after the
game's in the bag to hold 'em for dear old Grinnell. There's no kick
in that."

"But somebody has to do it," returned Frank, regarding Mack, curiously.
"I did that the last two years before they put me to work as a regular."

"Yes, but this is my _third_ year," rejoined Mack. "At that rate, if
I'm any good, I ought to be out there with you, too."

"You're playing in hard luck," Frank replied, pulling on his sweater.
"Grinnell has the best material she's ever had and the regulars are so
good that even good substitutes don't have the chance they might have."
He made a little bow, winking mischievously. "Of course, I'm excluding
myself. I'm rotten!"

Mack forced a grin. This whole situation was too serious to him to be
taken lightly. "Yes," he retorted. "I'd probably be a regular if I
was as rotten as you are!"

"Cheer up!" chuckled Frank, slapping Mack on the back. "Maybe some
day--you _will_ be!"

"I won't unless Coach gives me a better break," said Mack, a bit
bitterly. "I've played in enough games to get my letter but it hasn't
meant anything ... an average of five minutes a game. Even at
that--don't you think I'm as good a back as Dave Morgan?"

Mack bit his lips as he asked the question. It was perhaps unfair to
so embarrass Frank but Grinnell's substitute back was tempted to "fish"
for compliments as a defensive gesture against Coach Edward's analysis
of his ability. Should Frank agree that there was very little
difference, in his opinion, between Dave and himself, Mack felt that
this alone might prove the Coach to be biased.

"You--as good a back as Dave?" repeated Frank, cagily. "Well, I'd be a
hard one to answer that. Dave happens to team together with me just
about perfectly. He's cleared the way for most of my long runs, as you
know."

"Probably I could have done that, too," Mack argued. "But I've never
been put in the game when you were in. I've gone in with the second
string backfield. We don't have an open field runner in that crowd who
can get away like you can."

"Thank heaven for that!" grinned Frank. "Say--you've asked _me_ a
question. Now let me ask _you_ one. Since your brother is coach of
Pomeroy you ought to know something about our chances for beating them
this year. What do you think? Are we going to break the jinx?"

Mack hesitated. Frank, who had raised his voice to command the
attention of fellow teammates, was enjoying Mack's discomfiture.

"Th