Sufficient to say that, reckoning in some forfeited contests, and computing the standings on the basis of games won and lost, it developed that if Boxer Hall beat Fairview it would make a tie for first place between Boxer and Randall, and all would then depend on the final contest between those two latter teams.
Therefore it was with no small jubilation that the news was received, a week later, that Boxer had downed Fairview.
“Now for our chance to win!” cried Tom, brightening up a little. “All we have to do is to wallop Boxer, and the loving cup is ours. But Oh, Phil! if we only had Sid!”
“That’s right. Have you noticed how queer he’s been acting of late?”
“Oh, it’s the same old story. I’m done now. I made my last appeal. By the way, I didn’t hear what happened the time he was last caught by Zane. What was the verdict?”
“It hasn’t been announced yet. Faculty held a meeting but deferred action. It means expulsion, of course. Poor old Sid!”
“Well, he brought it on himself.”
“How do you know?” asked Phil sharply. “Maybe there’s something we don’t understand.”
“And we never will,” added Tom bitterly. “I consider that Sid has done as much as any one to defeat the team if we lose the last game.”
“Oh, don’t think that. How’s your hand?”