“Plenty,” answered Chick briefly. “But I’ll get it back, don’t you worry. He’s had luck for a week now, but it can’t keep up all the time, and I’ll sure make a killing soon. He certainly got my goat to-night, though!” “Tough luck,” murmured Bert. “Well, good night.” “Not so blamed good,” Chick growled. CHAPTER IX SUBS VS. SCRUB With the beginning of the fourth week of the season, the football situation at Alton Academy had become fairly well straightened out. The squad was down to thirty-four, about as low as it was likely to go, the Second Team had hit its stride and was providing tough opposition four or five times a week, and, with the approach of the first important contest, that with Lorimer Academy next Saturday, the preliminary season was coming to an end in a fairly normal manner. The victory over New Falmouth, while of no great consequence, had shown coach and players and School that the Team possessed latent possibilities, something which the School, at least had begun to doubt. One win out of three starts was a record that was scarcely impressive. However, if Alton was having her difficulties, so, too, was her rival, Kenly Hall. Kenly had won her first game handsomely enough, had lost her second without apparent rime or reason and had been able to do no better on Saturday last than play Oak Grove to a scoreless tie. Since Oak Grove was normally a small-caliber team, Kenly’s last performance had brought encouragement to Alton. Kenly almost always turned out a scoring eleven, and her inability to put anything over on Oak Grove suggested that this fall, for once, she was minus heavy artillery. On Monday the substitutes held the center of the stage at Alton, since those who had played for any length of time on Saturday were excused after signal work. The Second came across, rearing to go, and engaged an adversary largely composed of second-choice substitutes. Bert, somewhat to his surprise, was allowed to start at right half. Lovell was at quarter for a while, and Tyron and Couch completed the backfield. The scrimmage went slowly, for Mr. Cade was trying out two new plays--new, at least, to the team--and the play was frequently stopped for criticism or instruction. Mr. McFadden’s charges were an eager, hard-fighting lot, and in the first ten minutes neither side scored. Field-goals were barred to-day, except for which both First and Scrub might have had three points. Bert tried his best to act on Tommy Parish’s suggestion and keep his head up when he went at the line. Sometimes he did it, but habit was strong and more times he failed. Still, he comported himself fairly well, and when he was relegated to the bench at the end of the first half was able to assure himself that he had done as well as Tyron.