"He's simply crazy over that science scholarship; that's all," vouchsafed Soda. "If he prefers books to his friends, why, I'm willing he should have 'em, for my part." "But it isn't study, I tell you," asserted Buttons. "It's something else." "How do you know?" "Because he's getting worse and worse in science every recitation. Honestly, it's painful to hear him stumble through the lessons. He's queering his chance for the scholarship every day." "Well, what do you propose to do about it?" demanded Soda, after a silence of several minutes. "If I knew, do you suppose I'd ask you?" snapped Buttons. "It's so we could talk things over, I got you and Sandow to come over." "Then suppose you give me a chance to speak," suggested the leader of the First Form. "Fire away," exclaimed the Seconds, in unison. "There are several things, I reckon, that are the cause of Cotton-Top's actions. In the first place, he's worried about money; in the second, he feels all broken up over not being able to play on the team, and the remarks you Seconds made when he told you--like a man--why he couldn't play, cut him way down deep." "But it _is_ a low-down trick to throw the team the only time we have a chance against Landon," grumbled Soda. "I----" "Careful there, what you say," cautioned Sandow, interrupting. "If one of you fellows who are talking traitor had half the pluck Fred Markham has, you'd be more decent. For your own special benefit, I'll tell you something--but understand, it's not to go any further. Fred's father asked him to try for the scholarship so his mother could have the money." In shamed amazement, the Seconds heard this statement. "How do you know?" finally blurted Soda. "Because Fred told me, after he elected Bart captain. I'll also tell you it almost broke his heart to give up the team, meaning the loss of the captaincy of the School Team next year, as it does, for he could have been captain of the Second, if he desired." "Poor old Cotton-Top! And here we, his best friends, have only been making things harder for him," murmured Buttons contritely. "Glad you're waking up to yourselves," returned Sandow. "I've been so busy with the team I didn't know, until Sallie told me this noon, quite how bad things were. When I did learn, I wanted to take you both by the necks and knock your heads together." "Instead of which, you accept an invitation to meet us peacefully--for which we thank you," interposed Soda. "Now, don't try to get funny. This is no joking matter, and I never was more in earnest in my life. Fred is so sensitive that a little more of the treatment you Seconds have been handing him, and he'll be down sick. Then he'll surely lose the scholarship--to say nothing of the expense." "Well, since you're so wise, what do you want us to do?" snapped Soda, whose very petulance showed that the straight-from-the-shoulder talk of the school leader had produced the intended effect. "Make him forget himself, of course." "How?"