“Well, Frank’s stepfather proved to be just the right kind of man to take Frank in charge. And he did it, too, just in time. The best part of it is that Frank really loves his new parent.
“When his stepfather saw which way Frank was drifting, he took him away from his companions, and sent him here. It has been the making of Frank, headstrong as he is. He’s getting some of it taken out of him here, but he can stand the loss of more,” went on Ted. “He came here as a freshman and was well hazed. Now he’s a soph, and he has a lot of friends.”
“But is that any reason why he should turn the cold shoulder to us?” asked Ned. “Just because we’re freshmen?”
“No,” admitted Ted slowly. “It isn’t. Frank ought to have had the decency to put you wise to what you wanted to know, even if he didn’t care to make friends.”
“Is there any reason why he shouldn’t care to make friends?” asked Bob. “Not that we want to force ourselves on him,” he added.
“Well, I did hear a little talk about him and his crowd saying they were afraid you fellows might come here with—well, if you’ll excuse me for mentioning it—with swelled heads, is about the best way I can put it.”
“Swelled heads!” cried Jerry. “What in the world have we to puff out our chests over?”
“Well, it’s those things you did—having so many adventures you know. Did you really go up in an airship and down in a submarine, the way Professor Snodgrass tells?”