“I guess that would be best, but I’m pretty sure I’ll like football. That’s why I came to see you to-night. I was afraid if I waited until morning all the places might be taken.” Gerald had a bad attack of coughing just then, and Dan became very busy looking for something on the table which he didn’t find. “Oh, no fear of that,” he replied finally. “You see, Curtis――” “My name’s Burtis,” corrected Kendall gravely. “I beg your pardon, Burtis. You see, we award places on the team by competition. That is, we give every fellow a chance to show what he can do and then we take the best of them for the team. Every fellow who wants to can come out and try. Of course, you’ll understand that those who have played the game before have rather the better chance of being retained.” “I see.” Kendall nodded thoughtfully. “Maybe I won’t be good enough, then.” “You can’t tell,” said Dan kindly. “I’ve known inexperienced fellows to make good the first year. Some fellows are natural-born football players.” “Yes,” Kendall agreed. “I guess that’s the way with me.” He was recalling Mr. Dana’s prophecy. “Anyway, I’d like to try it, and I’ll be on hand surely. And I’m much obliged to you.” “Not at all. And come around again in a day or two and let me know how you’re getting on, will you?” “Thanks. And the――the application blank. Where could I find one to-morrow? And what do I do with it when it’s filled out?” There was a brief silence in the room. Then Dan said gently: “I guess someone has been having a joke on you. We don’t have application blanks to fill out. If you want to try for the team you just come out and report on the field.” “Oh!” Kendall flushed. “He said――” “Who told you that?” asked Gerald sharply. “Why, the fellow I room with. His name is Towne.” Dan looked inquiringly at Gerald. “Know him?” he asked. Gerald nodded. “Yes; Harold Towne; ‘Whitey,’ they call him. He rooms down the hall. You know him by sight, Dan; thin, light-haired, pasty-faced chap.” Dan remembered him. “Oh, yes, I’ve seen him,” he said. “So he told you to come to me and ask for an application blank?” “Yes, he said I must fill out a blank and put down my name and age and what position on the team I wanted to play. He said I’d better do it right away or I might be too late. That’s why I came to-night. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” “Pshaw! that’s all right. No harm done. I’m glad you came, and I hope you’ll get on finely, Burtis. Come and see me again and tell me about it. Good night.” “Good night,” replied Kendall. Then he fixed his straight level eyes on Gerald. “Good night,” he repeated. “Good night,” responded Gerald gravely. The door closed behind the visitor. Dan smiled at Gerald. “His friend Towne is a bit of a joker,” he observed. “He ought to have his head punched,” declared Gerald hotly. “Playing a joke on a chap as green as that fellow is like――like stealing pennies from a blind man!”