CHAPTER XVII.
FACING THE "SCHOOL CUT" At the instant of their entrance into the car the air had been full of merry chatter.
There were many High School girls in this car, and not many vacant seats.
As the word "sneaks" sounded through the car everyone turned around.
Bert and Bayliss found themselves uncomfortably conspicuous.
At once all the talk and laughter ceased.

Stony silence followed.
One of the girls was sitting alone in a seat.
Bayliss, unable to endure the situation any longer, glided forward, dropping into the vacant place.
"That seat is engaged," the girl coolly informed him.
So Bayliss, redder than ever, hurriedly rose.
Bert had already started for the next car.

Bayliss slunk along after him.
"Sneaks!" cried some one, as they showed their faces in still the next car forward.
Here, too, all the chatter stormed at once.
Bert, pulling his hat down over his eyes, went hurriedly past the boys and girls of Gridley, and into the next car.
Bayliss followed with the fidelity and closeness of a little dog.
Now, the next car ahead proved to be the smoking car.

Here, at any rate, the despised pair could find safe harborage.
But one of the men of Gridley, who had followed the football team this day, and who had got an inkling of the story of the arrest, removed a cigar from between his lips and pointed an accusing finger at the boys.
"See here, you fellows!" he shouted.

"This car is exclusively for men.