[Sidenote: Playing for Money]
Champ Underwood and Virgil Rutherford were returning from a week-end
visit at the home of an old friend. On the train they ran across Chancey
Prime, only two years ago a school favorite and friend of the two
travelers, but now a salesman for an automobile house.
“Hello, fellows. Glad to see you! Sit down! Whither wend ye?”
“On our way home after a week-end over at Bloomburg. How goes it with
you?”
In ten minutes the cards were out. With some qualms of conscience Champ
and Virgil laid down their dimes and took hands in the game. They saw no
acquaintance on the train and expected nothing to come of it.
The boys reached home by noon. The next day the principal took the boys
into his office at the end of the morning session and made the following
speech:
“You spent Sunday at Bloomburg. You came home with Chancey Prime and
were caught gambling on the train. It is also reported that you were
with him all day Sunday and that some way the two of you spent $50 in
having a good time, supposedly in gambling and the like. You know that
we don’t stand for any of these things. I know your parents do a little
of this sort of thing, but they gave me to understand that you are
forbidden to indulge in gambling. You must each get up before the high
school and state the facts as I have reviewed them, apologize and
promise never to do these things again, or drop your membership in every
high school club, society and team for the remainder of the year.”
To this the reply came:
“But the facts didn’t come straight to you. We didn’t do....”
“Never mind about denials. I have two first-class witnesses and there is
no ground for a discussion. I want your answer immediately.”
After looking at each other a second the boys came to an agreement. “No,
sir, we’re not guilty of all these charges. We won’t accept either
penalty until our case is heard and properly dealt with,” said Virgil.
“Get your books; don’t return until you receive word from the
superintendent,” was the final shot from the principal.
As the two soberly marched home, they enumerated the errors the
principal had made as to the facts; they had not gambled except for a
short time on the train; they had been with Prime only a short interval;
their stay at Bloomburg had been spent according to school standards;
their parents had given up parlor gambling two years before when they
joined church; they were entirely willing to suffer a reasonable penalty
when the actual facts were made the basis of judgment.
“Well,” said Champ, “it’s all up. I’m not going to make the next move,
are you, old boy?”
“Not on your life. That monkey is also a fool. I won’t stir one peg
until he crawfishes, not one foot,” was Virgil’s indignant response.
They kept their agreement.