Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck; Or, Working to Clear His Name

and was soon sitting beside the red-haire

ing to Elmwood?" asked our

er you. Oh, no offense!" exclaimed Reddy Burke as he saw Tom's start. "It's an honor to start at Elm

a bit green," admit

o know. I'm glad to meet you. I hope I see more of you when we strike the school. Term opens to-morrow and next day you know, and th

y idea," co

you going

a nice place, and I picked it out when I cam

eshmen like to get, but usually it's so crowded that you h

nk so. Where

r crowd at the Ball and Bat. That

I was down before. It's

ust come to some of the blowouts. I'll send you a

tefully. "And now tell me

hlete. "There's lots to tell about it, but I guess you know

something about the fel

ions about the value of Greek, Latin and mathematics, though I'll be hanged if I like 'em. Baseball and football for mine, though I suppose if I'm ever to become

u're in your Junior year

if you play all the games, and I didn't miss any contests, you can make up your mind to that. Most all of us at the Ball and Bat play eithe

I like baseball. I've never played football much. I

critical pair of blue eyes over his seatmate. "Y

. Think I'd h

to say, but have

rofessors very sa

ny Meredith is head mas

How

up. We call him 'Merry' because he's usually so glum. But he's fair, and he thinks Elmwood Hall the greatest institution ever. To him a fellow's word

s live up to i

of course. But any fellow who would lie to Merry woul

n't mind admitting that Burton Skeel is a regular grinder, and as mean as

inning to think that perhaps, after all, he wasn't

Reddy. "I was almost forgetting

ire? Wh

try, and conic sections, well, if anybody can make them look like the comic sheet of a Sunday newspaper it's the Live Wire. You'll like him

ths.," adm

will be friends and brothers

fellows," suggested Tom. "I

you make his

ed our hero, as he told of the

ps in college. 'Easy Money Bennington' we call him, 'Easy' for

t something was troubling him the day I m

or an enemy too, for that matter, and that often gets him into trouble. He doesn't stop to think, but he's got

special trouble is

's settled. He's proud-won't take help from

. He may not want to keep up the a

ets you he's always friendly, and, if he takes a no

art for the somewhat unhappy Senior. He resolved to find out

y I wouldn't want to name any of 'em. You'll find out who they are, soon enough. But you just play straight and they'll soo

ittle," ad

a fight if you can help it. Not that I mean to run away, but it's against the rules to fight,

e to; not otherwise,

put it all over you, and do the big b

Tom, stoutly. "I'm glad t

o. We've got one funny character

tude

ou getting at all friendly he'll ask you to help him translate a passage, or work out a problem. He says he might as well be

be odd,"

h a laugh. "The rest you'll find out after you've been at t

g about his father and m

take," said Reddy. "Cracky,

ame, on the Ware river. Several other lads, whom Reddy pointed out to Tom as old or new students, had meanwhile boarded the train. A n

chances for a good football season, and Tom did not

h. "Get your grip, and I'll show you the way to the

well enough," spoke Tom. "D

so I'll just run on. See you again!" and with that Reddy rushed off, to clap on the shoulder a tall, well-built lad, who lo

did they wish to spend an evening in town, had to get permission, or else "run the guard," a proceeding fraught with some danger, carrying with detect

ors boarded in private families in town. Most of the Seniors, however, dwelt in a house near the Hall. It was called Elmwo

matron, he became aware of a student standing on the topmost platform, looking down at him. Beside h

ould see that it was done int

mean?" he a

" was the reply of the stude

on't like it," ret

Nick?" and the lad who had done the shoving a

hat he wi

Tom, "and the sooner you

alk, eh?" sneered the one calle

ed Tom, for he could see by the other's

capital 'H,' and don't forget it. This must be

was Nick Johnson. "Yes, that was the name

your room?

and I told 'em to save it for me this term.

understood that the lad was a Freshman who had not passed, and who, in consequence,

grumbled Sam, "and I'm going

told you I had nothing to do with it. One thing, though, if you do an

threat?"

ke it so if

if you don'

e monitor in charge of Opus Manor came to the door, and the two who

d the monitor, who did n

'm Fair

I'll introduce you to my wife. She'

who had met the monitor wh

ing Tom saw his new friend, Reddy Burke,

t, and the Junior

n the athlete, "and as I passed them just now I heard Sam H

im and Red

s up?" aske

t. That Heller is one of the few undesirables here. His crony, Nick Johnso

in the least

crappers," went on

," and, as he followed Monitor Blackford into the dormitory, he