emed but a strange and
barbarous jargon to his unaccustomed ears.

"Do you understand what I have said?" asked Brown, at the close of his
reading.

"Not entirely," said Sam,

"Then your education has been neglected. But it matters not. Raise
him."

Jones and Robinson proceeded to lift Sam, one by the head, the other
by the heels, rather to his alarm.

"What's your game?" he demanded, resisting.

"No harm is intended. It is one of the necessary formalities."

"Go ahead, then."

The two students bore Sam about the room, chanting discordantly as
they went. At length they set him down again in a chair. Then Brown
passed his hand several times over Sam's face, explaining that this
was one of the necessary formalities also. Then the bandage was taken
off, and a Greek book was handed to Sam.

"We will test your scholarship," said Brown. "Read."

Sam stared at the Greek page in bewilderment, turning the book upside
down, but not finding it any more intelligible.

"I can't read this stuff," he said.

"You need not render it into English," said Brown. "Pronounce it in
the original."

"I can't," said Sam, helplessly.

The three looked at each other.

"You can't read Greek?" said Brown.

"Of course I can't."

"Then how did you get into college?"

"I walked in."

"I mean, how could you be admitted without knowing Greek?"

"I wasn't admitted. I never was here in my life before."

"What! Are you not Barker, of the freshman class?" asked the three
sophomores in chorus.

"My name is Barker--Sam Barker--but I don't belong to any class."

"What made you say you did?"

"Just for fun."

"Sold!" exclaimed the three in concert. "I guess this has gone far
enough," said Brown. "Let's unmask."

Masks were removed, the curtains raised, Sam was invited to wash his
face, which Brown, in his manipulations, had blacked, and there was a
hearty laugh all round. Sam was invited to tell his story and did so.
The three students were wealthy, and took up a contribution for his
benefit, amounting to ten dollars.

"I'll come round another day for half price," said Sam, humorously.

"The next time we initiate a freshman, it'll be the genuine article.
All the same, we've had some fun. Won't you stay and dine with us? We
shall have dinner in an hour."

"Thank you," said Sam, "I'm agreeable."

"We'll take you round to see the college before dinner. We can't do
less by a member of the Alpha Zeta Society."

Sam laughed.