"That's right. Hello! There's Langridge joining him now, Phil," and as Tom spoke they saw the sophomore come from a side path and walk along with the freshman. The two began talking earnestly, and from the manner of Gerhart it seemed that something had gone wrong, and that he was endeavoring to explain. Tom and Phil forgot the little scene of the afternoon when they got down to studying that night, and as lessons were getting to be pretty "stiff," to quote Sid, it was necessary to put in considerable time over books. The three "boned" away until midnight, and after an inspection of their beds, to make sure that no contraband articles were between the sheets, they turned out the light and were soon slumbering. The next day Phil was turned back in Greek, and had to write out a difficult exercise. "Tell Mr. Lighton I'll be ready for practice in half an hour," he said to Tom, as the latter hurried off to get into his football togs. "I'll come as soon as Pitchfork lets me off." "All right," answered his chum. When Tom got to the gridiron he found most of the 'varsity eleven there. Coach Lighton was in earnest conversation with Captain Holly Cross. "Where's Phil?" asked the coach as Tom came up. The left-end explained. "Come into the gym, fellows," went on the coach. "I have something important to tell you. Phil will be along soon." Vainly wondering what was in the wind, and whether, by any chance, it concerned Phil, Tom followed the sturdy lads across the field. Phil joined the throng before the gymnasium was reached. "What's up?" he panted. "Aren't we going to practice?" "Yes," replied the coach; "but first we've got to arrange for a new set of signals." "New signals?" cried half a dozen. "Yes. I have just learned, in an anonymous communication, that an offer was made to a rival college to sell our signals. The offer, I am glad to say, was indignantly refused; but if some one is in possession of our system, we must get a new one. Now, if you will come in here I will change the signals, and we will then go to practice." Tom and Phil instinctively looked at each other. The memory of the scene between Gerhart and Stoddard, and Langridge's later presence with the freshman, came to them both at once. CHAPTER XXIII BATTERING BOXER HALL There was a little buzz of talk, following the announcement of the coach. Each player looked at his neighbor, as if to learn whether or not he was the guilty one. But Mr. Lighton at once called a halt to this. "I will say," he continued, "that no member of the 'varsity team, nor has any substitute, been guilty of this mean, sneaking piece of business. I don't even know who it was. I don't want to know. I don't know to whom the offer was made. I don't want to know. But we are going to protect ourselves, and change the signals."