"For no reason at all," answered the Doctor, smoothly. "There is no reason, there can be no reason, Hicks. We're just naturally going to make up our minds to part with you. You see, Hicks," he continued, tilting back and gazing reminiscently at the ceiling, "we've had a rather agitated session here, rather extraordinary. The trouble seems to have broken out in the Dickinson about the time of the little surprise party at which Mr. Tapping did not assist! Then a few days later our chapel service was disturbed and our janitor put to considerable trouble; next the school routine was thrown into confusion by the removal of the clapper. We passed a very disagreeable period--much confusion, very little study, and the nerves of the faculty were thrown into such a state that even you, Hicks, were suspected. [Illustration: "'He hadn't any proof,' he said, brokenly, 'no proof--damn him!'"] Then there was the political campaign, a subject too painful to analyse. Last night we lost a great deal of sleep--and sleep is most necessary to the growing boy. All these events have followed with great regularity, and while they have not lacked in picturesqueness, we have, we fear, been forgetting the main object of our life here--to study a little." "Doctor, I----" broke in Hickey. "No, Hicks, you misunderstand me," said the Doctor, reproachfully. "All this is true, but that is not why we are going to let you go. We are going to let you go, Hicks, for a much more conscientious reason; we're parting with you, Hicks, because we feel we no longer have anything to teach you." "Doctor, I'd like to know," began Hickey, with a great lump in his throat. Then he stopped and looked at the floor. He knew his hour had sounded. "Hicks, we part in sorrow," said the Doctor, "but we have the greatest faith in your career. We expect in a few years to claim you as one of our foremost alumni. Perhaps some day you will give us a library which we will name after you. No, don't be disheartened. We have the greatest admiration for your talents, admiration and respect. Anyone who can persuade two hundred and fifty keen-eyed Lawrenceville boys to pay one dollar apiece for silver gilt scrap-iron souvenirs worth eleven cents apiece because they may or may not be genuine bits of a stolen clapper--anyone who can do that is needed in the commercial development of our country." "Doctor, do you--do you call this justice?" said Hickey, with tears in his voice. "No," said the Doctor, frankly, "I call it a display of force. You see, Hicks, you've beaten us at every point, and so all we can do is to let you go." "I'll hire a lawyer," said Hicks, brokenly. "I thought you would," said the Doctor, "only I hope you will be easy on us, Hicks, for we haven't much money for damage suits." "Then I'm to be fired," said Hickey, forcing back the tears, "fired just for nothing!"