Several minutes the headmaster gazed at the serious, manly face of the boy before him, then said:
"If you fight, Fred, I shall suspend you. Now you may go."
CHAPTER III
FRED'S SACRIFICE
It was with lagging feet and heavy heart that Fred left the office of the headmaster.
Bart's aspersions on his father had hurt him deeply, and Mr. Vining's refusal to agree with his own opinion of his parent's honesty had surprised him. But the deepest cut of all was the threat to suspend him should he fight with Bart. If he obeyed the headmaster, he knew all too well that his fellow students—that is, all except Margie—would attribute his action to fear of Bart, and he was also familiar enough with the nature of his rival to realize he would lose no opportunity to twist events to his own advantage.
Such a combination of circumstances was enough to perplex an older head than Fred's, and as he descended the steps, he felt a keen resentment against the headmaster for placing him in such a position. It was with relief, however, that he saw Margie had drawn the other girls off to a spot where they would be out of earshot, for he dreaded their scrutiny more than the rough comments of his fellows.
"He looks as solemn as an owl," exclaimed Buttons, who with Soda and his other staunch supporters had been awaiting his coming.
"The Head must be in a fierce frame of mind to-day," commented another.
"No wonder, with Fred and Bart getting into a mix-up at the very opening of school," returned Soda.