Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck

of the cross-country run. "All right boys. Getting away in good time," and the Senior student who was acting in the official capacity smiled in rather a

on," remarked Jack, pausing to address the checker,

the answer. "In my day we

had spent one year at Elmwood Hall this was the first big run they had tak

't know what the world is coming to, anyhow," and he looked as though he had on his shoulders a large share of the responsibility of regulating the univers

he? Oh no!" exclaimed Bert sarcastical

way with all Sen

l not be," m

nder what makes Seniors think they're so high and

a laugh. "Now if you're going to start on your interrogatory stunt, Georgie my lad, you'll

y more," promised the lad

us?" asked Bert, as he stopped a

k," sugge

stion at the checking Senior, who

ad of us,

ecker consulted his sli

ered. "They've got fou

shouted Tom, as he ag

ted Jack. "I'd rather be ahea

d Tom. "Shall we pas

d Bert. "Let's get ou

sant, not too warm, and there was a refreshing breeze when one got on the hillt

they had covered the first half mile. "

started yet. When you've done about ten mi

for easy going. When they topped the

us," he said, pointing down in a small val

m Heller and his crony

m's run, a

rt. "Shall we make a

h yet," said George. "D

y much about passing Sam and Nick. They jogged down the slope, to strike a level stretc

Tom at length, as they came in v

it I'm going to make a complaint to the po

was bad to do;" for a few simple directions as to the best

with seltzer, anyhow," declar

le later they had lined up before a crossroads grocery,

nub-nosed and freckle-faced lad behind the counter, when our four f

nto an over-heated system the artificially flavored and

there fizzy stuff that squirts all over when

hed Jack. "Pass it

volunteered the lad. "I took some once, and it tasted like s

n of the mineral water, and the lad went to a big refrigerator where, after moving out some tub

er a brief rest, they started off on the cross-country run again, wa

sden. There the going was stiff, and they realized why Jackson h

r legs," remarked Ja

seem to be still ahea

well-better than I

aken a short cut,

heck in at Mars

cut there. However, i

o

e miles of the run left when the four lads paused at a wayside farmhouse located at th

anky lad, who was hanging over the front gate, seemin

her road to the

s, and it's level all the way," wa

re doing a school endurance run," he explained, "and we h

s," and he pointed to a patch of forest just ahead. "There's a wagon road through them tr

right as long as we cover the distance. There's no more checking

. "Is the path a plain

want to

le of other fellows passed here a w

Nick, I'll wager!

d," he called to the farm lad, as t

the wood-road," and he looked at a bill crumpled in his hand. "I never made money any easier. Them two fellers, jest ahead, who told me to direct the next bunch into the woods, must

ack," remarked George, when they were well

ittle later. This is a good road, and, even if it's longer than the other, we cut off a big

t in on time,"

s we will,"

ad was not in the best of condition, they stumbled over roots and tree bra

n tramping the woodland path, "this doesn't seem ju

tch and take a loo

e river some time ago," added Be

isp of bark. It blazed up brightly, and

d. We must have made a turn in t

k right away!"

after they had retraced their steps for

aid, "there's n

t?" ask

in a circle. There's the same fallen beech tr