Page 20 - The Adventures of a Freshman

The footsteps came nearer.

"Is this the room?" said a voice just outside the door.

"Yes, that's the one," came the reassuring tones of the landlady below.

The Sophomores had stopped talking.

A knock.

No reply.

Another knock.

"Come in," said Young, defiantly.

Ballard stepped to one side.

The door opened.

"Is this Mr. Young?"

"That's my name," said Young. "Come in." He was still standing by the mantelpiece.

A dark-eyed, strong-faced, matured-looking man with rather long hair stood in the doorway. "I am Nolan," he
said, "of the Junior class, and this is Mr. Linton," turning to a man behind him.

"Hello there, Ballard," Nolan said, casually then suddenly taking in the situation and smiling, "sorry to spoil
your fun," he said. "Hello, where's your young friend going in such a hurry?"

Channing was seen slipping out of the still open door. "I'll be right back," he said, grinning. The whistle had
sounded while Nolan and Linton were entering the room, and Channing wanted to get down in time to--but it
was too late. The Juniors had left the front door open when they entered, and now the other Sophomores were
on the way up the second flight of stairs. "Where's the Freshman's room, Chan?" they said, in a loud whisper.

"Wait, there's no use coming now," began Channing.

But Linton was now at the head of the stairs saying, in an amused tone: "Oh, come right up; don't mind us."
So, rather than seem afraid of the Juniors they trooped in, all six of them looking as if caught at something
they were ashamed of.

Linton smiled drolly at one of the Sophomores he happened to know personally. "Hard luck, Valentine," he
said.

Nolan nodded gravely to one or two of them, and they said, "How do you do?" very respectfully.

No one said anything else for a moment.

"Don't let us interrupt you," said Channing, grinning.

"We had no intention of being interrupted," said Linton, without looking up. And Freshman Young noticed
that the others seemed to consider this a good joke on Channing, and Channing noticed that Young noticed it,