“Now, what do you take us for?” protested Tom indignantly “Don’t we understand well enough that you’re both trying to keep it close secret?”

As the young men turned into Main Street the merry laughter of a group of girls came to their ears.

Four of the High School girls of the senior class had stopped to chat for a moment.

Laura Bentley and Belle Meade were there, and both turned quickly to note Dick and Dave.  The other girls in the group were Faith Kendall and Jessie Vance.

“Here comes the captain who is going to spoil all of Gridley a chances this year,” laughed Miss Vance.

“Hush, Jess,” reproved Belle, while Laura looked much annoyed.

I see you have a wholly just appreciation of my merits, Miss Jessie,” smiled Dick, as the boys raised their hats.

“Oh, what I said is nothing but the silly talk of him Dra-----”
began Jessie lightly, but stopped when she again found herself
under the reproving glances of Laura and Belle.

Dick glanced at one of the girls in turn, his glance beginning to show curiosity.

Laura bit her lip; Belle locked highly indignant.

Prescott opened his month as though to ask a question, them closed his lips.

“I guess you might as well tell them, Laura,” hinted Faith Kendall.

“Oh, nonsense.” retorted Miss Bentley, flushing.  “It’s nothing at all, especially coming from such a source.”

“Then some one has been giving me the roasting that I plainly deserve?” laughed Captain Prescott.

“It’s all foolish talk, and I’m sorry the girls couldn’t hold their tongues,” cried Laura impatiently.

“Then I won’t ask you what it was,” suggested Dick, “since you don’t like to tell me voluntarily.”

“You might as well, Laura,” urged Faith.

“It’s that Phin-----” began Jessie.

“Do be quiet, Jess,” urged Belle.

“Why,” explained Laura Bentley, “Phin Drayne just passed us, and
stopped to chat when Jessie spoke to him-----”

“I didn’t,” objected Miss Vance indignantly.  “I only said good afternoon, and—–­”

“I asked Drayne if he had been out to the field for practice,” continued Laura.  “He grunted, and said he’d been out to see how badly things were going.”

“Then, of course, Laura flared up and asked what he meant by such talk,” broke in the irrepressible Jessie.  “Then—–­ouch!”

For Belle had slyly pinched the talkative one’s arm.

“Mr. Drayne had a great string to offer us,” resumed Laura.  “He said football affairs had never been in as bad shape before, and he predicted that the team would go to pieces in all the strong games this year.”

“We have a rule of unswerving loyalty in the history of our eleven,” said Prescott, smiling, though a grim light lurked in his eyes.  “I guess Phin was merely practicing some of that loyalty.”

“None of us care what Drayne thinks, anyway,” broke in Dave Darrin contemptuously.  “He wants to play as a regular, and he’s slated only as a possible sub.  So I suppose he simply can’t see how the eleven is to win without him.  But, making allowances for human nature, I don’t believe we need to roast him for his grouch.”