It looked at one time in the afternoon as though Garry would have to "stick it out" a good deal longer than two-thirty. The trouble was in Mr. Shrugg's class, as usual. Following his policy of hectoring Garry, the teacher called him to book on the charge that he was skylarking with the boys back of him, thus wasting the time that should have been spent in writing a short essay. Possibly the teacher was honest enough in this case. He was nearsighted, and may have failed to see that the trouble was with the two boys seated directly behind Garry, who, in fact, was attending strictly to business. If, however, it was persecution that prompted the teacher's action, it failed of its object, for the two boys at fault at once shouldered the blame and declared that Garry had taken no part in the disturbance. Still Shrugg appeared to be, or really was, unconvinced. He was one of the small minds that hate to confess to a mistake. "In that event," he said in his dry voice, "perhaps Grayson will read to us the result of his concentrated effort. Come out to the front of the room, if you please, so that we may hear you better." As Garry, red and wrathful, made his way to the front of the room he saw the eyes of his friends fixed upon him sympathetically. If Shrugg should think the composition not up to the mark--and he would seize upon the slightest pretext for thinking so--then Garry would probably be kept after school to write another and could not attend the meeting of football candidates. No wonder the eyes of his chums followed him fearfully. No wonder, either, that Garry's lips were set as he came to the front of the room and met the satirical glance of the teacher. "Now read, if you please," directed the latter. Garry detected a gleam of pleasant anticipation in the fishy eyes fixed upon him, and his resentment against the narrow-minded man grew hotter. It happened fortunately that the topic given out by Mr. Shrugg for the essay was one that especially appealed to Garry. Always good in English, with an ability to express his thoughts clearly and concisely, the composition Garry read to the class that day under the supercilious stare of the teacher was an example of the boy's best work. Even the boys were interested, and when Garry finished and looked at the teacher there was an involuntary murmur of applause. There was the proof that Garry was not guilty of the fault of which he had been accused. He could not have written so much in so short a time and with such evident concentration on his subject if he had been involved in the mischief-making imputed to him. Mr. Shrugg's comment was curt. "That will do, Grayson. You can return to your seat." Not a word of appreciation of the really excellent work! Not a generous admission that he had been wrong! Garry returned to his seat, glad that he had vindicated himself, but more resentful than ever of the small-minded ways of his instructor.