U niversity
of
O regon M onthly
27
C onspiracy
ORRIS RICHARDSON sat in his room in a
thoughtful attitude.. His study table was lit
tered with books and papers. On the sofa, was
a book, revealing a broken cover, and many dam
aged leaves, in the last stages of delapidation.
It was Genung’s Rhetoric. This book caused at this moment
the thoughtful mood of its owner.
Richardson was a student of the university in, the days
when rhetoric was a required subject in all A. B. courses.
The eve of final examinations“ in rhetoric had come. As
Richardson reclined: in his chair, a quick rap at the door
aroused him and,/looking up, he saw Harvey Blake, who had
a reputation for’ studiousness almost equal to his own.
“W hat are you going to do in that exam tomorrow,
Rick ?” asked Blake as he ¿slammed the door behind him.
“H uh, I don’t know. I expeqt I’ll flunk if I can’t slide
through some way,” answered Richardson in a disinterested
manner, “but I ’m going to get through that exam if .1 have to
take the book undef my coat,” he exclaimed, determinedly
as he‘*Eose from his chair and walked around the room. “You
can wager that I don’t take the stuff again—not if I can get
out of it. I was conditioned last semester; and to flunk this
time would mean a whole year for me. No—”
“I ’m ready for"the worst,” interrupted-Blake.
“Been cramming?” .
, /
% aOh, S o m e^b u t I have prepared an army of reinforce
ment;to bring in when the battle is on,” said the young man
as he drew from his pocket a handful of small cards, which
were entirely covered on both sides with fine pencil writing.
VThis is not all,” he added .with a certain degree of pride;
“the folds.-offlay.1 sweater ;will hold a host of notes on loose
paper, whicly I , have ¿prepared.”
M