hairman Stone.

"Is our reporter, Spencer, there? If so, I would like to talk
with him."

"Yes, he's right here, Mr. Pollock. And from the extraordinary
information he has brought us, I think he needs a talking-to. Wait
a moment."

Chairman Stone passed the instrument to Len Spencer. The members
of the Board felt curiosity enough to leave their seats and gather
at the head of the table. They could hear Editor Pollock's voice
as it ran on:

"Hullo, Spencer. Say, I've just had another 'phone from that
same party. He says that he sent in his information a bit twisted.
What he meant to tell us was that there are _seven dead ones_ in
the Board of Education who know so little about public spirit
and pride in our boys that they are even considering the idea
of forbidding High School football."

"Oh, that's it, eh?" asked Spencer, solemnly. "Seven dead ones?"

"Yes; of course you've already discovered that there's no real
tragedy up at the Board, unless they're actually planning some
move against football."

The seven members of the School Board looked at one another blankly,
wonderingly.

"Who sent you that message over the 'phone?" questioned the reporter.

The seven Board members pricked up their ears still more keenly.

"I don't know," came Editor Pollock's voice. "But I suspect it
came from the Business Men's Club. That's a wide-awake and progressive
crowd, you know, and full of local pride, even in our High School
boys. But, Spencer, I'm in just a bit of a fix. I had already
run out six lines on the bulletin board announcing that a sudden
death had taken place in the School Board meeting. Now, I've
got to run out another bulletin and explain. Spencer, you'd better
come back here on the jump. Good-bye!"

As the bell rang off, and the reporter laid the instrument back
on the table, he said:

"Gentlemen, I am ordered back to my office in haste. Yet, before
I go, as a matter of news interest, I think I'd better ask you
whether any action is going to be taken forbidding football in
the High School?"

"N-n-not to the best of our knowledge," stammered Chairman Stone.
"We have---taken no action along that line."

"Are you likely to take any such action tonight?"

"I---I---think not."

"Thank you, and goodnight, gentlemen. I offer you my apology
and 'The Blade's' for having intruded on you in this fashion."

As soon as the members of the Board were alone Chairman Stone
glanced about him, a