The Argosy, Vol. XI, No. 22 — page 5: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE ARGOSY the end of January or the first of February. Of course the ‘exact date depends on the weather.” ‘¢T hear you have won a lot of trophies.” ‘* Well, I have been quite fortunate thus far,” answered Clifford, ‘‘and I do not feel very uneasy this year, for I know the men who are going to enter, and have measured their abilities pretty accurately, I think.” Perry Landon came up at this moment, and the conversa- tion changed to other topics. Clifford's attentions gave Brad additional distinction with the other boys, for Eugene. although universally admired, was rather reserved in manner, and his friendship was earn- estly sought after, sometimes without success. To Arkell and Bliss, Clifford’s action remained ever a puzzle. ‘* Well, of all things!” exclaimed Arkell several times. ‘* What Eugene can see in that fellow to admire I can’t un- derstand. He will probably find he is mistaken in him very soon, for they are no fit companions,” and Brayton smoothed down his trousers with scrupulous care. Sidney Ivers, when he heard of the matter, simply sneered in a disagreeable manner and said nothing. Both Clarence Bliss and Arthur Paton, however, demurred. Neither of them having very much decision of character, they were in the habit of relying chiefly upon the judgment of Eugene Clifford for their rules of conduct; so that, although they were greatly surprised at Eugene's behavior, they found themselves unable to resist the influence of his example, and, after some hesitation, they ended by recognizing Brad and treating him quite civilly. Now that Brad's path had become smoothed for him, he found the process of getting into academic harness much easier than he had anticipated. The introduction to his various studies created a number of surprises, both to him- self and his companions. In some subjects he was found painfully lacking, while on others he was unusually well in- formed. This was most strikingly exemplified in the first French recitation. Brad stumbled along clumsily over the rules of grammatical construction, but when given a French reader, he amazed Mr. Prentice and the class by translating with the utmost fluency. ‘*Do you already understand French?” Prentice. ‘‘ Well,” answered Brad modestly, ‘‘ I don’t know anything about these rules, but I’ve spoken French off and on for seve- ral years. You see, it’s just the same as my German, Italian, and ove or two other languages. I couldn’t help picking them up, and yet I never used them except when I was traveling in Germany or Italy, and then I never bothered about gram- mars. All I wanted to do was to talk and understand.” A few surprises of this kind convinced Dr: Hope that Brad needed very special courses of study ; so, after a little ex- perimenting, he was settled in classes where it would be un- necessary for him to relearn anything, and where he could make rapid advances in branches in which he was unin- formed. Brad carefully guarded his tongue concerning the suspi- cions that would at times return to haunt him and render him uneasy. He could not but feel more keenly, the more he thought of it, how dastardly a trick had been attempted upon him , and as the days went by without any further rev- elations, he could not avoid chafing slightly with impatience at the delay, but he suppressed this as best he could. for he felt sure that. Dr. Hope was doing all in his power to bring matters to acrisis. In this way a week slipped by. It was upon a Friday afternoon that Dick Barney and his accom- plice were tried. Dr. Hope, accompanied by Brad, was in asked Mr. 343 attendance. Brad's testimony was the first received, and when he had finished he returned to the academy to finish his afternoon's work, leaving Dr. Hope in the courtroom. The doctor did not return until after dinner at night, and was not seen by the boys that evening. On the following morning he did not appear in the main recitation room, as was his custom ; but about ten o'clock Samuel entered the school building with a summons for Sidney Ivers, who im- mediately left the room and went up to the Hall. Dr. Hope’s non-appearance was unusual, and convinced the boys that something out of the ordinary was forthcoming. The hour for closing on Saturday being twelve, the last ex- ercises of the week were taking place before any news ar- rived from the Hall. Jt was quarter before twelve when Dr. Hope, alone, and with a sad, tired expression of face, entered the main room, and ascended the platform beside Mr. Prentice. ‘‘T have a brief announcement to make, young gentle- men, before dismissing you,” he began. Every boy leaned torward expectantly, while Dr. Hope paused for a few seconds. ‘“We regret to say that it has been found necessary, for reasons best known to ourselves, to expel Mr. Sidney Ivers permanently from the academy. If there are any of his personal effects about the room, please to place them in Samuel’s charge, that he may deliver them, for Mr. Ivers will not return to the school building.” The boys had expected something unusual, but they were not prepared for such a startling announcement as this. They could not have been more astonished if a bombshell had burst at their feet. They gazed at each other with wide open eyes, as the probable effects of this action of Dr. Hope’s dawned upon each in turn. - ‘‘Great Scott !" exclaimed Perry Landon in a whisper to Brad, who sat next to him. ** There is trouble ahead for the academy now ; that 1s certain.” (Zo be continued.) STUDENTS IN NEW BUSINESS. MANY methods have been employed by students to earn money while going through college. Waiting in restaurants and other occu- pations have been followed, but a new one is now supplied, according to the following Boston account in the New York 7rizbune: The Boston Gas Light Company has adopted a new plan for taking the meters and for making out the bills. Last October the company began employing students to go around and take the statements of the meters at the close of each month and to deliver the bills the following week. It was a new move in Boston, though the experiment had been tried in Chicago a year or two ago, and has been working successfully ever since. The idea originated with the company, and not with the students, because when men were hired they had to be taken into regu- laremployment. Since it takes only about five days to take the meters and two to deliver the bills, the idea was to get persons who could work for that period for ordinary day’s wages ($2), and whom it would not be necessary to employ after that special work was done. The only persons that seemed available were college and high school students. Accordingly the advertisement was published, and applica- tions came in fast, so that there has already for some time beeh a con- siderable waiting list. The young men are from various inslitutions—the English High School, Somerville High School, the commercial schools, Boston Uni- versity and Harvard. The students at the Institute of Technology cannot come ‘in for their share of the employment since they cannot miss lectures, and during the monthly period for reading the meters the employees must work all day, just as wage earners, About twenty five are employed in going the rounds, and although the pay is neither high nor constant, it is regular and certain and helps to eke out a poor student’s means when he is trying to earn an educa- tion for himself. Some fears were felt at first that students would not be fitted for such employment, since they have all kinds of places to go into, and if ruffled by snubs and disagreeable treatment they might re ply impertinently. It is true that complaints have reached the gas office from consumers, but, according to the gentleman who has charge of that department, the work is being more and more Satisfac- . torily done, and the experiment is regarded by him as a success. ecoOMmlceoooks (COL