I could think of, but nothing seems to hold. He made all
sorts of promises when he was sick and he hasn't kept one of them. He
goes around with Mott and you know what that means."

"Yes," said Wagner thoughtfully.

"He's a queer chap. I was in school three years with him and in some
ways he was absolutely idiotic. For a while he'd work all right and then
without a word of warning he'd break out and do some of the most
absolutely fool things you ever heard of."

"Not very much to appeal to, I fancy."

"There might be if a fellow knew how, but I confess I don't."

"You think it would do any good for me to see him?"

"Yes, I do," said Will eagerly. "You know he might stand a show for the
track team--"

"Is he the fellow that won the half-mile in the sophomore-freshman
meet?" inquired Wagner eagerly. "Is he the one?"

"Yes."

"I'll see him. I'll go right over there now. You're not letting up any
in your own work for the team are you, Phelps?"

"I'm doing a little all the time," Will admitted, "but I don't suppose
it will amount to much."

"Yes, it will. You never can tell till you try. If Mott does not do
better he'll find himself out of it. We'll need you and every one we can
get. You know I can't go in this year."

"Why not?"

"The typhoid. Doctor won't let me."

"Then Peter John can't go in either."

"That's so. I hadn't thought of that. All the more reason then why you
ought to do your best, Phelps. I'll see this John Henry anyway--"

"You mean Peter John."

"All right. Have it your own way. I'll go over to his room and look him
up anyway. Good-bye, Phelps."

"Good-bye," responded Will, as the senior started down the stairway.

Several days elapsed before Will heard anything of Wagner's interview
with Peter John and then all that Wagner told him was that the freshman
had promised faithfully to do better. But Will had already had so much
experience with Peter John's promises that he was somewhat skeptical as
to results. His classmate he knew was not essentially vicious, only
weak. He was so weak and vain that he was eager to gain the favor of
whatever person he chanced to be with, and his promise of better things
to Wagner was as readily given as was his response to Mott when the
latter happened to be his companion of the hour.

Troubled as Will was, he nevertheless did for Peter John all that was
within his power, which was not much, and was heavy-hearted as the
reports steadily came of his cl