The Rival Pitchers

who seemed to be the center of discussion. Yet, in spite of the fact that the others appeared to be deferring something to him, he regar

rated with a silk band, yellow and maroon in color. "My uncle, who used to be a football c

the others seemed to depend a great deal. "I've heard nothing but you

t, Fred Langridg

ess I know what the custom is, as well as you

hat, but

and were spoken with a smile. Ford Fenton, who seldom took part in any conversation about college sports or frolics without mentioning his relative, who had been a well-kno

d down at the exams, and ain't I putting in my second year as freshman? I helped get the clapp

asked the youth who h

t get the clapper, but y

at's the

lently pointed to the g

sacred customs of Randall College for a freshman to wear the colors

rd somethin

ld, a couple of scrappy sophs. They'll have it off you before you can say '

h the swagger that betokened their second year at college. The hand of Fenton went to his hat, to take off the offendin

t, Morse!" called Denf

. "The nerve of him! Hi, fresh, wh

to the spirit of Randall College. He, a fr

ertly. "Does it look as if I w

eir ears. There was no imitation in th

ngs are coming to a pretty pass when a fresh talks like that the first week. Look out

all of his comrades, and for a moment it looked as if the second year lads would be bested, for there we

a low voice. "It's the custom, a

man. Morse snatched off the hat with the offending band, and, while Denfield held the strugg

" yelled Fenton.

ne," counseled Denfield.

d to witness the destruction of his nice, new soft hat. Having thus, as he believed, wip

't believe you will, for we're going to wipe up the ground with you freshmen this

swered the h

ton

d Fe

counseled Langridge

ked Denfield fiercely, shaking Fenton from a nec

enton, for the

s until after the pole rush, and maybe not t

we'll all be wearing them after next week

chap!" called Denfield.

idge. "All is not gold that

Morse. "Well done, old chap! But

at sent him spinning to the ground, and as he picked himself

as he brushed the dust off his

angridge. "They're sop

dy lad, who had watched, with rising anger, the attack on Fenton. "I don't see w

the same as it is for us to take the clapper out of the chapel bell, have

fair fight!" went on Phil Clinton. "I could have

down on us if you did, and you know what that means. No, le

kled me," murmured

" echoed Fenton.

have a new one!" piped up a shrill voic

turning quickly to glance at a newcomer, who had joined

you an imitation of Billy Housenlager pulling," and Holly, o

mitted Langridge. "He goes

from afar the little rumpus. "Has 'my uncle

seem to know when he was being made fun of. "Look at my h

or a souvenir. Hand it around and we'll all put our initials on it,

to-night," answ

wink, the while he pretend

e went on, as if giving orders. "Don't forget what I told you, and don't walk as if you had ne

led off to one side of the college campus, while the group of fresh

king for him," objected Phil Clinton.

and I s'pose he feels like a

and comes from Chicago, that he can run things here, but he's not going to run me,"

et--" began Ed Kerr, who wa

ed Sid. "Here a

ing no offending colors, nor any other evidences of anything that could be taken to m

on clapper,"

he ropes better than we do. If we stick to him we'll come out all right.

ented Phil Clinton, "but I don

mean anything by it

o the dormitory, for it was nearly time for supper, and th

d up to the buildings where the three hund

on hand, eh?"

it seems like a lot of work

laimed Langridge. "What's the matter wit

e deftly juggled three stones with one hand. "H

and a cynic is a fellow whose liver is out of order, which makes him

's nothing the matter with my mouth, and I can get out of

coming

I'll be

hat's what I

his building was given over to rooms for the first year and senior students, while in the west dormitory the sopho

oon attracted attention from parents who had sons to educate. Many a well-known man of to-day, who has made his mark in the world, owes part of his success, at least, to Randall College, and he is proud to acknowledge it

nd thus was connected by railroad with the outside world. It was far enough away from town to be rid

cent gift from an alumnus, and Booker Memorial Chapel, a place of worship, containing some wonderful stained-glass windows. The chapel was the gift of a lady, whose only son had died while attending th

r more students. There were two dormitory buildings, the east and the west, and, for obvious reasons, one, the eastern, w

it adjoined the baseball diamond and the football gridiron. Skirting the edges of this big, level fi

unds. The campus swept down, in a sort of oval, to the very edge of the stream. And there is no finer sight in all this country than to stand on the steps of the main building some fine summer day (or,

he Randall students. On it, every year, was held the annual regatta, Randall and some other institutions participating.

hat exciting times that lake and river have seen during the summer season! What rowing races! What swimming races! What jolly p

park, or summer resort. A trolley line ran from it to the town of Haddonfield, but the students more o

he west, fifteen miles away, was Fairview Institute, a co-educational school that was well patronized. The three institutions had a commo

aken part in the lively scene of the afternoon, and some students who had not, met silently and stealthily back o

Langridge in a whisper, as he took hi

" answered

retorted Langridge arrogantly. "I'v

to do with it?" a

Holly Cross. "Prepare to meet thy do

Langridge. "I'm afraid the

m!" exclaimed Phil

y good. We'd never ge

y," spoke Fenton.

be in a glass case and in the muse

Snail?" ask

the fact that he loved to prowl about in the dark, for he could see

p the rope after

ur

e. "I guess it's safe now. There d

to climb to the steeple and remove the clapper from the bell, a prank that was sanctioned by years of custom at Randall College. Once the b

cond-year students, if possible, to prevent the taking away of the clapper. The purloining of it must always be done the first week after the Easter vacation, and if this passed by without the freshmen being succes

held the bell was a large cross. It was the custom to tie a stone, or some weight, to a light cord, throw the weight over the cross, and by means of the thin string h

one?" asked Ed Kerr, as he w

of co

Clinton in a low voice. "Y

her," spoke Sid Henderson. "He's lik

s all Ph

under the direction of Langridge,

stone?" aske

d. "I made it on purpose. It's not

ood. Hand

soon fastened

ed Langridge. "I'm going to pitc

l across one arm of the cross. But either his aim was poor, or he co

!" exclaim

owled Langridge. "Some o

ry," suggest

hrowing," declare

look so," mu

d again, but w

err. "The sophs

and failed. Then Snail Looper

the sophs

old on! I'll get it over