Quarter-Back Bates

but you'll have a poor time. You just shake hands with Jud and a bunch of the

octor Lane?"

the instructors, but the old boys fight shy of it and the new boys just stand an

acknowledged Dick, "and I'm for c

y. "We'll blow over to Blash's room prese

urf along The Front, for the evening was warm and still. A bluish haze softened the twilight distances and somewhere toward the centre of the town a church bell was ringing. It was all very peaceful and homey, and Dick felt no regrets for Leonardville. At the gate which led onto the junction of Linden and Apple Streets

sked Dick as they turned their s

e rooms with Sid Crocker, th

named Quiggle-no, that's not his name. I don't know what his name

him?" asked Stan

ng so, was not aware of the smile that trembled about the hearer's lips. "He's going to pay me the

lit, Dick," replied the other gravely. "I dare

taxi driver called me down for offering him half a dollar instead of

ed him almost eagerly "You're

s the

ok

re you snick

wanted to sneeze. It's so

ite devoid of amusement, and he accepted the explanation. In front of Goss, Sta

m," he announced. "Somebody

d a couple of times on the door and entered. Someone within said, "Come in, Stan," and Dick, following his friend, saw a rather short, stockily-made youth stretched on the window-seat at the end of the room. "Excuse me if I

Dick, this is Mr. Crocker, well-known in athle

ing to sit on. Blash has got his things all over the shop. Bring up that chair for your friend, Stan. You can

d Stanley. "Gone over

, and he lost. So, of course, he remembered that he had to see a fellow and beat it. He will be back in a few min

with light hair and a round, much tanned face. He seemed unnecessarily serious of countenance, Dick thought, but afterwards he

uite get your name,

're together over in Sohme

off the window-seat. "Just excuse me a minute, will you?" He crossed to a chiffonier, opened a drawer and fumbled within. "Just remembered something. Fellow downstairs wanted me to lend him-er--" Whatever it was the fellow downstairs required they didn't learn, for Sid removed something from drawer to pocket and mad

nley, when they were alone. "These

e legend "TE WAY S PASSING" in two lines, evidently half of a sign that had been sawed in two; a fencing mask; a canoe paddle with a weird landscape painted on the broad end; a cluster of spoons and forks tied together with a brown-and-white ribbon; several tennis rackets; a lacrosse stick; a battered baseball adorned with letters and figures and tacked to the moulding by its torn covering; several faded or

way, is that he tried it last fall and Blash got a cannonball that weighed about thirty pounds, and worked it off on him. Sid almost killed himsel

rer. Even then he seemed to find difficulty in speaking. Perhaps the dust was annoying him again. Dick awaited an introduction while the thought that there was something wrong with that moustache, grew from a mere suspicion into a certainty. In the first place, no fellow of Blashington's age could g

way yet, Sid. So sorry to have you chaps find the room in such a mess. I don't know what Sid's been doing, I'm sure." Blashington chatted on, but Dick noted that there was a distinct ai

iling amiably behind that ridiculous moustache. "I hope you will like

cently, and who had used it? Then memory came to his aid and he knew! His face stiffened and his che

se are futile, not to say idle. The clock strikes twelve. Unmask!" Blashington pulled the moustache from his face and

d any humour in the trick. He remained silent, while Sid gaspe

nded Bates. He doesn't look as th

, stiffly. "Either n

rotested Stan. "Tak

likes to. Look here, Bates, I'm sorry I offended you. When you know me bet

y," replied Dick coldly, "but it's of no

en Stanley said hurriedly: "That's all right th

c, chuckled. "I thank you, Stan, for them few kind words. Well, now that the ent

, bully.

about it some time. I suppose you've he

What's t

that he was going to work; Pat, I mean, not his father: although it is likely that Mr. Patterson will work, too. It

ve played on the nine next spring, I'll bet. He swung a mean bat on the Second last year,

o being a marvel. We're talking about our last yea

ook on him as he answered: "Y

you

played

you look as if you might be clever." Dick kn

y baseball?

he made no effort to remain in the conversation. The others chatted on for some time longer, Stanley

Blash. "If there's anything I

his head. He was smiling, but Dick knew that he wasn't

. "He makes me tired. Anyway, if I can't get along in foot

erence, I suppose. I only thou

t: any more tha

he station with, but I didn't realise that you were really so peeved wit

ily. "I won't trouble you to introduce

redly. "There's no harm done. You may like

. And it doesn't

. You get more out of-out of life, Dick. Well, never mind Blash.

s I will, but you needn't

n't have to stay. Hope ther

ing their steps along The Front, Dick bro

trifle resentfully,

at?" inqui

care not to say anything about