CHAPTER VIII
DRAWING THE LINE
Afterward the club was agreed that many things might have happened differently, had it not been for the affair of the class secretary. But the affair took place, and in its effects had an importance beyond anybody’s expectations.
As a matter of fact, class officers had little to do except in Senior year, when the ceremonies and festivities of graduation increased their duties. Several weeks before the troubles of the Trojan and his friends began the Juniors’ secretary had left school, but it had been supposed that the class would not elect a successor for the balance of the term. There was, therefore, more or less surprise when a notice was posted, calling a class meeting to fill the vacancy.
Sam Parker was especially disturbed. There had been some mention of the Trojan as a candidate for secretary at the regular election at the beginning of Senior year, and though Sam himself, as well as some of the other members of the club, expected to transfer to St. Mark’s, a famous fitting school, for the last year of their preparation for college, Walker had intended to finish the course at the high school. In the call for a special election Sam saw a hostile move: the Trojan, in official disgrace, could hardly hope to be chosen, while the successful candidate would, doubtless, seek reëlection in Senior year with the prestige of one victory.
Sam had been having his full share of difficulty, anyway, in dealing with the Trojan. Walker had taken greatly to heart what he considered the essential injustice of his treatment, and though he kept his pledge not to leave the school, there was little energy in his work. From Latin recitations he was barred, as we know. In the case of the others he did little more than file appearance. Sam, doing his best to encourage his chum, was alarmed by the probable results of the class meeting and the almost certain slight upon the Trojan.
The club held council, and bade Sam have charge of the campaign. Accordingly, he took special care to be early at the meeting, and, as soon as it was opened, to offer a resolution to delay action on the choice of a temporary secretary. Step lost no time in seconding the motion.
But if the club had laid its plans, so, too, had the opposition. Two or three boys spoke against postponement. They were influential fellows as it chanced, and their words carried weight. Then one of the girls took the floor, and made a strong plea for immediate action. Sam, keenly watching his classmates, gained two distinct impressions. One was that sentiment was overwhelmingly against him; the other, that though Zorn took no part in the debate, he was the guiding spirit of the other side; for once or twice questioning glances were turned upon him and were met by a nod or a shake of the head, as the case might be.
When Sam’s motion was put to a vote, it met defeat. The chorus of “Noes” gave unmistakable evidence of the prevailing sentiment. Then the class president called for nominations for secretary.
Somebody in the rear of the room sang out “Scrub Payne!” Two or three others seconded the nomination almost simultaneously.
“Anybody else?” inquired the president.