related the events leading up to
the present moment.

"So Coach Edward is after my job?" mused Carl. "That's what happens
after you've had a winning team for a couple years. A few reverses and
the proud alumni commence hollering 'get the axe'! Everybody loves a
winner and they don't stop to figure there's got to be a loser to every
winner. Now that Grinnell's piled up a great record this year, we're
supposed to bump you off. If we do, despite the fact we've had no
season to shout about ourselves, the alumni will consider our year
crowned with success."

"You think you're going to beat us?" grinned Mack.

"Yes--with you suspended!" kidded Carl.

"Cut it!" Mack winced. "I'll prove to you yet that I can play
football!"

"Go to it!" invited Carl. "I admire your stick-to-it-iveness! Three
years and just a substitute indicates a bear for punishment."

"Being related to you is my biggest handicap," was Mack's rejoinder.
"It cost me better consideration before and it's costing me my chances
now."

"Tough luck!" sympathized Carl. "But if your coach gets my job next
year, you'll have a clear field!"

"I hope he doesn't!"

"Meaning you hope we win?"

Mack's face colored. "No--but I hope you keep your job win or lose."

"Listen, kid!" and Carl looked cautiously toward the door, "we've been
slowed up due to injuries and illness this year in addition to poor
material. But right now my eleven's at its peak for the first time and
we're set to give Grinnell a whale of a battle tomorrow. So--if your
team wins, your coach will be deserving of something!"

A rap sounded on the door.

"There he is now!"

Carl strode over and flung the door open.

"Edward, how are you?"

"Fine, Carver. And you?"

"Okay!... I've asked my kid brother to sit in."

"Oh! ... Hello, Mack!"

"Hello, Coach."

"Sit down, Edward."

"Thanks."

"I haven't said anything to Mack about this but maybe I can throw a
little light on this stolen play business."

"Yes?"

"On Wednesday night, this week, I received a mysterious note, signed by
a Mister "X" who proposed to sell me your signals and plays. I was
advised to leave one hundred dollars under a log in a vacant field..."

Coach Edward leaned forward, highly interested. Mack whistled,
impulsively.

"What did you do?"

"I left the hundred," related Coach Carver, "but I marked the bills.
The next morning I found the bills gone and, in their place, this
sealed envelope