“But there’s such a thing as straight politics, honest politics,” said Sam.
“Certainly! If there wasn’t the right kind, the country’d go to smash,” the Shark contributed. “Just like mathematics! You may make mistakes, but if you stick to it and keep to the rules, you’ll get the right answer in the end. Same way with parties. After all’s said and done they’ve got to play fair and work straight, or they go to smash.”
“Same as Zorn’s schemes!” Step put in, bluntly.
Zorn sat straighter; he faced the club, and spoke with a curious deliberation:
“I’ve got to take my medicine—I know it. What’s more, I want to. You don’t understand, maybe, but it’s the fact.... Now, things have hit me hard to-night. See here! I have had schemes, as you call them. What was I after? Why, to be top-notcher, first all around, head of the school. And I saw how to make it. I must get backing; I needed yours. I saw I couldn’t have it by favor, but luck gave me a chance to put on the screws.... Then to-night Sam Parker thrashed me—out-fought me. It was a fair fight. He beat me, and I’m not whining. I didn’t think he had it in him, but he had.... When I went down, though, everything went down with me. Look here! Maybe, when you were youngsters, you played with toy soldiers. You stood ’em in line. If one was knocked over, all of them tumbled. It’s the same thing in my case now. Don’t you see it? I set out to be cock of the walk. I figured I could whip any fellow in school, if I had to. Well, Sam Parker whips me—and down plump all my play-things! I can’t be the all-round top-notcher; for I’ve met a better man. The whole school gets the story; the crowd quit me. There you have it! First in everything, or first in nothing. That’s the game, as I’ve played it. I’m down and out.”
“So—so am I—but I’m glad of it!” cried Jack Hagle. “You don’t think, do you, I’ve been having a good time? You don’t think I haven’t been miserable? I don’t care what’s done to me! It can’t worry me as awfully as what I’ve been through has worried me—day and night! Expulsion—jail—anything’ll be better!”
Sam glanced at the Trojan. The fellow who had suffered most by the plot had said not a word, while the trickery, of which he had been the victim, was being revealed. Others of the club, too, were looking at Walker, questioningly, wonderingly. Sam cleared his throat.
“Ahem, ahem! I—I say, Trojan, what’s your idea—of the right thing, you know?”
But the Trojan shook his head. “Sam,” he said slowly, “Sam, I leave it to you and the crowd. You know, all along I’ve felt I didn’t have a fair deal—it’s been that that cut me worst. Whatever’s done now, I want to be the square thing—no more, no less. And what’s fair and square I’m not the one to say—I’ve been hit too hard. I leave it to you, Sam—you and the club.”
“And so do I!” cried Jack Hagle.