Center Rush Rowland

l suit cost, Humphrey, a

ly across at the enquirer. "Hello!" he said. "Going t

eve for a minute that they'll keep me more than one day, but Lyons wanted me to try it, and-well, I guess that's the l

towards the common where they have footballs and things in

have to pay for a

was just kid stuff, and we wore whatever we had. You might as

enough, I guess. Do you thi

I suppose. And then you have to have trous

who had some things they weren't using. I hate to spend a lot

, say, why don't you ask someone? I'll bet there are plenty of outfits you

I think I'

nother fellow's togs will probably be too small f

t is too small for me after a few months. The tailor is fixing both my other suit

would probably have to borrow again soon. Ira wished that he would spend less time in the town and more in the third floor back room at Maggy's, for there were already indications of impending trouble between Humphrey and various instructors. But Ira decided that Humphrey had better learn his own lesson from experience. Humphrey was not the sort one could offer suggestions to, no matter how excellent or well-meant they might be. Of late th

practically new, one that Gene had purchased two years before with visions in mind of making his class team. It didn't lace quite close across the chest, but answered well enough for the present. The shoes were Fred's, and save that each had one or more cleats missing, were in very good shape. The brown jersey, with leather pads at elbows and shoulders, was Gene's, and, whil

anted to consider payment. "Why, the things aren't worth ten cents," declared G

in them," protested Ira. "I'd ra

Fred. He's blushing already!" Ira couldn't detect it, however, and reso

said regretfully. "I'm awfully much obliged to you,

chump!" begged Gene.

your money, of course. A couple of dollars will settle

roommate. "He can hav

s the other things. I'll give you a dollar for them. And I'll give two dollars for

me," sa

hings I wish you'd look at. Need a nice Winter overcoat? Or a few pairs

. Practice is at three-thirty. If you don't find time to get stock

his morning. What shall I do w

good deal like drudgery at first. Stick it out, will you? There is a good deal of hard work in it, an

n arm or a leg," said Gene cheerfully

hat's the good of trying to make him feel uncomfortable, Gene? He wanted to bu

"I felt like a second-hand clothes dealer. I didn't want his old dollar.

presents," observed Fred wisely. "I hope we can do something with that chap," he

stupid you're dead wrong, Frederick dear.

n learn about everything except football. I don't know why it is,

different from everything else there is! You make me tired! It's a sight

ly. "To the limited intellect an easy tas

use Rowland right. Hear me?

d airily from the doorway. "I'll wrap h

out of your head," ret

o the gridiron. That the football togs made a difference in him was proved when he passed Raymond White near the grandstand. Ray viewed hi

o you're out, eh? I'm awfully glad. I sort of thought you'd get the feve

fever, he had, on the contrary, decided that his first opinion of the game was the cor

Ray. "He isn't out yet, I guess. What ar

f those iron rods along the side," laughed Ira. "I was

up one of those balls back of

presently learned to stop the ball with both hands and body instead of treating it like a baseball, and to wrap his fingers about it so he could throw it within a few yards of where he mea

was telling you about. Shake hands with Coach Driscoll, Rowland. And Manager

on, was conscious of the coach's intent regard. When Lowell was satisfied Ira

ll, Rowland?" asked Mr. Drisco

, s

to be playing long before this. What

eball a little.

r Ira's forearm and then pressed his knuckles against the bo

he woods. I've swung an ax som

saw? Wha

hold of a cross-saw they say he 'rides' it. 'Just you keep your feet of

Rowland! You've got some fat on you that you don't need, but we'll work that off. Put him on the scal

ead. "For what,

ht for football-as he will, I guess-show your card to Lowell. Now, then, let's see. You'd better join that fourth squad over there. Learn to handle the ball the

aid Fred Lyons. "Do we

ows didn't work very hard

"We worked hard, all right," he said, "but we worke

ouldn't call it a ver

e Rowland in your squad, please? He's new a

g, though. They hate to be rough with it for fear it'll break. Fall in there beyon

to the right when you think it is going to jump to the left, or stopping short when you think it will come on. On the whole, Ira comforted himself with the reflection that he met with more success than many of the squad even if he didn't do as well as a select few. Practice at starting followed, and for ten minutes they raced from a mark at the instant that Cheap snapped the ball. Then they were coached in picking the ball up without stopping and in catching it on the bound as it was tossed in front of them. By that time Ira was drenched in perspiration an

tion went around with the ball. "I'm getting sick of this," said the fellow at Ira's right as he gave the

ughed Ira breathlessly, passing the pi

or three nights. Cheap makes me tired, anyway. He's a regular slav

d a small youth beyond him. "So di

order. Presently Cheap returned, watched disapprovingly for a minute and then called: "Tha

e way and sank on to it with a deep sigh of gratitude. The rest of the practice time was spent by his squad and one other in watching the half-hour

vive it, however, although when he rolled out of bed in the morning he had to groan as his stiff muscles responded to the demands put on them. He underwent an examination at the hands of the physical director, Mr. Tasser, at noon, and was put to all sorts of novel tests. Mr. Tasser was

e added: "Better than the average. Lower leg muscles we

as in bed. And the next morning he groaned louder than before when he tumbled out. He wondered what they would say or think if he begged off for that one day's practice! But when he had been up and about awhile he found

ou do some handling today and run the field a couple o

s. That, having dressed, he did not return to the gridiron to watch his companions disport themselves shows that so far as football fever is concerned Ira was still free from contagion. Instead, he went t