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they would be free of him forever。 And so； although they did
not conspire together； each knew that of the firing squad
that was to aim its rifles at； Peter； HIS rifle would hold
the blank cartridge。
The only one of them who did not know this was Doctor Henry
Gilman。 Doctor Gilman was the professor of ancient and modern
history at Stillwater； and greatly respected and loved。 He
also was the author of those well…known text…books； 〃The
Founders of Islam；〃 and 〃The Rise and Fall of the Turkish
Empire。〃 This latter work； in five volumes； had been not
unfavorably compared to Gibbon's 〃Decline and Fall of the
Roman Empire。〃 The original newspaper comment； dated some
thirty years back； the doctor had preserved； and would
produce it； now somewhat frayed and worn； and read it to
visitors。 He knew it by heart； but to him it always possessed
a contemporary and news interest。
〃Here is a review of the history；〃 he would sayhe always
referred to it as 〃the〃 history〃that I came across in my
TRANSCRIPT。〃
In the eyes of Doctor Gilman thirty years was so brief a
period that it was as though the clipping had been printed
the previous after…noon。
The members of his class who were examined on the 〃Rise and
Fall；〃 and who invariably came to grief over it； referred to
it briefly as the Fall；〃 sometimes feelingly as 〃the。 。 。 。
Fall。〃 The〃 history began when Constantinople was Byzantium；
skipped lightly over six centuries to Constantine； and in the
last two Volumes finished up the Mohammeds with the downfall
of the fourth one and the coming of Suleiman。 Since Suleiman；
Doctor Gilman did not recognize Turkey as being on the map。
When his history said the Turkish Empire had fallen； then the
Turkish Empire fell。 Once Chancellor Black suggested that he
add a sixth volume that would cover the last three centuries。
〃In a history of Turkey issued as a text…book；〃 said the
chancellor； 〃I think the Russian…Turkish War should be
included。〃
Doctor Gilman； from behind his gold…rimmed spectacles； gazed
at him in mild reproach。 〃The war in the Crimea！〃 he
exclaimed。 〃Why； I was alive at the time。 I know about it。
That is not history。〃
Accordingly； it followed that to a man who since the
seventeenth century knew of no event； of interest； Cyrus
Hallowell； of the meat…packers' trust； was not an imposing
figure。 And such a man the son of Cyrus Hallowell was but an
ignorant young savage； to whom 〃the〃 history certainly had
been a closed book。 And so when Peter returned his
examination paper in a condition almost as spotless as that
in which he had received it； Doctor Gilman carefully and
conscientiously； with malice toward none and； with no thought
of the morrow； marked〃 five。〃
Each of the other professors and instructors had marked Peter
fifty。 In their fear of Chancellor Black they dared not give
the boy less； but they refused to be slaves to the extent of
crediting him with a single point higher than was necessary
to pass him。 But Doctor Gilman's five completely knocked out
the required average of fifty； and young Peter was 〃found〃
and could not graduate。 It was an awful business！ The only
son of the only Hallowell refused a degree in his father's
own private collegethe son of the man who had built the
Hallowell Memorial； the new Laboratory； the Anna Hallowell
Chapel； the Hallowell Dormitory； and the Hallowell Athletic
Field。 When on the bulletin board of the dim hall of the
Memorial to his departed grandfather Peter read of his own
disgrace and downfall； the light the stained…glass window
cast upon his nose was of no sicklier a green than was the
nose itself。 Not that Peter wanted an A。M。 or an A。B。； not
that he desired laurels he had not won； but because the young
man was afraid of his father。 And he had cause to be。 Father
arrived at Stillwater the next morning。 The interviews that
followed made Stillwater history。
〃My son is not an ass！〃 is what Hallowell senior is said to
have said to Doctor Black。 〃And if in four years you and your
faculty cannot give him the rudiments of an education； I will
send him to a college that can。 And I'll send my money where
I send Peter。〃
In reply Chancellor Black could have said that it was the
fault of the son and not of the college； he could have said
that where three men had failed to graduate one hundred and
eighty had not。 But did he say that？ Oh； no； he did not say
that！ He was not that sort of； a college president。 Instead；
he remained calm and sympathetic； and like a conspirator in a
comic opera glanced apprehensively round his； study。 He
lowered his voice。
〃There has been contemptible work here； 〃he whispered〃spite
and a mean spirit of reprisal。 I have been making a secret
investigation； and I find that this blow at your son and you；
and at the good name of our college was struck by one man； a
man with a grievanceDoctor Gilman。 Doctor Gilman has
repeatedly desired me to raise his salary。〃 This did not
happen to be true； but in such a crisis Dotor Black could not
afford to be too particular。
〃I have seen no reason for raising his salaryand there you
have the explanation。 In revenge he has made this attack。 But
he overshot his mark。 In causing us temporary embarrassment
he has brought about his own downfall。 I have already asked
for his resignation。〃
Every day in the week Hallowell was a fair； sane man； but on
this particular day he was wounded； his spirit was hurt； his
self…esteem humiliated。 He was in a state of mind to believe
anything rather than that his son was an idiot。
〃I don't want the man discharged；〃 he protested； 〃just
because Peter is lazy。 But if Doctor Gilman was moved by
personal considerations； if he sacrificed my Peter in order
to get even 。 。 。 。〃
〃That；〃 exclaimed Black in a horrified whisper； 〃is exactly
what he did！ Your generosity to the college is well known。
You are recognized all over America as its patron。 And he
believed that when I refused him an increase in salary it was
really you who refused itand he struck at you through your
son。 Everybody thinks so。 The college is on fire with
indignation。 And look at the mark he gave Peter！ Five！ That
in itself shows the malice。 Five is not a mark； it is an
insult！ No one； certainly not your brilliant sonlook how
brilliantly he managed the glee…club and foot…ball touris
stupid enough to deserve five。 No； Doctor Gilman went too
far。 And he has been justly punished！〃
What Hallowell senior was willing to believe of what the
chancellor told him； and his opinion of the matter as
expressed to Peter； differed materially。
〃They tell me；〃 he concluded； 〃that in the fall they will
give you another examination； and if you pass then； you will
get your degree。 No one will know you've got it。 They'll slip
it to you out of the side…door like a cold potato to a tramp。
The only thing people will know is that when your classmates
stood up and got their parchmentsthe thing they'd been
working for four years； the only reason for their going to
college at allYOU were not among those present。 That's your
fault； but if you don't get your degree next fall that will
be my fault。 I've supported you through college and you've
failed to deliver the goods。 Now you deliver them next fall；
or you can support yourself。〃
〃That will be all right；〃 said Peter humbly； 〃I'll pass next
fall。〃
〃I'm going to make sure of that；〃 said Hallowell senior。 〃To…
morrow you will take those history books that you did not
open； especially Gilman's 'Rise and Fall；' which it seems you
have not even purchased； and you will travel for the entire
summer with a private tutor 。 。 。 。〃
Peter； who had personally conducted the foot…ball and base…
ball teams over half of the Middle States and daily bullied
and browbeat them； protested with indignation。 〃WON'T travel
with a private tutor！〃
〃If I say so；〃 returned Hallowell senior grimly； 〃you'll
travel with a governess and a trained nurse； and wear a
strait jacket。 And you'll continue to wear it until you can
recite the history of Turkey backward。 And in order that you
may know it backwardand forward you will spend this summer
in Turkeyin Constantinopleuntil I send you permission to
come