For Conditions and Details Consult
Mr. Dennis de B. de B. Finnegan, Secretary.
While the announcement was running like quicksilver through the school the souvenir toilet set was encased in cotton, packed in the smallest compass, stowed in a wooden box, which was then sewed up in a gunny sacking. This in turn was wrapped in colored paper, tied with bows of pink ribbon and sealed with blue sealing wax stamped with the crest of the school—Virtus Semper Viridis. The whole was placed on a table at the legs of which were grouped stands of flags.
By noon the next day one-half of the school had passed around the table, measuring the mysterious package, touching the seals with itching fingers and wanting to know the reason for such secrecy.
"There are reasons," said Stover, in response to all inquiries. "Unusual, mysterious, excellent reasons. We ask no one to enter. We only guarantee that the prize is worth over three dollars and fifty cents. No one is coaxing you. No one will miss you. The entrance list is already crowded. We are quite willing it should be closed. We urge nobody!"
Macnooder came among the first, scratching his head and walking around the prize as a fox about a tainted trap. Stover, watching from the corner of his eye, studiously appeared to discourage him. Macnooder sniffed the air once or twice in an alarmed sort of way, grunted to himself and went off to try to pump Finnegan.
Finally, just before the closing of the entries, he shambled up with evident dissatisfaction and said:
"Here's my quarter. It's for the championship, though, and not on account of any hocus pocus in the box."
"Do I understand?" said Dink instantly, "that if you win you are willing to let the prize go to the second man?"
"What are you making out of this?" said Doc hungrily, disdaining an answer.