“What’s Haynes got to do with choosing a captain?” asked Jack.
“Why, isn’t he going to?” asked the other innocently. “Who is, then?”
“The players, of course,” answered Jack. “There’s a meeting called for to-morrow night. It’ll probably be Howdy Tasker.”
“What’s the matter with you getting it?” asked Stuart.
“Me? Gosh, I couldn’t captain the team!”
Two days later, Stuart heard the result of the meeting. “Nobody would accept,” said Jack gloomily. “We had Howdy nominated and he refused point-blank. Then we tried to elect Joe Cutts and then Billy Littlefield, and they lay down on us. So——”
“Weren’t you nominated?” asked Stuart.
Jack nodded. “Yes, but I wouldn’t make any kind of a captain. Well, it ended up with no election. Now, they say, the Ath. Fac. will appoint some one. No one seems to want it, though.”
“You were a chump not to accept, Jack. Why didn’t you?”
Jack looked uncomfortable. “I told you, didn’t I?” he growled. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to take it when—after you——”