Of late he spent a good deal of his time there and Neil was getting worried.

For Cowan was notably an idler, and the wonder was how he managed to keep himself in college even though he was taking but a partial course.

To be sure, Cowan's fate didn't bother Neil a bit, but he was greatly afraid that his example would be followed by his roommate, who, at the best, was none too fond of study.

Neil sat long that evening over an unopened book, striving to think of some method of weakening Cowan's hold on Paul--a hold that was daily growing stronger and which threatened to work ill to the latter.
In the end Neil sighed, tossed down the volume, and made ready for bed without having found a solution of the problem.
The following Monday Neil was rewarded for his good showing in the Woodby game by being taken on to the varsity.

Paul remained on the second team, and Cowan, greatly to that gentleman's bewilderment and wrath, joined him there.