The Half-Back

ty, and the youth upon whom his duties had devolved allowed Joel to pass without giving his name for report as tardy. During prayers

when it happene

appened?" re

aid him out there on the floor, and some of the fellows found him knocked senseless. And they've taken him to the infirmary. You know the rope's as big as your

e's much hurt. It was a dirty sort of a joke to play, though

ey found Professor

w hours. I hope that the ones who did it will be severely pu

ly. "You may depend that no upper middle

ou are ri

er, the secretary, and Professor Durkee were present, and as Joel entered

formation which will lead to the apprehension of the perpetrators

," respo

olutely nothi

except what I h

wh

eg'--about Mr. Duffy, sir." The secretary repressed a smile. The principal was

rang the chapel bell this morning. I wish it understood that I have no intention of dealing leniently with the culprit, but, at the same time, a confession, if made now, will have the effect of

oubled voice. "I don't understand. Am

Durkee, explosively, turning to the

atter firmly. The other subsided.--"

s,

with Outfi

s,

d you return

quarter to

rtain as to

train whistle as I left Academy Bui

cademy Building un

w. I didn't

you leave Mr. R

nutes aft

right ba

t and Digbee went home. I sat on the front steps here

sit on the

he moon was coming out-

r from home

twice a w

a letter last, and

er, about thr

ou that

. It is i

arry your letter

the way out of the building I put them in my

o you ke

bureau

kept

I never

r what was in t

s,

ne mention

ntioned. And Outfield West,

Wheeler extended it across the de

understand--!" Again he looked towa

swered that ge

the accident, on the floor of the bell tower. Do you know how it came there?" Joel's cheeks redde

ce fell on the room. Professor Wheeler glanced inquiringly at Professor Durkee, and the

ped, "who do you think dr

tand it at all. I've never been in

might like to get you into t

en recollection of Bartlett Cloud came to him,

he said

of no on

professor, "you do,

see that the evidence is much against you, and, while I myself can not believe that you are guilty, I shall

nk not

ned and Rems

said. "You wished t

d to Joel and the secretary, shook hands with Professor Du

as to how the letter came to be in the bell tower? Recollect that shield

he small occurrence on the football field so long before? It was inconceivable that Cl

rhaps I can throw some light on the matter. Let him r

one o'clock, M

He had forgotten his own dinner until that moment. In the dining hall West was still lingering over his dessert. Joel took his seat at the training table, explaining his absence by saying that he had been called to the offic

after one exclamation of surprise

e that this is his doing? That he is getting e

oo silly to suppose that he would do suc

f, found some one to do it for him. It's just the kind of a revenge that a fellow of his me

him when I go back; then if he thinks--If h

'll take a hand, too. But what do y

und Sproule in the room, and

Sproule laughed, but looked annoyed at the banter. "Joel and I have come up for a chat, Dickey," cont

faced, and turned

and March want to talk, why, eithe

intended for little boys' ears. You know

out, so you can tal

bent his head over his book and growled a response that sounded anything but polite. Then West, still smiling, seized the unobliging youth by the shoulders, pinioning his arms to his sides, and pushed him away from the t

d West!" howled Sproule through th

" answered We

my Latin I'll

nless you've changed mightily. But, here,

tairway reaching Sproule's ears at that moment, he grab

looked?" a

there are no others missin

h is, of course, the last received, and sneaks out. Then he climbs into the bell tower at night, cuts the rope through all but one small strand, and puts your letter on the floor where it will be found in the morning. Isn't that plain enough?" Joel nodded forlornly.

e when Joel returned. Professor Durkee was standing

u were struck at by Bartlett Cloud on the football field o

ak to you, o

I've never been a

could have stolen that

ave done so, sir, but I

I will summon you and ask your pardon, and the guilty one will be punished. Professor Durkee here has pointed out to me that such conduct is totally foreign to his conception of your character, and has reminded me that your standing in class has b

cowl. Joel hurried to his recitation, and later, before West's fireplace, the friends discussed the u

d to the dormitory after supper, he found two miss

place of Post at L.H.B. It will be necessary for you to report at the gym at eleven each day for noon signals; please arran

EY BL

on the first team in some minor game, but to be taken on as a member was more than he had even thought of since he had found how very far from perfect was his playing. He seized his cap with t

d regulations require that pupils on probation abstain from all sports and keep th

ORDON, Se