"No, I guess not."
"Perhaps it was more because you felt that Walton would be a better man for the place, then?" surmised the coach.
Don agreed eagerly. It was a case of any port in a storm by now and he was glad enough to have the coach find an explanation. "Yes, sir, I guess that was it."
"Well, that was generous of you," said the other approvingly. "But didn't it occur to you that perhaps I would be a better one to decide that matter than you? You've never known me to keep a fellow on the team for sentimental reasons, have you?"
"No, sir."
"Hm. Now when was it—I mean how long before last Saturday was it—that you and Walton talked it over?"
"Sir?" Don looked up startledly. "I—we—there wasn't any talk about it," he stammered.
"Well, what did Walton say?"
Don hesitated, studying Mr. Robey's face in the hope of discovering how much that gentleman knew. Finally: "When do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean the time you and Walton talked about which was the best man for the position," replied the other easily. To himself he reflected that he was following Gus Proctor's advice with a vengeance! But he was by this time pretty certain of his ground.