named. It was generally believed and solemnly sworn to throughout the

large corps of undergraduates that within the knowledge of any living

man Whiskers had never been known to smile, and to-day he was running

true to form.

"Mr. Torrance," he said, sighing, "it has been my painful duty on more

than one occasion to call your attention to the uniformly low average of

your academic standing. At the earnest solicitation of the faculty

members of the athletic committee, I have been influenced, against my

better judgment, to temporize with an utterly insufferable condition.

"You are rapidly approaching the close of your senior year, and in the

light of the records which I have before me I am constrained to believe

that it will be utterly impossible for you to graduate, unless from now

to the end of the semester you devote yourself exclusively to your

academic work. If you cannot assure me that you will do this, I believe

it would be to the best interests of the university for you to resign

now, rather than to fail of graduation. And in this decision I am fully

seconded by the faculty members of the athletic committee, who realize

the harmful effect upon university athletics in the future were so

prominent an athlete as you to fail at graduation."

If they had sentenced Jimmy to be shot at sunrise the blow could

scarcely have been more stunning than that which followed the

realization that he was not to be permitted to round out his fourth

successful season at first base. But if Jimmy was momentarily stunned he

gave no outward indication of the fact, and in the brief interval of

<<BackPagesTo menuNext>>