asing prospect, but things might have been worse. And the end
paid for all. Robinson had departed with trailing banners; the coaches
and the whole college were happy; Paul was happy; Sydney was happy; he
was happy himself. Certainly the bally shoulder--ouch!--hurt at times;
but, then one can't have everything one wants. His meditations were
interrupted by voices and footsteps outside the front door. He bolted
the last morsel of bread and awaited the callers.

These proved to be Paul and Sydney and--Neil stared--Tom Cowan.

"Rah-rah-rah!" shouted Paul, slamming the door. "How are they coming,
chum? Here's Burr and Cowan to make polite injuries after your
inquiries--I mean inquiries--well, you know what I mean. Tom's been
saying all sorts of nice things about your playing, and I think he'd
like to shake hands with the foot that kicked that goal."

Neil laughed and put out his hand. Cowan, grinning, took it.

"It was fine, Fletcher," he said with genuine enthusiasm. "And, some
way, I knew when I saw you drop back that you were going to put it over.
I'd have bet a hundred dollars on it!"

"Thunder, you were more confident than I was!" Neil laughed. "I wouldn't
have bet more than thirty cents. Well, Board of Strategy, how did you
like the game?"

Sydney shook his head gravely.

"I wouldn't care to go through it again," he answered. "I had all kinds
of heart disease before the first half was over, and after that I was
in a sort of daze; didn't know really whether it was football or
Friday-night lectures."

"You ought to have been at table to-night, chum," said Paul. "We made
Rome howl. Mills made a speech, and so did Jones and 'Baldy,' and--oh,
every one. It was fine!"

"And they cheered a fellow named Fletcher for nearly five minutes,"
added Sydney. "And--"

"Hear 'em!" Cowan interrupted. From the direction of the yard came a
long volley of cheers for Erskine. Dinner was over and the fellows were
ready for the celebration; they were warming up.

"Great times to-night," said Paul happily. "I wish you were going out to
the field with us, Neil."

"Maybe I will."

"If you try it I'll strap you down," replied Paul indignantly. "By the
way, Mills told me to announce his coming. He's terribly tickled, is
Mills, although he doesn't say very much."

"He's still wondering how you went stale before the game and then played
the way you did," said Sydney. "However, I didn't say anything." He
caught himself up and glance