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Learning Java
B P J
F D
By
John Bach

For information contact :
(alabamamond@gmail.com, memlnc)
http://www.memlnc.com
First Edition: july 2020
UNITY GAME PROGRAMMING
Copyright © 2020 by ALEXANDER ARONOWITZ

"Programming isn't about what you
know; it's about what you can figure out.”
Chris Pine -

CONTENT
INTRODUCTION
J P E
BASIC STRUCTURES OF THE JAVA LANGUAGE
A ' J
C
D
C
B
Methods for working with large numbers
O
Converting numeric types
Cast
S
Union with t rock
Substrings
Editing a string
Checking strings for equalit y
Some methods of the String class
C
Block scope
Conditional statement if - else
Multivariate branching - switch statement
While and do - while loops
cycle for
Break statement
The continue statement
A
Copying arrays

Sorting arrays
Arrays Class Methods
Multidimensional array s
Command line parameters
C -
OBJECTS AND CLASSES
I O O P
OOP terminology
Differences between OOP and Traditional Procedural Programming
C
New operation
An example of using existing classes
C
Method overloading
The this keyword in constructors
A
S
Static fields
Static methods
I
P
Using packages
Adding a class to a package
Specifying the path to packages
Package scope
JAR files
C
INHERITANCE
E
O ( )
I
P
D
P I : T C M
A
P A ( , )
H
I
Interface operator

Implements statement
Constants in interfaces
EXCEPTIONAL SITUATIONS
C E
D M E
How to raise an exceptional situation
Creating Exception Classes
C ( - )
Catching multiple exceptions
Re-raising an exception
Finally section
H
I / O STREAMS
Reading and writing bytes
C
S
D
D F S
T
Writing text to the output stream
Reading text from an input stream
W
LETTER T HURRAY
Introduction
The Java language was created in the early 90's as part of a
software development project for consumer electronic devices. The
original new object-oriented programming language was named Oak
(oak) . With the development of network Internet language Oak was
used to create Internet-applications ( eg, n and this language was
written Oak-browser " WebRunner " ) . In 1995, Sun Microsystems
decided to announce a new product, renaming it Java (the only
reasonable explanation for the name is the love of coffee
programmers) , and WebRunner was renamed HotJava .
The Java language is now increasingly used to create " middleware "
that maintains communication between clients and server resources
. In addition, the Java language has taken over the leadership in

embedded systems , becoming the de facto standard for portable
devices , on-board car computers, and so on .
One of the main advantages of the Java language is independence
from the platform on which programs are executed: the same code
can be run under Windows , Solaris , Linux , Macintosh , etc.
Operating systems . Another advantage is that the syntax of the
Java language is similar to the syntax language s C ++ and C . In
addition, Java is a completely object-oriented language, even more
so than C ++. All entities in the Java language are objects, with the
exception of a few primitive types , such as numbers.
In contrast to C ++ , it is easier to develop error-free programs in
Java . The Java language provides tools to eliminate the very
possibility of creating programs that would hide the most common
errors. To do this, the Java language has done the following :
The possibility of explicit allocation and freeing of memory
has been excluded. Java memory is automatically reclaimed
by garbage collection. The programmer is guaranteed
against errors related to misuse of memory ;
Introduced true arrays and disallowed pointer arithmetic.
Now programmers, in principle, cannot erase data from
memory due to improper use of pointers ;
Eliminated the possibility of confusing the assignment
operator with the equality comparison operator . Now you
can not even compile the expression of the if ( a = 3) { ... }
(this error - the source of most confusion in the languages C
and C ++).
Multiple inheritance is excluded. It has been replaced by
the concept of interface a , borrowed from Objective C. An
interface gives the programmer almost everything a
programmer can get from multiple inheritance, while
avoiding the complexity of managing class hierarchies .
Java Program Execution
A program written in a high-level language (called a source module )
cannot be executed immediately . From the beginning it must be

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compiled, that is , translated into a sequence of machine instructions
- an object module. For boot th unit I of bektny module n uzhno build
the libraries used in the module and enable the cross-references
between the object module sections
The source module written in the language of the Java , could not
avoid these procedures, but here is shown the main feature of the
technology the Java - the program is compiled directly into machine
instructions, but does not command a particular processor, and in
the team's so-called in irtualn second machine s the Java ( JVM,
Java Virtual Machi ne ). The Java Virtual Machine is a collection of
commands along with their execution system. Note that the virtual
machine Java completely stack, and therefore does not require
complex th addressing of and memory cells and a large of quantity
and registers. By A team JVM short, most of which it has a length of
1 byte, so the JVM command called a byte - code ( bytecodes ),
although there are teams of length 2 and 3 bytes. Full description of
the commands and the entire JVM architecture is contained in a
virtual machine specification the Java (the VMS, the Virtual Machine
specifica tion of ).
Another feature of Java is that all standard functions that are called
in a program are connected to it only at run time, and are not
included in the bytecode. In other words, there is dynamic linking (
dynamic binding ) , which significantly reduces the amount of the
compiled program.
Since a program written in Java is translated by the compiler into the
bytecode of the Java Virtual Machine , it is independent of the type
of processor and architecture of the computer being used .
Therefore, bytecode can be performed and be on any computer with
a system that implements the JVM. In this case, neither the type of
processor nor the architecture of the computer is important. T. e
language. The Java - machine-independent. (Obviously, the
implementation of the Java virtual machine is platform dependent.)
Bytecode interpretation and dynamic linking slow down program
execution significantly. It does not matter when the bytecode before
ae tsya on the network - network slower than any interpretation ;
however , other situations require a powerful and fast computer. To

increase the speed of interpretation p azrabotany JIT-compiler ( "
timely " compilers - the Just - with In - Time The compiler ),
memories have interpreted sections of code to machine CPU and
simply performing these areas when re-treatment, for example, in
cycles. Only a specialized processor can provide the highest speed
of bytecode execution . The company of SUN Microsystems
released the microprocessors picoJava , running on the system JVM
command, e nce and Java-processors of other companies. These
processors directly execute bytecode.
And nterpreta tori JVM commands in a specific processor
instructions designed for virtually all computing platforms. More and
more operating systems and database management systems include
JVM implementation in their core. A special JavaOS operating
system has also been created , which is used in electronic devices.
Most browsers have a built-in Java virtual machine to run applets.
The company of SUN Microsystems - the creator of technology Java
- distributes a set of software tools required for a full cycle of
software development on the language ie Java under the name of
the JDK ( Java Development Kit ). There are toolkits from other
companies .
The JDK suite of programs and classes contains:
javac - source to bytecode compiler;
java - the interpreter containing the JVM implementation;
appietviewer - browser-replacement applet viewer
jdt - debugger;
javap - disassembler;
jar - pro gram archiving and compression (using the
format zip -files);
the javadoc - prog Ranma to generate documentation
from comments ;
javah - generating program language header file C ;
javakey - a program for adding an electronic signature;
native2ascii - a program that converts binary files to text;
rmic and rmiregistry programs for working with remote
objects;

serialver - the program that determines the version
number of the class;
libraries and header files of " built-in " methods;
Library classes Java API (Application Programming
Interface) and others .
The first version of the JDK 1.0 was released in 1996 g ode . Starting
with the version the JDK 1.2, which came out in December 1998 g .,
Food technology Java Company and SUN became and nazyvat sya
Java 2 Platform of Standard Edition , abbreviated J 2 SE , a the JDK
was pereimenova n in Java 2 of Standard Edition the SDK (
Software Development Kit ) , abbreviated as J 2 SDK . Also issue
were Java 2 Enterprise Edition the SDK and Java 2 Micro Edition the
SDK . ( However, the very company SUN until now has enjoyed ,
and the old name - the JDK .) With the version the JDK 1.6
packages means development began and nazyvat sya the Java
Platform of Standard Edition Development Kit ( the Java SE ) , the
Java Platform Enterprise Edition the SDK ( the Java EE ) and the
Java Platform Micro Edition SDK ( Java ME ). In addition , SUN
separately distributes a set of JRE ( Java Runtime Environment ) for
working with compiled Java programs .
Basic structures of the Java language
A simple Java program
Consider a simple program that prints a message to the console
window :
public class FirstSample
{
public static void main (String [] args)
{
System.out.println ("Hello, World!");
}
}

The first and main point is that in the Java language , uppercase and
lowercase letters are strictly distinguished. If , for example, Dialed
amb word Main instead of main , the program will not be executed.
The keyword public is called the access modifier ( access modifier );
such modifiers control access to this code from other parts of the
program. The keyword class reminds us that all of the entities in the
language Java is inside a class , t. E. In Neki x container x , in which
the logic of the program concluded, defining the application. Classes
are the building blocks that make up all applications and applets
written in the Java language . All entities in Java programs must be
inside classes.
The class keyword is followed by the class name. The rules for
generating class names are not too strict. The name must start with
a letter, and the rest of it can be any combination of letters and
numbers. The length of the name is practically unlimited. Java
reserved words (for example, public or if ) cannot be used as a class
name .
Classes are usually called nouns starting with an uppercase letter.
The file containing the source code must be named the same as the
public class and have the extension . j ava .
Compiling the program :
java c FirstSample . java
The Java compiler will automatically name this file FirstSample .
class and will save it in the directory containing the source file.
To redirect error messages to a file ( when working on UNIX or
Windows NT / 2000 / XP platforms ) , just use the 2> operator:
javac FirstSample . java 2> errors . txt
For in the Run eniya byte code and using an interpreter Java n
uzhno dial command
java FirstSample
( no extension . class ) .

When to start from the compiled program, use the command java
ClassName , language interpreter Java always starts with the
implementation of the method main of the specified class. Therefore,
for the program to run at all, the class must contain a main method .
In accordance with the specification of the language Java method
main must be declared public ( the public ) and static ( static ) . With
lovo void means that the method does not return any value.
The brackets in the source code of a program are used to mark parts
of the program (usually called blocks). In Java, the code of any
method must begin with an opening curly brace and end with a
closing curly brace ({…}) .
By azhdy operator must end with a semicolon. In particular, the end-
of-line character does not mean that the statement is terminated , so
the statement can span as many lines as needed.
In this example, for a text string output using tsya object System . out
and cause t Xia its method println , in which the text string is passed
as a parameter. Note that period is used to call the method.
In the language of the Java , as well as in the language of s C / C ++
for the designation used strings double quotes.
Java methods can have one or more parameters , or none at all .
Even if the method has no parameters, you must leave empty
parentheses. For example, there is a parameterless version of the
println method that prints an empty string to the screen. Its call looks
like this: System.out.println () .
Comments
Comments in Java , as in most programming languages, are ignored
when compiling a program. Thus, you can add as many comments
to the program as required without fear of increasing its size.
The Java language has three ways to highlight comments in text.
The most common use of two forward slashes is //, whereby the
comment begins immediately after the // characters and continues to
the end of the line. In addition, the delimiters / * and * / can be used .

T retya variety comments mozh is ispolzovat sya for automatic
generation of documentation. These comments begin with / ** and
end with * /. The javadoc utility is used to automatically generate
documentation . exe .
Data types and variables
The Java language is strongly typed. This means that the type of
each variable must be declared.
In the language of Java , there are eight basic types ( primitive types
) data. Four of them are integers, two - to the actual floating- point,
one is a character type char , used to represent characters in the
format of the Unicode , and the latter - a boolean type boolean - is
used for logical values.
There is no concept of unsigned numbers in Java .
Table 1 . Data types
A type Size in bytes Change interval
int 4 o t - 2147 483648 up to 2147483647
short 2 from -32768 up to 32767
l ong 8
o t -
9223372036854775808L
up to
922337203685477580
7 L
byte 1 o t - 12 8 up to 1 27
float 4 from - 3.4 02823 47 Е
38 F
up to 3.4 02823 47 E +
38 F
double 8 from - 1.7976931348623 1
57 E + 308
D o 1.79769313486231
57 E + 308
char 2 from 0 ( ' u0000 ' )
up to 65535 ( ' uFFFF
' )
Long integers have an L suffix ( for example, 4000000000L).
Hexadecimal numbers are prefixed with 0 x ( for example, 0 xCAFE
or 0 xcafe ). Octal numbers are prefixed with 0. For example, 010 is
8 10 .
Float numbers have an F suffix, for example 3.402F. Floating point
numbers having no suffix F ( e.g., 3.402), are always treated as the

number of type double ( with double precision ) . You can (but not
necessarily) use the D suffix to represent them, for example 3.402D.
All calculations performed on floating point numbers follow the IEEE
754 standard. In particular, the Java language has three special
floating point numbers:
positive infinity (constant Double . POSITIVE _ INFINITY )
;
negative infinity (constant Double . NEGATIVE _
INFINITY ) ;
NaN (not a number) ( constant Double. NaN ) .
They are used to indicate overflow and error. For example, dividing a
positive number by 0 equals positive infinity. Evaluating 0/0 or taking
the square root of a negative number is NaN.
For constants of type char , single quotes are used. For example, ' H
' is a character. It differs from "H" , which is a single character string.
In Java to represent the characters are encoded the Unicode , so the
value of the type as char coded 2-byte of vym code. Unicode is the
union of dozens of character encodings ; it includes Latin, Greek,
Arabic alphabets, Cyrillic and many other character sets.
Unicode character codes are usually expressed as hexadecimal
values from ' u0000' to ' uFFFF' . The u prefix means that the
character is in Unicode format , followed by four hexadecimal digits
that identify the character. For example, ' u2122 ' is a trademark
(™) symbol .
With quantities of type char mozh but handled as integers . This
makes it possible to add two characters together, or to increment the
value of a character variable :
The Java language has a simple boolean type used to store boolean
values. Variables of this type can take only two values - true (true)
and false (false). Values of type boolean return as a result of all
comparison operators .
Note that the variable name must also begin with a letter and be a
combination of letters and numbers. The terms "letters" and
"numbers" in Java have a broader meaning than in most other
programming languages. Letters are considered Sim oxen ' A' - ' the

Z', 'a' - ' the z ', '_' and any symbol encoding the Unicode . Similarly,
both ordinary decimal digits '0' - ' 9 ' and any Unicode characters
used to denote a digit in any language are considered digits. The
use of other characters in identifiers is prohibited. All characters in
the variable name are important, and the case of the keyboard also
matters. Variable name length is not limited. You cannot use
reserved words as variable names.
In the language of Java size ad is, and determining the e variables
do not differ.
After declaring a variable, you must explicitly initialize it using the
assignment operator. For example :
int vacationDays ; // This is a declaration
vacationDays = 12; // This is an assignment operator
int index = 0 xffffffff ; // -1
long number = 25 L ;
float result = 2.5 F ;
double pi = 3.14159;
char c1 = 0x f132;
char c2 = 'a';
char c3 = ' n';
char c4 = ' u2122 ' ;
boolean done = false ;
The basic form of a variable declaration is as follows:
type identifier [= value] [, identifier [= value 2 ...];
Type - is either one of the built-in types so . e . byte , short , int , long
, char , float , double , boolean , or the name of a class or interface.
Constants
The Java language uses the final keyword to denote constants , for
example:
public class Constants
{
{
final double CM_PER_INCH = 2.54 ;

double paperWidth = 8.5;
double PaperHeight = 11;
System . out . the println ( " The size of the page in
inches "
+ paperWidth * CM_PER_INCH + " on "
+ paper H eight * CM _ PER _ INCH );
}
}
The final keyword means that you can assign a value to a given
variable only once. It is not necessary to use only uppercase letters
in constant names .
In the Java language , you often need constants that are available to
multiple methods within the same class. They are usually called
class constants . Class constants are declared using the static final
keywords . Here's an example using a class constant :
public class Constants 2
{
public static final double CM_PER_INCH = 2.54;
{
...
}
}
Note the fact that the class constant is defined outside the main
method . Thus, it can be used in other methods of the same class.
Moreover, if (as in this example) a constant is declared public ,
methods from other classes can also access it. In our example, this
can be done using the expression Constants 2. CM _ PER _ INCH .
Big numbers
If the precision of the built-in integer and floating point types is not
sufficient , you can refer to the two classes in the Java package .
math called Big I nteger and BigDecimal . These classes are

designed to manipulate numbers consisting of an arbitrary number of
digits. The Big I nteger and BigDecimal classes implement arbitrary
precision arithmetic on integers and real numbers, respectively.
To convert an ordinary number to “ large ”, use the method
valueOf . Big I nteger a = Big I nteger.value O f (100);
The usual mathematical operators “ + ” and “ * ” cannot be applied to
large numbers . Instead, you need to use the add and multiply
methods from the classes to work with large numbers :
Big I nteger with = a . add ( b ); // c = a + b
BigI nteger d = c .multiply (b.add (BigInteger.valueOf (2)));
// d = c * ( b + 2)
Methods for working with large numbers
java.math.Big I nteger 1.1
Big I nteger add (Big I nteger other)
Big I nteger subtract (Big I nteger othe r)
Big I nteger multiply (Big I nteger other)
Big I nteger divide (Big I nteger other)
Big I nteger mod (Big I nteger other)
These functions return the sum, difference, product, quotient, and remainder of
a given large number by the value of other .
int compa reTo (Big I nteg e r other)
Returns 0 if the given large number is equal to the value of other, a negative
number if the given large number is less than the value of other, and positive
otherwise.
static Big I nteger valueOf (long x)
Returns a large number equal to the value of x.
java.mathBigDecimal 1.1
BigDecimal add (BigDecimal other)
BigDecimal subtract (BigDecimal other)
BigDecimal multiply (BigDecimal other)
BigDecimal divide (BigDecimal other, int roundingMod e)
Returns the sum, difference, product, and quotient of a large decimal number
by the value of other . To calculate the quotient, you need to support the
rounding mode. BigDecimal ROUND_HALF_UP means normal rounding (that
is , downward if the last digit is less than 5, and upward if it is greater than 5).

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Title: Kingsford, Quarter
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KINGSFORD,
QUARTER ***

Kingsford, Quarter
THE GREAT GAME.

Kingsford, Quarter
By
Ralph Henry Barbour
Author of “The Crimson Sweater,” “Tom, Dick, and Harriet,”
“Harry’s Island,” “Captain Chub,” etc.
With Illustrations
By C. M. Relyea
New York
The Century Co.
1910
Copyright, 1909, 1910, by
The Century Co.

Published September, 1910
Electrotyped and Printed by
C. H. Simonds & Co., Boston
TO
CARLETON NOYES
AS A TOKEN OF A
LONG FRIENDSHIP

CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. Evan Happens in 3
II. The Boy in 32 14
III. Evan Makes Acquaintances 28
IV. Malcolm Warne 41
V. Evan Is Warned 55
VI. The Hazing 71
VII. Up the Mountain 89
VIII. On Table Rock 104
IX. Dinner Is Served 112
X. Stories and Slumber 121
XI. Jelly Climbs a Tree 131
XII. In the Fog 145
XIII. Evan Retires 157
XIV. The Football Meeting 167
XV. The Contribution-box 182
XVI. Rob Plays a Trump 195
XVII. The Independents Organize 205
XVIII. Duffield Takes Hold 220
XIX. Devens Agrees 233
XX. Independents vs. Second 246
XXI. Devens Resigns 262
XXII. The School Takes a Hand 277
XXIII. The Independents Dissolve 296
XXIV. The Game with Adams 312

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
The Great Game Frontispiece
PAGE
“Look pleasant, kid,” he continued threateningly 7
“I play foot-ball,” answered Evan. “I want to try for the
team here” 21
“Hello!” he said. “Oh, beg pardon. Where’s Rob?” 47
“Ever played foot-ball?” 57
“Talk about your palatial mansions!” exclaimed Rob 67
He went through the motions of kicking from
placement 83
It was a silent and very disgusted throng of spectators 199
“If we don’t make Hop and Prentiss sit up and take
notice before the season’s over, I’ll eat my hat!” 217
“Now then, you fellows—I’m here to show you what I
know about foot-ball and you’re here to learn” 229
The game between the Independents and the Second
School Team 251
“Then that’s settled, eh?” asked Hopkins beamingly 273
The meeting broke up in confusion 289
The meeting resolved itself into a parade that made
the round of the buildings and sang foot-ball songs 305

E
CHAPTER I
EVAN HAPPENS IN
van climbed the second flight of stairs, pulling his bag heavily
behind him. For the last quarter of an hour he had been wishing
that he had packed fewer books in it. At the station he had stopped
to telegraph to his family announcing his safe arrival at Riverport,
and so had lost the stage to school and had walked a full mile and a
quarter. That is ordinarily no task for a well-set-up, strong lad of
fifteen years, but when he is burdened with a large suit-case
containing no end of books and boots and other stuff that ought to
be in his trunk, and when the last half-mile is steadily uphill, it
makes a difference. Evan was aware of the difference.
At the top of the final flight he set the bag down and looked
speculatively up and down the long, dim hallway. In front of him the
closed door was numbered 24. At the office they had assigned him
to 36 Holden. He had found the dormitory without difficulty, and
now he had only to find 36. He wondered which way the numbers
ran. That he wasn’t alone up here on the second floor was evident,
for from behind closed doors and opened doors came the sound of
much talking and laughter. While he stood there resting his tired
arms, the portal of number 24 was flung open, and a tall youth in
his shirt-sleeves confronted him. Behind the tall youth the room
seemed at first glance to be simply seething with boys.
“Where is room 36, please?” asked Evan.
“Thirty-six?” The other considered the question with a broad
smile. Then, instead of answering, he turned toward the room. “Say,
fellows, here’s a new one. Come and have a look. It’ll do you no end
of good.”

In a second the doorway was filled with curious, grinning faces.
Perhaps if Evan hadn’t been so tired he would have accepted the
situation with better humor. As it was, he lifted his suit-case and
turned away with a scowl.
“He doesn’t like us!” wailed a voice. “Ah, woe is me!”
“Where’s he going?” asked another. “Tarry, stranger, and—”
“He wants 36,” said the tall youth. “Who’s in 36, somebody?”
“Nobody. Tupper had it last year; he and Andy Long.”
“Say, kid, 36 is at the other end of the hall. But don’t scowl at me
like that, or I’ll come out there and give you something to be
peevish about.”
Evan, obeying directions, turned and passed the group again in
search of his room. He paid no heed to the challenge, for he was
much too tired to get really angry. But he didn’t take the scowl from
his face, and the boy in the doorway saw it.
“Look pleasant, kid,” he continued threateningly. He pushed his
way through the laughing group and overtook Evan a little way down
the hall. He was a big chap, good-looking in a heavy way, and
seemed to be about seventeen years old. He placed a hand on
Evan’s shoulder and with a quick jerk swung him around with his
back to the wall. Evan dropped his bag and raised his hands
defensively.
“What do you want?” he demanded.
“Didn’t I tell you to look pleasant?” growled his tormentor, with an
ugly grin on his features. “Didn’t I? Well, do it!”
“You let me alone,” said Evan, the blood rushing into his cheeks.
“Of course I’ll let you alone, kid; when I get ready. Off with that
scowl; do you hear?”
“You take it off!” answered Evan, pushing the other away from
him.

“The new one’s game!” cried the tall youth. The others were
flocking about them. Evan’s arms were beaten down swiftly and
pinned to his sides in a strong grip, and a hand was passed roughly
over his face, hurting so that, in spite of him, the tears rushed to his
eyes. With an effort he shook off the other’s grip, stumbled over the
suit-case, and staggered against a door. The next moment he was
falling backward, the door giving way behind him. He landed on his
back, his head striking the thinly carpeted floor with a force that
made him see all sorts and sizes of blue stars and for an instant
quite dazed him. Then he heard a drawling voice somewhere at the
back of the room say:

“‘LOOK PLEASANT, KID,’ HE CONTINUED
THREATENINGLY.”
“Welcome to my humble domicile.”
When he opened his eyes, his assailant was standing over him,
and the group in the doorway held several anxious faces.
“Aren’t hurt, are you?” asked the cause of his mishap. “Give me
your hand.”
Evan obeyed and was pulled to his feet. He had quite forgotten his
anger. “I’m all right,” he said dully, feeling of the back of his head.

“That’s right,” said the other, with a note of relief in his voice. “I
didn’t mean to hurt you. It was the door, you see.”
“Up to your tricks again, eh, Hop?”
It was the drawling voice Evan had heard a moment before, and
its owner, a tall, somewhat lanky boy, came into view around the
table. “You’ve got the keenest sense of humor, Hop, I ever met with.
Why didn’t you drop him out of the window?”
“Oh, you dry up, Rob. I didn’t do anything to him. The door was
unlatched, and he fell against it. It’s none of your business, anyway.”
“It’s my business if I like to make it mine,” was the reply. He pulled
up a chair and waved Evan toward it. “Sit down and get your
breath,” he directed. Evan obeyed, his gaze studying the youth
called Hop.
“Now, then,” said his new acquaintance quietly, “all out, if you
please, gentlemen. I’ll look after the patient. Leave him to me.”
The group at the doorway melted away, and Hop followed. As he
passed out, he turned and found Evan’s gaze still on him.
“Well, you’ll know me, I guess, when you see me again,” he said
crossly.
“I think I shall,” answered Evan, calmly.
His host chuckled as he closed and bolted the door. Then he came
back and sank into a chair opposite Evan, his legs sprawling across
the floor.
“Well?” he asked kindly. “Any damage?”
“No, I guess not. My head aches and I’m sort of dizzy, but I’ll be
all right in a minute.”
“I guess so. Just come, did you?”
“Yes; I was looking for my room when that chap—”
“Frank Hopkins.”

“When he got mad because I scowled at him. We tussled, and I
fell through the door.”
“That was partly my fault. I’m sorry. You see, I’d been fixing the
latch so I could open it from bed, and I hadn’t quite finished when
you bumped against the door. What’s your name?”
“Kingsford.”
“Mine’s Langton; first name Robert; commonly called Rob;
sometimes Lanky. Glad to meet you. Nice of you to drop in so
casually.”
Evan laughed.
“That’s better. Wait a minute.” Rob got up and went to the wash-
stand and dipped a towel in the pitcher. “Put that around your head,”
he directed. “It’s good for aches. Too wet, is it? Let me have it.” He
wrung some of the water out on the carpet and handed it back.
“There you are. What room have they put you into?”
“Thirty-six.”
“No good,” said Rob, with a shake of his head. “You’ll freeze to
death there. The Gobbler had it two years ago, and he did
something to the steam-pipes so that the heat doesn’t get around
any more. He vows he didn’t, but I know the Gobbler.”
“Can’t it be fixed?”
“It never has been. They’ve tried dozens of times. I have an idea
what the trouble is, and I told Mac—he’s house faculty here—that I
could fix it if he’d let me. But he never would.”
“Well, I suppose I’ll have to live there just the same,” said Evan,
with a smile.
“Oh, I don’t know. Where do you come from, Kingsford?”
“Elmira, New York.”
“Really? My home’s in Albany. We’re natives of the same old State,
aren’t we? I guess we’ll get on all right. What class are you in?”

“Junior.”
“So am I. That’s another bond of sympathy. I call this great luck! I
hate to live alone. Sandy Whipple was with me last year, but he had
typhoid in the summer and isn’t coming back for a while. And now
you happen in. Well, make yourself at home, Kingsford. It isn’t a bad
room, you see. That’s your side over there.”
“But—this isn’t 36, is it?” asked Evan.
“Not a bit of it. This is 32. I told you, didn’t I, that 36 was no
good?”
“But they’ve put me there! Won’t I have to go?”
“Of course not. I’ll settle it with the Doctor. You’re inclined to
colds, you know, and 36 wouldn’t do for a minute. You leave it all to
me. Any consumption in your family?”
“No. Why in the world do you ask that?”
“Well, if you had a consumptive uncle or cousin or something, it
would help. I’d tell the Doctor that your lungs were weak and that
your Uncle Tom had consumption. But never mind. I’ll fix it.”
“But—but do you really want me here?”
“Of course I do! Didn’t I just say that I was down in the mouth
because I didn’t have a room-mate? Besides, I like your looks. And
we’re both New Yorkers, and we’re both juniors. That ought to settle
it, I should say.”
“Well, it’s awfully good of you,” said Evan, gratefully, “and I’ll be
glad to room with you if they’ll let me. Only—”
“Only nothing!” said the other, decisively. “Fate threw you in here,
and here you stay!”

R
CHAPTER II
THE BOY IN 32
ob Langton was sixteen years of age, tall, a trifle weedy, like a
boy who has grown too fast. He always seemed to be in
difficulties with his arms and legs. Even his hair, which was dark and
long, looked as though in a constant state of mutiny. There was one
obstreperous lock which stood straight into the air on the top of his
head, and several thick ones which were forever falling over his eyes
and having to be brushed impatiently back. Comb and brush and
water had little effect on Rob’s hair.
His face was thin, with a broad, good-humored mouth, a firm chin,
a straight nose, and two very kindly brown eyes. Evan liked him
from the very first moment of their meeting. And doubtless Evan’s
sentiment was returned, otherwise Rob Langton would never have
adopted him on such slight acquaintance, for Rob, while generally
liked throughout Riverport School, had few close friends and was
considered hard to know.
The two boys examined each other quite frankly while they talked,
just as boys do. What Rob saw was a well-built, athletic-looking
youngster, fairly tall, with a good breadth of shoulder, alert and
capable. There was a pair of steady blue eyes, a good nose, a chin
that, in spite of having a dimple in the middle of it, looked
determined, and a well-formed mouth which, like Rob Langton’s,
hinted of good humor. Evan’s hair, however, wasn’t in the least like
that of the older boy. In the first place, it was several shades lighter,
and, in the second place, it was very well-behaved hair and stayed
where it was put. Even the folded towel which he wore around his
forehead hadn’t rumpled it.

“I ought to be in the middle class,” Rob was explaining cheerfully.
“When I came last year I expected to go into the junior, but Latin
and Greek had me floored, and so, rather than make any
unnecessary trouble for the faculty, I dropped into the preparatory.
The fact is, Kingsford, I hate those old dead languages. Mathematics
and I get on all right, and I don’t mind English, but Greek—well, I’d
like to punch Xenophon’s head! Dad has it all cut out that I’m to be a
lawyer; he’s one himself, and a good one; but if I can get my way
I’m going to Cornell and go in for engineering. They call it structural
engineering nowadays. That’s what I want to do, and there’s going
to be a heap of trouble in our cozy little home if I don’t get my way.
What are you going to be?”
“I don’t know—yet. I haven’t thought much about it. My father’s a
doctor, but I don’t go in for that. I don’t like sick folks; besides, there
doesn’t seem to be much money in doctoring.”
“Well, some of them seem to do pretty well,” replied Rob,
thoughtfully. “You might be a specialist and charge big fees. When
Dad was ill two years ago we had a fellow up from New York in
consultation. He and our doctor got together in the library for about
ten minutes, and then he ate a big lunch and went home again. And
it cost Dad five hundred dollars.”
“That sounds all right,” laughed Evan, “but I guess he had to do a
lot of hard work before he ever got where he could charge five
hundred dollars.”
“I suppose so. Do you ever invent?”
“Invent? What do you mean?”
“Invent things, like—like this.” Rob began a search through his
pockets and finally pulled out a piece of brass, queerly shaped and
notched, some three inches long.
“What is it?” asked Evan, as he took it and examined it curiously.
“Just a—a combined tool, as you might say. I call it ‘Langton’s
Pocket Friend.’ Here’s a screw-driver; see? And these notches are for

breaking glass after it’s cut. Up here there’s a little steel wheel for
cutting it, only I haven’t put that in. This is just a model, you know;
I filed it out coming down on the train this morning. Then this slot is
for sharpening pencils. There’s a nail-file here, you see, only it isn’t
filed, of course, because this is just brass. The spur is for cutting
wire, or you can open a can with it if the tin isn’t very thick. Then
this end here is to open envelops or cut pages with. There are two
or three other things I’ve thought of since that I can work in. Of
course, if I ever made them, they’d be of steel.”
“That’s fine,” said Evan. “Did you think of it yourself?”
“Yes. I’m always tinkering with some silly thing. That’s the reason
I don’t cut more of a figure with studies, I guess. Dad has patented
two or three things for me, but I’ve never been able to sell the
patents.”
“What are they?” asked Evan, interestedly.
“One’s a snow shovel made of wire netting like an ash sifter. It
only weighs twelve ounces and works finely. But no one would buy
it. Another’s a top with a slot just above the peg so you can put in a
cap. Then when you throw it on the ground the peg comes up
against the cap and explodes it.”
“I should think that would be a dandy idea.”
“Well, one man I tried to sell it to said if I could induce boys to
spin tops around the Fourth of July he would buy my patent. You
see, folks are so fussy now that you can’t buy paper caps except
around the Fourth.”
“I see. And what was the other thing?”
“That’s the best of the lot,” said Rob, thrusting his hands into his
pockets and sprawling his legs across the floor. “I’ve still got hopes
of that. It’s a patent match safe to carry in your pocket. It looks just
like any other match safe, but when you want a match you don’t
have to open it. You just push a little button, and a match pops out.

Maybe I’ll sell that yet. It’s a mighty good idea, and there ought to
be money in it.”
“I should think you’d want to be an inventor instead of an
engineer.”
“There isn’t much money in inventions, except for the patent
lawyer; at least, that’s what Dad says. Besides, engineering is a
good deal like inventing. You have problems to solve, and there’s
always the chance of discovering a better way to do a thing. Dad
says I’ve got a good deal of ingenuity, but that if I don’t look out I’ll
never be anything but a potterer.”
“A potterer? That’s a funny name for you.”
“Yes; he means a chap who just potters around doing a lot of little
things that don’t amount to anything. How’s your head?”
“Much better. Do you think I’d better unpack my bag, or shall I
wait until I’m sure about my room?”
“Go ahead and unpack. It’ll be all right. Even if it isn’t, 36 is just
across the hall, and I’ll help you carry things over. Trunks ought to
be up pretty soon, too. Say, do you go in for anything?”
“In for anything?” repeated Evan, doubtfully.
“Yes, foot-ball or hockey or track or rowing or—”
“I play foot-ball,” answered Evan. “I want to try for the team here.
Do you think I’d stand any show, Langton?”
“Do I think—” Rob stopped and chuckled. Evan flushed.
“What’s the matter? I’ve played a good deal, and I dare say I
know as much about it as—as lots of fellows here.”
“As I do, you were going to say,” laughed Rob. “I wasn’t laughing
at you, Kingsford. I dare say you can play better than a good many
fellows on the team, but I don’t think your chances are very bright,
and if you ask me why,—well, I can only say because the Riverport
Eleven is what Dad would call a close corporation.”

“What’s that?”
“‘I PLAY FOOT-BALL,’ ANSWERED EVAN. ‘I WANT TO TRY FOR THE TEAM
HERE.’”
“I’ll try again,” said Rob, thrusting his hands in his pockets and
falling into the queer drawl which he affected at times. “The team is
like a very select club, Kingsford. If you know enough about foot-ball
to kick the ball instead of biting it, and stand pretty well with—er—
the manager or captain or some of the members, you can make it.
Of course they’re always glad to have you go out and ‘try for the
team’; it looks well and sort of adds interest. And of course you’re
supposed to subscribe toward expenses. And when the team goes
away anywhere to play, they allow you to go along and yell yourself
hoarse. But don’t think for a moment, my friend, that you can make
the team here by just playing good ball.”
“That doesn’t sound very encouraging,” said Evan, with a frown.
“Especially as I don’t know a single fellow here—except you.”

“Well, at least you’ve got a speaking acquaintance with one other,”
said Rob, dryly, the smile still lurking about the corners of his mouth.
“Who do you mean? The fellow who—”
“Yes, Frank Hopkins. He’s ‘the fellow who’—”
“Well, that doesn’t help any, I guess.”
“No; no, I don’t honestly think it does,” answered Rob, with a
queer look. “Because, you see, Kingsford, Hop is the captain.”
“Foot-ball captain?” cried Evan, in dismay. Rob nodded with a
wicked grin.
“Well, if that isn’t luck!” exclaimed Evan, subsiding on the foot of
his bed to consider the fact. “I guess that settles my chances all
right, Langton.” Rob nodded.
“As I don’t want to nourish idle hopes, Kingsford, I’ll just remark
that I think you’ve got the answer.”
“Shucks!” said Evan, disgustedly. “And I thought I was going to
have a great time this fall playing foot-ball. I wish I’d stayed at
home, as my fond mother wanted me to. Say, you’re not fooling, are
you?”
“Not a bit. Of course I’ve exaggerated a trifle about the
exclusiveness of our foot-ball society; it isn’t quite as bad as I made
it out; but it’s bad enough. If you happen to be a crackajack player
with a reputation behind you, one of those prep school stars that
come along once in a while, you’re all right. But otherwise,
Kingsford, you’ll have a mighty hard time breaking into Hop’s foot-
ball trust. I know, for I tried it myself last year.”
“Oh, do you play?”
“I used to think so, but after working like a horse for three weeks
and then pining away for a fortnight on the side-lines, I changed my
mind. I know how to play, but I don’t play. You catch my meaning, I
hope.”

“Yes,” said Evan, gloomily. “Still, I guess I’ll have a try.”
“Of course you will,” said Rob, cheerfully. “It won’t do any harm,
and you might even have a little fun. Besides, miracles still happen;
you might get a place on the second team as third substitute. By the
way, where do you play?”
“I’ve played quarter mostly; sometimes half. I was quarter last
year.”
“On your school team?”
“Yes, grammar school. We won every game except one, too.”
“Well, you might let that information leak out in Hop’s direction;
perhaps he will give you a fair show. Only thing is, I’m afraid he’s
taken a—a sort of prejudice against you.”
“I guess he has,” laughed Evan. “And, for that matter, I’m not
crazy about him. Still, if he will let me on the team, I’ll forgive him
for mashing my nose flat.”
“It doesn’t look flat,” said Rob, viewing it attentively. “It’s a trifle
red, but otherwise normal. By ginger! I wonder what time it is. I’m
getting hungry. Oh, there’s no use looking at that clock on the
mantel there. It hasn’t gone right for months. I borrowed one of the
cog-wheels last spring, and now it has the blind staggers.”
“It’s twelve minutes to six,” said Evan, looking at his watch. “When
do we have supper?”
“In twelve minutes if we get there. I’ll wash while you get your
things out. Yes, that’s your closet. There’s some truck in there that
belongs to Sandy. Pitch it out on the floor, and I’ll ask Mrs. Crow to
store it away for him. Hold on! That vest isn’t his; it’s mine.
Confound that fellow! I looked for that thing all summer. Thought I’d
lost it. You see, Sandy Whipple and I are just the same size, and so
we wear each other’s clothes most of the time. I guess you and I
can’t exchange that way, Kingsford. Your trousers would be several
inches too short for little me. How about collars?”

“Thirteen and a half,” said Evan.
“My size exactly! Thirteen and a half, fourteen, or fourteen and a
half; I’m not fussy about collars. All through here.” Rob tossed the
towel in the general direction of the wash-stand and looked around
for his cap.
“Where do we eat?” asked Evan, filling the bowl.
“Dining-hall’s in Second House. If we hurry, maybe we can get at
a side table. I’m as hungry as a bear. I forgot all about dinner this
noon. I got so interested in that silly piece of brass that they’d stolen
the dining-car before I knew it. Ready? Sometime I’m going to fix it
so we can go down by the window. It would be lots nearer than
going by the stairs, and I’ve got a dandy idea for a rope ladder!”

I
CHAPTER III
EVAN MAKES ACQUAINTANCES
t was still broad daylight when they left the entrance of Holden
Hall and started across the yard, the golden end of a perfect
September day. Down the long sloping hill, beyond the athletic field,
the waters of Lake Matunuxet showed blue between the encircling
foliage. Farther east the river wound its way through marsh and
meadow toward the bay, some three miles distant. The railroad
embankment was visible here and there, and due east the little town
of Riverport lay huddled. The school buildings described a rude
crescent, with Holden, the newest of the three dormitories, at one
point and the gymnasium at the other. Next to Holden stood Second
House, with the laboratory tucked in behind. Then came Academy;
then First; then the gymnasium. Behind First House stood the
principal’s cottage, and here the land sloped abruptly upward in
forest, and Mount Graytop raised its bald crown of scarred and riven
granite hundreds of feet above the surrounding country. The elms in
the yard still held green, although here and there a fleck of russet
showed. On the lower slopes of the mountain a well-defined belt of
maples was already turning yellow.
Rob and Evan were not the only boys who had recognized the
advisability of being early on hand at supper in order to choose
tables to their liking. The corridor leading to the dining-hall was
pretty thickly sprinkled with boys of all ages between twelve and
eighteen. Rob was greeted many times, and Evan was introduced to
at least a dozen fellows whose names he didn’t remember five
minutes afterward. It was all very confused and noisy and jolly, and
in the middle of it the doors were flung open, and the waiting throng

surged into the dining-hall and made a decorous but determined
rush for the tables.
Evan followed Rob down the room and across to a table under one
of the broad windows. Here, however, a difficulty presented itself.
The table seated eight, and seven of the places were already
occupied. Evan, observing that, hung back, but Rob beckoned him
on. At one side of the vacant seat sat a stout, cherub-faced youth of
about Evan’s age. Rob drew back the vacant chair and fixed his gaze
on the stout youth.
“Why,—Jelly,—” he drawled in mock surprise, “what are you doing
here? You’re surely not thinking of sitting with your back to the
window in all this draft, you with your delicate constitution? What
would your parents say, Jelly? No, no, out you go. We can’t have you
falling ill; flowers are too expensive.”
“I got this place, Rob, and I’ve a right to keep it,” answered the
boy. He spoke defiantly enough, but his tones lacked conviction, and
he paused in the operation of unfolding his napkin. Rob patted him
tolerantly on the shoulder.
“It isn’t a question of right, Jelly; it’s a question of what is best for
you. You know you can’t stand a draft; I know it; we all know it. It’s
your welfare we’re considering. Now if you look sharp you can sneak
across and drop into that chair that Hunt Firman has temporarily
vacated; but you want to be quick.”
Jelly was quick. He was out of his chair and around the table on
the instant; and before Firman, who had gone across to a
neighboring table to greet an acquaintance, was aware of it, Jelly
had stolen his place. A contest ensued, Firman trying to oust Jelly
without drawing the attention of the faculty, and Jelly, stable with his
one hundred and forty-odd pounds, paying no attention to threats or
blandishments.
“I’ll lick you after supper!” hissed Firman.
“Wonder if we’ll have ham to-night,” remarked Jelly, serenely, to
the table at large.

“Get up, do you hear? That’s my place, you big roly-poly!”
“I smell hot biscuits, anyway. Pass me the butter, Ned.”
“You wait till I get hold of you! Rob, make him give me my seat.
It’s all your fault, anyhow. You might—”
A bell tapped somewhere, and an instant hush fell over the hall.
Firman ran to cover, subsiding in the first unoccupied chair he could
find, leaving Jelly master of the situation. The laughter died into
chuckles, the chuckles to snickers, and the snickers to silence, and
from the head of the hall came the deep voice of the principal, Dr.
Farren, asking grace.
“I’d rather be on this side, anyway,” announced Jelly, as soon as
conversation began again. “It’s too cold over there in winter, Rob.”
“Well, by that time, Jelly,” was the sober reply, “we may have you
so strong and sturdy that you can stand it over here.”
Even Jelly joined in the laugh that ensued. Evan was aware that
the six boys who, with Rob and himself, filled the table were viewing
him with unconcealed interest and was relieved when Rob
proceeded to introduce him.
“Fellow Luculluses,” said Rob, “I take pleasure in introducing to
you my friend Mr. Kingsford. Mr. Kingsford is honoring the school
with his presence for the first time. He hopes to remain with us at
least until the end of the term. Kingsford, on your right you will find
Mr. Law, of the well-known firm of Law and Order. Next, Mr. Pierce.
Next, a gentleman whose acquaintance I haven’t the pleasure—”
“Peterson,” prompted Jelly.
“Mr. Peterson. Next to Mr. Peterson, Mr. George Washington Jell;
Mr. Jell speaking eloquently, as you can see, for the excellence of the
board provided. At the other end of the table you may dimly observe
Mr. Devens. And here we have Mr. Wright, on my right. Now
everybody knows everybody, and Jelly is requested to stop taking all
the biscuits, as there are others here present.”

It was a very jolly meal, with a good deal of laughter and much
fragmentary conversation. The supper was excellent, and Evan was
hungry and did full justice to the hashed chicken on toast, baked
potatoes, cold lamb, hot biscuits, preserves, and cake. He also
accepted a second cup of cocoa at Rob’s suggestion, and then drank
a glass of milk just to make certain of keeping life in his body until
morning. And while he ate, as he took only a small part in the talk,
he had opportunity to look about him.
The dining-hall was large and cheerful and well lighted. It
occupied all one end of Second House, and so had windows on three
sides. Between the windows were pictures, most of them
photographs of Roman and Grecian ruins, while at either side of the
door stood pedestals holding, on one side, a bust of Socrates and,
on the other, a bust of Washington. There were twenty-odd tables,
accommodating at present one hundred and seventy students and
the faculty and staff of the school. Dr. Farren occupied a small table
at the head of the hall with the school secretary, Mr. Holt, and the
matron, Mrs. Crane, or, as she was called, “Mrs. Crow.”
“I don’t know how she got that name,” said Rob, as he pointed out
the dignitaries. “Maybe it’s on account of her black hair. Anyhow, it
isn’t because the fellows don’t like her. She’s a dear. That’s Holt next
to her. He’s secretary. No one knows him very well. And there’s the
Doctor. The rest of the faculty is scattered. The white-haired chap
over at the far table is just ‘Joe’; real name Alden; Greek and Latin.
The slim, youngish fellow over there is ‘Mac,’ who tries his level best
to make me discern the beauties of algebra. He also teaches history,
and it’s a cinch. The big fellow down here on your left is ‘Tommy’
Osgood. Tommy teaches chemistry and is also and likewise physical
director; and he’s a tartar. Mr. Cupples, affectionately known as ‘Cup,’
is down there by the door. Cup pours French and German into you.
Now you know the faculty. Be kind to them and very patient. After
supper I’ll take you over to Mrs. Crow’s. You’d better get on the right
side of her, because she’s a mighty good sort and can do a lot for
you if she wants to. And I’ll try and see the Doctor and tell him
about your consumption.”

“I never had a cold in my life,” laughed Evan.
“Knock wood. And if the Doctor calls you over to the office, try
and look as delicate as possible. You might cough a little, too. A
hacking cough would help a lot.” Rob turned from Evan and
addressed Gus Devens, a large, ruddy-faced youth. “I say, Gus, what
does the foot-ball situation look like to your practised eye?”
“Like the dickens,” answered Gus, promptly and heartily.
“About the same as usual, then,” suggested Pierce. “Say, fellows,
why doesn’t some one do something?”
“Such as what?” asked Rob.
“Fire Hopkins!” blurted Jelly.
“Oh, Hop means well enough,” said Joe Law.
“Yes, he does!” answered Devens, sarcastically. “I’ll wager I could
pick a better team out of the two lower classes than Hop will get
together this fall. Adams will lick us again as sure as fate. They’ve
got almost all of last year’s team left. Hop may mean well enough—
only I don’t believe it—but he certainly doesn’t do well enough. I’m
sick of seeing the school beaten every year.”
“We won year before last,” said Law.
“Yes, we’ve won once in five years,” said Rob. “I suppose that’s all
we ought to expect. They tell us that defeat is much better for us
morally than victory, victory enlarging the cranium and making us
vain and arrogant and unlovely. Remember ancient Rome.”
“What about ancient Rome?” demanded Jelly.
“Eh? Oh—oh, nothing; just remember it. I heard Mac say that
once in class, and it sounded rather well.” When the laugh had
passed, Rob addressed Devens again: “Are you going out this year?”
“Oh, I suppose so,” answered Devens, disgustedly. “This will make
the third time. But I’m sick of getting knocked around on the second
team. I’m going to tell Hop that if he doesn’t give me a fair show for

the first, I’ll quit, and he can find some one else to do the human
stone wall act for him. Look here, you fellows, you all know, every
one of you, that I can play all around Bert Reid.”
“That’s no joke,” said Wright, and the others concurred.
“Well, then, why can’t I get on? Favoritism, that’s all it is. Every
one knows it, and there’s no harm in saying it. I don’t talk like this
outside of school, of course, but—”
“What we ought to have is a coach,” declared Peterson.
“Of course we ought, and we’ve tried hard enough to get one ever
since I’ve been here,” answered Devens. “One year it’s one reason
and the next year it’s another; anyway, we don’t get him.”
“Hop said last year he’d be mighty glad to have a coach,” said
Law.
“Yes, but he wanted a fellow he knew and wouldn’t talk about any
one else. If the Doctor would take a decent interest in things—”
“He always begins to hum and haw about ‘the danger of investing
sport with undue prominence,’” said Pierce, disgustedly.
“Oh, the Doctor means well, too,” protested Rob. “I’ve got an idea
in my head, you chaps, and some day soon I’ll spring it. I’m going to
let it seethe a bit first.”
“Another of your numerous patents?” asked Jelly, with a grin.
“Maybe. Look here, Gus, my friend Kingsford wants to try for the
team. I told him what he was up against, but he has the—the
indomitable will and reckless courage of his forebears, and refuses to
be intimidated. You sort of put him up to the tricks, will you? See
that he doesn’t get into any more trouble than necessary.”
“Glad to,” answered Gus Devens, with a friendly nod to Evan.
“Played, have you, Kingsford?”
“Yes, quite a little.”
“What?”

“Half and quarter; quarter mostly.”
“Whew! we certainly could use a good quarter,” said Wright.
“Miller’s the limit. I hope you get a show, Kingsford.”
“Yes, but don’t expect it,” remarked Jelly, despondently. “Just look
at the way they treated me last year!”
A howl of laughter arose, and Jelly viewed his table-companions
indignantly.
“That’s all right, you fellows, but I did as well as Ward did. He
didn’t get through me very often, I can tell you! You know he didn’t.”
“You did great work, Jelly,” said Rob, soothingly. “They ought to
have kept you on the second. I have an idea that the reason Hop
dropped you was only because he was afraid that sometime you’d
fall on the ball and squash the air out of it.”
“Oh, you run along,” growled Jelly. “I’m going to try again this
year, anyway, and I’m going to make the second for keeps.”
“Why don’t you go out and be the ball?” asked Wright, pleasantly.
Jelly pushed back his chair and walked disgustedly away, and his
departure was the signal for a general exodus. Rob’s progress was
often interrupted, and Evan had to shake hands with many more
new acquaintances, most of whom, as there were a great many
new-comers wandering around the corridors that night, shook hands
with him in a perfunctory way, muttered that they were glad to know
him, and paid him no further attention. But Evan didn’t mind.
Although this was his first experience of boarding-school, he held no
romantic notions of such places and so was not disappointed
because so far nothing romantic had happened. He drew out of the
way and waited for Rob to get through talking, thinking to himself
that it would be nice to have as many acquaintances as his new
room-mate had, and making up his mind that some day the fellows
of Riverport School should be as glad to talk to him as they now
were to Rob Langton. While he stood there waiting, Frank Hopkins
passed, talking to the tall youth of whom Evan had asked his way
that afternoon. If they saw him they made no sign.

Presently Rob parted from the last of his acquaintances and,
followed by Evan, reached the door.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” he apologized. “Some of those chaps,
though, I wanted to be nice to—for a reason. I’ll tell you why some
day soon. Now let’s cut across to First House and call on Mrs. Crow.”

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