all the athletic clothes, you know all the talk, you have tried to make the team a dozen times, but you are not even a substitute. You are merely the Varsity cheer-leader. Culver calls you 'the head-yeller.'" "Columbus has discovered our continent!" said Speed. "You are a very wise chaperon, and you must have a corking memory for names, but even a head-yeller is better than a glee-club quarter-back." He nodded toward the bunk-house, whence they had come. "You haven't told anybody?" "Not yet." "'Yet,'" he quoted. "The futurity implied in that word disturbs me. Suppose you and I keep it for a little secret? Secrets are very delightful at house-parties." "Don't you consider your action deceitful?" "Not at all. My motto is 'We strive to please.'" "Think of Helen." "That's it; I can't think of anything else! She's mad about athletics, and I had to do something to stand off this weight- lifting tenor." "Is it any wonder a woman distrusts every man she meets?" mused the chaperon. "Helen might forgive you, I couldn't." "Oh, it's not that bad. I know what I'm doing." "You will cause these cowboys to lose a lot more money." "Not at all. When Culver arrives--" "Oh, that is what I want to talk over with you," Mrs. Keap broke in, nervously. "Then it isn't about the foot-race? You are not angry?" Speed brightened amazingly. "I'm not exactly angry; I'm surprised and grieved. Of course, I can't forgive deceit--I dare say I am more particular than most people." "But you won't tell?" Mrs. Keap indicated in some subtle manner that she was not above making terms, whereupon her companion declared, warmly: "I'm yours for life! Ask me for my watch, my right eye, anything! I'll give it to you!"