“At the top,” answered Harry with a laugh. “I mean the colleges. You see, we school fellows take our cues from the colleges. And when they hire athletes we think we can do the same thing.”
“But do they—here in the East? I thought——”
“Yes, they do; that is, lots of ’em do. It’s usually done on the sly, but we knew of it. Why, thunderation! don’t they come here every year to get our best men and offer ’em all sorts of easy snaps if they’ll go with ’em to—well, any of the colleges, pretty near! What’s Perkins doing at —— this year? Steward of an eating club with a salary that’s big enough to pay all his expenses and let him run an automobile! And Perkins’s dad is a carpenter over in Whitby; never saw a fifty-dollar bill in his life, I’ll bet! It isn’t right, as you say, Dana, but—what can you do?”
“I don’t know yet,” answered Hansel, “but I can do something. And if you won’t help——”
“Oh, I haven’t said that,” replied Harry easily. “You find your method, you know, and maybe I’ll take a hand. Only,” with a meaning laugh, “don’t get too near home, Dana.”
“How do you mean?”
“Well, I’m manager of the team this year and I want to win. So don’t meddle with any of my men; see?”
“Yes,” answered Hansel thoughtfully, “I see. Only—I may have to.”
Harry laughed good-naturedly and clapped him on the shoulder.