the sidelines, notebook in hand, jotting
down different pointers on the game as they occurred to him. He was
eager to learn, so eager! But would he ever know enough about the game
to make the first team?

To-day, Saturday, marked a day of rest for the eleven. Coach Phillips
never allowed his men to work out the day after a game. Accordingly
the fellows looked about for some new form of recreation.

"I'll tell you, fellows!" suggested Benz, struck by a new idea, "This
is the last day of the fair at Tarlton. Let's all attend in a bunch!"

The suggestion met with unanimous approval. Saturday was the only day
that the students were allowed to visit town without a special permit.

"Great stuff! Let's start!" shouted Curns.

"All right, we'll meet on the campus at ten this morning and hoof it to
town."

"Oh, I say, Benz! Have a heart! I left my walking stick at home."

"Come on, glove stretcher, don't be a quitter," pleaded Benz, "I've
another idea! Let's ask Rube to go along. We'll have no end of fun.
He's a regular side show by himself!"

"With the menagerie thrown in!" sniffed Pole.

"What d'ya say?" persisted Benz, "Shall we invite him?"

"Yea!"

"All right, then. Ten o'clock, fellows!"

Ten o'clock found all of the bunch collected except Pole, Judd and
Cateye. Everyone was anxious to start.

"Why don't those nuts hurry up?" growled Potts, stamping about,
restlessly.

"Here they come, Pole and Rube! I wonder where Cateye is? Say, we
sure will have some fun with Rube if he isn't around. He always takes
Rube's part!" cried Benz, joyfully.

"Cateye couldn't come. Too much work to do!" shouted Pole, when in
hearing distance. "But I brought Rube."

"Good enough! Come on, bunch. Let's beat it into town now. It's only
three miles and we can make it before noon!"

The party started off at a rapid gait. Judd swung along easily,
despite his weight, taking the lead. Not much was said until half the
distance had been traversed. About this time there began to be
stragglers who could not keep the pace that Judd was unconsciously
setting.

The fellows exchanged winks. Such a joke to be outwalked by a rube!
Benz passed the word along: "For heaven's sake, guys, keep up to Rube's
pace if it takes all the pep you've got! If this news ever gets back
to college, ..."

But the faster gait of the fellows only spurred Judd to shake forth
another reef, so that without knowing it he was rapidly t