"A very interesting state of affairs. I don't like to say anything against the crowd, fellows, but, honestly, it seems to me that Tom Clifton is about the limit."
"Oh, you knocker!" snickered Benny Wilkins.
"A conceited specimen, if there ever was one," asserted "Crackers," nodding emphatically. "Have you heard the latest?"
"Wait till I get out my note-book," said Benny. "Let's see—five ten P. M. A revelation by 'Crackers' Brown——"
"He's talking about the dieting racket for athletes. By Jove, he had a crowd lined up in the gym this morning, talking bigger'n any M. D. you ever listened to—fact."
A chorus of groans greeted this announcement.
"Pies and doughnuts barred out, I s'pose?" exclaimed Ted Pollock.
"I believe if he even saw one in a window he'd cross over to the other side of the street."
"Ah! That's right, Terry." Nat Wingate was speaking. "Crickets—here come the doughnuts!"
Mr. Guffin had placed before the captain of the Stars and Owen Lawrence as fine specimens of pies as the "Retreat" had ever turned out. An assistant deposited a big plateful of doughnuts in the center of the table.