about it; seemed hurt to think I could
suspect such a thing. Though, really, I didn't quite suspect, you know."

"I'm sorry we hurt his feelings," said Neil. "It was a bit mean of me to
suggest it."

"He's going to stay for a while," went on Paul. "And--and--Look here,
chum, don't you think that if--er--you tried you could get to like him
better? From something he said to-day I found out that he thinks you're
a good sort and he'd like to get on with you. Maybe if we kind of looked
after him we could--oh, I don't know! But you see what I mean?"

"Yes, I see what you mean," replied Neil thoughtfully. "And maybe we'd
get on better if we tried again. Anyhow, Paul, you ask him down to the
room some night and--and we'll see."

"Thanks," said Paul gratefully. "And now let's get busy with the funeral
baked beans--I mean meats. Gee, I've got about as much appetite as a
fly! I--I wish the game was over with!"

"So do I," answered Neil, as with a sigh he listlessly followed his chum
into the house.

CHAPTER XXI

THE "ANTIDOTE" IS ADMINISTERED

[Illustration]

High up against a fair blue sky studded with fleecy clouds streamed a
banner of royal purple bearing in its center a great white E--a flare of
intense color visible from afar over the topmost branches of the empty
elms, and a beacon toward which the stream of spectators set their
steps. In the tower of College Hall the old bell struck two o'clock, and
the throngs at the gates of Erskine Field moved faster, swaying and
pushing past the ticket-takers and streaming out onto the field toward
the big stands already piled high with laughing, chattering humanity.
Under the great flag stretched a long bank of somber grays and black
splashed thickly with purple, looking from a little distance as though
the big banner had dripped its dye on to the multitude beneath.
Opposite, the rival tiers of crowded seats were pricked out lavishly
with the rich but less brilliant brown, while at the end of the
enclosure, where the throngs entered, a smaller stand flaunted the two
colors in almost equal proportions.

And between stretched a smooth expanse of russet-hued turf ribbed with
white lines that glared in the afternoon sunlight.

The college band, augmented for the occasion from the ranks of the
village musicians, played blithely; some twelve thousand persons talked,
laughed, or shouted ceaselessly; and the cheering sections were loudly
contending for vocal supremacy. And su