The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-12-17


as they roamed about the campus
and among the buildings, eagerly
taking everything in. The freshmen
were easy to spot. The mere con-
seriousness of being freshmen made
them appear unbaked, no matter
how much they tried to hide it.
"And, of course, we look just as
green as they do, Barney" said
Frank, smiling.
"Maybe we do" allowed Mulloy,
"but I've lamped two or three raw
ones that would taste like spring
grass to a hungry cow"
Whether Hodge was seeking to
avoid them or not, they saw no
more of him until class hours were
over. Then, as they were lingering
near the big gymnasium to see the
football squad come out for prac-
tice, they got a surprise. Bart was
one of the fellows in playing suits
who streamed forth from the open
door and started to trot away to
the field.
''Do you see what ! see, Frank
ie?" gasped Barney, his eyes
threatening to explode like soap
bubbles.
"Why, I'm batty," said Merry, EFF
it isn't our beloved roommate!"
"But how could he make it so
sudden? Will We tell me that, now?"
"Fine work by his friend Bas-
comb. He's sold Hodge to the coach.
There's your answer, Barney"
A swift-footed boy, carrying a
football, had got off ahead of the
others. Now he wheeled suddenly
and booted the ball back toward
those who were following him. But
the kick was much too lusty and
the pigskin scared over them and
came bounding erratically toward
the watching freshmen after it fell
to the ground.
Merriwell scooped it up, gave it a
def, quick turn in his hands,
dropped it and kicked. The thing
sailed as if shot from a cannon.
Over the heads of the squad men,
bers, far over the head of the one
who had given it the first boot, it
zoomed.
They had looked round to see who
would recover the ball. They saw
Frank return it.
"Yea-a!" shouted an astonished
fellow. "Where'd that guy get
Charlie Brickley's 1eg?"
Merriwell took hold Of Mulloy's
arm and turned him around. "Now
that we've seen what we've beheld, I"
he said, ''let's totter back to our
roost in Union hail."
An odd look had come into the
Irish boys face. you've been
holding out on me, Frankie" he
charged. "Why didn't you tell me
you played football?"
81 don't"
"Come now, daddy, you gave your
self away. Didn't I see you collect
that ball when it was lodging like a
rabbit chased by a hound dog?
Didn't ! watch you drop-kick it like
one of the old masters? Didn't it
60 for ride that was something to
pant about? 1t was the work of an
educated leg, whether you stole the
leg from Charlie Brickley or not.
Now come clean, old scout"
''Well," said Merriwell seriously,
81 don't play the game any more,
Barney. I'm all washed up"
''And what's the cause of that,
I ask your"
Frank took little time to reply
as they walked on. Lets not go
into it," he evaded. ''It's thing
of the dear, dead past that's be-
yond recall, if you don't mind a
slight touch of poetry. I suppose we
all have our bitter secrets"
Mulloy was surprised and puz-
zled. "Oh, WE'LL" said he presently,
"far be it from me to embarrass
you, pal. But there'n be others.
If it's on the level that you've quit,
you made break when you showed
your stuff back there. I'll lay you
odds you get call for the squad"
"That'l be just too bad," said
Frank, ''for I'll have to duck it."
CHANGING sidewise at his compan-
ion, Barney saw something that