t was so thick during the last
half of the contest that he couldn't see the backs. Neil saw the game
from the bench, and Paul, once more at left-half, played an excellent
game; but, try as he might, could not outdo Gillam. When it was over
Neil declared the honors even, but Paul took a less optimistic view and
would not be comforted.

All the evening, save for a short period when he went upstairs to
sympathize with Cowan, he bewailed his fate into Neil's ears. The latter
tried his best to comfort him, and predicted that on Monday Paul would
find himself in Gillam's place. But he scarcely believed it himself, and
so his prophecies were not convincing.

"What's the good of being decent?" asked Paul dolefully. "I wish I'd
gone to Robinson."

"No, you don't," said Neil. "You'd rather sit on the side-line at
Erskine than play with a lot of hired sluggers."

"Much you know about it," Paul growled. "If I don't get into the
Robinson game I'll--I'll leave college."

"But what good would that do?" asked Neil.

"I'd go somewhere where I'd stand a show. I'd go to Robinson or one of
the smaller places."

"I don't think you'd do anything as idiotic as that," answered Neil.
"It'll be hard luck if you miss the big game, but you've got three more
years yet. What's one? You're certain to stand the best kind of a show
next year."

"I don't see how. Gillam doesn't graduate until 1903."

"But you can beat him out for the place next year. All you need is more
experience. Gillam's been at it two years here. Besides, it would be
silly to leave a good college just because you couldn't play on the
football team. Don't be like Cowan and think football's the only thing a
chap comes here for."

"They've used him pretty shabbily," said Paul.

"That's what Cowan thinks. I don't see how they could do anything else."

"He's awfully cut up. I'm downright sorry for him. He says he's going to
pack up and leave."

"And he's been trying to make you do the same, eh?" asked Neil. "Well,
you tell him I'm very well satisfied with Erskine and haven't the least
desire to change."

"You?" asked Paul.

"Certainly. We hang together, don't we?"

Paul grinned.

"You're a good chap, chum," he said gratefully. "But--" relapsing again
into gloom--"you're not losing your place on the team, and you don't
know how it feels. When a fellow's set his heart on it--"

"I think I do know," answered Neil. "I know how I felt when my shoulder
went wrong and