"It is," confessed Chairman Stone.

"Is our reporter, Spencer, there? If so, I would like to talk
with him."

"Yes, he's right here, Mr. Pollock. And from the extraordinary
information he has brought us, I think he needs a talking-to. Wait
a moment."

Chairman Stone passed the instrument to Len Spencer. The members
of the Board felt curiosity enough to leave their seats and gather
at the head of the table. They could hear Editor Pollock's voice
as it ran on:

"Hullo, Spencer. Say, I've just had another 'phone from that
same party. He says that he sent in his information a bit twisted.
What he meant to tell us was that there are _seven dead ones_ in
the Board of Education who know so little about public spirit
and pride in our boys that they are even considering the idea
of forbidding High School football."

"Oh, that's it, eh?" asked Spencer, solemnly. "Seven dead ones?"

"Yes; of course you've already discovered that there's no real
tragedy up at the Board, unless they're actually planning some
move against football."

The seven members of the School Board looked at one another blankly,
wonderingly.