“Well,” began the other reflectively, holding his pajama jacket together with one hand and rubbing a touseled head with the other. “Well--” “Better class of fellows?” suggested Willard. “N-no, they’re about the same. Some pretty decent chaps go to Kenly. It isn’t that. It--it--well, Alton’s just _better_, if you see what I mean!” “I’m afraid I don’t,” laughed Willard. Martin grinned. “You will when you’ve been here awhile,” he said encouragingly. “The switch is at the left of the door when you’re ready.” “All right. I say, though, I’ve changed my mind about the beds. I’d rather have the other.” “Honest? Well--” Martin hesitated. “You’d better stick to the one you picked out, old man. That one’s got curvature of the spine. The spring lets you down in the middle.” “I don’t mind,” laughed Willard. “I only chose the other because I saw it was yours.” “Oh, that was it! Well, say, if you make a kick at the Office they’ll put a new spring on for you. Logan was always threatening to do it, but he never did. He was in here with me last year.” Willard turned the switch and felt his way to the bed. “I don’t call this very bad,” he declared when he had experimented. “Anyway, it won’t keep me awake tonight!” “That’s good. I hope it won’t. Good night--Brand!” “Good night, Mart!” CHAPTER VI FIRST DAYS AT ALTON Willard’s trunk arrived two days later, as though, by its delay, protesting against the change of plan, and by that time its owner was going about in one of Martin’s shirts. Those two days witnessed the shaking down of Willard into the manners and customs of Alton Academy. It wasn’t hard, for Martin was there to serve as a very willing counselor and guide. Willard became a member of the Junior Class on the strength of his high school certificate, and, since that was also Martin’s class, the latter was able to render assistance during the first difficult days. Fortunately the two boys took to each other at once and life in Number 16 Haylow promised to move pleasantly. The term began on Thursday, and on Friday the football candidates gathered for the first practice. Alton Academy’s registration was well over four hundred, as the catalogue later announced, and of that number nearly one-fourth reported on the gridiron as candidates for the school team. Willard, viewing the throng, thought little of his chances of securing a place.