“By getting up a petition, and having all the fellows sign it. Maybe if the faculty understood what it meant they would vote to rescind the order not allowing Sid to take part in games.”
“By Jove, it’s worth trying!” cried Tom. “We’ll do it! I’ll go talk with Ed Kerr and Mr. Leighton.”
The manager and coach thought the plan a good one, and a few days later a petition was quietly circulated. Nothing was said to Sid about it, for fear he would object. The students were anxious to get their names down, and soon there was an imposing list.
“I want to get the freshmen now,” decided Tom, one afternoon, when the petition was nearly ready for presentation. “I’m making a class affair of it, each year’s students by themselves, and I let the freshmen go until last. I’ll see Bascome, who is the class president, ask him to call a meeting, and have his fellows sign.”
Tom sought out Bascome a little later, and explained what was wanted, asking the freshman to call a session of his classmates.
“In other words you want me and my friends to help you out of a hole?” asked Bascome, and he was sneering.
“That’s about it,” answered Tom, restraining a desire to punch the overbearing freshman. “We want to strengthen the nine, and we can do it if we can get Henderson back on it.”
“Then you’ll never get him back with my signature nor that of my friends!” cried Bascome. “I’ll get even with you fellows now, for the way you’ve treated me!”
He was sneering openly. Tom looked him full in the face.