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 CHAPTER V

OUT FOR THE TEAM

Despite Tom's forebodings the interview with Mr. Frost went off quite pleasantly the next morning. The Principal's assistant was rather bald and wore thick-lensed spectacles, but he was quite a young man and did not strive to appear otherwise. He seemed more amused than pained by the explanation of the visit.

"Tough luck, boys, to buck the rules the first night of the term!" he commented. "Of course you knew you shouldn't do it?"

Clif assured him he hadn't known it, and Mr. Frost—"Homer" the school called him, that being his given name—turned to a page in a blue-covered booklet, placed a finger half-way down it and invited Clif to read. It was there, as plain as daylight, and Clif, who had perused that volume thoroughly, as he thought, couldn't understand how he had missed it. As for Tom, the latter explained cheerfully that he had only looked at the pictures! Mr. Frost gravely presented each of them with a copy of the booklet, advising them to become better acquainted with the school regulations, and dismissed them smilingly.

Returning to West Hall, Clif made fun of his com