play this year."

There came, from all parts of the room, a gasp of incredulous
amazement.

"Your infamy, your treachery and betrayal, Mr. Drayne, were
traced back to you," continued the principal. "You were forced
to admit it, last night, before the Board of Education. That
Board has passed sentence in your case. Mr. Drayne, you are found
utterly unfit to associate with the decent manhood and womanhood
to be found in the student body of this High School. By the decision
of the Board you are now expelled from this school. You will
take your books and belongings and leave instantly. You will
never presume to enter through the doors of this school again.
Go, sir!"

From Phin came an angry snarl of defiance. He tried to shout
out, to tell the principal and his late fellow students how little,
or less than little, he cared about their opinions.

But the words stuck in his throat. Ere he could try again, a
hiss arose from one quarter of the room. The hiss grew and swelled.
Phin realized, though he dared not look about him any longer,
that the hissing came as much from the girls as from the boys.

Drayne did not attempt to bend over his desk. Instead, he marched
swiftly down the half of the aisle, then past the platform toward
the door.

"Mr. Drayne," called Dr. Thornton, "you have not taken your books,
or paper or other desk materials."

"I leave them, sir," shouted Phin, above the tumult of hissing,
"for the use of some of your many pauper students."

Then he went out, slamming the door after him. He darted down
to the basement, then waited before the locker door until one
of the monitors came down, unlocked the door, and allowed Phin
to get his hat. But the monitor never looked at him, or spoke.

Once out of the building, Phin could keep back the choking sob
and tears no longer. Stealing down a side street, where he would
have to pass few people, Phin gave way to his pent-up shame.
Yet in it all there was nothing of repentance. He was angry
with himself---in a fiendish rage toward others.

Afterwards, he learned that the books and other contents of his
desk were burned in the school yard at recess, to the singing
of a dirge. But, even for the purpose of making a bonfire of
his books the students would not touch the articles with their
hands. They coaxed the janitor to find a pair of tongs, and with
this implement Phin's books and papers were conveyed to the purifying
blaze.

Behind the do