If the split in the class was acute, something ought to be done. If Hunter, as a leader, was resolved on contemptuous isolation, he would do a bigger thing in a bigger way. In pursuance of this idea, he suddenly set out to find Gimbel and provoke a frank discussion. If anything could be done to hold the class together and stop the rise of political dissension, it was his duty as a responsible leader to do what he could to prevent it. When he reached the room, it was crowded, and an excited discussion was going on, which dropped suddenly on his entrance. What the subject of conversation was he had a shrewd suspicion, seeing several representatives from Sheff. "Hello, Stover. Come right in. Glad to see you." Gimbel, a little puzzled at this first visit, came forward cordially. "You know every one here, don't you? Jackson, shake hands with Stover. What'll you have, pipe or cigarette?" Stover nodded to the fellows whom he knew on slight acquaintance, settled in an arm-chair, brought forth his pipe, and said with assumed carelessness: "What was all the pow-wow about when I arrived?" A certain embarrassment stirred in the room, but Gimbel, smiling at the question, said frankly: "We were fixing up a combination for the baseball managership. We are going to lick you fellows to a scramble. That's what you've come over to talk about, isn't it?" "Yes." The crowd, plainly disconcerted at this smiling passage of arms, began to melt away with hastily formed excuses. "Quite a meeting-place, Gimbel, you have here," said Stover, nodding to the last disappearing group. "Politicians should have," replied Gimbel, straddling a chair, and, leaning his arms on the back, he added, smiling: "Well, fire away." Each had grown in authority since their first meeting on the opening of college, nor was the question of war or peace yet decided between them. "Gimbel, I hope we can talk this thing over openly." "I think we can." "I'm doing an unusual thing in coming to you. You're a power in this class." "And you represent the other side," said Gimbel. "Go on." "You're going to run a candidate for the baseball managership." "I'm not running him, but I'm making the combination for this class." "Same thing." "Just about." "Are you fellows going to shut out every society man that goes up for a class election?" "You're putting a pretty direct question." "Answer it if you want to." "Yes, I'll answer it." Gimbel looked at him, plainly concerned in emulating his frankness, and continued: "Stover, this anti-sophomore society fight is a fight to the finish. We are going to put up an outsider, as you call it, for every election, and we're going to elect him." "Why?" "Because we are serving notice that we are against a system that is political and undemocratic." "What good'll it do?" "We'll abolish the whole system." "Do you really believe that?" said Stover, strangely enough, adopting Hunter's attitude.