Page:The spirit of the leader (IA spiritofleader00heyl).pdf/174

 "You can depend on that." He went back to his interrupted meal in the cafeteria with determination written into every line of his bearing.

"That's one thing less to worry about," the coach told himself, and went off in search of Praska.

"Do you know," he demanded, "why the Owl refused to tutor Martin?"

Praska shook his head.

"He's from your home room. I had an idea that a home room that gave Northfield the president of its Congress would be interested in why one of its citizens didn't go through with a promise he made to take Martin in hand. Do you know—have you heard—some of the things the school has said about the Owl and Room 13?"

Praska winced. "One of our fellows labeled him a jackass," he said evenly. "But the room as a whole believes that whatever the Owl did he had a good reason for doing. Littlefield and Hammond are on the nine. Littlefield's captain. He's never asked the Owl for a reason. There are some fellows you can always bank on as acting square. A lot of us feel the Owl is one of them."

"Oh, I know he's square," Jennings said wearily. "I shouldn't have lit into you—but the nine is going to smash. Isn't it just possible that this