THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS
During recess on the following day Dan Brown knocked gently on the door of President Hopkins' private office.
"Come in!" called a mild but authoritative voice.
The president, a dignified figure, was seated at his desk near the window.
"Good-morning, Brown! What can I do for you?"
He motioned the originator of the "Hopes" crusade to a seat close by.
"I have been delegated by a committee to call upon you," answered "Crackers," articulating each word with great distinctness.
"Ah, indeed! Who is the committee?"
"Earl Roycroft, Owen Lawrence and Frank Bush, representing the new baseball club and almost the entire body of students."
Professor Hopkins looked surprised.
"What is the nature of your business?" he asked.
"We think the time has come when an unfortunate exhibition of obstinacy on the part of a few students should come to an end."
"Go ahead, Brown," said the president, as the big lad paused.
"We should be very glad indeed if you would allow us the use of the assembly room to hold a meeting."
"For what purpose?"
"As you know, professor, the inter-scholastic series begins next Saturday. Rockville Academy will send its team over here to play the first game of the season. If the regulars meet them it is bound to be a bad day for the High; the school team, so far, has failed to win a single victory, while the 'Hopes' have not met with a single defeat."
The professor gazed abstractedly out of the window. Brown, the earnestness of his manner increasing, kept on.
"When Mr. Barry made his generous offer he positively said that only a winning team would get the grounds."
"Quite true, Brown."
"Can you blame the boys for objecting strenuously when they see such a magnificent prospect fading with every game the regulars play?"
The president's revolving chair wheeled sharply around. He removed his eye-glasses, to stare searchingly into "Crackers'" impassive face.
"Brown," he said, slowly, "the boys composing the athletic association were elected to their respective positions by a great majority of the students. A coach was duly appointed and players selected. Do you think it is fair to them that, before the inter-scholastic season has actually started, they should be hampered and discouraged by their own comrades?"
"We are working for the good of the school," answered "Crackers," doggedly—"that's our motto."
"But your ideas and the actual facts may not agree. You haven't yet told me for what purpose you wish the assembly hall."
"We would like to vote, to-morrow, on the question as to which team shall play Rockville Academy. Our fellows are perfectly willing to abide by the decision of the school. That seems to all of us a perfectly fair proposition, professor?"
"Have you submitted the matter to the athletic association?"
"We asked them to reorganize the team, and met with a curt refusal. We tried to get them to play our club, the 'Hopes'—same thing again, although in the beginning they were quite ready to cross bats with any team."
"Perhaps so, Brown. But the circumstances in this case are entirely different. The regular coach usually attends to such matters. You have formed an organization which has no official standing; it is not subject to the rules or direction of the athletic association. In fact, it is directly antagonistic to them."
"The reason we ask for the hall is to give the club official standing," returned Brown, easily. "The students are clamoring to have this done."
President Hopkins shook his head.
"The faculty of the school never interferes with athletic affairs unless for very serious reasons. Those stated are not sufficient to justify me in acceding to your proposal." The president leaned forward. "My attention has been called to the fact that some of the boys have been shouting and carrying on in such a manner as to lead one to suppose that they desired above all things to see the regulars defeated. I heard this from a reliable authority."
"I'm afraid the person who told you is not disinterested," said Brown. "We know who he is. Besides, in every cause, there are nearly always some foolish hotheads whose actions can't be controlled." He rose to his feet. "Don't you think you could change your decision, professor? I'm sure the students would appreciate having the use of the room; and this troublesome matter ought to be ended at once."
"No, Brown, I cannot."
There was no expression of chagrin or disappointment on the chief "outlaw's" face, as he turned away, exclaiming cheerfully:
"I thank you very much for the interview, professor."
Of course, through the agency of Benny Wilkins and several others, "Crackers'" visit to the principal immediately became known throughout the school.
"And Brown got thrown down flat, Mr. Editor of the 'Reflector,'" remarked Benny, addressing Dave Brandon.
"Please don't send me a three-column article about it, Benny. What did Brown want with the assembly room?"
"Oh, that's telling! Spies have to keep mum. I've gotten to be the greatest little sneak in the school, you know."
"It's all right so long as you do your spying in the open," laughed Dave.
That afternoon the regulars went through their practice as usual. But the boys who gathered on the field seemed to be much more interested in comparing notes than they did in watching the players.
"I reckon the big kick Alf Boggs spoke about is almost due," laughed Coach Steele. "Anyway, fellows, in spite of all this commotion, every one is steadily improving. I guess you've been a bit more disturbed than any of us really imagined."
"Perhaps so," said Bob. "I suppose it's like everything else; our nerves have now become accustomed to the strain."
"The unexpectedness of it was what got me," added Tom. "How'd you feel about it, Blake?"
"Pretty badly, until the last few days," admitted Charlie.
"You've both done rattling good work this afternoon," put in the coach, encouragingly. "Keep it up."
"No one will ever see me play such a game as I did last time," said Tom.
"We are finding our batting eye, too," remarked Dave. "With a couple more weeks' practice we ought to be right on edge."
"I notice the 'outlaws' are not working to-day," said "Jack Frost." "Guess it means they're still busy for the good of the school. But don't let it worry any one."
The staunch Somers partisans who witnessed the practice were much pleased. And they industriously spread this fact broadcast.
When the students gathered in the assembly room next morning they expected to hear only the usual introductory remarks from President Hopkins. The head of the school, however, instead of dismissing them at the customary moment, rose from his seat at a desk and advanced to the edge of the platform.
"Boys," he said, in an earnest tone, "I wish to speak to you about certain matters which I find are dividing the school into two factions, and, I regret to say, causing considerable ill-feeling."
A murmur of suppressed excitement, which found relief in muffled "Oh's!" and "Ah's!" spread through the hall.
"I do not doubt that the boys who are causing this commotion have been actuated by entirely good motives; but, unfortunately, movements of this sort, which spring from disappointment, instead of helping matters often act as a hindrance."
"Crackers" Brown nudged his neighbor savagely in the ribs.
"Did you get that, Platt?" he whispered—"a hindrance!"
"You can just bet the 'Ancient Mariner' put the notion into his head. Those Ramblers seem to have even the faculty of the school right where they want 'em."
"It's simply a-ma-zing!"
"I am sure Mr. Barry regrets this state of affairs as much as I do," went on President Hopkins. "We all cannot be winners as we go through life; and to accept defeat manfully and philosophically is sometimes just as creditable as wearing the crown of victory."
"I never knew he was capable of remarks like that," observed Benny Wilkins, cautiously.
In another part of the room Owen Lawrence was saying:
"Mighty fine words! But I'd a heap sooner hear the sound of the axe chopping down those no-trespassing signs."
"I sincerely trust you will think matters over calmly. Remember: the boys whom you find so much fault with to-day are loyal to the school and deeply interested in its welfare. Therefore, be sure that your prejudices don't mislead you; give them the chance they deserve."
As President Hopkins closed his brief address a round of applause followed; but it seemed to come from but a very small portion of the students.
"Ha, ha! You will, will you?" laughed Alf Boggs, passing "Crackers" on his way to the class room. "Got called down, eh? Guess that'll hold you fellows for a while."
"Brown is so pained he'll never do it again," chirped Benny Wilkins. "Give me that note-book you promised, 'Crackers,' and I'll make an entry: 'End of the Brown agitation.' Ha, ha! Lots of fun going to school, isn't there?"
"You'll think so to-morrow," said Brown, ominously.
With quick, springy steps Owen Lawrence reached the side of his chief.
"I don't like the way the president talked a bit," he snapped. "He practically accused us of being hot-headed and prejudiced. It's all very well to talk about accepting defeat; but what's the use when you don't have to?"
"There'll be no accepting defeat here," returned Brown. "What do you think of this idea, Lawrence?"
In a low tone he spoke earnestly to his companion.
Lawrence nodded.
"A capital scheme, Brown!" he cried, enthusiastically.