“No, don’t!” urged Phil, quickly.
“Why not?”
“Because I think this thing is a joke on us, and the more fuss we make over it the more they’ll laugh at us. Bascome, or some of that crowd, have had their fingers in this pie, and it’s up to us to find out how they did it, and what became of our things. Now, let’s work around quietly, get the evidence we need, get back the things if possible, and have the ha-ha on them.”
“Good idea,” commented Sid.
“I believe you are right,” agreed Tom, after thinking the matter over. “We’ll keep quiet about it. Now let’s get through with our boning, and go to the football meeting. They’ll expect us, and, really, it’s a serious matter. Randall has got to wake up considerably if she wants the championship this year.”
The meeting was held in the gymnasium, and was pretty well under way when our three friends arrived. Ed Kerr was not present, as he had to get ready for his trip to Europe, but Bricktop was on hand, and it required all his Irish wit to stand off the many appeals that were made to him not to desert in the face of trouble.
There were tears in the eyes of the big left guard as he announced that his decision was final, and that he must leave for Columbia in two weeks.
“I’d like to stay and play in the first big game against Newkirk College,” Bricktop said brokenly, “but it’s impossible, me lads.”
“Then we’d better get busy and consider how we’re going to make up the team,” declared Dan Woodhouse, and when the captain thus gave up hope of keeping Bricktop, his fellow players did likewise.
“Yes,” said Mr. Lighton, the coach, “we have none too much time to get at our team work in view of the changes. Now, Woodhouse, we’ll hear what you have to say.”