“Mott, you must go home with me next vacation,” he said impulsively.

“That’s good of you, but it’s too far off to promise.  Say, Phelps, what’s become of that man Friday of yours?”

“Who’s he?”

“Schenck.”

“Oh, he’s flourishing.”

“He’s the freshest freshman that ever entered Winthrop.  What do you suppose he had the nerve to say to me to-day?”

“I can’t imagine.”

“Well, he told me that he thought the Alpha Omega was the best fraternity in college, and that he’d made up his mind to join it.”

As this was the fraternity to which Mott himself belonged, Will laughed as he said, “Oh, well, don’t be too hard with Peter John.  He doesn’t know any better now, but he’ll learn.”

“That’s what he will,” replied Mott with a very decided shake of his head.  “I thought I’d come over to tell you that the sophomore-freshmen meet is to come off on Saturday afternoon.”

“Not next Saturday?” exclaimed Will aghast.

“Yes, that’s the very day.”

“They told me it wasn’t to be for two weeks yet.”

“All the same it’s on Saturday.  I thought I’d tell you, though I’m going to do my best to keep you from winning your numerals.”

Mott rose and departed from the room, and when Foster returned he found his room-mate hard at work, with his Greek books spread out on the desk before him.

CHAPTER XII

THE MEET

The fact that the track meet between the two lower classes had been placed at an earlier date than that for which it had first been announced was a serious disappointment to Will Phelps.  His success in the school athletics had made him quietly hopeful, if not confident, that he might be able to win some laurels in college, and he also was aware that the gold medal he wore upon his fob had made his own classmates expect great things from him.  And the changed date now prevented him from doing any training and he must enter the contest without any preparation.

Reports had come to him that Mott and Ogden, the two fleetest-footed sophomores, had already been working hard, and rumors were also current that he himself was to be kidnapped and prevented from entering the games.  Will had given but slight heed to any of these reports, but he had in his own mind decided that he would begin training at once for the contest, for if he should by any chance win then he would be the first member of his own class to gain the coveted privilege of wearing his class numerals upon his cap and sweater.  And, not unnaturally, Will was eager to secure the honor.