Page:The spirit of the leader (IA spiritofleader00heyl).pdf/244

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keen and animated. Praska, confused by the clashing faith and despair with which he viewed Carlos Dix, found it hard to fix his attentions on the conversation. It is agony to see a cherished ideal die!

But in the end he responded to the bright hope of the plan. Northfield's graduates would push a quiet, insistent campaign. And in the school itself the work would go on. Speeches would continue to be made in the home rooms.

"If we could only get the auditorium for a night meeting for parents of students," Perry cried suddenly. "The night before the election; just parents, no outsiders. The students making all the speeches. A meeting of those interested in the school to talk about a school need. Wouldn't that be one grand, final hurrah?"

"If you can do that," said Carlos Dix, "it would be almost a winning move."

"We can see Mr. Rue in the morning. If the Northfield Congress will back this——" He looked at Praska, and Praska nodded.

The boys departed, but the lawyer remained behind. There were some personal matters, he said, that he wished to talk over with Mr. Ballinger. Praska swallowed a queer lump in his throat.

At the first corner Perry turned off and went