the doorway.

"I'm looking for Mr. Gale and Mr. Fletcher. Have I hit it right?"

"I'm Gale," answered Paul, "and that's Fletcher. Won't you come in?" The
visitor entered.

"My name's Devoe," he explained smilingly. "I'm captain of the football
team this year, and as you two fellows are, of course, going to try for
the team, I thought we'd better get acquainted." He accepted the squeaky
rocking-chair and allowed Paul to take his straw hat. Neil thought he'd
ought to shake hands, but as Devoe made no move in that direction he
retired to another seat and grinned hospitably instead.

"I've heard of the good work you chaps did for Hillton last year, and I
was mighty glad when I learned from Gardiner that you were coming
up here."

"You know Gardiner?" asked Neil.

"No, I've never met him, but of course every football man knows who he
is. He wrote to me in the spring that you were coming, and rather
intimated that if I knew my business I'd keep an eye on you and see that
you didn't get lost in the shuffle. So here I am."

"He didn't say anything about having written," pondered Neil.

"Oh, he wouldn't," answered Devoe. "Well, how do you like us as far as
you've seen us?"