"Little do they realize the honor that is shortly to descend upon them," returned the Codfish, complacently. "I have some original ideas about steering a shell which will practically assure them of the race next June." "And they are?" "Why cast pearls before swine? The scheme will be revealed to you in due season," and the Codfish pulled a pad of paper toward him and began to scribble on it industriously. "You didn't know, perhaps, that I've decided to go out for the _News_, did you?" said the Codfish, scratching away with his head tilted on one side. "Aren't you a little late in the undertaking?" inquired Frank. "That is something of a job for even an intelligent man." "For an ordinary intellect, yes, but for me a mere bagatelle, or bag-of-shells, as the ancients have it." "Heeling the _News_ means hours and hours of shacking," said Frank. "Have you seen those pale ghosts of heelers flitting around by day and by night on bicycles?" "O, yes, that's the ordinary way, I know. I shall deal only in scoops, which, if you follow me, means a 'beat' on all the other fellows." "It's a difficult business, sonny." "On the contrary, a cinch. Watch your Uncle Dudley. Simply mind over matter. You boneheads wouldn't understand my reasoning processes if I explained, so why explain? But I say, when is David Powers expected in this burg?" "Arrives on the morning train from New York," said Frank. "Got in on the _Olympic_ last night from the other side. Began to think he was lost." "Good old Davey. And he's going to be in Pierson?" "Yes, right across the hall from us." "Good, I can use him in my _News_ ambitions. Now I guess I'll run across to the _News_ office and tell the editors I'm ready to start work." "I hope they kill you," Jimmy shot after him as the door banged. Half an hour later the Codfish was back in the room. "Well, what happened?" both boys demanded. "What do you suppose?" "They fired you out after one good look at you." "On the contrary, they welcomed me with open arms. Assignment Editor is a peach. He recognized my ability at once." "How?" "O, kind of naturally doped it out for himself. General bearing I have, I s'pose. Poor Freshman bunch heeling the _News_ now, he told me, and that makes my chances better." "O, you egotist, you blithering egotist," laughed Jimmy. "No, no, not egotism, just merely confidence. Now if I were on the Freshman football squad, I'd just simply know I was going to make the team, and that's all there'd be to it. I'd make it. Mind over matter, my boy, mind over matter, as I was telling you." "And when do you begin?" inquired Frank. "O, I'll knock off a little something in the morning. I've an hour after ten-thirty recitation. I asked the Assignment Editor to save me a column on the front page, in view of a scoop I contemplate. Hand me that paper, Turner," indicating the evening paper which lay on the floor at Jimmy's feet.