Tom, in fact, was practically bankrupt and had sent an "S.

O.S.," as he called it, to his father.
Meanwhile, every afternoon save Sunday they donned their togs and toiled on the gridiron.

Mr.Robey was already bringing order out of chaos and the sixty-odd candidates now formed a first, second and third squad.
Steve and Tom both remained in the latter for the present, nor did Tom entertain much hope of getting out of it until he was dropped for good.
Steve had made something of a reputation as a player at home, and his former team-mates there firmly expected to hear that he had made the Brimfield 'varsity without difficulty and was showing the preparatory school fellows how the game ought to be played.

Tom, too, expected no less for him, and perhaps, if the truth were known, Steve entertained some such expectations himself! But Tom wasn't deceived as to his own football ability and was already wondering whether, when he was dropped from the 'varsity squad, he would be so fortunate as to make his hall team.
But there was a surprise in store for both of them.

The first cut came about ten days after the opening of school, and the candidates dwindled from sixty-odd to a scant fifty.