"Yes. It was very well done. My, my! The crown of the hat is almost completely gone. Almost completely," murmured the doctor, looking interestedly at the dilapidated tile. "What sort of an explosive did you use, Professor Tines? I trust your class took careful notes of it." "Explosion!" burst out Professor Tines, looking as if he was likely to blow up himself. "That was no explosion, sir! My best hat was ruined by a baseball in the hands of these vandals, sir! I demand their expulsion at once." "Baseball?" queried Doctor Churchill. "I threw it, sir," declared Tom quickly. "I'm very sorry. I did not know the hat belonged to Professor Tines, and I will pay for it at once," and the captain made a motion toward his pocket. "Let me have the whole story," requested the president, and Tom thought there was a twinkle in his eyes. Professor Tines related most of it, in his usual explosive fashion, and the lads could only plead guilty. The owner of the hat ended by a demand for their dismissal, and Dr. Churchill said he would take the matter under advisement, but there was that in his manner which gave the culprits hope, and when he sent for them a little later, it was to pass the sentence that the three of them must go shares in buying a new hat. Tom wanted to stand all the damage, but Dr. Churchill, with a half-laugh, said he must mete out punishment all around. "I say, will you lend me my share of the money, for a few days?" asked Sid, of Tom, when they were on their way back to the room. "Sure!" was the answer. "Say, what do you do with all your cash, Sid?" for Mr. Henderson was known to be well off. "I--er--Oh, I have uses for it," replied Sid, and he hurriedly turned the conversation. The nine played Richfield, a strong college team, on Saturday, and was nearly beaten, for just when some good hitting was needed, Pete Backus, who was filling Sid's place, went to the bad. Randall did manage to get the lead of a run, and kept it, due mainly to Tom's magnificent pitching, but the final score was nothing to boast of, though Randall came home winners. "We certainly do miss Sid," remarked Tom, as he was sitting beside Phil, in the train on the way back. "If there's anything that's going to make us win or lose the championship this year it's batting, and that's Sid's strong point. I wish we could get him back on the team." "Maybe we can." "How?" "By getting up a petition, and having all the fellows sign it. Maybe if the faculty understood what it meant they would vote to rescind the order not allowing Sid to take part in games." "By Jove, it's worth trying!" cried Tom. "We'll do it! I'll go talk with Ed Kerr and Mr. Leighton." The manager and coach thought the plan a good one, and a few days later a petition was quietly circulated. Nothing was said to Sid about it, for fear he would object. The students were anxious to get their names down, and soon there was an imposing list.