The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-05-13

hVuOI VI MS Country. being an ara |
ent patriot himself his heart warmed |
towards Tom, and perceiving the inn
minent peril In which he stood he |
tnterfered in his behalf, and by
few leading questions got him on
safer ground, and managed to keep |
him there until the little bell tinkled
once more. The younger examiner
showed remarkable tact in feeling his
way, and keeping within the very
limited area of the students know
ledge. He succeeded so we'll, how
ever, that although his colleague
shook his head and intimated In
other ways his poor opinion of the
candidates requirements he was fore
ed to put down another IS. B." upon
the paper in front of him. The stu
dent drew long breath when he saw
it, and marched across to the other
table with a mixture of trepidation
and confidence like a jockey riding
at the last and highest hurdle in a
steeplechase.
Alas! It is the last hurdle which
often floors the rider, and Thomas,
too, was doomed to find the final
ordeal an insurmountable one. AS he
crossed the room some evil chance
made him think of the gossip OUTSIDE
and of his allusion to the abstruse
substance known as cacodyl. Once
let candidates mind hit upon such
an idea as this and nothing will ever
rat ~,,N - Ia a.
felt his head buzz around, and he
passed his hand over his forehead
and through his curly yellow hair
to steady himself He felt a frenHed
impulse as he sat down to inform
the examiners that he knew very
we'll what they were going to ask
him, and that it was hopeless for him
to attempt to answer it.
The leading professor was a ruddy-
| faced, benevolent old gentleman, with
spectacles and kindly manner He
made few commonplace remarks
to his colleagues with the good-natur-
ed intention Of giving the confused
looking student before him time to
compose himself Then, turning
blandly towards him, he said in the
mildest Of tones:
Have you ever rowed in a pond?"
Tom acknowledged that he had
Perhaps, on those occasions" the
examiner continued, 'you have chanc-
ed to touch the mud at the bottom
with your oar"
Tom pcknowIadued ~ uyoa y,OSeihIa
''In that case you may have OBJ
served that large bubble or a sue
cession of them has risen from the
bottom to the surface. Now, Of what
gases was that bubble comrosed?"
The unhappy student, wi h the one
idea always fermenting on his brain,
felt that the worst had come upon
him. without moments hesitation
! or thought he expressed his oonvic-
ton that the compound was cacodyl.
Never did two men look more sur
prised. and never did two generally
than did the two examiners when
they realized what the candidate had
answered. Their mirth speedily
brought him back to his senses. HI
saw with feeling of despair that Il
was marsh gas which they had ex
pected-one of the simplest and com
monest Of chemical combinations
Alas, it was too late now. He knew
full well that nothing could save
J him. With poor marks in botany
and zoology, such an error in chemis-
} try was irreparable. He did what was
the best thing under the Eircum-
stances. Rising from his chair, ne
made respectful bow to the eXamin'
ers and walked straight out of the
room to the great astonishment
of the janitor, who had never before
, witnessed such a breach of decorum
AS the student closed the door be-
!, hind him he looked back and saw
that the other professors had lef
their respective places and were listen
ing to an account of the inciden
from one of the chemists - and {
roar OF laughter the moment after
wards showed that they appreciated
the humor of 1t. His fellow-studsnti
gathered round Tom outside in the
hope Of sharing in the joke, but ht
pushed them angrily aside and strod'
through the midst of them and dow
the University steps. He knew tha
the story would spread fast enough
without his assistance. His mind wa
busy, too, in shaping a certain reso
luton which he had often though
over during the last few months.
The two old people and Miss Kat
Harston waited long and anxiously IL
their sitting room at the hotel 70
some news of the absentee. Tn
doctor had, at first, attempted loft.
cynicism and general assumption o
: Indifference, which rapidly brok
; down as the time went by, until a
last he was wandering around tn
room, drumming upon the furnitur
: with his fingers and showing ever
other sign of acute impatience, Tn
window was on the first floor, AM
! Kate had been stationed there as
sentinel, to watch the passing crow
and signal the first sign of tidingi
. Cant you see him YETI" the docto
asked for the twentieth time.
: mo, dear, l don't" she answered
glancing up and down the street.
He must be out row. He shoul
have come straight to us. Come ava