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 a record. Just get me back over 70 and we'll stop all the study periods right there."

The Owl shook his head. "You can't get good passing marks that way."

"Who's asking for good passing marks? Just passing marks will suit me. If it wasn't that I have to get that 70 to play baseball I wouldn't bother with the stuff at all."

"But where would you stand in the June examination?"

"I may not come back. I've been after my father for two years to let me quit. June examinations aren't worrying me. I want baseball."

The Owl stared at him incredulously. Himself a student, taking the best of all the school had to offer, he could not quite understand this other boy. "But Mr. Jennings said" he began.

"O, Jennings." The shortstop's manner was flippant. "He's talking through his hat. Just get me a 70, that's all."

Behind their thick lenses the Owl eyes grew a trifle stern. "There has been a mistake. I thought you wanted to make up on school work. I didn't think you just wanted to use my time to skin you through. What good will it do to get you a 70 now if you are going to drop right back again? That's cheating the school."

"Doesn't the nine figure in this?" Martin demanded, nettled.