“What makes you think that?” asked Neil.
“Why, if he wants me, why doesn’t he—” Stuart stopped.
“Say so?” supplied the other. “Maybe he thinks it wouldn’t do any good.”
“Well, I guess it wouldn’t,” muttered Stuart.
“After all, if the team needs you, and it certainly does, what Mr. Haynes says or doesn’t say hasn’t got much to do with it, I guess. It’s the team you’d be helping and not the coach, Stuart.”
“I wouldn’t be much use there if Haynes didn’t want me, though. And I guess he’s pretty well satisfied with things as they are.”
“I don’t see how he can be after yesterday’s slaughter,” replied Neil. “But I’m glad you’ve explained.”
“Explained what?” asked Stuart suspiciously.
“Why you don’t go back,” answered the other. “I didn’t want to think that it was just your pride that was keeping you from doing your duty. If it’s because Mr. Haynes doesn’t want you, that’s different. I can understand that, of course. No one wants to go where he’s not wanted.”