Cateye stood watching him, an amused smile on his face.
Three weeks passed quickly. During this time Judd underwent a trying period. Wherever he chanced to go he provoked laughter and was made the object of many petty but harmless jokes. There was no doubt about it, Judd was slow, but he was also good natured and when he saw the joke, enjoyed it as much as anyone. Largely through Cateye's untiring efforts his rough edge was gradually being worn away, and, while he had formed few friends, still he had made no real enemies. Most of the fellows took him as a huge joke.
Cateye had written to Bob: "Judd is a great scout and getting on fine. He certainly has the build for a great football player. I've been giving him pointers and I'm anxious for practice to begin so I can see how good he really is."
After the first night Judd talked only during waking hours, a fact which greatly astonished Cateye. True, Judd still snored some, but he could easily be forgiven for this minor offense so long as he did not take a notion to plow any more fields. Moreover Cateye had succeeded in breaking Judd in to soft, downy beds and in making him strive to do things much as other fellows would.
Two weeks later as Cateye was crossing the campus he was met by Benz who slapped him joyfully on the back.
"Football practice begins to-morrow! Since Bob did not come back this year the eleven will have to meet and elect a new captain."
"That's so," recalled Cateye, "Be great to get back in harness again, eh, Benz?"
"You bet! Say,—d'you suppose Rube'll be out to-morrow?"
"I don't know."
"I hope he is. That fellow is the richest joke that ever hit Bartlett college. Why, if he doesn't know any more about football than he does about table manners, …"