Edward Stratemeyer

“ Hold 'em!" was the Roxley cry. But it was not to be. The yard became two, and then the leather went over with a rush.
"A touchdown! A touchdown for Brill!"
"Now make it a goal!" was the cry, and a goal it became, the Brill quarter-back doing the kicking.
From that moment on the battle waged with a fury seldom seen on any gridiron. Brill, from almost certain defeat, commenced to scent a victory, and went into the play regardless of physical consequences. Tom had his thumb wrenched and Dick had his ankle skinned, but neither gave heed to the hurts. ”

“ Trunks and dress-suit cases were packed, and not only their father but also their Uncle Randolph and their Aunt Martha went to the depot to see them off.
"Now be good and take care of yourselves," said Mr. Rover on parting.
"Learn all you can," added Uncle Randolph. "Remember that knowledge is better than wealth."
"Oh, I'm going to cram my head full of learning this trip," answered
Tom with a grin.
"Take care of yourselves and don't get sick," was Aunt Martha's warning. "If you do, get a doctor right away." And then she gave each of the boys a warm, motherly kiss and a hug. ”

“ Did you bring your pet poodle and your fancywork, and those beautiful red and yellow socks you used to wear?"
"I hope you didn't forget that green and pink necktie you used to have," came from Sam, "and the blue handkerchief with the purple variegated border."
"I—ah—I never had those things," stormed Tubbs. "Oh, say, do you really go to Brill?" he questioned, with almost a groan in his voice.
"Sure as you're born," answered Dick. "We'll be glad to have you there, William Philander. You'll be a credit to the institution. We have a few fellows who dress well, but you'll top them all. I know it." ”

“ I only thought I'd help you out," answered Tom soberly. And then the would-be poet continued:
"The wind is dead, there is no breeze
To stir the bushes or the trees.
Full well I know, as here I stand,
That Solitude commands the land!"
"Good! Fine! Immense! Great!" cried Sam enthusiastically. "Hurrah for
Solitude!"
"Why, Mr. Powell, you are a real poet," said one of the girls gravely.
And this pleased Songbird greatly.
"You'll have to write in my autograph album," said another, and the would-be poet readily consented. Later he inscribed a poem in the book three pages long. ”

“ All turned to look in the direction of the turnout which was approaching. As it came closer the Rover boys recognized it as one belonging to Mr. Sanderson. On the front seat sat Songbird, driving, with Minnie Sanderson beside him. On the rear seat was William Philander Tubbs, in company with one of Minnie's friends—a girl the Rovers had met while nutting.
"There's a happy crowd!" cried Tom after they had passed and bowed and smiled.
"No happier than we are," said Dick as he looked meaningly at Dora. ”

“ Dick.
"I feel like pulling a strong stroke from the first," answered Tom.
"Let us do it, and leave them completely in the shade."
"No. We must first try to find out what they can do."
"Say, you've got to beat 'em," came from Sam, as the launch came close. "If they win you'll never hear the end of it."
"They're not going to win," answered Dick, quietly but firmly.
"All ready?" asked Frank Holden, as the boats drew up side by side near the boathouse float.
"We are!" sang out Tom.
"Ready!" answered Jerry Koswell. ”

“ Then the chauffeur left, and the automobile dashed on its way in the direction of Rushville.
As the Rovers and their chums were out purely for pleasure, they took their time in driving to Rushville, going there by way of Hope Seminary. They thought they might catch sight of Dora and the Lanings, but were disappointed.
"Too bad that they have got to grind away on such a fine day as this," said Dick.
"Well, such is life," returned Sam. "One good thing, schooldays won't last forever."
"Just wait till the summer vacation comes!" cried Tom. ”

“ I set the powder on fire and got that strange vapor that almost strangled us."
"You did!" cried Sam. "Then that stuff came from that druggist beyond a doubt."
"So I figure it. But there is no druggist named Schlemp here," went on
Tom, "and the druggist here doesn't know of such a fellow."
"I know what we can do," cried Dick. "Don't you remember, Dan Baxter said he had worked for a wholesale drug house? We can telegraph and ask him if he knows of this Schlemp."
"Then let us do it at once," said Tom. "I have his route—the one he said he was to follow." ”

“ The instructors, who also knew what was coming, wisely kept out of sight.
"Come on, and at 'em!" called out Dudd Flockley, and this cry was quickly taken up by all the others who were to take part in the contest.
"Hello! They know a thing or two," said Frank Holden, who was the sophomore leader in the attack. "They've got the little fellows in the middle."
As tightly as possible the freshmen gathered around the flagstaff. Each wore a necktie of the college colors and it was fastened as tightly as strong thread could hold it.
"At 'em!" was the yell of the second and third-year lads. ”

“ He gathered himself up hastily and Jerry Koswell followed. "Who are you?" he demanded, facing Dick with clenched fists.
"Never mind who I am," was the reply of the oldest Rover. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"
"This is none of your affair," came from Koswell.
"Well, we made it our affair," answered Tom. He turned to the girl "I hope we did right," he added hastily.
"Why—er—yes, I think so," faltered the girl. She was still very white and trembling. "But—but I hope you didn't hurt them."
"See here, Minnie, are you going to stand for this?" growled Dudd
Flockley. "It ain't fair! ”

“ They drove over the river, and as they did so they heard the whistle of a locomotive.
"Something is coming," cried Dick.
"Perhaps it's only the night freight," returned Tom.
When they reached the depot the train was standing there. It was the morning accommodation, nine hours late. They saw some mail bags thrown off and also several express boxes and packages.
Curiosity prompted Dick to inspect the express goods. He uttered a cry of joy.
"A box for us!" he exclaimed. "And from Cedarville!"
"Where?" cried Tom and Sam, and ran forward to look the box over. ”

“ Sam and the girls listened with interest to what they had to say.
"Those boys must be very wicked," said Nellie. "If we had been running fast we might have had a serious accident."
"Shall you accuse them of it?" asked Dora.
"I don't know. I'll think it over," answered Dick.
"The cut-up tire has got to be paid for," said Tom. "Whoever is guilty ought to be made to foot the bill."
While Dick and Sam jacked up the axle of the automobile and put on a new tire—inner tube and shoe combined—Sam set to work and cleaned up the roadway, throwing all the glass into the bushes. ”

“ Hall," remarked Dick Rover. "Those were jolly times and no mistake!
Think of the feasts, and the hazings, and the baseball and football,
and the rackets with the Pornell students, and all that!"
"Speaking of hazing, I heard that some of the hazing at the college we're bound for is fierce," came from Sam Rover.
"Well, we'll have to stand for what comes, Sam," answered his big brother. "No crying quit' here."
"Right you are, Dick," said Tom, "At the same time if—Great Caesar's ghost, what's up now!"
As Tom uttered the last words a shrill whistle from the locomotive pierced the air. ”

“ The day for the contest dawned clear and bright, and early in the afternoon the visitors from Roxley, Hope, and other institutions of learning, as well as from Ashton and other towns, commenced to pour in. They came on foot, in carriages and automobiles, and on bicycles, and soon the grandstand and the bleachers were filled to overflowing. Flags and college colors were in evidence everywhere, and so were horns and rattles.
While Dick was waiting to catch sight of the carriage containing Sam and the girls from Hope he saw another turnout approaching. ”

“ And sure enough, it was Tubbs, the most dudish pupil Putnam Hall had ever known, and one with whom the cadets had had no end of fun.
"My dear old Buttertub, how are you?" called out Tom loudly, and caught the new arrival by the shoulder. "How are you, and how is the wife, and the eight children?" ”

“ Why, we must be running sixty miles an hour!"
"If we are not we are making pretty close to it," came from a third boy of the party in the parlor car. "I think the engineer is trying to make up some of the time we lost at the last stop."
"That must be it, Dick," said Sam Rover. "Gracious, how we are rocking!" he added as the train rushed around a sharp curve and nearly threw him from his chair.
"I hope we get to Ashton on time," remarked Tom Rover. "I want to take a look around the grounds before it gets dark."
"That's Tom, wanting to see it all before he sleeps!" cried Sam Rover with a grin. ”

“ He stared at Tom and then at Dick and Sam. "What are you—ah—doing here, may I inquire? But please," he added hurriedly, "don't call me Buttertub, and don't say I have a wife and children, when I haven't." And Tubbs looked around to see if anybody had overheard Tom's remark.
"We go to school here," said Dick as he shook hands. "Brill College."
"Well, I never!" gasped the tall dude. "Brill, did you say?"
"That's it," put in Sam.
"I am going there myself."
"You!" roared Tom. "Hail Columbia, happy land! That's the best yet, Tubblets. We'll have dead loads of fun. ”