There followed such an uproar of merriment as I have never seen the like before nor since.  The students, of course, howled with indescribable joy ...  Emma Silverman choked with laughter.  Jack Leitman rolled over the side table on which he had set the books to sell as the crowd passed out—­

After the deafening cries, cat-calls and uproars, Emma grew serious.

“I don’t know who you are,” she cried to Professor Wilton, “but I’ll take chances in telling you that you’re a liar!”

Again Wilton was on his feet in angry protest.

“Shame on you, woman! have you no shame!” he shouted.

This sally brought the house down utterly.  The boys hooted and cat-called and stamped again....

Emma Silverman laughed till the tears streamed down her face....

* * * * *

During the four days she remained in Laurel her lectures were crowded.

* * * * *

Walking up the hill one day, I overtook Professor Wilton, under whom I had studied botany, and whom I liked, knowing he was sincere and had spoken the incredible though absolute truth.

“That woman, that anarchist friend of yours, Gregory, is a coarse woman!”

I rose to Emma’s defence ... but he kept repeating ... “no, no ... she is nothing but a coarse, depraved woman.”

* * * * *

At my instigation, the Sig-Kaps gave an afternoon tea for her.  And I was proud to act as her introducer.  The boys liked her.  She was like a good gale of wind to the minds and souls of us.

* * * * *

I saw Emma and Jack off at the train.  I carried two of her grips for her.

“Take Johnnie with you!” jovially shouted some of the boys—­a motor car full of them—­Phi Alphs—­as we stepped to the station platform....

She answered them with a jolly laugh, a wave of the hand....

“No, I’ll leave him here ... you need a few like him with you!”

* * * * *

“I have something on my conscience,” remarked Miss Silverman to me, “Johnnie, do you really think that old professor was speaking the truth?”

“I’m sure of it, Miss Silverman.”

“Why, then, I’m heartily sorry ... and it was rough of me ... and will you tell the professor for me that I sincerely apologise for having hurt his feelings ... tell him I have so many jackasses attending my lectures all over the country, who rise and say foolish and insincere things, just to stand in well with the communities they live in—­that sometimes it angers me, their hypocrisy—­and then I blaze forth pretty strong and lay them flat!”

* * * * *

Professor Wilton was a Phi Alph.  From that time he was spoken of as “the only Phi Alph Virgin.”

* * * * *

The periods when I had rested secure in the knowledge of where my next meal was coming from, had been few.  Life had pressed me close to its ragged edge ever since I could remember.