speak of the meeting which he had attended on Saturday night.

"It was a thoroughly representative meeting of Scranton young people,"
he went on to say in his cordial way, which always endeared him to the
students of all the schools under his jurisdiction. "The committee
carried out their business in a commendable manner, and submitted a
list of names of acceptable candidates that in my opinion could not be
excelled. Let every one who is given the opportunity to contest for
the prizes, do his level best; and when later on the nine has been
selected we all hope and believe they will bring great honor to Old
Scranton High."

Of course the good doctor had been told about the little affair on the
road at the time the barn hop was in progress; but he was a wise
pedagogue, and made no mention of it in his address. Nick writhed in
his seat every time he saw the principal look his way, his guilty
conscience causing his fears to rise, with the thought that he might be
further humiliated before the entire school.

But the encounter had taken place far beyond the jurisdiction of the
school rules; and Dr. Carmack was usually satisfied to let his boys
settle these things among themselves. Besides, doubtless, he grimly
concluded that Nick, whose reputation as a universal bully of course he
knew full well, had been pretty well punished already, since his
bruised face and dark-rimmed eye spoke eloquently.

Later on that morning, when Hugh had occasion to go to the office of
the Head on some errand, he met with an unusually warm reception.

"Pardon me for speaking about what I know must be a sore subject with