Center Rush Rowland

cloudless and swept by a crisp breeze that held enough tingle as it came through the window to make him hurry a bit with his dressing. He managed to get through his ab

d into Linden Street and realised that it was rather an incongruous thing to do under the circumstances. He ought, he told himself, to plan his battle and keep his m

that that youth had overslept when he caught sight of him running down the steps of W

wouldn't let me set the alarm clock and I'm not much good at waking up myself. Say

old white house on Apple Street and they sq

er to give the glad hand to the new boys, but Halden-he was baseball captain last year-and a lot more of us m

hink it was. I'm not sure whe

e means well; in fact she's a nice little person, Mrs. Jud; but it's a nuisance. Ned Mailman went the first time he was asked and recited Casey at the

y pit that was half full of water and a tumble-down shed littered with broken bricks. Further on was a small building in a fair state

, but now it's a scrap yard." Goodloe removed his coat and waistcoat and hung them carefully from a nail against the side of the shed. "There's a

rung up since the yard's activities had ceased effectually screened them. The morning sunshine fell warmly on the little space of hard-trodden clay and the side of the shed, turning the weathered, grey

ter honour is satisfied we'd better look each other over and do the first-aid act. If faculty sees us with our eyes brui

u like," an

guess. We might as well act like gentlemen

rienced a strong desire to laugh, for the humour of the affair struck him harder than before. But he tried to look grave as he faced his antagonist and waited for the latter to begin. It soon b

aid Goodloe

self," replie

ight and landed a light tap on Ira's shoulder and danced away before Ira could reach him.

quick on your feet for a big

e on the body before Goodloe retreated. More circling then, each watching the other warily, and then a half-hearted rush by Goodlo

en, each watchin

red Goodloe mournfully. "You're

you," replied

and viewed each other. Goodloe shook his head discouragedly. "You'll have to do better than you've

" said Ira indignantly. "If you want to figh

a fellow unless he does something to get me

don't

t isn't

laughing. "Who

e. You said you

d so!

t note sai

liked," protested Ira. "You don'

d, and I couldn't very well refuse, could I? If you didn't want to fight what the dickens

Ira. "I wasn't crazy about scrapping

't want to fight?"

it," laughed Ira. "I was o

ght you! Why should I? I made an ass of myself the other day and got knocked down, b

I'd rather have

'll go down to The Eggery and have some coffee and cakes and a few trimmings

me. Let's get there. I'

led as he handed Ira his hat. "For the love of Pete, don't let this out or we'll be

aptain?" asked Ira as

y old scout. Tell you what! You run around tonight and meet him, eh

Now which is the short

d of honour. For they were talking as amicably as though they were old friends while they consumed their buckwheat cakes with maple sirup and drank their piping hot coffee.

uestion he had had on his mind to ask for s

n," answered

the other day. I suppose it doesn't look just

's too small for you. It looks as if you'd

realise that my things don't look like what you fellows

t to say that," respo

re yesterday morning, but they don

evidently anxious not to hurt the other's feelings.

nly tailor there would probably die of fright if you asked him to make a suit of clothes for you! I got these

take a fall out of them. If you want a suit built, try Dodge, on Adams Street, next door to the Music Ha

ve these doctored. Maybe I'll get me a new

ou a mighty good o

imed Ira. "Gee! Thes

ll fit you, Rowland. You won't have to pay the whole bill right away if you don't want

it I'd pay c

always scared that faculty would get on to it. Besides, I had a fierce time getting my bills paid off

I'd rat

latter gave in, although a bit uncomfortably. Still, the breakfasts had been only thirty cents apiece, so perhaps it didn't much matter. They parted outside, Gene

to you?" he demanded.

replied Ira. "I'

n't you have enough dinner last

and-Say, we ought to get a cus

m going to be busy this afternoo

l try to get ou

nd to spend much money on t

to look pretty nice," replied Ira

ell, I'm off to feed. Don't

to do a little studyi

r me. I haven't looked i

ndered around to the playfield again and looked on at football practice for awhile. Several fellows nodded to him, and some spoke, for he had made acquaintances in classroom and at the Principal's reception. But he met no one he knew well enough to talk to, and about four he returned to his lodging to get the measurements for the window-seat cushion. When he opened the door he was surprised to find that the odour of stale cigarette smoke still lingered, in spite of wide-open windows. There was a brief note from Humphrey asking him to meet him there at six for supper. He arranged at a furniture store for the cushion and then went back an