The room was soon fitted up in fairly good shape, though the three chums promised that they would make a number of changes in time. They went to dinner together, meeting at the table many of their former classmates, and seeing an unusually large number of freshmen. "There'll be plenty of hazing this term," commented Tom. "Yes, I guess we'll have our hands full," added Sid. Old and new students continued to arrive all that day. After reporting to the proper officials of the college there was nothing for them to do, save to stroll about, as lectures would not begin until the next morning, and then only preliminary classes would be formed. "I think I'll go down to the office and see if any telegram has arrived for me," said Phil, as he and his chums were strolling across the campus. "I hope you get good news," spoke Tom. "We'll wait for you in the room, and help you pack if you have to go." "Thanks," was Phil's answer as he walked away. "Well, Tom, I suppose you're going to be with us this fall?" asked Holly Cross, captain of the football eleven, as he spied Tom and Sid. "I am if I can make it. What do you think?" "Well, we've got plenty of good material for ends, and of course we want the best, and----" "Oh, I understand," said Tom with a laugh. "I'm not asking any favors. I had my honors this spring on the diamond. But I'm going to try, just the same." "I hope you make it," said Holly fervently. "We'll have some try-out practice the last of this week. Where's Phil? I've about decided on him for quarter-back." "I don't believe he can play," remarked Sid. "Not play!" cried Holly. Then they told him, and the captain was quite broken up over the news. "Well," he said finally, "all we can hope is that his mother gets better in time for him to get into the game with us. We want to do the same thing to Boxer Hall and Fairview at football as we did in baseball. I do hope Phil can play." "So do we," came from Tom, as he and Sid continued on to their room. It was half an hour before Phil came in, and the time seemed three times as long to the two chums in their new apartment. When he entered the room both gazed apprehensively at him. There was a different look on Phil's face than there had been. "Well?" asked Tom, and his voice seemed very loud. "Dad doesn't want me to come," was Phil's answer. "Not come--why? Is it too----" "Well, they've decided to postpone the operation," went on Phil. "It seems that she's a little better, and there may be a chance. Anyhow, dad thinks if sis and I came down it would only worry mother, and make her think she was getting worse, and that would be bad. So I'll not go to Florida." "Then it's good news?" asked Sid. "Yes, much better than I dared to hope. Maybe she'll get well without an operation. I feel fine, now. I'm going over to Fairview and tell my sister. Dad asked me to let her know. I feel ten years younger, fellows!" "So do we!" cried Tom, and he seized his chum's hand.