Cinder Path Tales

ATHERTON'S LAST "HALF" 115 and it will, of course, giveyou no chance to win; but it seems to us the only thing to do under the circumstances." The boy winced,looked at us keenly to see if we were serious, then grew grave and said, rather sarcastically, " Your reasons for selecting me in particular as the scape­ goat are of course good and sufficient, and you will pardon me for asking what they are?" I went over the matter with him in detail, assisted by Furness, giving all our reasons, doing my best o make the project as inviting as possible; and Atherton finallyconsented, as we expected. It was, however, a very serious face he carried off, and one very dif­ ferent fromthat whichsmiled upon us at the beginning. We wereall mighty sorry for the boy, and I felt as if I had committed a petty theft, and deservedthe penitentiary, or worse. I had only been the spokesman for the rest, and had racked my brains to think of some way to save Atherton from the sacrifice; but Tom was really unassailable in his position, and even " Doc " did not oppose him. I watched the lithe figure as it disappeared around the corner of the fence, realizing how full of disappointment my message must have been, and was sorry enough about it, Atherton had arrived at college without