"I'm so glad--I mean I'm glad my entering gives you a chance to win the Scholarship," she corrected hastily. "And--Fred--I wish you'd keep on calling me Alice. 'Miss Montgomery' is my name to those I don't like." And with this glimpse of her attitude upon the rivalry existing between her brother and Fred, the girl hastened on her way to the classroom. For a moment, Fred gazed after her in speechless amazement. "Well, of all things!" he murmured to himself, when at last he had recovered from his surprise. "It's lucky Bart wasn't round. He's brute enough to be mean to his own sister." Further consideration of Alice's words was prevented by the noisy appearance of several boys from the basement. "Hey, you Cotton-Top, what are you lallygagging up here for?" demanded Soda, as he caught sight of Fred. "Get a move on and come down. We need your vote." Thus besought, the left half-back opened his mouth to speak, but the others would not let him, seizing him and carrying him downstairs by main force. When Sandow had called the Seconds to order, he briefly asked for nominations for captain. Promptly, Taffy proposed Bart's name, while Soda performed the same office for Fred. No other names being suggested, the leader of the Firsts called for a vote. "Let's not have ballots--let's just state our preference, when our name is called," suggested Lefty. This proposition evoked a storm of protest, and, as time was pressing, Sandow ordered ballots to be used. "Just write the name of your preference on a piece of paper and bring it to me," he directed. Quickly the boys obeyed, and when all had cast their votes, the captain of the school team counted them. "The vote's a tie," he announced. "Seven for Bart and seven for Fred." "Move we leave it to Sandow to choose the captain," exclaimed Buttons. But action of this motion was prevented by Soda. "There are fifteen who can vote, counting Clothespin," he shouted, "and only fourteen votes have been cast. Who's missing?" Attention thus directed to the fact that all the boys were not present, they quickly counted noses, and Fred's absence was learned. "Grand-stand play--to keep away when he knows his name will be voted on," sneered Taffy. "Probably thought he couldn't keep from voting for himself, unless he stayed away," added Bart. "Bet you voted for yourself," retorted Shorty. But Sandow checked the controversy in its bud. "Order!" he commanded. "Some of you go find Cotton-Top, and bring him here." It was in response to these instructions, that the boys dragged Fred, so unceremoniously, down the stairs. His arrival was greeted with shouts of delight from his followers, and of derision from Bart's. "What do you want of me?" inquired the boy, ignoring the greetings and comments that were hurled at him.