CHAPTER I

THE GAME WITH THE SIXTH

IT was noon of the first day of the fall term at St. Timothy’s. Most of the boys had dispersed after the morning recitations, but on the steps of the Study sat Guy Blanchard, watching Jim Payne and Fred Bell throwing a ball back and forth. Blanchard knew that, as Secretary of the Pythians, he ought to be canvassing the new boys, trying to secure the most promising as members; but it was pleasant and warm in the sun, he had not seen Jim and Fred for three months, and it was tempting to linger while they chaffed each other and himself.

"Burn it in now, Fred; ah, go on, burn it!” entreated Payne; and in response to this urging, the ball came singing and buried itself in his glove with a comfortable thud.