Jesse Lynch Williams

“ The group had grown into a crowd now, and it scented sport. "Vox populii," pronounced Reddy with grandiloquent gesticulation. "Now, law," interrupted another, shaking his index finger after the manner of a well-known professor, "is the established habit of the community; every one knows what the habit of this community is when it runs across a parade; therefore it's our duty——"
"Come on," said Stehman; "we'll have a lot of horse. Tell everybody you see. If we all agree to turn out and stick together, they can't fire the whole college." ”

“ One man on horseback is better than three on foot.
"All right!" shouted Cherokee Charlie; "I guess we'll go on with the parade now." He seemed good-natured about it.
That was the way he settled the miners who created a disturbance out in a Western city. But these were not miners in a Western city, but irresponsible dudes of an Eastern college, and their blood was getting up. They were waiting for Holland; except for individual scraps here and there along the line, there was a lull.
"Do 'em, fellows! Do 'em up!" called Holland, who stood in the rear. "Rush 'em! Get out of here, you Greasers! ”

“ Stehman was looking steadily in the President's eyes now. "I like the way he is talking to me, anyway," he thought. "No threats, no reference to my being on probation—good, straight talk."
"It takes a long time," said the President, "to make the public forget headlines such as those that appeared in the papers last year. Such occurrences do more harm than can be balanced by winning football championships. Don't you think so?"
Stehman was kicking up gravel. "Very likely," he said.
"Mr. Stehman, I won't keep you longer; but remember, this body of men will do just about as you direct them. ”

“ Just before the galloping horses came even with the lower campus gate, out from the driveway shot a long, strong runner, scudding over the ground with remarkable speed. It was Jack Stehman. That was just the way he ran on the football field. Every one took in the situation. He was going to make a tackle far more difficult than the one which saved the game last fall. "But if the leaders should veer off as he jumps!" ”

“ Stehman strode off to his room alone.
"Wasn't it rotten?" said Reddy Armstrong to some of the others. "Lots of 'em think he did this to stand in with the Faculty. He's got the whole college soured on him now."
"And that bothers him," said Linton, "much more than the loss of power; he values affection much more than power. He's not like Holland." ”

“ Jack?" said some one else. "And the Mexican who has it in for you?" said the voice from the corner.
"Well, er—well, did the circus people make a raid on the college campus? No; they were minding their own business. We began it."
"And we'll end it," cried the voice from the corner, boldly now.
"Shut up!" cried Stehman angrily; "I have the floor!" Now the bull was stirred up. "You fellows are acting like a lot of kids; you're hot-headed; you're rattled; you make me tired!" The bull was roaring now. But a bull is not of much use in a situation somewhat more delicate than a china shop. ”

“ At this college they were in the habit of doing more than that; it was one of the traditions that no parade should pass in front of the campus gate—without being broken up. Circuses could go through the other streets as much as they wished, but not there. "It disturbs our studies," they said. "Besides, we can do all the parading necessary, thank you."
Last year, when Cherokee Charlie's show came, several students were injured in the accompanying mix-up, one quite seriously, not to speak of the women and children of the town. ”

“ The latter wheeled about, and, swearing vividly, shouted, "Where is he? Who did that?" brought around his big gun in the apparently careless manner of the old-fashioned Westerner, and fired, shouting as he did so: "Boys, let loose at these devils! ”

“ The telegram was signed by the Mayor and Council of a small town where a large college is situated, and where Cherokee Charlie's Grand Combination of Circus, Stupendous Western Wonders, World-Renowned Rifle-Shots and Mexican Cowboys was billed for the following Wednesday, and where he still intended, it seemed, to keep his date, notwithstanding the advice of more experienced showmen, and in spite of several letters from the University Faculty and town authorities who knew their business.
No circus ought to come to any college town. ”

“ Boiled down to a sentence, it meant: "As the cowboys got the better of us last year, it is the duty of every loyal son of the Alma Mater to pitch in and clean out the cowboys this year, particularly since the Faculty has forbidden it." It was received with great applause.
Then remarks were in order—they meant to have all the fun out of it possible—and the chairman of the committee took out his pipe and said: "Are we going to let muckers come to this place and ride over us and knock people down [A voice: "Well, hardly!"] , and be bullied into meek, child-like obedience by the Faculty? ”

“ Get 'em on the run!"
"Ride through 'em again," said Cherokee Charlie.
"Wow! Wow! Whoop—hee!" yelled the cowboys, warming up to their work. They had divided into two columns, and were dashing up and down the street waving their hats and revolvers. They separated the fellows where they could into groups, cutting them out like cattle on the ranges. Meanwhile there were individual fights going on.
"Say, this is a fizzle," the students began to murmur disgustedly. "Where's Jack Stehman, anyway?" asked a panting, excited underclassman.
"Oh, Jack Stehman!" voices began crying. "Come out here ”