Bert Dodge sulked along to school, alone that Friday morning. Bayliss, however, after a night of wakefulness, had decided to "eat crow." So, as Dick, Dave and Greg Holmes were strolling along schoolward, Bayliss overhauled them. "Good morning, fellows," he called, briskly, with an offhand attempt at geniality. All three of the chums looked up at him, then glanced away again. "Oh, I say, now, don't keep it up," coaxed Bayliss. "We High School fellows all want to be decent enough friends. And how's the football? I don't suppose the squad is full yet. I---I half believe I may join and take a little practice." "Thinking of it?" asked Dick, looking up coolly. "Yes---really," replied Bayliss. "See the coach, then; he's running the squad." "Yes; I guess I will, thanks. Good morning!" Bayliss sauntered along, blithely whistling a tune. He knew Coach Morton would give him the glad hand of welcome for the squad and the team. "Oh, Mr. Morton," was Bayliss's greeting, as he encountered the coach near the school building steps. "Yes?" asked the submaster pleasantly. "I---I---er---I didn't make the meeting yesterday afternoon, but I guess you might put my name down for the squad." "Isn't this a bit late, Bayliss?" asked the submaster, eyeing the youth keenly. "Perhaps, a bit," assented the confident young man. "However-----" "At its meeting, last night, Mr. Bayliss, the Athletics Committee of the Alumni Association advised me to consider the squad list closed." "Closed?" stammered Bayliss, turning several shades in succession. "Closed? Do---do you mean-----" "No more additions will be made to the squad this year," replied the coach quietly, then going inside. Bayliss stood on the steps, a picture of humiliation and amazement. "Fellows," gasped Bayliss, as Prescott and his two chums came along, "did you hear that? Football list closed?" "Want some advice?" asked Dick, halting for an instant. "Yes," begged Bayliss. "Never kick a sore toe against a stone wall," quoth Dick Prescott, and passed on into the school building. CHAPTER X TWO GIRLS TURN THE LAUGH By this time training was going on briskly. Four days out of every week the squad had to practice for two hours at the athletic field. There were tours of work in the gym., too. Besides, it was "early to bed and early to rise" for all members of the squad. Even those who hoped only to "make second" were under strict orders to let nothing interfere with their condition. Three mornings in the week Coach Morton met all squad men for either cross-country work or special work in sprinting. And this was before breakfast, when each man was on honor pledged to take only a pint of hot water---nothing more---before reporting. On the other mornings, football aspirants were pledged to run without the coach. Yet, with all this, studies had to be kept up to a high average, for no man on the "unset" list could hope to be permitted to play football.