I had barely enough to get through here at pauper rates this year--but I could n't do it and keep Bug,too.I went into Colorado and played baseball for pay,so I could come here and bring him with me.That's why I can out-bat our team,and could win dead easy for Sunrise tomorrow.
Nobody in Kansas knows it.Now,what shall I do?"The words were shot out like bullets.
"What shall you do?"Lloyd Fenneben's black eyes held Burleigh."There is only one thing to do.When you ranked high in grades with only the trivial matter of excusable absence against you--no broken law--you took Professor Burgess gently by the throat and told him you meant to play anyhow.
You stood your ground like a man,for your own sake and for the honor of Sunrise.Stand like a man for your own sake and the honor of Sunrise,now.Go to Professor Burgess and take him gently--by the hand,this time--and tell him you do not mean to play,and why you cannot."Burleigh sat still as stone,his face white as marble,his wide-open eyes under his black brows seeing nothing.
"But our proud record--the glorious honor of this college,"he said at length,and back of his words was the thought of Victor Burleigh,the idol of Sunrise,dethroned,where he had been adored.
"There is no honor for a college like the honesty of its students.
There is no prouder record than the record of daring to do the right.
You could get into the game once by a brute's strength.
Get out of it now by a gentleman's honor."Behind the speech was Lloyd Fenneben himself,sympathetic,firm,upright,before whom the harshness of Victor Burleigh's face slowly gave place to an expression of sorrow.