"Little danger of that!" muttered Frank. "I haven't been able to remember anything else but what you said to me this forenoon." "Hope you didn't lay it up against me, Merry." "Don't take me for a fool, old fellow!" came rather sharply from Frank. They left the college grounds and took a trolley car out to the park. Forrest and the team were there ahead of them. A hundred spectators were watching the men catch punts. Bob Cook was there. He was not coaching; he was standing at one side by himself, watching the men, something like a disconsolate look on his face. This was not like him; it was significant. As they entered the gate, Halliday touched Merriwell's arm, quickly saying: "There he goes!" "Who?" asked Frank. "Marline. He's getting out to take some punts." Frank knew Marline by sight, but he had never given the fellow much attention. Now he deliberately sized him up. He saw a well-built, healthy-looking lad, who carried himself gracefully, almost arrogantly. There was more than a suggestion of conscious superiority in Marline's manner. Punk!--a strong leg sent a twisting ball sailing toward Marline. He ran under it with an air of confidence, and caught it easily, gracefully. "I take it he is one of the fellows who show up well in practice, at least," said Frank. CHAPTER XXVI. SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENTS. The appearance of Frank on the ground soon attracted attention. Of late there had been much talk about Merriwell and there was not a college man interested in football who had not expressed an opinion concerning his ability or his withdrawal from the sport. Early in the season Walter Gordan had made a try for the eleven, but had soon been turned down. Sport Harris could not have been induced to play football, but he took much interest in the team, as he wished to know how to place his "dough" on the great games. Harris and Gordon were watching the men at practice, but the latter saw Merriwell as soon as he entered the park. "Well, hang me!" he muttered, staring. "What's the matter?" asked Sport. "Look there--with Halliday!" "Yes, I see--why, it's Merriwell!" "Sure." "What's he out here for?" "Don't ask me!" "Thought he was out of it. Hasn't seemed to take any interest in the eleven this season." "Perhaps he thinks he's stayed away till it is so late he'll not be asked to come on the team. He couldn't keep away any longer." "Well, he's needed on the eleven, and that is a fact. He has disgusted his friends by pulling out of the game." Gordan laughed. "He seems to think he can retire on the laurels he has won." "Well, he never made a bigger mistake in his life," said Harris. "Yale doesn't have any use for shirks. If he thinks he can retire because he made a great run in the Princeton game last fall, he is mistaken."