I know that Coach Morton is worried.

In fact, he's downright disheartened." "Surely," interjected Dick, "Mr.Morton must have an idea of what is keeping some of the fellows back from the team ?" "If he does know, he isn't offering any information," returned Harry Hazelton.
"I don't see any need for so much mystery," broke in Dave Darrin, in disgust.
"Well, there is a mystery about it, anyway," contended Tom Reade.
"Then, before I'm much older, I'm going to know what that mystery is," declared Dick.
"You're surely the one of our crowd who ought to be put on the trail of the mystery," proposed Dalzell, with a laugh.
"Why ?" challenged Prescott.
"Why, you're a reporter on 'The Blade.' Now mysteries are supposed to constitute the especial field of reporters.

So, see here, fellows, I move that we appoint Dick Prescott a committee of one for Dick & Co., his job being to find out what ails football---to learn just what has made football sick this year." "Hear! Hear!" cried some of the others.
"Is that your unanimous wish, fellows ?" asked Dick, smiling.
"It is," the others agreed.
"Very good, then," sighed Prescott.

"At no matter what personal cost, I will find the answer for you." This was all in a spirit of fun, as the chums understood.

Yet this lightly given promise was likely to involve Dick Prescott in a good deal more than he had expected.
Readers of the preceding volumes in this series know Dick & Co.
so well that an introduction would be superfluous.