There was a ring in his voice, and, as he stood up and faced his accuser there was that in his manner which would indicate to any unprejudiced person that he was perfectly sober.
"Intoxicated!" exclaimed the doctor, for he had a nameless horror of anything like that. "Don't make such a charge, Mr. Zane, unless you are positive----"
"I have never touched a drop of liquor," insisted Sid.
Dr. Churchill, with a stern look on his rugged face, advanced and took hold of Sid by the arms, not severely, not even tightly, but with a gentle, friendly pressure. He looked into the troubled eyes of the lad--troubled but not ashamed--worried, perhaps, but not abashed. The doctor bent closer.
"I am no authority on intoxicants," went on the president grimly, "but I should say you were mistaken, Mr. Zane."
"Will Mr. Henderson deny that I took a pint bottle of liquor from him not ten minutes ago?" asked Mr. Zane, as he produced the incriminating evidence.
Sid's face turned red under its tan--it had been rather pale before--but he did not answer. Dr. Churchill looked grave.
"I did have the bottle in my pocket," admitted Sid. "But it was not for myself. I took it----"
"Wait," he said. "I will send for Dr. Marshall. This is serious." He sighed as he looked at his book. To-night he felt, more than ever, what it meant, to be the head of an institution where several hundred young men--healthy, vitalized animals--were held in leash only by slender cords. Dr. Churchill summoned a messenger, and sent him for the college physician.
"Mr. Henderson is no more intoxicated than I am, and I never take a drop, nor give it," declared the physician. "I guess you're mistaken, Mr. Zane."
"Is this liquor?" demanded the proctor, extending the bottle.
Dr. Marshall looked at the bottle through the light, poured out some of the contents into his palm, and smelled of the liquid.
"It seems to be whisky," he said doubtfully, "but I should have to make an analysis to be perfectly sure."
"You need not go to that trouble," said Sid quickly. "I have every reason to believe that it _is_ whisky."
"And what were you doing with it?" demanded Dr. Churchill sternly.
"That is a question which I must decline to answer," and Sid drew himself up haughtily.