Hike stood up, very quick but very quiet. “You’ll fight me for that, Taffy,” he said, “and you’ll get good and plenty licked. That wasn’t part of the game. I’ll punch you now or afterwards, whichever you want.” “Wait till afterwards,” urged Gimlet, the only one besides Poodle who had heard Hike’s low words. “All right,” said Hike, and sat down, while Taffy walked back to his place, white with passion. Everybody pretended not to have seen the slap, and Taffy went on, as calmly as he could, to call the first witness. This witness was a new member of the Senior Class, who had spent the first three years of his prep. at San Dinero. Taffy explained that, as the new Senior knew nothing at all about the case, he would certainly be unprejudiced. Thus it went: TAFFY: Did or did not the prisoners eat chocolate while ’planing to Mount Diablo with the reception-room curtains? GIMLET: I object, Y’r Honor. Leading question. JUDGE PINK EYE: ’Jection ov’ruled. WITNESS: Yes, said the tomcat. TAFFY: There, do you see? Now, witness, did or did not this Griffin wear spats when on Broadway? PINK EYE (_sleepily_): ’Jection ov’ruled. TAFFY: Shut up, you goat. Gwan, witness. WITNESS: There should have been a fire-escape. TAFFY: That’s all right; beat it, witness. If Gimlet tries to cross-examine you, take the third turning to the right, beyond the ribbon counter. Your Dishonor, the State’s case rests. PINK EYE: Got any witnesses, Gimlet? GIMLET: Taffy Bingham’s witness enough for me. PINK EYE: Guilty. Of—well, whatever it was they were charged— GIMLET: Hey, hold on, Your Honor; we ain’t summed up yet, and besides, we forgot to get a jury, in the first place. THE CLASS (_with one voice_): Dry up, Gimlet. Let His Honor talk. PINK EYE: Guilty, I said. I sentence them to a general hazing. First, they must get up before us and show us just how they run these cute little aeroplanes of theirs. Then, each of them must beat it around and beg the pardon of each member of the class, and not repeat themselves, either. Also, each Senior shall say something real cute and witty to ’em. But first, there’s a Senior Class school edict, to be read by the school idiot—school crier, I mean. Let ’er go, Bunk. BUNK TARVER: O yez, o yez, ten times. Listen, especially all youse Sophomores on the side lines (_Reads_): “This ‘Trial and Punishment Extraordinary’ will be enough to take it out of Griffin and Darby for having the cheek to get notorious; and _any one_ that jollies them, after this, will get Senior Disfavor, also the Grand Queer. They’re good fellows and good Santa Benicians and they are not to get kidded. This strictly goes. Signed by the whole Senior Class.”