Page:The Winning Touchdown.djvu/252

236 looked for you, Mr. Zane. I knocked at youi door. I was bidden to enter. This—this—" and the professor made a dramatic gesture, "this is what I beheld," and he waved his two hands hopelessly at the confusion.

As yet the proctor had said nothing. He looked at his dismantled room as though he could not comprehend it. Never—never had he beheld it in this way before, not even when he moved from one apartment to another, nor when a section of the building in which he had his study was rebuilt.

"I was in the freshman dormitory—there was a little—ahem—a little difficulty there," and the proctor hesitated. "I had no idea"

"If I were you I would make them put everything exactly as they found it," interrupted Mr. Tines, severely.

"I—er—I—that is—I think I would prefer to straighten matters out myself," said Mr. Zane hesitatingly. It was as though he was in a daze. "You—you young gentlemen may go to your rooms," he added, softly.

"What!" cried Professor Emerson Tines. "Aren't you going to"

Then he realized that he was infringing on the prerogatives of the proctor, and he kept still.

"You may go," said Mr. Zane, softly, and Dutch and his mates went.