Frank Simpson began football practice with the scrub eleven the next day, and though he was sneered at by some, Tom and his friends on the 'varsity at once saw that the Californian knew the game. Mr. Lighton did not have to have his attention called to the work of the newcomer, for he picked him out at once, and kept his eyes on him during the warm-up play.
"I shouldn't wonder but what there'd be 'varsity material there," the coach confided to the captain after the practice game was over, when the scrub had rolled up two touchdowns against their mates.
"The land knows we need something to brace us up," replied Kindlings, somewhat despondently. "Sam Looper is getting worse instead of better. They tore big holes through him to-day."
"I know it," admitted Mr. Lighton. "And what will happen when Boxer Hall tackles us can be more than imagined, unless there's a big improvement. But I'm going to watch Simpson."
The big Californian was of a genial temperament, and he endeavored to make friends with his fellows on the scrub, but, somehow or other, they rather resented his advances, and turned the cold shoulder to him. Hurt, but not despairing, Frank "flocked by himself" for a few days. He was becoming known as a "dig," for he did well in the classroom.
Then Tom, and his two mates, seeing how the wind was blowing, made a special point to invite the newcomer to their room more frequently. They took him to their bosoms, and their warm welcome more than made up for the coldness on the part of some of the others.
It was not an intentional slight by those who did not welcome Simpson. Don't get that impression, for there was a warm school spirit at Randall. Only, somehow, it took a little longer for a stranger to make friends, coming in after the term had started, than it did before. Then, too, the fact that he had not passed his freshman year there was a bit against him. But Tom, Phil and Sid minded this not in the least, and soon Frank was made to feel quite at home, for which he was duly grateful.
"It's mighty white of you fellows, to treat me this way, like a friend and a brother," he said, feelingly, one night, after a session in the room.
"Oh, get out! Why shouldn't we?" demanded Sid.