Quarter-Back Bates

was his adviser to see and his courses to arrange: he was required to take seven courses, one of them elective. For the latter he chose Genera

with football! However, there seemed no danger of his not having enoug

ll sizes, shapes and degrees of experience that there was scarcely room to move about. Dick found himself simply one of many, doomed to go through with the usual routine of the beginner. At first he felt somewhat impatient and even

nce had associated with football instructors. He wasn't bad looking, and he had very evidently kept himself in good physical trim, but, being so old, he would, Dick decided, be horribly behind the times and out-of-date. "Tod" Driscoll was a Parkinson graduate and a Yale man. At Yale, he had estab

rted and yet could be very intense and very earnest on occasions. He played at right end on the team. Dick didn't have any dealings with Captain Peters at this period, however, for a youth named Warden appeared to have control of his fortunes. Warden was a dark-complexioned

veryone was so serious! Even the manager and his hard-working assistant appeared to have no thought in life beyond that of turning out a successf

wonderful. He was rather short and perhaps a bit heavier than the position demanded, although doubtless a week of work would remove some of the weight. There was also Cardin, a slighte

ch service, but had received it as a tribute to popularity. But he was not getting it now. If he had expected Stanley to wait on him-and he didn't know whether he had or not, but probably had!-he was doomed to disappointment. Stanley was the best-hearted chap in the world, but if one of Dick's shoes had got away from him and taken up a temporary abode under Stanley's bed, it was Dick who fished it out. Only once had Dick asked a service. Then, seated at his study des

you've been sort of spoil

you mean? Just bec

ck. You must learn to run your own errands, and whitewash your own fences. Any time you break a leg, I'll fetch and carry for you, but while you

ired." Then, after a moment, he added: "Maybe that was

ell to know where we stand, though. An

e your silly mouth

great many of the fellows, and he picked up a few acquaintances himself. Of these latter, one was "Rusty" Crozier. He was a Fourth Class fellow who preferred to live in the town, and occupied two comfortable rooms in a house on Maple Street, just below the school. He was a jolly, light-hearted chap with a perpetual smile and h

t if you want to tread the straight

mean? Isn't h

ean fellow. But he's gifted with a talent for discovering trouble. And a talent for squirming out of it! If h

iked him,"

sts one of his innocent amusements. It was Rusty who closed traffic on Main Street

at?" as

somewhere, I don't know where. It said 'Street Closed by Order of Selectmen.' Then he went over and stood in Wiley's drug store and watched the fun. It was almost an

wasn't f

as to what he looked like. Some said he was a labourer in blue overalls, and others said he was a

r get caught?" aske

he dropped the parlour match heads all over the floor in Room G and every time anyone put his foot down, one of the things went pop! He showed Jud the hole in h

t-up! Well, I'll keep away fro

with a mangey camel, and a moth-eaten lion and a troop of trained dogs. It was rather fun. Rusty was one of us, and he was as quiet as a mouse until near the end. Then he began flicking peanuts at the ring master. We tried to stop him, but he wouldn

spiciously. "Is ther

"He has very jolly quarters. If you lik

f yours. I suppose he has a trick staircase that

harmless. We'll wander over

open just the same," Dick laughed "

as an ancient looking cent so badly corroded that it was hard to read the lettering. Dick's thoughts naturally fell on Rusty Crozier, although what the joke meant, he couldn't make out. But he smiled and dropped the coin in a waistcoat pocket, and presently forgot about it. Returning from football practice at five, however, he found

h the sidewalk. Like many of the residences thereabouts, its upper floors were tenanted by students unable or disinclined to secure ro

he shouted.

door opened and

y! Com

me in!" Somehow Stanley managed to get behind Dick, and it was Dick who turned the knob and pressed the door inward. The next instant he was precipitated into a glare of light. The knob had jerked itself out of his hand, and something-he supp

id Rusty amiably f

ng," said R

not opening like any door Dick had ever seen. In the first place it was turning on pivots at top and bottom, half of it coming in, and half of it going out, so that the aperture for entrance was scarcely wider than Stanley. In the second place, St

oming forward and removing the placard from the back

sty and then to Stanley and shook his head

uble up under him and he consented to try it, although not without anxiety. But he

way, and the door leaped open, swung once around and stopped as the latch snapped again into its socket. "That's all there is to it. I place the cushioned chair here to receive the caller and plac

pose you want to g

In fact," he added with a twinkle, "I seldom use this entrance myse

ow you knew I was wit

sk Stan about tha

explained Stan

t takes my last-if it takes my last two pennies!" He looked quickly at Rusty, but there was nothing to show that the latter had grasped the allusion. "Mayb

mer. "Do you mean that you're do

and Dick began to think his suspicions wrong. "No, t

ll, find seats, fellows. Hope you didn't mind the reception, Bates.

too surprised to mind!" He looked about the

ws in front and one on the side there, and two more in the bedroom. Mrs. Sp

e explained. "Mrs. Spooner's as deaf as a haddock, Dick. If

. He has the room under this on the floor below, Bates, and insists on studying at the times I feel playful. There are four othe

ur meals here?"

ime. I eat around. Usually at 'The Eggery.' Sometimes at Thacher's. St

re. I'm going to try

ies prevent. Oh, shut up, Stan! Let me make a good impression on Bates, can't y

e got to beat it back and do some wo

"Wasn't it silly? Such a

tretched a rope across the aisle and tied it to the arms of the

neaked out. Just shows what a guilty conscience will do, Bates.

ou put the blame on us, and every time I go

and I wasn't. Besides, I wanted

nley, feelingly, "you'd be shot at sunrise

t proved to be a perfectly normal door, however. Rusty told Dick to call again and held conversation with them over the bani

assuringly. "Don't mind the poor fi

another envelope addressed to D