t ask that he be
suspended from the team until this matter is solved."

"Please," begged Coach Edward, as Mack looked his concern. "Not that.
It will mean unfavorable publicity--ill feeling between the two
schools."

"We can't help that," said Detective Pierce, bluntly. "You've reported
that your office has been entered. We've been assigned to the case.
You've told us everything you knew about events leading up to last
night and it's our job to run the clues down. Greene and I feel that
this young man should be held as a material witness. Naturally it
won't look right for you to keep a man on the team who's under
suspicion."

"I quite agree with you there."

"Then suspend him at once."

"I dislike doing this very much."

"You haven't any choice, Mr. Edward."

"But I don't feel you've lined up sufficient evidence to warrant such
action. I'll confess thinking first of Mack when I discovered what had
been done ... but it was only because of certain incidents. Listening
to this cross-examination today, I'm not convinced that he is any way
connected. Rather, I believe that the circumstances surrounding him
have been unfortunate. I'd much prefer to drop the whole matter
than..."

"You can't drop it!" bellowed Detective Pierce. "It's in the papers.
We're not going to have it said that we were hushed up. Whoever broke
into your office must have been working for Pomeroy because the plays
and signals wouldn't have done anyone else any good. When this young
man decides to talk we'll find out something. You wait and see."

Mack Carver laughed, grimly. The situation, serious as it was, now
struck him funny. Two small town detectives with an inflated sense of
their own importance. Coach Edward, because of his desire to win the
Pomeroy game had magnified the happening until it had developed beyond
his control. There was going to be some fireworks now despite anything
that he could do.

"It's all right, Coach," said Mack, sympathetically. "Go ahead and
suspend me. You probably wouldn't have played me anyway--so it's no
loss to the team. Besides--these men can't prove anything on me if
they spend the rest of their lives."

"Mack," addressed Coach Edward, with obvious sincerity. "I hope you'll
believe me when I say that I'm deeply sorry this thing has occurred.
You've made your mistakes in judgment ... and I've made mine. I've a
feeling now that you're being done an injustice but there's little I
can