ce that afternoon, he found fellow team members regarding him
with traces of suspicion.
"Coach wants to see you in the Field House," Frank informed. "He says
not to dress."
Mack stiffened with surprise.
"Okay," he replied, face sobering. "Any idea what it's about?"
"How should I know?" rejoined Grinnell's star back, but Mack fancied he
noted an attempt on Frank's part to conceal his real feelings.
"Maybe," Frank added, rather lamely, "he's moving you up as a regular!"
"No chance of that," said Mack, grimly. "See you guys later!"
He turned on his heel and strode out of the locker room. On the way to
the Field House his thoughts ran together crazily. There could only be
one answer to the Coach's request to see him. It must be in connection
with the stolen plays!... Mack's mind raced back to the moment in
Coach Edward's office when he had been detected examining the plays.
He winced. This was probably the meagre clue upon which he was being
drawn into the case ... this and the fact that he was a brother of Carl
Carver's!
Coach Edward was apparently awaiting Mack's arrival. He was in the
company of two strange men when Grinnell's substitute back located him
in one of the conference rooms.
"Meet Mr. Pierce and Mr. Greene," the Coach introduced. "Take a chair
over here."
Mack sat down, feeling the two men looking him over, shrewdly.
"You've been called," explained Coach Edward at once, "in the hopes
that you may help us throw some light on what happened in my office
last night."
"I thought so," answered Mack, eyeing his coach squarely.
"Why did you think so?" demanded the man referred to as Pierce. He was
solidly built, black moustache and heavy eyebrows. Mack took an
instant dislike to his bullying manner.
"The reasons should be obvious," he replied.
"As we understand it," spoke up the man introduced as Greene, "you paid
Coach Edward a visit some days ago--at his office."
"I did," acknowledged Mack.
"At that time," continued Mr. Greene, "you took quite an interest in
some diagrams of plays which your coach had on his desk."
Mack's face flushed. "I did," he admitted.
"What was the big idea?" boomed Pierce. "You knew your coach would
tell you all he wanted you to know about any plays he had. Why take
the first chance you got to look them over?"
Mack turned to Coach Edward who sat back, having left the questioning
to the two strange gentlemen.
"Listen here, Coach! Wh
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