Freshman Latin class, he did not refer to it, but plunged at once -into the work of the day. - -Nor did anything take place during the remainder of the lectures which -filled up time until about two o'clock. In the meantime, however, -Professor Skeel had placed the matter before Doctor Meredith. - -"They went on strike, you say?" asked the head master. "Bless my soul! I -never heard of such a thing! I have known laboring bodies to refuse to -work, but how can students strike?" - -"By refusing to recite, or to remain in class," answered the Professor. - -"And did the Freshmen do that?" - -"They certainly did." - -"Dear, dear! What a situation!" exclaimed Doctor Meredith. "What a -peculiar position! I really never heard of one like it." - -"Nor I," admitted Professor Skeel dryly. "But something must be done." - -"Oh, assuredly; most assuredly," Doctor Meredith answered his colleague. - -"And something drastic!" went on the Latin instructor. - -"Oh, yes,--er--I suppose so. Really it is rather a novelty--a strike of -students." - -"Novelty!" puffed Professor Skeel. - -"Yes. I never heard of such a thing. Really I think some sort of -psychological study might be made of it--the causes and effects you -know. What peculiar action of the brain cells brought it about. The -reason for it. I think I shall write a paper on it for the International -society. It will create a sensation, I think." - -"I think so myself. But, in the meanwhile, something must be -done--something drastic. The strike must be broken." - -"Oh, of course. I--er--I perfectly agree with you," and Doctor Meredith -spoke dreamily. He was already forming in his mind the chief points for -a paper he determined to write on students striking. "We should have to -begin with the cause," he murmured. "Ah, by the way, Professor Skeel, -what was the reason the Freshmen walked out, and refused to recite?" - -"They declared they would not do the lessons I had set for them." - -"Why not?" - -"They said they were too long--or rather, their leader, Tom Fairfield, -did." - -"Ah, and so they have a leader, just as in an industrial strike. Very -interesting, very." - -"Interesting!" - -"Yes--er--that is from a psychological standpoint, of course." - -"Oh, I see. But something must be done. Even though, as a punishment -for careless work, I doubled the usual lesson, that is no excuse for -striking." - -"Oh, and so you doubled their lessons? Well, I suppose they naturally -resented that. But, of course, as you say, I presume that was no excuse. -But I will do something. I will act at once. I have thought of the best -plan." - -"What is it?" asked Professor Skeel, hoping it was the suspension of the -entire class, and the expulsion of Tom. - -"We will treat with the strikers, just as is done in industrial -strikes," said Doctor Meredith with an air of triumph, as if he -had discovered a most unusual way of settling the trouble. "We -will arbitrate. That is the best way. I will send them a personal -communication, when they have assembled. I must make some notes. If you -will kindly post a bulletin, requesting the class to assemble in, say, -the gymnasium, I will send a communication to them. That, I believe is -the usual way the authorities treat with strikers. I will personally -communicate with them," and with a delighted air, and a childish -eagerness, Doctor Meredith took out pen and paper. - -"I am to post a bulletin, calling the students together, am I?" asked -Professor Skeel, not altogether relishing his work. - -"Yes, and I will communicate with them. Wait, better still, I will speak -to them in person." - -"And what will you say?" - -"I will ask them to return to your class room, and resume the interrupted -session and lecture," spoke the head master with an air of triumph, as -though he had made a most astounding discovery. "I will point out to -them how foolish it was to strike, I will assure them that there will be -no more double lessons in the future, and I will talk with them, and get -at the reasons that impelled them to strike. I can use their answers in -the paper I propose to write." - -"Is--is that all you will do?" asked Professor Skeel, much disappointed. - -"That is all that will be necessary," replied Doctor Meredith mildly. -"You will see, Professor Skeel, I will soon break the strike. I think -that 'break' is the proper word; is it not?" - -"Yes, but it will not be broken that way, Doctor Meredith. Drastic -measures are needed. Very drastic!" - -"We will try my way first," decided the head master quietly. "Write out -the bulletin, Professor." - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -NEGOTIATIONS END - - -Much against his will, and very much opposed to the mild method proposed -by Doctor Meredith, Professor Skeel wrote and posted the following -bulletin: - - "Members of the Freshman Latin Class will assemble in the - gymnasium at once, at the request of Doctor Meredith, to - receive a personal communication from him. - - "BURTON SKEEL." - -It did not take long for it to be discovered, for some student or other -was always on the alert for notices, athletic or otherwise, posted on -the common bulletin board. - -Bert Wilson was the first Freshman to know of it, and he darted off, -post-haste, to tell Tom, who was in his room with Jack. - -"I say, Tom!" exclaimed Bert. "Come on! Something doing in the strike!" - -"How?" - -Bert told of the notice, and soon the board was surrounded by a curious -throng of students. From his window, where he was still in communication -with Professor Skeel, Doctor Meredith saw the throng. - -"There, you see!" he exclaimed triumphantly. "They are interested at -once. They will listen to reason, surely. I wish you would come in -person, and tell them that if they will recite to you the double lesson, -you will impose no more." - -"But I refuse to make any such agreement as that. And I don't believe -they will listen to reason. Moreover, I shall have something to say to -you after the meeting," snapped Professor Skeel. - -"Very well. See, they are filing off to the gymnasium now. I will soon -go there to speak to them." - -Tom and his chums were indeed hurrying to the athletic building, and -tongues were freely wagging on the way. - -"What do you suppose is up?" asked George Abbot. - -"Don't know," replied Jack shortly. - -"Doctor Meredith is going to take a hand," commented Luke Fosdick. - -"And he'll listen to reason," spoke Tom. "But, even if he requests it -we're not going to knuckle down to Skeel; are we?" - -"Surely not," came in a chorus. - -"The strike ends when he stops imposing double lessons on us for no -reason at all, but because he is ugly," went on Tom. "How about that?" - -"We're with you!" - -"And if he doesn't give in," proceeded our hero, "we'll----" - -"Burn Skeel in effigy, after we hang him!" came the cry from some one. - -"That's it," assented Tom, glad to see that his chums were with him. - -They filed into the gymnasium, and the buzz of talk continued until some -one announced that Doctor Meredith and Professor Skeel were approaching. - -"Ah, young gentlemen, good afternoon!" greeted the head master, as he -walked in and took his stand on the platform, where the secretaries and -officers of the various athletic committees presided, when there was a -class or school session. Professor Skeel, with a grim look in his face, -followed, and sat down. - -"I am informed that you are on a strike," began Doctor Meredith. "Very -interesting, I'm sure--I mean of course it is altogether wrong," he -added hastily. "You should have tried arbitration first. However, since -you have decided to strike, I am glad to be able to speak to you--to -reason with you. - -"I understand that you object to having to do a double lesson as a -punishment. Now I dislike to have a strike in the school, and, though I -do not, for one minute, admit that you are in the right, I wish to know, -if Professor Skeel agrees to give out no more double lessons, will you -return to your class?" - -"I will make no such agreement!" shouted the irate instructor. - -"Then the strike is still on!" exclaimed Tom, springing to his feet. - -"Silence!" stormed Professor Skeel. - -Doctor Meredith held up his hand. The commotion that had started, at -once ceased. - -"I will hear what Fairfield has to say," spoke the head master, quietly. - -"We have stood all we can," went on Tom. "We do not think Professor -Skeel treats us fairly. We protested once, and----" - -"By an anonymous letter!" broke in the Latin teacher. - -"Yes, that was hardly right," commented the doctor, gently. - -"It was the best way we could think of," spoke Tom. "We wanted better -treatment. We want it yet, and we are going to get it, or we will -continue to refuse to recite to Professor Skeel. We will continue to -strike." - -"Strong words," said the head master. "But may I ask how you came to -hit on--er this--er--rather novel form of rebellion? I am anxious to -know," and he prepared to make some notes in a book. Professor Skeel -fairly snorted with rage. - -"It began from the very first," explained Tom, and he went over the -different steps in their trouble with the unpopular professor. "Now we -can stand it no longer. We will leave school, if necessary, to gain our -rights." - -Doctor Meredith looked surprised at this. The loss of the Freshman Latin -class would mean a serious blow to the finances of the institution of -learning. Still he would have done his duty in the face of this if he -saw it clearly. But he was not at all in sympathy with the methods of -Professor Skeel, and the boys probably realized this. - -"And so we struck," ended Tom, concluding the history of the rebellion. - -"And it is my duty to end this strike," declared the head master. "I ask -you to return to your recitation in Professor Skeel's room, and I--er--I -have no doubt but what matters will adjust themselves." - -"We will not--we feel that we cannot--return and end the strike, unless -we receive some assurance that we will be treated like gentlemen, and -not imposed upon in the matter of lessons," declared Tom. - -"That's right!" chorused the others. - -"Silence!" commanded the professor, but he was not in command now, and -the lads realized it. "Then you will remain on strike?" asked Doctor -Meredith, as if surprised that his request had not been complied with. - -"We must, sir," replied Tom respectfully. - -"Then--er--then this ends the negotiations, I presume, young gentlemen," -spoke the doctor, rather sorrowfully. "I shall have to consider what -further will be done." - -"We're ahead--so far," commented Tom to his chums as they filed out. - -"I knew it would end this way," spoke Professor Skeel to Doctor -Meredith. "You will have to be firmer. You must take the most stringent -measures possible." - -"What would you suggest?" asked the head master, evidently at a loss. In -fact he was thinking more of writing the paper on the strike than he was -of ending it. - -"I will tell you my plan," spoke Professor Skeel, as he followed the -doctor into his study. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -PRISONERS - - -"Well, what do you think will be the next move?" asked Jack, as he -trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium. - -"I don't know, I'm sure. It's up to them now, and we can only saw wood, -and see what happens." - -"Do you think they'll punish us?" asked George Abbot. - -"Oh, there you go again!" cried Bert Wilson. "Can't you do anything but -ask questions, Why?" - -"Of course I can, but I want to know what's going to happen to us." - -"There can't much more happen than has happened already," said Lew -Bentfield, grimly. - -"That's right," agreed Tom. - -"They will probably suspend us until we give in," come from Jack. - -"What of it?" asked Tom. - -"Nothing, only if we're suspended we can't go to any lectures or -recitations, and we'll fall behind in our work, and be conditioned when -this thing is over. That means we may lose a year." - -"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "Besides, we agreed to stick this thing out." - -"Oh, I'm not going to back out!" cried Jack quickly. "Don't imagine that -for a second. Only this is a serious matter." - -"I know it," admitted Tom, quietly. "And it's a serious matter to be -treated as we have been treated in class nearly every day by Professor -Skeel. I'm tired of being bullyragged. This strike is for principle, not -for any material advantage. - -"But, anyhow, if they do suspend us it can't last for long. Why, nearly -every Freshman is in with us. That is, all but those who don't like -Latin, and they're mighty scarce. - -"Now practically the whole Freshman class of a college can't be -suspended for any great length of time, and the ban will soon be raised." - -"You mean we'll win?" asked Bert Wilson. - -"Of course we will!" declared Tom stoutly, "and the lessons we miss, if -we are suspended, we can easily make up. But I don't believe Merry will -suspend us." - -There were various opinions about this, and the talk became general as -the boys separated, going their different ways. Tom and a group of his -particular chums went to his room. - -"We ought to do something to celebrate this strike," declared Jack, -when there was a lull in the talk. - -"That's right!" cried Tom. "I'm for something to eat. I'm going to give -a little dinner here to as many as we can crowd in. Let's get busy, -Jack." - -"A spread!" cried Tom's chum. "Where are the eats to come from?" - -"Oh, I'll sneak out and get 'em as soon as it's dark enough. You can -work it so as to get some stuff from our worthy matron; can't you?" - -"I guess so." - -"Then leave the rest to me, and ask as many fellows of our particular -crowd as you can squeeze into the room. Pack 'em in like sardines. The -more the merrier. We'll make this a record spread." - -"Jove, a spread just after you've organized a strike!" exclaimed Bert -Wilson, admiringly. "Say, you do do things, Tom Fairfield." - -"Oh, what's the use sitting around like a bump on a log?" asked our -hero. "Now we'll go to supper, and mind, every fellow is to stow away in -his pockets anything not in a liquid form that he can. Bring it to the -feast, for I can't lug in any too much all by my lonesome." - -"I'll go with you," volunteered several eagerly. - -"No, if two of us go out together it will create suspicions, and all -eyes are on us now, as Napoleon said to his soldiers in Egypt, or was -it in South Africa? Anyhow, I'll sneak out as soon as it's dark enough, -and get what I can." - -There was a subdued air of expectancy at the Freshman supper that night, -and many whispers ran around. It was noticed, too, that many of the lads -had unusually large appetites, but they did not seem to be eating as -much as they asked for. There were sly motions which some of the waiters -could not understand, for they were caused when the diners slipped food -into their pockets. - -"Assemble in my room one at a time, as soon after the signal 'lights -out' as possible," explained Tom, when the meal was over. It was a rule -that the boys must have their rooms in darkness after 9:30 o'clock, -unless special permission for studying was obtained. "Don't go in -bunches," advised our hero, "but a few at a time. I'm off to town." - -Watching his chance, Tom managed to elude a monitor, though, truth to -tell, so amazing had the strike seemed to all the college authorities, -that they were dazed, and really did not keep as close a watch over the -Freshmen as usual. - -Tom was in town, buying a lot of indigestible, but toothsome, dainties, -dear to the palates of himself and his chums, when most unexpectedly, he -met Bruce Bennington coming out of a pawnshop. - -"Why, Bennington!" exclaimed Tom. "Oh, how are you?" and he quickly -tried to change his first astonished tone, which had said, as plainly as -anything: "What are you doing in such a place?" - -"Oh, hello, Fairfield," greeted the Senior, after a first start of -surprise. Then, in a cool voice, he added: "I suppose it looks rather -odd, to see me coming out of this place, but the truth of the matter -is----" - -"Not at all!" interrupted Tom, determined to make amends for his seeming -surprise. "I've done the same thing when I'm temporarily embarrassed. -Besides, for all I know you may have been making a psychological study -of the pawnbroker, eh?" - -"Oh, of course," laughed Bruce uneasily. "But say, youngster, you -fellows are making names for yourselves. Jove! We Freshmen never went on -a strike. You've got us beaten a mile, even if we did drive a cow up on -Merry's doorstep. But a strike! Never!" - -"Maybe you hadn't any need," spoke Tom. "Was Skeel as bad in your time -as he is now?" - -"Worse, if anything. And he's a----" Bruce hesitated. "Well, I'll not -say it," he concluded. "What's up, anyhow?" - -"Oh, I'm going to give a little spread." - -"Oh, I say now! That's adding insult to injury, as the Irishman said -when the parrot called him names after biting him. You Freshies are -laying it on rather thick." - -"Might as well get all we can while it's coming our way," explained Tom. -"No telling what may happen to-morrow." - -"No, that's so. Well, I wish I was a Freshman again," and, with -something like a sigh of regret, the Senior passed on. - -"There's something wrong with him," mused Tom, as he caught a car that -would take him near the school. "And I wonder why, with all the money -he is supposed to have, that he had to go to a pawn shop? Why didn't he -come to me, or some of the college boys? Too proud, I guess." - -There was snow on the ground and the weather, though cold, bore a -promise of more as Tom cautiously made his way by a roundabout course -over the campus and to a side door. - -"Well, you're all here, I see," he remarked as he entered his room, and -saw a crowd of congenial lads assembled there. The door communicating -with the apartment of Bert Wilson, which portal was seldom unlocked, -had been opened, making a fairly large apartment in which to have a -forbidden spread. - -"Make out all right?" asked Jack. - -"Sure, I've got a choice assortment of grub. Let's set the beds," for -they were to serve as tables, covered with large squares of newspapers -for table cloths. - -"I've got the windows and keyholes covered," explained Jack, pointing to -blankets tacked over the glass. - -"Good! Now let the merry feast go on, and joy be loosed. For we'll eat -to-day and starve to-morrow." - -"Starve to-morrow?" gasped George Abbot. "What do you mean, Tom?" - -"Nothing. I was just getting poetical, that's all. You needn't stare at -the sandwiches and olives, George, my boy; they are substantial, if my -poetry isn't, and they won't disappear. Come on, fellows, get busy." - -The feast was soon under way, and though the boys could have had nearly -everything displayed on the "bed" at their regular meal, they all agreed -that the viands tasted ever so much better served in the forbidden -manner that they were. - -"Pass those pickles, Jed, my boy!" commanded Tom to a lanky Freshman. - -"And keep that mustard moving," ordered Jack. "Those frankfurters are -prime, Tom." - -"I thought you'd like 'em," remarked our hero. - -"Put some more on to cook," pleaded Jack. - -"Sure," assented Bert Wilson, who presided at the "stove." - -This was an arrangement of wires, ingeniously made by Tom, so that -it fitted over the gas, and on which a saucepan could be set over the -flame. In this pan the sausages were simmering. - -Bert put in some more, and stood anxiously watching them, fork in hand, -while George buttered rolls, and passed them around. - -"I propose a toast!" exclaimed Frank Carter, rising, a bottle of ginger -ale in one hand, and a big piece of chocolate cake in the other. - -"Hush! Not so loud!" cautioned Jack. - -"Well, then, a silent toast to our host, Tom Fairfield!" went on Frank. - -"Tiger!" whispered Jack, waving his Frankfurter fork in the air. - -"Thanks, one and all," replied Tom, bowing. "I will----" - -"Hark!" suddenly cautioned Jack. - -The boys were silent on the instant. - -"I hear footsteps," whispered Bert. - -There was no doubt but that some one was out in the corridor, but as -silence replaced the rather noiseless celebration of the feast, the -footsteps could be heard retreating. - -"A spy sent to make a report," was Tom's opinion. "Well, we can't be -any worse off than we are. Keep things going, fellows," and the spread -proceeded. - -Meanwhile a curious scene was being enacted in the study of Doctor -Meredith. All the members of the faculty were present, and were being -addressed by Professor Skeel. - -"I think it is due _me_, as an instructor in this school, that this -class be punished," he said. - -"According to your own account they have been already--with extra -lessons," remarked jolly Professor Hammond. - -"That was for other breaches of discipline," declared Professor Skeel. -"They have not been adequately punished for sending me the anonymous -letter, nor for this strike. I think an example should be made of them." - -"Well, perhaps something should be done," admitted Professor Hammond. -"But I should favor a mild lesson, and then--a change of programme for -the future." - -"And I demand a severe lesson, and a firm hand in the future!" insisted -Professor Skeel. "Unless the Freshmen are punished I shall at once -resign, and the punishment I demand is the plan I first mentioned. Is it -to be done, Doctor Meredith?" - -"Ah--er--ahem!" stammered the mild head master. "I dislike exceedingly -to take such a step, but, I suppose something should be done." - -"It _must_ be done!" demanded Professor Skeel. - -"Very well then," sighed Doctor Meredith. "But it is a very strange -state of affairs. However," he added more brightly, "I will have some -additional matter for my paper on a strike in school," and he seemed -quite delighted. - -The faculty meeting broke up. So, too, in due time did the feast in -Tom's room. The boys sneaked to their respective apartments. And, rather -strange to say, none of them was detected. But they did not know that -a special order had come from the head master to Monitor Blackford, in -charge of Opus Manor. - -"Humph! It was all too easy," said Jack, as he and Tom were ready to -turn in at nearly midnight. - -"What was?" - -"This spread. Aside from that sneaking footstep we heard we were not -disturbed once. I'm afraid it's the calm before the storm. And it may be -a bad one. But we'll weather it." - -"Of course we will," declared Jack. "Say, talk about a storm," he added, -as he peered from the window, from which the blanket had been removed, -"it's snowing to beat the band." - -"Good," answered Tom. "We can get up a sleighing party to-morrow, if we -can't go to Latin class." - -When the Freshmen filed down to breakfast the next morning there was a -look of surprise on every face as they glanced at the table. For at -each place was a glass of water, and on each plate two slices of bread. - -"What's this?" - -"Is it April Fool?" - -"Who thought of this joke?" - -These were only a few of the remarks and questions. - -"I say!" called Tom to Mr. Blackford, who came into the room, a -quizzical look on his face. "Where is our breakfast?" - -"On the table." - -"Is that all?" - -"That's all. Orders from Doctor Meredith." - -"Oh, I see. He's trying to starve us into submission. I'll not stand for -that!" cried Tom. "Fellows, come on!" he added. "We'll go to town to a -restaurant!" - -He moved to the front door. - -"You can't go out, Mr. Fairfield," said the monitor firmly. - -"Why not, I'd like to know." - -"Because you, and all the others, in fact all the Freshmen in this -dormitory, are prisoners!" - -"Prisoners!" cried a score of voices. - -"That's it," went on Mr. Blackford. "You are to stay locked in this -building, on a diet of bread and water, until you give in!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -THE ESCAPE - - -Surprise, for a moment, held the boys dumb, and then a storm of protests -broke out. - -"We'll not stand it!" - -"Let's raid the pantry!" - -"They're trying to starve us into submission!" - -"It's a relic of the dark ages, boys!" cried Bert Wilson. "A prison diet -of bread and water." - -"Let's break out, and go over to the Seniors' place in Elmwood Hall!" -suggested Jack. "They'll feed us." - -"That's right!" cried several. - -"Hold on, fellows," called Tom. - -At the sound of his calm voice the rush that had begun toward the door -of the dining room, was halted. A look of relief came over the face of -Monitor Blackford. - -"Fellows!" said Tom, "this thing has come to a crisis. They're trying -to break this strike by unfair means. I've no doubt that the suggestion -came from Skeel. Doctor Meredith never would have done it of his own -accord. Skeel has a bad influence over him. Now then, it's up to us to -beat 'em at their own game!" - -"But we can't live on bread and water!" declared Ned Wilton. "At least -I won't. I'm not used to such fare. I always want fruit in the morning, -and eggs." - -"So do lots of us," said Tom quietly. "But we're not going to get it -this morning, at least. Now then, let's look at this thing quietly. -Let's accept it. It can't last forever. Sooner or later the story will -get out, and the college faculty will have to give in. Our cause is -right, and we'll win. All we ask is civil treatment, as the old sailor -said after the whale chase, and blamed little of that. Here's for a -hearty breakfast of bread and water." - -He made a move toward his place. - -"But there's not even butter on the bread!" cried Jack. - -"Prisoners aren't usually furnished with luxuries," commented Tom, -quietly. - -"Oh, say, I'm not going to stand for this!" burst out Bert Wilson. "I'm -going to leave, and wire home for permission to resign from Elmwood -Hall." - -He strode toward the front door, intending to see if he could get out, -but Mr. Blackford stood on guard, and he was not a small man. - -"It's no use, Mr. Wilson," said the monitor, quietly. "The door is -locked, and you can't go out unless you break out. And it's a very -strong door," he added, significantly. - -With a gesture of impatience Bert turned toward a window. To his -surprise he noted that the usual fastenings had been replaced by new -ones, and, in addition, the casements were screwed down. Then, to the -astonishment of the boys, who had not noticed it before, they became -aware that bars of wood had been screwed in place across the outside of -the frames. - -"By Jove! They have us boxed in, all right!" cried Tom, as his attention -was called to the precautions taken to keep the lads in Opus Manor. -"This is what they were doing last night when we were having our fun. -I've no doubt but that the spy came into the hall to see if we were -likely to stay up there eating, while they got in their fine work. Oh, -but we were chumps not to think of this!" - -"No one would," said Jack Fitch. "I say, though, I believe if we all go -together we can break out. We can handle Blackford!" - -Tom shook his head. He did not intend to submit quietly, but he knew -better than to act before he had a good plan. - -At that moment several of the men monitors from the other dormitories -were seen in the lower hall, and one or two were at a rear door. - -"They're prepared to meet force with force," said Tom to his chums. -"Just wait a bit, and there may be something doing. Meanwhile, eat your -grub." - -"Hot grub this!" exclaimed Jack. "I wish we'd saved some from last -night. Any left, Tom?" - -"Not a crumb. Never mind, this is good for a change," and Tom proceeded -to munch the dry bread, and sip the water. - -Monitor Blackford's face showed relief. He had been prepared to carry -out the orders of the faculty with force, if necessary, but he rather -hoped he would not have to do so, for he knew how lads can fight when -they want to. Still he was glad they had submitted quietly. And he was -not altogether on the side of the faculty, either. - -"I guess it won't be for long, young gentlemen," he said, as he passed -around the table. "I'm sure I'm very sorry to have to do it, but I'm a -poor man, and my living----" - -"That's all right," interrupted Tom good-naturedly. "We're not blaming -you. And, as you say, it won't be for long." - -"Then you're going to give in?" asked the monitor eagerly. - -"Not much!" exclaimed Tom. "The faculty is, and we'll make Skeel beg our -pardons. Then we'll have a roast turkey feast on Merry." - -"I'm afraid you never will," spoke the monitor. "The professor is very -determined. I expect he'll be over before long." - -"We'll be ready for him," said Tom grimly. - -Once they had made up their minds to accept the situation the boys made -merry over the meager breakfast. - -"Anyhow, we can cut all lectures!" exulted several who were not fond of -study. - -"And we'll have to pull our belts in a few holes if this sort of grub -keeps up long," commented Jack. - -"Yes, a fine sort of strike this is!" sneered Sam Heller. "I never -agreed to starve, Tom Fairfield." He glared at his rival. - -"You can starve with the rest of us," spoke our hero, grimly. "Besides, -you can live a long time on bread and water. I forget the exact figures, -but I think it is something over a month." - -"A month!" cried Jack. "I'll never last that long." - -"Neither will the strike," answered Tom, coolly. "I have something up my -sleeve." - -"What is it?" clamored half a dozen. - -"I'll tell you later. Now to get what amusement we can. Come on up to my -room, and we'll talk it over." - -They did talk it over, from all standpoints, but they could not agree on -what was best to be done. It was a cold, blowy, blustery day outside, -the storm being not far short of a blizzard. - -The dormitory was warm, but soon the healthy appetites of the lads -asserted themselves, and they felt the lack of their usual good -breakfast. Still, save for Sam Heller, no one thought of giving in. All -stuck by Tom. - -During the morning, groups of students from other dormitories, the -Senior, Junior and Sophomore, came past Opus Manor, and cruelly made -signs of eating, for of course the story of the imprisonment of the -Freshman class was known all through the college. - -"Say, I've got an idea!" exclaimed Jack, as he saw some of his friends -in the upper classes standing under his window in an angle of the -building. "Why can't they smuggle us something to eat? We can let down a -basket or a box, and haul it up." - -"That's the stuff!" cried Bert Wilson. "Let's drop 'em a note." - -One was written and tossed out to Bruce Bennington and some friendly -Seniors. They nodded assent as they read it, and hurried off. - -"Now to make a basket of some sort!" exclaimed Jack. - -"Take our fishing creels," suggested Tom, who seemed to be busily -engaged in thinking out something. Accordingly the fishing baskets were -tied to strings, which the boys collected from many pockets, and were -made ready to be lowered for food. - -In due time, under cover of the storm, which had grown so bad that the -swirling flakes hid objects ten feet away, the Seniors returned with -food which they had somehow obtained. There were also bottles of cold -coffee and soft drinks. - -"This is great!" cried Jack, as he hauled up the creels, several times, -well laden. "There isn't going to be a feast, but it's something." - -"And it has given me the idea I wanted!" cried Tom. - -"What is it?" demanded several. - -"We'll escape from the second story windows to-night! We can make ropes -of the bed clothes, in real story-book fashion, lower ourselves down, -and hie into town. We'll put up at some hotel or boarding houses there, -and the school can get along without us until they recognize our rights." - -"Good!" came in an enthusiastic chorus. "Let's start right away," added -Jack. - -"No, not until after dark," advised Tom. "We will be caught if we go -before." - -The sandwiches and other things which the Seniors had provided made a -welcome addition to the slim dinner. Professor Skeel came in as the boys -were about to arise from the table, probably to gloat over them. He was -received with a storm of hisses. - -"Stop that, instantly!" he cried, his face pale with anger. - -"Keep it up," ordered Tom, and keep it up the boys did, until the -discomfited instructor had to withdraw, vowing vengeance on the lads -whom even a diet of bread and water, and the humiliation of being made -prisoners, could not subdue. - -"But I'll break their spirit yet!" said the professor, grimly. - -The preparations for the escape went on. Several ropes were made from -torn sheets and light blankets, and fastened to heavy objects as -anchors, in various room whence the lads were to take French leave. -Several were to drop from Tom's window. - -The storm grew worse, and the boys put on their heaviest garments. Night -approached, the bread and water supper was served, and Mr. Blackford -remarked to his wife: - -"I don't see what makes the boys so cheerful." - -"Maybe they are up to some mischief," she suggested. - -"How could they be?" he asked. "They can't get out to get anything to -eat, for the doors and windows are all fastened." - -"Well, you never can tell what boys are going to do," she said. "I'd be -on the watch." - -"I will," agreed her husband, and he and the other monitors looked well -to the fastening of the doors and casements. - -"All ready now, boys?" asked Tom, as it grew darker. - -"All ready," answered Jack. "I don't believe they can see us now." - -"Go easy," advised Tom. "Hold on tight going down, and don't slip. -One at a time, and we'll meet at the twin oaks on the far edge of the -campus, and tramp into town. The car line is blocked, I guess, with all -this snow." - -One by one the boys slid down the improvised ropes, going from rooms -where they could drop to the ground unobserved from any of the lower -windows. - -"Are we all here?" asked Tom, when the escape was finally concluded, and -the crowd of students had assembled under the oak trees, the few brown -leaves of which rustled in the wintry blast. - -"I guess so," answered Jack. "But I didn't see Sam Heller." - -"I saw him slide down a rope from Pete Black's room," remarked Bert -Wilson, "and then I noticed that he sneaked off by himself." - -"Let him go," suggested Tom. "We're better off without him." - -"Unless he's going to squeal on us," came from Jack, suddenly. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE BURNING EFFIGY - - -"That's so!" exclaimed Tom, after a moment's consideration. "I never -thought of that. It would be just like Sam. Oh, but what's the use -worrying, anyhow? They'll know, sooner or later, that we've escaped, and -anything that sneak Heller can tell them won't do us any harm. Come on -to town." - -They headed into the storm, which seemed to become worse every minute, -with the wind whipping the stinging flakes into the faces of the lads, -who bent to the blast. - -"I say!" cried Horace Gerth. "This is fierce!" - -"The worst ever!" cried Jack. - -"You can turn back, if you want to," commented Tom, grimly. "Back to -bread and water." - -"Not for mine!" exclaimed Bert Wilson. - -"Me for a hot meal in town," declared Tom. "I'll stand treat if any -fellows are short of cash." - -"Good!" cried several, as they trudged on. - -It did not take very long to make the lads aware that they were in for -a bad time. The snow was drifted heavily and the road to town, never -good at the best, was almost impassable. As Tom had predicted, the -trolley cars had long since ceased running, and there was not a vehicle -track to be seen in the darkness, that was but faintly relieved by the -white snow. - -"We're going to have a hard pull of it," commented Jack, as he -floundered to Tom's side. - -"That's right. I wish we had had a better night for the escape, but we -had to take our chance." - -"Oh, of course. But it will be all right when we strike the town, and -get some hot coffee. How far is it, anyhow?" - -"Oh, about two miles, I guess." - -"Two miles of this!" groaned Jack, as he bent his head to a particularly -fierce blast. "It's heavy going." - -On and on the boys floundered. The first enthusiasm was wearing off, -and they became aware of the stinging cold and the fierce wind that cut -through even the heaviest coats. But they did not think of giving up. - -After an hour of tramping, during which the storm seemed to be doing -its best to drive the boys back, and during which time several began to -murmur discontentedly, Jack suddenly exclaimed: - -"I say, Tom, do you think we're on the right road?" - -"I don't know. What do you think?" - -A halt was called. - -"I can't make out anything," declared Jack. "It's as dark as a pocket, -and, even in day time, with this storm, we couldn't see very far. My -private opinion is that we are lost." - -"Lost!" - -"Yes, that is, not seriously lost," went on Tom, with a trace of jollity -in his voice, "but just lost enough so that we can't strike town -to-night." - -"Then what are we going to do?" asked George Abbot. - -"There you go again--the eternal question!" complained Jack. "We'll have -to go back, that's all, I guess." - -"I don't like to," said Tom. "Let's have another try for the road. -That row of trees over there looks like it." He pointed to a row dimly -visible through the storm. - -"Well, come on, one more try," assented Jack, and though there was some -grumbling, none of Tom's followers deserted him. - -On they floundered through the snow, only to find, when they go to the -trees, that they were on the edge of a gully. - -"But I know where we are, at any rate," declared Bert. "I believe I can -find our way back to school from here, even if I can't lead you to -town." - -"All right, then do it," assented Tom wearily, for he was tired, and -rather chagrined at the failure of his plan. "But, one thing, fellows, -if we do go back we've got to make a showing." - -"How?" asked several voices. - -"We'll burn Skeel in effigy before we go in, and then they can do as -they like to us." - -"Hurray!" - -"That's what!" - -"We'll have a demonstration," went on Tom, "and the whole school will -come out. We'll take advantage of it to ask the fellows to contribute -something to our support. We'll get more food and then--well, we'll see -what happens in the morning." - -"We're with you!" cried his chums. - -They turned back, hardly any but what were glad to get the wind and -stinging flakes out of their faces, and, led by Bert, they were soon on -familiar ground. - -"There's Elmwood Hall," said Jack to Tom, as they tramped on together -through the storm, when a dull mass loomed up before them. "What's the -programme?" - -"First to make the effigy." - -"How you going to do it?" - -"Oh, I've had it planned for several days. In the barn I've got some -old clothes hidden, and a hat just like Skeel wears. All we've got to do -is to stuff the coat and pants with straw, tie a rope to it, hoist it on -the flag pole halyards and set fire to it. Then things will happen of -themselves." - -"I guess they will!" exclaimed Jack, admiringly. - -It was quiet around the college when the Freshmen came back after their -partly unsuccessful escape. That their going had been discovered no one -doubted, but there seemed to be no one on the watch for them, and no -undue excitement in Opus Manor. - -"Now for the effigy!" exclaimed Tom, as he told the others his plans. -"Jack and I, and a few of us are enough. The rest of you stand ready to -give our yell as the fire starts." - -It did not take long, in the barn, and with the light of several -lanterns which Tom had hidden, to make the effigy of Professor Skeel. -It did not look much like him, but the hat added the necessary -identification. - -None of the school employees was about the stable, and the boys had easy -sailing. - -"Now to string it up, and set fire to it!" cried Tom. - -"How you going to burn it when it's up in the air?" asked Bert. - -"I'll make a sort of fuse of twisted straw that will hang down, and I -can touch that off from the ground," was the answer. - -With their mates crowding around them, Tom and his chums brought out the -effigy. A rope had been provided by our hero, who seemed to think of -everything, and soon it was attached to the flag halyards and the image -was mounting the pole through the blinding storm and darkness. - -"Here we go!" cried Tom, as, with some difficulty he struck a match and -set the straw fuse ablaze. "Now for the yell!" - -It was given with a will as the fire slowly enveloped the effigy, and, -in response, there was a rush from the dormitories of the various -classes, for it was not late yet. - -"Three hisses for Professor Skeel!" called someone, and it sounded as if -a den of snakes had been loosed. - -Brighter and brighter grew the flames. The effigy was shown in bold -relief. All the college seemed pouring out, heedless of the storm. - -A figure came running over the snow. A voice called out--a harsh voice: - -"I demand that this outrage cease at once!" - -It was Professor Skeel himself. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -TOM'S FIND - - -For a moment the Freshmen paused in their wild dancing about the pole, -from which hung suspended the burning effigy. And then, as they saw -the indignant figure of the disliked professor, and as they heard his -demand, they broke out into a further storm of hisses that sounded above -the blast of the wintry wind. - -"Stop it! Stop it at once! Take down that disgraceful image!" demanded -Professor Skeel. In spite of the crude way in which it had been made -he--and others as well--could easily recognize that it was intended for -him, by the hat. "Take it down!" he shouted. - -"Never!" came the defiant cry from the Freshmen. They were not so cold -now, but they were hungry and tired, and they saw in Professor Skeel the -individual who, they believed, was responsible for their troubles. - -"Three hisses for the professor!" called someone, and again they were -given with vigor. - -"Take it down! Take it down!" fairly screamed the enraged instructor. -He looked around. The whole school was witnessing the spectacle of -disgrace that had been arranged for his benefit. Every student was -present, arranged in a big circle about the jubilant Freshmen, and most -of the faculty had come to the doors of their residences to look on. - -"I demand that this outrage cease at once!" cried Professor Skeel, but -no move was made to heed his request. In fact, the Freshman only cheered -themselves, and hissed him the louder. - -Professor Skeel could stand no more. With glaring eyes he made a rush -for the crowd of students, darting through the storm that still raged. - -"Look out! Here he comes!" warned Jack to Tom. - -"All right. I'm ready for him," was the quiet answer. "But I don't -believe he'll do anything more than try to pull down the image." - -"Will you let him?" - -"I think not. Still I don't want to get into a personal encounter with -a teacher. Let's form a ring around the pole, and prevent him from -touching the ropes. The effigy will soon be burned out, anyhow." The -flames were eating the image slowly, as the cloth and straw was moist, -and the snow flakes further dampened them. - -"That's a good idea!" commented Jack. "Hi, fellows, no surrender. We -must protect our effigy!" - -"That's what!" came the rallying chorus, and under Tom's direction the -lads formed a cordon about the pole. - -Professor Skeel was speeding through the drifts. He reached the nearest -lads, and roughly thrust them aside. Tom had quickly whispered to those -nearest the pole not to fight back, but to offer passive resistance. So, -too, those on the outer edge did not make any hostile movement when the -irate instructor went through them with a rush. - -"Get away from that pole! Let me take that disgraceful image down! I -shall insist upon the most severe punishment to every one concerned in -this outrage!" stormed Professor Skeel. - -"Stick to your posts!" cried Tom. - -"As for you, Fairfield!" shouted the professor. "This will be your last -appearance here! You incited the students to do this!" - -"Correct guess!" whispered Jack with a grin. - -Professor Skeel did not find it as easy as he had thought, to thrust -the lads away from the pole, so that he might loose the ropes. As fast -as he shoved one lad aside, in which operation no active resistance -was offered, another Freshman took his place, and there was a constant -shifting and whirling mass of students about the pole. It was utterly -impossible for the professor to get to the ropes. - -"This must stop! It shall stop!" he cried. "I--I shall be under the -necessity of personally chastising you if you do not at once remove the -image!" he added. - -"Stick, boys!" sung out Tom. - -"Then take the consequences," shouted the instructor. He struck one of -the smaller lads, who drew back his fist. In another moment there would -have been presented the not very edifying sight of an encounter between -teacher and pupil. - -But Professor Skeel found himself suddenly clasped from behind, while -Tom, worming his way to the side of the lad who had been hit, caught his -upraised arm. - -"It's all right, Henry," he called in his ear. "It's all over I guess. -Hammond has hold of Skeel." - -This was true. The big fat, jolly professor, seeing how matters were -likely to turn out, had made his way into the throng, and had seized his -colleague. - -"You had better come with me," he advised, quietly. "You are forgetting -yourself, Professor Skeel. You can do no good here. The boys are past -reasoning with." - -"I shall not go until they have taken down that disgraceful effigy of -me." - -"It will soon burn down. Besides, Doctor Meredith is coming out to speak -to them. I have sent for him. You had better come with me." - -Much against his will, Professor Skeel allowed himself to be led away. -The boys had stopped hissing and cheering now, for they saw that the -crisis had come, and that they were either to win their strike, or that -some unusual measures would be taken. - -"Here comes Merry!" exclaimed Jack in a hoarse whisper, as he descried -the form of the venerable head of the school making his way through the -storm. The burning effigy still gave light enough to see, reflected as -it was by the snow on the ground and the swirling flakes in the air. - -Professor Skeel left with Professor Hammond, and, as they passed the -outer ring of Freshman, there came a cry: - -"Three cheers for Professor Hammond!" - -They were given with the "Tiger!" at the end. - -Doctor Meredith made his way to where he could command a view of the -class that had revolted. - -"Young gentlemen!" he began in a mild voice. - -"Three cheers for the Doctor!" were called for and given. - -"Young gentlemen," he went on, with a benevolent smile, "you will -kindly cease this demonstration, and return to your dormitory." - -"Does that mean we win?" asked Tom respectfully. "We went on strike for -better treatment in the Latin class. If we go back, and call the strike -off, do we get it?" - -"That's what we want to know," added Jack Fitch. - -"And we want something to eat, too," spoke Bert Wilson. - -"You will return to your dormitory," went on Doctor Meredith in an even -voice. "This must go on no longer." - -"But what about the Latin class?" asked Tom persistently. "Are we to be -prisoners? Aren't we to be allowed to recite, or attend lectures?" - -"I will settle all that tomorrow," said the doctor. "I may state, -however, that you will recite, if you do at all to-morrow, to another -Latin instructor." - -"Hurray! That's what we want to know!" yelled Tom. "Come on, boys!" he -added. "Back to bed. The strike is over!" - -"I don't see how," said Jack. "He hasn't said that Skeel will be any -different." - -"Aw, can't you see through a hole in a millstone?" asked Tom. "Can't you -see that Skeel isn't going to be our teacher any more?" - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean that there's going to be a shift. No more of Skeel's Latin for -us. The doctor has seen that it won't do, and he's put his foot down. -Skeel can't dictate to him any more. The strike is over--we've won, and -it will be admitted to-morrow. Come on to bed." - -"But about the eats?" suggested Bert. "I'm half starved. What about the -eats?" - -"Young gentlemen!" spoke Doctor Meredith again. - -Instantly there was silence. - -"Young gentlemen, you will return to your dormitory. But you may first -stop in the dining hall." - -"For bread and water?" asked some one. - -"For--er--for your usual hot supper," said the doctor, with a smile. - -"Hurray!" yelled Tom. "The strike is sure over! We win!" - -The last flickering embers of the burning effigy died out and the scene -was almost dark. Doctor Meredith returned to his house. The other -students turned back into their dormitories. The Freshmen made a break -from around the flag staff and ran toward the place where a much-needed -supper awaited them. - -As Tom, with Jack at his side, hurried across the spot where Professor -Skeel had struck the Freshman, our hero saw something black lying on -the snow. He stopped and picked it up. - -"Someone's pocketbook," he remarked. "I'll look inside for a name, and -return it. Oh, Jack, we win!" - -"And we're going to eat!" added Jack with a sigh of satisfaction. As -they entered the dining hall they saw Sam Heller there. He had sneaked -back when the others were escaping and had practically surrendered. He -was hissed when this became known. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -THE SAVING OF BRUCE - - -"What have you there, Tom?" asked Jack. They were in their room, some -time after the riot over the burning effigy, and following a more -bountiful supper than they had partaken of in many a long day. They had -talked over the events and Sam Heller's desertion. - -"Oh, but you should see those boys eat!" exclaimed Mrs. Blackford to her -husband, after a visit to the dining hall. - -"I don't blame them," was the answer. "I'm glad it's over, and that they -have won. I never did like that Skeel." The monitor had confided to Tom -that as soon as Doctor Meredith had word of the return of the students -from their unsuccessful trip toward the town, he had ordered a big -supper gotten ready. And now Tom and his chum were in their room, tired -but happy. - -"This," remarked Tom, as he looked at the object to which Jack referred, -"this is a pocketbook I picked up out on the campus near the flag pole. -Some one dropped it during the excitement, I guess. I'll see if there's -a name in it, so I can send it back." - -He opened it. There were some banknotes and a number of papers. Tom -rapidly looked the latter over, and, as he caught sight of one, he -uttered a whistle of amazement. - -"What's the matter?" asked Jack, who was getting ready for bed. "Whose -wallet is it?" - -"Professor Skeel's." - -"Nothing remarkable in that; is there?" - -"No, but it's what I found in it. Now I know why he has such a hold over -Bruce, and what that lad's trouble is. Look here, Jack," and the two -boys bent their heads over a slip of paper. - -"I should say so!" exclaimed Jack. "No wonder he looked troubled, and -acted it, too. What are you going to do about it?" - -"I'm going to save Bruce; that's what I'm going to do." - -"How?" - -"I don't just know yet, but I'll find a way." - -There was subdued excitement the next morning when the Freshmen filed -down to breakfast, and the talk was of nothing but the uprising of the -night before. Sam Heller was practically ignored, but he did not seem to -mind. - -"Are we to get bread and water this morning, Blackie?" asked Tom, of the -monitor, at the same time playfully poking him in the ribs. - -"No, sir, the usual meal." - -"And are we still locked in?" demanded Jack. - -"No, sir, you can go wherever you like. Chapel I should imagine, first." - -"Oh, of course," agreed Tom. "I want my eggs soft boiled," he added most -prosaically. - -On the way to the morning devotions Tom pulled out the wallet. - -"I guess I'll send this over to Skeel's house, instead of taking it -myself," he said to Jack. "It might raise a row if I went there." And, -requesting one of the assistant janitors to do the errand, Tom proceeded -to chapel. Thus the wallet was returned to its owner, but minus a -certain bit of paper. - -"Well, you fellows certainly cut things loose!" exclaimed Bruce -Bennington admiringly to Tom, as he met our hero later. "You won hands -down. I wish I could do things as easily as you seem to do," and he -sighed. Tom noticed that the look of worry and trouble on the Senior's -face was deepened. - -"Look here, Bruce!" exclaimed Tom. "I wish you would tell me exactly -what your trouble is. Maybe I can help you." - -"No you couldn't." - -"I think so," and there was a peculiar note in Tom's voice. "Tell me," -he urged. The two were walking by themselves over a deserted part of -the snow-covered campus. The storm had ceased, and the day, though -clear, was quite cold. The weather was crisp and fine. - -"Hanged if I don't tell you!" burst out Bruce. "I don't know why it is, -but I took a liking to you the first time I saw you. I had half a notion -to tell you then, but I didn't. I haven't told anyone--I wish, now, I -had. Now I'm going to tell you. It's come to a show-down, anyhow. I was -just on my way to see Professor Skeel. He's at the bottom of my trouble, -as you may have guessed. He has sent for me. The jig is up." - -"I'll go with you," volunteered Tom. "I fancy I know part of your -trouble, at least." - -"You do?" burst out Bruce in amazement. - -"Yes. Look at that," and Tom held out a bit of paper. - -"I say, Tom," hailed Jack from a distance, as he came running up. "What -are we to do? There's a notice posted, saying we are to go to Latin -recitation to Professor Hammond, temporarily, and then afterward the -Freshmen are to meet Doctor Meredith and Professor Skeel. That looks as -if we hadn't won after all. The boys are anxious." - -"I'll be with them in a little while," answered Tom. "It's all right. -We win the strike all right, only things have to be adjusted formally I -suppose. But I'll say this. I'll never apologize to Skeel, and he's got -to promise to be decent, or the strike will begin all over again." - -"Hurray! That's the stuff!" cried Jack. "That's what we want to know. -But aren't you coming to the lecture?" - -"In a little while--yes. I've got something else on hand now, Jack." - -"All right!" called his chum, knowingly. "I'm on. See you later," and he -ran off. Jack turned to Bruce. - -Over the face of the Senior had come a curious change. His trouble -seemed to have vanished. - -"Tom--Tom Fairfield!" he exclaimed. "You've done me a service I can -never repay. Look here, this is a forgery!" - -"A forgery?" asked the amazed Freshman. - -"Yes, that's never my signature to that promissory note! In fact, the -whole note is forged. It's a little like my writing, but I know I never -signed it. Say, I'm free, now!" - -"You'd better tell me more about it," suggested our hero. "If I'm to -have it out with Skeel for you, I'd better know all the facts." - -"Sure. I'll tell you. It won't take long. I made an idiot of myself, -to be brief. You know my father is well off, and he makes me a good -allowance. One of his rules, though, and one I never broke but once, was -never to gamble, and another was never to sign a note. I broke both. - -"Last year when I was a Junior I got in with a fast set of fellows. We -didn't do anything very bad, but one night there was a game of chance -in one of the rooms. I was urged to play, and, not wanting to be a -kill-joy, I foolishly agreed. I knew dad would never forgive me if he -found it out, but I didn't think he would. He had said I would have to -leave school, and go to work, if I gambled, or signed a note. - -"Well, I lost, as most anyone will if he keeps it up long enough. I lost -all my ready money, and I got in debt. I had no way of paying, and the -Junior to whom I was indebted suggested that I give him my I. O. U. for -the amount. I did, scribbling a promissory note on a piece of paper. The -sum was quite large, and I see now what a chump I was. But I expected to -be able to pay in time, and the fellow said there was no hurry. - -"But when my next allowance came I went out on a lark, and we did some -damage that we had to pay for. This took all the cash I had, and I -owed more. I dared not ask for additional money, for I did not want to -explain to dad how foolish I had been on two occasions. I went to the -Junior, told him my predicament, and he kindly offered to wait for his -debt, though the note was overdue. - -"Then, most unexpectedly, this Junior's father died, and left him a -lot of money. He left school in a hurry to arrange his affairs, and -go abroad. The night before he left he wrote me a letter saying he had -destroyed the promissory note, and said that I need not pay it, as it -was a foolish debt at best. - -"That made me happy until all at once the storm broke. Just before the -close of school last term Professor Skeel sent for me. He told me he -had a note of mine, and demanded payment. I was dumbfounded, and said I -didn't know what he meant. - -"He explained that before leaving, this junior, whose name I won't -mention, had sold my promissory note to him, and that as he now owned it -I must pay it to him. I said he was mistaken, and told about the letter -I had." - -"Why didn't you show it to him?" asked Tom. "That would have been good -evidence." - -"Very foolishly I had destroyed it as soon as I read of my release from -the obligation. I did not want a scrap of paper around to remind me of -it. So I had no proof, and Skeel only laughed at me. He said he held -the note, and he showed it to me hastily, but I thought it was the real -thing. He threatened, if I did not pay, to tell dad, and I knew what -that meant, for, somehow, Skeel had learned about the game of chance. - -"And that was my trouble. It's been hanging over me since last term -and Skeel has been at me several times this term to pay up. He's been -putting the screws on harder and harder, and today was the last day. If -I couldn't pay he was to send word to dad, and demand the money from -him. I did try to raise the cash to settle, and I've paid something on -account, but I never could raise enough, for something always seemed to -happen to use up my allowance, and I had no good excuse for asking for -more." - -"Why didn't you write to this Junior, asking if it was true that he had -destroyed your note, as he said in his letter?" Tom inquired. - -"I did, but I never could reach him. He went traveling in Europe. But -it's all right now. I see the whole game. The Junior did tear up my -note, but probably Skeel found the pieces, somehow. He made a forged -copy of the note, enlarged the amount, forged my name to it, and the -Junior's endorsement, and relied on my fear of publicity to make me pay. -But I can now see that this is a fake!" and Bruce held up the document. - -"Then the sooner we tell Skeel so to his face the better," said Tom, -firmly. "Come on, we'll beard the tyrant in his den!" - -And they went. - -"You sent for me, Professor Skeel," began Bruce, when he and Tom were -admitted to the study of the unpleasant Latin teacher. - -"I did, but I have no desire to see _this_ young man!" and he glared at -Tom. "I demand that he withdraw at once." - -"And I refuse!" exclaimed Tom. "I am here to represent Mr. Bennington, -as--er--a sort of counsel." - -"Then he has told you of his folly, eh?" sneered the professor. "There -is no longer need for me to keep quiet about it. Are you ready to pay -that note, Bennington, or shall I inform your father about your debts -of honor? Remember I came into possession of the note honestly, as the -third party, and the law will recognize my claim. You are not a minor, -and you can not plead that. I bought the note from the student to whom -you gave it. Now, are you ready to pay, or shall I expose you?" - -"I am not going to pay," said Bruce, quietly. - -"Then I'll disgrace you!" stormed Mr. Skeel. - -"Have you the note in question?" asked Tom, quietly. - -"Yes, but what is that to you? I can produce it when the time comes," -and the professor tapped a black wallet lying on the table before him. -It was the one Tom had found and returned. - -"You need not trouble," said our hero quietly. "_We_ can produce the -note now. Here it is--the forged note!" and he held it in view, but -safely out of reach of the professor, who had sprung to his feet in rage -and amazement. - -"Wha--what!" he cried. "Where--where did you get that?" - -Hurriedly, and with trembling hands, he began searching through the -wallet. - -"It was there--it's here now," said Tom, quietly. "And if you make any -more threats, or attempt in any way to annoy my friend here, I shall lay -the whole matter before Doctor Meredith," went on the calm Freshman. "I -don't know but it is my duty to do it anyhow," he added. "Forging notes -and names is a serious crime." - -Professor Skeel sank back in his chair, his face the color of chalk. His -lips moved, but, for a moment, no sound came forth. Then he hoarsely -whispered: - -"Don't--don't expose me--I--I'll apologize. It was all--all a mistake. -I--I--!" - -He faltered, and Tom, not wishing to prolong the unpleasant scene, said -to Bruce: - -"Come." - -The two walked out, silently, Tom handing the forged note to his friend. -No one had a claim on him now. - -"Tom Fairfield, you have saved me from disgrace!" said Bruce feelingly, -and the two clasped hands in a firm grip. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -A MISSING PROFESSOR - - -"Young gentlemen," began Doctor Meredith, as he faced the assembled -Freshmen class in the chapel, where he had requested that they meet him, -"this is a solemn occasion. I hardly know what to say to you. Never, in -the history of Elmwood Hall, have we gone through what has transpired in -the last few days. We have never had a strike, nor an occasion for one. -We have never had a burning in effigy. - -"I am at a loss what to say. I have tried to sit as an impartial judge -in this matter, and so far, I have to admit that there is some right on -both sides, and a great deal of wrong on one side--which side is yet to -be determined." - -Tom wanted to say something, but he refrained. The doctor was speaking -too solemnly to be interrupted. - -"I have considered this matter from all standpoints," went on the head -master, "and I have tried to see my duty. I want to do what is right by -all. For that purpose I have asked you to meet here, and I will now go a -step further and will send for Professor Skeel. Perhaps, when we have a -mutual conference, all differences will be explained, a new system can -be devised and all will go on peacefully and quietly, as it always has -at Elmwood Hall. - -"I will ask our worthy janitor, Mr. Demosthenes Miller to step over to -Professor Skeel's house, and request him to come here." - -It was about an hour after Tom's dramatic interview with the Latin -instructor. Our hero and Bruce had parted, Tom to go to Latin class, -and, later, with all the Freshmen in that division, to attend the -special meeting. - -While the janitor was gone there was a painful silence. Then the -footsteps of the returning messenger were heard. He came in alone. - -"Is Professor Skeel coming?" asked Doctor Meredith curiously. - -"No, sir, he is not," replied the janitor with a respectful bow. - -"Why not?" and Doctor Meredith was plainly surprised. - -"Because, Doctor Meredith, Professor Skeel has gone." - -"Gone?" - -"Yes, sir. Disappeared--_vanesco_ as the classic Latin puts it. His -servant just informed me that the professor packed up a few of his -belongings, and went to town to catch a train. He will have his other -things sent after him. So he will not be here. He also left word that he -would not come back." - -For a moment there was a silence. Then came a long breath of relief from -the students. It was echoed by Doctor Meredith. - -"This--er--this--rather simplifies matters," he said, a bit nervously. -"I had it in mind to have Professor Skeel beg your pardon, and you, as a -class, to beg his. Then matters would have gone on as before. But this -simplifies matters. Professor Skeel, it seems, is no longer a member of -the faculty of Elmwood Hall. I do not understand it, but I fear he has -left for good." - -"And I _know_ it--I don't _fear_ it," murmured Tom. "I'm glad of it, -too. It saves me the disagreeable duty of branding him as a forger. -All's well that ends well? I suppose." - -"The purpose of this meeting having been accomplished," went on Doctor -Meredith, "you may consider yourselves excused. You will report for -Latin recitation to Professor Hammond, until further notice, and I will -engage a new classical professor as soon as possible." - -"Three cheers for Doctor Meredith!" - -"Three more for Professor Hammond!" - -"Three big ones for the Freshmen class," called Tom, when the first two -had been given. - -"And three cheers for Tom Fairfield, the best leader in Elmwood Hall!" -shouted Jack Fitch, swinging his cap. - -That the roof remained on the chapel after all that excitement speaks a -good word for the workmen who placed it there. Certainly such cheering -was never before heard in the old school. - -"No more Skeel!" exulted Jack, as he walked out of chapel, his arm -linked in Tom's. - -"Nothing but fun from now on," declared Tom, "and it will soon be spring -and baseball." - -"What are you going to do this vacation?" - -"I don't know. I've got to wait and see how dad and mother make out in -Australia, I suppose. I must write and tell them all that happened here." - -What Tom did when school closed may be learned by reading the next -volume of this series, to be called, "Tom Fairfield at Sea; or, The -Wreck of the Silver Star." - -"And so Skeel forged that note?" asked Jack, when he and his chum were -in their room that night. - -"Yes, it was a rank copy of Bruce's signature. And he had raised the -amount, too. I guess he was after money, all right." - -"I wonder where he went?" - -"Far enough off, I imagine. He'll never trouble Elmwood Hall again." - -"Nor Bruce Bennington, either." - -And this was so. Bruce was a different lad, from then on. His face was -always smiling, as it had been before his trouble. - -"I never can thank you, Tom, for what you did for me," he said. "Only -for you Skeel would have carried out his threat, and his forgery never -would have been discovered in time to prevent my disgrace. But I've made -a clean breast of it to dad, and though he gave me a hard calling down, -he's forgiven me. Oh, I feel so glad!" - -"And so do I," added Tom. "We're going to have a new Latin prof. I -understand. A jolly young fellow." - -"That's good. Here comes Demy. I wonder what he wants?" spoke Bruce, as -the studious janitor approached, with a book as usual. - -"Well, what is it?" asked the Senior. - -"I fear I have made a grave mistake," said Mr. Miller. "In announcing -the disappearance of Professor Skeel the other day I used the Latin word -_vanesco_. I see now that I used the wrong tense. Will you kindly set me -right." - -"Demy!" exclaimed Tom, "if you will kindly follow the example of -Professor Skeel, and vamoose, it will be all the same. We'll give you -a Latin lesson later. And, in the meanwhile, here is a dollar to buy -a dictionary," and Tom passed over a bill to the man who was always a -friend to the students. - -As for Professor Skeel he was not heard of again for some time. But the -lads of Elmwood Hall did not care. They had Tom Fairfield, who became -more of a leader than ever after his successful strike. As for Sam -Heller, he led a miserable life as a Freshman--ignored by nearly all. - -"Come on in to town," invited Bruce that night. "I'll treat you fellows -to a good feed, Tom. And I've fixed it with Merry, so we won't have to -hurry back." - -"Good!" exclaimed our hero, and on his way with his chums to a good -time, we will say good-bye to him for a time. - - -THE END - - - - -[Illustration: Polly says "JELL-O for me"] - - - If cast upon a desert isle - Like Crusoe long ago, - How dull the diet soon would be - How jaded you would grow! - - Your gun would get you meat enough, - Your line would catch your fish, - But what a hunger you would have - For some nice snappy dish. - - Then just suppose one sunny day, - While striding on the beach, - You'd hear your jolly Polly give - A most delightful screech. - - And this is what old Pol would say---- - For he's a jolly fellow---- - "I don't want crackers, no-sir-ee, - When I can feast on Jell-O. - - "We've lots or nuts on this here isle; - Go pick 'em, Mr. Crusoe, - We'd like to eat a good dessert, - Get busy and we'll do so." - -There are six pure fruit flavors of Jell-O: Strawberry, Raspberry, -Lemon, Orange, Cherry, Chocolate. Every child wants the little book, -"Miss Jell-O Gives a Party," and we will send it free upon request, but -be sure your name and address are plainly written. - -_America's most famous dessert_ - -[Illustration: - - JELL-O - THE JELL-O COMPANY. Inc. - Le Roy, N. Y. - Bridgeburg, Ont. - - _Reprinted by - permission of - John Martin's Book, - the Child's Magazine_ -] - - - -THE BOYS' OUTING LIBRARY - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full color._ - -_Price, per volume, 65 cents, postpaid._ - -[Illustration] - - -=THE SADDLE BOYS SERIES= - -By CAPT. JAMES CARSON - - The Saddle Boys of the Rockies - The Saddle Boys in the Grand Canyon - The Saddle Boys on the Plains - The Saddle Boys at Circle Ranch - The Saddle Boys on Mexican Trails - - -=THE DAVE DASHAWAY SERIES= - -By ROY ROCKWOOD - - Dave Dashaway the Young Aviator - Dave Dashaway and His Hydroplane - Dave Dashaway and His Giant Airship - Dave Dashaway Around the World - Dave Dashaway: Air Champion - - -=THE SPEEDWELL BOYS SERIES= - -By ROY ROCKWOOD - - The Speedwell Boys on Motorcycles - The Speedwell Boys and Their Racing Auto - The Speedwell Boys and Their Power Launch - The Speedwell Boys in a Submarine - The Speedwell Boys and Their Ice Racer - - -=THE TOM FAIRFIELD SERIES= - -By ALLEN CHAPMAN - - Tom Fairfield's School Days - Tom Fairfield at Sea - Tom Fairfield in Camp - Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck - Tom Fairfield's Hunting Trip - - -=THE FRED FENTON ATHLETIC SERIES= - -By ALLEN CHAPMAN - - Fred Fenton the Pitcher - Fred Fenton in the Line - Fred Fenton on the Crew - Fred Fenton on the Track - Fred Fenton: Marathon Runner - - - _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue._ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE BOY RANCHERS SERIES - -By WILLARD F. BAKER - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors_ - -_=Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid=_ - - -_Stories of the great west, with cattle ranches as a setting, related in -such a style as to captivate the hearts of all boys._ - -[Illustration] - - - 1. THE BOY RANCHERS - _or Solving the Mystery at Diamond X_ - -Two eastern boys visit their cousin. They become involved in an exciting -mystery. - - - 2. THE BOY RANCHERS IN CAMP - _or The Water Fight at Diamond X_ - -Returning for a visit, the two eastern lads learn, with delight, that -they are to become boy ranchers. - - - 3. THE BOY RANCHERS ON THE TRAIL - _or The Diamond X After Cattle Rustlers_ - -Our boy heroes take the trail after Del Pinzo and his outlaws. - - - 4. THE BOY RANCHERS AMONG THE INDIANS - _or Trailing the Yaquis_ - -Rosemary and Floyd are captured by the Yaqui Indians but the boy -ranchers trailed them into the mountains and effected the rescue. - - - 5. THE BOY RANCHERS AT SPUR CREEK - _or Fighting the Sheep Herders_ - -Dangerous struggle against desperadoes for land rights brings out heroic -adventures. - - - 6. THE BOY RANCHERS IN THE DESERT - _or Diamond X and the Lost Mine_ - -One night a strange old miner almost dead from hunger and hardship -arrived at the bunk house. The boys cared for him and he told them of -the lost desert mine. - - - 7. THE BOY RANCHERS ON ROARING RIVER - _or Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers_ - -The boy ranchers help capture Delton's gang who were engaged in -smuggling Chinese across the border. - - - _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE WEBSTER SERIES - -By FRANK V. WEBSTER - - -[Illustration] - -Mr. Webster's style is very much like that of the boys' favorite author, -the late lamented Horatio Alger, Jr., but his tales are thoroughly -up-to-date. - -=Cloth. 12mo. Over 200 pages each. Illustrated. Stamped in various -colors.= - -=Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.= - - - Only A Farm Boy - _or Dan Hardy's Rise in Life_ - - The Boy From The Ranch - _or Roy Bradner's City Experiences_ - - The Young Treasure Hunter - _or Fred Stanley's Trip to Alaska_ - - The Boy Pilot of the Lakes - _or Nat Morton's Perils_ - - Tom The Telephone Boy - _or The Mystery of a Message_ - - Bob The Castaway - _or The Wreck of the Eagle_ - - The Newsboy Partners - _or Who Was Dick Box?_ - - Two Boy Gold Miners - _or Lost in the Mountains_ - - The Young Firemen of Lakeville - _or Herbert Dare's Pluck_ - - The Boys of Bellwood School - _or Frank Jordan's Triumph_ - - Jack the Runaway - _or On the Road with a Circus_ - - Bob Chester's Grit - _or From Ranch to Riches_ - - Airship Andy - _or The Luck of a Brave Boy_ - - High School Rivals - _or Fred Markham's Struggles_ - - Darry The Life Saver - _or The Heroes of the Coast_ - - Dick The Bank Boy - _or A Missing Fortune_ - - Ben Hardy's Flying Machine - _or Making a Record for Himself_ - - Harry Watson's High School Days - _or The Rivals of Rivertown_ - - Comrades of the Saddle - _or The Young Rough Riders of the Plains_ - - Tom Taylor at West Point - _or The Old Army Officer's Secret_ - - The Boy Scouts of Lennox - _or Hiking Over Big Bear Mountain_ - - The Boys of the Wireless - _or a Stirring Rescue from the Deep_ - - Cowboy Dave - _or The Round-up at Rolling River_ - - Jack of the Pony Express - _or The Young Rider of the Mountain Trail_ - - The Boys of the Battleship - _or For the Honor of Uncle Sam_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - - - - -THE BOB DEXTER SERIES - -By WILLARD F. BAKER - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_ - -_=Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid=_ - - -[Illustration] - -_This is a new line of stories for boys, by the author of the Boy -Ranchers series. The Bob Dexter books are of the character that may -be called detective stories, yet they are without the objectionable -features of the impossible characters and absurd situations that mark so -many of the books in that class. These stories deal with the up-to-date -adventures of a normal, healthy lad who has a great desire to solve -mysteries._ - - - 1. BOB DEXTER AND THE CLUB-HOUSE MYSTERY - _or The Missing Golden Eagle_ - -This story tells how the Boys' Athletic Club was despoiled of its -trophies in a strange manner, and how, among other things stolen, was -the Golden Eagle mascot. How Bob Dexter turned himself into an amateur -detective and found not only the mascot, but who had taken it, makes -interesting and exciting reading. - - 2. BOB DEXTER AND THE BEACON BEACH MYSTERY - _or The Wreck of the Sea Hawk_ - -When Bob and his chum went to Beacon Beach for their summer vacation, -they were plunged, almost at once, into a strange series of events, not -the least of which was the sinking of the Sea Hawk. How some men tried -to get the treasure off the sunken vessel, and how Bob and his chum -foiled them, and learned the secret of the lighthouse, form a great -story. - - 3. BOB DEXTER AND THE STORM MOUNTAIN MYSTERY - _or The Secret of the Log Cabin_ - -Bob Dexter came upon a man mysteriously injured and befriended him. This -led the young detective into the swirling midst of a series of strange -events and into the companionship of strange persons, not the least -of whom was the man with the wooden leg. But Bob got the best of this -vindictive individual, and solved the mystery of the log cabin, showing -his friends how the secret entrance to the house was accomplished. - - - _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, PUBLISHERS New York - - - - -THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES - -By LESTER CHADWICK - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_ - -_=Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid=_ - - -[Illustration] - -_Mr. Chadwick has played on the diamond and on the gridiron himself._ - - - 1. THE RIVAL PITCHERS - _A Story of College Baseball_ - -Tom Parsons, a "hayseed," makes good on the scrub team of Randall -College. - - - 2. A QUARTERBACK'S PLUCK - _A Story of College Football_ - -A football story, told in Mr. Chadwick's best style, that is bound to -grip the reader from the start. - - - 3. BATTING TO WIN - _A Story of College Baseball_ - -Tom Parsons and his friends Phil and Sid are the leading players on -Randall College team. There is a great game. - - - 4. THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN - _A Story of College Football_ - -After having to reorganize their team at the last moment, Randall makes -a touchdown that won a big game. - - - 5. FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL - _A Story of College Athletics_ - -The winning of the hurdle race and long-distance run is extremely -exciting. - - - 6. THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS - _A Story of College Water Sports_ - -Tom, Phil and Sid prove as good at aquatic sports as they are on track, -gridiron and diamond. - - - _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - - Transcriber's Notes: - - --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in - bold by "equal" signs (=bold=). - - --Printer, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently - corrected, except as indicated below. - - --Archaic and variable spelling is preserved. - - --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. - - --The Author's long dash style has been retained. - - --Inconsistencies in formatting and punctuation of individual - advertisements have been retained. - - --Page numbers in the Table of Contents for Chapters IV and V have - been changed to reflect the actual beginning page number in the - text. - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Fairfield's Schooldays, by Allen Chapman - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS *** - -***** This file should be named 43796.txt or 43796.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/7/9/43796/ - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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