THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS
During recess on the following day Dan Brown knocked gently on the door
of President Hopkins' private office.
"Come in!" called a mild but authoritative voice.
The president, a dignified figure, was seated at his desk near the
window.
"Good-morning, Brown! What can I do for you?"
He motioned the originator of the "Hopes" crusade to a seat close by.
"I have been delegated by a committee to call upon you," answered
"Crackers," articulating each word with great distinctness.
"Ah, indeed! Who is the committee?"
"Earl Roycroft, Owen Lawrence and Frank Bush, representing the new
baseball club and almost the entire body of students."
Professor Hopkins looked surprised.
"What is the nature of your business?" he asked.
"We think the time has come when an unfortunate exhibition of obstinacy
on the part of a few students should come to an end."
"Go ahead, Brown," said the president, as the big lad paused.
"We should be very glad indeed if you would allow us the use of the
assembly room to hold a meeting."
"For what purpose?"
"As you know, professor, the inter-scholastic series begins next
Saturday. Rockville Academy will send its team over here to play the
first game of the season. If the regulars meet them it is bound to be
a bad day for the High; the school team, so far, has failed to win a
single victory, while the 'Hopes' have not met with a single defeat."
The professor gazed abstractedly out of the window. Brown, the
earnestness of his manner increasing, kept on.
"When Mr. Barry made his generous offer he positively said that only a
winning team would get the grounds."
"Quite true, Brown."
"Can you blame the boys for objecting strenuously when they see such a
magnificent prospect fading with every game the regulars play?"
The president's revolving chair wheeled sharply around. He removed his
eye-glasses, to stare searchingly into "Crackers'" impassive face.
"Brown," he said, slowly, "the boys composing the athletic association
were elected to their respective positions by a great majority of the
students. A coach was duly appointed and players selected. Do you
think it is fair to them that, before the inter-scholastic season has
actually started, they should be hampered and discouraged by their own
comrades?"
"We are working for the good of the school," answered "Crackers,"
doggedly--"that's our motto."
"But your ideas and the actual facts may not agree. You haven't yet
told me for what purpose you wish the assembly hall."
"We would like to vote, to-morrow, on the question as to which team
shall play Rockville Academy. Our fellows are perfectly willing to
abide by the decision of the school. That seems to all of us a
perfectly fair proposition, professor?"
"Have you submitted the matter to the athletic association?"
"We asked them to reorganize the team, and met with a curt refusal.
We tried to get them to play our club, the 'Hopes'--same thing again,
although in the beginning they were quite ready to cross bats with any
team."
"Perhaps so, Brown. But the circumstances in this case are entirely
different. The regular coach usually attends to such matters. You
have formed an organization which has no official standing; it is not
subject to the rules or direction of the athletic association. In fact,
it is directly antagonistic to them."
"The reason we ask for the hall is to give the club official standing,"
returned Brown, easily. "The students are clamoring to have this done."
President Hopkins shook his head.
"The faculty of the school never interferes with athletic affairs
unless for very serious reasons. Those stated are not sufficient
to justify me in acceding to your proposal." The president leaned
forward. "My attention has been called to the fact that some of the
boys have been shouting and carrying on in such a manner as to lead
one to suppose that they desired above all things to see the regulars
defeated. I heard this from a reliable authority."
"I'm afraid the person who told you is not disinterested," said Brown.
"We know who he is. Besides, in every cause, there are nearly always
some foolish hotheads whose actions can't be controlled." He rose to
his feet. "Don't you think you could change your decision, professor?
I'm sure the students would appreciate having the use of the room; and
this troublesome matter ought to be ended at once."
"No, Brown, I cannot."
There was no expression of chagrin or disappointment on the chief
"outlaw's" face, as he turned away, exclaiming cheerfully:
"I thank you very much for the interview, professor."
Of course, through the agency of Benny Wilkins and several others,
"Crackers'" visit to the principal immediately became known throughout
the school.
"And Brown got thrown down flat, Mr. Editor of the 'Reflector,'"
remarked Benny, addressing Dave Brandon.
"Please don't send me a three-column article about it, Benny. What did
Brown want with the assembly room?"
"Oh, that's telling! Spies have to keep mum. I've gotten to be the
greatest little sneak in the school, you know."
"It's all right so long as you do your spying in the open," laughed
Dave.
That afternoon the regulars went through their practice as usual. But
the boys who gathered on the field seemed to be much more interested in
comparing notes than they did in watching the players.
"I reckon the big kick Alf Boggs spoke about is almost due," laughed
Coach Steele. "Anyway, fellows, in spite of all this commotion, every
one is steadily improving. I guess you've been a bit more disturbed
than any of us really imagined."
"Perhaps so," said Bob. "I suppose it's like everything else; our
nerves have now become accustomed to the strain."
"The unexpectedness of it was what got me," added Tom. "How'd you feel
about it, Blake?"
"Pretty badly, until the last few days," admitted Charlie.
"You've both done rattling good work this afternoon," put in the coach,
encouragingly. "Keep it up."
"No one will ever see me play such a game as I did last time," said Tom.
"We are finding our batting eye, too," remarked Dave. "With a couple
more weeks' practice we ought to be right on edge."
"I notice the 'outlaws' are not working to-day," said "Jack Frost."
"Guess it means they're still busy for the good of the school. But
don't let it worry any one."
The staunch Somers partisans who witnessed the practice were much
pleased. And they industriously spread this fact broadcast.
When the students gathered in the assembly room next morning they
expected to hear only the usual introductory remarks from President
Hopkins. The head of the school, however, instead of dismissing them at
the customary moment, rose from his seat at a desk and advanced to the
edge of the platform.
"Boys," he said, in an earnest tone, "I wish to speak to you about
certain matters which I find are dividing the school into two factions,
and, I regret to say, causing considerable ill-feeling."
A murmur of suppressed excitement, which found relief in muffled
"Oh's!" and "Ah's!" spread through the hall.
"I do not doubt that the boys who are causing this commotion have been
actuated by entirely good motives; but, unfortunately, movements of
this sort, which spring from disappointment, instead of helping matters
often act as a hindrance."
"Crackers" Brown nudged his neighbor savagely in the ribs.
"Did you get that, Platt?" he whispered--"a hindrance!"
"You can just bet the 'Ancient Mariner' put the notion into his head.
Those Ramblers seem to have even the faculty of the school right where
they want 'em."
"It's simply a-ma-zing!"
"I am sure Mr. Barry regrets this state of affairs as much as I do,"
went on President Hopkins. "We all cannot be winners as we go through
life; and to accept defeat manfully and philosophically is sometimes
just as creditable as wearing the crown of victory."
"I never knew he was capable of remarks like that," observed Benny
Wilkins, cautiously.
In another part of the room Owen Lawrence was saying:
"Mighty fine words! But I'd a heap sooner hear the sound of the axe
chopping down those no-trespassing signs."
"I sincerely trust you will think matters over calmly. Remember: the
boys whom you find so much fault with to-day are loyal to the school
and deeply interested in its welfare. Therefore, be sure that your
prejudices don't mislead you; give them the chance they deserve."
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.