Allen Chapman

“ He doesn’t stop to think, but he’s got a host of friends, and everybody likes him, even old Skeel I guess, for I’ve seen ’em together lots of times.”
“I wonder what his special trouble is now?” speculated Tom.
“Give it up. Bruce will never tell until it’s settled. He’s proud—won’t take help from any one if he can help it. So you know him?”
“Well, I hardly can say I know him. He may not want to keep up the acquaintance down here,” spoke Tom.
“Oh, yes he will. Bruce isn’t that kind. Once he meets you he’s always friendly, and, if he takes a notion to you, why you couldn’t have a better friend.” ”

“ OFF FOR ELMWOOD HALL
“Talk about lazy fellows!” murmured Tom, as he bent to his oars, “that Dent Wilcox certainly is the limit. He’s too lazy to row, so he borrows my motorboat. Then he’s too lazy to learn how to crank the engine, and too lazy to turn the flywheel over hard enough. It’s a wonder he ever got started, and when he does get going he doesn’t take enough pains to look out where he’s steering. If he wrecks my boat I’ll make him pay for her.”
Tom cast a glance over his shoulder toward his craft, and the sight of the boat nearer the rocks made him row faster than ever. ”

“ It was quiet around the college when the Freshmen came back after their partly unsuccessful escape. That their going had been discovered no one doubted, but there seemed to be no one on the watch for them, and no undue excitement in Opus Manor.
“Now for the effigy!” exclaimed Tom, as he told the others his plans. “Jack and I, and a few of us are enough. The rest of you stand ready to give our yell as the fire starts.”
It did not take long, in the barn, and with the light of several lanterns which Tom had hidden, to make the effigy of Professor Skeel. ”

“ Think I’d have a chance?”
“It’s too early to say, but have a try, anyhow.”
“Are any of the professors very savage?” asked Tom.
“Only so-so. Doctor Pliny Meredith is head master, I suppose you know.”
“Yes. How is he?”
“As full of learning as a crab is of meat in the middle of August, but he’s not very jolly. Rather stand-offish, and distant, though sometimes he warms up. We call him ‘Merry’ because he’s usually so glum. But he’s fair, and he thinks Elmwood Hall the greatest institution ever. To him a fellow’s word is as good as his bond. ”

“ Tom told him and Reddy whistled.
“Why, what’s up?” asked our hero.
“Nothing, if you don’t mind it, only you’ve made an enemy right off the bat. That Heller is one of the few undesirables here. His crony, Nick Johnson, is another. Heller is down on you all right, though it isn’t your fault.”
“I don’t mind in the least,” spoke Tom.
“He’s one of the scrappers,” went on Reddy. “Look out!”
“I can take care of myself,” replied Tom. “Thanks, just the same,” and, as he followed Monitor Blackford into the dormitory, he realized that he had made an enemy and a friend in the same day. ”

“ Once they had made up their minds to accept the situation the boys made merry over the meager breakfast.
“Anyhow, we can cut all lectures!” exulted several who were not fond of study.
“And we’ll have to pull our belts in a few holes if this sort of grub keeps up long,” commented Jack.
“Yes, a fine sort of strike this is!” sneered Sam Heller. “I never agreed to starve, Tom Fairfield.” He glared at his rival.
“You can starve with the rest of us,” spoke our hero, grimly. “Besides, you can live a long time on bread and water. ”

“ Only this is a serious matter.”
“I know it,” admitted Tom, quietly. “And it’s a serious matter to be treated as we have been treated in class nearly every day by Professor Skeel. I’m tired of being bullyragged. This strike is for principle, not for any material advantage.
“But, anyhow, if they do suspend us it can’t last for long. Why, nearly every Freshman is in with us. That is, all but those who don’t like Latin, and they’re mighty scarce.
“Now practically the whole Freshman class of a college can’t be suspended for any great length of time, and the ban will soon be raised.” ”

“ In very wonderment the instructor took it and then, with a final series of groans, Tom and the others turned and hurried away.
“Come back. I demand that you return. Take those silly cloths from your heads, and let me see who you are!” cried Professor Skeel, but our hero and his chums knew better than to tarry.
“Halt!” cried the professor. He started after the lads, but, as he reached the bottom step he tripped on a stick, and fell and, as he had on light slippers, the contact of his toes with the ground was anything but comfortable. ”

“ Oh, I have done some boning, and I haven’t cut lectures any more than the rest of the team did. You simply have to cut some if you play all the games, and I didn’t miss any contests, you can make up your mind to that. Most all of us at the Ball and Bat play either on the diamond, or gridiron, or row on the crew. I say though, maybe you’re that way yourself?” and Reddy looked questioningly at our hero.
“Well,” admitted Tom, modestly, “I can row a bit, and I like baseball. I’ve never played football much. I wasn’t quite heavy enough for the team at our Academy.” ”

“ Once more Tom turned the flywheel over several times, but, though the engine coughed, wheezed and spluttered, as though in apology at having such poor health, it did not start.
“Say, you haven’t got your forward switch on!” suddenly exclaimed Will. “There’s no spark.”
“No wonder!” cried Tom. “I remember now, I had it on, and then, as I didn’t want to get a shock when I was cleaning the spark plug, I shut it off. Then I forgot to put it on again. Hop in, and close the switch, Will, and then maybe we can start. I guess most of the oil is out, now.” ”

“ I have thought of the best plan.”
“What is it?” asked Professor Skeel, hoping it was the suspension of the entire class, and the expulsion of Tom.
“We will treat with the strikers, just as is done in industrial strikes,” said Doctor Meredith with an air of triumph, as if he had discovered a most unusual way of settling the trouble. “We will arbitrate. That is the best way. I will send them a personal communication, when they have assembled. I must make some notes. If you will kindly post a bulletin, requesting the class to assemble in, say, the gymnasium, I will send a communication to them. ”

“ TOM MAKES AN ENEMY
Tom crossed the aisle of the lurching car, and was soon sitting beside the red-haired youth who had made such friendly advances.
“How did you know I was going to Elmwood?” asked our hero, as a sort of opening.
“Easy enough. You’ve got the air of a fellow going to college for the first time sticking out all over you. Oh, no offense!” exclaimed Reddy Burke as he saw Tom’s start. “It’s an honor to start at Elmwood Hall. Lots of fellows would like to, but can’t. I spotted you for a Freshman right off the bat.” ”

“ We know how you trained in with the Sophomores at the hazing, and that doesn’t look as though you considered yourself a Freshman, though I know why you did it, all right,” and Tom looked at his enemy significantly.
“That’s what!” shouted Jack Fitch.
“Now, as I said,” went on Tom, “if we do strike, and refuse to recite to Skeel, it won’t amount to anything unless the class stands together. If even one member backs down it will look as though he didn’t believe our cause right and just, and we can’t afford to have that. Now, are you with us or against us? ”

“ They have us boxed in, all right!” cried Tom, as his attention was called to the precautions taken to keep the lads in Opus Manor. “This is what they were doing last night when we were having our fun. I’ve no doubt but that the spy came into the hall to see if we were likely to stay up there eating, while they got in their fine work. Oh, but we were chumps not to think of this!”
“No one would,” said Jack Fitch. “I say, though, I believe if we all go together we can break out. We can handle Blackford!” ”

“ Besides, for all I know you may have been making a psychological study of the pawnbroker, eh?”
“Oh, of course,” laughed Bruce uneasily. “But say, youngster, you fellows are making names for yourselves. Jove! We Freshmen never went on a strike. You’ve got us beaten a mile, even if we did drive a cow up on Merry’s doorstep. But a strike! Never!”
“Maybe you hadn’t any need,” spoke Tom. “Was Skeel as bad in your time as he is now?”
“Worse, if anything. And he’s a——” Bruce hesitated. ”

“ Professor Skeel, it seems, is no longer a member of the faculty of Elmwood Hall. I do not understand it, but I fear he has left for good.”
“And I know it—I don’t fear it,” murmured Tom. “I’m glad of it, too. It saves me the disagreeable duty of branding him as a forger. All’s well that ends well? I suppose.”
“The purpose of this meeting having been accomplished,” went on Doctor Meredith, “you may consider yourselves excused. You will report for Latin recitation to Professor Hammond, until further notice, and I will engage a new classical professor as soon as possible.” ”

“ There was one iceboat out on the broad surface of the river as our hero and his chums arrived.
“Know how to sail one?” asked Bruce, as he took his place in the shallow box that served as a [105] sort of cockpit, while some of the boys perched on the runners.
“Fairly well,” replied Tom, and soon they were skimming over the slippery surface, with Tom at the helm. It was great sport, and they liked it immensely.
“This is fine!” exclaimed Bruce, with sparkling eyes, and something of a return of his old manner. “It beats skating!” and he kicked his skates that he had tossed into the box near him. ”

“ If we go back, and call the strike off, do we get it?”
“That’s what we want to know,” added Jack Fitch.
“And we want something to eat, too,” spoke Bert Wilson.
“You will return to your dormitory,” went on Doctor Meredith in an even voice. “This must go on no longer.”
“But what about the Latin class?” asked Tom persistently. “Are we to be prisoners? Aren’t we to be allowed to recite, or attend lectures?”
“I will settle all that tomorrow,” said the doctor. “I may state, however, that you will recite, if you do at all to-morrow, to another Latin instructor.” ”

“ A number of students from Elmwood Hall were gathered about, and some were out in the rowing craft.
Tom and Jack learned that the man in charge kept boats for hire, and the two chums were soon out in one, pulling up the river so, as Tom explained, they would have it easier coming back with the current.
“There goes the Senior shell!” exclaimed Jack, as from the college boathouse the long, slender craft was rowed out, looking not unlike some big bug, with long, slender legs. “They’re practicing for the race, I guess.” ”

“ Several days passed, and nearly all the students, save a few Seniors, had arrived. Bruce Bennington was among the missing, and Tom found himself wondering if he would come back.
“Maybe his trouble will keep him out of college,” thought our hero, and he felt some regret, for he had formed a liking for the lad, though he had met him but once.
“Come on down to the river,” proposed Tom one day, after the last lecture for himself and his chum. “I’m just aching to get into a boat, and I understand there are some on the Ware river that a fellow can hire. I wish I had my motorboat here.” ”

“ Tom was unpacking his belongings from his valise when the expressman arrived with his trunk, and a little later the matron knocked at the door to ask if our hero found himself at home.
“Yes, thank you,” replied Tom, accepting the clean towels she brought. He had begun to hang up his clothes.
“I do hope you get a nice young man in with you,” suggested Mrs. Blackford. “One who won’t be cutting up, and doing all sorts of mischievous pranks.” ”

“ I was a Freshman once. Come on, I’ll show you the way, but don’t work the trick too often.”
Bruce walked up to Tom, and remarked:
“Oh, it’s you, is it, Fairfield. Glad to see you again. I didn’t recognize you in the darkness. I just got in to-day.”
“Yes, I saw you,” remarked our hero as he introduced his chums.
Bruce continued to walk on beside Tom, the others following. The Senior led the way along a little-used path, well screened by trees from spying eyes.
“Won’t you get caught yourself?” Tom wanted to know.
“No, we lordly Seniors are allowed a few more privileges than you luckless squabs. ”

“ Sam Heller was a little behind, but in practice he had done well, and Tom knew that in his enemy he had a dangerous rival.
Bruce Bennington was skating well, the only one of the Seniors who seemed to stand a chance, while a member each of the Junior and Sophomore class was up in the front now.
“Everyone is holding back,” said Jack to Tom.
“Yes, waiting for a break. I’ve a good notion to give it to ’em, and take a chance.”
“Don’t you do it. Let some one else set the pace. Hold back. We want to win this race for the Freshman class, and we’re depending on you.” ”