After a week of grueling practise, the first game of the season came like a holiday. Stover was called out after the first few minutes, replacing Bangs, and remained until the close. He played well, aided by several fortunate opportunities, earning at the last a pat on the back from Dana which sent him home rejoicing. The showing of the team was disappointing, even for that early season. The material was plainly lacking in the line, and at full-back the kicking was lamentably weak. The coaches went off with serious faces; throughout the college assembled on the stands was a spreading premonition of disaster. Saturday night was privileged, with the long, grateful Sunday morning sleep ahead. "Dink, ahoy!" shouted McNab's cheerful voice over the banister, as he entered the house. "Hello, there!" "How's the boy wonder, the only man-eating Dink in captivity?" "Tired as the deuce." "Fine. First rate," said McNab, skipping down. "Forget the past, think only of the bright furniture. We've got a block of tickets for Poli's Daring-Dazzling-Delightful Vaudeville to-night. You're elected. We'll end up with a game at Reynolds'. Seen the _Evening Register_?" "No." "My boy, you are famous," said McNab, brandishing a paper. "I'm lovelier, but you get the space. Never mind, I'll be arrested soon--anything to get in the papers!" While McNab's busy tongue ran on, Stover was gazing at the account of the game, where, among the secondary headlines, there stared out at him the caption: STOVER, A FRESHMAN, PLAYS SENSATIONAL GAME. The thing was too incredible. He stood stupidly looking at it. "How do you feel?" said McNab, taking his pulse professionally. There was no answer Stover could give to that first throbbing sensation at seeing his name--his own name--in print. It left him confused, almost a little frightened. "Why, Dink, you're modest," said the irrepressible McNab; and, throwing open the door, he shouted at the top of his voice: "I say, fellows, come down and see Dink blush." A magnificent scrimmage, popularly known as a "rough house," ensued, in which McNab was properly chastised, though not a whit subdued. McCarthy arrived late, with the freshman eleven, back from a close contest with a school team. They took a hurried supper, and went down a dozen strong, in jovial marching order.