Page:The spirit of the leader (IA spiritofleader00heyl).pdf/102

 aisles. In a moment the spirit of the auditorium had changed.

"All we'll ask," Praska cried, "is for a decent, clean street. I've given you merely a suggestion. It's up to the home rooms to decide what the school will do. But whatever we do, let's get started. Let's take it up in the home rooms to-day. Let's find out where we are. Let's sound out our own public opinion and let's try out our own voice."

The applause turned to cheering as he walked back to the seat. The school had caught up his battle cry. None expected Mr. Rue to comment on the situation; Northfield students always had opportunity to think for themselves. At a nod from the principal the orchestra struck up the exit march. Once out in the hall, Littlefield caught Praska by the arm.

"George," he said earnestly, "you ought to take me some place and beat me up. I was the first fellow to kick about the mud; and in two days the fight was all out of me. I'm with you now right to the finish."

"You might have let some of us in Room 13 know what was going on," Perry complained.

"I wanted to have the school take hold of it all at one time," Praska explained simply. "If we had begun to debate it in Room 13, the other