"Because Fred told me, after he elected Bart captain. I'll also tell you it almost broke his heart to give up the team, meaning the loss of the captaincy of the School Team next year, as it does, for he could have been captain of the Second, if he desired."
"Poor old Cotton-Top! And here we, his best friends, have only been making things harder for him," murmured Buttons contritely.
"Glad you're waking up to yourselves," returned Sandow. "I've been so busy with the team I didn't know, until Sallie told me this noon, quite how bad things were. When I did learn, I wanted to take you both by the necks and knock your heads together."
"Instead of which, you accept an invitation to meet us peacefully—for which we thank you," interposed Soda.
"Now, don't try to get funny. This is no joking matter, and I never was more in earnest in my life. Fred is so sensitive that a little more of the treatment you Seconds have been handing him, and he'll be down sick. Then he'll surely lose the scholarship—to say nothing of the expense."
"Well, since you're so wise, what do you want us to do?" snapped Soda, whose very petulance showed that the straight-from-the-shoulder talk of the school leader had produced the intended effect.
"Make him forget himself, of course."
"How?"
"Ask him to go to the campus to give Buttons points on playing left half."
"But he wouldn't come."