Left Tackle Thayer

out a field. The horse was a big, well-fed chestnut, and as he walked slowly along he bobbed his head rhythmically. In the seat of the mower perched a thin little man in a pair of blue overa

omy. The horse, too, wore brogans, big round leather shoes which strapped over his hoofs and protected the turf, and, having never before seen a horse in leather boots, the boy on the grand-stand had been for a while mildly interested. But the novelty had palled some tim

d changed into a sleeper at Washington just before midnight, and reached New York very early this morning. From there, although he had until five in the afternoon to reach Brimfield Academy, he had departed after a breakfast eaten in the Terminal and had arrived at Brimfield at a little before nine. An hour had sufficed him to register and unpack his bag and trunk in the room assigned to him in To

mehow strangely and uncomfortably alien. The few persons he had encountered had been quite civil to him, to be sure; and the sunlight was the same sunlight that shone down on Cedar Run, but for all o

r insisted that since he was to attend a Northern college it would be better for him to go to a Northern preparatory school. Clint himself had not felt strongly enough about it to object. Several of his chums had gone or were going to Virginia Military College; and Clint would have liked to go there too, although the military feature

ateau. Nearest at hand was the gymnasium. Then came Wendell and Torrence, the latter having the honour of being Clint's abode for the ensuing nine months. Next was Main Hall, containing recitation rooms, the assembly room, the library and the office; an older building and built all of brick whereas the other structures were uniformly of stone as to first story and brick above. Beyond Main Hall were Hensey and Billings, both dormitories, and, at

sun and rain, but were dimly discernible, where the mower had passed, as yellower streaks against the vivid green. It was a splendid field; Clint had to acknowledge that; and for a time the thought of playing football on it had almost dispersed his gloom. But the after-reflection that for all he knew his services might not be required on the Eleven, that very possibly his brand of football was not good enough for Brimfield, had caused a relapse into depression. Thrice he had told himself that as soon as the pl

the cuffs of his trousers and the rubber-soled tan shoes a four-inch expanse of heliotrope silk stockings showed. A straw hat with a particularly narrow brim was adorned with a ribbon of alternating bars of maroon and grey. He was indeed a cheerful and colourful yout

e youth in su

swered Clin

. Then his gaze wandered across to the mower, which was at the instant m

he asked, nodding

ook his head. "No,

across his forehead. "Been moseying around over there in the woods," he continued when Clint had murmured agreement. "S

ut his knees. He was a good-looking, merry-faced chap of seventeen, with dark-brown eyes, a short nose liberally freckled under the tan and a rather prominent chin w

e they not?" in

assed by the other's friendlin

ry--nice,"

yesterday and fell for them at once. I've got another pair that are sort of pinky-grey, as

ing," replied Clint. "I su

year. I'm in the Fif

I reckon they'll pu

everything b

line?" repe

n's. You're from the

me from Virgin

. "What state did

ntly. "Great! 'Vay-gin-ya.'" He sh

ronunciation of the word, and he felt resentful until a loo

He was fine! Red-hot he was, too. You could always get a fall out of Bud Broland by mentioning Grant or Sherman. He used to fly r

tfully. "Is he he

et used to our ways. Found school life too--too confini

" asked

row-minded and regretfully packed him off home to Alabam'. Bud was a good sort, but--well, he needed a larger scope for his talents

had silently watched the passage of the mower. The other boy tugg

on. That would make me about twenty minutes ahead now. I'd say the absolutely correct t

looked at it. "I make it two minutes after," he said, "and I w

e great to have a watch like yours. I used to have one but I left it at the rink last Winter and it fe

you take it

going to be late or early. If I have to catch a train I always allow thirty minutes leeway. It's twelve o'clock, all right. Solomon's quit

s name?" in

fired wise. There's a lot in that, do you know? Bet you if I didn't talk so much I'd get the reputation

Mine's Byrd; first name, Amory; nicknamed

Clinton

therners, though. Live in New Hampshire. No relation to y

es

nner. I had a remarkably early repast this morning a

he climbed down. "I had my

cott! Wh

d there was nothing else to

Dear Old School until after ten. Couldn't find any fellows I knew and so went for a walk

ied Clint. "I didn't

st year has left school. Gone to live in China. Wish I could! I suppose the fellow I draw will be a regular mutt." They had reached the c

red Clint, "but I re

h the other toward

in Wendell

xt one. Torr

d viewed him With sudden i

urt

do you know

Clint

shook it vigorously. "Clint, I want

Thanks, Byrd, b

y. "Is that the best you can do after ou

hen," lau

call me worse than that when you've kno

please, what am I bei

rtunate. A kindly Providence has placed you in the care of one of the wisest, most respected,

at Clint's hand, but

ow I'm going to ro

Clint. You will take up your abode with a youth

demanded Clin

his voice to an awed and thrilling wh

ll try to

en, is Amory

ry M

on B

--I'm in

to conduct you to your apartment!" And, putting his arm thr