d doubtfully toward Cowan. "I don't know
whether it's a secret?" He appealed to Neil, who was frowning across
at him.

"What's a secret?" demanded Paul.

"Don't mind me," said Cowan. "It may be a secret, but I guessed it long
ago, didn't I, Paul?"

"What in thunder are you all talking about?" asked that youth, staring
inquiringly from one to another. Sydney saw that he had touched on
forbidden ground and now looked elaborately ignorant.

"Oh, nothing, Paul," answered Neil. "When are you all going out to the
field?"

"But there is something," his chum protested warmly. "Now out with it.
What is it, Cowan? What did you guess?"

"Why, about Fletcher going stale so that you could get into the game,"
answered Cowan, apparently ignorant of Neil's wrathful grimaces. "I
guessed right away. Why--"

"Oh, shut up, won't you?" Neil entreated. "Don't mind them, Paul;
they're crazy. Sydney, you're an ass, if you only knew it."

"But I thought he knew--" began Sydney.

"No, I didn't know," said Paul, quietly, his eyes on Neil's averted
face. "I--I must have been blind. It's plain enough now, of course. If I
had known I wouldn't have taken the place."

"You're all a set of idiots," muttered Neil.

"I'm sorry I said anything," said Sydney, genuinely distressed.

"I'm glad," said Paul. "I'm such a selfish brute that I can't see half
an inch before my nose. Chum, all I've got to say--"

"Shut up," cried Neil. "Listen, fellows, they're marching across the
common. Some one help me to the window. I want to see."

Paul strode to his side, and putting an arm under his shoulders lifted
him to his feet. Sydney lowered the gas and the four crowded to the
window. Across the common, a long dark column in the starlight, tramped
all Erskine, and at the head marched the band.

"Gee, what a crowd!" muttered Cowan.

The head of the procession passed through the gate and turned toward the
house, and the band struck up 'Neath the Elms of Old Erskine. Hundreds
of voices joined in and the slow and stately song thundered up toward
the star-sprinkled sky.

Paul's arm was still around his room-mate; its clasp tightened a little.

"Say, chum."

"Well?" muttered Neil.

"Thanks."

"Oh, don't bother me," Neil grumbled. "Let's get out of this; they're
stopping."

Sydney had stolen, as noiselessly as one may on crutches, to the
chandelier, and suddenly the gas flared up, sending a path of light
across the street and revealing the three