“It’s all wrong; I can see that at a glance—you’ve cooked up the result somehow, but it’s wrong. Rub it out.”
“Sir, this work is right; it isn’t the method used in the book, but I can prove to you it’s right. Now——”
“Rub it out, I tell you,” thundered Mr. Moehler.
“Will you let me explain it, sir?”
“No, rub it out.”
“May I send for the head of the department to explain it to him?”
“No, you may not; I’m running this. Rub that out. You’ve earned a zero for this morning’s work.”
Moehler was pale with anger and his voice trembled. Ralph hesitated a moment, then slowly rubbed his work out, and without another word left the blackboard and took his seat. The section was soon marched out of the recitation room, and when Ralph reached his own room he hurriedly wrote the following letter, addressing it to the commandant:
“Sir:—
“I have the honor to request your consideration on the following statement.