he took up his cap,
heaved another deep sigh, and left the room. Sam watched his brother
pass down the corridor of the college building and noted that he placed
his hand to the back of his head and kept it there for some time.

"Poor Tom!" murmured the youngest Rover, as he turned again to the
lesson he had been studying. "He tries to keep up a brave front, but
that crack he got on the head some weeks ago was a worse one than most
folks imagine. I'm thinking he ought to be home and under the doctor's
care instead of trying to rack his brains making up lessons he missed
while we were away."

Tom passed along the corridor until he had turned a corner and was out
of sight of me room he and Sam occupied. Then he looked around to make
certain that nobody was observing him. Both of his hands went up to
the back of his head and he clenched his teeth hard.

"What is the matter with this old head of mine!" he murmured.
"Sometimes I feel as if I had a regular windmill inside of it. And
when I try to study it gets to be a regular blank. Something is wrong,
that's certain. What is it?"

He stood in the corner of the corridor for several minutes, trying to
pull himself together, mentally and physically. His face was still
somewhat pale, from the suffering he had undergone, since the time a
wooden footstool hurled by an enemy had hit him and knocked him
unconscious.

"Rats! this won't do!" he finally exclaimed, and shaking himself, he
hurried out of the building and on to the broad, velvety college campus.

Students were walking in various directions, going to, or coming from,
classes and lectures. Many hailed him and he called out in return, or
waved his hand. The Rover boys had a host of friends at Brill.

Presently Tom saw a tall, slim young man coming up, dressed in a light,
checked suit, and wearing pointed patent-leather ties and a
rose-colored cap. In the buttonhole of the student was a large
carnation. Under his arm the approaching one carried half a dozen text
books.

The face of the fun-loving Rover lighted up and for the time being the
pain in his head was forgotten. His hand went down in a pocket, to
feel for something, and then came forth again. Then he stepped forward
and crooked out his elbow.

The other student was looking to one side as he came forward and he did
not notice the elbow in his way. The elbow caught him in the ribs,
causing him to give a grunt, and the armful of books were scat