Page 21 - The Adventures of a Freshman

and this was one thing more to remember against Young.

"By the way," Linton went on in a lazy, matter-of-fact way, as he began filling a pipe, "perhaps it would be
just as well if you fellows all got up and got out of here now. Billy and I came here to talk hall to this
Freshman, and we have a number of others to call on, and Billy mustn't stay up late these days, you know."

"Billy" meant Nolan, the one with long hair, and he was a university football man, and the training season had
begun.

Linton made this remark in an ordinary tone, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to request seven
or eight men to leave a room. He struck a match for his pipe as he finished speaking, and then lifted his feet
up on the table and leaned back without looking at the under-classmen.

The Sophomores said, "All right," meekly arose, murmured, "Good-night," and smiling rather sheepishly
departed.

Young looked on with mingled feelings. They outnumbered the Juniors seven to two, and yet the arrogant
Sophomores did not even question the Junior's power. He was learning something about these traditions and
customs; evidently the authority was not in bodily strength.

But the two upper-classmen, without waiting to see what became of the Sophomores, began forthwith to tell
Young how different were the two secret literary societies, whose mysterious, Greek temples looked so much
alike there side by side on the campus, and to point out how superior was their own "hall," as they called it.

Nolan, who was a famous orator in this hall, did most of the talking. Linton only put in a word now and then,
but he kept glancing at the Freshman in a queer, quizzical way as he blew smoke. When they arose to go
Linton said, in a pleasant tone:

"I suppose the Sophomores are bothering you a good deal?"

Young wondered what made Linton say so. "No," he replied; "they tried to make me take off my hat
yesterday, but I wouldn't do it."

He thought that would impress these upper-classmen.

Linton glanced at Nolan, who smiled.

"Say, Young," said Linton, kindly, "of course it's none of my business, but--well, I'd take off my hat if I were
you."

"Why?"

"Oh, well, because you're a Freshman."

"But what right have they to make me take off my hat to them? They aren't any better than— "

"Because they're Sophomores. Come on, Billy." He opened the door. "You think it over, Young. Good-night.
Glad to have met you, Young."

Then on his way downstairs he added to his friend Billy Nolan, "I like that big, green Freshman, but he needs
hazing."