'As Gold in the Furnace'

rises Hi

can not go in for baseball next spring, nor even

und the shade of a large elm tree in one corner of the yard very grateful. A hearty burst of laughter followed Roy's announcement. No one for an instant entertained the idea

not! You're no good anyway! You couldn't be center-rush on the eleven if you tried! You don't know a thing about ba

I'm in earnest. I am not going to

dear old goose, that you can't come any sort of game like that on us-not on me, at least. Let m

l you listen to reaso

idence that you are in possess

began R

you have recently developed a remarkable penchant-that's the word, isn't it, boys-for practical jokes. B

fellows will not, nor will you listen to

e and continued, "but you persist in talking anything but reason. What an incontestably prep

reason for saying what I have said.

elled to make-such an announcement to his friends, but his chagrin was rendered four-fold by having his companions receive his statement with incredulity. Not the least part of his annoyance came from t

ted, weakly boy of very quiet manners and of a retiring disposition

in the yard, with the strength of a giant, and, as some who knew declared, the grip of a blacksmith. The opportunities of acquiring brawn and muscle he

him. He knew, also, what the boys expected of him. They all regarded it as a foregone con

otherwise than as the merest joking. Yet he intended to give up sports for this school year. Why? The reason for so do

noyed because the boys standing around him seemed determined not to take him seriously, and this annoyance could be seen. For a moment he felt a strong throb of anger, such as quickens the pulse, and the hasty word was on t

y clearly saw Henning's annoyance, and several of them had more than a suspicion that, after a

s of future victories on the diamond grew dim, for every boy there had the most

rdy, whole-souled boy, who had a habit of calling a s

nly," said Henning, s

?-supposing you have a re

aid Henning, "but I can

blue sweater instead of a coat and vest and whose face was not a

om his own cousin, to whom in a difficult situation h

ieve him than you-there! If Roy says he has reasons for acting as he is doing and does not want to gi

his reasons for not playi

iberty to do so. If I did I would give them readily. Believe me, boys, it is not

hough we regret your action, we believe y

d at first only because I thought Roy was joking. Sorry he wasn't. Garrett, you had bet

he one to whom it was directed than the rest of the group realized. Were it not on account of the relationship with Roy, the boys in general would have ignored Garrett. Winters and Hunter and Stapleton an

iscuss his decision, vaguely guessing at the motive which prompted it,

ely, "Henning must have some good reason for backing out, but I am more sorry than I can say th

afraid the

to stick to him

because he is the soul of honor and a royal good fellow. You

r class in next examina

ee you heading t

nks,