The Half-Back

sley Blair. His dress was less immaculate than upon the preceding afternoon, although not a whit less attractive to Joel. A pa

immaculate canvas jacket, laced for the first time but a moment before. But he looked the football man that he was from head to toe, and Joel admired him immensely and was extremely proud when, as h

," he said, "and glad that y

el was placed at left half in the latter. An hour of slow practice followed. The ball was given to the first eleven on almost every play, and as the second eleven were kept entirely on the defensive, Joel had no chance to show his ability at either rushing or kicking. Remsen was everywhere at once, scolding, warning, and

n getting after Bar

ho is

good work. But this season he's got a swelled head and thinks he doesn't have to play to keep his place; thinks it's mortgaged to him, you see. Remsen opened his eyes to-day, I guess! Whipple says Remsen called him down twice, and then told him if he didn't take a big brace he'd lose his positi

boy you mean, now. He's the fellow that called me names--'Country,' you know, and such--the first day we had practice. I heard

e an awful grind, March, if you keep on in your present terrible course. You won't have time for a

st, honestly. I'm awfully sorry I'm such a crank about lessons, but you

ggested West. Jo

ig one." W

the Goodwin

one," answered Jo

have to have the Greek alphabet backward, and never miss chapel all term

l. "If I win it it will pay my expen

have much show. There's Knox, and Reeves, and--and two or three others all trying

l try hard," answe

Masters scholarship in my junior year? Yes, I did really. It was forty doll

n that if you'd try, Wes

I'm smart enough when it comes to lofting out of a bad lie or choosing a good clu

the youngsters if you only would. As it is, they admire you and envy you and think that it's smart to give all their time to play. I know, because I heard some of them talking about it the other day. 'You don't

lking just like one of those good boys in the story books. W

re. Of course, I know it sounds cheeky, West, but I don't me

t. They had reached the Academy Bu

ur time and know that you will wish you hadn't later, when you've left school, you kn

ugh I don't believe I'll make much of a success as a 'grind.' And as to the--the--the rest that you said, why, I haven't been extraordinarily kind; I just sort of took to you that day on the campus because you looked to be such a plucky, go-ahead, long-legged chap, you know. I thought I'd rescue you from the ranks of the lowly and teach you golf and make a man of you generally. Instead of t

, merry voice singing the school song as he strode along. Joel turned into the library, feeling

ast a series of splashes. In the afternoon Joel got into his oldest clothes and tramped over to Hampton House. The window of West's room looked bright and cheerful, for a big wood fire was blazing on the he

ression of discontent was on his face. But his countenance lighted up at sight of h

oomed near enough so that I could ask you to com

o rain sometimes, I suppose," answer

when a fellow has fixed to practice gol

simon-pure golfer did

s. But never mind, we'll have a good chummy afternoon. And I've got some bully gingersnaps. Do you li

up. By the way, I made up a list of the things you'll have to get if you're going in for golf. Here it is. Of course, I on

d to buy anything like this, W

o have necessities! What's the first thi

cleek," r

of them on the list and you can get pretty fair

en dollars and a

ugh, too. Why, some of mine cost

en Silve

dollars. Mark

" responded

and a ha

can't afford

ll the bag a dollar even; though the doll

and trousers down

e's gloves. They cost about a dollar and a half. As for trousers, you can do with ordinary ones, but--you've got to ha

e things, to say nothing of the whole list. I'm saving up for my football to

nd I put your name up for the Golf Club, too. You will join that, won't you? You mus

gh I don't see what use there is in it, since I haven't any

s. And if you don't mind cold hands, why, you needn't have gloves. So, after all, we'll get on all right." West was quite cheerful again and, with a wealth of clubs--divers, spoons, bulgers, putters, baps, niblicks, and many other sorts--on the rug before him, chattered on about past deeds of prowess

nd Joel, and the lamps were lighted, and Joel said good-night and hurried