The colonel digested the news slowly. “That is very nice of your father and I certainly appreciate it,” he said at last. “But of course I could not simply ask the senior Gates to resign so that I could put another man in his place.”
“I wouldn’t want you to do that,” answered Don, quietly. “But this is what I mean. You know that the entire student body wants to play Dimsdale and that one man alone is holding us back. What I propose is this. Suppose a committee consisting of two representatives from each class waits on Mr. Gates and tells him plainly that the school is determined to play our rival? If he is unruly and threatens to resign we’ll just allow him to resign and my father will take his place.”
“I see now what you are getting at,” cried the colonel. “We won’t be driving him out, but he will be driving himself out! It will give us an opportunity to see if he is simply bluffing and at the same time you boys will get your game. Personally, nothing would suit me better than to see that game played. I think it is high time that the unfriendliness of years standing is done away with and that athletic and other relations be restored between this school and Dimsdale.”
“Then you approve of my plan?” asked Don.
“I certainly do. The issue will then be squarely up to Mr. Gates and it will be up to him to decide what course to pursue. I won’t have anything to say about it, nor will the other trustees, and if he wishes to resign your father will take his place. Nothing could be more clear-cut than that.”
“When will there be another meeting of the trustees?” inquired Don.
“In three days’ time. We did not get all business finished at the last meeting, due mostly to the football discussion, and we must meet again then.”
It was agreed that Don should inform the captains and lieutenants of each class to appear before the trustees and explain their stand. After he had left the colonel’s office he went to class and later hunted up the cadets whose presence would be required. All of them were instructed to keep things quiet until after the meeting of the trustees, and all agreed to do so.
On the night of the meeting the selected cadets were ready and met outside the colonel’s office. Hudson and Berry represented the first class, Douglas and Don the third. The trustees had arrived and were inside, settling themselves and talking.
The colonel opened the door and allowed them to march in, where they faced the slightly astonished trustees. They soon made out Melvin Gates, a tall, thin man with burning bright eyes and a lofty air about him. Colonel Morrell came briefly to the point.