Wilkinson read the column and was incensed. He sent off a scathing letter to Chase, enclosing a key and explaining that it was the key to his office and when Chase was ready to replace him, he need only use the key. Chase, in turn, was irritated. He went over to the campus wood shop and had a large wooden key made, which he painted gold, placed in a box and sent to Wilkinson, explaining that it was the key to his office and asking Wilkinson to send it back to him by return mail.