The Spirit of the School

red and forty-odd youths of from twelve to twenty years of age, about half of whom lived in the two school dormito

trance examinations with a condition in Latin which he must work off during the fall term, and he was very well satisfied. Harry told him, in the words of Grover Clev

2

ither the scrub or the class elevens. Hansel, because of an examination in mathematics, had not been able to reach the green until the first practice was almost half over. He had reported to Bert Middleton, and had been ungraciously sent to one of the awkward squads composed of the candidates from the entering class. But he hadn’t stayed there very long. Mr. Ames, making the round of the squads, had watched him for a moment and had thereupon sent him into the second group, which was under the instruction of a big, good-natured boy whom Hansel recognized as[22] the Laurence Royle

her dearest enemy, and had lost two; had been defeated three times in baseball, had tied one game[23] and won one; had been generally successful on the track, and in the two years that hockey had been played had been twice defeated. The physical training was looked after by Mr. Foote, the director of the gymnasium. Undoubtedly Beechcroft could have done better in athletics had she had a professi

ed to develop into one of the best men on the team. He confided his belief to Bert and Harry one afternoon after practice was over, and even Bert was forced, seemingly against his

have to toss up to see which one of them goes to the scrub. I knew th

I know about,” said Bert. “There isn’t anyone

e a poor lot from the football standpoint. Bu

laughed Bert. “What I’m looking

elf off, Bert and Harry went u

ked Harry when he had pushed Bert into an easy ch

5] grudge against me, didn’t I, because he say

didn’t really do such

e was such a milksop, you see. But I think it’s

n’t know; he seems sort of funny

hat he’s sort of laughing at me up his sleeve because I to

him that?” l

on just because he roomed with the captain; yo

don’t think Da

t, in fact. But I didn’t t

Why, the chap[26] can run like a gale of wind, and as for putting his man out—”

ut we get on all right. He attends to his affairs and I at

be decent if you will, I bet. You kn

rs, do I?” asked the other angrily. “Te

get waxy with me. If you do I’l

ensued, and Bert’s

ones be bygones, for he liked Hansel, if only because of the latter’s ability to play football; Bert would have found a warm corner in his heart for the sorriest specimen of humanity imaginable had the latter been able to play the game well. But he wasn’t one to make advances even had there been encouragement, which there wasn’t. Hansel was always polite, always amiable,

r part of an hour each had been immersed in his books and not a word had been said. Finally, Bert pushed his work away,[28] stretched, yawned, and looked at the little clock on the mantel. As the

ck off?” he a

and wished heartily that the other would stop

reply, as Hansel’s head

it h

te the foo

nd it hard; but ma

at

es

ch the untruthful c

you wit

mathematics don’

2

d you ever hear the yarn t

polite and uninterested response

me here. They got tired of trying to teach him anything and so he left there and showed up here. At least—wel

rom his book and he began

f inducement

tion and a nice comfortable place as waiter in dining hall

Hansel th

t Bursley so long was just because he was one of the best players on any school team and they needed his assistance. Well, as I was saying, the story goes that some one said to Billy one day—and, by the way, he’s been in the second class ever since he came here,

e, and Bert regarded him disgustedly.

“do you mean to tell me that that fellow is here just to

” answered Bert i

it,” said Hans

n you[31] do? Why don’t you like i

all my life and had always wanted to come here, but never expected to be able to. Beechcroft has stood for me for everything that’s fine and high and—and noble in school life, and now you tell me t

lling Beechcroft mean and sneaky,” said Bert

asked Hans

ools out West. What if Cameron does get helped along by the fellows? If we’re willing to do

t,” Hansel r

s. But Hansel’s steady untroubled gaze deterred him, and he contented himself

ie!” he ret

s a fellow who hasn’t come here to prepare himself for college, who isn’t paying his own tuition, and w

regular course at the school an

ow

ha

sked

ou and I,

Bursley, and anyone knows that Beechcroft[33] is

with it? Aren’t lots

who is coach

f my business. And it’s no

at least, he has no business playing on t

lar. Why, great Scott! lots of the schools have fellows on their football

t we should. Besides, I don’t believe many of them ar

n in a minute if s

believe i

ybe you know a lot mor

hundred and fifty fellows, either; that makes it worse; we’re dishonest when there isn’t the least excuse for it. You need

ke me tired, putting on airs as though Beechcroft was

“but I don’t know of a school out my way with half the r

ot

, just t

rself mighty well disliked—and serve you right! You needn’t think we’re going to take a lot of nons

3

ink of it?” asked

better

ok in his steady brown eyes that Bert found disquieting. “I’m going to do away wit

thoroughly taken ab

ptain of the team you ought to be the first one t

osed. Bert regarded him a moment in silence. Somehow he felt worsted,

can do,” he gro

was the placid respo