"Oh--oh! And after firing everything of mine!" wailed Benny. "Isn't that what some one called the 'unkindest cut'?" Next moment Bob Somers' eyes were scanning the contents of the two by three foot poster, a proceeding which was beset with some difficulty, as a great crowd of boys constantly shoved and pushed each other about in an effort to read it. The announcement called for a meeting on the campus at three o'clock to settle by a vote of the school which club should represent it against the Rockville team. "The matter has reached a stage when the students must decide this most important question," stated the poster. "The undersigned, who have been working for the good of the school, will cheerfully abide by the wishes of the majority. And, in order that no advantage shall be taken of the regular team, we invite them, or any one they may designate, to speak in their behalf. "We call upon all of the students to act calmly, and to refrain from unpleasant observations or in any way disturbing the peace. And we emphatically insist that no one shall shirk his duty. Be present without fail--and vote." The poster was signed by Dan Brown, Owen Lawrence and Earl Roycroft. "It's an outrage, Bob Somers!"--Harry Spearman had reached the captain's side--"a direct slap at President Hopkins. Didn't he practically command the fellows to quit this row? Of course he did. For my part, I shall insist that not one of our crowd pays the smallest attention to their so-called invitation." "There will be no soap box oratory from me," declared Bob. "Nor from me, either," grinned Dave. "I'd rather practice." "All the same, I am fearful that something fearful will happen," said Benny. "Here comes T. Vanitas. Oh, I say, T. Vanitas Clifton, here's the shock of your young life." "You'd better cut out such talk," warned Tom. "I absorbed the contents of that silly thing half an hour ago. It doesn't faze us in the least." "It isn't expected to. But what happens this afternoon is." The general feeling of unrest and excitement so affected the students that work in the class room suffered greatly. Professor Ivins was much disturbed. "I declare, Professor Hopkins, I don't know what we shall do," he said in the president's office. "Several of the brightest boys in the school failed lamentably to-day. It is deplorable that this thing has taken such a hold upon them. Cannot something be done?" "If conditions get any worse I shall be compelled to take a hand," asserted Professor Hopkins. "It appears to me that young Brown is actually becoming defiant. That flaring poster out there is one of the boldest things I ever saw." "It certainly is," said Professor Ivins, solemnly. As the time for the meeting drew near "Crackers" Brown and his assistants got into action. Several large boxes, with boards laid across the tops, and designed for use as a table, were placed beneath the big elm, while another box--the speaker's stand--stood only a few feet away.