Perhaps it's just a way he has.

Maybe every poor devil in the room is feeling just as I do.

Whoever got up these questions must have lain awake of nights trying to see how hard he could make them.

I reckon the chances are about two to one that I'll flunk." In an interval when Barton's attention was turned in another direction, Morton Agnew crumpled a piece of paper, and, with a deft toss, which he made sure was not seen by any one, he threw it beneath Badger's desk.
Badger did not know it was there, but the keen eyes of Barton saw it as soon as they were again turned in that direction.
Now, Barton was really not watching Buck Badger, but he was watching Morton Agnew.

Slips of the printed questions had been stolen by some member of the sophomore class the day previous, and Agnew was suspected of the theft.