"Strikes me he'd be a rather hard chap to manage," confided Harry. "Awful set in his opinions, isn't he?" "Owen makes me tired," confessed Tom. "He actually tried to jump on Dave this morning. But Dave only grinned--that's all. Couldn't get him going." "How did it happen?" "He's seen that Dave is chummy with the coach--asked him to put in a good word in his behalf. 'Can't,' said Dave. 'We're leaving it all to Steele.' Seemed to make Owen hot." "If he doesn't get on the team he'll be hotter yet," chuckled Spearman. "You seem to be getting some of those base-stealing stunts down fine, Tom." "Steele's put me onto a lot of tricks. 'Tisn't all in the sprinting, he says. Even a slow man who knows how has a chance. He's got the list of players about made up now. Next Monday he'll submit it to the athletic association." "We've been talking things over with Roger for a long time," remarked Harry. "From what I've seen, I'd say he's struck the list about right. But there'll be a lot of kicks coming, son." "Sure," admitted Tom. "That officious 'Crackers' Brown, even before the names are put up, is buttonholing everybody he thinks ripe for a row. 'Steele will be making the greatest mistake of his life if he doesn't have Roycroft and Lawrence on that team,' he says. The nerve of him!" "One good thing: Roger knows his business too well to be influenced. It's up to the coach to run the team, and the school hasn't a word to say." "Of course not! Gee! I must get over to practice now," exclaimed Tom, suddenly. Before the week was over Mr. Barry and his dog again appeared on the scene. He was as garrulous as usual whenever spoken to, but otherwise made no comments. To the anxious candidates Monday seemed very far off; and when it rolled around few of the students were able to keep their minds on the work in hand. Some "fell down" hard in the class room. All sorts of rumors were afloat. Earl Roycroft looked hopeful; "Crackers" Brown decidedly ominous; Owen Lawrence wore an air of belligerency. At the first opportunity a crowd began trooping over to the gymnasium. Yes, the list was there, posted in a conspicuous place. But, due to the noise, pushing and jostling, it was some time before those on the outside of the excited mass could gather any clear idea of what had happened. "Crackers" Brown and Owen Lawrence were not on the outside of the mass. The former had his face shoved so close to the list that it was with difficulty his neighbors could get a glimpse. "Gee whiz, 'Crackers,' I'm tired of looking at the architecture of your head," complained Benny Wilkins. "How many of the seven candidates for pitchers got their jobs?" Numerous exclamations of surprise and disappointment were soon being heard. The ominous expression on "Crackers'" face increased. Lawrence was looking positively savage. "Say, fellows, this is about the limit. What do you think!" Brown turned to face a staring, noisy crowd. "Neither Roycroft nor Lawrence is on the team!"