he slightest degree by the sophomores; it
appeared to be the generally accepted verdict that the freshmen had
established their right to immunity from all molestation. Another result
was that Neil became a class hero and a college notable. Younger
freshmen pointed him out to each other in admiring awe; older and more
influential ones went out of their way to claim recognition from him;
sophomores viewed him with more than passing interest, and upper-class
men predicted for him a brilliant college career. Even the Dean, when he
passed Neil the following afternoon and returned his bow, allowing
himself something almost approaching a grin. Neil, however, bore his
honors modestly even while acknowledging to himself the benefit of them.
He learned that his chances of making a certain society, membership in
which was one of his highest ambitions, had been more than doubled, and
was glad accordingly. (He was duly elected and underwent rigorous
initiation proudly and joyfully.)

The kidnaping affair even affected his football standing, for Mills and
Devoe and Simson, the trainer, spoke or looked applause, while the head
coach thereafter displayed quite a personal interest in him. Several
days subsequent to the affair Neil was taking dummy practise with the
rest of the second eleven. Mills had appropriated the invention of a
Harvard trainer, rigging the dummy with hook and eye-bolt, so that when
properly tackled the stuffed canvas effigy of a Robinson player became
detached from its cable and fell on to the soft loam much after the
manner of a human being. But to bring the dummy from the hook
necessitated the fiercest of tackling, and many fellows failed at this.
To-day Neil was one of this number. Twice the dummy, bearing upon its
breast the brown R of Robinson, had sped away on its twenty-foot flight,
and twice Neil had thrown himself upon it without bringing it down. As
he arose after the second attempt and brushed the soil from his trousers
Mills "went for him."

"You're very ladylike, Fletcher, but as this isn't crewel-work or
crochet you'll oblige me by being so rude as to bring that dummy off.
Now, once more; put some snap into it! Get your hold, find your
purchase, and then throw! Just imagine it's a sophomore, please."

The roar of laughter that followed restored some of Neil's confidence,
and, whether he deceived himself into momentarily thinking the dummy a
sophomore, he tackled finely, brought the canvas figure fro