atter. He's got professional written all over
his face."

"But he played last year," said Paul. "Why didn't they protest him
then?"

"I'll pass again," answered Foster. "Maybe they hadn't discovered
it--whatever it is--then; maybe--"

"Listen!" said Neil.

Some one stamped up the steps and entered the front door. Foster looked
questioningly at Neil.

"Cowan?" he whispered. Neil nodded.

Foster sprang to the study door and threw it open. The light from the
room fell on the white and angry countenance of the right-guard.

"Cowan," said Foster, "for heaven's sake, man, tell us about it! Is it
all right?"

But Tom Cowan only glared as he passed on up the stairs.

CHAPTER XVII

A PLAN AND A CONFESSION

Robinson's protest set forth succinctly that Cowan had, three years
previous, played left tackle on the football team of a certain
academy--whose right to the title of academy was often questioned--and
had received money for his services. Dates and other particulars were
liberally supplied, and the name and address of the captain of the team
were given. Altogether, the letter was discouragingly convincing, and
neither the coaches, the captain, nor the athletic officers really
doubted the truth of the charge.

Professor Nast, the chairman of the Athletic Committee, blinked gravely
through his glasses and looked about the room.

"You've sent for Mr. Cowan?" he asked.

"Yes," Mills answered; "he ought to be here in a minute. How in the
world was he allowed to get on to the team?"

"Well, his record was gone over, as we believed, very thoroughly year
before last," said Professor Nast; "and we found nothing against him. I
think--ah--it seems probable that he unintentionally misled us. Perhaps
he can--ah--explain."

When, however, Cowan faced the group of grave-faced men it was soon
evident that explanations were far from his thoughts. He had heard
enough before the summons reached him to enable him to surmise what
awaited him, and when Professor Nast explained their purpose in calling
him before them, Cowan only displayed what purported to be honest
indignation. He stormed violently against the Robinson authorities and
defied them to prove their charge. Mills listened a while impatiently
and then interrupted him abruptly.

"Do you deny the charge, Cowan, or don't you?" he asked.

"I refuse to reply to it," answered Cowan angrily. "Let them think what
they want to; I'm not responsible to them. It's all r