ing it under the turned-down coat collar. There were a few
specks of talcum powder on the coat collar, but not enough to have
attracted any attention.

"Now you are all right, Tubbsky," said the fun-loving Rover. "My, but
you certainly do know how to dress!" he added, in affected admiration.

"Ah, really?" lisped the dude "Thanks. But please don't knock my
books down again," he added, and then proceeded on his way to one of
the classrooms.

"Well, that makes me feel a little better," murmured Tom, and then he
followed slowly, to watch the fun. He saw a number of students gather
and all commenced to snicker at Tubbs, who, totally unconscious of what
was taking place, marched on, holding his head erect.

"Wish it was my class, I'd like to see it out," mused Tom. "But never
mind, I guess I'll hear about it later," and he turned back to the
campus, to wait for Sam. As he did this, a queer pain shot through his
head and he murmured a suppressed groan.

"If that keeps on I'll have to do as Sam says, go and see a doctor," he
told himself. "Gosh, how queer I feel! Just as if I was getting
batty!"

"Hullo, Tom!" came the salute from nearby, and looking in that
direction the fun-loving youth saw another student coming up rapidly.
"Sam just told me you were going to take a walk and asked me to go
along."

"Yes, Songbird, we'll start as soon as Sam gets through with the lesson
he's studying. How's the muse these days?"

"Oh, I'm not writing much poetry now," answered John Powell, otherwise
known as Songbird, because of his efforts at composing verses. "I've
got too much to do studying."

"Why don't you write a poem to the professors? Maybe they'd excuse you
from recitations for it," and Tom smiled broadly.

"I--er--I did write one little poem about the lessons," answered the
would-be poet. "It went like this:

"The student sat in his room in a chair
With a look on his face of keen despair;
Outside his chums were playing ball
And oft to him they sent a call.
He wanted to play with all his heart,
But from his books he could not part."

"Grand! Immense! You've struck the clothespin on the head the first
clip!" cried Tom. "Any more of the same brand?"

"Well--er--I started the second verse, but I didn't get it finished.
It went like this:

"He had a lesson hard to learn,
It made his heart with anguish burn;
He wanted to throw those books away
And rush outside and run and play