"Because he's getting worse and worse in science every recitation. Honestly, it's painful to hear him stumble through the lessons. He's queering his chance for the scholarship every day."
"Well, what do you propose to do about it?" demanded Soda, after a silence of several minutes.
"If I knew, do you suppose I'd ask you?" snapped Buttons. "It's so we could talk things over, I got you and Sandow to come over."
"Then suppose you give me a chance to speak," suggested the leader of the First Form.
"Fire away," exclaimed the Seconds, in unison.
"There are several things, I reckon, that are the cause of Cotton-Top's actions. In the first place, he's worried about money; in the second, he feels all broken up over not being able to play on the team, and the remarks you Seconds made when he told you—like a man—why he couldn't play, cut him way down deep."
"But it is a low-down trick to throw the team the only time we have a chance against Landon," grumbled Soda. "I——"
"Careful there, what you say," cautioned Sandow, interrupting. "If one of you fellows who are talking traitor had half the pluck Fred Markham has, you'd be more decent. For your own special benefit, I'll tell you something—but understand, it's not to go any further. Fred's father asked him to try for the scholarship so his mother could have the money."
In shamed amazement, the Seconds heard this statement.
"How do you know?" finally blurted Soda.