Page:The spirit of the leader (IA spiritofleader00heyl).pdf/266

 "I felt like throwing something," Praska laughed. "That was a finish, wasn't it?"

"There's always a thrill to a good finish," said the man.

"It takes fighting spirit to make a good finish," the boy said gravely, and with a feeling of pride. After all, it was his school that had made it.

The man walked on in silence, as though some phrase the boy had used had plunged him into contemplation. And yet, when Praska looked up at him questioningly, his eyes seemed to reflect a gentle smile.

"The fighting spirit for a good finish," he repeated. "I'm glad you said that, George. Does it mean that you've changed your mind about the State University?"

Praska flushed. "No, sir. I—I don't think it's a question of fighting spirit. Other fellows have worked two-thirds of their way through; I could do that. But there's so much to be done in the world. I want to get out and begin to do my share. I don't have to go to the University to make a good finish."

He said it with conviction; and yet, somehow, it sounded like a question and not a statement of fact.

"It all depends," Mr. Banning said slowly, "upon what the good finish is to be a part of.