"Let go, fellows!" cried Earl. "Stop shoving, Luke Phelps. If I'm satisfied, you haven't any right to fuss about it." "Oh, yes, we have. It's for the good of the school," declared "Crackers" emphatically. "I told you all along how things would turn out. A protest in time may save nine awful explosions." [Illustration: "IT'S FOR THE GOOD OF THE SCHOOL"] "Well, I'm in your hands," said the guard, with a rather weak smile. "I say, Mr. Steele!"--Owen Lawrence was speaking--"may I speak to you a moment?" "Certainly, Lawrence. Go ahead." "I don't want to appear in the light of a sorehead, Mr. Steele; but it seems to me--and a good many here will back up my opinion--that it's a mistake to leave Roycroft off the team." "What has Earl to say about this?" asked the coach, quietly. "I told these chaps I was ready to abide by your decision," answered Roycroft. "I'm not kicking." "That's all very well," said "Crackers," "but we happen to know the kind of a game he can play; and the prize the school is going after----" "I have considered all that, Brown." The coach, scarcely more than a schoolboy in appearance, spoke so unassumingly that "Crackers" was emboldened to continue. He began talking earnestly and emphatically, pointing out the various reasons why both Roycroft and Lawrence should be added to the squad. The coach, however, shook his head. "I don't think I can make any change, Brown," he announced, firmly. "There are so many promising players in this school that it means no reflection whatever on those who were left off." "Just the way I take it," said Roycroft. "Then you're a big dunderhead!" exclaimed Owen Lawrence. "Three of the Ramblers on that team; two others officers of the athletic association! How can you swallow a proposition like that?" "Oh, go away and eat some pie!" scoffed Tom Clifton. "Steady your nerves with a doughnut. Better wait and see us play before you get so hot about it." "I'm afraid some one will be roasted if this thing keeps up," murmured Benny. "We're going to do our level best for the school, fellows," spoke up Bob Somers, earnestly. "A team is twice as strong when there's no opposition or unpleasant feeling. All we ask is: give us a fair show. Then, if things don't break right, it will be time enough to talk." "Let that idea soak in, Owen Lawrence," spoke up "Jack Frost," who had won his place on the pitching staff. "All right. We'll give you all the chance you want." Owen, apparently regretting his hasty outbreak, even smiled as he added: "Wherever I study I'm always red-hot for the school." "Lawrence's thought arrangement unloosens his tongue before he thinks," came from Benny. "I made a note of that the first day he was here." "Oh ho," yawned Dave Brandon. "I've got a lot of work to do on the next number of the 'Reflector.' Guess I'll skip."