ed
Sam cordially, and as he was the quarterback of the team there were
internal dissensions, and such ragged playing, in consequence, that
Elmwood lost many games she should have won.

"Say, this is getting fierce!" cried the coach after a disastrous
gridiron battle. "What's to be done? We're in bad shape back of the
line."

"Maybe we ought to put Tom back."

"We ought to, and yet I'm afraid if we do it will cause more trouble.
But I've a notion to," and they discussed the matter in all its phases.

Meanwhile Tom went on seeking clews, wandering off by himself, lonely
at times, but never giving up.

"I'll clear my name yet!" he said to himself, fiercely.

CHAPTER XVII

THE EMPTY BOTTLE

"Great Caesar's grandmother, Jack, why didn't you think of that before?"

"I don't know, Bert. It just seemed to come to me as I sat here
thinking about it."

"Well, it's a good thing you think once in a while."

"Why don't you help out then, if you think I don't do enough of it?"
asked Jack rather snappily.

"Oh, come now," went on Bert. "I was only joking. I sure am glad you
thought of it. It's a wonder some of us didn't fall to that idea
before this. We'll tell Tom, as soon as he comes in, and I'll wager
that if we go about it right we can clear this thing up in a day or so."

"I'm sure I hope so," assented Jack. "It's getting on my nerves as
well as on Tom's."

"Yes, and I guess every fellow in college will be glad to know the
truth of it. Why, the team's going to pieces just on account of this
miserable horse-poisoning case, and the burning of a little hay."

"Still, it did look black for Tom, especially when he had that quarrel
with Appleby over the trampled corn, and made some remarks about
getting even because he had to pay for it."

"Yes, that was where Tom made a mistake. I guess he's ready to admit
that himself," and Bert paced the room. "I wish he'd come, so we could
tell him," he added. "Do you know where he is?"

"No, except that he said he was going off alone to take a walk, as he's
done several times of late. I offered to go along, but he said he
wanted to be by himself, so I didn't urge it."

"Off getting clews, I expect."

"Yes," assented Jack.

The two chums sat silent in the room, waiting for the lad whom they
both loved even better than a brother. The past days had been trying
on all of them--on every one in Elmwood Hall--from the most lordly
Senior, or calm post-graduat