“That’s what I’m afraid of, and besides he ought not to spend the money.”

“I don’t know anything about that,” said Hawley quickly.  “But he may make enough on the game to pay all his expenses.”

“Has he staked money on the game?” said Will.

“You’ll have to ask him,” retorted Hawley somewhat sharply.  “We can count on you two fellows then, can we?”

“That’s what you can!” replied Will heartily.

“I’ll think about it and let you know in the morning,” said Foster.  And Hawley at once departed from the room.

“What do you suppose it means that Peter John is going?” was Foster’s first question after their visitor had departed.

“I don’t know, but I don’t like the look of it,” responded Will.

“Neither do I. Can we do anything to stop it?”

“No, I’m afraid not.  Peter John is getting beyond us.”

Foster shook his head thoughtfully but made no response, and the work was resumed.  For an hour each boy labored at his desk, and then Foster was the first to break in upon the silence.

“Will,” he said, “I think I’ll go with you on that trip with the team.”

“I don’t think I’ll go,” said Will quietly.

“Not go?  Why not?” demanded Foster in astonishment.

“I’ve been thinking it over and I’ve made up my mind that it won’t do for me to break in on the regular program I’ve mapped out for myself.  You see Saturday is the day when I always have a double dose with my tutor, and it won’t do for me to spoil it,” and Will Phelps made a wry face as he spoke.

“But, Will,” protested Foster, “you can make up the work before then and not lose a bit.”

“Yes, I’ve thought of that, but I don’t think I’ll do it.  It’s a bitter dose I know, but I might as well swallow it first as last.”

“Do you mean it?”

“Don’t I act as if I did?”

“All right.  I’ll not say another word.  Maybe it’ll be a way out for Peter John.  I’d like to fix it for the fellow if I can.”

“I don’t just see—­” began Will; but he stopped when he perceived that his room-mate had risen from his seat and was about to depart from the room.

On the following day the excitement among the students of Winthrop increased when a mass meeting was held and various leading spirits of the college delivered very florid and perfervid addresses in which the student-body was urged to support the team and take advantage of the low rates offered to accompany it and be on hand on the field to cheer it on to victory.  Shouts and cheers greeted the speakers, and when the meeting broke up and the boys were returning to their rooms Mott and Peter John joined Will on his way to Perry Hall.

“Have the time of your young life on Saturday, Phelps,” said Mott loudly.

“I’m not going.”

“Why not?  All the fellows are.”

“I’d like to, but I’ve some work I must do, and I can’t break in on it.”