There was a bang as of some heavy object striking the floor,
a quick scraping of feet, and the sound of blows that soon
followed indicated only too plainly that the Prof. and the
farmer, for it surely must be he, were in a hand-to-hand fight.
"I'll teach you to monkey with me, you spindle-shanked,
lazy, smart , " the rest was breathless mumbling.
The listeners held their sides and wanted to howl. This was
fun indeed. The dignified Prof. in close tussle with a farmer.
" This beats a circus all hollow !" whispered one, with diffi
culty restraining his mirth.
Back and forth, up and down, the two heaved and clattered,
grunting and panting desperately. All at once, with a terrific
thud, they struck squarely against the door. The latter
almost gave way under the shock. Again they were out in the
hall, tumbling violently about, the fight growing hotter at
every moment. The Prof. was evidently holding his own.
Within, a whisper came from the closet: "By gad, fellows,
they'll smash that door in if they hit it again."
" Naw they won't," put in another ; but he was mistaken,
for the very next moment came a bang and a mighty crash,
the door flew wide open, and the two contestants, wriggling,
spluttering, staggering, tumbled headlong onto the floor of the
room.
The two men who had been seated at the table as though
studying sprang to their feet in the sudden excitement, then
stood perfectly still.
Slowly the Prof. and the farmer untangled themselves and
rose to their feet. Each looked the other over from head to
foot without saying a word. Then they turned their dazed
looks on the room and its occupants. For full half a minute
no one spoke. When the silence was broken it was not by
the Prof. nor by the farmer, but by one of the Preps at the
table.
Among college men, and no less among Preps, as we are all
aware, there are some who are highly distinguished for that
quality known as " nerve," men who are ruffled by nothing,
and who appear as bland as a June morning, no matter what