“I demand to know,” said the proctor sternly. “You let someone in; did you not?”
Tom hesitated for a moment, but it was only a moment. There came an instant of temptation. He recalled what Shambler had said about the probability of suspension if he was caught again.
“And it would be a good thing if he did go,” thought Tom bitterly. “Good for Randall--good. But then the games! We need him!”
Then he knew that it was a selfish motive that was urging him to take advantage of the chance thrown in his way.
“No! No! I--I can’t do it!” he cried within himself.
“I--I can’t tell you,” answered Tom simply.
“If you prefer to put it that way--yes, sir.”
“Very well. I will see you in the morning,” and, turning on his heel, the proctor went back into his office.
There must have been rather a strenuous time between Dr. Churchill and Proctor Zane early the next morning--a discussion concerning college ethics that, as Tom learned later, had a bearing on his own case. But nothing came of it, and though at chapel Dr. Churchill spoke rather solemnly on “duty” he made no direct reference to anyone.
Tom was not summoned to the proctor’s office, for which he was duly thankful, not that he felt that he would have betrayed Shambler, but he did not like to be cross-questioned.
Just how the news leaked out no one could say, but such things do become known, more or less, in all colleges, and it was common rumor that the proctor and the president had differed materially on the point of making Tom tell. But Dr. Churchill won his contention, and the episode became a closed one.
As the days of Spring wore on, with the grass growing greener, and the weather more and more mild, there came over all a spirit of unrest, and yet not so much unrest as it was a desire to be up and doing.
The diamond was being put in shape. The line-up of the nine was already much talked of, but, overshadowing all this, was the prospect of the track games. Several meetings had been held of the committees in charge of the proposed big meet, and final details were being gradually worked out.
It had been practically decided that the affair would be held in Tonoka Park. This was a sort of summer resort near Tonoka Lake, which gave the name to the football and baseball leagues, of which I have written elsewhere.