Page:The Rival Pitchers.djvu/46

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36
THE RIVAL PITCHERS

president of the class, called a meeting that afternoon, the amount needed was quickly subscribed, and the money was taken to Dr. Churchill.

"Why do you encourage that nonsense?" asked Professor Emerson Tines, the Latin instructor (dubbed "Pitchfork" by the college lads in virtue of his name). "Why do you submit to it?"

He happened to be with the president when Langridge brought in the money.

"I don't submit to it, Professor Tines."

"But you encourage it."

"No; I simply ignore it."

"But the clapper is taken year after year."

"Is it?" asked the doctor innocently. "Well, now, so I have been informed by the janitor, but, you know, of my own knowledge I am not aware of it. It is simply hearsay evidence, and I never like to depend on that."

"But, my dear sir, don't you know that the clapper is taken by the first-year pupils?"

"Perhaps I do," answered the good doctor with a smile, "but I'm not going to admit it. I was young once myself, Professor Tines."

"So was I!" snapped the Latin teacher as he went to his own apartments.

"I—I doubt it, and that's not hearsay evidence, either, I'm afraid," murmured Dr. Churchill, as he resumed his study of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.