“Would you very much mind listening to me a minute?” begged the boy on the other side of the door. “Kenly isn’t paying me money for going there. She hasn’t offered to and I wouldn’t take it in any case. Is that plain?” “Y-yes,” replied Joe, “but--” “Then why not stay here instead?” asked Bob eagerly. “You’re sure of making the team and it won’t cost you a cent for tuition the first quarter! We’ve got everything Kenly has and a lot she hasn’t. Besides, it’s a heap nicer playing on a winning team than on a losing one, and we’re going to lick Kenly this fall as sure as shooting!” “That train’s gone, hasn’t it?” asked Harmon quietly. “Just leaving the station,” answered Joe in relieved tones. “Then you might as well let me out of here.” “That means you’ve decided to stay?” “No, it doesn’t. I haven’t any idea of staying. But--” “You think it over,” advised Joe. “We’ll be back in half an hour or so. What have you got against Alton, anyway?” “Nothing against the place,” answered Harmon, “but a lot against the crazy idiots in it! Open the door and stop acting the fool!” There was a low-voiced conference outside and then Joe announced: “We’ll let you think it over awhile, old man. There’s no use getting mad about it. We’re doing this for your sake as much as for our own, and you’d ought to see that. That offer still holds good, remember. Maybe I’ll be able to better it when I come back. I’ll see--” “Look here, you--you crazy loon! Do you mean that you’re going around telling the fellows that you’ve got me locked up here?” “Well, I’ve got to tell them something, haven’t I? I can’t say--” “Don’t say anything! I don’t want your money! I wouldn’t stay here if you paid me a thousand dollars a week!” “You mean that?” asked Joe dubiously. “Of course I mean it! Now let me out!” “Well, leaving money out of it altogether, Harmon, and all on the level: What’s the matter with going to school here instead of over there?” “Why should I?” asked Harmon exasperatedly. “I started for Kenly and that’s where I’m going. You can keep me here all night and all tomorrow and all--” “But that’s not reasonable,” protested Joe mildly. “Here we’re giving you a chance to--” “Reasonable! Ha! Do you call what you’re doing reasonable?” “It may not look so, but it sure is! Hang it, man, we’re trying to save you from making a perfectly rotten mistake! Look here, have you paid your first quarter over there?” “I have not, but that’s got nothing to do with it.” “Of course it has!” returned Joe in triumph. “You aren’t a student there until you’ve registered and paid your first quarter bill! All right! Just pay your money here, old man: the tuition’s the same! What do you say?” “_No!_” “Well, I’ve said all I can think of,” replied Joe despondently. “You think it over awhile, Harmon. There’s no hurry: you can register any time this evening before nine and tomorrow morning before twelve. We’ll be back after a bit. You sort of think it over, eh?”