have a perfectgrowth of head fur which never needed the attention of a barber. Herubbed his own unruly hair, then shrugged.
"Hate to change places with Pete Waern now, though," he told himself."Wonder where he stands in this business."
* * * * *
Hurrying footsteps sounded in the corridor and three latecomers rushedin. As Waern straightened to close his locker door, the leader of thegroup crashed into him.
"Hey," he demanded, "what's the idea trying to trip me?" He paused,looking at the boy closely. "Oh, you again! Still trying to be a bigman, huh?" He placed a hand on Waern's chest, pushing violently.
"Out of our way, trash."
Pete Waern staggered back, dropping his books. A notebook landed on itsback and sprang open, to scatter paper over the floor. He looked at themess for an instant.
One of the three laughed.
"That's how you show 'em, Gerry."
Pete stared angrily at his attacker.
"What do you think you're doing?"
The three advanced purposefully. One seized Pete by an arm, swinginghim about violently. Another joined him and between them, they held thesmaller lad firmly.
Gerry swung an open hand jarringly against Pete's face.
"Guess you're going to have to have a little lesson in how to talk toyour betters," he snarled. He drew back a fist.
Don Michaels had come out of his chair. He strode over to the group, toface the attacker.
"Just exactly what _do_ you think you're doing?" he demandedicily.
"Who do you think you are?"
Don touched a small bronze button in his lapel. "I'm one of the guysthat's supposed to keep order around this place," he said. "We've gotself-government in this school, remember?" He swung about to confrontthe two who still held Waern.
"Now, suppose you turn this guy loose and start explaining yourselves."
Gerry placed a large hand on Don's shoulder, kneading at the musclessuggestively.
"Look, little man," he said patronizingly, "you'll be a lot better offif you just mind your own business. Like watching those lockers overthere so they don't fly away or something. We'll take----"
Michaels swung around slowly, then put knuckles on hips and stared atthe other sternly.
"Take that hand away," he said softly. "Now get over there, and startpicking up those books. Get them nice and neat." His voice rose atrifle.
"Now, I said!" He stabbed a finger out.
The boy before him hesitated, his face contorted with effort. He forceda hand part way up.
Don continued to stare at him.
The other drew a sobbing breath, then turned away and knelt by thescattered books and papers.
Don wheeled to confront the other two.
"Get over by those lockers," he ordered. "Now, let's hear it. What'syour excuse for this row?"
"Aw, you saw it. You saw that little gersal trip Gerry there." The twohad backed away, but now one of them started forward again.
"Come to think of it, you don't look so big to me." He half turned.
"Come on, Walt, let's----"
"Be quiet!" Michaels' gaze speared out at the speaker.
"Now, get over to those lockers. Move!" He swiveled his head to examinethe boy who had picked up the books.
"Put them down there by the locker," he said coldly. "Then get yourselfover there with your pals." He took a pad and pencil from his pocket,then pointed.
"All right. What's your name?"
"Walt ... Walter Kelton."
"Class group?"
"Three oh one." The boy looked worried. "Hey, what you----"
"I'll tell you all about it--later." Don scribbled on the top sheet ofthe pad, then tore it off. He pointed again.
"What's your name?"
"Aw, now, look. We----"
"Your name!"
"Aw ... Gerald Kelton."
"Class group?"
"Aw, same as his. We're brothers."
"What's the number of your class group?"
"Aw ... well, it's three oh one. Like I said----"
"Later! Now you. What's your name and class group?"
"Maurie VanSickle. I'm in three oh one, too."
Don finished writing, then snapped three shots of paper toward thethree.
"All right. Here are your copies of the report slips. You're chargedwith group assault. You'll report at the self-government office beforenoon tomorrow. Know where it is?"
"Yeah. Yeah, we know where it is, all right," grumbled Gerry Kelton. Hepointed at Pete Waern.
"How about him?"
"Never mind about that. Just get your stuff and get to your classes.And you better make it fast. Late bell's about to ring. Now get going."Don turned toward Pete Waern.
"Close your locker, fella, and come over here."
* * * * *
He glanced at the three retreating backs, then turned and went back tohis chair. Pete hesitated an instant, then picked up his books andlocked the door of his locker. Again, he hesitated, and went slowlyover to stand in front of Michaels.
Don looked at him curiously.
"You ever have any trouble with those three before now?"
Pete shook his head. "Not really," he said. "Oh, one of the Keltons ...Gerry ... sneaked off the grounds a few weeks ago. I wrote him up." Hegrinned.
"Pushed on past me when I was on noon guard. I trailed him to his classgroup later and got his name."
Don nodded. "He ever say anything to you about it?"
"No. I've seen him in the halls a few times since then. He alwaysavoided me--up to now."
"I see." Don nodded. "But today, he suddenly went for you--withreinforcements."
Pete grinned wanly. "I guess I'll have to get used to things likethat," he said. "Ever since Uncle Harle was----" He clasped his handstogether, then turned suddenly aside.
For an instant, he stood, head averted, then he ran over to leanagainst a row of lockers, facing away from Michaels.
"Uncle Harle didn't---- Oh, why don't you just leave me alone?"
Don considered him for a moment, then walked over, to place a hand onhis shoulder.
"Hey, hold up a minute, Chum," he said. "I'm not trying to give you abad time. Now suppose you calm down a little. Doesn't do you a bit ofgood to tear yourself apart. You're not responsible for whatever youruncle got into, you know."
Pete faced him, his back braced against the lockers.
"That's what you say here," he said bitterly. "Sure, we've been in thesame classes. You know me, so you try to be decent. But what do youreally think? And how about everyone else? You think they're being allnice and understanding about this?" He snorted.
"Know why I'm not in class now? Got no class to go to. I was in CivicsFour this period. They threw me out. Faculty advisor said I'd do betterin ... in some Shop Study."
Don frowned. "Funny," he said. "You always got good grades. No troublethat way?"
"Of course not." Pete spread his hands. "I----"
A low snicker interrupted the words and Don looked around, to see GerryKelton close by. Behind him were his brother and Maurie. Gerry laughedderisively.
"Go ahead," he commented, "let him talk. You might learn something fromthe little----"
Don motioned impatiently with his head.
"Get going, you three," he said sharply. "You've got less than a minutebefore late bell."
"Sure we have," Gerry told him. "We might even be late to class. Nowwouldn't that be awful? Some jerk wants to write up a bunch of lousyreport slips, make him look good, we're----"
"Move!" Michaels' voice rose sharply. "Don't try that one on me. It'sbeen tried before. Doesn't work."
Gerry paused in mid-stride, then seemed to deflate. He turned away.
"Come on, guys," he said. "Let's get out of here. We'll take care ofthis later."
* * * * *
As the three disappeared down the hall, Don turned ba
ck. Pete wasstaring at him curiously.
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Oh, you know what I mean." Pete shook his head impatiently. "Makepeople do things. There's only one of you and three of them. Andthey're all bigger than you are. Why did they just do what you toldthem without making a lot of trouble?"
Don shrugged, then touched the