Page 19 - The Adventures of a Freshman

"In the second place, you must always take it off when you meet your superiors and thus save us the trouble of
taking it off for you; and," he added, looking out of the window in the direction of the canal, "and so save
yourself some trouble also."

Ballard was now beginning to look interested. "I guess the Freshman's got another hat in his closet," he said,
gruffly. Then he commanded, "Go get it, Freshman, and come on." Ballard was standing now.

Young did have a hat-- a derby hat, the one he wore on the train and when he first arrived--in his closet, but he
did not go and get it, and he did not come on.

"Didn't you hear what I said?" growled Ballard. "Come on." He let Channing do the guying, but he liked to
take a hand in the bossing himself.

Apparently Young heard nothing; he had not said a word, and he was quietly looking down at the carpet, but
his heart was beating fast.

"Now, see here, Deacon," said Channing, "we don't want to have any trouble with you. Are you going to come
along peacefully and have an easy time of it, or are you going to make a little trouble for us and a lot for
yourself?"

Young did not speak or look up. He seemed to be moving his tongue about in his cheek.

Ballard approached him. "You won't come, eh?" he said, angrily. And with that he took him by the shoulder.

"Take your hands off me," said the Freshman, shrilly, and wrenched quickly away, backing up against the
wall. He stood there breathing hard, and he glanced from one Sophomore to the other.

Now, it is not the easiest thing in the world for a big man and a little man to drag out of a room one very
good-sized man who looks as if he had made up his mind to stay in it. At any rate, to do it without
considerable noise is impossible. Therefore Channing stepped across to the open window, stuck his head out,
and gave a long, peculiar whistle. He waited a moment and then repeated it Then an answer came back from
the distance.

"We'll soon fix you, Deacon," he remarked, nodding his head, as he returned from the window.

Young was still standing backed up against the wall. Ballard, braced against the door opposite to prevent the
Freshman's escape, was scowling.

"They'll be here in a minute," said Channing.

He referred to the classmates he had signalled to. You see if they had all come in together it would have
aroused the landlady's suspicions. As it was, Channing had been obliged to tell her that Ballard and himself
represented the college Y. M. C. A., and that they wanted to ask Mr. Young to join it.

"When they whistle I'll tip-toe down and let them in," said Channing. "Listen! What's that?"

Footsteps were heard coming up the stairs.

"They couldn't have gotten here so soon," said Ballard.

"I didn't hear any whistle," said Channing.