“Up to me?” Sid had arisen from his seat near the window, and stood in the middle of the room.
“Up to you,” repeated Tom. “You know, as well as I do, that you weren’t guilty when Zane caught you with the liquor. You had that for some one else, and you’re trying to shield him. You never use it—you had no use for it, yet you kept still when they accused you, and didn’t tell. Now it’s time to tell—it’s time to say you were innocent—it’s time to come out and end this mystery. The team needs you! All you’ve got to do is to tell the truth, instead of keeping silent, and you know the faculty will exonerate you. Then the ban will be removed, and you can play. That’s why I say it’s up to you. Isn’t it now? Own up, Sid; did you have that liquor for yourself? If you told the truth about it couldn’t you get back on the team?”
Tom was fairly panting from the force of his appeal. Sid’s face was strangely white, as he turned to look the captain full in the eyes. For a moment he did not reply, and the breathing of the three chums could plainly be heard, for Phil was as much agitated as either of the others.
“Answer me, Sid,” pleaded Tom.
“I can’t answer everything you ask,” spoke Sid, in a low voice. “As I told you before, I gave a promise, and, until I am released from it, I can’t speak—my lips are sealed.”
“But you didn’t have that liquor for yourself,” persisted Tom. “Did you, now?”
“I’m not going to answer that,” and Sid’s hands were gripped on the back of a chair, until his knuckles showed white with the strain.
“Sid Henderson, will you—dare you say that if you told the truth about this miserable business you would not be reinstated and allowed to play?” went on the captain relentlessly. “If you told the whole story, couldn’t you get back on the team?”
“I’m not going to tell,” said Sid slowly.
“Then you don’t want to get back on the team?” fired Tom quickly.