“Leigh?” asked the man at the desk. He was a young-looking man, stout, with smooth-shaven, plump pink cheeks, that by inducing a belief in potential dimples gave an impression of good nature. His eyes were brown, clear, steady and bright, with a suggestion of fearlessness rather than of aggressiveness. His head was well shaped and the hair was dean-looking and neatly brushed. His forehead was smooth. Tommy felt that there was a quick-moving and utterly reliable intelligence within that cranium. It brought to him a sense of relief. In some unexplained way he was sure that he need not bother to pick and choose his own words in talking to Thompson. Whatever a man said, and even what he did not say, would be caught, not spectacularly or over-alertly, but unerringly, without effort, by this plump but efficient president. It stimulated Tommy's mind and made it work quickly, and also inclined him to frankness without exactly inducing an overwhelming desire to confide. Understanding rather than sympathy was what he felt he would get from the stranger. “Yes, sir. Thompson?” replied Tommy. “Yes.” Thompson looked at Tommy not at all quizzically, not at all interestedly, not at all curiously, but steadily, without any suggestion of the imminence of either a smile or a frown. Tommy returned the look neither nervously nor boldly. He was certain that Thompson knew men in overalls and men in evening clothes, old men and young men, equally well, equally understandingly. “What makes you think,” asked Thompson, “that you have the makings of a man in you?” It was plain that he was not only listening, but observing. Tommy had expected that question, but not in those words. The directness of it decided him to reply slowly, as the reasons came to him: “I know I have to be one. I have nobody to help me. I have no grudge against anybody. I have no grouch against the world. I am not looking for enemies, but I have no right to expect favors. I never had a condition at college, but I am no learned scholar. I made the Scrub, but never played on the Varsity. I held class offices, but never pulled wires for myself. I did foolish things, but I'd as soon tell them to you. I don't know any more than any chap of my age knows who never thought of being where I am to-day, and never studied for a profession. I have troubles--family troubles not of my own making--and they came to me suddenly; in fact, the day before yesterday. It was up to me to whine or to fight. I am here.” Thompson saw Tommy's face, Tommy's squared shoulders, and Tommy's clenched fists. “I see!” he said. “And what do you want to do?” “Anything!” said Tommy, quickly. He saw Thompson's eyes. He corrected himself. “Something!” “Experience?” “I graduated last week,” said Tommy, barely keeping his impatience out of his voice. “Ever earn money?” “Not for myself. I solicited 'ads' for the college paper.” “Do well?” “Yes, I did well. I got 'ads' the paper never had before.”