THB VINDICATION OB THU PRBX
“ When had we better try it?” queried the Pessimist.
‘ ‘ The sooner the better, ’ ’ said his friend.
“ Why not Friday night, then?”
“Good enough,” said the Optimist. “At the last stroke of
ten I’ll call for you.”
And then he picked himself up from the grass, brushed the dirt
from his knees, and went whistling on his way to the pool room,
while the Pessimist, with weary, lagging footsteps, wandered
slowly on up toward the gleaming lights of Old Main.
Meanwhile, on the other edge of the campus, there lay two
Freshmen of whom we must take especial notice, inasmuch as
they are to appear later in this little comedy. Like their Sopho
more friends, they, too, had been talking of their prowess. As
they chatted, along came the irrepressible and boastful Prep.
Now, ever since the establishment of Prepdom, this harmless in
dividual has been a thorn in the flesh to the Freshman.
“Hello, fellows,” said the loquacious Prep, as he joined the
group. “Darned nice sunset over there, isn’t it?” And he
pointed away across the parade ground.
“Uh —huh—rather,” grunted the two Freshmen, without so
much as glancing at the newcomer, nor even turning their heads
in the direction he was pointing.
Two is company, three’s a crowd, and the Prep therefore was
not wanted. But, being a Prep, he did not perceive the fact.
“ Reminds me of one evening at home,” he continued, seating
himself. ‘ l l was out walking with a girl— ’ ’
“Oh, come oif,” interrupted one of the Freshies. “You
haven’t the nerve of a grasshopper. And yet you’d try to bluff
us about promenading with any young lady. By the way, did
your mother know you were out ?”
The Sub-Freshman bit his lip vexedly. He was being mer
cilessly guyed, and that by men only one class above him. It
ruffled his pride and injured his feelings.
“Pooh !” he said. “ I’ve got more nerve in my little finger
than there is in both of you.”
“ Prove it,” said Freshie Number One.
The Prep saw that he was putting his foot into it, but it was
too late to withdraw gracefully.
“ How ? ” he said, finally. ‘ ‘ How’ 11 I prove it ?”
The other two were silent for a time.