Page:Baseball Joe on the School Nine.djvu/59

 I demand that you open the door before I send for Dr. Filhnore and the janitor."

Tom slid to the portal and unlocked it. Professor Rodd stepped into the room and his stern gaze took in the two visitors. But he also saw something else that surprised him.

On the table was apparatus that very much resembled some used for experiments in the physics class. And, wonder of wonders, each of the four lads held a book in his hand—a book that the merest glance showed to be either a Latin grammar or a treatise on chemistry.

"What—why—?" faltered the professor.

"Aliqui—aliquare aliqua," recited Teeter in a sing-song declension voice. "Aliquorum—aliquarum—aliquorum." Then he pretended to look up suddenly, as if just aware of the presence of the instructor.

"Oh, good evening. Professor Rodd," said Teeter calmly.

"What does this mean?" exclaimed the teacher "Don't you know it is against the rules for students to visit in each others' rooms after hours without permission?"

"I knew it was—that is for anything but study," replied Teeter frankly. "I didn't think you