“That’s the idea!” joined in Ned with a sudden eagerness. “We’ll all exchange. Here, Smith, you give yours to Hodge, I’ll give you mine, and I’ll take Hodge’s.” “That’s all nonsense,” exclaimed Gus abruptly. “‘A little nonsense now and then is relished by the best of men,’” spoke up Ned. “Try it, fellows. Can’t do any harm anyway.” Dan laughingly had exchanged his glass for Walter’s, though the latter was not aware of the exchange, as at that moment he was looking back at the table where the opposing nine was seated. “Have it your own way,” said Ned, who had seen the exchange, which had been unnoticed by the others. In a brief time the boys arose and passed out of the hall. “Be down at the dressing-room at two sharp,” he called as the boys separated after they had left the building. CHAPTER XXVI WALTER’S ILLNESS Dan and Ned proceeded directly to the dressing-room, the former somewhat downcast and the latter more lively even than he was wont to be. “How do you feel?” he laughingly inquired of his friend as the two boys entered the room. “I have felt better,” replied Dan quietly. “What’s the trouble? Are your pedal extremities chilly?” “I have not noticed anything of that kind.” “Afraid?” “Not of the Military Academy nine, if that’s what you mean.” “What then?” “Where is Walter?” Dan abruptly asked. “I haven’t seen him since we left the dining-hall,” replied Ned, glancing keenly at his friend as he spoke. “He’ll be here all right. You don’t need to worry about Walter, Dan.” “Honestly, Ned, do you think there was anything in that change of glasses? I’ll own up that I’ve――――” “Anything in the lemonade?” broke in Ned hastily. “You know what I mean.” “Yes, I guess I do,” acknowledged Ned. “Of all the vile tricks I ever heard of, that is the worst; that is, if there really was anything in what Gus was doing. It doesn’t seem possible that he or Walter could stoop to――――” “I’m waiting for Walter,” interrupted Dan. “I’ll know when he comes. If he had a hand in that――――” “What if he did? That’s just one more reason for showing the fellows to-day that you can’t be put out of the game that way.” “It isn’t that.” “Then, what is it?” “I can’t make myself believe that Walter Borden would stoop to such a low-down trick. Why, only last summer he was one of the best fellows I ever saw. He was generous; he’d give away his last cent――――” “If it didn’t cost him anything to do it.” “All the boys liked him. He was just a little bit cocksure that he could give us all points on the game, but he was straight and true as steel――at least I thought he was.” “Maybe it’s all right yet. That was a slick thing you did.” “What did I do?” “When you changed your glass for his.” “I’m sorry now that I did that.”