joke for a while. I forgot to get
one anyhow."

"Hello, what's up?" demanded Bert, who was getting ready for bed.

"Steam roller hit you?" inquired Jack. "Why, your head is cut, Tom!"

"Yes, I had a little go with Sam Heller's auto, and I got the worst of
it," and our hero told his story of the evening.

"The cad!" cried Jack. "We'll fix him for this. I almost wish you
hadn't given Bruce that promise, Tom."

"Oh, that's all right. There are more ways of getting back at Sam than
making a class matter of it. Let's forget all about it. Whew! but I'm
stiff. Any of you fellows got any liniment?"

"I have," declared Bert, producing a bottle of highly-flavored
compound. "It's home-made but it goes to the spot," and Tom was soon
bathing his injured hip, and telling the story of Bruce's "experiment."
Much against their desires his chums promised with Tom not to proceed
against Sam and Nick.

Elmwood Hall began to buzz and hum with activities, not alone of
lessons and lectures, but of sports and the rumors of sports. There
were also whispers of hazings to come, and the luckless Freshmen
cowered in their rooms, and trembled at the sound of a knock on their
portals.

"Did you see the notice?" exclaimed Jack one afternoon as he rushed
into the room he shared with Tom and Bert.

"What notice?" asked Bert. "Has that sneak Heller left? If he has it
will save trouble later."

"No such luck," was the answer. "But football practice starts
to-morrow on the gridiron. Hurray! Let's get out our suits, and see
how many holes there are in 'em."

Books were tossed aside, and from the trunks were pulled the jackets
and trousers that had seen yeoman service.

"Mine are all right," announced Tom.

"Whew! There's an all-fired big rip here," declared Jack, as he viewed
his trousers. "Anyone got a needle and thread with 'em?"

"Use some wire," suggested Bert. "That's what I do. Thread won't
hold."

And then began a busy session for the chums.

It was the day of the first football practice. Out on the field
assembled half a hundred lads from whom the leading school team would
be picked. There were at least a dozen lads for every position, and
only a few positions to fill, for many of the former players had come
back.

"What are you going to try for, Tom?" asked Bert, as he delivered a
beautiful drop kick down the field.

"One of the backs--left half for choice."

"Here comes Morse," remarked Jack, as the