The Half-Back

l meet at the gym at 2.15, to ma

HIPPLE,

hool. Beside it were similar announcements to members of the other classes. As he stood in front

g along?" ask

swered Joel. "I have a L

ybody is going--and t

West threw up his h

you have never heard the Hillton Academy Band; no one who has ever heard it forgets. Yes, my boy, there is a b

Remsen was not comi

uch an astonishingly fine punter that he decided to come at once and see for himself; and so he telegr

lltonians, your c

'neath its folds yo

ltonians! we sta

e crimson flag, that

he top of his voice. A group of boys on the Green shouted lustily back, and the occupant of a neighboring window threw a cushion with unerring precision at Wes

ncts of the Hampton House table, and was introduced to five youths, who received him very graciously, and invited him to partake of such luxuries as pick

s his bounden duty to go to the station

body," continued Cooke, a stout, good-natured-looking boy of about nineteen, who, as Joel afterward learned, was universally acknowledged to be the dullest

preciation of his work by turning out in force. It's the least we can do, I think. Mind you, I don't fancy football a little bit, but Remsen taught

ar!" crie

"but I've got a recitation at two." C

g in for stud

," answered Jo

othing gained. I've tried it, a

get through?"

ed his voice to a confidential whisper. "I belong to the

laugh that followed, "that

to do is to forget all the Greek and Latin and higher mathematics you ever knew, give your oath ne

" his recitation, promising, however, to

see me standing on the truck." And so Joel had promised, and later, from the seclusion of the schoolroom, which to-day was well-nigh empty, had he

-for West had conducted him to the village outfitter the preceding day--and hurried up to his room to leave his book and pad.

at the lab? Isn't this your day for explod

owing a lot of silly chemistry stuff

u; but I've never been an author, and perha

sen? I guess not. Catch me walki

as the only response, and Joel took the stairs at leaps a

ey gathered up a load of towels, "is it only you, t

going to the station. Mr. Remsen is c

experiments, and the next he'd break all the panes in the window with his football. But then he was such a nice boy!" And with this seemingly contradictory statement the Matron trudged away with her armful of towels, and Joel took up his flight again, across the yard to

n his way to the office, and, with a glow at his heart, the few simple, kindly words of welcome and the firm grasp of the hand from the Principal. Then came the first day at school, with the dread examinations, which after all turned out to be fairly easy, thanks to Joel's faculty for remembering what he had once learned. He remembered, too, the disparaging remarks of "Dickey" Sproule, who had predicte

rom gloom to sunshine. Since then Joel had changed from the unknown, derided youth in the straw hat to some one of importance; a some one to whom the captain of th

ndations of Rhetoric as though that study was an opponent on the gridiron. Even Professor Durkee, known familiarly among the disrespectful as "Turkey," lowered his tones and spoke with something approaching to mildness when add

ong whistle announced the approach of the train, and a comparative hush fell on the crowd. Joel descried Outfield West at once, and pushed his way to him through the throng just as the train ca

he Professor com

studies and joins us in our

answered Cartwright, as Joel was hauled on to the truck. "You

e present unenlightened age. In the good old days when everybody was either a

ied West. "Now every fellow che

ay! hooray!"

and sat on his head. The train slowed down, stopped, and a porter appeared laden with a huge valise. This was the

ys toward him; and for a sight the arrival was hidden from view. Then the cheers for "Coach!" burst enthusiastically forth, the tra

d of the line, his handsome face smiling brightly as he replied to the questions and sallies of the more elderly youths who

low I'd like for a big brother. Although