“Well, that’s all right,” he said. “Fact is, we aren’t crazy about new candidates in the fall, for the Major has his hands full of football and we have to get along without a coach. Of course in your case, since you’ve played some already, Jody wouldn’t mind taking you on. Well, what about football? Ever tried it?” Barry nodded. “Yes, but I didn’t seem to get the hang of it, or something. At high school we had three teams, and I was on them all, last fall or the fall before that, and never managed to stick. I’m rather light-weight, I guess. Besides, I never got awfully interested in playing. Baseball’s my stuff, although I don’t pretend to be much at that, either.” “Your modesty becomes you,” said Jones, gravely. “Well, how about track work? Ever run or hurdled or anything?” “No, I haven’t. I thought some about trying the sprints last fall, but our trainer didn’t give me any encouragement. He told me to come around in the spring, but then I was playing baseball on the junior team. I guess I’ll just have to wait for hockey or basket-ball to start.” The friendship with Jones progressed apace, to Clyde’s frequently expressed disgust. But Clyde had to confess that it would be extremely difficult to reside in the same house with a chap and have nothing to do with him. “Just the same, though,” he insisted, “if you let Jones get you in with his gang, you’ll be ditched. You show up this evening, Barry, and we’ll call on a couple of corking guys over in Meddill. One of ’em’s in your class, too.” So Barry went, but nothing came of that call. Barry was content that nothing should. By the end of the week Clyde’s efforts in Barry’s behalf dwindled. He said he couldn’t see why the other didn’t follow up some of the many introductions. Hal Stearns nodded vigorous assent. He appeared even more disgruntled than Clyde. Barry offered every reason save the right one, which was that none of the fellows to whom he had been introduced by Clyde appealed to him in the slightest degree. Hal as good as signified his intention of washing his hands of the business of getting Barry “started right,” and Barry was secretly very much pleased.