“Didn’t you notice that after the first few minutes of the second period you fellows began to make your plays go?” “Yes, they certainly went better in the second show.” “And after Duval went in at quarter for Jackson?” “By Jove, that’s so! But what――how――” “Tom, if the other fellow tells you a second beforehand when the ball’s going into play isn’t that a bit of a help to you? Doesn’t it allow you to beat the ball a bit?” “You mean that Sim gave the play away? I mean――” “Yes. Remember that First was penalized twice for off-side? Well, it ought to have been penalized half a dozen more times. It would have been if I’d been refereeing. Those fellows watched Jackson and started before the ball every time you had it. By the time the runner got the ball there was no chance for him. Two or three times――” “But, great Scott, what did Jackson do? I didn’t see anything wrong, Loring.” “You were too close, Tom. I wish I had the use of my legs so I could show you. Clif, you be Jackson for a minute, like a good chap. All right. Give your signals――wait, you’re turning this way now, bending down. That’s it. ‘Signals!’ Now then, you turn toward the center. You’ve had your left hand, or your right, maybe, on the center’s back while you’ve been giving the signal, but now you drop it and hold your hands for the ball. Act it out that way, please.” “I’ll try,” laughed Clif. “Signals! Twenty-three, forty-three, seventeen! Twenty-three, forty-three――” He dropped his right hand from an imaginary back and―― “See it?” exclaimed Loring. Tom shook his head in puzzlement as Clif straightened up again. “Why, his shoulder, man!” said Loring impatiently. “First it’s way up like this where half the First Team’s linemen can see it. Then it disappears and after you’ve counted two the ball is snapped. That’s as regular as――as――why, it never fails! I timed it half a dozen times, Tom. Down went Jackson’s shoulder and from three-quarters to a second afterwards Ridgway snapped. Some one found that out and spread it. Now the First Team forwards watch Jackson’s shoulder instead of the ball or the men in front of them and when it ducks they charge. Sometimes they were past the line before the ball was in Jackson’s hands. If there had been a linesman he would have penalized First six or eight times; almost every time you chaps had the ball in the first half; but a referee or an umpire can’t see that sort of thing from where he stands. When Duval went in you began to make your plays good because the First wasn’t being tipped off when to start.” “Heck!” murmured Tom. “So that was it! A simple little thing like that! My sainted Aunt Jerusha! And no one saw it!” “I don’t see what your blamed old aunt’s got to do with it,” objected Clif disgustedly. “I’ve said all along, and so has Loring, that we ought to cut out passing to the quarter except when――”