She clung fast to his arm. Arlington stood with his hands in his pockets, regarding Darrell with a sneering smile. He seemed cool and indifferent. Doris continued to urge Hal to accompany her, and he finally consented. “Why should you pay any attention to him?” she asked, as they walked down the street side by side. “No one will believe him.” “It’s not that,” retorted Hal. “No fellow can stand for such talk about him. Of course, I couldn’t hit him then, with you three girls present, but I’ll get at him.” “No one will believe it,” persisted Doris. “Let him go ahead and tell it as much as he likes. It can’t hurt you.” “He told Merriwell something a short time ago. I heard him.” “But Dick won’t take any stock in it. Dick knows you too well, Hal. He knows you were out of practice. He knows Arlington told an untruth.” Hal shook his head. “Doris!” he suddenly and fiercely declared, “the worst part of it is that Arlington told the truth! I am ashamed of myself! I never did such a thing before. You will despise me now, but I can’t help it. I did try to throw that game!” She shrank from him, and he saw her face pale. “That’s right,” he said. “Hate me! Despise me! I deserve it! I don’t suppose you will ever speak to me again?” “Hal, how could you?” she murmured in distress. “No one else could have made me believe it! I was full of doubts and fears, but I decided it could not be possible.” “Then even you suspected me? If you did, Doris, certainly all the rest of the fellows must. They will think me a fine sort of chap now! They will put me in the class with Chet Arlington! Any boy who will go back on his school team is a mighty cheap sort of a duffer! Are you going back to the hotel?” “Not now, Hal,” she gently answered, as she took his arm. “I am going to walk with you. You must tell me just why you did it.” For some time they walked in silence along the street, coming at length to the outskirts of the village, where they paused opposite an old gate, upon which they leaned. Everything was fresh and green after the shower, and the sweet breath of spring was in the balmy air. “You know you can trust me, Hal,” said Doris. “And I know you didn’t seek to betray your own team without cause.” “But I can’t tell you the reason,” he protested. “It’s better that I should not tell you. It will simply annoy you and hurt your feelings.” “Instead of that, Hal, I feel confident that it would justify you in some degree in my eyes. How could it annoy me?” “Because you are concerned.” “I?” she exclaimed in surprise. “Yes.” “How is that possible? Now, you must tell me. I will never be contented until you do.” Suddenly he turned and faced her, and in his eyes she saw the old-time look of admiration, which he could not conceal. “Doris, it would have been better for us had we never known Dick Merriwell. You liked me before you met him.” Quickly her hand fell on his arm. “I liked you then, Hal, and I like you still.” “But you are changed.”