The Spirit of the School

gs ready for the practice. He was at right end now, having displaced King of last year’s second, and there was little doubt in the minds of the other players and Mr. Ames that he would be a

ent that enhanced and perfected them. Mr. Ames struck right end from the list

7

Middleton at full back. At center was big Royle. But the rest of the positions, excepting right end, were still filled only t

f age, and looked it. He was rather heavy of build, but wonderfully quick on his feet, and was an ideal plunging half back. He had tow-colored hair and twinkling blue eyes and was rather handsome. He was good-natured to a fault, had good manners, which seemed to have been acquired rather than inherited, and[75] had never been known to indulge in dirty playing. And Hansel never heard a foul word pass his lips. The forme

had not spoken as yet to Mr. Ames on the subject—he was purposely putting that off until later—but the one or two fellows to whom he had mentioned the ma

e shop. Even[76] the faculties wink at it, and in some schools they lend a han

that?” as

s. You see, we school fellows take our cues from the colleges.

ere in the Eas

y snaps if they’ll go with ’em to—well, any of the colleges, pretty near! What’s Perkins doing at —— this year? Steward of an eating club with a salary that’s big enough to pay all his expen

7

Hansel, “but I can do somet

d your method, you know, and maybe I’ll take a hand. Only

o you

is year and I want to win. So don

l thoughtfully, “I se

aturedly and clapped

, Dana, and I—well, I hope you succee

al assistance. Field, president of the fourth class, looked bored, and said it was a good work and he hoped Hansel would succeed, but—er—it was a difficul

ft had ever so much as heard of the little academy out in Ohio from which Hansel had migrated, and so there were no outstretched hands to welcome him into the inner circles of class life. At the end of his second week at Beechcroft Hansel was well acquainted with Bert and Harry, knew most of the members of the first squad well enough to talk to, and had a nodding acquaintance with some or six other chaps. Of course he[79] had no intention of allowing such a state of affairs to continue for long, and he had a shrewd idea that after the first one or two games, by which time he would ha

e football manager better than any of his few acquaintances. Harry roomed alone in a suite of study and bedroom on the second floor of Prince. The study was plainly but richly furnished and was a revelation to Hansel. The walls were covered with dark-green cartridge paper, against which hung a scant half-dozen good pictures. Over each door was a shelf holding a cast. The floor was painted

r. “I just came in to c

rrupt me when I’m studying. First thing I know I’ll have brain fever! Sit down and rest your face and hands.”[81]

resent,” answered Hansel with a smile

ggested Harry. “How

you so

. I—I’ve water on the brain and can’t figh

said Hansel cheerfully. Harry looke

ou!” he answered. Then he laughed. “Why don’t y

o interfere

ahead with it, the first thing you know they’ll set you down as a crank and—and that[82] isn’t plea

with h

ffices, you know. I don’t want to seem cheeky, Dana, but really there’s a good deal in what I say. And—and you

you’re rig

no one ever c

nk, but—really, I don’t know why I should feel so—so strongly about this thing; but I do; and there you are. And I guess if I am in

th conviction. “I only thought it was my[83]

t, there’s a captaincy awaiting yo

rry, “you’re a regular—wha

ord,” said Hansel, “and I

rom which a pair of keen, attractive hazel eyes smiled across at Harry. He was far from handsome, but there was, nevertheless, that about him, an expression of kindliness and honesty, an atmosphere of purposeful courage and manliness that had made him one of the best-liked fellows in school. His clothes were neat but the worse for wear. The straw ha

ool began? By the way, you fellows haven’t met, have you? Phin, this is Mr. Dana; Mr. Dorr—Mr. Dana. Dan

ch I can do.” He had a rather deep voice which scarcely seemed to belong to such a thin body, but there was a qual

yourself? Why haven

] boarding at a new place this year, and th

Where

, near the Congr

ought I knew t

The fact is, she’s from Lowell, where I live, you know;

wn her carpets for her, running errands, and everything

, of course, I’ve had to help,

you a hole under the eaves and

e room this year; much better t

hope so! That

8

n’t pa

t to have paid you. Well, I’m glad you came around; glad to see you back

, but I managed it—so far. That remind

arry sadly. “I thought you came b

ood-looking. “But there was business, too, in it. You see, Harry, I’m under rather more expense this year,

a furnace,” laughed Harry k

Hansel’s laugh. “What I want is

8

of Mike! what sort of od

dy with tools. If you want any shelves put up or things like that

ell, I don’t see anything right now, Phin, but if I eve

d I’d be glad if you would let me do anythi

Hansel. “Glad

You’re not goin

rry. Very glad to have met you, Mr. Dana. I shall be around to see you in a day or so, if I may? Thank you. I know several fellows I think you would like to meet[88] and who will be very glad to meet

hook hi

? She’s got a very comfortable downstairs room which s

ineas Dorr

across at Harr

tered Harry, smiling

sel. “What’s the

believe he’s seen a beefsteak near to in his life. He looked

? Tell me

in winter, shovels snow. He’s a wonder as a Jack-of-all-trades, is Phin. He entered last year. He’s in your class. He managed to get a scholarship last year, and I guess he’ll get another this year; if he

he fo

heard, and lost it. He’s dead now. I shall have to fake up something

nsel. “I want a

erved him

charity, old man; Phin won’t stand for that. Bes

n? So[90] I am, but he’s a heap s

s one of the best things we have here. And, by the way, Hansel,

id Hansel.