“Do you deny the charge, Cowan, or don’t you?” he asked.

“I refuse to reply to it,” answered Cowan angrily.  “Let them think what they want to; I’m not responsible to them.  It’s all revenge, nothing else.  They tried to get me to go to them last September; offered me free coaching, and guaranteed me a position on the team.  I refused.  And here’s the result.”

Professor Nast brightened and a few of those present looked relieved.  But Mills refused to be touched by Cowan’s righteousness, and asked brusquely: 

“Never mind what their motive is, Cowan.  What we want to know is this:  Did you or did you not accept money for playing left tackle on that team?  Let us have an answer to that, please.”

“It’s absurd,” said Cowan hotly.  “Why, I only played three games—­”

“Yes or no, please,” said Mills.

For an instant Cowan’s gaze faltered.  He glanced swiftly about the room and read only doubt or antagonism in the faces there.  He shrugged his broad shoulders and replied sneeringly: 

“What’s the good?  You’re all down on me now; you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“We’re not all down on you,” answered Mills.  Professor Nast interrupted.

“One moment, Mr. Mills.  I don’t think Mr. Cowan understands the—­ah—­the position we are in.  Unless you can show to our satisfaction that the charge is untrue, Mr. Cowan, we shall be obliged, under the terms of our agreement with Robinson, to consider you ineligible.  In that case, you could not, of course, play against Robinson; in fact, you would not be admitted to any branch of university athletics.  Now, don’t you think that the best course for you to follow is to make a straightforward explanation of your connection with the academy in question?  We are not here to judge the—­ah—­ethics of your course; only to decide as to whether or no you are eligible to represent the college in athletics.”

Cowan arose from his seat and with trembling fingers buttoned his overcoat.  His brow was black, but when he spoke, facing the head coach and heedless of the rest, he appeared quite cool.

“Ever since practise began,” he said, “you have been down on me and have done everything you could to get rid of me.  No matter what I did, it wasn’t right.  Whether I’m eligible or ineligible, I’m done with you now.  You may fill my place—­if you can; I’m out of it.  You’ll probably be beaten; but that’s your affair.  If you are, I sha’n’t weep over it.”

He walked to the door and opened it.

“It’s understood, I guess, that I’ve resigned from the team?” he asked, facing Mills once more.

“Quite,” said the latter dryly.

“All right.  And now I don’t mind telling you that I did get paid for playing with that team.  I played three games and took money every time.  It isn’t a crime and I’m not ashamed of it, although to hear you talk you’d think I’d committed murder.  Good-night, gentlemen.”