off days," and the way he played
exasperated the coaches and alarmed him. He could not hide from himself
the evident fact that Gillam was outplaying him five days a week. With
the return of Neil, Paul expected to be ousted from the position of left
half, and the question that worried him was whether he would in turn
displace Gillam or be sent back to the second eleven. He was safe,
however, for several days more, for Simson still laughed at Neil's
demand to be put into the line-up, and he was determined that before the
Yale game he would prove himself superior to Gillam.

The following morning, Friday, Mills was seated at the desk in his room
making out a list of players who were to participate in the Robinson
game. According to the agreement between the rival colleges such lists
were required to be exchanged not later than two weeks prior to the
contest. The players had been decided upon the evening before by all the
coaches in assembly, and his task this morning was merely to recopy the
list before him. He had almost completed the work when he heard strange
sounds outside his door. Then followed a knock, and, in obedience to his
request, Sydney Burr pushed open the door and swung himself in on
his crutches.

The boy's face was alight with eagerness, and his eyes sparkled with
excitement; there was even a dash of color in his usually pale cheeks.
Mills jumped up and wheeled forward an easy-chair. But Sydney paid no
heed to it.

"Mr. Mills," he cried exultantly, "I think I've got it!"

"Got what?" asked the coach.

"The play we want," answered Sydney, "the play that'll stop Robinson!"

CHAPTER XV

AND TELLS OF A DREAM

Mills's face lighted up, and he stretched forth an eager hand.

"Good for you, Burr! Let's see it. Hold on, though; sit down here first
and give me those sticks. There we are. Now fire ahead."

"If you don't mind, I'd like to tell you all about it first, before I
show you the diagram," said Sydney, his eyes dancing.

"All right; let's hear it," replied the head coach smiling.

"Well," began Sydney, "it's been a puzzler. After I'd seen the second
playing tackle-back I about gave up hopes of ever finding a--an
antidote."

"'Antidote's' good," commented Mills laughingly.

"I tried all sorts of notions," continued Sydney, "and spoiled whole
reams of paper drawing diagrams. But it was all nonsense. I had the
right idea, though, all the time; I realized that if that tandem was
going to be