the situation, and Clif was puzzled. Of course if Tom had decided to accept conditions philosophically, and make the best of them, Clif was pleased, but there was something in the other's manner, a sort of under surface excitement, that prevented Clif from being quite satisfied with that explanation. And then, too, Tom was so casual when Clif detained him in the corridor after breakfast. His replies to the other boy's questions were brief and vague. Yes, he was going to see "Cheese" right now. And "Cocky" afterward. That theme? Well, yes, he might have a go at that later. When Clif called "Good luck!" after him as he turned down the corridor he said: "Thanks, old son," and waved a hand almost gayly.
The interview with Mr. Parks was not disappointing only because Tom had not hoped that anything would come of it. The French instructor firmly refused to interfere in the matter, and even managed to make Tom feel that he had committed a breach of ethics in proposing such a course. Not, however, that Tom troubled about it. He thanked "Cheese" most courteously—so courteously, in fact, that the instructor frowned suspiciously—and withdrew. Several times during the forenoon Clif ran across him in the corridors, and at two recitations they occupied adjacent seats, and Clif's puzzlement increased rather than diminished. Tom neither looked nor acted his part. Clif confided the fact to Loring, adding uneasily: "He's up to something, and I'll bet it's something crazy. I wish I knew what."
The Scrub did not choose a new captain. There was
