.
She's billed at Poli's."

"Yes, I'm going to see her."

"Take me around, will you?"

"Sure, if you like."

"I like all right. Hark, someone's coming!" and Dunk slipped to the door
and put on the chain.

"What's the matter?" asked Andy.

"Oh, the sophs are around and may come in and make a rough house any
minute."

But the approaching footsteps did not prove to be those of vengeful
sophomores. They were the three friends, Bob, Thad, and Ted, who were
soon admitted.

As they were sitting about and talking there was a commotion out in the
hall. The door, which Dunk had neglected to chain after the admission of
his friends, was suddenly burst open, and in came, with a rush, Mortimer
Gaffington and several other sophomores.

"Rough house!" was their rallying cry.

"Rough house for the freshies!"

"Rough house!"

CHAPTER XII

A FIERCE TACKLE

Andy and his chums were taken completely by surprise. The approach of
Mortimer and the other sophomores had been so silent that no warning had
been given.

Immediately on gaining admittance to the room the intruders began
tossing things about. They pulled open the drawers of the dresser,
scattering the garments all over. They tore down pictures from the walls
and ripped off the banners and pennants.

"Rough house!" they kept repeating. "Rough house on the freshmen!"

One of the sophomores pushed Bob and Ted over on Andy's bed, together.

Then Gaffington pulled from his pocket a handful of finely chopped paper
of various colors--"confetti"--and scattered it in a shower over
everyone and everything.

"Snow, snow! beautiful snow!" he declaimed. "Shiver, freshmen!"

A momentary pause ensued. Andy and his chums were getting back their
breaths.

"Well, why don't you shiver?" demanded Mortimer. "That's snow--beautiful
snow--all sorts of colored snow! Shiver, I tell you! It's snowing!
Little Eva in Uncle Tom's Cabin--Eliza crossing the ice! Shiver now, you
freshmen, shiver!"

He was laughing in a silly sort of way.

"That's right--shiver!" commanded some of Mortimer's companions.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" jeered the society swell at Andy. "Why
don't you shiver?"

"I've forgotten how," said Andy, calmly.

"Hang you, _shiver_!" and Mortimer fairly howled out the word. He
started toward Andy, with raised arm and clenched fist.

Among the possessions disturbed by the intruders was Andy's favorite
baseball bat, which he had brought with him. I