As President Hopkins closed his brief address a round of applause followed; but it seemed to come from but a very small portion of the students.
"Ha, ha! You will, will you?" laughed Alf Boggs, passing "Crackers" on his way to the class room. "Got called down, eh? Guess that'll hold you fellows for a while."
"Brown is so pained he'll never do it again," chirped Benny Wilkins. "Give me that note-book you promised, 'Crackers,' and I'll make an entry: 'End of the Brown agitation.' Ha, ha! Lots of fun going to school, isn't there?"
"You'll think so to-morrow," said Brown, ominously.
With quick, springy steps Owen Lawrence reached the side of his chief.
"I don't like the way the president talked a bit," he snapped. "He practically accused us of being hot-headed and prejudiced. It's all very well to talk about accepting defeat; but what's the use when you don't have to?"
"There'll be no accepting defeat here," returned Brown. "What do you think of this idea, Lawrence?"
In a low tone he spoke earnestly to his companion.
Lawrence nodded.
"A capital scheme, Brown!" he cried, enthusiastically.