an office which he, personally, had never aspired to,
but it would be presumption for him to deny that he regarded it as a
post which would reflect honor upon any one. He was willing to admit, in
this confidential circle, moreover, that he had taken up college work
chiefly with the ambition of assisting Blaines over a critical year or
two in its history, and that, to put it only generally, he was not
indefinitely bound to his present position. But under the present
circumstances, as he said, he could not consent to any discussion of his
name; and unless the directors would agree to drop him from further
consideration, which he earnestly preferred, he must reluctantly suggest
adjournment.

"An interregnum," said Mr. Hickok, looking out of the window, "is an
unsatisfactory, not to say a dangerous thing. Would it not be better,
since we are gathered for that purpose, to take decisive action to-day?"

"What is your pleasure, gentlemen?" inquired Chairman Byrd.

Mr. Hickok was easily overruled. The directors seized eagerly on Mr.
West's suggestion. On motion of Mr. Hopkins, seconded by Mr. Shorter and
Mr. Porter, the meeting stood adjourned to the third day following at
noon.

On the second day following the _Post_ carried the interesting
announcement that Mr. West had resigned from the presidency of Blaines
College, a bit of news which his friends read with sincere pleasure. The
account of the occurrence gave one to understand that all Mr. West's
well-known persuasiveness had been needed to force the trustees to
accept his resignation. And when James E. Winter read this part of it,
at his suburban breakfast, he first laughed, and then swore. The same
issue of the _Post_ carried an editorial, mentioning in rather a sketchy
way the benefits Mr. West had conferred upon Blaines College, and paying
a high and confident tribute to his qualities as a citizen. The young
acting-editor, who never wrote what he did not think, had taken much
pains with this editorial, especially the sketchy part. Of course the
pestiferous _Chronicle_ took an entirely different view of the
situation. "The _Chronicle_ has won its great fight," so it nervily
said, "against classism in Blames College." And it had the vicious taste
to add: "Nothing in Mr. West's presidential life became him like the
leaving of it."

On the third day the directors met again. With characteristic delicacy
of feeling, West remained away from the meeting. However, Mr. Hopk