seemed very foolish to him, though he tried to smile good-humoredly, but there was a nervous twinkle in his eyes that should have been a warning.
"This, ladies and gentlemen, is Huckleberry John, the Hoosier Giant. You will find him pleasing and affable in conversation. He also has his photographs for sale," began the sophomore. Encouraged by the success of this attempt to be amusing, the orator bowed. "Bow, John," he said, and struck the tall man from Oakland a sharp blow on the back of the head, and just here something happened! Where it came from the assumed showman never knew, but there seemed to be an explosion before his eyes, and he went backwards across the room, bringing down a chair, and upsetting two of his classmates who had seated themselves on the edge of the sofa. There was a dead silence, and Hart was the first to break it. He had partially taken off his coat, but he slipped it on again hurriedly. His face was very white, and he spoke with an effort.
"I didn't mean to hit you so hard," he said, "but you made me mad cuffing a fellow like that,—no fun in it."
