bv BöotiiTarkin^ton Illustrations b y x - y ”*irwiN Myers Jt (S o .Coping htjiy Poubleday. Page A Company 8 Y N O P 8 I* < ii< ur'c I Fred, falling hack upon this old Joke. "Alien you cun catch It as It bounces off and throw It hark at him." However. Llnskl proved to he mere­ ly an episode, not only so far as Ram­ sey was concerned but In the Luniefi and in the university as well. Hla sus­ pension from the Lumen was for year, anti so cruel a punishment It proved for this born debater that he noisily declared be would found a de­ bating society himself, and had a poster printed and distributed an­ nouncing the first meeting of "The Free Speech and Mnssea’ Rights Coun­ cil," Several town loafers attended the meutlhg, but the only person con­ nected with the university who came was an oriental student, a Chinese vouth of almost intrusive amiability. Llnskl made a fiery address, the towns rasa loudly applauding hls advocacy of an embargo od munitions and the distribution of everybody’s “property," but the Chinaman, accustomed to sec students so madly In earnest only when they were burlesquing, took the whole uffalr to be Intended humor, and tittered politely without cessation— except at such times as he thought It proper to appear quite wruug with laughter. Then he would rock him self, clasp hls mouth with both hands and splutter through hls fingers. Llnskl accused him of being In the pay of “cupltal." Next day the orator was unable to show himself upon the campus with­ out causing demonstrations; whenever he was seen a file of quickly gathering students inarched behind him chanting repeatedly and deafenlngly In chorus "Down with Wall Street! Hoch der Kaiser! Who loves Llnskl? Who, ; was bought by Wall Street." I "Poor old Prof. C raig !” Colburn CHAPTER I. —W ith his g ra n d fa th e r, laughed. "He gets fifteen hundred a s m a ll R am sey M llh o lla n d Is w atc h in g the ••De< urwtiou D a y P a ra d e " In the Home year." tow n. Trie old gen tlem a n , a v eteran of “Yes; I ’d heurd that myself, and I the C iv il w a r, endeavors to im press the youn gster w ith the significance 01 tne told Llnskl, and he said he had an un­ g re a t conflict, and m an y years a lte rw a rd d e workln’ In a steel mill got twice the b o y was to rem em ber hie words w ith that much, but It didn't make any dif­ s ta rtlin g vividness. ference, ole Craig was bought by Wall C H A P T E R I I , —In the schoolroom, a Street. He said ’capitalism’ better look few years a fte rw a rd , R am sey was not distingu ished fo r re m a rk a b le a b ility , o u t; he and the foreign-born workmen though lus tw o pronounced dislikes were were gotn' to take this country some a rith m e tic a nd "R e c ita tio n s ." In sharp contrast to R am eey'e backw ardness Is day, aud that was one of the reasons the precocity o f little D o ra Yocum , a he was after an education. He talked young la d y w hom In his bitterness he de­ pretty strong pro-German, too— shout nom inates "T e a c h e r's P e t." the war In Europe— but I sort of C H A P T E R I I I . —In high school w here thought that was more because he'd he and D o ra a re classm ates, R am sey continues to f e d th a t the g irl d elights to be pro-anythlng that he thought would m a n ife s t her su p e rio rity , and the vin d ic ­ • help upset the United Rtstes than lie tiveness he generates becomes a la rm in g , cause he cared much about Germany.” c u lm in a tin g In the resolution th a t some day he w ould "s h o w " her. “Yes," Raid Colburn, “that’s how he C H A P T E R I V . —A t a class picnic R a m ­ sounded tonight. I guess there's plen sey, to his Intense surprise, appears to ty more like him In the cities, too. a ttr a c t th e fa vo ra b le a tte n tio n o f Miss That reminds m e: I'd better arrange a M .lla R ust, a young la d y of abou t his debate on Immigration for the Lumen. own age and the acknow ledged belle of the cleee. M ills has the m is fo rtu n e to We'll put Brother Mllholland for the fa il Into a creek w h ile ta lk in g w ith R a m ­ negative, this time.” sey, and th a t youth p ro m p tly plunges to the rescue. T h e w a te r Is only some three Ramsey started violently. "Re, feet deep, but M ills ’» g ra titu d e for his here— ” heroic a c t is em barrassin g. H e le In fa c t ta ke n cap tive by the f a ir one, to hie g re at But the senior reassured him. “Just constern ation. . wanted to see you Jump," he explained C H A P T E R V .—T h e acq uaintance ripens. "Don't fear; you've done your share.' R am sey and M ills openly "keeping com ­ "I should think I have!” Kamse, p a n y ," w hile the fo rm er's parents w o n ­ der H is m o th e r Indeed goes so fa r as groaned. to express some disapp ro val o f hie choice, “Y es; you won't be called on agali even h in tin g th a t t ’o ra Yocum would be a m ore suita b le com panion, a suggestion this term. By the way,” said Colburn w h ich the youth receives w ith ho rror. thoughtfully, "that was a clever girl C H A P T E R V I . —A t this period ou r hero you hud against you tonight. I don't gets the th r ill o f his " flrs t kiss.” M ills believe In pacifism much, myself, but being a very w illin g p a rtn e r in the a c t H e r flippancy over the m a tte r discon­ she used It very nlftlly for her argu­ c erts R am sey Im m ensely, but sh o rtly a f t ­ ment. Isn't she from your town, this e rw a rd th e g irl dep a rts fo r a visit to C hicago. She leaves an endearing m issive Miss Yocum?" fo r R am sey, which adds to his fe elin g of Fred nodded. m elancholy. “Well, she's a clever young thing," C H A P T E R V I I . —S h o rtly a fte r M llla 'e said the senior, still thoughtful. And d e p a rtu re, her frie n d , Sadie Clew s, In ­ he added: “Gruceful girl, she Is." form s R am sey th a t his In a m o ra ta has been m a rrie d to her cousin and Is not At thia, the roommates looked at com ing back, so th a t little rom ance le him with startled attention. RsmseJ- ended W ith in a few m onths Ram sey and his closest friend, Fred M itc h e ll, was so rouse,! as to forget his troubles g o to th e e la te u n iv e rs ity , R am sey’s chief feeling being one o f re lie f t h s t ji e has got and sit forward In his chair. aw r i r fro m the detested D ora. T o his hor- “Yeg," suld the musing Colhurrt. ror •r he finds she is also a student at the “she’s a mighty pretty girl.” u n iv e rs ity . Induced to jo in a debating society. R am sey le chosen as D ore's op­ “What I" ponent In a debate dealing w ith the m a t­ “Who Lovss Llnskl? Who, Who. Who? This exclamation was a slinultane te r o f G e rm a n y 's r ig h t to Invade B e l­ Hoo Lunl" gium , D o ra being assigned the negative ous one; the astounded pair stared at side o f the a rg um en t P a rtly on account him In blank Incredulity. o f his feelings to w a id D ors, and his n a t­ who, «vhp? Hoo I-u n ! Who loves “Why, don't you think so?" Colburn u ra l nervousness, he m akes a m iserable Llnskl? Who, who, who? Hoo Lun!” show ing and D o ra carries off the honors. mildly Inquired. "She seems to me A brash youngster nam ed IJ n s k l objects I.lnskl Was disgusted, resigned from very unusual looking." to the show ing m ade by R am sey and be the univarsity, and disappeared. comes personal In hie rem arks. T h e m et "Well, yea," Fred assented, emphat­ “Well, here It Isn’t midyear Exams te r ends w ith R am sey, In the university v e rn a c u la r, g ivin g IJ n s k l a "peach o f a ically. “We're with you there!" yet, and the good ole class of Nlneteen- punch oh th e s n o o t" “Extraordinary eyes,” continued Col­ Klghteen'a already lost a member," C H A P T E R V I I I —D orn appears to have burn. "Lovely figure, too; altogether n ‘iald Fred Mitchell. “I guess we can m ade a decided h it w ith her fello w stu strikingly pretty girl. Handsome, I bear the break-up!” dents, to R am sey's suprem e w onderm ent should say, perhaps. Yes, 'handsome' A ru m o r of hie " a ffa ir " w ith th e fickle “I gutes so,” Ramsey assented. M llla spreads and he gets the rep utation rather than ‘pretty’.” He looked up "That Llnskl might Just as well stayed of a m an o f experience and a ‘ ‘w om an from a brief reverie. “You fellows here, thopgh." h a te r ." known her long?” CH A P TE R V III. “Why?". “You bet!" salt, Ramsey. “He couldn't do any harm here. He’ll "She made a splendid Impression on proii'ly get more people to listen to “The way I look at It, Ramsey," Fret! Mitchell salt!, when they reached the Lumen." Colburn went on. “I him In cities where there’s so many their apartment, whither a benevolent don't remember that I ever saw a first next Immigrants and all such that appearance there that quite equaled It. don't know- anything, cornin' In all the senior, Colburn, accompanied them, She'll probably have a brilliant career “the way I look at It, this Llnskl kind tilt»." of paid you a compliment, after all, In the society, and in the university, "Oh, well." said Fred. "What do when he called you a fake. He must too. She must be a very fine sort of a we care what happens to Chicago I hate thought you anyway looked ag If person." He deliberated within Idm Gome on, let's behave real wild, and you could make a better speech than self a few moments longer, then go OD over to the 'Terta and get us a realising that hls hosts anil brethren you did. Oh, golly I" ouple of egg sandwiches and sass- And as Ramsey groaned, the Jovial did not respond with any heartiness— l.rllly." Mitchell gave himself up to the divan or with anything at all— to the theme-, Ramsey was willing. and the mirth. “Oh, oh, oh, golly I” he he changed It, and asked them what After the strain of the "mid year they thought about the war In Europe, sputtered. Exams" In February, the chums lived They talked of the war drowsily for a “Never you mind. Brother Mllhol- i free-hearted life. TTiey had settle«) Isnd,” Colburn said gently. "The Lu­ while; It was an interesting hut not an nto the ways of their world; they had men Is used to nervous beginners. I ’ve exciting topic: the thing they spoke of grown used to It, and It had grown seen dozens In my time, Just like you; was so far away. After a few moments used to them ; there was no longer any and some of 'em got to be Brat rate of fervor, the conversation languished, ignominy In being a freshman. They before they quit. Besides, this crazy and Brother Colburn rose to go. -nmped upon the campus and some­ "Well. I'm glad you gave that Llnskl Llnskl Is all that anybody'll ever re­ times rioted harmlessly about the member about tonight's meeting any­ a fine little punch Brother Mllhol­ streets of the town. In the evenings how. There never was any such out­ land.** he said at the door. "It won’t 'h*y visited their fellows and brethren break as that In my time, and I guess do you any harm In the 'frat,' or with >i«d were visited In tu rn ; horseplay there never was In the whole history the Lumen, either. And don't be dis­ prevailed, but collegiate gossip had Its of the society. We'll probably suspend couraged about your debating. You’ll turn, and sometimes they looked so him until he apologizes to the society learn. Anybody might have got rat­ far ahead as to talk vaguely of their — I'm on the hoard, and I'm In favor tled by having to argue against as plans for professions or business— of It. Who Is the bird, anyhow? He's clever and good looking a girl as th a t1" though to a freshman this concerned In your class." The roommates gave each other a an almost unthinkably distant proa- “I never saw him before," Ramsey look of serious puzzlement as the door pect. “1 guess I ’ll go In with my fa­ responded from the deep chair, where closed. “Well. Brother Colburn Is a ther, In the wholesale drug business,” he hail moodily thrown himself: and, mighty nice fellow," Fred suld. "He’s sold Fred. "My married brother al­ returning to his brooding upon his ora­ kind of funny, though.” ready Is In the firm, and I suppose tory. “Oh, murder!" he moaned. Rumsey assented, and then, as the they'U give ine a show—send me out "W ell," said the senior, “you’ll two prepared for bed, they entered In­ ou the road a year ur two first, maybe, know him when you see him again. to a further discussion of their senior to try me. Theo I'm going Io marry You put your mark on him where you friend. They liked him "all right," some little cutie and settle down. can see It. all right I" He chuckled. they said, but he certainly most be What you gotn' to do. Ramsey? Go to " I suppose I really ought to have In­ kind of queer, and they couldn't Just law Scliool, and then come back and terfered In that, but I decided to do a see bow he had “ever managed to get go In your father's office?” little astronomical ubaervsrton. about where he was" In the “fra t” ami the " I don't know. Guess so." fifty feet away, for a few mlnutea. I ’m Lumen and the university. It was always Fred who did most of » » s s » • » 'way behind In my aatronomy, any­ the talking; Ramsey was quiet. Fred how. Do you know this Llnskl. Broth­ Ramsey passed the slightly disfig­ told the “frat seniors" that Rsmsey er Mitchell r ured Llnskl on the campus next day was "developing a whole lot these "I've talked to him a couple o' times without betraying any embarrassment days;" and he told Ramsey himself on the campus." said Fred. "He's In or making a sign of recognition. Fred that he could see a “big change" In one of my classes. He's about the Mitchell told hls roommate, chuckling, i him, adding that the Improvement was oldest In our class. I guess—a lot older that Llnskl had sworn to "get" him, probably due to Ramsey's having than us. anyhow. He's kind of an an­ and, not knowing Fred's affiliations, passed through "terrible trials like archist or something: can't talk more’n had made him the confidant of hls that debate." five mlnutea any time without gettln' oath. Fred had gtvrn bis blessing, he Ramsey kept to their rooms mors off some hug stuff shout 'capitalism.' said, upon the enterprise, and advised i than hls comrade did. one reason for He geld the course In political econo Llnskl to use a brick. “He'll hit you | thia domesticity being that be “had my * U all 'capitalism' and the prof on the bead with It." said the llght- to stud) longer than Fred did. to keep | up;" and another reason may have 1 been a greater shyness than lie d poa- i stased If, li.ihcd. F'cd pcssesait quite so embarrassed as he had been at firs t; for some reason her agi­ tation made him feel easier. "What was wrong about that?" “Oh, It's all ao shocking and wick­ ed and mistaken I” she cried. "Even the faculty has been doing It, and half the other 'frats' aud sororities! And It was yours that started It.” “Tea, wo did,” he said, thoroughly puxzled. “ We're the oldest 'frat' hero, and of course"— he chuqkled modestly —“of course we think we're the best. Do you mean you believe we ought to’ve sat back and let somebody else start l t r "Oh, no!” she answered, vehemently. “Nobody ought to have started It I That's the trouble; don't you see? I f nobody had started It none of It might havo happened. The rest mightn't have caught It. It mightn't have got Into their heads. A war thought Is tho most contagious thought In the world; but If It can bo kept from starting. It can be kept from being contn ua. It'a Juat when people have go< in •motional state, or a stair daring rage, that evervl sly out lit bo ao terribly careful .io< to tc.ii'i war thoughts nr make war speeches— or sand war telegrams I I thought— «kj I '"was so aure I'd convinced Mr. Col­ burn of all thia, the last time we talked of I t ! He seemed to nr. '.el* stand, and I wits auro be t.g -» «