That night, refreshed by a hot shower and with his sprains carefully bandaged, Judd accompanied the great Bob to the high school campus where a huge bonfire defied the dismal patter of rain. As they stood by the fire, listening to the cheers of the student body, Bob said to Judd: "Buddy, where's that contract?" Judd reached sheepishly inside his overcoat and pulled out a muddy piece of paper. Bob took the paper, reached over and before Judd could stop him, tossed it in the bonfire. Silently the two of them watched the tongues of flame eat the paper up. When the paper had become nothing but formless ashes, Bob turned to his younger brother and reached out his hand, saying in a voice that was husky with emotion: "Well, Buddy, it's gone. You don't need the contract any longer. You lived up to more than a scrap of paper this afternoon. You lived up to the best that was in you!" And Judd, a happy lump in his throat, could not answer. But his heart sang with the knowledge that he had won more than the football game. He had won a lasting victory over himself. "One of these days, Judd, old scout--you're going to be taking my place at Bartlett!" Bob continued, his arm about Judd's broad shoulders. "I--I'd sure like to," Judd replied, warmly, "Not your place exactly ... but be making a place of my own!" Bob grinned. "That's the stuff!" he returned, little realizing that the following football season would bring drastic changes and see his kid brother--still quite the green, clumsy youth from the country--headed for Bartlett while he ...? CHAPTER VI ILL NEWS AND A NEW ARRIVAL "Hey, fellows! What do you know? Bob's not coming back!" It was Jack Frey talking and his announcement brought exclamations of surprise and concern from the group of Bartlett men crossing the campus. "What?" "You're kidding!" "If he's not coming back--good-bye football team!" "Say, can't you guys tell when Cateye's joking?" reprimanded Benz Hoffmaster, last year member of Bartlett's backfield. "Of course Bob's coming back. He's captain-elect!" Cateye shook his head soberly, taking a letter from his inner pocket. "I wish I was only kidding," he said, as fellow students gathered around, "But this is straight dope. The man running the Billings farm is sick and Bob's decided to stay home a year to help his mother take care of things..." An involuntary groan went up. Bob had been Cateye's room-mate. The two of them were also veteran members of the team, Cateye at left guard and Bob at fullback. Beyond having been the most popular fellow in school, Bob had been acknowledged the greatest player in Bartlett history. His absence would be felt off the field and on. "But we can't let Bob stick out there on the farm!" protested Benz, "We need him too much here. Read the letter, Cateye. Let's get the details." Cateye unfolded the letter obligingly.