“I don’t recall his name—one of the sporting men around town. I know the name of the head of the general committee, and that’s all.”
“Would he be able to give us a certificate proving that you did not compete?”
“He’s in Europe,” answered Dickinson. “He wouldn’t be of any use if he were here. He had nothing to do with the sports at all, and he doesn’t know me from Adam.”
“But there must be some one to whom you can write for evidence,” cried Melvin, in despair. “Wouldn’t your father look the matter up for you, or your clergyman or your high school principal?”
Dickinson’s features relaxed into a mournful smile. “My father indeed! Haven’t I told you of his attitude on the subject? He’d welcome any pretext that would shut me out. And as for Dr. Monroe, our minister, he’s a fine old man and one of the best friends I have in the world, but I shouldn’t wish to send him round the streets looking up evidence regarding my running. The principal of the high school would do the job thoroughly if we could give him plenty of time, but he’s a very busy man and might not get to it immediately.”
“Might not get to it immediately!” echoed Melvin. “Why, Jim, do you know how much time we have?—just five days. The protest will have to be met on Wednesday. If we are not prepared then, judgment will go against us.”
“They’ll have to give us reasonable time in which to disprove charges, won’t they?” retorted Dickinson. “They certainly don’t expect every fellow to carry round in his pocket certificates of his amateur standing.”
“The rules say definitely that protests must be decided on the Wednesday before the games, and Hillbury will take good care that the rules are followed. Whatever we do must be done before Wednesday. We must write the letters to-night.”
“Let’s talk it over with Varrell first,” said Dickinson, “he knows more than all the rest of us put together. It may be that he will think of some way of getting us out of the hole.”
The meeting was adjourned to Varrell’s room, where the facts were discussed again. The wisdom of Varrell furnished no other expedient than that already proposed of writing to several men whose names Dickinson had mentioned, in the hope that out of the whole number at least one would answer fully and promptly, with evidence that could not be gainsaid.