look of dismay that Herbert
was both puzzled and amused.

"To see you now," observed the city youth, "any one might fancy you a
bank cashier who had speculated disastrously with the funds of the
institution. Four dollars and sixty-five cents--that was the amount of
your loss; and you look as if you had dropped a thousand."

"I want to tell you something," said Hooker suddenly; but again he
stopped short and seemed to find it impossible to proceed.

"I'm listening," encouraged Rackliff. "Let it come. Great Scott! I'd
like to have a cigarette."

But Roy, after remaining silent a few moments longer, slowly shook his
head. "I won't tell you," he muttered; "I can't. But look here, Rack,
you've got to get that money for me as soon as you can. I need it--if
you only knew how I need it!"

"I'll drop my old pater a line to-night, informing him that I'm
financially ruined. Gee! that makes me think of that little runt,
Cooper! He certainly irritated me some by his insolent yapping."

"You came pretty near getting into trouble trying to coach Barville.
You certainly had your nerve with you. I'd never had the crust to try
that."

Herbert frowned. "It would have been all right, only for that big
stiff, Bunk Lander. He threatened to punch me up, and I knew he was
just the sort of a brainless fellow to do it. Only for his
interference, Barville would have taken the game, and we'd be on Easy
Street to-night."

"Eh?" exclaimed Roy, puzzled again. "I don't think I quite get you. I
don't see how Lander's interference with you had anything to do with
the result of the game."

The city youth coughed and shrugged his shoulders, a singularly crafty
smile playing over his face.

"Of course, you don't see," he nodded. "I'll admit that I was somewhat
too hasty. I should have waited a while longer before I attempted to
put in my oar. That was where _I_ blundered; but I didn't quite reckon
on Lander."

"You've got me guessing. I wish you'd explain."

"I will. Did you think I took that journey to Barville on your old
motorcycle merely for recreation?"

"Not exactly; I had an idea you went over there to talk with Copley and
Roberts for the purpose of finding out how strong the Barville nine
really was."

"Well, that was a part of the reason, but not the whole of it. I had
something else on my mind. In case I became satisfied that the two
teams were pretty evenly matched, I had a little plan through which I
fe