“Was I the only one who didn’t come?” asked the fellow, with a leer.
The grim expression of Roger’s face did not change in the least. “I’m talking to you about what you did, and not speaking of the acts of any one else. I shall say what I have to say directly to them, as I do to you.”
“Well, what are you going to do about it if I don’t come out?” was Hunk’s insolent question.
“I’ll tell you what I’m going to do, Rollins, and you’d better pay close attention. You’re not such a valuable man to the team that any one would think of chasing you up and coaxing you. Your place can be filled, and it will be filled if you play any more such tricks.”
“Oh, perhaps you can fill the places of some other fellers.”
“Perhaps so; but, as I just remarked, I’m telling you what will happen in your individual case. If you want to play on the academy eleven, you’ll come out for practice regularly, or you’ll give a good and sufficient excuse in case you can’t appear—and give it in advance, too. If you’re not at the field to-morrow afternoon when practice begins you’ll be dropped for good.”
“Say, you’re a regular autocrat, ain’t ye? You’re going to try to run things your way with an iron hand, ain’t ye? Mebbe you’ll find out——”
“That’s enough. You’ve heard all I have to say. Think it over. If you don’t come out to-morrow night it won’t be any great loss to the team.” With which Eliot left Rollins there on the steps, muttering and growling beneath his breath.
At the very next corner Roger saw a fellow who had been coming toward him cross over suddenly to the opposite side of the street, which was darker. He recognized the figure and movements of Fred Sage, the quarter back, who had likewise absented himself without excuse or explanation of any sort.
“Sage,” he called sharply, “I’m looking for you.”