at they stopped suddenly when I came upon them."

The blood had crept accusingly into his face as he spoke Frederick's
name. Never for one moment in the presence of Teola's brother had he
forgotten--how could he ever forget! But he did love Teola Graves madly
and wished with all his soul that he were through college. He had hoped
that in the excitement of the banquet his remorse would be quieted a
little, but his conscience lashed him so constantly with self-reproach
that it seemed imperative for him to give up his studies, marry Teola,
and take her away.

"Let's all go down town," cried Swipes in a loud tone with a side wink
at Spuddy, "and get boiling drunk. If something doesn't happen--"

"Lordy," groaned Spuddy, "Swipes is always wanting something to happen.
I bet it will before long. What you wish for you'll get, old horse!
Don't forget that."

Spuddy went on tapping the window, staring out into the gloom.

"We'd better go down town and look for Graves and see that he is all
right," said Dan. "That will be enough for you kids to do now. It's your
evening anyway to guard him."

The four freshmen walked down the hill together. Dan separated from the
three at the Ithaca Hotel with the injunction that they should keep
their eyes open for the young president, guarding him while the other
night watchers were having a play spell.

On the next corner Dan Jordan ran into Frederick with two of his own
classmates.

"You fellows can go now," exclaimed Dan to Frederick's companions;
"Brown, Preston and Dillon are just up there on the next corner, to
protect Graves while you fellows go to supper. How are things going now,
Frederick?"

A sinking sensation attacked his heart as he asked this question, and he
remembered afterwards that he had expected Frederick to impart ill news
to him. The fear had come from his over-burdened conscience.

"Everything is all right, but Teola wants to see you. Could you go down
for a little while?"

Dan nodded and turned with a happier heart toward the Rectory, leaving
Frederick looking for "Spuddy," "Shorts," and "Swipes."

CHAPTER XXI

Three hours afterwards the three little freshmen walked zig-zaggedly,
arm in arm, up the long hill toward the University Campus.

Shorts had a shaky grasp of one arm of Dillon, and Spuddy the other. On
through the cold night they dragged him, until they reached the broad
white carriage way that led to the fraternity house. Here Swipes
stum