"Search me," replied Pete Maddern. "He'll have to be good to fill Dittler's shoes." Coach Garwin walked over to the group. "Get in there, Grayson," he directed. CHAPTER XVII WINNING HIS SPURS Like a flash Garry Grayson threw off his blanket and sped out into the field. His heart was beating like a triphammer. He was really playing on the first team! He was playing in the place of Dittler, a star! Could he really fill the position? Or would he fall down on the job? A shout of encouragement went up from the Lenox rooters as he took his place. "Grayson! Grayson! Go to it! Eat 'em up! Turn 'em inside out! Lenox forever!" Two voices were lacking in this chorus. Sandy Podder and Lent Stewart fumed and growled when they saw who had been chosen as a substitute. "That four-flusher!" snapped Sandy. "Now the game's gone for fair." "Garwin must be off his nut," declared Stewart. "Picking out a freshman when he's got lots of better material." For the second down Knapp was chosen to carry the ball. But the Wimbledon line, more certain of victory than ever now that such a formidable enemy as Dittler had been removed, threw Benny back for a loss of two yards. On the next snapback Wynn passed the ball to Garry, and, lowering his head, the recruit from the scrubs went through like a catapult. He was fresh while his adversaries were panting, and he hit the line with such force that he made seven yards before he was downed. With fourth down and only one yard to make for the distance, Wynn again gave the ball to Garry, and this time he made four yards with almost the whole Wimbledon team piled up on him. Cheers went up from the Lenox rooters and the cowbells of the Wimbledon men remained silent. "Fool's luck!" growled Sandy. "The Wimbledon fellows thought so little of him that they didn't try hard enough to stop him," returned Lent. "He'll get his the next time he tries it." Again the teams lined up for the scrimmage. Minter made two yards between right guard and tackle. Knapp went through for one more. The Wimbledon line had braced and Wynn signaled for a forward pass. The ball was snapped back to him and he made the throw to Garry, who was running at full speed toward the right of the line. The pass was beautifully timed and Garry gathered it in on the run and, with Minter and Knapp as his interference, ran like a deer down the field. Red-headed Beebe made a rush for him, but Garry straight-armed him and ran on. Minter blocked Johnston neatly just as he was on the point of diving for the runner. On, on, Garry went, squirming, dodging, twisting, slipping through the ranks of his enemies like a ghost. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Beebe, who was at his left, launch himself at him. At the same moment Garry hurled himself through the air, and, evading Beebe's outstretched arms, came down with a thump just across the line for a touchdown.