“But I have promised my fellow students to play ball. The nine has already begun work. It would break up all our plans,” exclaimed Ray. “I cannot see the importance of your baseball plans,” said the president coldly. “I feel in honor bound to my college mates. I cannot desert them,” answered Ray desperately. “Dr. Drayton,” said I, “the season has so far advanced that it would not be fair to the rest for us to back out now.” “Then what am I to understand is your answer?” asked Dr. Drayton, looking fixedly at us. Ray turned to me. It was evident that we were of the same mind. Ray’s thoughts no doubt dwelt longingly a moment on the commencement honors he had hoped to win, but his face showed no struggle, no hesitation. Dr. Drayton’s effort to force him into renouncing baseball had aroused all his latent pride and sense of honor. He felt, as I did, that the condition was unfair, and based upon a wrong assumption――namely, that baseball and studies could not be conducted together without a loss to the latter. Turning to the president, Ray spoke for both of us. “If this is the condition, Dr. Drayton, then we must choose the five weeks’ suspension,” he said quietly. Dr. Drayton wheeled sharply around in his chair and took up some papers that lay on his desk. From the way his hands trembled I could see that he was very angry. I started to speak. “You have said quite enough, young gentlemen,” he said in a constrained voice. “If this is your decision, I must own that I am deeply disappointed at your choice, which does you very little credit. Please make arrangements to leave college to-morrow. Mr. Dikes will notify your parents of your suspension.” “Dr. Drayton, is there _no_ alternative?” asked Ray almost imploringly, his voice nearly breaking under the pressure of his pent up feelings. “There _was_ an alternative, sir, but you have rejected it. Nothing now remains but the penalty which the faculty have imposed. You would have shown more wisdom had you accepted that alternative.” “Oh, no, sir; we cannot accept,” exclaimed Ray in despair. “Then good day, sir,” said Dr. Drayton, without relaxing a muscle. Recognizing the hopelessness of further words, we turned and went out. As we walked down the long gravel walk, Ray said slowly, as if talking to himself. “It was a terribly high price to pay for a season of baseball. I hope the boys will appreciate that if we don’t win the Crimson Banner.” “I can’t realize it yet,” I rejoined. “It seems too terrible. Just think of it! Five weeks from the college! We will have to live somewhere in town, and go to the baseball grounds by a roundabout way, for if we are caught on the campus during our suspension we will be expelled――――” “Little difference it would make to me,” said Ray bitterly. “I might just as well have been expelled for all the chance it leaves me.”