The Duke, supremely interested in the game, closed one eye slowly and portentously. Gerald grinned. Harry hugged a foot ecstatically. “Like a sheep to the slaughter,” whispered The Duke gloatingly. “Oh, _what_ do you suppose he’s saying to Central?” “How long will he stay there?” asked Harry. “Until he gets out. There’s no one in the Office on Saturday afternoons. Anyway, they couldn’t hear him――unless he broke a window and yelled like sixty. Did you tell Perky?” “Yes, and they’ve worked a couple of the new plays already.” “Tried to, you mean,” corrected Harry gloomily. “They didn’t gain much.” “Anyone scored?” asked The Duke. “Not yet. No one’s had a chance. Kendall tried a placement from the forty-five yards and missed by a yard. Too bad. He had the wind with him, too.” “Pete made a rotten pass, though,” said Gerald. “Simms had to scramble for it. It’s a wonder they got the kick off at all. There’s the whistle. Half’s over.” As the players seized their blankets and trotted off the field Davis hurried up to the trio beside the rope. “What did you do with him?” he asked in a hoarse whisper. “Do with him? With who?” asked The Duke innocently. “Gibson.” “Perky, you jump to conclusions,” returned The Duke calmly. “If anything has been done to Mr. Gibson you shouldn’t lay it to me. I have nothing but the kindest, sweetest sentiments toward the gentleman.” “Oh, chop it! Is he――is he _safe_?” “Oh, I do hope so!” replied The Duke. “Don’t tell me that anything has happened to him, Perky!” “Quit kidding,” begged Davis. “I want to know. Can we go ahead with the new plays, Duke? Will he be back?” “Blessed if I know. I know he isn’t here now, but there’s no telling how long he’s going to stay away. Tell you what, Perky. I’ll stand at the entrance and keep watch. If I see him coming back I’ll pass the word to you and you can tell Payson.” “All right. I’ll tell Payson that. Don’t miss him, though.” “Nary a miss, Perky!” The Duke, followed by Gerald and Harry, went to take up a position at the corner of the grand stand and Davis scurried off to the gymnasium in the wake of the team. The Duke, hands in pockets, wandered outside and viewed the path. But save for the players trotting up the steps of the gymnasium and Davis speeding to overtake them no one was in sight. “Look here,” said Gerald, who had been studying the situation in his mind, “what that fellow will do is to tell Central that he’s locked up in the booth. Then Central will telephone to Merle or Clarke and they’ll let him out. We didn’t think of that.” The Duke frowned. “That’s so,” he acknowledged. “And it’s dollars to doughnuts Central will get Collins on the ’phone and then there will be the dickens to pay!” “Thunder!” breathed Harry. “Just so,” agreed The Duke. “Well, I’m in for it now, so there’s no use worrying and getting a wrinkle. After all, it was a patriotic deed and my conscience is at peace. I done it for the good of my fellow critters.”