"Drayne can be bought off cheaply, can't he?" remarked one of the fellows.
The last speaker did not intend that his voice should reach Drayne, but it did.
"Say, you fellows all have a grouch on, just because I'm playing today!" quivered the victim of the remarks. "Oh, well, never mind I'll cure your grouch, then!"
Seating himself on a locker box, Drayne began to unfasten the lacings of his shoes.
"Here, man! What are you doing?" demanded Captain Wadleigh, bounding forward angrily.
"Curing the grouch of this bunch," retorted Drayne sulkily.
"Man alive, there's no time to fool with your shoes now!" warned the team captain.
"I'm not going to need this pair," Drayne rejoined. "Street shoes will do for me today."
"Not on the gridiron!"
"I'm not going on the field. I've heard enough knocking," grumbled
Drayne.