"Of course; he has to attend," replied Dodge, coming toward the shuttered window. "But I'll wager old Morton isn't feeling over-happy this afternoon." "I don't know," grumbled Bayliss. "There he is at the gym. door, shaking hands with Dick Prescott and Dave Darrin, and laughing pretty heartily." "Laughing to keep his courage up, I reckon," clicked Bert Dodge dryly. "Morton knows he's going to miss a lot of faces that he'd like to see there this year." Then Dodge took up post at the peephole, while Bayliss stepped back, yawning. Several more football aspirants neared and entered the gym. The name of each was called off by Bert. "This is the first year," chuckled Bayliss, "when Gridley hasn't had a chance for a star eleven." "I'll miss the game, myself, like fury," commented Dodge. "All through last season, when I played on the second eleven, I was looking forward to this year." "Now, don't you go to getting that streak, and quit us," warned Bayliss quickly. "Our set is going to get up its own eleven; don't forget that! And we're going to play some famous games." "Sure!" admitted Dodge. But there was a choke in his throat. Just a few moments later Bert Dodge gave a violent start, then cried out, in a voice husky with emotion: "Oh, I say, Bayliss, look-----" "What-----" "_Hudson_!" "What about him?" "Quick!" "Well, you ninny," "Hudson is going in the-----" With a cry partly of doubting, partly of rage, Bayliss leaped forward, crowding out Dodge in order to get a better view. Hudson was actually ascending the gym. steps, and going up as though he meant business. "He's gone over to---to---them!" gasped Bert Dodge. "The mean _traitor_!" hissed Bayliss. Hudson did, indeed, brave it out by going straight on into the gym. As he entered some of the fellows already there glared at him dubiously. But Hudson met the look bravely. "Hullo!" cried Dick. "There's Hudson!" Coach Morton heard, from another part of the gym. Turning around, the coach greeted tile reformed 'sorehead' with a nod and a smile. Then some of the fellows spoke to Hudson as that young man moved by them. In a few moments more, Hudson began to feel almost at home among his own High School comrades. Then Drayne, another 'sorehead,' showed up. He, too, was treated as though nothing had happened. When Trenholm, still another of the "soreheads," looked in at the gym., he appeared very close to being afraid. When he saw Hudson and Drayne there he hastened forward. By and by Grayson came in. At the window across the street Bayliss and Dodge had checked off all four of these "deserters" and "traitors." "Well, they'll play, anyway---either on school or on second," muttered Bert, to himself. "Oh, dear! Just think the way things have turned out." These four deserters from the "soreheads" were all out of that very select crowd who did respond to the football call.