“What of that? That business was done before ten, Tubby. How can you tell what I did during the evening? You were over with Hiltz, weren’t you?”
Tubby nodded.
“You’re a fool, just the same,” he muttered. “And—and I wish you wouldn’t, Dan!”
“Oh, nonsense, Tubby, I’m not hurt. It’s only probation, anyway.” Dan was surprised at Tubby’s solicitude and spoke very kindly. Tubby looked troubled for a moment, tried to say something, swallowed hard a couple of times and hurried out of the room. Dan gazed after him and gave expression to his surprise in a low whistle.
“To think of his caring!” he murmured. Then his face grew thoughtful and for several minutes he stared at the closed door. Finally he nodded his head several times, as one who has reached a decision, and,
“That’s just it!” he muttered.
The popular verdict was rather favorable to Dan. Of course, the fellows argued, Vinton had done it merely as a joke on Loring. Everyone knew that they were good friends. Afterwards he had been scared and so had kept quiet. That he had finally confessed and relieved Loring and Dyer from probation and placed them once more in a position to play against Broadwood was generally conceded to be sufficient amends. Of course, he might have owned up sooner, but then, hang it all, lots of fellows would have done the same thing as like as not! The members of the team were so glad to get Loring back that, had anyone suggested it, they would gladly have presented Dan with a loving-cup!
Loring’s own feelings were baffling even to himself. He had liked Dan and had believed that Dan liked him. He knew that he ought to be terribly angry for what the other had done, but somehow, what with his liking and his delight at being able to play against Broadwood, he couldn’t find anything but sympathy for Dan. He would have gone to see him and tried to tell him this had it been possible. But after dinner Payson took him in hand, regularly kidnapped him, and he wasn’t seen again until nine o’clock that night, at which hour the football players were sent to bed. Loring didn’t forget that day for a long, long time. Payson, in seven hours, drummed into him what the rest of the team had taken four afternoons and four evenings to learn. But he slept that night, slept like a log, and awoke on Saturday morning ready for anything, ready to play the game of his life against Broadwood!