“And you know nothing more of this than you’ve told us, Burtis?”
“I really don’t. I’m awfully sorry I made that diagram, but—he said——”
“This other fellow?”
“Yes, sir. He said he wanted to work out a better system, and asked me to explain the one we were using then. That was all there was to it, Mr. Payson.”
Payson frowned. “I’m very much inclined to believe you, Burtis,” he said kindly, “but you must see that until this matter is cleared up you can’t—er—very well accept the captaincy. If I were you I’d see that other fellow right away and get him to tell what he knows, Burtis.”
“Yes, sir. And—and am I to—to tell them that I can’t be captain, sir?”
“No, that isn’t necessary. I think—Hello, Davis! Want to see me?”
“Why, yes, I guess so, Mr. Payson. Are you talking about that business of the signals? Because if you are I can clear that up in a jiffy.”
“Well, for goodness sake, do it!” ejaculated Payson. “What do you know?”
“I know the whole story,” replied Perky importantly. “Here’s how it was. Cotton got Burtis to make that diagram for him. Then he sneaked into the gym that night we were having signal drill—I told you I saw someone, but you wouldn’t believe me!—and got the signals. Maybe he was there another time, but he doesn’t own to it.”