He walked over to the old sofa and sat down. His brain was in a whirl. What danger could threaten Phil? Whence had come the mysterious warning? "It doesn't amount to anything," thought Tom. "If it had, who ever sent it would have signed his name. It's meant as a joke. I'll pay no attention to it. I'll not tell Phil. It might worry him. Besides, I guess he can look out for himself," and Tom shrugged his shoulders. Ah, Tom, would you have said that but for what had happened in the last few weeks? But for the fact that Phil and a certain pretty girl had become fast friends? Tom felt those questions arising in his mind, but he put them resolutely from him. He did not want to answer them. He went over to the basket and carefully picked out the torn bits of the note. He thrust them into his pocket. Sid watched him curiously, but said nothing. He thought the note was from some girl. Phil came in a little later. Tom was busy studying, and hardly looked up; nor did he say anything about the warning he had so mysteriously received. CHAPTER XXXIII "LINE UP!" Out upon the gridiron they trotted; a mass of lads in suits which showed contact with mother earth many times, and which, in places, were marked with blood-stains. The eleven were as full of life as young colts, and some in their exuberance leaped high in the air, putting their hands on the shoulders of their mates. Others turned somersaults, and some gave impromptu boxing exhibitions. From the grandstand burst a mighty cheer as the Randall supporters greeted their team. The spontaneous shout was followed by the booming of the Randall college cry. Then Bean Perkins, with wild waves of his arm, signaled for the "Rip 'Em Up!" song. "What a crowd!" murmured Tom as he walked beside Phil. "I never saw such a bunch." "Yes, there's a good mob," answered Phil, but somehow there was a note of indifference in his voice. He had not failed to notice Tom's recent change of demeanor, and it hurt him. Yet he was too proud to speak of it, or ask the reason, though, perhaps, he may have guessed what caused it. As for Tom, the words of the mysterious warning rang in his ears. Several times he was on the point of speaking to Phil, but he feared he would be laughed at. "After all," thought Tom. "I guess all that it amounts to is that some one has heard a rumor that there'll be an attempt on the part of some Boxer Hall players to knock Phil out. They may think they can cripple him and, without him, our team will go to pieces. But I'll be on the watch for any dirty playing, and if I catch any one at it I'll smash him. I'll do my best to keep Phil from getting hurt." But, if Tom had only known, it was a different sort of danger that threatened his friend.