composed of dead ones? You see, there'll be an undertaker for
each member of the Board. Don't you think the idea---the hint---would
soak through even those seven dull old heads?"

Tom, Harry and Dave began to chuckle, though they looked puzzled.

"Well, if you ask _me_," decided Dick, after more thought, "I have
just one answer. The scheme is too grisly. Besides, we've nothing
against the undertakers that should make us willing to waste their
time. Moreover, Dan we're in the High School, and we're expected
to be gentlemen. Now, does your scheme strike you as just the
prank for a lot of gentlemen."

"Say, don't look the thing over too closely," protested Dan, more
soberly, "or you'll find lots of bad holes in the scheme. Yet,
somehow, we've got to bring it to the attention of the Board that,
if they go against High School football, they're real dead ones."

"I've just an idea we can do that," spoke Dick Prescott, reflectively.
"We can rig the scheme over, so as to save seven estimable business
men from starting out on fools' errands. And we can drive the
lesson home to the Board just as hard---perhaps harder."

At these hopeful words from the chief the partners pricked up
their ears, then crowded closer.

"In the first place," began Dick, "Dan's scheme---beg your pardon,
old fellow---is clumsy, grisly and likely to come back as a club
to hit us over the head. Now, you all know Len Spencer, the
'Morning Blade' reporter. He's a regular 'fan' over the football