The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1907-11-15
The College Hero.
Ioriginal.l

[Originall
Whether Tom Trotter was a success
or not in college depends upon what
success Is. Tom was the poorest stu
dent and the best fellow at the uni
versity. He would have been popular
anyway, but the fact that he carried
his college TO victory on numerous oc-
casions on the gridiron excited an en-
thusiasm which, had he lived among
the ancient Greeks or Romans, would
have insured his worship as god.
Tom stood six feet two in his stock
ings. was Of gigantic frame and iron
muscle. Possibly he might have learn
ed something from his books had he
spent any time over them, but how
was he to spend time over his books
when he was obliged to be head and
front of every athletic club at the uni
versity? And how was he to be Drop
ped at failure to pass his examinations
when he was needed to run the college
athletics and was constantly advertis-
ing the college by the famous victories
faculty, realizing the importance Of
keeping him afloat on the university
curriculum. did more worrying about
how to pull him through his exams
than he did about pulling through them
himself. A failure to win an important
game would fill him with dependency.
A failure at examination never trou-
bled him at ALL
"Howsoever these things be-" as the
poet says, by hook or by crook Tom
was dragged along till he came to his
graduation examinations The words
by hook or by crook" may be taken
literally, for he made no pretense to
walking straight and narrow path at
his examinations, and he once actually
used wire hook on which he had
strung lot of special problems. These
he could pull up into his sleeve by
string at a moments notice. But now
Toms "finals' stared him In the face,
not only him, but the faculty and ev-
cry man In college.
AS the examinations were coming on,
there came also a champion game Of
baseball with the University of Y Ev-
erybody knew that Tom must bear the
whole weight of the game himself.
One accident after another had hap
pened to deprive the team Of good
men, to be replaced by inferior ones.
When the game came of, Tom was
there In all his glory. Stimulated by
the work before him. he surpassed any
thing he had ever done on any field.
He would send the ball far up into the
sky, then keep on running as long as
there were runs to make. When the
game was finished, with crushing de-
feat to the enemy, Tom was carried
in triumph on the shoulders OF the
team to his room, where he held re-
ception for the rest of the day.
The next morning Linden saw an
other sight" Tom was sitting in an
examination room He had been struck
by a ball the day before on the fore
head and in making sliding run had
rubbed the skin off his leg No record
was made Of these mishaps at the
time. and a few students Orators to
college glory limited that they had
never occurred. Be this as It may,
Toms head was bound up with cloth,
and pair of crutches reposed in the
seat next to him. Behind table on a
raised dais sat a professor. Every oc-
cupation has its disagreeable features,
and the man who was wrapped in the
subject he endeavored to engraft into
others was Obliged at examinations to
make spy of himself. He kept his
eyes on the window instead Of the
students, where they should have been,
and Tom kept his eyes on some sheets
OF paper between which some Of the
problems In the list were solved. But
Tom found 1t difficult even with the
solutions before him to get them into
hisown examinat ionpaper withoutcopy-
Ing them figure for figure. No sleight
Of hand would enable him to do this
without detection. The professor who
could see the transaction plainly, or
rather would not see it at ALL finally
gave way to qualms Of conscience, and
getting up from his chair walked slow
~ down to Tom Is seat, giving him am
pie time to cover up anything to in
criminate him. Tom laid large square
blotter on the pony" Others were oh
servant Of what was going on. and the
professor had no choice but to demand
to see what was under the blotter.
Tom looked embarrassed.
I'D rather not show you that, pro-
fessor," he said.
FOR what reason?"
"Modesty."
The students sitting about snickered.
Nevertheless | must insist on see
ing It."
Tom heaved great sigh from his
enormous chest which sounded like the
wind coming from the cave Of Eolus
and lifted the blotter
The picture of woman In a decol-
lete dress with wealth Of black,
whirlpool hair and flaring eyes-only
this and nothing more
Professor" said Tom in an injured
tone. you have compelled me to expose
the picture of the girl love. can't get
up my papers without being inspired
by an occasional glance at her, 80 I
brought her."
The professor apologized and retired.
He knew well that the photograph had
haan purcho cod from a chon xuindou