For the Honor of Randall Part 10

A week, in the early Spring, can work wonders. One day there may be snow covering everything. Then a few hours of warm sun, a warm South wind, and it seems as if the buds were just ready to burst forth.

So it was at Randall. The brown gra.s.s on the campus began taking on a little hue of green. There was a spirit of unrest in the air. Lectures were cut in the most unaccountable way. Several lads were seen out on the diamond wherefrom the frost was hardly yet drawn. b.a.l.l.s began to be tossed back and forth.

Down by the river, where, because of the sloping land, it was dryer than elsewhere a little group of lads were gathered about one of their number.

"Now for a good one, Gra.s.shopper!" someone cried.

"I'm going to do seventeen or bust a leg!" came the answer.

"What's going on over there?" asked Tom of his three chums, who were strolling about.

"Pete Backus is doing his annual Spring hop," said Phil.

"Let's go watch him," suggested Sid.

"He's getting in training for the games," declared Frank. "I think I'll enter myself if they hold 'em."

"Well, there's been a lot of talk lately," put in Tom. "Exter Academy is hot for 'em, and I understand Boxer Hall and Fairview would come in with us, on a quadruple league for the all-around champions.h.i.+p. But let's look at Backus."

"How much?" cried the long-legged lad as he made his jump. "Did I beat my record?"

"Sixteen-nine," announced a lad with a measuring tape.

"I'll make it seventeen!" declared Gra.s.shopper. "Oh, h.e.l.lo, Tom!" he cried. "Say, are you going in for it?"

"For what?"

"The games--new league--didn't you hear about it?"

"No!" cried the quartette in a chorus.

"Oh, it's going to be great," went on the lad who imagined he was a jumper. "I'm going in for the running broad, and maybe the high. I'm practicing now."

"Say, tell us about it," begged Phil.

"Oh, there's nothing settled," interposed Jerry Jackson. "Some of the fellows are talking of getting up a league for all-around athletics, and I think it would be a good thing."

"Is it only talk so far?" asked Tom.

"That's all," replied Joe Jackson, the other Jersey twin. "But there is going to be a preliminary meeting in a few nights, and then it will be decided. Are you fellows in for it?"

"We sure are!" cried the four friends.

The idea spread rapidly, and a few nights later there was a preliminary meeting in the Randall gymnasium concerning the new league.

Representatives were present from Fairview, Boxer Hall and Exter, and one and all declared themselves in favor of something to open the season before the baseball schedule had the call.

"What will you go in for, Tom?" asked Sid, as the four inseparables were in their room after the committee session.

"Oh, I don't know. I guess I won't do much. I'm going to save myself for the diamond. There's enough others to uphold the honor of Randall. There are Frank, and Phil and you."

"But we want a good representation. How about the mile run for you?"

"Nothing doing. Frank, you ought to go in for the hammer throw, the shot put, and for the weight throwing."

"Maybe I will. I understand there are some good lads at those sports at Boxer and Fairview."

"Yes, and some here."

"Shambler's going to enter, I hear," added Phil.

"What for?" queried Sid.

"The mile run, and some jumping."

"Well, he looks good, though I don't exactly cotton to him. Say, things will be lively here soon," commented Frank. "I guess I'll begin training."

"Better come in, Tom," advised Sid.

"No, I'll wait a while."

"It isn't about that trouble at home; is it?" asked Sid in a low voice.

"Well, in a way, yes," admitted Tom. "You see I don't know when I may have to leave here, and it wouldn't be just right to enter for a contest and then have to drop out."

"Do you think it would be as bad as that?"

"It might be--there's no telling."

"Tom," said Sid, and his voice took on a new tone. "I think you ought to enter, and practice up to the last minute. If you have to drop out, of course, that's a different matter. But I think you ought to do your best."

"Why? There are plenty of others. Why should I?"

"Why? For the honor of Randall, of course. You never were a quitter, and----"

"And I'm not going to begin now," finished Tom with a smile. "I'll enter the games, Sid."

"I thought you would," was the quiet answer.

CHAPTER VII

THROUGH THE ICE

"Shove over, Tom."

"Say, what do you want, the whole sofa?"