He partly redeemed himself a few minutes later by a lucky catch of the ball when it bounced from Barrow’s hands after a forward pass. But he laid that to luck and nothing else, and found no comfort. Twice he was stopped on plays around his right, once for a four-yard loss. It wasn’t his day, and he was convinced of it, and he played as one who was convinced. On defense he was not so bad, but Rusty wisely took him out at the end of the quarter. Joe went over to the gymnasium certain that he was disgraced. He didn’t return for the rest of the game, and what happened he learned from Gus later. After holding Holman’s scoreless during the first two periods, Louisburg opened up a whole bag of tricks and, taking the offensive, slammed the opponents around cruelly, putting two touchdowns across and adding a field goal for good measure. The score was 16 to 0. Gus was still dazed when he told the story. “We simply went to pieces, Joe, the whole kit and caboodle of us. Why, even Ferris was up in the air. Twice he passed over Brill’s head. The rest of us were just as bad. I was rotten. I don’t know what happened! We played like a lot of――of morons!” CHAPTER XXI JOE FOLLOWS THE BALL That evening Joe sought out Rusty in his room in the village. “I guess I might as well quit,” he said. “I’m no good at it, Rusty, and there’s no sense in my taking the place of some fellow who can play better. You and Gus have been mighty decent, but I said when I started that I didn’t want the job if I couldn’t earn it, and I haven’t. I’ve heard more or less talk, too. Some fellows say I’m on just because I’m rooming with Gus, or because I’m baseball captain. Well, I’d rather they didn’t think that.” “What are you trying to do?” asked Rusty. “Resign?” “Yes.” Joe smiled and added: “Before I’m fired.” “Well, your resignation isn’t accepted, Kenton.” Joe observed the coach doubtfully. “But――but I’m in earnest,” he protested. “It’s fine of you to be willing to put up with me, Rusty, but I――I don’t want you to think that you’ve got to――that is, that you’re under any obligation to find a place for me on the eleven.” “Obligation be blowed,” said Rusty. “What are you talking about, anyway? I don’t get you, Kenton.” “Why, what I mean is――look here, Rusty. You know that if I wasn’t baseball captain I’d have been let out two weeks ago. Well, I don’t want to play football enough to keep my place by favor, and so――” “Oh, that’s it,” interrupted Rusty. “I get you now. So you think I’m nursing you along because you’re baseball captain, eh?” “Well,” answered Joe, smiling, but uneasy because of a sudden setting of Rusty’s face, “it’s done, isn’t it?” Rusty shook his head, his mouth drawn to a grim line. “Not this fall, Kenton,” he said. Joe stared back a moment, and then, as Rusty said no more, laughed perplexedly. “Well――” he began vaguely.