elbow, and led him to the door. Phin passed on out
of the building, stumbling blindly. He got home, somehow, and
into bed.

In the morning, however, even a sneak is braver.

"What can they do to me, anyway?" muttered Phin, as he dressed.
"I didn't break any of the laws of the state! All anyone can
do is to cut me. I'll show 'em all how little I care for their
contempt."

So it was not wholly in awe that Phin Drayne entered the general
assembly room the next morning, a few minutes before opening time.
Several of the students greeted him pleasantly enough. Phin
was quick to conclude that the news had not leaked anyway, beyond
the members of the football squad.

Then came the opening of the session. The singing books lay on
the desks before the students. Instead, however, of calling out
the page on which the morning's music would be found, Dr. Thornton
held his little gavel in his hand, after giving a preliminary
rap or two on his desk.

"I have something to say to the students of the school this morning,"
began Dr. Thornton, in a low but steady voice. "It is something
which, I am happy to state, I have never before been called upon
to say.

"One of the most valuable qualities in any man or woman is loyalty.
All of us know, from our studies in history and literature, many
conspicuous and noble examples of loyalty. We have also, in our
mind's eye, some examples of the opposite qualities, disloyalty
and treachery. Outside of sacred history one of the most conspicuous
examples of betrayal was that of Benedict Arnold."

Every boy and girl now had his eyes turned fixedly on the old
principal. Outside of the football squad no student had any idea
what was coming. Phin tried to look wholly unconscious.

Dr. Thornton spoke a little more on the meanness of treachery
and betrayal. Then, looking straight over at the middle of the
third aisle on the boys' side of the room, the principal commanded:

"Mr. Drayne, stand by your desk!"

Phin was up, hardly knowing how he accomplished the move. Every
pair of eyes in the room was focused on him.

"Mr. Drayne," continued the principal, and now there was a steely
glitter of contempt in the old man's eyes, "you were displeased
because you did not attain to as high honors on the football eleven
as you had hoped. In revenge you made copies of the code signals
of the team, and mailed a copy to the captain of nearly every
team against which Gridley High School is to