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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Frank Merriwell's Races, by Burt L. Standish
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Frank Merriwell's Races
+
+
+Author: Burt L. Standish
+
+
+
+Release Date: June 28, 2007  [eBook #21958]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S RACES***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Steven desJardins and Project Gutenberg Distributed
+Proofreaders
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+   A table of contents has been created for this e-text.
+
+   Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.
+
+
+
+
+
+FRANK MERRIWELL'S RACES
+
+by
+
+BURT L. STANDISH
+
+Author of
+"Frank Merriwell's Schooldays," "Frank Merriwell's Trip West,"
+"Frank Merriwell's Chums," "Frank Merriwell's Foes," etc.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Philadelphia
+David McKay, Publisher
+604-8 South Washington Square
+
+Copyright, 1903
+By Street & Smith
+
+
+
+
+TABLE OF CONTENTS.
+
+CHAPTER I.             HORSE TALK.
+CHAPTER II.            AN ADVENTURE ON THE ROAD.
+CHAPTER III.           TEACHING A RASCAL A LESSON.
+CHAPTER IV.            BIRDS OF A FEATHER.
+CHAPTER V.             WHAT A HAIR CAN DO.
+CHAPTER VI.            PRINCE AND THE EAVESDROPPER.
+CHAPTER VII.           THE PLOT.
+CHAPTER VIII.          TAKING CHANCES.
+CHAPTER IX.            A STRONG ACCUSATION.
+CHAPTER X.             A FIGHT AGAINST ODDS.
+CHAPTER XI.            A MATTER OF SPECULATION.
+CHAPTER XII.           THE CHALLENGE.
+CHAPTER XIII.          THE WRESTLING MATCH.
+CHAPTER XIV.           PLOTTING FUN.
+CHAPTER XV.            THORNTON'S "MASH."
+CHAPTER XVI.           ANOTHER CHALLENGE.
+CHAPTER XVII.          PURE GRIT.
+CHAPTER XVIII.         AFTER THE BOAT RACE.
+CHAPTER XIX.           THE YALE SPIRIT.
+CHAPTER XX.            SPURNING A BRIBE.
+CHAPTER XXI.           ON THE SPECIAL TRAIN.
+CHAPTER XXII.          THE FIGHT ON THE TRAIN.
+CHAPTER XXIII.         SEEN AGAIN.
+CHAPTER XXIV.          TWO WARNINGS.
+CHAPTER XXV.           THE THEATRE PARTY.
+CHAPTER XXVI.          TRAPPED.
+CHAPTER XXVII.         AN EMISSARY FROM THE WEST.
+CHAPTER XXVIII.        FRIENDS OR FOES.
+CHAPTER XXIX.          TALK OF A TOUR.
+CHAPTER XXX.           A HOT RUN.
+CHAPTER XXXI.          AN INCENTIVE TO WIN.
+CHAPTER XXXII.         THE RUN TO THE STATION.
+CHAPTER XXXIII.        ENEMIES AT WORK.
+CHAPTER XXXIV.         BASEBALL.
+CHAPTER XXXV.          KIDNAPED.
+CHAPTER XXXVI.         THE TOURNAMENT.
+CHAPTER XXXVII.        TO VICTORY--CONCLUSION.
+
+
+
+
+FRANK MERRIWELL'S RACES
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+HORSE TALK.
+
+
+"He's a beauty!"
+
+Jack Diamond uttered the exclamation. He was admiring a horse Frank
+Merriwell had lately purchased.
+
+"He is," agreed Danny Griswold, with his hands thrust deep into his
+trousers pockets and his short legs set far apart. "But think of paying
+a thousand dollars!"
+
+"He looks like a racer," declared Bruce Browning, who showed unusual
+interest and animation for a fellow who was known as the laziest man at
+Yale.
+
+"He's got the marks of a swift one," asserted Diamond, walking around
+the bay gelding, which Frank Merriwell had led out into the middle of
+the stable floor for inspection. "He is rangey, has clean limbs, and a
+courageous eye. I shouldn't wonder if he could cover ground in a hurry."
+
+"I did not buy him for a racer," asserted Frank. "I purchased him as a
+saddle horse purely for my own use and pleasure."
+
+"You must have money to burn," chirped Griswold. "Your old man must have
+made loads of it. I had an uncle four times removed once who made money,
+but he got arrested when he tried to pass it."
+
+"That reminds me of my father and his partner," said Browning, with
+apparent seriousness. "They formed a strange sort of a partnership. One
+of them stayed in New York all the time, while the other remained in
+California. In this manner they managed always to have plenty of money
+between them."
+
+"Oh, goodness!" gasped Diamond, "if you fellows keep this up, I shall
+want to get away."
+
+"If you want to get a weigh, we'll try to find some scales for you,"
+chuckled Griswold, his eyes twinkling.
+
+"They say Dan Dorman's father has plenty of money," said Frank.
+
+"I've heard so," admitted Browning. "But Dorman is too mean to make
+much of a drain on the old man's pile."
+
+"That's right," nodded Griswold. "Why, he is so mean that in the winter,
+when his hair gets long, he wets it thoroughly, and then goes out in the
+open air and lets it freeze."
+
+"What does he do that for?"
+
+"So he can break it off and save the price of a hair-cut!"
+
+"Say," cried Diamond, desperately, "I thought you fellows were talking
+about a horse!"
+
+"No," yawned Browning, "we're talking about a jackass."
+
+Every one but Jack seemed to appreciate this, for they all grinned.
+
+"Well," said the lad from Virginia, "Merriwell has brought out his horse
+for us to inspect, and I move we do so. After this is over, you may talk
+of anything you please."
+
+"It is rather remarkable that you should pay such a price for a mere
+saddle horse," declared Browning.
+
+"I simply kept my promise," smiled Frank.
+
+"Your promise?"
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"What promise?"
+
+"The one I made to myself when this horse enabled me to overtake a
+runaway that was dragging Winifred Lee to danger and possible death.
+This is the animal on which I pursued the runaway, and I took him
+without asking leave of the owner. I vowed that if this horse enabled me
+to catch and stop the runaway before Miss Lee was harmed I would own the
+creature if it took my last dollar," he added.
+
+"And that," cried Griswold, trying to strike a dramatic attitude--"that
+is true love!"
+
+"Well, I don't know as I blame you, Merriwell," admitted Bruce.
+"Winifred Lee is a stunning girl. But it strikes me that the owner of
+the horse swindled you."
+
+A bit of additional color had risen to Frank's cheeks, and he looked
+strikingly handsome. The boys knew it would not do to carry the joke
+about Winnie Lee too far, and so they refrained.
+
+"The man who owned the horse did not want to sell him at any price,"
+explained Frank. "I induced him to set a price that he thought would
+settle me, and then I snapped him up so quickly it took away his
+breath."
+
+"I should think your guardian would have kicked at throwing up a
+thousand for such a purpose."
+
+"He did," laughed Frank, looking at Diamond, who showed a little
+confusion. "You remember that Jack, Rattleton and myself went on to
+Springfield to meet him a few days ago?"
+
+"And got arrested for kidnaping a baby!" chuckled Griswold. "That was a
+corker. We didn't do a thing to you fellows when you got back here!"
+
+"That's right," admitted Jack, dolefully. "Not a thing! You simply
+marched us through the streets and onto the campus with a band and
+banners and made a stunning show of us!"
+
+"Well," said Frank, "Professor Scotch, my guardian, was so glad to get
+out of the scrape when the judge discharged us that he gave up the
+thousand without a flutter. That's how I got the money."
+
+"Well," yawned Browning, "now you have the horse, you'll find him an
+expensive piece of furniture. It takes money to take care of 'em and
+feed 'em."
+
+Diamond had been inspecting the gelding from all sides, surveying him
+with the air of one who knows something about horses, and he now asked:
+
+"Has the creature a pedigree, old man?"
+
+"Sure," nodded Frank. "Its pedigree is all right. I have it somewhere,
+but I don't care so much for that."
+
+"Oh, I don't know! It may prove of value to you some day."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Well, you may take a fancy to enter Nemo in a race or two."
+
+"What then?"
+
+"If he should win, you'll want his pedigree."
+
+"I suppose that is right, but I am no sportsman of the turf; that is
+professional. Amateur sports are good enough for me."
+
+"Honest horse racing is one of the grandest sports in the world!" cried
+Jack, with flashing eyes.
+
+"Honest horse racing!" laughed Griswold. "What's that? Where do you find
+anything like that?"
+
+"Oh, there is such a thing."
+
+"There may be, but people are not used to it."
+
+"That's why I do not think much of horse racing," declared Frank.
+"There are too many tricks to it to suit me."
+
+"Oh, there are tricks to any sort of sport."
+
+"Very few to college sports. If a man is caught at anything crooked it
+means ruin for his college career, and he is sure to carry the stigma
+through life. I tell you college sports are honest, and that is why they
+are so favored by people of taste and refinement--people who care little
+or nothing for professional sports. The public sees the earnestness, the
+honesty, and the manhood in college sports and contests, and the patrons
+of such sports know they are not being done out of their money by a
+fake. Prize fighting in itself is not so bad, but the class of men who
+follow it have brought disgrace and disrepute upon it. Fights are
+'fixed' in advance by these dishonest scoundrels, and the man who backs
+his judgment with his money is likely to be done out of his coin by the
+dirtiest kind of a deal."
+
+"What makes me sore," said Diamond, "is that some sensational newspapers
+should send professional bruisers to witness our college football games
+and denounce them as more brutal than prize fights."
+
+"That makes me a trifle warm under the collar," admitted Browning. "But
+I don't suppose we should mind what that class of papers say. Their
+motto is 'Anything for a sensation,' and the intelligent portion of the
+newspaper readers is onto them. These papers have faked so many things
+that they carry no weight when they do tell the truth."
+
+"I wouldn't mind putting Nemo into a race just to see what sort of stuff
+there is in him," admitted Frank.
+
+"Why don't you do it?" cried Diamond, eagerly.
+
+"I wouldn't want to enter him in any of the races around here."
+
+"Take him to New York."
+
+"No; those races are beyond my limit. All I want to do is try him for my
+own satisfaction."
+
+"Then run him into the Mystic Park races at Bethany. You can do that
+quietly enough."
+
+"That's so," said Browning. "You can do that without attracting too much
+attention to yourself."
+
+"We'll all go up and see the race," declared Griswold. "It will be great
+sport. Do it, old man!"
+
+"But where can I get a jockey I can trust?"
+
+"You'll have to scrub around for one, and take chances."
+
+"No!" cried Merriwell, as a sudden thought struck him. "I can do better
+than that."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I have the fellow."
+
+"Who?"
+
+"A colored boy at home. He is fond of horses."
+
+"Has he ever ridden in a race?"
+
+"Twice."
+
+"Did he win?"
+
+"Once. My uncle, who kindly left me his fortune, was a crank on fast
+horses, and he owned a number of them. Toots could ride some of them
+that would allow nobody else to mount them. Uncle Asher had horses in
+the races every year, but he was often 'done' by his jockeys. He knew it
+well enough, but he found it impossible to get the sort of jockey he
+wanted. Toots begged to ride a race, but he was a little shaver, and
+uncle was afraid. Finally, one day, just before a race was to come off,
+Uncle Asher discovered that his jockey had sold out. At the last moment
+he fired the fellow, and was forced to let Toots ride, or withdraw his
+horse. Toots rode, and won. The next time he rode he might have won, but
+the horse was doped."
+
+"He's just the chap you want!" nodded Jack, with satisfaction. "Put Nemo
+into the Bethany races, and let Toots ride him."
+
+"I'll think of it," said Frank.
+
+A hostler approached the group.
+
+"Howdy do, Mr. Merriwell, sir?" he said. "One of your friends called to
+see your horse this morning, sir."
+
+"One of my friends?" cried Frank, in surprise. "Who was it?"
+
+"He gave his name as Diamond, sir--Jack Diamond."
+
+Merriwell immediately turned on Jack and asked:
+
+"Hello, how about this? Did you call to see Nemo this morning?"
+
+"Not much!" exclaimed Jack. "This is the first time I have been here.
+The hostler is mistaken."
+
+"You must have misunderstood your visitor, Grody," said Frank. "He could
+not have given his name as Jack Diamond, for this is Jack Diamond here."
+
+The man stared at Jack, and then shook his head.
+
+"That's not the feller," he declared.
+
+"Of course not. Your visitor must have given you some other name."
+
+"Not on your life," returned Grody, promptly. "He said his name was Jack
+Diamond, sir, and I will swear to that."
+
+"Well, this is somewhat interesting!" came grimly from Frank. "What did
+he do, Grody?"
+
+"He looked Nemo over, sir."
+
+"Looked Nemo over how--in what way?"
+
+"Why, I offered to take Nemo out of the stall, but he said no, not to
+bother, as he only wished to glance at the horse. He went to the stall,
+which same I showed him, and looked in. The door wasn't locked, for I
+had just been cleanin' the stall out. He opened the door and stood there
+some little time. First thing I knew he was gone. I went and looked into
+the stall, and he was examinin' Nemo's feet. He seemed wonderful
+interested in the horse, and I saw by the way he acted he knew something
+about horses."
+
+"The interest deepens," observed Frank. "Go on, Grody."
+
+"When he came out of the stall he says to me, says he, 'Merriwell has
+struck a right good piece of horseflesh there.' Says I, 'In the best of
+my judgment he has, sir.' Says he, 'I understand he paid a fancy figure
+for the gelding, something like a thousand, he told me.' Says I, 'If he
+told you that I have no doubt he told you correct, sir.' Then says he,
+'Does he mean to race him?' 'That,' says I, 'bein' a friend of Mr.
+Merriwell, is something what you should know as well as I, or better.'
+Then he says, says he, 'Horses is mighty uncertain property, for you
+never can tell what may happen to them.' In this I agreed with him, but
+there was something about him I didn't like much. Then he went away."
+
+Frank whistled.
+
+"This is highly interesting," exclaimed Frank. "What did this fellow
+look like, Grody? Can you describe him?"
+
+"Well, I looked him over rather careful like, sir, but I don't know as I
+can describe him particular, except that he had on a checked suit and
+wore a red necktie, in which were a blazer, genuine, or to the contrary.
+I know horses, but I'm no judge of diamonds. He was smooth shaved, and
+his jaw were rather square and his hair short. The eyes of him never
+looked straight at me once. Somehow I didn't think he were a student,
+for he made one or two breaks in the words he said that made his talk
+different from your student's. He didn't have that sort of real
+gentleman way with him neither."
+
+Frank turned to his friends.
+
+"Now what do you suppose this business means, fellows?" he asked.
+
+"It means crookedness!" declared Diamond, rather excitedly. "I am dead
+sure of that!"
+
+"It looks that way," admitted Browning.
+
+"But what sort of crookedness can it mean?" asked Frank, bewildered.
+"What is the game?"
+
+"That will develop later; but there is some kind of a game on, be sure
+of that," asserted Jack. "If not, why should anybody come here and give
+a fictitious name? That gives the whole thing away. Look out, Frank, all
+your enemies are not sleeping!"
+
+"Well, it is time they let up on me," said Merriwell, seriously. "They
+have brought nothing but disaster and disgrace on themselves thus far,
+and----"
+
+"Some of them are looking for revenge, mark what I say."
+
+"I am tired of being bothered and harassed by petty enemies!" exclaimed
+Frank. "I have had considerable patience with the fellows who have
+worked against me, but there is a limit."
+
+"That's right, and they would have reached the limit with me long ago,"
+declared Diamond.
+
+"Well, it is like this, Jack," said Frank; "it is almost always true
+that not all of a man's enemies are bad fellows. To begin with, you
+remember that you were my enemy, and now we are friends, and this is not
+the first time such a thing has happened with me."
+
+"Well, if a man were bucking against me, I do not think I would wait to
+see how he would turn out before I bucked back."
+
+"Oh, I am not in the habit of doing that. You will remember that I
+bucked back pretty hard in your case."
+
+Jack did remember it, and he felt that Merriwell was capable of holding
+his own with his foes.
+
+"You will do well to look out for your horse, all the same," said
+Diamond.
+
+"That's right," grunted Browning. "If I were in your place, Merriwell,
+I'd watch out pretty sharp."
+
+"I will," said Frank. "I'll have Toots come on here and keep watch over
+Nemo most of the time. When he is not here, Grody can take his place. If
+I have an enemy who thinks of stealing my horse, he'll have hard work to
+accomplish his design."
+
+"Unless he does it before you get things arranged," said Griswold. "Put
+him up, Merriwell, and let's get out."
+
+"I am going for a ride," said Frank. "Put the saddle on him, Grogan.
+Will see you later, fellows, if you are going now."
+
+"We'll wait till you leave," yawned Browning. "There's no reason why we
+should tear our clothes hurrying away."
+
+"You are not liable to tear your clothes doing anything," laughed
+Frank.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+AN ADVENTURE ON THE ROAD.
+
+
+Grody soon had Nemo saddled and bridled. The horse was eager to be away,
+as he showed by his tossing head, fluttering nostrils and restless feet.
+
+"Whoa, boy," said Frank, soothingly. "Don't be so impatient. We'll get
+away in a moment."
+
+He swung into the saddle, the stable doors rolled open, and away sprang
+the gelding.
+
+The remaining lads hurried out of the stable to watch Frank ride, Grody
+accompanying them.
+
+"He seems like he were a part of the horse," declared the hostler,
+admiringly. "That young gentleman were born to handle horses, he were."
+
+"He is, indeed, a graceful rider," nodded Diamond. "I am sure he did not
+learn in any riding academy, for he rides naturally. The riding
+academies all turn out riders with an artificial and wooden style. There
+is no more distressing sight than the riders to be seen in Central Park,
+New York, almost any afternoon. They bounce around in the saddle like a
+lot of wooden figures, and it is plain enough that many of them do not
+bounce because they want to, but because they think it the proper thing.
+Southerners ride naturally and gracefully. Mr. Merriwell rides like a
+Southerner."
+
+"He rides like Buffalo Bill," said Browning, with an effort. "Bill is
+the best rider I ever saw."
+
+Diamond was watching Merriwell and the horse, a queer look on his face.
+Finally he exclaimed:
+
+"By Jove! there's something the matter with Nemo!"
+
+"What is it?" asked Griswold. "I didn't notice anything."
+
+"The horse shows a suspicion of lameness," asserted Jack.
+
+"You have good eyes to detect it," observed Browning, doubtingly. "I
+can't see that anything is the matter with the horse."
+
+"I'll wager he goes lame before Merriwell returns."
+
+"If he does, I shall think you have great discernment."
+
+Merriwell turned a corner and disappeared.
+
+"Come, fellows," said Griswold, "let's shuffle along."
+
+"Merriwell is altogether too generous," declared Diamond, as the trio
+walked away.
+
+"In what way?" asked Browning.
+
+"With his enemies. I know you and I were both enemies to him in the
+beginning, and----"
+
+"He threw us down hard."
+
+"That's all right; but there are enemies you have to hold down."
+
+"Merriwell didn't do a thing to Hartwick!" exclaimed Griswold, grinning.
+"He scared the fellow so he ran away from college, and nobody knows
+where he went."
+
+"Yes, but Merriwell gave him the opportunity to skip and escape the
+disgrace that must follow public exposure of his acts. Some fellows
+would have exposed him and brought about his expulsion."
+
+"That's right," chirped Griswold. "Merriwell was as generous with
+Hartwick as he could be with such a fellow. He might have used him much
+worse than he did."
+
+"And do you fancy Hartwick thinks any more of Merriwell for not exposing
+him publicly?" asked Jack.
+
+"Oh. I don't know."
+
+"Well, I will wager that he does not. More than that, I'll venture that
+Hartwick, wherever he may be, cherishes a fierce desire for revenge, and
+longs for the day when he will be able to get back at Frank. Merry will
+hear from that chap again."
+
+And there the subject was dropped.
+
+Frank enjoyed the ride upon Nemo's back, for the horse seemed
+intelligent and something of a comrade. The boy talked to his mount as
+if the animal could understand every word he uttered.
+
+He had ridden beyond the limits of the city before he noticed that Nemo
+was limping the least bit.
+
+"What's the matter, old fellow?" asked Frank, with concern. "Have you
+hurt yourself some way?"
+
+Nemo shook his head. It almost seemed that the animal was answering the
+question in the negative.
+
+"You must have stepped on a stone," Merriwell declared. "Why, you are
+really beginning to limp in earnest!"
+
+Frank immediately dismounted, after having decided it was Nemo's left
+hind leg or foot that was lame.
+
+"I'll make an inspection, and see if I can discover what is the matter,"
+said the boy, anxiously.
+
+He examined both of the horse's hind feet, but could not see that
+anything was wrong.
+
+"If that rascally shoer has blundered in his work he'll not get another
+chance at you, boy," Merriwell declared.
+
+After patting Nemo's neck and fondling the fine creature a bit, Frank
+mounted once more.
+
+But Nemo limped worse than ever.
+
+"This is singular," muttered the perplexed lad. "I don't understand it
+at all. There's something wrong, for a fact."
+
+He watched the horse, and decided that he had made no mistake in
+locating the lameness in the left hind leg.
+
+Again he dismounted and made an examination, and again the result was
+far from satisfactory.
+
+"I wish you might speak and tell me what is the matter," said Frank, in
+dismay. "I'll have you examined without delay by somebody who knows his
+business."
+
+He rode slowly into the outskirts of the city.
+
+Of a sudden there was a rattle of wheels and a clatter of hoofs behind
+him.
+
+He turned and looked back, to see a carriage coming along the road at a
+reckless rate. Two persons were seated in the carriage, and the horse
+was covered with sweat.
+
+"Why are those fools driving like that?" muttered Merriwell. "Are they
+drunk, or is it a matter of life or death?"
+
+"Get out of the road!"
+
+The command was hoarsely shouted, and Frank reined aside, having no
+desire to get in the way of the reckless driver.
+
+Once more the boy on the horse turned to look back.
+
+"Drunk, sure enough," he decided. "And they are two young fellows, too.
+Students on a tear, perhaps."
+
+The occupants of the carriage had been drinking heavily, but they were
+not so drunk that they did not recognize the boy in advance when he
+turned in the saddle the second time.
+
+"Hey, Rolf!" exclaimed the one who was not driving. "It's Merriwell!"
+
+"That's what it is!" cried the driver. "I haven't seen him for some
+time, but I know his face too well to ever forget it!"
+
+"He's out on his new horse."
+
+"Sure."
+
+"Run him down! run him down! Throw him off! Now's our chance!"
+
+The driver was just intoxicated enough to be utterly reckless of
+consequences, and he snarled:
+
+"Hang me if I don't do it!"
+
+And then, when they were very near the boy and the horse, he suddenly
+reined toward Frank with the intention of running into Merriwell's
+mount.
+
+In another moment there might have been a grand smash there on the road,
+but Frank had caught the words "Run him down!" and he gave Nemo a light
+cut with the whip, at the same time pulling him still farther into the
+ditch.
+
+Nemo was not used to the whip, and he leaped like a flash. Such a spring
+would have unseated any but a most expert rider, but the boy in the
+saddle seemed to move as a part of the horse. Into the ditch they went,
+and past them spun the carriage containing the two reckless young men.
+
+The carriage came very near upsetting. It careened and spun along on two
+wheels, threatening to hurl its occupants into the ditch, for the driver
+had reined the horse back toward the middle of the road. Both clung on
+for life.
+
+"Don't blame me!" muttered Merriwell, through his teeth. "You were
+looking for a smash."
+
+But the carriage did not go over; it righted at last. One of the young
+men looked back and shook his fist at the boy on the horse, and then
+away they went in a cloud of dust.
+
+"If that was not Evan Hartwick, I am greatly mistaken!" exclaimed Frank,
+as he reined Nemo back into the road. "So he is back here as soon as
+this? I know what that means. He is looking for revenge on me."
+
+Frank had seen the face of the driver as the carriage spun past, and he
+added:
+
+"Hartwick's companion is somebody I know. I did not obtain a fair look
+at him, but--great Scott! it was the card sharp, Rolf Harlow!"
+
+Harlow was a fellow who had entered Harvard, but had not completed his
+second year there, leaving suddenly for reasons not generally known.
+
+A Yale man by the name of Harris, familiarly known as "Sport," because
+of his gambling inclinations, had known Harlow, and had introduced him
+to a number of Yale students.
+
+Harris and Harlow were both poker players, but they claimed that they
+played the game "merely for amusement."
+
+A number of Harris' acquaintances had been induced to enter into the
+game, and there had been some very "hot sittings."
+
+No one seemed to suspect that Harlow was crooked, for he almost always
+lost, although he never lost large sums.
+
+Harris won almost continually. He seemed to be the luckiest fellow in
+the world in drawing cards. He would hold up one ace on a large jackpot
+and catch two more aces and a small pair. It seemed the greatest kind of
+"bull luck."
+
+Harry Rattleton, Merriwell's roommate, was following the game. Frank
+tried to induce him to keep away, but it was without avail.
+
+Then Frank seemed to take an interest in the game, and it was not long
+before he proved that Harlow was a card manipulator, and caught him at
+one of his tricks.
+
+That finished Harlow's career at plucking Yale "fruit," and the fellow
+left New Haven suddenly.
+
+Harris had remained under a cloud of suspicion since that time, as there
+seemed very little doubt but he had been in league with Harlow, and they
+had divided the plunder between them.
+
+The proof had not been sufficient to incriminate Harris, but it had been
+enough to make him unpopular and cause him to be shunned.
+
+He had seemed to take this very meekly, but some of Merriwell's friends
+declared that Harris had not forgotten or forgiven, and that he would
+strike back at Frank if the opportunity ever presented.
+
+Now Harlow was back in New Haven, and Hartwick, who had been forced to
+leave college to escape expulsion, was also there.
+
+That meant something.
+
+"Hartwick, Harlow and Harris--the three hard tickets. They are birds of
+a feather. All they need is Ditson to make a most delectable quartet!"
+
+So muttered Frank Merriwell, as he gazed at the receding cloud of dust.
+
+Frank began to realize that there was more trouble in store for him.
+
+"I shall not deal gently with that gang this time," he declared, with a
+hard-set face. "This little adventure has put me on my guard, and I
+don't propose to let them have much fun with me. Those two fools were
+just full enough to drive right into me with the hope of doing me an
+injury, without a thought of their own necks. They might have been
+thrown out and killed, but they did not hesitate because of that. The
+one thought was to do me some way--any way. Hartwick always was a
+desperate fellow, but I did not fancy Harlow could be such a chap.
+However, he was driving that horse, and the way he drove was proof
+enough that he is careless of life and limb at times."
+
+For some time Frank paid very little attention to Nemo, but the lameness
+of the horse became so pronounced at last that he could not help
+observing it once more.
+
+"That worries me, old fellow," he admitted, with a troubled face. "It is
+something I can't understand."
+
+He rode slowly back to the stable.
+
+It was growing dark when he arrived at the stable. A strange man was
+standing outside as Frank rode up. The man looked keenly at the boy and
+the horse, and then, as the doors rolled open, followed into the stable.
+
+"Horse is lame, eh?" he said, questioningly. "I didn't notice that when
+he went out. He wasn't lame then, was he?"
+
+Frank paid not the least attention to this question. The man was a
+stranger, and the boy did not care to talk with him.
+
+"I spotted that horse when yer rode out, young man," the stranger
+persisted. "Fine lookin' critter--just the kind I've been wantin' some
+time for a saddle horse. Whose critter is it?"
+
+"Grody," said Frank, utterly ignoring the man, "I want you to see if you
+can tell what ails Nemo. He is lame in one of his hind feet. He was
+taken that way after I had been out a while. I think it possible there
+is something the matter with the way he is shod. Will you look after him
+without delay?"
+
+"To be sure, sir--I'll not fail, sir," said Grody.
+
+"Then the horse belongs ter you, does it?" asked the strange man, coming
+forward and addressing Frank in a point-blank manner. "I am a horseman,
+and I know all about critters. If there's anything the matter--and there
+seems to be--I can tell what it is in five minutes. Shall I make an
+examination, young man?"
+
+"No, sir!" came sharply from Merriwell's lips. "I do not propose to have
+strangers fooling around my horse. I do not know you, sir, so your offer
+is respectfully declined."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+TEACHING A RASCAL A LESSON.
+
+
+"Now hold on, young man, don't be so fast," said the stranger. "You do
+not know me now, and I don't blame yer fer not wantin' anybody yer don't
+know doing anything fer yer horse; but here's my card--Professor James
+Colbath--and now I know you have heard of me. I am one of the greatest
+veterinary surgeons in the country."
+
+Frank ignored the card, and the man began to show signs of anger.
+
+"This is no bluff!" he exclaimed. "It's on the level. I have nary doubt
+but I can find out what's the matter with the critter in five minutes,
+and if I don't give yer a square deal I don't want a cent for my
+services, that's all."
+
+He would have lifted one of Nemo's feet, but Frank cried:
+
+"Drop that! I tell you I don't want you, and I won't have you! Get away
+from this horse!"
+
+The man growled and stiffened up.
+
+"All right," he said, somewhat savagely. "I did think of trying to buy
+the critter off yer, but you're too flip. If the animal stays lame,
+don't blame me."
+
+Although Frank had seemed to pay very little attention to the stranger,
+he was inspecting him closely. He saw the man had pulled his hat down
+over his eyes, and wore his coat collar turned up. He had a black beard
+that concealed his features to a great extent.
+
+Grody was also looking the stranger over closely. He fancied he detected
+a familiar sound in the man's voice. The light in the stable was rather
+dim, and that served to make the inspection of the boy and the hostler
+rather unsatisfactory.
+
+All at once, Grody started as if struck by a sudden idea. As soon as
+possible, he whispered in Frank's ear:
+
+"That mug is the same chap that were here this afternoon, sir."
+
+"The same chap? What chap?"
+
+"The one what gave his name as Diamond."
+
+"No? You said that fellow had no beard."
+
+"I don't believe this man's beard is all right."
+
+Frank was aroused. He fancied that he saw a ray of light.
+
+The fellow who had called himself Professor Colbath turned away. He had
+heard the hostler whisper, and he caught Frank's question. Immediately
+he showed a desire to get out.
+
+Leaving the horse to Grody, Frank quickly placed himself before the
+stranger, saying:
+
+"Hold on a minute. I don't know but I'll talk with you a little."
+
+"No, yer won't!" growled the man. "I'm done tryin' to talk with a fresh
+youngster like you--I'm done with you."
+
+"Well, I am not done with you!"
+
+Frank's voice rang out sharp and stern.
+
+"What do you want?" asked the man, uneasily.
+
+"I want to see your face."
+
+"Well, look at it, and when ye've seen it I'll proceed to smash yours! I
+don't take no insolence from a kid!"
+
+"Take off your hat!"
+
+"I will--nit!"
+
+"And that beard--take it off!"
+
+"Ye're crazy!" cried the man, as he started back.
+
+"Am I?"
+
+Frank gave a spring and a grab with both hands. One hand snatched away
+the cap, and the other tore off the black beard, which, indeed, proved
+to be false.
+
+The man uttered an exclamation of rage, and struck at Frank, who dodged
+the blow.
+
+"Is this the fellow, Grody?" cried Frank.
+
+"The same mug!" declared the hostler, excitedly.
+
+"Well, that's all I want to know!" burst from Frank, as he flung the hat
+and beard to the floor. "So you were monkeying around my horse to-day,
+you fakir! Well, what you need is a pair of good black eyes, and I
+propose to give them to you!"
+
+Snap!--off came the boy's jacket in a twinkling, and he still stood
+between the unmasked man and the door.
+
+The man, who was a coarse-looking young ruffian, ground his teeth and
+uttered some violent language.
+
+"Git out the way!" he snarled. "I'm a fighter, and I'll kill yer! I can
+put yer ter sleep with one punch!"
+
+Merriwell's blood was thoroughly stirred, and he felt just like
+teaching the fellow a lesson. Although a youth in years, Frank was, as
+my old readers know, a trained athlete, and he could handle his fists in
+the most scientific manner.
+
+"I am going to give you a chance to put me to sleep," he shot back. "I
+see your dirty game from start to finish! You are a fakir of the worst
+sort, and you tried to work me. You did something to my horse to make
+him lame, and you thought you would get a fat pull out of me for
+doctoring him. Instead of that, you have run your head into a bad
+scrape, and it will be damaged when you get it out."
+
+"You talk big for a kid. Why, I can blow yer over with my breath."
+
+"It is strong enough. But I don't go over so easy. Up with your hands if
+you are such a fighter! I'm coming for you!"
+
+"All right! If ye're bound to have it, come on!"
+
+The man put up his guard, and then Merriwell went at him, while Grody
+gasped for breath, thinking the college lad could be no match for the
+young ruffian.
+
+There were a few swift passes, and then Frank went under the fellow's
+guard and gave him a terrific uppercut on the chin. That was a
+staggerer, and the boy followed it up while the man was dazed.
+
+Punk!--biff!--two blows, one on the body and the other fairly in the
+eye.
+
+The second blow nearly knocked the man down, and it made him as fierce
+as a famished tiger. Snarling like an enraged beast, he tried to close
+in on the lively lad.
+
+"Oh, let me get hold of you!" he grated. "I'll crush the life out of
+ye!"
+
+Frank avoided the rush by stepping aside, and gave the fellow another
+body blow as he passed.
+
+Body blows, however, were not as effective as they should have been, on
+account of the fellow's clothing, and Merriwell quickly decided to waste
+no more energy in that manner.
+
+The man turned, and went for Frank again. This time the boy did not try
+to get out of the way, but he met his antagonist squarely, and gave him
+a heavy one in the other eye.
+
+"That ought to make them mates," said Frank, with a laugh. "You won't
+know yourself when you look in the glass to-morrow morning. Perhaps
+it'll teach you better than to try any of your rackets on a boy. You
+can't always tell what you are getting up against."
+
+The man's teeth could be heard grinding together. He was so furious that
+he quite lost his head. Then Frank sailed in to finish the affair as
+soon as possible.
+
+Grody held his breath, nearly bursting with astonishment and admiration.
+
+"Oh, say!" he chuckled. "I never saw a youngster what were that fellow's
+match! He's hot stuff!"
+
+The hostler could scarcely believe it possible that Merriwell was giving
+the scoundrel a first-class whipping, but this became more and more
+evident with each passing moment.
+
+In fact, Frank was struck just once during the entire encounter, and
+that was a glancing blow on the forehead, which he scarcely noticed. He
+thumped the rascal to his heart's satisfaction, and then knocked him
+flat with a round-arm swing that landed on the jaw.
+
+The ruffian lay on the floor and groaned. When he started to get up
+Merriwell exclaimed:
+
+"There, I think that will do you for to-night! When you want some more
+of the same just come fooling around my horse!"
+
+He caught the man by the shoulders, yanked him to his feet, ran him to
+the door, and booted him out of the stable.
+
+Having done this, Frank turned back and coolly put on his coat.
+
+"There, Grody," he said, "I feel better. I think it is possible I have
+given that rascal a lesson he will not forget in a hurry."
+
+The hostler stared, and then he cried:
+
+"Mr. Merriwell, sir, you are a wonder! If as how you were to go inter
+ther ring you'd make some of the duffers hustle. That were the neatest
+job what I ever see!"
+
+"It was not so much of a trick," declared Frank. "The fellow is strong,
+I'll warrant, but he is too heavy on his feet and too slow in his
+movements. There are scores of fellows in college who can polish him
+off."
+
+"I will allow I never knowed you college chaps were able to fight like
+that before. I knowed some of you were for fighting among yourselves all
+right, but I didn't think you could go up against a reg'ler scrapper."
+
+"It's a part of the education at Yale," smiled Frank; "and I've found it
+comes in handy occasionally. The man who can't fight his way through
+this world in one manner or another gets walked over by chaps who are
+not his equal in any other way. I do not believe a man should fight only
+at the proper time, but when he has to fight, I hold that he should be
+able to do a good turn at it."
+
+"Well, you can do your turn all right, sir."
+
+"Now, Grody, Nemo must receive proper attention. I am sure that fellow
+did something to make the horse lame. What he did I can't tell. I don't
+see how he did it without getting his brains kicked out."
+
+Grody hesitated, and then he said:
+
+"Mr. Merriwell, sir, I wants to tell ye something."
+
+"All right, Grody, go on."
+
+"I didn't tell all what happened in the stall to-day when that bloke
+were here."
+
+"Oh, you didn't?"
+
+"No, sir. What called my attention to the fact that he had gone inter
+the stall were a racket."
+
+"What sort of a racket?"
+
+"Nemo kicked and squealed, sir, and I heard the man speaking to him.
+Then I ran over and looked in."
+
+"What was the rascal doing, Grody?"
+
+"He were examinin' Nemo's feet, sir."
+
+"And that was when he got in his dirty work!" cried Frank, angrily. "I'm
+afraid I didn't thump him as much as he deserved! I feel like hunting
+him up and giving him a few more!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+BIRDS OF A FEATHER.
+
+
+In a little back room of a saloon three young men were sitting. They
+were talking earnestly, for all that two of the three showed they had
+taken altogether too much liquor to be entirely sober.
+
+"We're glad to see you, Sport," one of the drinkers declared.
+
+"Well, I am glad to see you, Harlow, old man, and you, too, Hartwick,
+although we were never friendly before you left Yale so suddenly."
+
+"That was my fault," admitted Hartwick, huskily. "I didn't know enough
+to pick out the right sort of pals. I trusted too much to Ditson. He's
+no good!"
+
+"Now there is where you make a mistake," asserted Sport Harris, quickly.
+"I know Ditson has no nerve, but he hates the same fellow we hate, and
+he is good to do the dirty work. We can make use of him, Hartwick."
+
+"I don't know anything about him," confessed Harlow.
+
+"No, he hasn't the nerve to play poker, and so you did not get
+acquainted with him when you were here."
+
+"I don't know that he hates Merriwell so much," growled Hartwick. "You
+remember that Ditson blowed everything to Merriwell, and that is why I
+was forced to skip. Oh, I'd like the satisfaction of punching the face
+off the dirty little traitor!"
+
+"But what caused Ditson to blow? He says you misused him."
+
+"I choked the cad a little, that is all."
+
+"But there was something back of that," declared Harris. "What led you
+to choke him?"
+
+"Oh, we had a little trouble. He was trying to squeeze me too hard, and
+I wouldn't stand for it."
+
+"Trying to squeeze you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Well, I don't mind telling you. You know I tried to mark Merriwell for
+life by punching my foil through the mask that protected his face while
+we were engaged in a fencing bout. I had prepared my foil for that in
+advance by fixing the button so I could remove it, and by sharpening the
+point of the foil. I wanted to spoil the fellow's pretty face!"
+
+The most malignant hatred was expressed in Hartwick's words and manner.
+He went on:
+
+"I tried the trick, but did not succeed. Ditson carried off the foil,
+and kept it. He would not give it up, although he promised to a hundred
+times. He used it to aid in blackmailing me. When he asked me for money,
+I did not feel like refusing him, for he could throw me down hard by
+turning the foil over to Merriwell. But he carried the thing too far.
+
+"One night when I was in a bad mood he tried to squeeze more money out
+of me. He had been living in luxury for some time, while I was broke
+almost continually. I kicked and refused to give up. Then he had the
+insolence to threaten me with exposure. I lost my head and choked him.
+Directly after that he turned like a viper and blowed everything to
+Merriwell. That was my downfall. I had to skip. Is there any reason why
+I should not hate the sneak?"
+
+"No, I do not wonder that you are sore on him; but he did not make
+anything out of the trick."
+
+"Didn't make anything! Why, he forced me out of college!"
+
+"That was not the main thing he was looking for."
+
+"Then what was?"
+
+"He hoped to get in with Merriwell, and he fancied Merriwell would think
+him a fine fellow for blowing."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"Well, he made a mistake in Frank Merriwell, for Merriwell despised him
+all the more, although he did nothing to injure Ditson. He does not
+recognize Ditson at all, and now Ditson is more eager than before to do
+Merriwell an injury."
+
+"All the same, Ditson can't be trusted."
+
+"Not unless he is so deep in the game that it means ruin for him to
+blow. Then he is caught. As I said in the first place, he is a good man
+to do the dirty work that we do not want to touch."
+
+"I think Harris is right," nodded Harlow, "and you may get a chance to
+even up with Ditson by throwing him down when we have fixed Merriwell
+nicely."
+
+"But you want to remember you are going up against a bad man in Frank
+Merriwell," warned Sport. "I do not care to be forced out of Yale."
+
+"Of course not," said Hartwick and Harlow.
+
+"You fellows have not so much to look out for. You can do things that
+would be beyond me."
+
+"We made a bluff at doing something to-day," growled Hartwick. "We were
+out for a drive, and we came upon Merriwell. He was on his new horse,
+and we tried to run him down, but he got out of the way."
+
+"I don't know but it is a good thing he did," confessed Harlow. "If we
+had struck him there'd been a general smashup. I was driving, and we
+were making the old nag hit a hot pace. We came near going bottom up as
+it was."
+
+"You must have been badly rattled," exclaimed Harris.
+
+"Oh, I don't know," laughed Hartwick, harshly. "We've been up against it
+for the past three days. Eh, Harlow?"
+
+"That's what," nodded the card sharp. "Hartwick is a hard man to follow.
+He can kill more stuff than anybody I ever saw."
+
+"Well," said Harris, "I have asked Ditson to come in here this evening.
+I took a chance on it, for I thought we could get rid of him easily
+enough if we didn't want him. He is liable to be along at any moment."
+
+Harlow looked at a handsome watch.
+
+"A quarter to ten," he said. "He ought to be around soon if he is coming
+at all."
+
+"He will be. Where'd you get that ticker, old man?"
+
+"Oh, I took it off a sucker in a game. I'll have to soak it if I don't
+strike some sort of graft pretty soon. I'm getting down to hard pan."
+
+"I suppose you are all right, Hartwick?" questioned Harris. "You can
+call on your old man and make him give up any time."
+
+"Well, I guess not! I haven't been able to get a dollar out of the old
+duffer since I left college. He is icy toward me, and he says I can go
+it for myself and be hanged."
+
+"That's pleasant! What have you been doing to gather in the coin?"
+
+"Why, confound it! haven't I formed a partnership with Harlow! I don't
+know anything about card tricks, but he works all of that, and I win the
+money. He gives me the hands to do it on, you see. If there is
+suspicion aroused, the poor suckers take to watching me, and they are
+unable to catch me at anything crooked. Our only trouble is to find the
+right sort of fruit for plucking. We generally pretend we are strangers
+to each other. Sometimes we have a little disagreement over the table,
+just to fool the fools all the more."
+
+"That's first-rate," laughed Harris. "I wish the gang here was not onto
+Harlow. I could get you some ripe plums."
+
+"And that's what made me so sore on Merriwell," growled Harlow. "But for
+that fellow we'd be right in it now. Oh, I want to soak him some way,
+and soak him hard!"
+
+"And we'll find a way to soak him, too!" growled Hartwick. "Let's have
+another round, fellows."
+
+He pushed a button and a waiter appeared. Drinks were ordered. When they
+were brought, Ditson came in with the waiter.
+
+"Hello, Roll!" called Harris. "Glad you came along. Mr. Ditson, Mr.
+Harlow. I think you have met the other gentleman."
+
+Ditson started and turned pale when he saw Hartwick, who was glowering
+at him.
+
+"Oh, yes! Mr. Ditson has met me!" said Evan, significantly. "We do not
+need an introduction!"
+
+Ditson seemed on the point of getting out in a hurry, but Harris arose
+and took him by the arm.
+
+"It's all right," he assured. "Sit down, Roll."
+
+"What sort of a game is this?" hesitatingly asked Ditson, keeping his
+eyes on Hartwick. "Have you fellows got me in here to do me up?"
+
+"Nothing of the sort."
+
+"Not but I'd like to do you, and do you good," confessed Hartwick, "but
+Harris won't have it."
+
+"No," said Sport; "I hold that we are all united by our hatred for a
+common foe, and we cannot afford to be anything but friends."
+
+"All the same, it was a dirty deal you gave me, Ditson," growled Evan,
+who seemed to be longing to pick a row with the newcomer.
+
+"You forced me into it," declared Ditson, weakly.
+
+"Forced you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How was that?"
+
+"You know well enough. You set on me like a mad tiger, and I'll bet you
+would have choked me to death in your room if you hadn't been seized
+with one of your attacks of heart trouble. I was afraid of you, and I
+had to do something to protect myself."
+
+"So you blew the whole thing to Merriwell! That was a brave trick. But I
+understand Merriwell has turned you down in great shape since that."
+
+"Well, he hasn't used me right," admitted Ditson. "Sometimes I think I'd
+like to kick the wind out of him, but I know I can't do it."
+
+"You may have the chance to take the wind out of him," said Harris. "Sit
+down, old man, and we will talk matters over. What are you drinking?"
+
+"Bring me a sherry flip, waiter," ordered Ditson, seeing the waiter had
+paused outside.
+
+Then he sat down in a chair offered him, saying:
+
+"If there's any sure way of doing Merriwell up, I'm in for it; but I
+give it to you straight that I am sick of trying to do him and having
+him come out on top. It's got to be a sure thing this time, or I don't
+touch it."
+
+Beyond a thin partition in a room next to the one occupied by the four
+plotters sat a man who had a cut and bruised face and a pair of swollen
+black eyes.
+
+This man had been drinking heavily. A bottle of whiskey and a glass sat
+on the little table before him. He was alone in the room.
+
+He had seemed to suddenly lose all interest in the whiskey, and he was
+leaning against the board partition with his ear close to a crack,
+intently listening to the talk of the four lads in the next room.
+
+The man had heard Frank Merriwell's name spoken, and that was the first
+thing to attract his attention to what the occupants of the next room
+were saying.
+
+"That's the fellow!" muttered the man, hoarsely. "He's the one what gave
+me these beautiful peepers and pretty mug! I'll give him something worse
+than this before long."
+
+Then he decided to listen.
+
+"Wonder if them chaps is his friends? I'll jest see what they're sayin'
+about him."
+
+It was not long before the man was able to hear enough to satisfy him
+that the lads in the next room were anything but friends of Frank
+Merriwell, and he listened with fresh eagerness.
+
+He heard Ditson come in with the waiter, and caught much of the
+conversation that followed. Then Ditson sat down, and the plotters
+lowered their voices.
+
+"That settles it!" exclaimed the man. "I'm goin' right in there and see
+if they don't want to take me inter the gang. Them college ducks will be
+jest the fellers to help me in gettin' back at Frank Merriwell."
+
+He got up, left the little room, and went around to the door of the
+other room. Without stopping to knock, he opened the door and walked in.
+
+"H'waryer," he saluted, as the four lads stared at him in amazement. "My
+name's Mike Hogan, and I want ter join in with ther push."
+
+"Get out of here, you bum!" cried Hartwick, fiercely. "You are intruding
+on a private party."
+
+"Hold hard, young feller!" returned the fellow who had given his name as
+Mike Hogan. "Don't call me a bum! I'm onto your curves, and there ain't
+no reason why you and me shouldn't be friends."
+
+"Friends!" exclaimed Hartwick--"friends! Well, I prefer to choose my
+friends."
+
+"And you didn't make much of a success when you chose a young gent here
+what is named Ditson. Keep yer seat!"
+
+"Press the button, Harlow, and we'll have this fellow thrown out!" came
+savagely from Hartwick's lips.
+
+"Wait a minute before you press the button," urged Mike Hogan. "Do you
+see this face?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"It's a peach, now, ain't it?"
+
+"You can consider yourself lucky if it isn't worse than that when you
+get out of here, my man."
+
+"Don't 'my man' me, young feller! I don't like it! Do yer know who give
+me this face and these two beautiful eyes?"
+
+"No, and we----"
+
+"Well, I'll tell yer who it was. It was a feller what goes by the name
+of Frank Merriwell."
+
+"Well, he did a first-class job," commented Harris. "That really looks
+like some of Merriwell's work."
+
+"He done it," nodded Mike. "Nacherlly I ain't got no love to speak of
+for him. Well, I was in the room next to this just now, and as I was
+leanin' against the partition I happened to overhear what you chaps was
+sayin' in here. From what I heard, I judged you didn't love this
+Merriwell none to brag about, and I says to myself, 'Mike, if you want
+to get even, them is the boys to hitch fast to.' Then I got right up and
+came in here without bein' invited. I hope you'll excuse me, gents, but
+I couldn't help it under the circumstances. I had a sort of
+feller-feelin' for you chaps, and I thought mebbe we might arrange some
+sort of a deal together that would do this Merriwell, and do him for
+keeps. I'm not a chap with much education, but I'll bet anything I can
+hate just as hard as you fellers, and if there's anybody I hate on the
+earth, it's Frank Merriwell.
+
+"There, now, gents, you have heard what I have ter say, and I hope
+you'll tumble ter ther fact that I am on the level. This is no case of
+stringing. I want ter pay back that feller for these two black eyes and
+this mug. Mebbe you can help me to do it, and I can help you to square
+yerselves with him at the same time. If that is right, why shouldn't we
+kinder go into partnerships for a short period? I put the question to
+yer, and you can do as ye please."
+
+The quartet at the table looked at one another inquiringly and
+doubtingly. They seemed to hesitate.
+
+"If this man tells the truth, and I should judge that he does, he may be
+of service to us and we to him," said Sport Harris.
+
+"That's right," nodded Harlow. "If Merriwell gave him that mug and those
+beautiful eyes, I don't wonder that he wants to get square."
+
+Hartwick was silent. He was looking Mike Hogan over, and he was
+thinking:
+
+"Is it possible I have fallen to the point where I have to take such a
+fellow as a comrade? No! It will not be as a comrade. We can use him as
+a tool, perhaps, and that is what we will do, if we use him at all."
+
+"Sit down," invited Hartwick, suddenly rising and offering Mike his
+chair. "I'll get another. I want to hear just how you came by those
+eyes."
+
+Hogan sat down at the table and Hartwick brought a chair from a corner.
+
+"We are all anxious to hear how you came by those eyes," declared
+Harlow.
+
+"Some gent order drinks, and I will tell ye. Never mind," he cried, as
+he saw them look at each other knowingly, as if they thought he was
+trying to work them for liquor, "I'll order, myself! Don't you think
+for a second that I'm broke!"
+
+Then he flung a small roll of bills on the table before them, reached
+past Harlow, and pressed the button. When the waiter appeared, he said:
+
+"Give these gents anything they want, Pete."
+
+"Wot if they orders champagne?" grinned Pete, winking at the boys.
+
+"Then bring it, dern ye!" snarled Hogan, as he grabbed up the roll of
+money and thrust it at the waiter. "Take the pay out of that and gimme
+the change."
+
+Drinks were ordered and quickly brought. Hogan paid for them and gave
+the waiter a quarter as a tip.
+
+"How about it, Pete?" he asked. "Am I all right?"
+
+"Ye're all right, Mike," declared the waiter, promptly; "and the young
+gents will find that anything you says sticks."
+
+Then he went out.
+
+"Now," said Hogan, "before I begin I want to tell you chaps this: I'm on
+the make. That is how I happened to get up against this chap Merriwell.
+I heard that he paid a cool thousand for that horse of his, and I kinder
+admitted that a boy who could pay that sum for a horse must be in
+circumstances that would permit him to burn money in an open grate. Such
+a chap was worth my attention. I know horses from their hoofs to the
+tips of their ears. There ain't much of anything I don't know about 'em.
+And I knew Merriwell must be stuck on the horse for which he paid a
+thousand plunks.
+
+"Well, gents, I'll tell ye my scheme. I kinder thought it would be easy
+to play the horse doctor, and work Merriwell for a good pot. All that
+was necessary was to make something ail the horse. Then I went round to
+the stable where he keeps the critter, after I had first learned the
+name of one of Merriwell's friends. I wanted to get at the horse, and I
+knew it wouldn't be easy unless I appeared to be on the inside track
+with Merriwell. I went round and said I was this friend of Merriwell,
+and in that way I got into the stall with the horse.
+
+"Don't you care what I done to make that horse lame, but I done it all
+right. When Merriwell rode out this afternoon the critter went to
+limpin' under him. When he came back to the stable I was there, but I
+had changed my clothes and I wore a beard. I introduced myself as a
+horse doctor, and offered to cure his horse, or not to charge him a
+dollar. If I cured the critter, which I could do easy, I meant to charge
+him a hundred dollars, and I thought he'd be fool enough to pay it
+without a kick."
+
+"That shows you didn't know the kind of a fellow you were trying to
+fool," said Harris.
+
+"I found that out all right. He wouldn't make any talk with me. Then
+when I got hot and was going away he suddenly took a notion to stop me.
+The first thing I knew he had snatched off my hat and beard, and the
+hostler recognized me as the same chap as was in to see the horse this
+afternoon.
+
+"I didn't feel alarmed then," Mike went on, "for Merriwell is a young
+chap, and I know something about fighting. That is, I thought I knew
+something about it. I'm not sure about that now. I told him to get out
+of the way, or I would do him up. I saw my scheme was bu'sted, but I
+felt sure it'd be some time before he'd find out what ailed his horse.
+
+"That young fool didn't seem at all scared of me. He wouldn't get out of
+the way and let me go, but he put himself in my way, and then we had it.
+When we got through I found that I had it, and I had it bad. There
+ain't no need to tell just what happened. Take a look at my mug and
+you'll see for yourself. That young cuss can fight like a tiger!
+
+"But now I'm goin' to get level with him, and don't you fergit it! I'll
+make him sorry that he ever gave Mike Hogan a pair of black eyes! I'll
+never be satisfied till I have done him the worst kind of a turn.
+
+"I heard you chaps talkin', and it struck me that we might pull together
+to do him dirt. That's why I came right in. What do you say to it?"
+
+The boys looked at each other, and then they nodded approval.
+
+"You'll do," said Harris. "You may prove a very valuable man for us."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+WHAT A HAIR CAN DO.
+
+
+At his first opportunity to get away from recitations the following day
+Frank took Diamond and Rattleton and hastened down to the stable to find
+out how Nemo was coming along.
+
+Grody, who had just saddled a horse for a gentleman, met Frank, and the
+expression on his face was anything but reassuring.
+
+"Well, how is the pony this morning?" asked Merriwell, anxiously.
+
+"Just as lame as he were, sir," answered Grody. "I've been tryin' to
+find out what it were that happened to him, but I can't, sir."
+
+"Did you take him to the shoer the first thing this morning and have his
+feet examined, as I directed?"
+
+"I did that, sir."
+
+"And what did the shoer say?"
+
+"He located the lameness in the same foot what we said were lame, sir,
+and he took off the shoe, but he said as how it were all right, and no
+fault of the shoeing. He didn't know but a nail might have gone too
+deep, sir, but he found that were not it."
+
+This was anything but satisfactory, and Frank showed it by his face.
+
+"Well," he said, "you know I told you to summon Dr. Cobb, if it proved
+something beyond the shoeing."
+
+"And that were what I done, sir."
+
+"And the doctor could not tell what ailed the horse?"
+
+"The doctor has not come yet, sir. He were busy when I send the message
+to him, but he said---- Here he is now, sir."
+
+A rig drew up at the door, and a short, stubbed, red-bearded man stepped
+out. This man entered the stable with a quick step and called to the
+hostler:
+
+"Well, Grody, did you telephone me?"
+
+"Yes, sir, I did, sir," said the hostler, quickly.
+
+"Important case, you said?"
+
+"Yes, sir, very important."
+
+"Where's the horse?"
+
+"I'll bring him right out, sir."
+
+The hostler hastened to do so, and Dr. Cobb looked keenly at Nemo.
+
+"Walk him around," directed the doctor.
+
+Grody obeyed.
+
+"Just a bit lame," commented the doctor. "It may be a slight strain. It
+doesn't seem to be much."
+
+"But it grows worse when he is taken out on the road," said Frank. "It
+was very bad yesterday afternoon."
+
+The doctor glanced at the boy.
+
+"Your horse?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"When did you first notice he was lame?"
+
+"Yesterday afternoon."
+
+"Had him out this morning?"
+
+"Grody took him to the shoer, that's all."
+
+"What did he say?"
+
+"Said there was nothing the matter with the way Nemo is shod."
+
+"Perhaps he lied. Didn't want to hurt his business. Did he do anything?"
+
+"Yes, he reset the shoe on the lame foot."
+
+"Hum! Horse may be all right by to-morrow or next day."
+
+"I do not think he will, doctor."
+
+"Eh? Why not?"
+
+"Because I have reasons to believe he was made to go lame."
+
+"Is that so? Well, now the matter becomes more interesting. What causes
+you to think anything of the sort?"
+
+Frank explained, and the doctor listened attentively to his story.
+
+"This is worth investigating," he declared. "I know a few of the tricks
+of these fellows, and I think I'll find out what was done to your horse,
+if anything was done."
+
+The boys watched the doctor with great interest. They saw him examine
+the lame leg from the knee down. In doing this he put on a pair of
+spectacles.
+
+Nemo was nervous. He seemed afraid the doctor would hurt him, and it was
+not found easy to make him stand.
+
+At last Dr. Cobb uttered a sharp exclamation.
+
+"Bring my case, which you will find under the seat in my carriage,
+Grody," he directed.
+
+Grody hastened to obey.
+
+"Have you found out what the matter is, doctor?" Frank anxiously asked.
+
+"I believe so, but I am not sure yet."
+
+Jack and Harry came near, eager to learn what had been done to lame the
+horse.
+
+The doctor opened his case, and took out some tweezers.
+
+"Do you see this hair here?" he asked, having brushed the fetlock aside
+and taken the end of a hair in his fingers.
+
+The boys saw it, but wondered what that hair could have to do with the
+lameness of the horse.
+
+"It is not the right color," declared the doctor. "You see it is white,
+instead of being the color of the other hairs here."
+
+Despite himself Frank felt his anger rising. How could the color of a
+hair make the horse lame? Did the man take him for a fool because he was
+a boy?
+
+The three boys exchanged glances, and Harry made a threatening gesture
+at the back of the doctor's head.
+
+"I see the hair is white, sir," said Frank, his voice cold and hard;
+"but I scarcely think a white hair could make my horse go lame. I know
+I am a boy, but I do not like to be taken for a fool."
+
+The doctor looked up and saw the indignation expressed on the faces of
+the three lads. Then he chuckled in a singular way and said:
+
+"Wait till I get through, young man. I do not take you for a fool
+ordinarily, but you can easily make a fool of yourself over this
+matter."
+
+He had taken the short white hair, which was very coarse, in his
+fingers, having separated it from the others.
+
+"Notice the peculiar place where this hair seems to grow," he directed.
+"It is not a part of the fetlock, but the fetlock hid it from view. I am
+going to pull this hair out, but first I want you to notice that there
+is another hair, it seems, on the other side of the ankle, and it is
+just like this. See it?"
+
+The boys saw it.
+
+"In a moment you won't see it," declared the doctor, as he adjusted the
+tweezers, getting a careful grip on the end of the hair. "Here it
+comes."
+
+Then he quickly drew it out and Nemo started a bit, but was quieted by
+Grody.
+
+"Young man," said the doctor, "look at this. This hair appeared to be
+about an inch in length, but now it is three inches long. It is not
+broken off, and yet it has no root. I will guarantee there is not
+another hair on this horse like it! I will guarantee it did not grow on
+this horse! I will guarantee it was what made this horse lame! And I do
+not want my fee if this horse shows any lameness two hours from now!"
+
+The boys were astonished, as their faces indicated.
+
+"But, doctor, I do not understand!" cried Frank. "You must explain. How
+could a hair----"
+
+"I will explain. It's an old trick, but one seldom tried. This hair came
+from the tail of a white horse. It was threaded into a long, keen
+needle. The fellow who got at your horse yesterday was an expert. With
+one jab of that needle he passed the hair through the flesh just back of
+this cord. It went in at one side, and came out on the other. After
+that, while he was pretending to look at the horse's feet, he clipped
+off the ends, and the hair was left in there. It could remain a day or
+so without doing any particular injury, but it was bound to make the
+horse lame as soon as he used that leg much. If it had been left there
+permanently it might have ruined the horse. That is all, young man."
+
+"Why was a white hair chosen, doctor?"
+
+"The fellow felt sure it would not be noticed, and yet he could quickly
+locate it by its color when the time came for him to cure your horse of
+its lameness."
+
+Once more the boys looked at each other, and this time it was plain they
+realized there were some things they did not know.
+
+"Doctor," said Frank, promptly, "I wish to beg your pardon. I believe I
+said something rather hastily, but now I wish to say that you know your
+business thoroughly."
+
+The doctor smiled, and closed his case.
+
+"I have been in the business all my life," he said, "but I expect to
+continue to learn something new about it as long as I live. I will say
+that I doubt if I should have seen what was the matter with your horse
+if you had not told me of the fellow you believed had lamed him and how
+the horse kicked up a racket when the man was in the stall. That set me
+to looking for tricks, and I found the hair."
+
+Frank offered to pay the doctor, but he refused to take it then, saying:
+
+"Here's my card, young man. If your horse is all right this afternoon
+you may send me five dollars. You may need me again some time."
+
+Then he strode out of the stable, flung the case under the seat,
+scrambled into his carriage, caught up the reins, and away he went in a
+hurry.
+
+"Well, may I be farred and tethered--I mean tarred and feathered!" cried
+Harry Rattleton. "I never saw anything like that before."
+
+"Nor I," confessed Jack Diamond. "It's astonishing! I have learned
+something to-day that I never knew before. I never would have dreamed
+that a hair could lame a horse in that way!"
+
+"You want to look out for Nemo now," said Harry, "and not let that chap
+get at him again."
+
+"I mean to," asserted Frank. "I have sent for my colored boy, Toots, to
+come on and keep watch here when Grody is unable to do so. Till he gets
+here, Grody, I want you to watch Nemo like a hawk. I hardly think the
+whelp will try another trick, but there is no telling. I gave him a bad
+thumping."
+
+"But not half what he deserved!" cried Diamond.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+PRINCE AND THE EAVESDROPPER.
+
+
+Nemo's lameness seemed to vanish as if by magic, and Frank was well
+satisfied. Grody took the utmost care of Nemo till Toots arrived.
+
+The colored boy was delighted to come on to New Haven, and, as he was a
+lover of horses, his new occupation suited him very well. When Frank
+could not find time to take the horse out for his daily exercise Toots
+did it.
+
+One evening a party of students gathered in Diamond's room. He had
+invited them there to show them his new bulldog.
+
+Diamond had a fad, and it was dogs. His dog had caused trouble between
+Diamond and Merriwell early in their college career by taking a strip
+out of Frank's trousers. That dog had received mortal injuries in a
+fight, and now Diamond had another dog.
+
+"Isn't he a beauty!" cried Jack, as he displayed the ugly-looking
+brute. "Look at that head and those jaws! He comes from a line of
+gladiators."
+
+"What do you call him, Diamond?" asked Ben Halliday.
+
+"Prince."
+
+"Put not thy trust in princes," croaked Dismal Jones.
+
+"Is he kind?" asked Bandy Robinson.
+
+"Oh, he has a sunny disposition," assured Jack, smiling.
+
+"A sunny disposition," chirped Griswold, from the top of the table, upon
+which he had climbed so that he might be out of the way. "By that I
+presume that you mean he will make it hot for any other dog he may
+tackle."
+
+"Hold on, Danny, old man!" cried Jack, reprovingly. "Haven't I treated
+you right?"
+
+"Not lately, but if you've got any beer in the coop you can."
+
+"That gives me a pain!" cried Robinson.
+
+"You must have been eating window glass," chuckled Griswold. "That's how
+you happen to feel the pane."
+
+"You ramed little bunt--I mean you blamed little runt!" exclaimed
+Rattleton, catching Danny by the neck. "If you keep up this reckless
+punning you'll receive a check some day."
+
+"I hope so," was the instant retort. "I'm broke, and I sent to the
+governor for one to-day."
+
+"Let him alone, Harry," advised Merriwell, laughing. "You simply make
+him worse by talking to him."
+
+"That's the only thing I have against Griswold," declared Jack. "He will
+pun in the most reckless manner at all times. Some of his jokes are not
+what they are cracked up to be."
+
+"Like the eggs we used to get down at Mrs. Harrington's when we were
+freshmen," grinned Griswold.
+
+"Even the vilest sinner may repent and be forgiven," came solemnly from
+Dismal Jones. "There's a faint ray of hope for Griswold."
+
+"But it's mighty dim," declared Robinson.
+
+Once more attention was given to Jack's dog, and Diamond pointed out the
+animal's fine features.
+
+"When are dogs at their best?" asked Halliday, seriously.
+
+"In winter," Griswold instantly put in. "There are no flies on them
+then."
+
+"Smother him!" howled Robinson, wildly.
+
+"Smother time," cackled Danny, as he slipped off the table and dodged
+around a chair to get out of reach.
+
+Halliday caught up a pair of scissors and pretended to sharpen them,
+looking at Griswold as if he meant to shed his gore.
+
+"What are you going to do?" asked Danny. "Going into the
+scissors-grinding business? It's great when things are dull."
+
+It was plain that Danny could not be suppressed, and so the boys tried
+to ignore him. Prince was admired some more, and then Halliday picked up
+a banjo, put it in tune, and sang a song.
+
+"Your voice is somewhat off color to-night, old man," observed Robinson,
+"and I think you skipped a bar."
+
+"You don't know him," cried Griswold, instantly. "I was out with him
+last night and he didn't skip any."
+
+Then almost every other fellow in the room grabbed up something and
+threw it at Danny, who could do nothing but shield his face and take the
+pelting he received.
+
+"Diamond is a dog crank, and Merriwell is a horse crank," said
+Robinson. "By the way, I hear you think of racing your horse this
+spring, Merriwell?"
+
+"Who told you that?" asked Frank.
+
+"Who told me? Oh, I don't know. Is it a secret? I think I have heard
+several fellows speak of it."
+
+"Oh, I don't know as it is a secret," said Frank. "I may try him in some
+small country race, if I get a good opportunity; but I am not likely to
+have much of a chance, between baseball, rowing, and my studies. I'm
+kept pretty busy."
+
+"The only wonder to me is that you get time to study at all," declared
+Halliday. "I never before saw a fellow who could carry on so many things
+at the same time and make successes of them all."
+
+"I hear two more men have been dropped a class," said Diamond.
+
+"That's right," sighed Jones. "Dorman and Street have departed hence.
+May peace go with them."
+
+"Poor old Easy!" exclaimed Robinson. "He was a fine fellow, but he was
+altogether too easy. He wouldn't skin, and he couldn't keep up with the
+push."
+
+"There are some other fellows who are bound to go sooner or later,"
+observed Rattleton. "I can name several."
+
+"Both Harris and Ditson are bound to get it in the neck," said Griswold.
+"They are skinners of the worst kind."
+
+"That's right," agreed Halliday. "Ditson is an expert at it. He spends
+more time and ingenuity in concocting schemes to fool the examining
+tutor or professor than it would take to learn his subjects ten times
+over."
+
+"Sure's you're born!" exclaimed Jones. "Why, he has his finger nails,
+cuffs, and the palms of his hands covered with writing and diagrams
+every time he knows he is to be called up, and in this way he always
+succeeds in making a clean rush."
+
+"Harris knows something about photography," said Halliday, "and he is
+continually making minute pictures of diagrams and writing, which he
+arranges on little tabs, which he can hold in his palm. He seldom
+flunks, but he'll trip some time."
+
+"Hanged if I can see why fellows should work so hard to fool tutors or
+professors when they might learn all that was required of them without
+half the trouble," cried Harry.
+
+"That is easy enough to explain," smiled Merriwell. "Harris is a natural
+gambler. He delights in excitement and danger, and he actually enjoys
+taking such desperate ventures."
+
+"Well, there is something in that," laughed Rattleton. "I never regarded
+it that way before. I'll be fanged if there isn't hascination in it--no,
+I'll be hanged if there isn't fascination in it!"
+
+"It's too bad this matter was mentioned, fellows," said Merriwell, with
+pretended seriousness. "I regret it very much."
+
+"Why?" asked Robinson, curiously.
+
+"Notice how excited Rattleton has become over it? He's not quite such a
+sport as Harris, but he had rather take chances on anything than eat,
+and it's ten to one he'll be skinning within a week."
+
+"Sometimes a fellow has to skin," declared Griswold.
+
+"Did you ever, Danny?" asked Diamond.
+
+"Did I? Well! I have a patent scheme of my own."
+
+"What is it?" asked Rattleton, eagerly.
+
+"Why, I have a box of chalk crayons which I bought for myself. I have
+soaked them in alum water till they are hard, and I usually have several
+of them about my person. They are covered with diagrams and everything
+that may prove interesting or necessary. But I want to tell you
+something. I never use 'em unless I am driven to the wall."
+
+"By that he means the blackboard," laughed Halliday.
+
+"And you were talking about Harris and Ditson being skinners!" came
+reproachfully from Jones. "My dear young man, there is a place that
+burneth with fire and brimstone!"
+
+"That is reserved for liars," chuckled Danny. "Jones, beware, any moment
+may be your next."
+
+"That's right," agreed Jones, sadly. "I am sure I shall not live to see
+another day--if I die to-night."
+
+"Gentleman," said Merriwell, "death is a grave subject to jest upon.
+You'd better bury it."
+
+"That's all right," put in Robinson. "If he catches cold any of us may
+go to coffin."
+
+"I'll not undertaker pun," murmured Rattleton.
+
+Then there was a deathlike silence, and the lads all looked at one
+another reproachfully.
+
+"Let's change the subject," cried Diamond. "Speaking of Ditson, I
+believe he claims to have blue blood in his veins. Says his ancestors
+came over on the _Mayflower_, and were among the first to settle in this
+country."
+
+"They may have settled," said Griswold, "but none of his family has ever
+settled since that time. They owe everybody that will trust them."
+
+"Ditson has stuck his friends right and left since coming to Yale, till
+he has not a friend left," said Robinson.
+
+"Why, he owed Hartwick several hundred dollars when Hartwick left,"
+declared Diamond.
+
+"Just the same, Hartwick is back in New Haven and in is chummy with
+Ditson again," asserted Jones.
+
+Merriwell displayed some interest.
+
+"How do you know he is chummy with Ditson?" he asked.
+
+"I have seen them together!"
+
+"That means something!" cried Rattleton, excitedly. "Those pads are
+cotting--I mean those cads are plotting! You want to look out for
+trouble, Merry!"
+
+"I will!" exclaimed Frank. "Ditson is treading on dangerous ground. If
+he makes a break, I'll descend on him. I have been easy with a chap of
+his treacherous nature quite long enough."
+
+"Too long!" burst fiercely from Diamond. "If I had been in your place
+I'd ended Mr. Ditson's career long ago."
+
+"I don't know what the fellows can do to injure me," said Frank.
+
+"They'll find some way to give it to you if you don't watch out," said
+Rattleton. "Perhaps one of them hired that fellow to lame your horse."
+
+"Perhaps so."
+
+"You think a great deal of that horse," said Jack. "You want to be
+constantly on your guard or something will happen to it."
+
+"Toots is on the watch, and any one will have hard work getting the best
+of that darky. He is about as sharp as they make 'em."
+
+"He is a very clever coon," admitted Harry; "and he seems to know his
+business, still you can't tell what may happen."
+
+"I wouldn't have anything happen to Nemo for worlds. I don't quite
+understand why I think so much of that horse, but he is a wonderfully
+intelligent creature."
+
+"Don't tell that you care so much for him. If your enemies were to find
+it out they would scheme to fix Nemo."
+
+"I'd have no mercy on the person that injured that horse."
+
+"What's the matter with your dog, Jack?" asked Robinson. "He is acting
+in a very queer manner."
+
+Prince was sniffing at the door, whining and growling, while the hair on
+his neck bristled in a significant manner.
+
+Diamond got up and quickly approached the door. In a moment he flung it
+open, and out shot Prince.
+
+There was a sound of swiftly retreating feet, a clatter on the stairs, a
+scramble, a shout of pain or fear, and a sudden blow.
+
+"Quick, fellows!" cried Jack, excitedly. "Prince has found an
+eavesdropper!"
+
+They rushed out, they sprang down the stairs, and at the foot they found
+the dog, apparently in a dazed condition, but with a piece of cloth in
+his mouth.
+
+"Good dog!" cried Jack. "Where is he?"
+
+Prince growled and chewed away at the piece of cloth.
+
+"He got away," said Frank. "He must have struck Prince with a heavy
+cane, or a club, for we heard the blow. The dog was stunned, but he held
+fast to this piece of the fellow's trousers."
+
+"After him!" spluttered Rattleton. "He may not be able to get away!
+We'll try to capture him!"
+
+But the effort was vain. The eavesdropper had made good his escape.
+
+After a little time the boys all came back to Diamond's room. They found
+Jack examining the piece of cloth, which he had taken from the bulldog
+with no small difficulty.
+
+"It is from somebody's trousers," said Jack, seriously. "Whoever the
+sneak was, he'll have to buy a new pair. He hit Prince a frightful blow
+behind the ear, but the good old fellow held fast to this trophy."
+
+"If we'd nabbed the fellow, we wouldn't have done a thing to him--not a
+thing!" cried Griswold.
+
+"See if any of you fellows recognize this piece of cloth as belonging to
+the clothing of any chap you know," invited Diamond.
+
+They all examined it.
+
+"If I mistake not," said Dismal Jones, "this came from a certain section
+of a certain individual's trousers, and the section to which I refer is
+located about eight inches south of the back strap."
+
+"And the fellow," exclaimed Robinson, "the fellow is----"
+
+"Roland Ditson!" finished Rattleton.
+
+"In that case," said Diamond, "Merriwell's enemies have received a good
+tip concerning his fondness for Nemo. You will have to be doubly careful
+about that horse after this, Frank."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE PLOT.
+
+
+If Roland Ditson was the person from whose trousers the piece of cloth
+had been torn he took good care to destroy what he had retained of the
+breeches without delay, for they were never again seen in his
+possession.
+
+The figure on the cloth was not pronounced enough to distinguish it in a
+manner to make it absolute proof that it came from a garment owned by
+Roland.
+
+Nevertheless Diamond accused Ditson of listening at his door, but Roll
+vigorously denied that he had done so. Diamond told him he was a
+natural-born prevaricator, and let it go at that.
+
+But Ditson was watched like a hawk by the boy from Virginia, for Jack
+felt sure the fellow was up to crookedness.
+
+Frank Merriwell knew that if Ditson had been listening to the
+conversation that was taking place in that room his enemies must know
+in what light he regarded Nemo.
+
+This caused Frank to caution both Toots and Grody to redouble their
+vigilance in watching over and caring for the splendid creature.
+
+"Don' yo' worry about me, Marser Frank," assured the darky lad. "Dat's
+de fines' hawse dat dis chile ebber seen, an' I'se gwan ter watch ober
+heem lek he wus de apple ob mah eye."
+
+"I have decided to enter Nemo in the Mystic Park races at Bethany,
+Toots," Merriwell declared, "and I think I'll let you ride him, my boy."
+
+Toots showed two rows of gleaming ivories and beamed with the greatest
+delight.
+
+"If yer done dat, Marser Frank, I'se gwan ter win on dat hawse jes ez
+shore ez yeh bawn, sar!" he cried. "I'se done rid dat critter enough teh
+know he's a wondah, sar. Dat hawse is wuf a forchune, sar!"
+
+"If you win, Toots, I may give you a chance to ride him in some races
+later in the season."
+
+"If I don' win dat race, I done hope I nebber dror annodder bref, sar!"
+cried the darky boy, excitedly. "Dat'll show yo' what yo' kin do at de
+Coney Islan' races. If yo's gwan ter gamble on dat hawse, yo's a dead
+sho' winnar, sar!"
+
+"I am not much of a gambler, Toots, but I may back Nemo for a little
+something."
+
+"Yo'll win, Marser Frank. If dis darky ebber knowed what he wus talking
+about yo'll win!"
+
+Frank's enemies seemed remarkably quiet, but something told him that
+every move he made was watched. This was true, and they soon knew
+exactly what races he intended to enter Nemo for, and that the darky was
+going to ride the horse.
+
+One night Harris, Hartwick, Harlow, Ditson and Mike Hogan met in the
+saloon where they had first formed a combine against Merriwell. They
+were there by appointment, called together by Hartwick, who seemed to
+have assumed the leadership.
+
+Hartwick was taking no chances on any thin partitions, and so he secured
+a little back room in the place, where it seemed that nothing could be
+overheard by any one who might chance to be watching them.
+
+Drinks were ordered, and when they were brought and the waiter had
+departed Hartwick said:
+
+"Gentlemen, we may as well get down to business at once. I have called
+you together to make arrangements for striking a blow at our common
+enemy."
+
+"Well, I think it's erbout time!" growled Mike Hogan. "I've been wantin'
+ter do something fer a long while, but you have kept holdin' me back."
+
+"You have been too much on the jump, my friend," said Hartwick,
+scowling. "If we'd let you gone it alone you'd had Merriwell on his
+guard, and that would have ruined everything."
+
+"It strikes me that Merriwell is on his guard now," observed Harris. "He
+acts as if he knew there was something in the wind."
+
+"Well, he doesn't know what."
+
+"I don't know about that, either. He guards that horse as if the animal
+was worth its weight in dollar bills."
+
+"Which comes entirely from the fact that Hogan here tried to knock the
+horse out once," declared Harlow.
+
+"I don't know about that, either," said Hartwick. "But I want to say one
+thing here and now: If there's any one of this party who is playing
+double and carrying information to Merriwell, he'd better order his own
+coffin without delay, for he is bound to be found out, and we'll throw
+him cold in a minute."
+
+He looked at Ditson in a most significant manner as he said this, but
+Roll showed no signs of guilt.
+
+"Well, what's yer plan of war, boss?" asked Hogan, impatiently.
+
+"Don't get in too much of a hurry," scowled Hartwick.
+
+"We know Merriwell intends to enter Nemo in the Mystic Park races, at
+Bethany."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That is the time to get at him."
+
+"How?"
+
+"He has money to burn. Get him to back Nemo for large sums for any of
+the first three positions. Give him all sorts of odds, if necessary; but
+get him to chuck up the dough, and then beat him out."
+
+"That's all right," growled Hogan; "but where's the dough comin' from
+what is shoved up against his good stuff?"
+
+"Let me alone for that," said Hartwick, significantly. "I know a way to
+get it, and we'll have it. I wish we might get Merriwell to stake his
+entire fortune on that horse. We'd end his career at Yale."
+
+Harris laughed.
+
+"I'd like to know how you are going to get so much money, Hart?" he
+cried. "Why, I had to lend you twenty as capital the last game of poker
+you entered."
+
+"Don't let anything worry you if you don't know all about it, Sport,"
+advised Hartwick. "You've got your twenty back, haven't you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, you can't kick."
+
+"All right; but I'm afraid your scheme won't work out very well."
+
+"It will, just as hard, if we can depend on Mike here to make sure
+Merriwell's horse does not win."
+
+"Watcher want me ter do?" asked Mike.
+
+"Doctor the animal at the last moment, if you can't buy off the jockey."
+
+"That's easy! But where does my share of ther profits come in?"
+
+"You shall have your share, don't you worry. We'll have that all
+arranged in advance."
+
+"Then that goes! I am with yer, gents."
+
+"What are the rest of us to do?" asked Harris.
+
+"There will be something for all of us to do. Ditson must continue to
+play the spy on Merriwell."
+
+"And that's the most dangerous job of all!" cried Roll. "You know what
+came near happening to me the night I found out Merriwell intended to
+put Nemo in the Mystic Park races. I was nearly chewed up by Diamond's
+dog."
+
+"But you escaped with your life," said Harris.
+
+"Because I took that cane with the loaded end. If it hadn't been for
+that the infernal dog would have eaten me. I hit him an awful blow. It
+would have killed any other dog."
+
+"Well," said Harlow, "we'll strike a different kind of a blow
+directly--one that will do more than lay out a dog."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+TAKING CHANCES.
+
+
+It was the day of the spring races at Mystic Park, and Bethany was
+filled with strangers. Horsemen, sporting men, sightseers, touts,
+race-track gamblers, women in gay attire, and all the different kinds of
+persons usually seen at a country horse race in the State of Connecticut
+were on hand.
+
+A number of Yale lads had come up to Bethany to attend the races. The
+most of them were friends of Frank Merriwell. Some of his enemies were
+there, also.
+
+Frank had brought Nemo up himself, and he scarcely slept the night
+before the races. He felt that there was danger in the air.
+
+Nemo had been entered in the "free for all," and his name was on the
+bills. Frank had been informed that he would be given odds that his
+horse did not take a purse. He had received an anonymous letter
+ridiculing him for thinking of entering such a horse. He had been
+taunted and told that he dared not stake money on Nemo.
+
+Merriwell knew well enough that there was a plot afloat, and it seemed
+that the scheme was to make him lose money on his horse. If he had been
+timid he would have hesitated about backing Nemo for anything; but the
+ones who had been taunting him had reckoned well on his mettle, and they
+had succeeded in pricking his pride and arousing him.
+
+Frank had seen Nemo work on a track with Toots in the saddle. He had
+timed the horse repeatedly, and he felt confident that Nemo could not
+fail to take a position if he were in proper form when he entered the
+race.
+
+Frank sent for money. He demanded it. His guardian did not feel like
+refusing, as he remembered that his last effort to suppress Frank had
+resulted in a most painful train of incidents, the culmination being his
+arrest for kidnaping a baby. He sent Frank a check for the sum desired.
+
+When Bethany was reached Merriwell was approached by a tall, thin man,
+who wore a Prince Albert coat and looked like a parson. This man
+introduced himself as John Baldwin, and he proved to be very "smooth."
+
+Frank knew in a moment that the stranger was trying to catch him for a
+sucker. He felt like knocking the man down, but, instead of that, he bet
+three hundred and fifty dollars against a thousand dollars that Nemo
+would take a purse in the "free for all."
+
+John Baldwin departed, apparently looking for other bloods who wished to
+take flyers. But Frank was to see Baldwin again. The man came back and
+in the most sneering manner possible, offered to let him out of his bet
+for fifty dollars. He told Frank that Nemo was a "dead one" and could
+not even crawl. The result was that Merriwell bet the man five hundred
+even that Nemo would take a purse, and there were but three purses in
+the "free for all."
+
+After Baldwin departed the second time Frank regretted that he had not
+booted the insolent fellow.
+
+"Never mind," thought the lad. "I'll win his cash all right."
+
+In the morning there was a row in the stable where Nemo was kept. Toots
+was found vigorously punishing a flashily dressed negro.
+
+"Tek dat, yo' dirty brack nigger!" shouted Toots, as he smashed the
+other fellow on the nose. "Yo' cayn't com' 'roun' dis chile wid none ob
+yere 'swinuations an' yore offers ob money to throw de race! I'll kick
+part ob yore panjaloons clean out frough de top of yore hade, yo' brack
+son ob a gun!"
+
+The colored boy fought like a furious tiger, and the other fellow, after
+trying to strike back a few times, took to his heels, leaving a smashed
+silk hat behind him.
+
+"What's the matter, Toots?" asked Frank, who had rushed to the scene of
+the conflict, accompanied by others.
+
+"Mattah, sar?" cried Toots, fiercely. "Why, dat brack whelp come call me
+out ob de stall har, an' he says to me, says he, 'If yo' pulls Nemo so
+he don' take a purse it am wuff two hundred dollars to yo'.' An' he
+flashes his roll ob bills in mah face. I didn't wait fo' no mo'
+conwersashun, sar, but I jes' soaked him a dandy under der ear."
+
+"Good boy, Toots!" laughed Frank. "You're all right!"
+
+"Well, w'en dey fools 'roun' dis chile dey strikes hot stuff," grinned
+the boy.
+
+Frank knew now that there was a "job" to knife him in the race.
+Rattleton and Diamond were on hand, and they took turns in helping Toots
+keep guard over Nemo.
+
+Merriwell was angry. He went out looking for John Baldwin. When he found
+Baldwin he offered to bet all the money he had about him that Nemo would
+take either the first or the second purse. Baldwin snapped at the bet in
+a manner that showed he believed he had a "soft thing."
+
+"You'll go back to Yale broke," he sneered.
+
+"Don't let that worry you," returned Frank, coolly. "It strikes me that
+the fellow who is furnishing you with cash stands a chance of dropping
+something."
+
+"You say that very mildly. You're scared now."
+
+"If I had more money about my clothes I'd put it all up."
+
+"That shows what an easy thing you are. I'll take your paper against my
+good money, and now you don't dare do a thing."
+
+"How much do you want to risk that way?"
+
+"Any sum you like."
+
+"I'll go you for five hundred."
+
+"Done."
+
+Frank had made the original selection of stakeholder, and he had chosen
+a man who was interested in the track, but was known to be perfectly
+square. This choice had proved satisfactory to Baldwin.
+
+Once more this man was hunted up, and he felt it his duty to caution
+Frank. The boy simply smiled.
+
+"Don't lose any sleep about me, Mr. Davis," said Frank, quietly. "It
+isn't necessary."
+
+Twenty minutes after this bet was made John Baldwin informed Evan
+Hartwick.
+
+"Good!" cried Hartwick, fiercely. "If I get hold of that piece of paper
+I'll use it to ruin Frank Merriwell at Yale. I can do it! Nemo must be
+fixed for fair!"
+
+Then he rushed away.
+
+"Oh, well!" said Baldwin, with a satisfied smile; "I don't care which
+way the wind blows now. I have made my commission on this work to-day,
+and I have nothing to lose. If those fellows slip up in their plans it
+won't be my funeral."
+
+Then he lighted a cigar and strolled away.
+
+Rattleton and Diamond watched Nemo closely, permitting Toots to get an
+hour's sleep. Then the colored boy came out feeling first rate, and
+Merriwell showed up to take his friends to have something to eat.
+
+"By Jove!" he exclaimed, with a happy laugh. "One of you fellows will
+have to loan me the money to settle for the feed. I've staked every cent
+on Nemo, and I haven't enough left to purchase a sandwich."
+
+"Whew!" whistled Diamond. "Haven't you been plunging pretty steep, old
+man?"
+
+"Oh, I don't know!" smiled Frank. "We'll have money to start a
+conflagration with when we return to New Haven."
+
+"I think so," agreed Jack; "but there are slips."
+
+"Now, Toots," said Frank, "we are going to leave Nemo in your care for a
+short time. You know what I expect of you."
+
+"Yes, sar, an' you may 'pend on me, sar."
+
+"All right, my boy. Come on, fellows."
+
+Away the three went, arm in arm, laughing and joking, like the
+light-hearted fellows they were.
+
+Ten minutes after they left Toots decided to give Nemo some water. He
+stepped out of the stall for a bucket. As he picked it up he fancied he
+heard a suspicious sound inside the stall, and he hurried back.
+
+When the colored boy stepped into the stall he saw a tough-looking young
+man in a plaid suit offering Nemo an apple. It was Mike Hogan.
+
+"G'wan frum dat hawse, man!" shouted Toots, as he flung the bucket
+straight at Mike's head.
+
+The bucket struck Hogan, knocked him down, and he lay stunned almost
+beneath the feet of Frank Merriwell's racer.
+
+An hour later the starter's flag had fallen and the "free for all" at
+Mystic Park had begun.
+
+Among the spectators were three lads who were excitedly watching the
+beginning of the race.
+
+They were Hartwick, Harlow and Harris.
+
+"If that horse is doctored I'm a fool!" declared Harlow, his eyes
+fastened on Frank Merriwell's Nemo.
+
+"He must be--he must be!" palpitated Hartwick, whose eyes were bloodshot
+and whose face was flushed so that it betrayed he had been drinking
+heavily.
+
+"Nemo starts all right," said Harris, in an agitated voice. "I should
+not wonder if Harlow were right, Hartwick, my boy."
+
+"Then Hogan has betrayed me!" came gratingly from Hartwick. "If he has
+I'll have his life!"
+
+"Where is the fellow?" asked Harlow. "He should be on hand."
+
+"That's right, where is he?" echoed Harris. "He has not reported."
+
+"But he was sure he would not fail," said Hartwick. "He had everything
+fixed with one of the stablemen, and he said he knew he could get into
+Nemo's stall."
+
+"All the same I'll wager that Frank Merriwell will come out on top
+again," fluttered Harris. "It is just his luck. Perhaps he has outwitted
+us in some way."
+
+"No! no!" exclaimed Hartwick, with sudden satisfaction. "See--see there!
+Already Nemo is dropping behind Black Boy. Pawnee is in the lead, Fanny
+D. is second, Lightfoot is third, and now Black Boy has pushed ahead of
+Nemo! Ha! ha! ha! Everything is all right! Hogan has done his work, and
+the stuff is beginning to tell on Merriwell's racer at just the right
+time. We'll send the fellow back to Yale penniless, and then I will
+jump on him with his paper. I'll expose him as a race-track gambler, a
+fraud, a swindler! I'll ruin his college career, as he ruined mine! But
+I'll not be satisfied then. I'll hound him till he is weary of his life!
+I'll make him remember the day he dared lift his hand against Evan
+Hartwick! I can feel his blow now! It left a mark on my cheek. That mark
+is not there now, but the scar is on my heart! Nothing can cure it but
+full and absolute reprisal! This is my first triumph!"
+
+Hartwick almost frothed at the mouth, and his reddish eyes glared as if
+there were a glowing furnace within his passionate soul.
+
+Evan's companions looked at him with awe, and Harris shivered a bit,
+drawing a little away.
+
+The passions of the revengeful lad had been wonderfully aroused by the
+liquor he had taken, and he showed at his very worst just then.
+
+"Toots does not seem to be pushing Nemo as he might," muttered Harlow.
+"The boy is taking it easy. If I did not know the attempt had failed I
+should think he had been bought off."
+
+"Pawnee can't hold the lead," declared Harris. "I am willing to bet all
+I have that he will not take the race."
+
+"Hang Pawnee!" snarled Hartwick. "I do not care which horses secure the
+purses, if Merriwell's animal is not one of them."
+
+"Well, it begins to look as if you were safe," came with some
+satisfaction from Harlow. "Black Boy is the favorite and he is crawling
+now. Already he is neck and neck with Lightfoot."
+
+Hartwick's hand shook as he adjusted the field glasses he held and
+brought them to bear on the racing horses.
+
+"It's all right. I know it's all right!" he muttered, hoarsely.
+"Lightfoot is holding the lead on Nemo. Frank Merriwell's horse is
+fifth, and the animal will not hold out to get around the track. I
+believe Nemo is swaying now. The horses behind are gaining! Ha! ha! How
+it will wring Merriwell's heart to see his beauty come in last!"
+
+"This is early," cautioned Harris. "They have just reached the quarter
+now. Wait till they pass us before you begin to count your chickens, old
+man."
+
+The spectators grew excited as the racing horses swung around the
+half-mile track and came flying down toward the judges' stand on their
+first round. Men waved their hats and cheered, the white handkerchiefs
+of women were fluttering.
+
+"Black Boy! Black Boy! He is the winner for a thousand!" roared a big
+man in the grand stand.
+
+"Fanny D.! Fanny D.!" shouted another. "She is taking the lead!"
+
+This was true. Pawnee, as Harris had declared, proved unequal to the
+task of holding the lead. In the second quarter Fanny D. crept alongside
+and gradually forged ahead, for all that Black Boy's rider used whip and
+voice.
+
+Poor old Lightfoot was steadily losing ground, and Hartwick ground his
+teeth as he saw Nemo come into fourth place. Still it did not seem that
+Merriwell's horse had made a spurt.
+
+And then, as the horses came thundering down the track, a sudden change
+seemed to come over the black boy on Nemo's back. He leaned far forward,
+and appeared to be talking into Nemo's ears, which were laid almost
+straight back. He cut the air with his whip, but the lash did not fall
+on the glossy coat of the handsome animal.
+
+"Look!" palpitated Harlow. "See Nemo! The creature has awakened! That
+horse is all right! Hartwick, I believe Merriwell will secure third
+money, after all."
+
+"Not on your life!" ground forth Evan, his eyes glaring. "The creature
+is doing his best now."
+
+As the foremost racers shot past the judges' stand at the expiration of
+the first half, it was seen that Fanny D. had taken the lead away from
+Pawnee, while Black Boy was steadily gaining. Although Nemo had shown a
+streak of speed he had not grown dangerous.
+
+But now came the time when the mettle of the racers was to be tested.
+Black Boy responded nobly to whip and voice. He went ahead in a
+marvelous manner. He was soon nose and nose with Pawnee, and then he
+took second place, with his nose at Fanny D.'s flank.
+
+But there was another change. Again the black boy on the back of Frank
+Merriwell's racer leaned forward and talked into the ears of the horse,
+and then came a spurt that caused hundreds of spectators to gasp with
+amazement.
+
+Pawnee struggled nobly to hold third place, but Nemo passed him, and
+Evan Hartwick nearly choked with fury. Then it was seen that Nemo was
+gaining on the others. He crept up beside Black Boy till they were
+nearly even, and thus the two animals passed Fanny D. at the end of the
+third quarter.
+
+When the home stretch was reached Black Boy was leading by a neck, with
+Nemo second and Fanny D. third.
+
+Evan Hartwick was nearly beside himself with rage. The language that
+came from his lips cannot be printed here. In vain his companions tried
+to calm him. He cursed them both, and struck at them.
+
+Then the voice of another person was heard.
+
+"I slipped on the trick, boss. They caught me, and they didn't do a
+thing to me--not a thing! My head was near broke and they made me take a
+bite outer ther apple I was tryin' to feed ther horse. It'd killed me if
+they'd made me eat ther whole of the apple. I'm sorry, but----"
+
+It was Mike Hogan, his brutal face pale and drawn, if he were, indeed,
+ill, and a bloody handkerchief tied about his head.
+
+"Your head was near broken!" snarled Hartwick. "You bungling fool! I'll
+finish the job!"
+
+And then he hit Mike in the face with his fist. They grappled and fell,
+and, as the other lads were trying to pull them apart, there came a
+great shout that announced the race was over. The crowd was heard
+cheering.
+
+"Which won?" was the question Harlow paused to ask.
+
+"Nemo came in first by a full length," replied a spectator.
+
+Then Hogan was dragged off Hartwick, who lay pallid and still on his
+back, looking as if the end had come for him.
+
+Two nights later a jolly party gathered in Frank Merriwell's room to
+offer him congratulations. There were speeches, songs, toasts and jests.
+
+"How much will you take for Nemo now, Merriwell?" asked Jack Diamond.
+"I want to buy him and send him South to my father."
+
+"You can't," laughed Frank. "Your father hasn't money enough to buy the
+dear old boy."
+
+"But what are you going to do with him?" asked Rattleton. "You must
+think of the future."
+
+"Not now," smiled Merriwell. "To-morrow is my queen's birthday, and I am
+thinking of the present."
+
+Bruce Browning loafed into the room.
+
+"Heard the news, fellows?" he asked.
+
+"No; what is it?" cried several voices.
+
+"Hartwick's been arrested."
+
+"Arrested? What for?"
+
+"For robbing his own father of seven thousand dollars. He knew how to
+get at the old gentleman's dough, and he swiped it several days ago.
+He's been burning money since then."
+
+"Was the robbery committed before the Mystic Park races?" asked Frank.
+
+"Sure, my boy."
+
+"Then that explains why the mysterious man in black followed me up and
+drove me into so many bets. He had Hartwick's money, and Hartwick was
+behind the entire game. Well, all his plots miscarried and he got it in
+the neck at last."
+
+"Which served him right," declared Jack Diamond, with satisfaction.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+A STRONG ACCUSATION.
+
+
+After the great horse race matters moved along smoothly for some time.
+
+Frank worked hard over his studies and made fine progress.
+
+He did not dare race Nemo again, for the college authorities would not
+permit it, in the face of what had been said about betting.
+
+Frank had gotten rid of some of his enemies for the time being, but
+there were others, those who could not stand it to see him become such a
+general hero.
+
+One evening a crowd of these gathered in a resort known as Jackson's.
+All had been drinking freely, and it was not long before every tongue
+was loosened.
+
+In the crowd were several students that my old readers have met before.
+They included a hot-headed lad named Tom Thornton, a fussy fellow called
+Puss Parker, and Fred Flemming, Willis Paulding, Andy Emery and Tad
+Horner.
+
+Earlier in the evening they had met at Morey's, but found they could not
+talk privately there, as the place was filled with students.
+
+Then Thornton had given them the tip to go down to Jackson's, a place
+sometimes patronized by the students, although it did not exclude the
+general public.
+
+Jackson's was known as a "joint," and very few of the college lads cared
+to have it known that they ever went there; but it was a place where a
+private room could be obtained in which to drink, gamble, or carouse,
+and for this reason it appealed to a certain class of students.
+
+It was in this place that Frank had exposed the gambler, Rolf Harlow,
+and broken up the game by which Harlow and Harris were bleeding a
+certain number of "lambs."
+
+In getting together his party, Thornton had chosen the ones who seemed
+to have sympathy with himself and Fred Flemming, or held a grudge
+against Frank Merriwell.
+
+Merriwell's name had not been mentioned until all had indulged very
+freely in wine, Thornton being the most generous in "blowing off."
+
+Then came a discussion about college sports, over which all had grown
+more or less heated. At length Merriwell's name was mentioned, and then
+Thornton declared Frank a cad.
+
+"By Jawve!" drawled Willis Paulding, allowing cigarette smoke to escape
+from his mouth as he spoke, "I agree with you, Thornton, don't yer 'now.
+I nevah could bear that fellaw Merriwell."
+
+Tad Horner gave a sniff.
+
+"Merriwell would feel bad if he knew it," observed Tad, sarcastically.
+"It would break him all up."
+
+"That would not make the least difference to me, my dear fellaw,"
+declared Willis, who was too dense to catch the sarcasm. "I have nevah
+twaveled awound with him."
+
+"I have noticed that," grinned Tad. "You have permitted him to avoid you
+in a most astonishing manner."
+
+"What have you against Merriwell, Thornton?" asked Parker. "I didn't
+know you were so down on him. You both played on the football team last
+fall."
+
+"And Merriwell made a record for himself by winning the game for Yale,"
+said Andy Emery.
+
+Thornton laughed sneeringly, showing his perfect white teeth.
+
+"Merriwell is always making a record for himself at something," he
+returned. "I'd rather have his luck than be born rich. If any other
+fellow on the team had obtained the ball at that particular moment, he
+could have gone through Princeton's line as well as Merriwell did, for
+Yale's interference was simply marvelous, and a clear road was given the
+runner."
+
+Emery shook his head.
+
+"I think your memory is slightly at fault, old man," he said. "I am sure
+Merriwell bowled over at least one man, and dodged one or two others,
+besides going down the field like a wild engine, with Princeton's
+fastest runner at his heels and unable to tackle him. Oh, it is not all
+luck with Merriwell, Thornton, as you would acknowledge, if you were not
+prejudiced."
+
+"You talk as if you are stuck on the fellow!" snarled Tom, in his most
+cutting manner.
+
+"But you know I am not. I have held away--have had nothing to do with
+him."
+
+"And that is the reason why I invited you down here to-night."
+
+"So? Well, I thought there was something more in the wind than a simple
+discussion of athletics. What's up?"
+
+"Don't be in a hurry. We'll come to that presently. Have another drink
+all around. This is on me. Push the button, Horner. I want to order more
+fizz."
+
+"This is too much!" sighed Tad, as he pressed the button that
+communicated with an electric bell at the bar. "If we do not let up,
+we'll be in rocky shape in the morning."
+
+The waiter appeared, and the wine was ordered. When the waiter went out,
+after serving the order, he left the door communicating with the next
+room standing open.
+
+"Gentlemen," cried Thornton, lifting his glass of sparkling "fizz,"
+"here's to a break in Merriwell's luck. May it come soon."
+
+All drank.
+
+"I can't quite agree with Thornton that it is all luck," said Puss
+Parker, lowering his half-emptied glass. "It is not luck that enables
+Merriwell to pitch on the ball team."
+
+"Oh, I don't know!" exclaimed Tom. "If Heffiner's arm had not been in
+bad condition, Merriwell would not have obtained the opportunity when he
+did. If he had not obtained it then, he might not have obtained it at
+all, for there are several other fellows who can twirl quite as well as
+he."
+
+"They think they can, but I have my doubts."
+
+This kind of talk did not satisfy Thornton, and he snapped:
+
+"I must say I didn't suppose you were one of that cad's sycophants,
+Parker! I fancied you had more stamina than that. Next thing you'll be
+saying that when his horse won the 'free for all' at Mystic Park it was
+something more than luck."
+
+"From what I have heard, I presume there was a great deal of luck
+connected with that affair, but that is outside college sports. I did
+not see the race, but I have heard that all sorts of tricks were tried
+to put Merriwell's horse out of the race."
+
+"So his friends have reported; but I take no stock in it. If he ever
+enters that horse in another race he will lose his socks betting on the
+beast."
+
+"We were talking of rowing a short time ago," said Emery. "Let's return
+to our mutton. Thornton was kicking because Merriwell has made a try
+for the eight, and seems to stand a good show of getting there. I don't
+see where Thornton's growl comes in. He can't pull an oar."
+
+"But Flemming can," came quickly from Tom; "and he was sure of a
+position on the eight till Merriwell went for a place. Like Pierson, who
+captained the ball team last season, Collingwood seems to be stuck on
+Merriwell. That's why he has thrown Flemming down."
+
+"But I thought Merriwell's ideas about rowing did not correspond at all
+with Collingwood's ideas?" said Tad Horner, with unusual gravity. "When
+Merriwell was captain of the freshman crew, he introduced the Oxford oar
+and the Oxford stroke. He actually drilled a lot of dummies into the use
+of the oar and into something like the genuine English stroke. Everybody
+acknowledged it was something marvelous, and one newspaper reporter had
+the nerve to say that the freshmen had given the 'varsity crew a
+pointer."
+
+"Oh, yes," grated Thornton, bitterly. "The newspapers have advertised
+Merriwell at every opportunity. Remember what a howl they made when he
+stopped that runaway horse and rescued Fairfax Lee's daughter. Any one
+would have thought the fellow had done a most marvelous thing, and since
+then he has been taken into the very swellest New Haven society, and he
+is lionized as if he were something more than a mere snob. It makes me
+sick!"
+
+"There is still some mystery about the fellow," said Parker. "How did he
+happen to know so much about the Oxford stroke?"
+
+"I've heard that he was at Oxford long enough to thoroughly acquaint
+himself with the English methods," answered Emery.
+
+"And it has been reported that the fellow has traveled all over the
+world," said Horner. "His rooms are decorated with all sorts of strange
+weapons, trophies and skins of wild animals, which it is said he
+gathered in his travels."
+
+"Bah!" sneered Thornton. "I have my doubts about his ever being at
+Oxford, and I take no stock at all in the rest of that guff. It is
+barely possible that he may have been over to England, but the yarn
+about his having traveled in South America, Africa and Europe, is the
+biggest sort of rot."
+
+"Well, let it go as rot," said Horner; "you must acknowledge that he did
+something most astonishing with that freshman crew. We did not have the
+least idea in the world that they could beat us, but we were not in the
+race on the home stretch."
+
+"Oh, we thought we had a soft thing, that's all. If we'd dreamed we had
+a hard race coming, we'd won all right."
+
+"That may be, but I am not so sure. Still, if Merriwell could do so much
+with a lot of freshmen, what might not be done if the same methods were
+used with the 'varsity crew?"
+
+"Bah!" cried Thornton again. "That sort of rot makes me sick! Bob
+Collingwood has his own ideas, and he will not accept suggestions from
+any one, although I think he was a fool to throw down Flemming for
+Merriwell. Flem did great work on the football team, and he is in
+condition to make a special effort at rowing this spring, while
+Merriwell is obliged to play ball as well."
+
+"I don't see how Merriwell does so many things and does them so well,"
+confessed Tad Horner.
+
+"Oh, he is one of the chaps who has the nerve to try anything, and will
+stumble through anything after a fashion. Nine times out of ten those
+fellows are never heard from after they leave college. The fellow who
+takes some branch of athletics at college and sticks to it is likely to
+select some line of business when he has graduated, and stick to that.
+He is not diving into everything, and making a success of nothing."
+
+"But Merriwell seemed to be diving into everything, and making a success
+of everything. He is put up differently than most fellows."
+
+"He showed his caddishness in introducing the English oar and stroke
+when he was captain of the freshman crew. He would ape things English,
+and in that line he makes a failure, at least."
+
+"By Jawve! that is wight, don't yer 'now," drawled Willis Paulding, who
+had visited London once on a time and endeavored to be "awfully English"
+ever since. "He has not cawt the English air and expression, don't yer
+understand. He--aw--makes a wegular failyaw of that, deah boys."
+
+"Oh, say!" cried Tad Horner, "don't pile on the agony quite so thickly,
+Paulding. It is nauseating!"
+
+"Merriwell may not try to ape English manners and speech," said
+Thornton, "but he is a cad, just the same, and the friends he has made
+here at Yale are a lot of thin-blooded, white-livered creatures. Look at
+them! There is Bruce Browning, once called 'King of the Sophomores,' but
+cowed and bested by Merriwell, to be afterward dropped a class. There is
+Jack Diamond, a boastful Southerner. He forced Merriwell to fight, but
+fawned about Merriwell's feet like a cur when whipped."
+
+"You lie, sir!"
+
+By the open door a supple, well-built, dark-faced lad sprang into the
+room. His eyes were flashing, and his teeth came together over his words
+with a click.
+
+It was Jack Diamond himself!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+A FIGHT AGAINST ODDS.
+
+
+"Diamond!"
+
+"Great Scott!"
+
+"Here's trouble!"
+
+The lads about the table sprang to their feet, giving utterance to these
+exclamations. Willis Paulding was the only one who did not say anything,
+and he failed to speak because the sound seemed to stick in his throat.
+
+Diamond's manner showed that he was fully aroused by what he had
+overheard, and that he meant "fight" was evident. The hot blood of the
+Old South was pulsating in his veins and flaming darkly, like a danger
+signal, in his face.
+
+Pointing straight at Tom Thornton, Jack slowly and distinctly said, his
+manner showing the struggle he was making to hold himself in check:
+
+"Mr. Thornton, you are a liar! More than that, Mr. Thornton, you know
+you are a liar!"
+
+Thornton quailed a bit, and then, in sudden fury, he flung back:
+
+"And you are an eavesdropper, Jack Diamond. Eavesdroppers seldom hear
+good of themselves!"
+
+The muscles of the Virginian's face twitched, and his clinched hands
+were quivering.
+
+"By accident I overheard what you were saying," he declared. "I was
+looking for a friend, and so came into this place, which I seldom visit.
+I was told a party of students had gathered here, and as I entered the
+room adjoining, I heard my name spoken by you--I heard you declare that,
+like a cur, I fawned about Merriwell when he had whipped me."
+
+"And I say it again!" cried Thornton, hotly. "It is the truth. Your
+boasted Southern courage is a sham. You have shown that."
+
+Diamond walked forward to the table.
+
+"Mr. Thornton," he said, "you are among friends, and I am alone, but I
+brand you as a liar!"
+
+As he uttered the words he picked up a partly emptied glass of wine and
+dashed the contents in Thornton's face.
+
+"There!" he cried, dashing the glass to the floor; "I have expressed
+myself! You cannot mistake my meaning, sir!"
+
+Thornton whipped out a handkerchief and wiped the liquid from his eyes.
+Then he dropped the handkerchief, and caught up a wine-bottle, with
+which weapon he leaped at Jack.
+
+Parker caught Thornton's uplifted arm just in time to keep him from
+trying to break the bottle over Diamond's head.
+
+"Do you want to kill him?" exclaimed Puss, excitedly.
+
+"Yes," snarled Thornton, "I will kill him!"
+
+"Pray do not interfere with the fellow, Mr. Parker," urged Jack, his
+voice shaking with passion. "I will take care of myself."
+
+"You'd better get out of here!" came fiercely from Parker. "You have no
+business here!"
+
+"I have business in any place where I am lied about and insulted, sir!
+Let him alone, and I will agree to give him all the fight he desires!"
+
+Now, for the first time, Fred Flemming stepped forward. He was a big
+fellow, and was known to be a fierce fighter, with the inclinations of a
+bully.
+
+"I think we'll give you a thumping before we let you go, Diamond, just
+to teach you a lesson," he said, in a most insolent manner. "I've wanted
+to get at you or your friend Merriwell for some time."
+
+"You--you get at Merriwell!" flung back Jack. "Why, he'd do you up with
+his right hand tied behind him!"
+
+"You think so because he did you. Well, I am going to break your face,
+and then Merriwell may pick it up, if he dares."
+
+He threw off his coat in a moment, and then came at Jack, crying to the
+others:
+
+"Close the door! Don't let anybody in here till I have fixed this sneak
+as I will fix Merriwell when I get at him! Close the door!"
+
+Willis Paulding started to obey, but before he could swing the door shut
+it was flung open with such violence that Willis was sent tumbling to
+the floor.
+
+Into the room leaped Frank Merriwell, and he placed himself between
+Diamond and his would-be assailant.
+
+"Wait a moment, Flemming," he said, with the utmost self-possession. "It
+is not necessary for you to waste your energies on Mr. Diamond."
+
+It was a most dramatic tableau, as every lad stood motionless and
+staring for some seconds.
+
+There was a strong contrast between Diamond and Merriwell.
+
+Jack was literally quivering with passion, while Frank actually smiled
+serenely into Flemming's face, as if he thoroughly enjoyed the
+situation.
+
+But those who knew Merriwell best said that in times of trouble he was
+the most dangerous when he smiled.
+
+"So you are around!" Flemming finally growled. "How did you happen in
+here? Were you playing the eavesdropper also?"
+
+"I happened to be passing the saloon, and I thought I saw my friend
+Diamond come in here," explained Frank, calmly. "I wondered what could
+bring him into such a place, and so I entered likewise. They said he had
+come back here. I came also. That is how I happened to arrive at
+precisely the right moment."
+
+"You'll find it was precisely the wrong moment!" cried Flemming. "Close
+and fasten the door, boys! We'll jump on these two cads, and do them up
+now and at once! Come on!"
+
+"I don't know but it will be a good time to settle a few old scores with
+them," said Emery, becoming aroused. "It will do them good to show them
+they can be licked!"
+
+"That goes!" shouted Puss Parker.
+
+"Six to two--three to one!" laughed Frank. "Oh, well, that's not so bad.
+Come on, my brave fellows! We'll do our best to make it interesting, eh,
+Jack?"
+
+"Oh, all I want is a chance at Thornton!" panted the Virginian.
+
+Willis Paulding was quivering with excitement. He thought he saw his
+opportunity, and he lost no time in improving it. He had hated Merriwell
+from the first, but never had he dared do anything to injure Frank. Now,
+grasping his heavy cane, he slipped forward and came up behind
+Merriwell.
+
+Swish--crack!
+
+The cane cut through the air and fell on Merriwell's head, dropping the
+lad in a senseless heap to the floor.
+
+It was a cowardly blow, but it put Merriwell out of the fight in a
+twinkling, for he was stunned.
+
+"So this is the way you fight!" cried Diamond, wheeling about and
+leaping at Willis, who gave a scream and vainly tried to escape.
+
+Jack caught the fellow, grasped him by the ears, and flung him back
+against the wall. Thump! thump! thump!--Jack banged the head of the
+helpless wretch against the wall till it seemed that Paulding's skull
+would crack.
+
+Willis tried to scream for help, but with the very first thump his
+tongue was caught between his teeth, and he nearly bit it in two. Blood
+gushed from his mouth, and he sunk in a limp heap to the floor as Jack
+released him.
+
+Diamond turned quickly, but not in time to escape Flemming, whose heavy
+fist caught the Virginian behind the ear.
+
+Down Jack went. As he tried to get up Flemming kicked him over.
+
+The sound of the fight had aroused those in the front of the saloon, and
+several came hurrying in.
+
+The door had not been closed, as Flemming had directed, and the curious
+ones gained easy admission to the room.
+
+Among the foremost was Plug Kirby, a tough of the town, whom Frank had
+once whipped. He saw Frank stretched on the floor, and he hoarsely
+demanded:
+
+"Who done that job? Who hit me friend Merriwell? Show me der blokie, an'
+I'll punch der face offen him instanter!"
+
+Thrusting out his chin, Kirby glared around at the boys. At best, he was
+an ugly-looking scoundrel, with a bullet head and a bulldog neck.
+
+"So you are one of Merriwell's friends!" sneered Flemming. "That speaks
+well for Merriwell!"
+
+"W'at's dat?" snarled Plug, advancing on Fred. "Dat Merriwell is white
+ter ther bone, an' I sticks by him--see! Dis gang has done him dirt, an'
+I'm goin' ter punch der mugs offen der whole of yer!"
+
+"Merriwell should be proud of his friends!" cried Flemming, scornfully.
+"It is plain that he has been very careful in his selection!"
+
+"An' it's plain ter me dat Merriwell has been took foul, else yer
+never'd knocked him out dis way. I've been up ag'inst him, an' he could
+lick dis whole gang if he had a square deal."
+
+Then Kirby pointed straight at Flemming, and fiercely exclaimed:
+
+"I t'ink you're der bloke w'at done him dirt! I'm goin' ter knock der
+packin' outer youse, me fine chap!"
+
+He rushed at Fred, who caught up a chair and struck at Kirby's head.
+Plug dodged, caught hold of the chair, and wrenched it from Flemming's
+grasp.
+
+"Right here is where I cleans out der place!" he shouted.
+
+He swung the chair aloft, and the boys made a rush to get out of the
+room.
+
+Whiz!--the chair flew through the air, striking Fred Flemming between
+the shoulders, knocking him down instantly.
+
+Then the police came in suddenly, and clubbed Kirby into a helpless
+condition, while all the others, with the exception of Merriwell and
+Diamond, escaped from the place.
+
+Jack was examining Frank's wound when they were both placed under
+arrest.
+
+"What is this for?" demanded the young Virginian. "What have we done to
+merit arrest? Why didn't you take those fellows who got the better of
+us in such cowardly ways?"
+
+"Don't ask questions!" growled one of the officers. "You'll have a
+chance to answer a few when yer come before the judge in the morning."
+
+Those words filled Diamond with a feeling of terror. He knew what it
+would mean if they were brought up before a magistrate in the morning.
+It would become known that they had been arrested in a place like
+Jackson's, and in company with a ruffian of Plug Kirby's stamp. Kirby
+would claim that Frank Merriwell was his friend, and that would settle
+everything. Jack saw that it meant disgrace and expulsion for himself
+and Merriwell. Flemming and Thornton would be triumphant.
+
+Jack was very proud, and it made him writhe with anguish when he thought
+how heavily such a blow would fall upon his parents. For a moment he was
+quite overcome.
+
+Jackson came into the room. He was greatly excited, and he begged the
+officers to let the prisoners go, for he knew unpleasant attention would
+be attracted toward his place if it became publicly known that two
+students had been arrested there.
+
+"It's time we pinched somebody in this joint," said one of the
+policemen. "There's been more crooked jobs put up here than anywhere
+else in the city. You oughter lose yer license, Jackson, and I rather
+think yer will this time."
+
+Jackson had ordered the door closed to keep out the curious crowd that
+had been attracted by sounds of the conflict. One of the bartenders was
+standing guard over the door.
+
+The saloon-keeper drew one of the policemen aside, and spoke earnestly
+and excitedly to him. The officer shook his head, and replied:
+
+"We've overlooked things that went on here till it won't do no longer,
+Jackson. There has been complaints against this joint, and ye're lucky
+that we don't pull the whole shooting-match."
+
+The other officer now took a fair look at Merriwell, who was sitting up
+and feeling tenderly of his head.
+
+"Why, hello!" exclaimed the policeman. "I t'ink I knows you!"
+
+"Hello, Magoon!" returned Frank, rather faintly. "I hope you didn't hit
+me that crack over the head with your stick?"
+
+"I do know yer!" cried the officer. "Ye're ther boy what stopped ther
+horse and saved Fairfax Lee's girl! You're all right!"
+
+"My friend there says we're arrested, Magoon. How about it?"
+
+"We didn't know it was you, but ther job is done now," said the
+policeman, apologetically.
+
+"Well, can't this matter be fixed up?" asked Frank, anxiously. "You know
+what it will mean to me if I am pulled up before a magistrate in the
+morning. Everything will come out, and then I'll be expelled from
+college."
+
+"That's rocky," admitted Magoon; "but what can I do? I can't let you off
+without lettin' the others go."
+
+"Well, why shouldn't you let my friend Diamond go? We were up against
+six fellows, and it seems that we got the worst of it. Those chaps are
+the ones who should be arrested."
+
+"But we didn't catch 'em."
+
+"You caught us because we had been foully knocked out by the crowd,"
+declared Jack. "We were taken at an advantage, and did not have any
+kind of a show. Now are we to suffer while the ones who were to blame go
+free?"
+
+"You made a big mistake in coming into this kind of a joint," declared
+the officer, severely. "And you were arrested at the same time with Plug
+Kirby, a tough of the lowest order. That's what gits you in a hole. If
+we lets you go, we've got to let him go."
+
+Then Diamond explained how Kirby happened to be in the room, and Frank
+added light to the matter by telling how he came to know the thug, who
+had been hired to whip him once on a time, but who had received a severe
+thumping instead.
+
+"And that is how it happens that he claims you for his friend?" asked
+Magoon, grinning. "You hammered friendship into him?"
+
+"That's right," said Frank. "He has been ready to do anything for me
+ever since that night."
+
+"Well, I must say that's the first thing I ever knowed about Plug Kirby
+that made me feel like goin' easy with him! And he was fighting for you
+against the crowd? I'll have a word with Murphy."
+
+Two of the officers drew aside, while the third stood guard at the
+door. After a few moments, Jackson was called up by Magoon, and the trio
+spoke in low tones.
+
+Frank was keeping watch of all that passed, and he saw Jackson take
+something out of his pocket and slip it into Murphy's hand.
+
+"That lets us out, Jack," said Merriwell, guardedly. "Jackson has fixed
+it with the officers."
+
+"If you're right, we are dead lucky," muttered Diamond. "It began to
+look as if we were booked for our walking-papers."
+
+"Which would have pleased certain young gentlemen who do not admire us
+very much."
+
+"They would have held a jubilee over it. With you out of the way,
+Flemming would have gone on the crew. He has suddenly come to hate you
+because he thinks you have shut him out from that position."
+
+"Scarcely do I settle with one set of enemies before another rises up to
+make it interesting for me," said Frank. "I believe I have more enemies
+than any other fellow at Yale."
+
+"And you have more friends. Any man who is as popular as you is certain
+to have enemies. You arouse the envy of the weak and shallow, and the
+jealousy of those who would become your rivals, but are incompetent to
+become your equals. At the same time, you are able to command a larger
+following than any fellow at Yale. You are a leader in everything, and
+it is certain that you will be able to make your choice of the junior
+societies next year. It is no more than natural that you should have
+bitter foes who desire your downfall."
+
+"Well, my enemies have not succeeded very well with their plots thus
+far. If we get out of this scrape all right, I'll give my attention to
+this new gang who have rallied around Fred Flemming, for he is evidently
+the leader."
+
+"Yes, he is the leader, and Tom Thornton is his first officer. If you
+give your attention to Flemming, I will look after Mr. Thornton. Is that
+settled?"
+
+"It is settled."
+
+"Good! Now we'll see if Jackson has fixed matters."
+
+One of the policemen was having a talk with Plug Kirby. Kirby seemed
+rather sullen and obstinate.
+
+"I weren't doin' notting to git me head t'umped like dis," he muttered,
+sulkily. "Me frien' Merriwell was bein' jumped by a gang, an' I went in
+fer ter back him up. You cops lets der gang git off, an' den yer pinches
+us. I don't care wot yer do wid me, an' I don't make no promises. Go on
+wid yer deal."
+
+Here Frank Merriwell stepped in.
+
+"You profess to be a friend of mine, Kirby," he said.
+
+"Dat's wot I am, pal," nodded the tough.
+
+"Then show it. If I am pulled up before a magistrate, it is pretty sure
+that I'll be expelled from college, which will be rough on me. If you
+are my friend, you will agree to keep your mouth shut about this affair.
+If you are my enemy, you will refuse."
+
+"Well, pal, if yer puts it dat way, I can't refuse yer. I did kinder
+reckon you'd stan' by me when I was hauled up, an' I t'ought your
+influence might fix t'ings; but, if it's der way you say, I'll take me
+medicine, an' never open me trap. Is dat satisfactory?"
+
+"You have not been placed under arrest at all--understand that?"
+demanded Officer Murphy.
+
+"Sure."
+
+"And you know nothing about a row in this place. Catch on?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"You're doing this for your friend Merriwell. See?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"That's all. We'll have a drink all around on Jackson, and I'll club the
+head off you, Kirby, if you blow anything."
+
+Frank took seltzer, while the others drank beer or whiskey, according to
+their fancy.
+
+Ten minutes later, Merriwell, Diamond and Kirby were let out of
+Jackson's by the back door.
+
+When they were at some distance from the saloon, Frank turned to the
+bruiser and said:
+
+"Diamond tells me that you got into this trouble by attempting to defend
+me, Kirby. I am sure I appreciate it, but I had rather you would drop
+calling me your friend. You can do me more harm that way than any
+other."
+
+"All right," nodded Plug, gloomily. "Dat goes. I know I ain't in your
+class, an' I don't want ter do yer no hurt. All der same, if I git a
+chance ter fight fer yer any time, I'll do dat."
+
+Frank appreciated the kindness of the big bruiser, whose admiration he
+had won by giving him a severe thrashing.
+
+"All right, Kirby," he laughed. "I certainly can't object if you want to
+fight for me. There have been times when I could have found you quite
+useful in pitting you against ruffians who had tried to injure me. Are
+you down on your luck nowadays?"
+
+"Well, rudder!"
+
+"Well, here's a V. Go play you are a millionaire."
+
+Kirby eagerly grasped the five-dollar bill which Frank passed him,
+earnestly exclaiming:
+
+"If youse ain't der whites' young cove what I ever seen, I'm a liar! If
+yer wants me ter do up der whole gang as was ag'inst yer ter-night, jest
+you say so! I'd like der job."
+
+"If I need you, I'll let you know," assured Frank. "Good-night."
+
+Plug doffed his battered hat.
+
+"Good-night, young gent. May ye alwus prosper, an' may Old Nick take yer
+enemies."
+
+As Frank and Jack walked toward their rooms in South Middle, the
+Virginian observed:
+
+"You are the strangest fellow I ever saw, Merriwell. When you do make a
+friend he is ready to go through fire for you, and you make friends of
+all sorts and conditions of persons. Your friends are as firm and
+unwavering as your enemies are virulent and dangerous."
+
+"And still I seldom seek the friendship of any one," declared Merriwell.
+"If they wish to be my friends, I accept them for what they show
+themselves to be. If they choose to be my enemies, well and good; let
+them look out for themselves. To-night I have found that a new combine
+of enemies has risen against me. I know them all, and I shall treat them
+as they deserve."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+A MATTER OF SPECULATION.
+
+
+Frank spent an hour every afternoon in the gymnasium, where he took such
+exercise as he considered best, always spending at least a few minutes
+of the time on one of the rowing machines.
+
+A great deal of speculation had been aroused by Bob Collingwood's
+determination to take Merriwell upon the 'varsity crew.
+
+It was known that Collingwood was a thorough believer in the American
+oar and American stroke as opposed to the shorter-bladed Oxford oar and
+the longer English stroke.
+
+Collingwood had ever seemed thoroughly satisfied with Yale methods, and
+he had expressed his scorn of the Oxford method of placing the seats on
+alternate sides of the boat.
+
+It was generally presumed that Frank Merriwell was thoroughly English in
+his ideas and beliefs, and it was thought that he was altogether too set
+to give up what he fancied was right, even though he might get on the
+crew by so doing.
+
+Still some one had been forced to give in, and there was much
+speculation about it. Then came the rumor that Yale was to have an
+English coach, and the tongues of the gossips began to wag furiously.
+
+"It's a great triumph for Frank Merriwell!" cried Danny Griswold to a
+party of friends gathered in the gym.
+
+Danny was flushed and perspiring from recent violent exertions on the
+bars. Some of the group about him were in training suits, and some were
+in street dress.
+
+"Also a triumph for good old 'Umpty-eight," declared Ben Halliday, with
+satisfaction.
+
+"How is that?" asked Bandy Robinson.
+
+"Why," answered Halliday, "it was the freshman crew of 'Umpty-eight
+that, under Merriwell's instructions, adopted the Oxford oar and stroke
+and defeated 'Umpty-seven at Saltonstall. Do you see?"
+
+"Vanity, vanity," quoth Dismal Jones, with the air of a Methodist
+preacher of old times. "They who exalt themselves in high places shall
+be cast down. Beware of false pride and the swelled head."
+
+"Oh, you are always croaking!" exclaimed Lewis Little.
+
+"I think it is a mistake to run off onto English methods," said Burn
+Putnam. "Harvard has done that, and they'll say we are following
+Harvard's example."
+
+"What if they do say so?" yawned Bruce Browning, lazily. "What do we
+care, so long as we win the race at New London?"
+
+"But we can't win this year," declared Walter Gordan, who had been
+swinging the clubs, and was flushed from the exertion. "It strikes me it
+is a crazy scheme to attempt to change the oars and the stroke at this
+late day. Harvard has been hammering away at her crew since last fall,
+and it will be in perfect trim when the New London race comes off, while
+Yale's crew will be all broken up if this change of methods occurs."
+
+This seemed logical, and not a few were ready to agree with Gordan.
+Harry Rattleton came up, and the lads appealed to him at once.
+
+"You are Merriwell's roommate," said Robinson, "and you should know if
+it is true that Yale is going to change her oars and stroke for the
+Oxford oar and stroke."
+
+Harry grinned mysteriously.
+
+"Why should I know all this just because I am Merriwell's roommate?" he
+asked. "Do you think he knows everything he tells me--I mean do you
+think he tells me everything he knows?"
+
+"Of course not, but he'd be sure to tell you this, for you know he
+introduced English methods with 'Umpty-eight last year, and he must be
+rather proud if Collingwood has given in that those methods are
+preferable to the old Yale ways."
+
+"If Merry were proud of anything, you'd never know it by his words or
+manner," said Harry. "He is not given to boasting."
+
+"Oh, of course not!" cried Little, impatiently. "We all swear by Frank
+Merriwell, but what we wish to know is if he has induced Collingwood to
+adopt the Oxford oar and stroke."
+
+"Well, you'll have to ask Merriwell, for I will tell you frankly that I
+don't know. The longer I room with him the less I pry into his affairs,
+and, if he knows Collingwood's plans, he has not seen fit to reveal
+them to me. That is all, gentlemen."
+
+That was anything but satisfactory, as the faces of the assembled lads
+plainly indicated.
+
+"Well, it can't be long before we find out!" cried Robinson, in disgust.
+"If Yale has whiffled about at this late hour it will show reprehensible
+weakness and lack of policy. Harvard is bound to win. Then she will
+crow. They have won the annual debate right along, so that my old fogy
+uncle declares all the brains are in Harvard. If they win the spring
+race he'll decide that brawn is going to Harvard, as well as brain, and
+Yale is in the decline."
+
+"They never won anything fair," declared Halliday. "Why, I've heard they
+have men out West all the while searching for new debaters. They claim
+that Harvard don't care to go in for athletics, but takes a leading
+stand in all intellectual pursuits, such as debating and chess."
+
+"Chess is certainly a highly intellectual pursuit," drawled Browning.
+"If I had entered Harvard I should take an interest in it. Debating is
+too trying. The exertion of standing on one's feet and talking is very
+severe."
+
+"If you would take a little more exertion you might get some of the
+flesh off you," said Putnam. "How did you happen to get fat so suddenly,
+Browning, old man?"
+
+"Oh, he fell off the roof one day and came down plump," chuckled
+Griswold, mischievously.
+
+"Here! here! here!" exclaimed Rattleton, making a grab at Danny, who
+dodged and slipped out of the way. "You want to let up on that, young
+fellow."
+
+"I have tried to reduce my weight by dieting," said Bruce, with apparent
+seriousness. "I've been in the habit of eating a juicy tenderloin steak
+twice a day, but I gave that up and tried cheap fifteen-cent steaks
+instead."
+
+"How did you find it?" asked Little.
+
+"Oh, pretty tough," answered Browning, with a sly wink.
+
+"This isn't what we were talking about," broke in Walter Gordan,
+impatiently. "If those Harvard Willies win from us this spring, it will
+be a frightful blow for Old Eli."
+
+"If they win it will come from Collingwood's shallying about," asserted
+"Deacon" Dunning, who had just joined the group. "Merriwell's ideas may
+be all right, but it is too late to adopt them this season. I am
+Merriwell's friend, but I believe Fred Flemming should have been
+retained on the crew. By taking in Merriwell it may upset everything.
+Flemming is a good man, and Merriwell already has more than he can
+properly attend to."
+
+"Now you are getting me cot under the hollar--I mean hot under the
+collar!" exclaimed Rattleton, his eyes snapping. "I want to ask you a
+question, Mr. Dunning. When have you known Frank Merriwell to make a
+failure of anything he has attempted?"
+
+"Oh, he has been wonderfully successful, I grant that; and I do not
+doubt but he would have made a good man had he been taken on the crew
+last fall."
+
+"He will make a good man anyway, and you can bet on that!" cried Harry.
+"It is not necessary that there shall be a change of methods because
+Merry has been taken on the crew. Although he believes in the
+superiority of the Oxford oar and stroke, he may not think it good
+policy to attempt to make a change now. But that is not all. Merry
+makes a good leader, but he is also a good follower, and it is his
+theory that utter obedience is due superiors. I'll wager that he will
+not intrude his ideas on Collingwood. If he does not regulate his stroke
+with that of the rest of the crew he will soon be dropped, and Flemming
+or some other fellow will have his oar. All this talk you are making is
+mere speculation, and I advise you to wait a while till you know what
+you are talking about."
+
+Having thus delivered himself, Rattleton turned away.
+
+At this moment Frank entered the gymnasium to take his regular exercise.
+He was accompanied by Jack Diamond, who had been seen with Merriwell
+very often of late.
+
+Immediately the group of sophomores decided that one of their number
+should ask Merriwell point-blank if a change to the English methods was
+contemplated. The choice fell on Bandy Robinson, who did not relish his
+job much.
+
+Robinson approached Frank with no little hesitation, and something about
+his manner seemed to betray his object, for Merriwell read his
+thoughts.
+
+"Go back," directed Frank, grimly--"go back and tell them that they will
+find out all they want to know by waiting."
+
+Then he entered one of the dressing-rooms, and Robinson retreated,
+muttering:
+
+"It's no use--Merriwell seems to know just what a person is thinking
+about. He is one of the jolliest fellows in the world, and, at the same
+time, when he takes a fancy, one of the most unapproachable."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+THE CHALLENGE.
+
+
+Merriwell and Diamond entered a dressing-room together. The moment the
+door closed behind them, Frank laughed shortly.
+
+"I'll wager that I hit the nail on the head that time," he said. "The
+moment I saw that knot of fellows talking so excitedly I decided they
+were speculating concerning the change on the crew, and my eyes told me
+they had deputized Robinson to question me, so I did not give him the
+chance."
+
+"The dropping of Flemming and your acceptance in his place has created a
+stir," said Jack. "It is generally thought that you will ruin everything
+with your English ideas."
+
+"That shows how little they know me," smiled Merriwell, as he threw off
+his coat. "I almost fancy it is generally believed that I go in for
+English methods simply because they are English."
+
+"You fancy rightly, Merry. The majority of the fellows believe that."
+
+A cloud came to Frank's face.
+
+"I do not care to be misunderstood to such an extent," he said. "I am no
+Anglomaniac; I am American to the bone. I have traveled some, and I
+prefer this country above all other countries on the face of the earth.
+I was at Oxford long enough to witness the races and make an
+investigation of their methods. I believe that in the matter of rowing
+the English are more advanced than the Americans. This is not strange,
+for they have been at it longer. Now, although I claim to be thoroughly
+American, I try not to be narrow and pig-headed. Simply because a thing
+is American, I do not believe it must therefore be superior to
+everything else in the world; but I am bound to defend it till I find
+something by which it is excelled. If Americans will adopt the English
+oar and the English stroke, I am confident that, in a very few years,
+they will so improve upon them that they will be able to give points to
+our cousins across the 'pond.'"
+
+"You are, indeed, broad-minded and liberal, Merriwell," said Diamond,
+with admiration. "It was you who first convinced me that Northerners no
+longer hold a feeling of enmity against Southerners. Till I met you the
+word 'Yankee' seemed to me to be a stigma--a name to be applied in
+derision to the people of the North. To my astonishment, I found you
+were proud to be called a Yankee, and then you explained to me that
+foreigners applied the name to all native-born Americans. You explained
+to me that in the early days of this country, when Northerner and
+Southerner fought for one common cause, freedom and independence, all
+who opposed the tyranny of our oppressors were termed Yankees. I
+remember the night when we sat up till two in the morning talking of
+these things. You did not tell me anything I had not considered before,
+but you revealed things to me in a new light. You showed me the North
+and South bound by ties of blood, and I think you aroused in me a
+broader feeling of patriotism than I had ever before known."
+
+The cloud passed from Merriwell's face as his companion spoke, and, as
+Diamond finished, Frank reached out and took his hand.
+
+"You are from the South, I from the North," he said, in his most
+charming manner; "yet we are brothers. In the North and in the South
+there are those who still entertain sectional feelings and prejudices,
+but the time will come when all this will pass away."
+
+"I think it is fast passing," declared Jack.
+
+"It is," nodded Frank. "So far as sectional feelings go, there should be
+no North, no South, no East, no West. We are all united under one flag,
+the most beautiful of all flags--the Star Spangled Banner! We are all
+citizens of one country, the greatest and grandest the sun ever shone
+upon! We should be ready at any time to lay down our lives for our flag
+and our country."
+
+Diamond's eyes flashed, and it seemed that the noble look on Frank
+Merriwell's face was reflected in Jack's. His blood was stirred by the
+grandest of all emotions--patriotism. Looking at the Virginian at that
+moment, no one could for an instant doubt his courage and his loyalty.
+
+"I believe we should pay more attention to the early history of our
+country, when North and South were united against a common foe,"
+continued Frank. "That is what will arouse true patriotism.
+Massachusetts had her Tea Party, but Virginia had her--Washington!"
+
+Jack Diamond bared his head.
+
+"Merriwell," he said, with great earnestness, "the greatest enemies of
+our country are those who try to arouse sectional feeling. I am sure of
+that."
+
+"Quite right," said Frank. "In the North and in the South there are
+cheap fellows and cads who pose as gentlemen. You and I have had a few
+experiences with some of them, and it seems that there are others."
+
+"I presume you mean Flemming, Thornton and their crowd?"
+
+"Flemming is the leader, and his enmity against me has been aroused
+because I have been taken on the crew in his place. I did not seek the
+position, and I was surprised when Collingwood called on me to take it."
+
+"You were no less surprised than others, for Collingwood has always
+maintained that Yale's methods are superior to those of Oxford, and he
+knows you believe quite the opposite. It is a matter of speculation if
+he intends to change to the English methods at this late hour."
+
+Frank smiled.
+
+"Collingwood is not a fool. There will be no change. Already I am in
+training to perfectly acquire the Yale stroke."
+
+This was both a surprise and a relief to Jack, who had feared that
+Collingwood had decided on the change, and that in case Harvard won
+Merriwell would be blamed to a certain extent.
+
+"I am glad, Merry!" exclaimed Diamond, his eyes gleaming. "If Yale wins
+and we square matters with Flemming and Thornton, I shall be perfectly
+satisfied."
+
+"I am hoping to get at Mr. Flemming this afternoon," said Frank, grimly.
+
+"How is that?"
+
+"He spends some time in the gym every day, and I timed my visit to-day
+in order to catch him here."
+
+"But what can you do here?" asked the Virginian, wonderingly. "You can't
+fight him in the gym."
+
+"I do not want to fight him."
+
+"No?" cried Jack, in astonishment. "Then what do you mean to do?"
+
+"Flemming considers himself the champion wrestler at Yale. I hope to
+wrestle with him."
+
+"Hope to wrestle?" exclaimed Diamond, still more astonished. "Why, even
+if you were to throw him, it could give you very little satisfaction."
+
+Frank smiled mysteriously.
+
+"Do you think so?" he inquired. "Well, we shall see. When you are ready,
+we shall go out. I will wrestle with you, and you shall throw me. We'll
+be near Flemming at the time. That will give him an opportunity to pass
+some remarks, if he so desires. If he does so, you may be sure I will
+lose no time in picking them up. I am tired of fighting, and I hope to
+finish this chap in another way."
+
+"If you finish him by wrestling with him, I shall consider it a marvel.
+I am afraid you have misjudged your man, Merry; he'll not be finished so
+easily."
+
+"We shall see. Are you ready? Then come on."
+
+They left the dressing-room, Frank in advance. As they came out they
+were regarded with some interest by the knot of sophomores, who were
+still talking of the surprising change that had been made on the crew.
+
+As he passed the lads, Frank called pleasantly to them, and they greeted
+him in return, and the manner in which this was done would have betrayed
+to a keen-eyed stranger that Merriwell was something more than an
+ordinary man at college.
+
+Frank's keen eyes detected Flemming at the ladders.
+
+"That is first rate," he muttered. "The turf is nearby."
+
+A few moments later Frank was engaged in casting the shot near where
+Fred Flemming was exercising on the ladders.
+
+At about the time Frank fancied Flemming would finish, Frank gave Jack
+the signal, and they were soon struggling in what seemed to be a
+good-natured wrestling match.
+
+Diamond was really supple and catlike on his feet, and he possessed more
+than common strength; but he was not Frank Merriwell's match, for,
+besides being a natural athlete, Frank had developed himself in every
+way, so that he was really a wonder for a youth of his years.
+
+The struggle between Frank and Jack quickly attracted a number of
+spectators to the spot, and Merriwell was well pleased to see Flemming
+come down from the ladders and approach, accompanied by Tom Thornton.
+
+It seemed that the battle between the wrestling lads became fiercer and
+fiercer, but at last Jack secured a sudden advantage, and Merriwell went
+down heavily.
+
+"Bah!" Fred Flemming was heard to say. "Those fellows remind me of two
+awkward cubs. Neither knows the rudiments of scientific wrestling."
+
+One leap brought Frank Merriwell to his feet, another leap carried him
+before Flemming, who was turning away.
+
+"Wait a moment, sir," said Frank, his voice cold, clear and distinct. "I
+believe you consider yourself something of a wrestler, Flemming?"
+
+Merriwell had appeared before him so suddenly that Fred started back
+involuntarily. Then, angry with himself at the recoil, his lips curled
+scornfully, and he surveyed the other lad in the most haughty and
+insolent manner.
+
+"Get out of my way!" he cried, harshly. "I will not be bothered by you!"
+
+The same old smile--the smile that was so dangerous--crept over
+Merriwell's face.
+
+"You think you will not be bothered by me," he said, his voice smooth
+and soft, "but you deceive yourself. You have taken a fancy to bother
+me, to revile me behind my back, even to make false statements
+concerning me, for you have said that I sought your position on the crew
+and obtained it by underhand means. In the presence of these witnesses
+you have stated that I am a most bungling wrestler. That is something
+you cannot deny."
+
+"I do not wish to deny it. You are not a wrestler--you know nothing of
+the art."
+
+"And you claim to be a wrestler?"
+
+"Yes, I can wrestle."
+
+"Then, here and now, I challenge you to wrestle me at side-holds,
+catch-as-you-can and arm's end, the winner of two out of three falls to
+be acknowledged the best man, and Hugh Heffiner to be the judge. If you
+refuse to wrestle, I will brand you as a blower and a braggart--a fellow
+not fit to be accepted in the society of gentlemen. Your answer,
+Flemming--your answer!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+THE WRESTLING MATCH.
+
+
+Flemming turned pale and trembled with suppressed passion, while his
+hands were clinched, and he glared at Merriwell as if he longed to
+strike the lad who had dared face him and fling such an insulting
+challenge in his teeth.
+
+He tried to speak, but the words were choked back in his throat. He felt
+that Merriwell was seeking retaliation, and, for that reason, had
+purposely worded his challenge in a manner calculated to cut him deeply.
+
+"Shame!" came from the lips of Tom Thornton.
+
+Still the lad who had given the challenge smiled.
+
+"I am meeting Mr. Flemming as he would meet me," said Frank, calmly. "I
+am using the sort of language he would not hesitate to apply to me. Of
+course I feel that I am lowering myself in doing so, but it is
+absolutely necessary in some cases to place one's self on the level of
+an unscrupulous enemy in order to meet and defeat him."
+
+All this was said with coolness and distinctness, and it was as if Frank
+were deliberately sinking the knife deeper in Flemming's writhing body.
+
+It seemed to be more than Flemming could endure, for he lost control of
+himself, and would have leaped toward Frank.
+
+"You insolent hound!" he cried, through his set teeth.
+
+Merriwell stood with his hands at his side, making no move, but he saw
+that Flemming's friends had grasped him and were holding him in check.
+
+"Steady, Flem, my boy!" fluttered Thornton. "Remember where you are!"
+
+"I will strangle him."
+
+"Wait! You can't do it here!"
+
+"Let me go!"
+
+"Thornton is right," declared Andy Emery, who had placed himself between
+the two foes. "You cannot fight him here, old man."
+
+"Then fix it so I can fight him somewhere--anywhere! I could murder
+him!"
+
+"You will have to wrestle him."
+
+"Yes," said Thornton, "you will have to do that, Fred, or his friends
+will believe you are afraid."
+
+"Then I will wrestle him--and I will break his back!"
+
+"You must calm down before you attempt it, and you must promise to
+wrestle fairly according to rules."
+
+"That will give me no chance to get square for this insult."
+
+"You can show your superiority by throwing him, which you will do, as
+you are an expert wrestler, and, for all of the other things he does so
+well, no one ever heard that Merriwell could wrestle. Then, the next
+time you meet him outside college bounds, you can force him to
+apologize."
+
+Emery nodded.
+
+"Thornton is right, Flemming," he said.
+
+Then, with a mighty effort, Fred seemed to gain control of his anger,
+and he calmly said:
+
+"All right, I will wrestle him, but I shall not be gentle with him,
+although I promise not to foul him."
+
+"Be as rough as you choose, as long as you keep within bounds."
+
+Then it was that Frank Merriwell was heard saying to the friends who had
+gathered around him:
+
+"It may seem that I have opened myself to criticism by my manner in
+challenging this person, but I call you all to witness that he was the
+first to be insulting by his manner of criticising the friendly bout
+between Mr. Diamond and myself. That, however, was not the beginning.
+Had not Flemming given me other cause, I should not have challenged him
+in such a manner. I have sought neither his friendship nor his enmity,
+but he has seen fit to regard me as an enemy. I can honor an honest foe
+who meets me man to man, but not one who takes a mean advantage of me.
+On my head I now bear a bruise where I was felled by a heavy cane in the
+hands of one of Flemming's friends, when he with five companions set
+upon Diamond and myself. I always endeavor to square all my accounts
+with friends and foes, and I shall balance the books with Flemming."
+
+Fred forced a scornful laugh.
+
+"A very fine speech!" he cried. "I assure you, Merriwell, you shall have
+the opportunity to square matters. I could wish something somewhat more
+businesslike than a mere wrestling match, but that may come later--if
+you have as much nerve as you wish persons to think you possess. To
+begin with, I'll show you that I spoke the truth when I said you know
+nothing of the art of wrestling. I am satisfied to have Hugh Heffiner
+for judge and referee."
+
+Merriwell had chosen Heffiner because he knew Hugh was a square man, and
+they were not at all chummy, so he could not be accused of having
+selected a person who would favor him. Heffiner was in the gymnasium,
+and had been attracted by the struggle between Merriwell and Diamond, so
+he had overheard all that passed between Frank and Fred.
+
+Diamond was standing at one side, his arms folded, a look of
+satisfaction on his face. For all of Flemming's reputation as a
+wrestler, Diamond felt sure that Merriwell was making no false moves. He
+knew Frank too well to think he would deliberately challenge his enemy
+to wrestle without feeling certain of his own ability to accomplish his
+defeat.
+
+Flemming was eager for the struggle, while Merriwell was calm and
+deliberate in his movements. Flemming's friends gathered about him,
+giving him advice.
+
+Then Frank was not a little astonished to find Tad Horner at his side,
+and heard the little junior say:
+
+"Look here, Merriwell, I want you to understand that I am not your
+enemy, although appearances may be against me."
+
+"You were one of the Flemming gang at Jackson's."
+
+"I acknowledge it but with shame," said Tad, and, to Frank's surprise,
+the little fellow colored deeply. "At the same time, you will remember
+that I did not lift a hand against you. You are a white man, Merriwell,
+and I think you all right."
+
+Frank was impressed by Tad's sincerity.
+
+"Thank you," he said. "It is not necessary for every fellow who dislikes
+me to be a rascal. I am sure that all of Flemming's friends are not
+rascals. It is quite probable that a great many honest fellows think me
+in the wrong, but I am glad to know that you, who were present at
+Jackson's, do not think so."
+
+Tad retired, quite satisfied with this. He had long admired Merriwell,
+and he felt it his duty to come out on this occasion and express himself
+openly. He did not mind that Flemming and his friends regarded him with
+anger and scorn.
+
+Arrangements for the wrestling match were soon made, and then the two
+lads faced each other on the turf. Flemming was tall and solid, with
+broad shoulders and a back of which he was particularly proud. He was
+heavier than Merriwell.
+
+There was not a single ounce of superfluous flesh on Frank Merriwell. He
+was a mass of bone and sinew, splendidly formed and supple as a young
+panther. In every movement and pose there was indescribable grace, and,
+at the same time, a suggestion of wonderful strength and self-reliance.
+
+Flemming was bold and confident. He had made a special study of
+wrestling, and he knew all the tricks employed by experts. He had seen
+Merriwell and Diamond wrestling, and he felt certain that his adversary
+and rival would be an "easy thing."
+
+It chanced that the under holds in the first match fell to Flemming,
+which made him certain in his own mind that he would have no trouble in
+throwing the lad he hated.
+
+The signal was given, and the enemies advanced and secured holds. Then
+Heffiner gave the command, and the struggle began.
+
+In the twinkling of an eye Flemming tried the cross-buttock, but it
+seemed that Merriwell had been expecting just such a move, for he passed
+his left leg behind Fred's right and through in front of Fred's left.
+Then the force of Flemming's surge seemed to lift both lads off their
+feet.
+
+"Down Merriwell goes!" cried Thornton, triumphantly.
+
+But it seemed that in the act of falling Frank whirled in the air and
+brought his rival under. This, however, had been planned from the very
+instant that Fred made the first move to accomplish the cross-buttock,
+and Frank's lock-trip had brought it about by lifting the other lad from
+the ground by a whirling movement.
+
+Flemming struck fairly on his shoulders, with Merriwell across his body,
+and Heffiner cried:
+
+"First fall for Merriwell!"
+
+Exclamations of astonishment broke from the spectators. Instead of a
+struggle of some moments, this fall had seemed to come about in the
+twinkling of an eye.
+
+But what was most astonishing was that Flemming was flat on his back at
+the bottom when the lads struck the ground, although it had appeared
+that he had successfully accomplished the cross-buttock.
+
+It is certain that very few of those who witnessed the affair had the
+least idea how Merriwell had accomplished this, but they saw that he was
+the victor in the first contest.
+
+Jack Diamond seldom smiled, but now he did so, and the expression of
+satisfaction on his face was complete.
+
+"Who said Merriwell was going down?" squealed Danny Griswold, in
+delight. "Somebody fooled himself that time!"
+
+Thornton bit his lip, muttering some fierce exclamation beneath his
+breath.
+
+Of them all no person was more astonished than Fred Flemming. He lay
+dazed and wondering, scarcely able to realize that he was flat on his
+back and his enemy across his chest.
+
+Frank arose hastily, his face quite calm and expressionless. He did not
+betray satisfaction or triumph, but his manner indicated that what had
+happened was no more than he had fully expected. He had confidence in
+himself, which any one must have to be successful, but still he was not
+overconfident, which is a fault quite as much as timidity.
+
+Flemming sat up. He had felt himself lifted from his feet with a
+twisting movement, and he had felt himself whirled in the air, but still
+he could not understand how the feat had been accomplished.
+
+Shame caused the hot blood to rush into his face, and he ground his
+teeth together, his whole body quivering.
+
+"It was an accident--it must have been an accident!" he told himself. "I
+tried to throw him so heavily that I overreached myself."
+
+The look on Merriwell's face cut him like a keen knife and made him feel
+a fierce longing for the next tussle.
+
+"They actually think he threw me, when I threw myself," was his thought;
+"but I will undeceive them in a moment. Next time I will drive him into
+the earth beneath me! There'll be no further miscalculation."
+
+Thornton was at the side of his friend.
+
+"How in the world did you happen to let him take a fall out of you in
+that manner?" whispered Tom, in extreme disgust.
+
+Flemming's lips curled.
+
+"Bah!" he returned. "He did not do it!"
+
+"No? But you were thrown! Explain that."
+
+"I was not thrown."
+
+"Yes, you were, my dear fellow! Heffiner has given Merriwell credit for
+winning the first fall."
+
+"I made a misjudgment in the amount of strength I should use on the
+fellow, and I turned myself in the air," declared Fred.
+
+"Is it possible?"
+
+"Of course it is!" hissed Flemming, who saw the incredulity in the face
+of his friend. "He is even easier fruit than I imagined."
+
+Thornton brightened up somewhat, although not fully satisfied.
+
+"You must not let him accomplish it this time."
+
+"I tell you he did not accomplish it before!" came bitterly from the
+crestfallen and furious youth. "I will convince you of that in a moment.
+See the fellow stand there with that lordly air as if he had actually
+accomplished something. I will take all of that out of him! This is
+catch as we can, and I will break his back!"
+
+"Injure his back in some way, and he will not be able to hold the place
+that belongs to you on the crew."
+
+"That is right!" panted Flemming, his eyes glittering and his teeth
+showing. "A fellow with a sprained back is no good at an oar. Why,
+Thornton, my boy! Merriwell has played right into my hands! He has given
+me the very opportunity I most desire, and I'll be a chump if I neglect
+it! If he is not taken to his room on a stretcher, it will be necessary
+for some of his friends to aid him. I know a hug that will take the
+stiffness out of his spine and make him lame for a month!"
+
+"Give it to him!" fluttered Tom, with returning confidence. "Fix the cad
+this time so he will not be able to wrestle any more!"
+
+"I will, rest assured of that. This is my opportunity. In five minutes
+the starch will be taken out of him."
+
+Flemming was confident, far more confident than he would have been had
+he dreamed that Merriwell had turned him in the air and brought him
+underneath in the first fall.
+
+In his mind he saw Merriwell groaning on the ground, saw him assisted to
+his room, saw him helpless in bed and attended by a physician.
+
+But what gave Flemming the greatest satisfaction was the vision of
+Collingwood humbly asking him to again resume his place on the crew--the
+place now given to Frank Merriwell.
+
+It seemed remarkable to Fred that he had not planned to engage the lad
+he hated in a wrestling match, and so injure him in such a manner that
+he would be unable to row on the crew.
+
+But no less remarkable, it seemed, was the fact that he had been
+challenged to wrestle by Merriwell, and thus given the opportunity he
+most ardently desired.
+
+The only thing that marred his satisfaction at that moment was that
+Merriwell had, apparently by accident, seemed to have acquired the honor
+of having thrown him in the first struggle.
+
+"Gentlemen," said Heffiner, "are you ready?"
+
+The antagonists stepped forward and signified their readiness. The
+spectators fell back.
+
+"This time it is catch as you can," said Yale's famous pitcher. "Any
+kind of a hold is fair. Is that understood?"
+
+"It is," nodded Merriwell.
+
+"Certainly," bowed Flemming, giving Frank a scornful look.
+
+"Very well, gentlemen. Prepare to clinch. Ready--go!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+PLOTTING FUN.
+
+
+Like a panther Merriwell sprang forward, but he halted quite as suddenly
+and stood erect, careless and disdainful.
+
+Flemming came forward in a crouching posture. He believed he saw his
+opportunity, and, with a gasp of satisfaction, he darted in and caught
+the lad he hated about the body.
+
+This time it was not Flemming's intention to throw Merriwell too
+suddenly. He wanted a little time to wrench Frank's back, and then he
+would cast his foe writhing and helpless at his feet.
+
+Tom Thornton saw that Fred had obtained the hold he sought, and he
+mentally exclaimed:
+
+"This time there will be no blunder!"
+
+Jack Diamond no longer smiled. He saw that Flemming had obtained what
+seemed to be a great advantage, and his face was filled with concern.
+
+"It was careless of Merriwell to give the fellow such a hold!" thought
+Jack. "Flemming is sure to be the victor this time!"
+
+There was a look of intense satisfaction on Fred Flemming's face as he
+made firm his clasp about Merriwell's back.
+
+And then, just as Flemming was ready to give a bear-like hug, something
+happened.
+
+Frank's right arm was bent so that his forearm came directly under
+Fred's chin, while his left arm was clasped across Fred's shoulders
+behind his back.
+
+Merriwell gave a sudden surge, drawing Flemming close with his left arm,
+and thrusting back the fellow's head by pressing his right arm under his
+enemy's chin.
+
+In the twinkling of an eye Flemming's wind was shut off, and his neck
+seemed to crack beneath the strain. He made a mad effort to hurl
+Merriwell to the ground, but he had delayed the attempt a moment too
+long.
+
+Frank Merriwell well knew how dangerous was the trick he had played upon
+his enemy. He knew that he could break Flemming's neck in that manner if
+he desired to do so, and he was careful not to make the sudden pressure
+too intense.
+
+Flemming could not breathe, and his eyes started from his head. His
+strength seemed to leave his body, and his struggles to throw the lad he
+hated were weak and ineffectual. He was like a child in the hands of
+Frank Merriwell.
+
+The spectators stared in astonishment, and Diamond gasped:
+
+"Great Caesar! Merry purposely let Flemming get that hold!"
+
+"Break away, Flem--break away!" cried Tom Thornton, quivering with
+excitement.
+
+But Flemming could not break away, for he had not sufficient strength to
+do so.
+
+"Foul!" shouted Emery, starting forward, as if he would part the
+combatants.
+
+In a moment Jack Diamond's arm was extended and pressed across Emery's
+breast, holding him back like a bar of iron.
+
+"There is no foul in this match!" came exultantly from the lips of the
+Virginian. "That was stated at the beginning."
+
+Flemming made one last feeble struggle, and then the two lads went down
+together, with Fred under. They fell heavily, and Merriwell came down
+on his enemy with his full weight.
+
+A moment later Frank arose.
+
+On the turf Fred Flemming lay white and still, his eyes closed.
+
+"Bring some water," calmly directed the victor. "I think Mr. Flemming
+has been stunned."
+
+"This fall settles the match," decided Hugh Heffiner. "Frank Merriwell
+has won by throwing Flemming two times in succession. Permit me to
+congratulate you, Mr. Merriwell, for it is apparent that you are as
+expert in the art of wrestling as you have proved yourself to be in the
+other things you have attempted."
+
+"Thank you," said Frank, simply, as he accepted Heffiner's hand.
+
+Jack Diamond whispered in Tom Thornton's ear:
+
+"It is your turn next!"
+
+Diamond called on Merriwell that evening.
+
+"You are a dandy, old man!" cried the Virginian, admiringly. "You got
+back at Flemming in great shape. They say he has been weak as a rag ever
+since you dropped him the second time, and it is pretty certain he will
+hold you in respect hereafter."
+
+"I shall be satisfied if he will let me alone," said Frank, quietly. "I
+have no grudge against him, but the fellow who has not the nerve to
+fight his way in this world gets left. Life is a battle from start to
+finish, and the hardest fighter is the winner."
+
+"True," nodded Jack.
+
+"My mother was one of the gentlest women in the world," continued
+Merriwell. "Thoughts of strife and contention distressed her. To her a
+personal encounter was brutal and vulgar, and she instructed me never to
+fight unless absolutely compelled to do so. As far as possible I have
+tried to remember her teachings. I have not found it possible to do so
+at all times, as my enemies would ride over me if I did. When I see that
+a foe is determined to force me into an encounter then I become the
+aggressor. In another thing my mother was at fault. Many times she told
+me never to strike the first blow. She was wrong. Often the first blow
+wins the battle. If a person sees there is certain to be an encounter,
+he should do his best to get in the first blow, and make it a good one.
+Then he should not be satisfied to let it rest there till his enemy has
+recovered, but he should follow it up. That is my belief."
+
+"And you are right. Old man, you have a level head. I never saw another
+fellow like you, Merriwell, and I doubt if there is another in the
+world."
+
+Frank laughed.
+
+"You flatter me, Diamond."
+
+"Not at all."
+
+"Ah, but you do. I know my own failings."
+
+"I wonder what they are?"
+
+"Do not think for a moment that I have no failings! I have studied my
+own nature, and I have discovered them. As far as possible, I seek to
+remedy them. To myself I am a very ordinary sort of fellow. I know it,
+Jack. The man who can see no flaws in himself is an egotist, a cad, and
+a shallow fool! As soon as he is perfectly satisfied with himself, he
+ceases to progress--he deteriorates."
+
+"That is true."
+
+"Among my friends I see many things worthy of emulation. You, my dear
+Diamond, are not aware of your own fine qualities, and----"
+
+"That will do, Merry!" cried Jack, blushing. "I am sure that I try to
+be a gentleman. My father was a true Southern gentleman."
+
+"There can be no doubt of that. You show your breeding in every way. A
+natural gentleman will be a gentleman under any circumstances. He
+carries the air about him, and nothing can disguise it."
+
+Jack sat down.
+
+"You have squared your score with Flemming," he said; "but I have a
+little matter to settle with Thornton. I am wondering how I shall settle
+it."
+
+"Thornton is Flemming's satellite. It would be cruel to use him
+roughly."
+
+"But I will not let him off! He should be taught a lesson."
+
+"Look here, Jack, I have a scheme."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Let's put up a racket on him."
+
+"What sort of a racket?"
+
+"Oh, one out of which we can get some sport and humiliate him at the
+same time. I am sure you do not want to fight with the fellow?"
+
+"I have been thinking that I would be ashamed to have an encounter with
+him."
+
+"Exactly so. Now, I know you are not much of a fellow for pranks, but I
+hope you will agree to this little scheme of mine."
+
+"State it," said Jack, rather doubtfully.
+
+"Well, you know Thornton considers himself something of a masher. He
+gets stuck on every pretty girl who smiles on him."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Danny Griswold is a daisy as an impersonator of girls. You know he is
+to play a girl's part in one of the entertainments to be given in the
+fall. He has done the trick before, and he sent home for his outfit a
+week ago. Yesterday, while Rattleton and I were cramming for recitations
+the door opened, and a stunning blonde walked into the room. She seemed
+confused when she saw us, begged our pardon, and said she was looking
+for her cousin, Danny Griswold. She had entered the wrong room by
+accident. Harry offered to show her to Danny's rooms, but she said she
+could find the way. Still she was in no hurry to go, and I began to be
+rather nervous, for I did not fancy the idea of having a young lady
+without a chaperon visit us. I feared it would become known, and we
+would receive a reprimand. She was decidedly giddy, and she sat on the
+arm of the easy-chair there and giggled and said it must be so nice to
+be a boy and go to Yale. After a while I began to smell a rat. I got up
+and took a closer look at her. Say, she was gotten up in great shape! It
+was that little imp Griswold!"
+
+"Well, what is your scheme?" asked Jack, smiling.
+
+"It is to put Griswold onto Thornton. Let Danny rig up and see what he
+can do. It's ten to one Thornton will think he has a new mash, and then
+we can have any amount of sport with the fellow."
+
+Jack looked more doubtful than ever.
+
+"I don't see how that is getting square with him," he declared.
+
+"If the game works, you can pretend to be in love with the same girl.
+You can challenge Thornton to mortal combat. He won't dare meet you.
+Then you can expose him, and if that will not be getting even with him I
+don't know how you can get even."
+
+This scheme did not exactly meet Diamond's approval, and Frank found it
+difficult to induce him to agree to it. At last, however, Merriwell
+succeeded.
+
+"We'll have barrels of fun out of this," laughed Frank. "I feel in need
+of a little fun to wake me up."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+THORNTON'S "MASH."
+
+
+Tom Thornton was alone in his room when there came a knock on the door.
+
+"Come in," called Tom, without turning his head or taking his feet down
+from the table on which they were resting.
+
+As he had been out late the night before, he was not in a very agreeable
+mood. He had sent for his tailor some time before, and he supposed it
+was the tailor who had knocked and entered at his command.
+
+"Well, here you are at last!" Tom growled. "I've waited long enough for
+you, too! You are slower that molasses in midwinter! I suppose you want
+to know what ails me now. Well, I'll tell you. That last pair of
+trousers you made me are too short in the waist and too full around the
+bottoms--that's what's the matter. I'd be mobbed if I should show myself
+in them. Now, don't tell me they are all right! I'll just try them on
+right before you, and let you see---- Great Jupiter! What have I been
+saying!"
+
+He had turned his head, and he saw a vision that electrified him and
+brought his feet down from the table with a thump.
+
+Just within the room a very pretty girl was standing, and she was
+staring at him in a half-frightened, half-amused manner.
+
+"I--I--I beg your pup-pup-pardon!" stammered Thornton, jumping up,
+confused and flustered. "I didn't know! I--I thought it was my tailor!"
+
+"And you nearly frightened the senses out of me by growling at me in
+that way," giggled the girl. "Why, I thought you were a great horrid
+bear, and you were going to eat me."
+
+"If I were a bear, I couldn't ask for a daintier meal," said Tom,
+gallantly.
+
+"Oh, my!" laughed the girl. "What a difference!"
+
+"I am bound to even matters if possible."
+
+"That's it? Then you did not really mean what you just said, after all?"
+
+The smile vanished from her face, and she seemed a bit offended.
+
+"Oh, yes I did--I vow I did!" exclaimed Tom, hastening to repair the
+"break." "You see I am all broken up by the surprise. I--I didn't think
+of seeing a young lady here--alone."
+
+"I suppose not. I am looking for my cousin, Mr. Griswold."
+
+"Griswold? Griswold? Why, I have heard of him. Yes, he is a soph. You'll
+find him over in South Middle. This is Welch Hall."
+
+"Oh, dear! Then I was misdirected. I was told I'd find him here
+somewhere. I beg your pardon, sir."
+
+"Oh, don't mention it, Miss--er--Miss----"
+
+"Darling. My name is Grace Darling, and I have come down to spend a week
+in New Haven. You see I am from the country."
+
+"I should say so!" thought Thornton; "and as fresh as they make 'em! But
+she is pretty--yes, she is a genuine stunner! A sort of wild flower. She
+is so innocent and unsophisticated!"
+
+"I presumed you were not familiar with Yale, or you would not be in the
+dormitories without a chaperon," said Thornton, aloud. "It is all right,
+though," he hastened to declare, as she seemed to shrink back. "I will
+escort you over to South Middle, and help you find your cousin. My name
+is Thornton--Thomas Thornton."
+
+"You are very good, Mr. Thornton, but I think I can find Danny all
+right. I will not put you to the trouble."
+
+"Oh, it will be no trouble--not the least in the world, I assure you."
+
+"Still I don't know what Danny would think. Even though your company
+would be very pleasant, I dare not accept it without a proper
+introduction, Mr.--Mr. Thornton."
+
+This was said in the most coquettish manner possible, and Tom Thornton
+felt his heart beating proudly.
+
+"I've struck her all right!" he told himself. "I mustn't let it slip.
+I'll improve the opportunity."
+
+So he talked to her in his most fascinating manner, and was bold enough
+to express a hope that he might see her again, to which she replied that
+he "might." And when she left Tom was in a state of delighted
+satisfaction, thoroughly pleased with himself.
+
+Thornton was inclined to boast of his conquests, and it was not long
+before he had told several of his friends about the "corking pretty
+girl" who had wandered into his room.
+
+"And I caught her without a struggle," he declared repeatedly. "Country
+girl and rather unsophisticated; but a regular rustic rose--no, a
+regular daisy. Cousin of some fellow over in South Middle. Her name?
+Never mind. I am not giving things away. She is going to stay down a
+week, and gave me her promise that I should see her again. But she
+intends to be strictly proper, although she does not know much of city
+ways, for she declared that I must be properly introduced to her before
+she would make an appointment with me. Oh, it's dead easy when you know
+how!"
+
+Tad Horner was Thornton's roommate. "Grace Darling" had chosen an
+occasion when Tad was not in, and thus had found Tom alone.
+
+Tom boasted of his conquest to Tad, who grinned and tried to chaff him
+about his charming country girl.
+
+"Did she have hayseed in her hair?" asked Tad.
+
+"It's not that kind of a lady, Horner. They'll all be envious of me. She
+is a stunning blonde, and her innocent country ways make her all the
+more attractive. She has such eyes--and such teeth! Her lips are very
+inviting, my dear boy. It's just the sort of a mouth a fellow longs to
+kiss. And if I do not sip nectar from those ruby lips before she returns
+to her country home, I'll be dead slow."
+
+"Wow!" whooped Tad. "Sip nectar! That beats! Thornton, this rural maiden
+has knocked you silly!"
+
+"Wait till you see her, and you will not wonder, my boy."
+
+"I'll go something you do not see her again."
+
+"Oh, but I have her promise!"
+
+"Ah, she was giving you a jolly!"
+
+"You'll see!" cried Tom, piqued. "Just wait a while."
+
+Two days passed, and Thornton began to think he would not hear anything
+from his "mash." Then came an invitation to spend an evening at Winnie
+Lee's, and Winnie hinted that among her guests there was to be a young
+lady from the country who wished to apologize for intruding upon Mr.
+Thornton in his room.
+
+"It's Grace Darling!" thought Tom, exultantly. "She will be introduced
+to me! And she must be of fine people to be accepted as a guest at Miss
+Lee's, for the Lees belong to the _elite_ of the town. Oh, Gracie is all
+right, if she is from the country!"
+
+On the evening of the party Tom arrayed himself in his finest, used
+perfumery liberally--too liberally--on his handkerchief and his clothes,
+and set out with a light heart for Miss Lee's.
+
+As old readers know, Winnie Lee and Frank Merriwell were very friendly.
+As Winnie was of a lively disposition and enjoyed a joke thoroughly, it
+was not difficult for Frank to induce her to aid him in carrying out his
+plan.
+
+Winnie was all the more ready to do so because she disliked Tom
+Thornton, who had made himself offensive by having declared that he
+could "catch" her without a struggle if he so desired, but she was not
+his style.
+
+This had been repeated to Winnie, and she had treated Thornton with the
+utmost disdain since hearing it; but Frank had urged her to consent to
+invite Tom to the party that the joke might be carried out, and she
+finally had consented.
+
+For a moment Thornton wondered when he received the invitation, and then
+he decided that "Grace Darling" must have induced Miss Lee to offer it.
+
+Tom little dreamed of the surprising events that were to take place
+before the evening was passed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+ANOTHER CHALLENGE.
+
+
+Thornton found Merriwell, Diamond, Rattleton and Browning were among
+Winnie Lee's guests. This he had expected, however, and he was resolved
+to notice them as little as possible.
+
+Willis Paulding was there, and Tad Horner came later, much to Tom's
+surprise, as he had not known Tad had been invited.
+
+There were a number of jolly girls, and Thornton was not long in looking
+around for Grace Darling.
+
+When Tom finally discovered her, to his disgust, she was chatting with
+Jack Diamond in a cozy corner, which was almost shut off from the rest
+of the room by portieres.
+
+"Hang that fellow!" thought Thornton. "He has been introduced to her,
+and he has lost no time in getting in his work."
+
+As soon as Diamond left the girl Tom hastened to find Winnie Lee, of
+whom he requested an introduction to "Miss Darling."
+
+"Oh, yes!" said Winnie, laughing; "she spoke of you, but I had almost
+forgotten. I trust you will find her very entertaining, Mr. Thornton."
+
+"I am sure I shall," said Tom. "We have seen each other, you know, but
+have not been introduced."
+
+"And she is very particular about that. Being bred in the country, she
+is not fully conversant with the ways of the world, but she knows an
+introduction is the proper thing, and she insists on that. There she
+is."
+
+"Miss Darling" was seen chatting with a number of young gentlemen and
+ladies who had gathered about her.
+
+The group scattered as Winnie and Tom came up. "Miss Darling" saw them,
+and timidly held her fan before her face, peering over it shyly.
+
+"Mr. Thornton," laughed Winnie Lee, "it gives me the greatest pleasure
+to introduce you to Miss Darling."
+
+Tom bowed profoundly, while the girl giggled, and made a courtesy.
+Winnie Lee laughed more than ever.
+
+At a distance Frank Merriwell and Jack Diamond were watching.
+
+"Will you see Winnie Lee!" softly exclaimed Merriwell. "She is nearly
+exploding with laughter. She can't hold it. It will be a miracle if
+Thornton does not tumble."
+
+"All the others are laughing," said Jack. "They had to get away when
+Thornton was introduced. He will be crazy when he finds out how he has
+been fooled."
+
+Frank was laughing.
+
+"Oh, yes; he'll tear his hair. The story is bound to circulate. Don't
+give him too much time with Griswold before you get in your work and
+challenge him. Horner is in the game, and he has agreed to help it
+along."
+
+"Thornton will murder Horner."
+
+"It will be remarkable if they do not suddenly cease to room together."
+
+"Have you brought the pistols?"
+
+"You bet! Everything is ready. Willis Paulding must be involved. We must
+soak him, as well as Thornton. There go Thornton and his mash toward
+the cozy corner. You must intrude before it becomes too warm for
+Griswold, or he is liable to give the whole snap away."
+
+In the meantime Thornton had expressed his delight at meeting his
+charmer again, and had led her away to the very cozy corner in which he
+had seen her chatting so vivaciously with Jack Diamond.
+
+Once in the corner the girl ensconced herself in the shadow of the
+portieres, and, for the first time, the fan dropped from her face.
+
+"This is charming," declared Thornton, in his most fascinating manner.
+"Ever since I first saw you I have dreamed of an occasion like this,
+Miss Darling."
+
+The girl giggled.
+
+"Oh, you are such a flatterer, Mr. Thornton!" she returned, leaning
+toward him.
+
+"Not at all," declared Tom, as, apparently by accident, his hand fell on
+hers and remained there. "I am telling you the truth. Since that hour
+when fate led you to my room, I have thought of you almost constantly by
+day, and I have dreamed of you at night. Your face has been before my
+eyes continually."
+
+Her head was bowed, so he could not see her eyes. He felt her hand
+quiver in his clasp.
+
+"Oh, I am not doing a thing!" was his mental exclamation. "She can't
+resist me!"
+
+He grew bolder with amazing rapidity. He seemed to fancy that he could
+do so with this unsophisticated country girl without being "called
+down."
+
+"Miss Darling," he murmured, leaning yet nearer to her, and holding her
+hand with both of his own, "do you believe in love at first sight?"
+
+She giggled again.
+
+"Why, I don't know," she confessed.
+
+"I do," declared Tom. "I did not till I met you, but since that
+delightful moment I have."
+
+"Oh, rot!" the girl seemed to say.
+
+"Eh?" exclaimed Thornton, in astonishment. "What did you say?"
+
+"I said, 'I think not,'" was the laughing answer. "My cousin has told me
+all about college fellows, and how they pretend to be all broken up over
+a girl, but are giving her the dead jolly all the time."
+
+Tom gasped, for the girl rattled off slang as if thoroughly familiar
+with it. But this dampened Thornton's ardor for no more than a moment.
+
+"I never give any one a jolly, Miss Darling," he declared, trying to
+appear sincere. "Miss Darling!" he murmured. "What a sweet name! And it
+suits you so well!"
+
+"Do you think so?" laughed the girl.
+
+"I do--I do!" palpitated Thornton. "It will be a lucky fellow who can
+call you his darling! If I might----"
+
+"Mr. Thornton, you are presuming! This is too much!"
+
+Then Jack Diamond suddenly appeared, and asked:
+
+"Did you call for aid, Miss Darling?"
+
+"I was about to do so," declared the girl. "Mr. Thornton has been very
+presuming and forward."
+
+"Then Mr. Thornton shall answer to me!" came sternly from Jack's lips.
+"If he is not a coward, he will come outside."
+
+Tom turned pale and stammered. He felt like refusing to go outside, but
+he feared the girl would think him a coward. Then he looked around, and
+his eyes fell on Willis Paulding.
+
+"Yes, I will go out with you," he said.
+
+"Miss Darling" seemed to be overcome with fear.
+
+"Don't kill him, Jack!" she whispered.
+
+So she addressed Diamond as "Jack." That fired Thornton till he longed
+to strangle the Virginian.
+
+"Lead on!" he exclaimed. "I will follow."
+
+They left the room, Thornton calling to Willis, who followed them,
+wonderingly.
+
+Diamond had made a signal to Merriwell, and Frank was not far behind.
+
+Diamond led the way to the garden.
+
+It was a moonlight night, and seemed almost as light as day.
+
+"Mr. Thornton," said Diamond, sternly, "you have grossly insulted a
+young lady friend of mine. It is my duty to protect her. I challenge you
+to fight me, the weapons to be pistols, the place here, and the time
+now. Your answer, sir--your answer!"
+
+Thornton turned pale, and hesitated. He knew nothing of dueling, and
+therefore did not know that, being the challenged party, it was his
+privilege to name the weapons, the time and the place.
+
+In a moment, he found Tad Horner at his elbow. Where Tad had come from
+and how he happened to be there Tom could not conceive. But Tad was on
+hand, and he whispered:
+
+"Take him up, old man--take him up! He is a regular fire-eater--in his
+mind. He thinks you will squeal. If he finds you will fight, he is sure
+to back out. He hasn't any real nerve. If he does fight, I'll fix it all
+right, for I will see that the pistols are loaded with blank cartridges.
+After the first shot, I will demand that the duel cease. Thus you will
+get the reputation of having fought a duel, without incurring any danger
+to yourself."
+
+Thornton was pleased with the scheme. He wished to be considered a
+dare-devil sort of fellow, and he felt that it would give him a great
+reputation if he fought a real duel.
+
+"Sir," he said, turning to Diamond, "I accept your challenge, and I
+shall do my best to shoot you through the heart!"
+
+Five minutes later came the question:
+
+"Gentlemen, are you ready?"
+
+"All ready," answered both Diamond and Thornton.
+
+"I will count three, and then give the word," said Frank Merriwell,
+distinctly. "One!"
+
+Despite himself, Willis Paulding felt his flesh creep and heard his
+teeth chatter.
+
+Thornton was shaking, even though he had been assured by Tad Horner that
+there were no bullets in the pistols.
+
+Diamond was cool as an iceberg. The bright moonlight seemed to show a
+look of deadly determination on his face.
+
+"Confound him!" thought Thornton, quaking. "He'd as lief fight a duel as
+eat! Hang those Southerners! They do not know what it is to be afraid!"
+
+"Two!" counted Merriwell.
+
+The duelists raised their weapons and seemed to take careful aim.
+
+"Three--fire!"
+
+At that instant there was a scream, and a female figure sprang out from
+the shadows and rushed before Jack just as Thornton pulled the trigger.
+
+There was a single report, and the female figure dropped to the ground,
+although Diamond tried to catch her in his arms.
+
+Thornton, the smoking pistol in his hand, stood staring, as if turned to
+stone.
+
+"Good gracious!" gasped Willis Paulding. "You have shot somebody,
+Thornton, deah boy!"
+
+"There must have been some mistake," said Tad Horner. "It seems that
+there was a bullet in your pistol, Tom!"
+
+Thornton hurried forward and looked down at the fallen girl, whose eyes
+were closed, and whose face seemed ghastly pale in the white moonlight.
+
+"It is Miss Darling!" came hoarsely from Tom. "I have killed her!"
+
+"Don't let the murderer escape!" cried Diamond, sternly. "Seize him and
+his second! They are both guilty!"
+
+"Excuse me!" fluttered Willis Paulding. "I think I will go right away,
+don't yer 'now!"
+
+Then he took to his heels, and ran, as if pursued by a hundred officers
+of the law.
+
+Thornton was scarcely less terrified, and he slipped away into the
+shadows while the others were gathered around the fallen girl.
+
+When both Willis and Tom were gone, the girl suddenly sat up, and burst
+into a peal of boyish laughter.
+
+"There!" cried the voice of Danny Griswold; "didn't I do that all right?
+I wouldn't be surprised if Thornton's hair turned gray. But I'm going to
+get out of this rig as soon as possible. These corsets are killing me. I
+can't get a full breath."
+
+"You little rascal!" laughed Frank Merriwell, as he gave Griswold a
+shake. "You are a born actor, and you have given Tom Thornton a shock
+that he will not get over for some time--to say nothing of Willis
+Paulding."
+
+"If it cures Thornton of bragging about his mashes I'll be satisfied,"
+said Tad Horner. "But I'm afraid he'll never forgive me. I'll have to
+make a hustle and find him before he does something desperate. I'll tell
+him Miss Darling simply fainted, and was not injured at all. Good-night,
+fellows. See you later."
+
+Then he hastened away.
+
+"Well, Jack," said Frank, addressing Diamond, "it strikes me that you
+and I are more than square with Mr. Flemming and Mr. Thornton."
+
+"I think that is right," admitted the Virginian, with a grim smile.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+PURE GRIT.
+
+
+All other college sports seem to grow dim in comparison with the great
+spring race. It is the crowning athletic event of the season. The vast
+gathering of people at New London occurs but once a year, and the only
+event to be compared with it is the annual football game in New York.
+
+New London for a week before the race is filled with "old grads,"
+fathers of Yale men who are interested in boating, college lads, mothers
+of students, sisters and sweethearts.
+
+At Eastern Point the Fort Griswold House is thronged with persons of
+this sort. The Pequod is overflowing. On the broad piazzas old
+classmates meet and talk over former victories and defeats. There they
+watch the thronging craft upon the river.
+
+Every one talks boating, whether he knows anything about it or not.
+"Willie off the yacht" is there, togged in flannels and making a
+desperate struggle to roll in his gait. For a week, at least, he is a
+waterman, with the salt flavor in everything he says or does.
+
+And the girls--the girls! They, too, dress in flannels and yachting
+caps, and they try to talk knowingly about "strokes," "oars" and "the
+crew." But they are charming--every one of them!
+
+Yale and Harvard's quarters are on the left bank near Gale's Ferry. Many
+of the "old oars" are permitted to visit the crew. The great coachers
+are there. They are regarded with awe and respect, for surely they know
+everything there is to know about racing!
+
+The race comes off at five in the afternoon. By midday the town is full,
+and every train brings fresh throngs of laughing girls and boisterous
+students. All are decorated with the blue or the crimson. Flags are
+everywhere, and there are horns in abundance.
+
+At the docks the great Sound steamers are moored, and they are packed
+with sight-seers. There are numberless yachts on the river, all
+decorated with gay colors and thronged with gay parties.
+
+Within the boathouse, preparations were being made for the race.
+Collingwood was giving final instructions to his men. Bastow, an old
+coach, was surveying each and every one in the most critical manner
+possible.
+
+They were handsome fellows, these men of the crew. Their flesh was brown
+and firm, and their eyes were bright. They had broad backs and powerful
+shoulders.
+
+Collingwood looked troubled. It was evident there was something on his
+mind. Fred Flemming, in a new spring suit, is talking with Popkay, the
+little cox. Some wonder that Flemming, who had been dropped for
+Merriwell, should be there.
+
+Among the spectators on a certain yacht are Tom Thornton and Willis
+Paulding. They are watching for the crew to appear, and, as they watch,
+Thornton says something that betrays a knowledge of Flemming's presence
+in the boathouse.
+
+"I'll go you two to one that Flem rows after all," he declares. "Do you
+dare take me, Paulding?"
+
+"By the way you say that I should think you were betting on a sure
+thing, don't yer 'now," drawled Willis.
+
+"I am," asserted Tom. "I have it straight that Merriwell is not in trim,
+and will be laid off. Flemming was called to quarters at the last
+moment."
+
+"It'll be a corker on Merriwell if he is not allowed to row, by Jawve!"
+
+"Yes; it will give me no end of satisfaction. That fellow put up the
+'Grace Darling' job on me, and Diamond helped him to carry it out. I
+have been a guy for the whole college ever since Danny Griswold told
+down at Morey's how he fooled me. Some day I'll wring that little rat's
+neck!"
+
+"They never could have worked the game if Horner hadn't helped them."
+
+"Of course not; but I have cut clear of Horner. We have separated, and I
+never give the fellow a look when we meet. Like the other fools, he is
+stuck on Merriwell, and he thought he was doing something cunning when
+he helped them work the horse on me."
+
+"If Merriwell doesn't row you'll have a chance to get back at them. You
+can say you knew it all the time, old chappie."
+
+"Oh, he won't row to-day, and I'll rub it in when I get the
+opportunity."
+
+Within the boathouse, at this very moment, Bob Collingwood was saying to
+Frank Merriwell:
+
+"You cannot row in the race to-day, Merriwell. You are out of
+condition."
+
+Frank turned pale.
+
+"If you say I can't row, that settles it," he said, huskily; "but I
+think you are making a mistake. I can row, and I'll prove it, if you
+will give me the chance. You shall have no cause to complain of me."
+
+"But I know you are not fit to pull an oar. You have tried to conceal it
+from me, but I know you have a felon on your hand. Am I right?"
+
+"You are right," calmly admitted Frank; "but give me a chance, and I
+will row for all there is in me, even if it takes my arm off at the
+shoulder."
+
+Collingwood looked into Merriwell's eyes, and what he saw there caused
+him to say: "All right, my boy, you shall row if we lose by it."
+
+"If we lose the race it will not be my fault," returned Merriwell.
+
+The Harvard cheer broke from a thousand throats as the Harvard crew came
+down the stream and arrived first at the start. Yale followed almost
+immediately, and two students who were on a trim little yacht craned
+their necks and glared at the men in the boat.
+
+Something like a groan escaped the lips of Tom Thornton, and Willis
+Paulding declared:
+
+"I don't see Flemming, but Merriwell is there!"
+
+"Yes!" grates Tom; "he has managed to keep his place somehow! Well, that
+settles it! Harvard will win!"
+
+Orders were shouted, and then it was seen that both crews were "set."
+The men, their brown backs gleaming in the afternoon sunshine, were
+reaching forward at arm's length, ready for the first stroke.
+
+A voice was heard commanding them to make ready, then came the cry:
+"Go!"
+
+There was a pistol shot, and both boats darted forward. The four-mile
+race to the railway bridge piers of New London had begun.
+
+In an instant the great crowd set up a wild cheering, and colors
+fluttered everywhere. Away went the boats, side by side. Harvard's style
+of rowing had changed completely from that of the previous year, when
+her boat had jumped at every stroke. Now her crew bent with a long
+sweep that sent the boat through the water with a steady motion.
+
+Yale used a shorter and more snappy stroke. The men seemed to have more
+life at the start, but it was the kind of a stroke that was sure to pump
+away their energy to a great extent in a long race.
+
+But Collingwood was crafty. He knew that it would be an easy thing to
+take the life out of his men by steep work at the beginning, and he
+doubted if the advantage thus gained could be held. To a certain extent,
+he regulated Yale's speed by that of its rival.
+
+In his heart Collingwood feared Harvard's new style of rowing. He was
+not willing to acknowledge that anything English could be superior to
+anything American, and yet he remembered how the freshmen of
+'Umpty-eight, coached by Merriwell, had adopted something like the
+Oxford stroke, and had won the race from the sophomores at Lake
+Saltonstall. He also remembered Merriwell's hand, and he feared the
+fellow must give out before the finish.
+
+If Yale could hold her own till near the end Collingwood hoped to win by
+a spurt. Outside of Merriwell, he felt that the crew was in perfect
+condition. He was sure the men were superior to those in the Harvard
+boat.
+
+Harvard begins to gain. That strong, steady stroke is telling. It looks
+as if the crimson lads were going to pull away from the blue with ease.
+
+Collingwood does not allow himself to get excited in the least. He keeps
+his men steadily at work, husbanding their strength as far as possible.
+
+"'Rah! 'rah! 'rah! Harvard! Harvard!" roared the crowd.
+
+Frank Merriwell was working perfectly with the rest, and no one could
+imagine from his appearance that every stroke seemed to drive a keen
+knife from his wrist to his elbow. His face was very pale, but that was
+all.
+
+At the end of the first mile Harvard was two lengths in advance, and
+seemed to be gaining. Still Yale worked steadily, showing no signs of
+excitement or alarm.
+
+The crowds on the yachts were waving hats and handkerchiefs and flags.
+They cheered and yelled and hooted like human beings gone mad. It was a
+scene of the wildest excitement.
+
+It had become plain to all, despite the fact that Harvard had a lead,
+that the race was to be a stern one. Yale was out to win, if such a
+thing "lay in the wood."
+
+When the second mile was passed Harvard was still another length in
+advance. But Yale was beginning to work up steadily, forcing Harvard to
+a more desperate struggle to hold her advantage.
+
+When the two and a half mile flag was passed it was seen that Yale had
+begun to creep up. Still she was not dangerous. Her friends were
+encouraged, however, and the sound all Yale men love--the Yale
+yell--could be heard above the roaring of the crowd.
+
+That sound seemed to put fresh life and heart into the Yale crew. At the
+beginning of the last mile Harvard was scarcely two lengths in advance.
+
+It was a wonderful race. The excitement was at the highest pitch.
+
+The Harvard crew, although it had started out so beautifully, had not
+the stamina to endure the strain. No. 3 was pulling out of the boat,
+while No. 5 showed signs of distress.
+
+Yale begins to spurt. Her men are working like machinery. No one could
+dream that one of them was suffering the tortures of a being on the
+rack, and still such was the truth.
+
+A hundred times it seemed to Frank Merriwell that he must give out; a
+hundred times he set his teeth and vowed that he would die before he
+would weaken. No one could know the almost superhuman courage and
+fortitude which enabled him to keep up and continue his work in the
+proper manner. Those who watched the crew closely fancied that he worked
+with the utmost ease, for all of the long pull.
+
+Collingwood had forgotten Merriwell's felon. He was reckoning on the
+final spurt to bring "Old Eli" to the front. Harder and harder he worked
+his men.
+
+Now the uproar along the river was deafening. The prow of the Yale boat
+was at Harvard's stern--and then Yale began to creep along by Harvard's
+side.
+
+No. 7 of the Harvard crew reeled on his seat. Then he braced up and went
+at it again. But he was not in stroke. The faces of both crews were set.
+They were like gladiators battling for their very lives.
+
+In the Yale boat was one who seemed to be growing blind and numb. In his
+heart he was praying for strength as earnestly as he would have prayed
+for the salvation of his soul. Only a few moments more--he must hold
+out.
+
+The boats were side by side, and the excitement was simply
+indescribable. Such a finish was unprecedented. It was a race to be
+remembered for all years to come--to be spoken of with pride and
+discussed with wonder.
+
+Then came the moment when Collingwood drove his men for all there was in
+them. He was pitiless, and Yale shot into the lead.
+
+The line was crossed. Then cannons boomed and whistles shrieked. But in
+the Yale boat was one whose ears were deaf to all this tumult of sound.
+
+Frank Merriwell had fallen in the bottom of the boat in a dead faint.
+
+But Yale--Yale had won!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+AFTER THE BOAT RACE.
+
+
+    "Breka Co ax Co ax Co ax!
+    Breka Co ax Co ax Co ax!
+    O--up! O--up!
+    Paraboleau!
+    Yale! Yale! Yale!
+    'Rah! 'rah! 'rah!
+    Yale!!!"
+
+Imagine a thousand, full-lunged, hearty, healthy American lads shouting
+this cry in unison! It was a sound never to be forgotten by those who
+heard it. The victorious blue fluttered everywhere.
+
+Harvard had made a gallant fight, and it had been "nobody's race" almost
+to the finish. The Yale crew proved superior, but it won purely by brawn
+and stamina. Old oars confessed that up to the last half mile Harvard
+had shown better coaching and had seemed to establish the superiority of
+the Oxford oar and stroke over American methods.
+
+But "Old Eli" had seemed to feel that it would be a lasting disgrace to
+be vanquished by anything about which there was an English flavor. The
+spirit of Bunker Hill and '76 was aroused, and the defenders of the blue
+were willing to die in the struggle if such a sacrifice could bring
+victory.
+
+It was not the first time that pure grit had won against odds.
+
+As the Yale boat crossed the line Frank lay, deaf to all the tumult of
+applause, his eyes closed, but still with his pale face set in a look of
+mingled pain and unyielding determination.
+
+"It's Merriwell!" exclaimed Bob Collingwood. "I had forgotten him."
+
+His words were drowned by the roaring of the excited thousands and the
+shrieking of the whistles.
+
+The prow of the Yale boat was turned toward the bank. It was necessary
+to avoid the craft that came rushing about on every side, but the shore
+was soon reached.
+
+"Hold her steady!" cried Collingwood. "Somebody dash water into
+Merriwell's face."
+
+The command was obeyed, and in a moment Frank opened his eyes. It was at
+the moment when the Yale cheer was pealing from a thousand throats, and
+the look of pain on Merriwell's face changed to one of satisfaction and
+joy.
+
+"Did we win?" he huskily asked.
+
+Collingwood nodded, his flushed face beaming, pride in his big blue
+eyes.
+
+"You bet!" he answered. "It's hard to beat Old Eli!"
+
+"I am satisfied!" gasped Merriwell.
+
+His eyes drooped, and he seemed on the verge of going off into another
+swoon.
+
+"Throw more water on him," pitilessly directed Collingwood.
+
+It was done, and Frank started up, gasping.
+
+"Here--here!" exclaimed a man on the bank; "give him a pull at this. It
+will fix him all right."
+
+He stooped down and held out a flask.
+
+"What is it?" asked Frank.
+
+"It's the best brandy money can buy," was the answer.
+
+It was passed to Frank, but he pushed it away, shaking his head.
+
+"I never touch liquor," he declared. "I do not want it."
+
+"But it will not hurt you now--it will do you good," declared the man
+who owned the flask.
+
+"I can get along without it."
+
+"But I shall be offended if you do not take it."
+
+Frank looked sharply at the man. He saw a suntanned individual, who wore
+a wide-brimmed hat and was dressed in clothes which were worn and
+appeared to have been made for service rather than for fit and elegance.
+There was something piercing about the man's dark eyes, and something
+about the beardless face that impressed it upon the boy's memory. There
+was a small purple scar on the man's chin, and Frank noted this,
+although he might have overlooked it easily in that hasty glance.
+
+"Then you will have to be offended, sir," said Frank, firmly. "I do not
+wish to appear rude, but I never drink under any circumstances, and I
+will not begin now."
+
+The man drew back after the flask was returned to him. The last look he
+gave the boy was peculiar, as Frank could not tell whether it was one of
+satisfaction or anger.
+
+In a moment this man was forgotten. The boat slipped out to the
+_Clyde_, the little steam yacht that was to take the victorious crew
+back to quarters. The exhausted rowers were lifted on board amid renewed
+cheering, and the trip up the river began.
+
+It was a triumphant procession. All along the line the _Clyde_, which
+was decorated with blue, was received with cheers and shrieking
+whistles. Men waved hats and flags, pretty girls fluttered handkerchiefs
+and pennants, squads of students gave the Yale cheer at intervals, and
+two scores of boats, crowded with students and friends, accompanied the
+boat that carried the victorious crew. The jubilant Yale men sang songs
+of victory and cheered till their throats ached and they were hoarse.
+
+On board the _Clyde_ were Jack Diamond and Harry Rattleton. When
+Merriwell was lifted to the deck he found himself clasped in Harry's
+arms, and the dear fellow laughed and cried as he hugged his roommate to
+his breast.
+
+"I never dought you'd threw it--I mean I never thought you'd do it!"
+cried Harry, brokenly. "I thought that hand would knock you out sure.
+How could you do it, Merry, old boy? It must have been awful! I saw you
+keel over when the line was crossed, but you never havered a
+ware--wavered a hair till the race was over."
+
+Frank smiled a bit.
+
+"A fellow can do almost anything if he sets his determination on it," he
+said. "But I came near not having the opportunity to try."
+
+"How was that?"
+
+"Collingwood found out about my hand. I am afraid you said something
+about it, Harry."
+
+"Not a word, save to Diamond, and not to him till after the race began."
+
+"Well, Coll found it out some way, and he came near laying me off for
+Flemming, who was on hand."
+
+"And now I understand a few things I heard this morning," broke in
+Diamond. "Emery and Parker were offering to bet that Flemming would row
+to-day."
+
+"How much did you fake 'em tor--I mean take 'em for?" cried Harry.
+
+"I didn't know but some of the men had given out or something, so I did
+not take them at all. I did not imagine for a moment that they thought
+Flemming was going to row in Merry's place."
+
+Collingwood came up. He was bundled from his ears to his heels.
+Merriwell was in a sweater and coat.
+
+"How's your hand, old man?" asked Bob, his eyes gleaming.
+
+"Oh, it is giving me a jolly time!" grinned Frank, grimly. "It isn't
+doing a thing."
+
+"Mr. Merriwell," said Collingwood, earnestly, "I want to tell you
+frankly that to-day you made the greatest display of pure grit that it
+has ever been my fortune to witness. I did not believe it possible you
+could hold out through the race with that hand, and I meant to lay you
+off for Flemming, although I regretted doing so, as he has not been
+working with us of late, and I felt that the change would weaken the
+crew. When you told me square and straight that it would be no fault of
+yours if the race were lost, I decided to keep you. After that I felt
+that I was making an error, but it was too late to change. Now I know it
+was no error, and I wish to say that I am sure you aided materially by
+your splendid work to win."
+
+Others of the crew came up. Merriwell was surrounded by friends and
+admirers. Diamond whispered in his ear:
+
+"You should be happy, old man, for you have triumphed over your enemies,
+and the story of your heroic work will be known to all Yale by Monday."
+
+Then Collingwood led Frank below for a rub down.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+THE YALE SPIRIT.
+
+
+At the boathouse there was a scene of riotous jollification. It was
+impossible to exclude the overjoyed friends of the crew. They crowded in
+and expressed their unbounded delight in almost every imaginable manner.
+
+There was a popping of corks, and "fizz" began to flow freely. Now that
+the great race was over, the crew were no longer in training, and they
+were allowed to drink as much of the wine as they liked. It was forced
+upon them from all sides.
+
+Merriwell was almost mobbed by the fellows who were determined that he
+should drink champagne with them.
+
+"You can't refuse now, old man!" shouted Charlie Creighton. "I saw it
+all, and no one suspected there was anything the matter with you. Just
+to think that you rowed the race with a felon on your hand! It is
+marvelous! And I won a cool five hundred on Old Eli! Whoop! If you
+refuse to take a drink of champagne with me I'll call you out and shoot
+you through the liver pad!"
+
+He was wildly waving a bottle of Mumm's about his head as he made this
+excited speech.
+
+But Merriwell did refuse, and he did it with a firmness that showed them
+all that he could not be induced to drink.
+
+"Queer chap, that Merriwell," commented Charlie Creighton, addressing
+his chum, Paul Hamilton. "Never knew him very well, but I've seen enough
+of him to know he's the clean white stuff even if he is a temperance
+crank."
+
+"In the year and a half that he has been here," said Hamilton, "he has
+made a greater record in athletics than any other man ever made in twice
+that time. And think of his rowing the race to-day with that hand, and
+then fainting the moment he knew the line was crossed and Yale had won!
+I tell you, Creighton, that fellow is all sand--every bit of him."
+
+"That's what he is," nodded Creighton. "He is running over with the true
+Yale spirit. I tell you, my boy, Old Yale bears mighty men! Come, let's
+kill this bottle of fizz, which I got off the ice expressly for
+Merriwell, confound him!"
+
+Then they lost little time in opening the bottle and swallowing its
+sparkling contents.
+
+Bob Collingwood was overwhelmed with congratulations. He said very
+little before the crowd, but to a particular friend he declared:
+
+"It is one of the marvels of the year that we won to-day. Harvard
+outrowed us for fully three-quarters of the course, and she would have
+finished in the lead if her crew had been as stocky as ours. Their
+stroke is easier on a man than ours."
+
+"Then you acknowledge at last that the Oxford stroke is superior to the
+American?" eagerly questioned the friend.
+
+"I have acknowledged nothing yet, but I fear I'll be forced to."
+
+The jubilant fellows were making the boathouse ring with songs of
+victory. About twenty flushed lads were roaring:
+
+         "How can they ever beat us--
+            How can they beat Old Yale?
+          We down 'em when they meet us,
+            You bet we never fail!
+          We've got 'em so they fear us
+            In every contest fair;
+          And soon they'll not come near us,
+            Because they will not dare.
+
+CHORUS:  "Then give us a cheer for Old Eli--
+            A cheer for our gallant crew;
+          She has won, and she wins forever,
+            With her noble boys in blue.
+
+         "Poor Harvard falls before us,
+            She is not in the game;
+          So swell the merry chorus,
+            Old Eli's won again!
+          It was a gallant battle,
+          My boys who wear the blue;
+            But you they cannot rattle,
+            No matter what they do."
+
+There were other songs, and in the midst of all this rejoicing a crowd
+of pretty girls, accompanied by chaperons, came into the boathouse.
+
+Among them was Winnie Lee, who lost no time in finding Frank and
+congratulating him.
+
+"I knew you would win, Frank--I knew you would!" she exclaimed, her
+bright eyes sparkling.
+
+"Why, you are talking as if I rowed the whole race!" he said, laughing
+and blushing.
+
+"Well, I'm sure they'd never won without you," she declared.
+
+"That's like a girl! Of course Yale would have won anyhow! How can they
+beat us?"
+
+At this moment Collingwood came up, accompanied by a gentleman who
+carried a case in his hand.
+
+"Here, Merry, old boy," cried the captain of the crew, "I've brought a
+doctor to look after that hand of yours."
+
+"What is the matter with your hand?" asked Winnie, anxiously.
+
+"Oh, nothing much," assured Frank, carelessly.
+
+"Nothing much, only there is a bad felon on it," said Collingwood.
+
+"A felon? And you rowed with a felon on your hand? Oh, Frank!"
+
+Winnie looked at him with added admiration showing in her eyes.
+
+"That's what he did," nodded Collingwood. "It was the greatest display
+of grit I've ever seen. Do you wonder he flopped over in a dead faint
+when we crossed the line at the finish?"
+
+The doctor looked at Frank's hand, which was now badly inflamed. After
+a thorough examination the physician glanced up at Frank and observed:
+
+"If you were able to row with this hand, I rather think you'd endure
+burning at the stake by a band of Indians without uttering a murmur!"
+
+"You dear fellow!" cried Winnie, with girlish enthusiasm; "I feel just
+like giving you a good hug!"
+
+Then Frank blushed more than ever.
+
+The doctor opened his case and proceeded to dress Merriwell's hand.
+
+While the physician was thus employed Frank was somewhat surprised to
+observe at a little distance the same man who had offered him a drink of
+brandy as he was recovering from his swoon at the close of the race.
+
+This man was watching the boy in a strange manner, but the moment he saw
+he was observed he quickly turned away.
+
+Frank's curiosity was aroused.
+
+"I wonder who he is and what he wants here?" thought the boy. "How did
+he get in here, anyway? He seems to take a remarkable interest in me,
+and I can't say that I like it."
+
+The man walked away and mingled with the throng.
+
+In a short time Frank's hand was cared for, and the doctor gave
+directions for future treatment of the felon.
+
+"It is bound to trouble you for some time, and you will find it very
+painful," he said. "After what you have done to-day, I doubt if you
+sleep much to-night."
+
+"I don't care if I do not sleep for a week so long as Yale won!"
+declared the boy.
+
+"You have the true Yale spirit," said the doctor, approvingly. "Yale men
+carry that unconquerable spirit out into the world, and that is why Old
+Eli turns out so many successful men in all walks of life. I think there
+is no fear as to your future, my boy."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Merriwell, simply.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+SPURNING A BRIBE.
+
+
+"I would like to speak with you."
+
+Frank felt a touch on his shoulder, and the words sounded in his ear. He
+turned quickly and found himself face to face with the mysterious
+stranger.
+
+It happened that at that moment they were alone, nearly all the throng
+having gathered about three fellows who, with banjo, mandolin and
+zither, were making some lively music.
+
+"What do you want?" asked Frank, rather suspiciously.
+
+The man beckoned for him to come aside.
+
+"I have something I wish to say to you, and I do not care to be
+overheard by others," he declared.
+
+"Well, I wonder what sort of a snap this is?" thought Merriwell.
+
+He hesitated a moment, and then curiosity to know what the stranger had
+to say overcame him, and he followed the man to a corner of the room.
+
+The stranger was very mysterious in his manner.
+
+"You are a likely sort of youngster," he said, in a rather noncommittal
+way.
+
+"Is that what you wish to tell me?" asked Frank, sharply.
+
+"Steady, young colt! Don't be in too much of a hurry. It doesn't pay to
+be in a hurry--none whatever."
+
+Frank's impatience increased. He did not like the stranger's manner, for
+there was something crafty and insinuating about it.
+
+"If any one were watching us, he'd be sure to think we were putting up
+some sort of a crooked game," thought Merriwell.
+
+"My time is valuable," he said aloud.
+
+"Then you can't make more out of it than you can by spending it gabbling
+with the crowd."
+
+The man's manner was offensive, but Frank's curiosity caused him to hold
+himself in check and listen to what the stranger should say.
+
+"You are interested in other sports besides rowing, I reckon?" said the
+unknown, inquiringly.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Baseball?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I have heard that you pitch on the 'varsity nine."
+
+"That is right."
+
+The man assumed a more cautious air than ever, and lowered his voice
+still more.
+
+"I allow that the man who pitches can throw a game, if he wants to?"
+
+Frank's dislike for the stranger increased rapidly.
+
+"He can throw a game if he is crooked and dirty enough to do such a mean
+thing!" came with spirit from the lad.
+
+"That is putting it a heap rough," deprecatingly declared the man.
+"Every galoot is out for the dust. It is the way of the old world, as
+you will find before you have hoofed it much farther along the trail of
+life."
+
+"Well, what are you driving at?"
+
+"Yale won the race to-day, and I reckon she's got glory enough to last
+her a while."
+
+"Go on."
+
+"The last ball game of the series between Yale and Harvard comes off
+next week?"
+
+"It does."
+
+"Yale has won one, and Harvard one."
+
+"That is right."
+
+"Yale stands a right good chance of winning the deciding game?"
+
+"She is pretty sure of winning."
+
+"And I have a pot of dust on Harvard. I can get odds that Yale will win,
+so I can stake more money."
+
+Frank fancied that he saw the stranger's game, and he felt his anger
+rising rapidly; but, with a great effort, he held himself in control,
+and pretended that he did not understand.
+
+The boy looked the man over from head to heels. He was making a study of
+the unknown. Already he had decided by the man's appearance and language
+that he was a Westerner, or wished to be considered such. Frank was not
+absolutely certain that the fellow was not masquerading as a man from
+the West.
+
+As Merriwell remained silent after the stranger's last statement, he
+went on:
+
+"If there is any way of knowing as how Harvard will win, I can stake my
+rocks on her, and pull off a good thing."
+
+Still Frank was silent.
+
+"You can see that plain enough, can't you, youngster?" demanded the man,
+seeming to grow impatient and restless before the lad's steady, piercing
+gaze.
+
+"Any one should be able to see that," was the cold answer.
+
+"Then all I've got to do in order to make a stake is to fix it so that
+Harvard is dead sure of winning."
+
+"How can you fix it?"
+
+"I don't see but one way."
+
+"How is that?"
+
+"Make it worth something to the Yale team to throw the game to Harvard.
+I can afford to do that, I reckon; but I've got to find the right man to
+do the trick."
+
+Frank's jaws seemed to grow square and hard, and there was a dangerous
+fire in his eyes. The stranger did not appear to discern this, however,
+for he went on:
+
+"It rather strikes me that the pitcher has the best chance to do the
+little turn I want done, and that's why I've come to you. Now, don't go
+off half-cocked! Hold hard, and hear me chirp. Every young fellow at
+college needs money, and they need a right good bit of it, too. I don't
+allow that you are any exception. Now, I reckon I can show you how you
+can make a smart bit of a pile and do it dead easy. Nobody but you and
+me will ever know you did it at all, and there isn't any danger that
+we'll preach about it--none whatever."
+
+"Make a square statement as to what you want," commanded Frank, finding
+it difficult to keep his voice from quivering, and feeling that his
+cheeks were burning with the angry blood that had surged into them.
+
+"That's what I'll do, youngster. If you will pitch that game so Harvard
+will win, I'll give you a thousand dollars in cold cash. Now I reckon
+you understand me."
+
+"I think I do," came icily from Frank. "You want me to sell the game for
+a thousand dollars! You put a small price on my honor, sir!"
+
+"A small price! You talk as if a thousand were nothing! Hang me if I
+ever saw a youngster of your caliber! Perhaps you think I'm fooling?
+Perhaps you think I won't pay? Look here! I'll make it two thousand
+dollars, and I'll give you a thousand in advance. That is a square deal,
+as you must allow."
+
+Then he took a huge roll of bank notes from his pocket. Some were new
+bills, while some were worn and soiled. He rapidly counted off a
+thousand dollars in ten, twenty, fifty and one hundred dollar bills.
+This money he thrust into Merriwell's hands, saying:
+
+"There you have it, and that binds the bargain between us. I'll give you
+the other thousand directly Harvard wins and I collect my wagers. I'm a
+man of my word. I reckon it is settled?"
+
+Frank looked at the money, making sure it was genuine. He quickly
+satisfied himself on that point. It was all right.
+
+Never before had such a bribe been offered Merriwell, and, for some
+seconds, he stood with the money in his unbandaged hand, feeling
+somewhat dazed and doubtful.
+
+"Put it out of sight!" whispered the stranger. "Don't let 'em see you
+have it. Give me your promise that you will throw the game to Harvard."
+
+"I shall not pitch that game," said Frank.
+
+"No?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"My hand will not be in condition, as you should know. True it is my
+left hand, but I'll not be able to bat with it, even if I could pitch."
+
+"But you would throw the game if you could pitch?"
+
+"No!" cried Merriwell, fiercely, letting his outraged indignation flame
+forth. "What do you take me for? I am no sneak and traitor, and not for
+ten thousand dollars--not for a hundred thousand dollars--not to save my
+very life would I do such a dastardly thing! You have made a mistake in
+your man! Take back your dirty money! I would not touch a dollar of it
+for the world! It would contaminate me!"
+
+Then he flung the roll of bills straight into the face of the astonished
+man.
+
+As the man stooped to pick up the money, which had fallen at his feet,
+Frank caught him by the collar with his well hand, yanked him up, and
+started him on a run for an open window.
+
+Clinging to the money, the stranger uttered a protest at such rude
+treatment, but he was unable to turn about or break away, although he
+tried to do so.
+
+Headlong through the window Frank pitched the fellow, giving him a
+powerful kick to help him along.
+
+There was a cry of pain and rage, and the man disappeared.
+
+This act of Frank's had been noted by the others within the boathouse,
+and it created no little wonder and excitement.
+
+Harry Rattleton came running up, spluttering:
+
+"Hello, Frank! mut's the whatter--I mean what's the matter?"
+
+"Oh, nothing in particular," answered Merriwell, quietly. "I simply
+fired a scoundrel, that's all."
+
+"What was he up to, old man?" demanded Bob Collingwood, in a tone that
+indicated that he was sorry not to have taken a hand in the little
+fracas. "Did he try to do you?"
+
+"No; but he is trying to do Yale."
+
+"How is that?"
+
+Frank explained, briefly telling of the bribe offered by the mysterious
+stranger.
+
+A circle of lads had gathered about Merriwell, and they listened with
+rising anger to his words. Cries of astonishment and rage broke from
+their lips when Frank told of the truly astonishing bribe which the
+unknown had offered.
+
+"My only regret," concluded Frank, "was that I did not have two good
+hands with which to handle the rascal."
+
+"And my regret is that I was not there to handle him for you!" cried
+Jack Diamond.
+
+"I wonder how the fellow got in here?" exclaimed Collingwood. "I'll have
+to inquire into that."
+
+"He can't be far away," cried one of the angry lads. "Let's get out and
+nab him!"
+
+"Come on! come on!" was the general cry, and there was a rush for the
+door.
+
+But the unknown had not lingered in the vicinity of the boathouse. He
+was not found, which made it plain that he had taken to his heels as
+soon as he landed outside the window.
+
+"Too bad!" growled Collingwood. "A good soak in the river is what he'd
+got, if we'd caught him."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+ON THE SPECIAL TRAIN.
+
+
+Some of the lads felt like staying in New London and making a night of
+it, but this was strictly against rules, and those who did so took a
+desperate chance of getting into trouble by it.
+
+After the race there was a general rush for the trains, and those bound
+west over the N. Y., N. H. & H. were crowded.
+
+Later on there was a special train for the Yale crew and their friends.
+As this train was not exclusive and it was generally known that it would
+be run, large numbers of students waited for it, and it was quite as
+crowded as the trains which had preceded it.
+
+The car containing the victorious crew was a scene of wild merrymaking.
+The eight muscular lads who had pulled off another victory for Old Eli
+were gathered in the middle of the car and surrounded by admiring
+friends, who cheered and sang and smashed one another's hats, and
+played the very Old Nick with one another.
+
+Beer, wine and whiskey had been brought on board the train, and it was
+urged upon the crew. Danny Griswold was in his glory. About half the
+time he was perched upon the shoulders of the crowd, and it was
+observable that he did not refuse anything that was offered him in the
+way of a liquid. Still, for all that he drank so much and mixed his
+drinks, he did not seem to get any worse off than he had been when the
+train started from New London.
+
+Charlie Creighton climbed upon the backs of two seats and made a speech.
+
+"Hark, ye noble sons of Old Eli!" he began, with a spread-eagle gesture
+that came near causing him to lose his balance and fall off headlong.
+"This is the great day when we can get up on our hind legs and make the
+welkin ring with war whoops of victory. To-day we stand with one foot on
+Princeton's neck and the heel of the other foot gouging into Harvard's
+back. They have bitten the dust before us, oh, mighty warriors in blue!
+They have fallen like autumn leaves before a gale. We have carried our
+colors on to victory in many a mad scrimmage, but never have we done a
+better job than we did this day. During the greater part of the race it
+looked as if Harvard would take our scalps. We who watched the awful
+struggle felt our blood turn cold with fear. Then, when we looked upon
+the calm face of our captain [cheers], we took heart and hoped. Like
+clockwork he was handling his men, and his calm confidence gave them
+heart. They saw he did not fear the result, and when he began to drive
+them for the final spurt every one of that noble band responded like the
+greatest of heroes. [More cheers.] Then it was that Yale began to crowd
+Harvard. Then it was that the Harvard crew showed how the pressure was
+telling on them. Then it was that the backers of Old Eli who were
+watching the struggle became confident that we were still in it and
+would pull off the race after all. Then Old Yale crept into the lead,
+the spurt being admirably timed, so that our boat crossed the line just
+in time to make Old Eli again the winner. And to whom is honor due for
+this? You know!"
+
+"Collingwood! Collingwood!" roared the jubilant crowd in the car.
+"Hurrah for dear old Bob!"
+
+Then they cheered and cheered, and then they called for a speech from
+"dear old Bob."
+
+Collingwood was lifted to his feet. He protested that he could not make
+a speech, but they would not be satisfied till he had said something,
+and so he cried:
+
+"Well, boys, we did them--and we did them good!"
+
+This was better than a long speech, and it produced the most unbounded
+enthusiasm.
+
+When the excitement had abated somewhat, Collingwood arose again, and
+motioned for silence. In a moment he was receiving the full attention of
+every one.
+
+"Every man on the crew deserves praise," began Bob.
+
+"Hooray for the croll hew--I mean the whole crew!" shouted Harry
+Rattleton, smashing his new straw hat over Bandy Robinson's head.
+
+"But there is one who deserves especial commendation," Collingwood
+added.
+
+There was a breathless silence, and all eyes were turned on Frank
+Merriwell, who flushed beneath this sudden attention.
+
+"There was one man on the crew who was not in condition to row in the
+race to-day, and I came very near letting him out. Now I am glad I did
+not, for, although he had a bad felon on his left hand, there was no man
+of the crew who pulled a stiffer stroke or showed more lasting powers
+till the finish was reached. He fainted then, it is true, but it was
+because of the frightful pain in his hand and arm, and I wish you to
+remember that he did not faint till the victory was won."
+
+"Merriwell! 'Rah! 'rah! 'rah!"
+
+Not even Bob Collingwood himself received a greater ovation. Frank was
+seized, he was lifted aloft, he was perched on the shoulders of his
+friends, and then there was a general howl for a speech.
+
+Frank felt himself thrill from his hair to his toes; his eyes were
+dimmed with moisture, even though he laughed. In his bosom there was a
+choking sensation of gratitude and love for his comrades and the
+admiring throng around him. He forgot that he had a single foe at
+Yale--that he had a foe in all the wide world.
+
+"Boys," he said, somewhat brokenly, "I did my best for dear old
+Yale--that is all."
+
+That was all he said. It was enough. It seemed to touch a chord in
+every breast, and there was a ring of patriotism in the cheering that
+followed.
+
+    "Here's to good Old Yale--drink it down!
+    Here's to good Old Yale--drink it down!
+      Here's to good Old Yale,
+      She's so hearty and so hale--
+    Drink it down! drink it down! down! down!"
+
+It seemed that every person in the car joined in singing this song. The
+enthusiasm was running higher and higher. In every heart the Yale spirit
+grew deeper and stronger during that ride from New London to New Haven.
+The students who were there never forgot that scene--never forgot how
+they thrilled with love for Old Yale. The hardships and struggles of
+college days were forgotten; the triumphs and joys alone were
+remembered.
+
+But with it all it is certain that the result of the race had
+disappointed no Harvard man more than it did Fred Flemming.
+
+At the last moment he had been overjoyed to learn that Merriwell had a
+bad felon on one of his hands, which, it seemed, must debar him from
+rowing in the great race.
+
+Flemming had kept himself in condition as far as possible, and he lost
+no time to let Collingwood know that he could be called on in case of
+emergency.
+
+That he would be called on seemed almost certain, for he was notified to
+be on hand at Yale's quarters before the time set for the race to begin.
+
+He had been on hand, ready to strip off in a moment, and had seen
+Collingwood talking earnestly with Merriwell. Then, to his inexpressible
+astonishment, he had been told that Merriwell would row after all.
+
+From that moment Flemming hoped and prayed that Yale would lose the
+race. He would have given almost anything in his power to give had Frank
+Merriwell been unable to row to the finish.
+
+But Merriwell had finished the race, and Yale had won. Flemming's
+friends, who had bet that he would row in the race, had lost money, and
+they were sore also.
+
+It was bitter gall for Flemming and Tom Thornton to pretend to rejoice
+over Yale's victory, but they dared not do otherwise. It happened that
+they waited till the special train left for New Haven, and they were on
+that train and in the car which carried the victorious crew.
+
+Occasionally they cheered with the others, to keep up appearances; but,
+for the most part, they remained seated in a corner at one end of the
+car and talked in low tones.
+
+"How was it that Collingwood happened to retain the fellow for all of
+his hand?" asked Thornton, referring to Merriwell.
+
+"Ask me something easy!" exclaimed Flemming. "I am sure he intended to
+fire the fellow, but I think Merriwell begged to be given a show, and
+Collingwood did not have the nerve to chuck him off."
+
+"Collingwood must be soft!"
+
+"Oh, I don't know. I think that cad Merriwell must be a hypnotist by the
+way he gets around some fellows."
+
+"I don't want to have anything further to do with him."
+
+"Oh, you've lost your nerve since Merriwell and Griswold put up that
+girl job on you, and Diamond drew you into a bogus duel."
+
+"That was enough to make any fellow lose his nerve."
+
+"Rats!"
+
+"You may say 'rats,' but you don't know how you would have felt if you
+had been in my place. Just as the word was given to fire and I pulled
+trigger, Griswold, dressed as a girl, rushed between us. I fired, and,
+with a frightful shriek, he fell. Then I ran forward and looked at him.
+The moonlight made him look deathly white, and I felt sure I had shot
+him. I'll never forget the sickening sensation that came over me at that
+moment! The hangman's noose seemed to dangle before my eyes. I dropped
+the pistol and rushed away to my room. I think I was stunned, for Horner
+found me sitting on a chair and staring blankly at the wall about an
+hour afterward. Then he said the girl had not been shot at all, but had
+fainted. Say, Flem, my boy, it is utterly impossible for me to tell the
+feeling of thankfulness and relief that rushed over me. I felt just like
+getting right down on my knees and thanking Providence, but I didn't,
+for Tad Horner was watching me all the time, and I saw the laughing
+devil in his eyes. Then, within two days, I found myself the guy of the
+whole college, and, finally, it all came out that 'Grace Darling' was
+Danny Griswold in his theatrical rig, and I had been played for a
+blooming guy by Merriwell and Diamond, assisted to a certain extent by
+Horner, my own roommate."
+
+"And the only decent thing you ever did about it was to quit Horner
+cold. You've never seemed to have sand enough to make an effort to get
+back at Merriwell."
+
+"I decided that Merriwell is a bad man to monkey with."
+
+"That's rot! It's his reputation that frightens you. I'm going to watch
+my chance to get even with him."
+
+"So am I, young man!" whispered a voice in Flemming's ear.
+
+Fred whirled swiftly, and saw close at his shoulder a rather
+rough-appearing, smooth-faced man, who wore a wide-brimmed hat, and was
+weather-tanned, as if by much exposure.
+
+"Eh?" exclaimed the college lad. "Who are you?"
+
+"One who has a good reason to dislike that fly chap, Mr. Frank
+Merriwell," was his answer.
+
+Flemming was suspicious.
+
+"Why should you hate Merriwell?" he asked.
+
+"Because he kicked me," was the fierce reply.
+
+"He kicked you? Then you are the man he fired out of the boathouse? I
+heard about that little affair."
+
+"I am the man."
+
+"You should have known better than to try to bribe Merriwell to throw
+any sort of game or race to Harvard. That chap is so honest that he has
+wings sprouting under his clothes. He said you pushed a thousand dollars
+at him?"
+
+"I did--I put it into his hand."
+
+"And he flung it into your face?"
+
+"Yes, curse him! Then he threw me out of the window!"
+
+"Well, you do seem to have a reason for disliking him. What would you do
+to him if you got a good chance?"
+
+"Ask me what I wouldn't do! All I want is the chance!"
+
+"Can you keep your mouth closed?"
+
+"You bet your dust! I never peach!"
+
+"Then you may be just the kind of a man I am looking for. I want
+somebody with nerve. The trouble with the fellows in college who hate
+Merriwell is that they do not dare butt up against him. They are afraid
+of him."
+
+"Well, I'm not afraid of any man living, let alone a mere boy. He's
+nothing but a tenderfoot! Waugh!"
+
+"Hear them shouting over him!" muttered Thornton. "See! They have lifted
+him on their shoulders! One would think he alone won the race to-day!"
+
+Then Frank was heard to make the brief speech which elicited such hearty
+applause.
+
+"It is sickening!" growled Flemming, pale with jealous rage.
+
+"It is," nodded the stranger. "It makes me want to give him back the
+kick he gave me!"
+
+"If you stick to me, I promise you that you shall have a good
+opportunity," said Flemming.
+
+"You may bet your rocks that I'll tie to you, pard," assured the
+unknown. "I'll help you to get square, and you can help me. Frank
+Merriwell will have to keep his eyes open if he dodges us both."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+THE FIGHT ON THE TRAIN.
+
+
+It happened that, as he was perched on the shoulders of his friends and
+admirers, Frank Merriwell saw Flemming and Thornton in the further end
+of the car.
+
+Merriwell would not have given his enemies more than a passing glance,
+but it occurred that he saw and recognized the man who was talking to
+Flemming.
+
+"It is the scoundrel who tried to bribe me!" muttered Frank, angrily.
+"And he is with Flemming and Thornton! I fancy I smell a mouse."
+
+Then he forced his friends to put him down, and, the moment he was on
+his feet, he hastened along the aisle toward the end of the car, having
+called Diamond to follow him.
+
+The plotters saw Frank coming, and the expression on his face told them
+that there was a storm brewing.
+
+"By Jove!" fluttered Thornton, in alarm; "he looks as if he means to
+thump somebody!"
+
+Although he did not show it, Flemming was not a little alarmed by
+Merriwell's angry appearance.
+
+Several of the students gathered about the crew saw there was something
+in the wind, and they followed Merriwell and Diamond down the crowded
+aisle.
+
+Halting within a short distance of his enemies, Frank pointed straight
+at the stranger and cried:
+
+"There he is! Take a good look at him, boys! That is the creature who
+tried to bribe me to throw the ball game to Harvard!"
+
+His words rang through the car, and were heard by every one. The uproar
+and excitement that followed was quite unexpected by Frank.
+
+A wild shout of anger broke from the college lads, and there was a
+scramble for that end of the car.
+
+"Mob the wretch!"
+
+"Thump him!"
+
+"Choke him!"
+
+"Don't let him get away!"
+
+These cries broke from the crowd of lads, who strove in mad haste to get
+at the stranger.
+
+"Great Christopher!" gasped Tom Thornton, in terror. "I'm going to get
+out of this! It's altogether too hot for me!"
+
+Then he tried to slip away.
+
+Flemming did not know what to do. The manner of the angry lads was
+alarming, and he saw no reason why he should defend a man who was quite
+unknown to him.
+
+But the stranger did not wait to be defended. With a wild shout, that
+was like the war whoop of an Indian, he leaped up and lunged straight
+into the crowd, striking out right and left.
+
+In less than ten seconds a general fight was taking place in that end of
+the car. Jack Diamond, who had a grudge against Tom Thornton, collared
+Tom as he was trying to slip away.
+
+"Hold on!" cried the Virginian. "You can't play the sneak in that way! I
+saw you talking with that scoundrel! Did you and Flemming set him on to
+bribe Merriwell?"
+
+"I don't know anything about it!" protested Tom, struggling. "Let go,
+Diamond!"
+
+"Well, not in a hurry!" returned Jack. "I don't know where the money
+came from, but I believe you and Flemming tried to ruin Merriwell by
+bribing him to throw a game and then exposing him. If that was the
+trick, you fooled yourselves. Frank Merriwell is not that kind of a
+fellow!"
+
+With a fierce exclamation, Thornton struck savagely at Jack's face, but
+Diamond dodged the blow.
+
+"Oh, you will, will you!" he cried, and then he gave Thornton a terrible
+thump between the eyes.
+
+In another moment they were at it fiercely.
+
+Although Flemming was a big fellow with a reputation as a bully, Harry
+Rattleton had not hesitated to lay hands on him.
+
+"You're a chine fap--I mean a fine chap!" shouted Harry. "So you are
+concerned in this attempted bribery!"
+
+"Get out!" snarled Flemming. "I'll break your nose!"
+
+"Break it!" invited Rattleton. "I'll try to do a little something while
+you are about it!"
+
+Flemming waited to say not another word, but, quick as a flash, he did
+strike Harry a heavy blow on the jaw. Rattleton was staggered, but he
+held on to Flemming. A moment later both were swept down by the rush of
+the crowd.
+
+It was something of a blind fight, and it waged with great fierceness,
+although in an aimless manner, for some moments. Several of the windows
+in the car were broken.
+
+Bob Collingwood waded into the midst of the struggling mass of human
+beings, scattering them with his powerful arms, and crying:
+
+"Here, stop this senseless scrapping! Where is the fellow who tried to
+bribe Merriwell?"
+
+Where, indeed? All looked around for him, but he was gone. In some
+manner he had made his escape in the midst of the tumult.
+
+"He must be on the train!" cried Frank. "He can't escape from the train
+till it stops! Here--I have his coat! He left it in my hands when the
+crowd tore us apart."
+
+Merriwell held up the garment.
+
+"He must be in the car back of this!" declared Collingwood. "I want to
+see him--I want to get a fair look at his face."
+
+"I'd like to do something else to his face!" shouted another student.
+"Think of any one offering a Yale pitcher money to throw a game to
+Harvard!"
+
+This brought a mad howl from the angry students.
+
+Rattleton and Flemming had been torn apart during the struggle, and
+Thornton and Diamond were separated, but not until Jack had thumped the
+fellow he disliked, and done it several times.
+
+Both Flemming and Thornton were forgotten. The excited students rushed
+out by the open door, and crowded into the rear car, which was the only
+one on the train to which the unknown man could have escaped.
+
+"Where is he?" was the hoarse shout that went up, as the angry boys
+packed into the car.
+
+They looked desperate and dangerous, as if they were thirsting for human
+blood.
+
+At the farther end of the car a man in his shirt-sleeves crouched and
+muttered:
+
+"Well, derned if I expected to kick up this sort of a rumpus! I've seen
+all kinds of mobs, but I will allow that this reminds me of a regular
+Judge Lynch crowd, and no mistake. Never judged a lot of youngsters
+would get stirred up this way any whatever. They're on a regular
+rampage."
+
+He kept out of sight as far as possible, feeling that it was the most
+"healthy" thing to do.
+
+"Where is he?" demanded Collingwood, who was just ahead of
+Merriwell--"where is the man who belongs to this coat? He must have come
+in here! Did a man in his shirt sleeves come in here?"
+
+"Yes, yes!" replied several. "What has he been doing?"
+
+"Doing!" roared "Dear Old Bob," flushed with anger. "Why, he is the
+creature that tried to bribe Merriwell!"
+
+It seemed that this piece of business was generally known, for
+Collingwood's words produced a roar of indignation.
+
+Down at the rear end of the car a young man stood up and shouted:
+
+"This way! Here he is! He can't get away!"
+
+Then it seemed that the students all spotted their game at the same
+moment, and there was a fierce scramble for that end of the car.
+
+The hunted man saw them coming, and a desperate look settled on his
+face.
+
+"I'd as lief fall into the clutches of a whole tribe of Apache Indians!"
+he gasped. "They're after my scalp for sure!"
+
+He leaped to the door, and tore it open.
+
+"Stop!" rang out the voice of Frank Merriwell. "You cannot escape, for
+you will be killed if you leap from the train!"
+
+The man hesitated one moment. He saw the college lads rushing down the
+aisle, and then, although the train was making a speed of at least forty
+miles an hour, he descended the steps.
+
+Collingwood and Merriwell came out through the open door. As they
+reached the platform, they saw the man clinging in the darkness at the
+foot of the steps. He was in a crouching position, his hands clasping
+the iron holds. In the gloom his face seemed fully as white as the
+sleeves of his shirt, which fluttered in the breeze.
+
+"For Heaven's sake, don't jump!" cried Frank.
+
+Collingwood tried to grasp the man by the arm. As he did so, the
+mysterious man dropped from the steps, instantly disappearing in the
+darkness.
+
+"He's gone!" gasped Frank, horrified.
+
+"Yes, he is gone!" said Collingwood, hoarsely. "That's the end of him,
+for surely he was killed when he struck the ground!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+SEEN AGAIN.
+
+
+For two days Frank scanned all the newspapers for an account of the
+finding of the body of an unknown man somewhere on the line of the
+N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., but he looked in vain.
+
+"Well, that is remarkable!" Merriwell decided. "I can't understand it.
+If that fellow escaped, it is a miracle. And if he escaped, I believe I
+shall hear from him again," he finished.
+
+The spring term was drawing to a close. But two more events were to
+transpire before the coming of the long summer vacation. There was the
+final ball game with Harvard, and then the great intercollegiate
+athletic tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York--the latter
+affair to be the great college event of the year.
+
+Frank was entered for several of the contests in New York, but his hand,
+although improving, would not be in condition to allow him to play ball
+again that season.
+
+As for the coming vacation, his plans were not perfected as yet. Some of
+his friends were going to Bar Harbor, some contemplated spending the
+summer quietly at home, some were going abroad for a flying trip, and
+many had expressed themselves as quite undecided as to the manner in
+which they would pass the summer months.
+
+Frank had boldly proposed a bicycle journey across the continent, but
+all his friends, with the exception of Diamond, had considered the
+proposition a joke.
+
+Diamond grew enthusiastic over it, urging Merriwell to carry out the
+plan, even though but two of them should make the jaunt.
+
+Frank's plan embraced a party of at least four--possibly more. What made
+Rattleton believe that Merriwell was joking was that Frank had soberly
+asked Bruce Browning, the reputedly laziest man at Yale, to make one of
+the party.
+
+Bruce came near fainting with horror at the mere mention of such a
+thing.
+
+"My dear Merriwell!" he gasped, "is it possible that you take me for a
+candidate for a lunatic asylum? Do you think that I am on the verge of
+lapsing into complete idiocy? Or are you simply trying to have a little
+sport at my expense?"
+
+"Nothing of the sort, my dear fellow, I assure you," said Frank. "I am
+in sober earnest about getting up a party to make the trip across the
+continent, and I think it would be a fine thing for you if you were to
+make one of the company."
+
+Bruce was reclining on a couch in Merriwell's room at the time, lazily
+puffing away at a cigarette. He languidly reached out his hand and felt
+for Frank's wrist.
+
+"Permit me to examine your pulse, old fellow," he murmured. "If you are
+not trying to work some kind of a horse on me you must be in a bad way.
+Ah!" he said, knowingly, with his thumb and finger on Frank's wrist, "I
+thought so! Pulse irregular--flutters like an old rag in the wind--flesh
+hot and dry, eye changing and unsteady, dryness in your throat and
+general vacancy in your stomach. What you need is a tonic--and you need
+it bad. You should take whiskey, it may be the only thing that will save
+you from an utter breaking up of the nervous system or premature death.
+The premature death will happen if you try to jolly me any more. I shall
+carry a gun with me constantly hereafter, and it will not cost too much
+of an effort to point it in your direction and pull the trigger."
+
+Frank laughed.
+
+"I know you are almost too lazy to draw your breath," he said, "and I
+also know that the best thing that could happen to you would be just
+such an expedition as I have proposed. However, I suppose it is useless
+to waste my breath talking to you, and so I will drop it."
+
+But for all of Browning's refusal to be one of the party, Frank did not
+give up the project of a trip across the continent from ocean to ocean
+during the summer vacation.
+
+But almost immediately other matters occupied his attention.
+
+One night he was spending an evening in town with a jolly party of
+students. The others were drinking beer and ale, while Merriwell took
+nothing but ginger ale or bottled soda.
+
+As they were leaving Traeger's, Frank caught a glimpse of the face of a
+man who seemed to be waiting for them to come out.
+
+For one moment Merriwell stopped as if turned to stone, and then, with
+a hoarse shout of recognition, he leaped after the man, who had slipped
+away.
+
+The others followed Frank, and they soon pursued him around a corner,
+where they found him standing still and staring about in a disappointed
+manner.
+
+"What is it, old man?" asked Paul Hamilton. "Why did you give that whoop
+and then chase yourself around here in such a lively fashion?"
+
+"It was not myself I chased," declared Frank. "It was quite another
+party, I assure you; but he has given me the slip, for I can see nothing
+of him."
+
+"Who was it?"
+
+"The man who tried to bribe me to throw the last ball game to Harvard!"
+
+"That fellow?" exclaimed all the lads, excitedly. "Are you sure?"
+
+"Dead sure," asserted Frank, confidently. "I saw his face fairly in the
+light in front of Traeger's when we came out."
+
+"Then he was not killed in the leap from the train!" cried Diamond. "How
+did he escape?"
+
+"Ask me something easy!" exclaimed Frank. "I never expected to look on
+that man's face again, unless I looked on it as a corpse."
+
+"Confound him!" exploded Harry Rattleton. "I'd like to hake his break--I
+mean break his head! What does he want around here?"
+
+Frank was silent. There was a grim look on his face, and it was plain
+that he had been not a little disturbed by the sight of the mysterious
+stranger.
+
+The boys turned toward college, discussing the queer actions of the
+unknown as they walked along. One or two of them fully believed the man
+must be a lunatic.
+
+That night, as Frank and Harry were preparing for bed, the former
+declared:
+
+"That strange man is about as large a mystery as I ever ran across. He
+is beginning to be a decided nuisance."
+
+"What do you make of him, anyway?"
+
+"That he is a Westerner, or wishes to be thought such. His language
+betrays that. And he is the last man I could dream would be staking
+enough money on a game of college baseball to be able to offer a bribe
+of two thousand dollars to make sure that the game would result in his
+favor."
+
+"By Jove!" cried Rattleton; "if any other fellow but yourself had told
+me that a stranger had made them such an offer and had forked over
+one-half cash in advance I should have considered him a looming
+byer--no, a blooming liar!"
+
+"And you would not be to blame for thinking so. To me it seems like a
+dream, but I know it actually happened."
+
+"Well, what is he hanging around New Haven for?"
+
+"I'll give it up, unless he hopes to get at Heffiner or Dad Hicks, one
+of whom must pitch the game at Springfield."
+
+"He'll get used rough if he pushes his dirty dough at either Heffiner or
+Hicks!" cried Rattleton.
+
+"I think so," nodded Frank. "I believe they are loyal to dear old Yale,
+and nothing can buy their honor."
+
+"Most Yale men are. There may be one or two sneaks who would sell out,
+as there are black sheep in every flock. I don't believe Flemming would
+be above such a trick."
+
+"Oh, I don't know! I do not wish to think that bad of Flemming. I know
+he is my enemy, and I believe he hates me so he would do almost
+anything to injure me but I do not wish to think that a fellow like him
+even would stoop to such a dastardly trick as to betray old Yale."
+
+"You always think every fellow is white till you are convinced to the
+contrary beyond the shadow of a doubt."
+
+"I had rather believe all men honest and deceive myself in that manner
+than to suspect everybody and thus think that one honest man was a
+rogue."
+
+Harry regarded Frank in a queer manner, slowly shaking his head, but
+saying nothing more. For all that they had been friends and roommates
+for a year and a half, Rattleton was forced to confess to himself that
+there still remained many things about Merriwell that he could not
+understand.
+
+That Frank was shrewd Harry knew, and yet Merriwell sometimes seemed to
+deliberately deceive himself by thinking that certain fellows were
+honest when he should have known better. It seemed the hardest thing in
+the world for Frank to be convinced that any fellow was thoroughly bad,
+even though that person might be an enemy who had endeavored in
+numerous ways to do him an injury.
+
+"Merriwell seems to come out all right in everything," thought
+Rattleton; "but it would not be the luck of any other fellow who dared
+take the chances he does."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+TWO WARNINGS.
+
+
+The morning after the evening when Frank saw the mysterious stranger in
+front of Traeger's he received a warning note through the mail. It read
+as follows:
+
+"Be constantly on your guard. Your enemies are plotting to do you
+serious injury. I shall do what I can to foil them, but you had better
+watch out."
+
+It was unsigned, and the handwriting was cramped and awkward, as if the
+person who wrote it was not accustomed to handle a pen.
+
+"Well, I wonder what sort of a game this is!" cried Frank, in disgust.
+"It is a fake, pure and simple!"
+
+Rattleton was at his side.
+
+"What is it?" asked Harry.
+
+"Read that!" invited Frank, thrusting the anonymous warning into the
+ready hands of his friend.
+
+Harry glanced it over and then whistled softly.
+
+"Rot!" he cried. "Anybody can see that's lot on the nevel--I mean not on
+the level."
+
+"But what sort of a game is it?" questioned Frank, in perplexity. "If it
+was an appointment to meet somebody somewhere, or even a warning to stay
+away from some place, I could see something in it; but the mere
+statement that enemies are plotting to injure me doesn't indicate much
+in this case."
+
+"It seems to indicate that somebody fakes you for a tool--no, takes you
+for a fool!" spluttered Rattleton.
+
+Frank's face grew scornful.
+
+"That somebody may find out that it is not entirely healthy to try
+crooked games with me," he grimly said. "I believe I see through the
+trick."
+
+"What is it, then?"
+
+"This bogus warning will be followed by another. The other will go a
+little further than this. Then will come the third, which will be the
+one intended to draw me into some sort of a trap. Oh, the game is too
+thin!"
+
+Harry looked into his roommate's face, and saw that Frank Merriwell was
+aroused at last.
+
+"What are you going to do?" asked Rattleton.
+
+"I am going to have a few words with Fred Flemming at the first
+opportunity. I have been easy with Flemming, for I could not believe the
+fellow all bad, even though he had tried to injure me, but, if he is
+going to hire a ruffian like this unknown man to try to work my ruin, I
+shall draw the lines on Mr. Flemming. He is rich, but that will not save
+him."
+
+"They say he has money to burn."
+
+"I don't care if he is a Monte Cristo. He cannot ride over me with all
+his money, and I do not believe that a scoundrel will be tolerated at
+Yale after his villainy is exposed, even though he may be rich and have
+influential parents and connections."
+
+"What do you think the game is?"
+
+"As to that I am more or less at sea; but I believe that the bribe which
+was offered me to throw the ball game to Harvard was a trap meant to
+work my undoing."
+
+"Flemming must have known your hand would not permit you to play in that
+game, so he could not have been in that piece of business."
+
+"My dear boy, I do not fancy I was expected to pitch that game. It was
+thought that I would keep the money. That money was marked. This man
+would have gone forth and blowed that he had bribed me. He would have
+told what marked money he had given me. I should have been
+cornered--perhaps arrested--then searched. You see what that would have
+meant. The marked money would have been found on my person. It would
+have been exactly as the stranger had described it. It is certain that
+somebody was watching and saw him give me the money. That person would
+have testified against me. Then Frank Merriwell's college career would
+have come to a sudden termination. In some ways it was a bungling plot,
+and in others it was crafty enough."
+
+"But a cool thousand--that was an awful roll to push at a fellow!"
+
+"It was a bold and desperate stroke, and the fact that such a sum was
+offered shows that the one who put up the job knew I could not be bought
+with a petty amount. He did not know that it made no difference whether
+it was one dollar or one million--I would not sell my honor and betray
+dear old Yale for any sum!"
+
+"You have other enemies besides Flemming."
+
+"Yes--Thornton."
+
+"He doesn't count, for he lacks nerve."
+
+"Whom do you mean?"
+
+"Harris does not love you."
+
+"It will be a long time before Sport Harris will venture to lift a hand
+against me again, for the memory of the fate of his comrade, Hartwick,
+is too vivid before him. Hartwick brought disgrace and ruin on himself
+by trying to injure me. He was forced to leave college, and then, when
+he came back to New Haven and put up that race-track job on me, he
+finished his own downfall by robbing his father in order that he might
+have a sum of money to stake against me, feeling sure I must lose.
+Directly after that race he was arrested."
+
+"What was done about that matter? Was he sent to prison?"
+
+"No; his father would not press the case; but I have heard that the old
+man's heart is broken by Hartwick's actions. The worthless rascal was
+the apple of the old man's eye. His father had expected to see him go
+through college and graduate with flying colors. The disgrace has bowed
+the father with grief, and it is said he cannot live long."
+
+"Then Hartwick will get all his money."
+
+"No. The old man has made a will that cuts Evan off with a very small
+sum. The rest of the money and estate goes to other relatives and to
+charity."
+
+"And Evan Hartwick brought all this on himself by his dastardly attempts
+to injure you. It should be a warning to others."
+
+"It is an old saying that 'the way of the transgressor is hard,' but it
+seems to take human beings a long time to become convinced that it is
+absolutely true."
+
+Frank kept his eyes open, and waited for the second warning, which he
+felt sure would come.
+
+He was not mistaken, for it came near night.
+
+A boy appeared at Frank's door, and handed over a sealed envelope, which
+he explained he had received from a man with a heavy beard. He said he
+had been paid a quarter of a dollar to deliver it.
+
+Frank tore it open and read:
+
+"You will be invited to go to the theatre to-night. Do not go. Your
+enemies will be on the watch for you."
+
+"Oh. I knew it was coming!" cried Frank, scornfully. "It is a flimsy
+trick! It actually disgusts me!"
+
+Harry was out, and Merriwell was alone.
+
+Later Harry came in, accompanied by Diamond, Browning, Griswold and
+Creighton.
+
+"I say, old man," cried Charlie Creighton, addressing Frank, "we have
+something on for to-night, and we want you to take a hand."
+
+"You may take a few rotten eggs or decayed vegetables with that hand, if
+you like," grinned Griswold.
+
+Frank remembered the second warning. Of the party Creighton was the only
+fellow he did not know very well, and, if there was an enemy among them,
+Creighton must be the man.
+
+Frank resolved to show no suspicion.
+
+"What's up?" he asked.
+
+"To-night," cried Griswold, dramatically, "the curtain will go up on one
+of the greatest tragedies ever enacted on any stage--nit!"
+
+"Hush!" whispered Creighton, mysteriously. "Whisper it softly. 'Uncle
+Tom's Cabin' is in town, with two _Little Evas_, two _Marks_, three
+real Siberian bloodhounds, bred in New Jersey, and a jackass."
+
+"The jackass is the manager of the company," grinned Griswold.
+
+"I presume you have heard of that immortal play, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,'
+Mr. Merriwell?" questioned Creighton.
+
+"Methinks I have," assured Frank.
+
+"'Methinks' is good," nodded Creighton. "It has a fat sound."
+
+"Eh?" grunted Browning, who already had deposited his corpulent body on
+the couch. "Did anybody speak to me?"
+
+"Ah, Mr. Browning," said Creighton, "I think you said as we were coming
+along that you have had the pleasure of seeing 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'?"
+
+"Yes, I said so."
+
+"Then permit me to inquire if you have ever seen 'Ten Nights in a
+Barroom'?"
+
+"No," grunted Bruce; "but I have seen ten barrooms in a night."
+
+"Here, hold up!" cried Griswold, promptly. "That belongs to me, and I
+have used it on everybody I could hit with it."
+
+"Never mind," murmured Browning. "It is a good thing, so we'll have to
+move it along."
+
+"Seriously," said Diamond, "there is a crummy 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'
+company at a cheap theatre in town, and Creighton has purchased a box.
+He wants us to go along."
+
+"That's the idea," acknowledged Charlie. "All the fellows are onto it,
+and there will be two or three hundred Yale boys there. We won't do a
+thing to the hamfatters!"
+
+Frank smiled. He saw that it would be an opportunity for any amount of
+sport he was sure, and the mere thought of it made him eager to go.
+
+But he remembered the warning. It was most remarkable that the
+invitation to the theatre had followed so closely after the receipt of
+the note from the unknown.
+
+"Of course you'll go, old fellow?" cried Creighton, who saw that
+Merriwell was hesitating.
+
+"Of course he will!" cried Rattleton. "Merry is always in for a little
+racket of this sort."
+
+"He is always foremost in anything of the kind," said Diamond.
+
+"That is why I want him in my box," smiled Creighton. "Oh, we won't do a
+thing in that box--not a thing! I have ordered plenty of fizz on ice,
+and--oh, but you do not drink fizz, do you, Merriwell?"
+
+"No," said Frank; "but I am no temperance crank, and I do not make
+myself offensive by trying to convince everybody else that men who do
+drink are fools. College lads should have brains enough to know what
+they want and what they do not want, and it is impertinent for any
+fellow to go around trying to make Good Templars of men who enjoy a
+glass of beer or wine now and then."
+
+Creighton impulsively grasped Frank's hand.
+
+"Merriwell," he cried, "by example you are the best possible temperance
+lecture, and you will make more converts by keeping still than by
+preaching."
+
+"There may be something in that," admitted Frank. "I knew a parson once
+on a time who never mentioned religion unless some one broached the
+subject, except when he was in the pulpit. His name was Lamfear. He did
+not go around with his face drawn down, asking everybody if they had
+received salvation and loved the Lord. I admired him more than any
+parson I ever knew, and I used to go to his church Sundays to hear him
+preach. He was a good man, although he seemed to enjoy seeing boys play
+baseball and skate and coast and fly kites. I remember that one time he
+put on skates himself, and took a spin on the river with the boys and
+girls. Now I know that man did more good by keeping still about religion
+than he could have done had he dinned it into the ears of everybody he
+met. Every one saw he was a good man, for his daily life told that. All
+the young folks admired him as much as they disliked another old parson
+who was forever talking about the wickedness of the world and the
+goodness of the Lord, and collaring persons everywhere to ask them why
+they did not attend church oftener. Good old Parson Lamfear! May his
+tribe increase!"
+
+"Well," said Griswold, "we'll let Parson Lamfear rest. What we want to
+know is if you are with us to-night."
+
+"To go, or not to go? that is the burning question," murmured Browning,
+as, still stretched on his back, he struck a match, lighted a cigarette,
+dropped part of the match on his chin, and gave a howl of pain.
+
+Frank suddenly made up his mind.
+
+"I'll go," he said.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+THE THEATRE PARTY.
+
+
+It was a gay party that left South Middle that evening and started for
+the theatre. Merriwell had not said a word to Rattleton concerning the
+receipt of the second warning. A spirit of sheer reckless defiance led
+him to accept the invitation to the theatre, even though he had not
+wished to spend his time that evening in such a manner.
+
+"This may be a jolly," he told himself; "if I were to stay away the
+fellows would have a horse on me sure."
+
+Creighton had a beautiful tenor voice, and as they started out beneath
+the elms, he sang:
+
+    "I shot an arrow into the air,
+    It fell to earth--I know not where----"
+
+Danny Griswold seemed to take a fiendish delight in giving a humorous
+twist to anything sentimental, and so he interrupted with:
+
+    "The next day a man came around
+    And sold me dead dog at a dollar a pound."
+
+"If that were original I wouldn't mind," said Creighton; "but you got it
+from some star vaudeville performance, you little runt."
+
+"That's where I get all my gags," frankly confessed Griswold. "I store
+them up for use, and they come in handy some time."
+
+"Some time, when you spring a stale joke, I shall be led to assassinate
+you," declared Bruce Browning.
+
+"Impossible!" cried Griswold. "That would be a crime."
+
+"Well, what's the odds?"
+
+"You are too fat to commit a crime."
+
+"How is that?"
+
+"It is difficult for fat persons to stoop to anything low, you know."
+
+"You seem to find considerable amusement because I am somewhat
+overweight," said Bruce, with attempted severity.
+
+"Not at all," chirped Danny. "Some men are well enough in their weight,
+but this doesn't apply to coal dealers."
+
+"Say, Griswold," called Rattleton, "what's the average fate for a
+wool--no, I mean the average weight for a fool?"
+
+"A simple ton," replied the little fellow, quick as a flash.
+
+Frank clapped Danny on the back.
+
+"Good boy!" he exclaimed, laughing. "Rattleton didn't get ahead of you
+that time."
+
+"It is hard for anybody to get ahead of me," declared Griswold. "I am
+really a lively man in a footrace, for my father is a watchmaker, and he
+has given me instructions in the business."
+
+"I fuf-fuf-fuf, fail to see huh-huh-how that applies," said Joe Gamp, a
+lad with a serious impediment in his speech.
+
+"Why, you see I have learned how to make good time," chuckled Danny.
+
+Gamp roared with laughter. He was a big, raw-boned, hulking fellow from
+New Hampshire, and his laugh was like the braying of a mule. Creighton
+had invited Gamp to the theatre for the amusement the country lad would
+provide.
+
+"He'll break the performers all up if he ever gets started laughing,"
+said Charlie to Merriwell. "When he gets going in good style nothing
+will stop him."
+
+There was something about the country boy that Merriwell liked. Frank
+quickly decided that Joe was a big-hearted, honest fellow, such a
+blunder-heels that he was certain to provoke ridicule, and yet
+thoroughly worthy and deserving.
+
+In laughing, Gamp opened his mouth to the widest extent. He suddenly
+closed it, and clapped his hand to his jaw.
+
+"Jee-ru-sa-lem!" he gasped; "there gug-gug-gug-goes that old aching
+tut-tut-tooth of mine! I was careless to let the night air gug-gug-get
+into it."
+
+"Why don't you have it pulled out?" asked Diamond.
+
+"I'm going to have it pup-pup-pup-pulled and all the rest of my
+'tut-'tut-'tarnel teeth just as soon as I can afford the money to
+bub-buy a new set," declared Gamp, honestly.
+
+"Why spend your money in such a foolish way?" said Griswold, with
+apparent seriousness. "Save the dentist's bill. I know a dog that will
+insert a full set of teeth free of charge."
+
+Open flew Gamp's mouth again, and his braying laugh caused a passing
+pedestrian to dodge so suddenly that he jumped from under his own hat.
+
+"Say!" exclaimed Charlie Creighton, getting hold of Griswold; "save
+those till we get to the theatre. Then you can set him going, and we'll
+have sport."
+
+"Can't save them," declared Danny. "They have to come when the
+opportunity offers."
+
+And so they went on their way to the theatre, laughing and joking,
+singing snatches of college songs, and having a jolly time generally.
+
+Creighton had made no mistake in saying a large number of college lads
+would be present. It seemed that there were at least two hundred in the
+theatre, and it was apparent that they were there for "a racket."
+
+The moment Creighton's party entered the box a tall young man in the
+first row of orchestra seats arose and faced the house, soberly saying:
+
+"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a most auspicious, not to say suspicious,
+occasion. It is probable that many of you were not aware that we were to
+be honored to-night by having the privilege of witnessing the
+performance in company with royal personages, but such is the fact. The
+party that has just entered the box on the right is the Prince of
+Chow-chow, who is accompanied by the Duke of Dublinstout, the Earl of
+Easytogetajag, the Emperor of Buginhishead, the High Mogul of Whooperup,
+the Chief Pusher of Whangdoodleland and the Great Muckamuck of
+Hogansalley. Gentlemen, it is your privilege to salute them."
+
+Then every college boy in the house arose and bowed with great gravity
+toward the box.
+
+"Well, this is sure to be a hot time!" laughed Merriwell, delighted.
+
+"You bet it is!" assured Charlie Creighton. "We'll make _Simon Legree_
+regret that he is living."
+
+An usher came down the aisle and remonstrated with the tall student. The
+tall student replied to the usher with exaggerated politeness, declaring
+that he meant no harm, but that he had felt it his duty to inform the
+audience that such distinguished personages were in the box.
+
+Then when the tall young man sat down, as if by a prearranged signal,
+there was a wild outburst of applause, stamping of feet, whistling
+catcalls, and so forth.
+
+The musicians came out and began to put their instruments in tune. They
+composed an orchestra carried with the troupe, and were, as Rattleton
+forcibly expressed it, "decidedly on the bum."
+
+Some of the musicians seemed to dread what was coming, for they looked
+pale and agitated.
+
+"They know that some of the over-ripe vegetables and stale hen-fruit
+which the audience may toss at the performers is liable to fall short,"
+smiled Merriwell.
+
+Having tuned up after a fashion, the orchestra began to file away at
+some sort of a medley.
+
+Griswold rolled his eyes and said:
+
+"I am carried away with the music, as the monkey who was perched on the
+hand-organ remarked."
+
+It was with the utmost difficulty that the assembled students repressed
+a desire to uplift their voices and drown the sounds which came from the
+wretched orchestra; but they felt that it would not do to alarm the
+players by too great a demonstration, and so the only interruptions to
+the overture were a few catcalls.
+
+At last the curtain rolled up, and the play began. An ominous silence
+seemed to hang over the audience. The actors were nervous at first, but
+as the silence continued and offensive demonstrations were not
+immediately made, they gained courage and swung into their parts with as
+much enthusiasm and ability as possible.
+
+It is possible that the sight of two or three policemen at the back of
+the house gave the performers courage. The officers had been called in
+to overawe the college lads in case they became too demonstrative.
+
+At length, in a very pathetic part of the first act, Griswold leaned
+over to Joe Gamp, and whispered:
+
+"It is very touching, isn't it?"
+
+"Yes," said the country boy, chokingly, "it mum-mum-mum-makes me
+fuf-fuf-fuf-feel like th-th-thunder!"
+
+He nearly blubbered outright, for he had never seen many plays, having
+found it necessary to spend his money with the greatest care, as he was
+confined to a certain allowance to take him through college.
+
+"And Uncle Tom's Bible," said Danny--"it reminds me of a conundrum. How
+was the ark propelled?"
+
+"Dud-dud-darned if I know."
+
+"By a Noah, of course," explained Griswold.
+
+Gamp caught his breath, and then he lay back and roared:
+
+"Haw! haw! haw! A-haw! a-haw! a-haw!"
+
+This roar of laughter, coming as it did at a solemn and pathetic point
+in the play, was most startling. _Uncle Tom_ came near collapsing on the
+stage, and the other actors were so disturbed that they got tangled in
+their lines.
+
+The students caught on, and there was an immediate burst of applause
+that swelled louder and louder. This died away most suddenly and
+unexpectedly, and Joe Gamp was heard to shout in his endeavor to make
+Griswold hear:
+
+"By jiminy! that was a good one! A-haw! a-haw! a-haw! a-haw!"
+
+The lad from the country went off into another paroxysm of laughter,
+pressing his hands to his sides, and shutting his eyes, utterly
+unconscious for the moment of his surroundings.
+
+Of a sudden Joe remembered that he was at the theatre. His mouth came
+together with a snap, his eyes flew open, and he ceased to laugh and
+stiffened up, with a frightened look on his face.
+
+The change was so ludicrous that the entire audience was convulsed, and
+the actors could not help laughing.
+
+From that moment the play progressed under difficulties. In the scene
+where the slaves were being sold at auction some of the students began
+to pepper the actors with pea-shooters, doing it cautiously, so that
+they would not be spotted in the act. Every time _Marks_ would open his
+mouth to say "seventy-five" he would be struck by one or more peas,
+which were fired with force sufficient to make them sting like hornets.
+
+"Seventy----Wow! Whoop!" yelled _Marks_, clapping a hand to the side of
+his face, and suddenly dancing an original can-can.
+
+"Five hundred," cried _Legree_.
+
+"Seventy-fi---- We-e-e-ow! Stop it! Somebody is shooting things at me!"
+
+_Marks_ had been spotted on the end of his long nose, to which he was
+wildly clinging with both hands, as he pranced around the stage.
+
+"What's the matter?" growled _Legree_, in a guarded tone, unable to
+understand what had happened. "Have you gone crazy, you fool? Stand up
+and bid!"
+
+Then he cried: "Six hundred!"
+
+"Seventy-five---- Hornets and blisters!" finished _Marks_, as he was
+nailed by three or four peas. "I can't stand this! It's too much!"
+
+He bolted off the stage.
+
+_Legree_ looked dismayed, and then he advanced to the footlights and
+addressed the audience.
+
+"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I trust you will excuse the gentleman
+who is playing the part of _Marks_. He has not been well for several
+days, and he is somewhat troubled with hallucinations. Of course we know
+his troubles are all imaginary, and---- Ye-e-e-ow! I'm shot!"
+
+A pea had struck him squarely between the eyes, and he started back so
+suddenly that he sat down on the stage as if he had been knocked off his
+feet.
+
+"A-haw! a-haw! a-haw!" roared the voice of Joe Gamp, and the audience
+joined in the shout of laughter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+TRAPPED.
+
+
+There was an uproar in the theatre, which the ushers and the police were
+unable to quell for some time.
+
+The curtain was rung down, and then, after a short wait, the manager
+came out and said the show would go on, if the audience would behave. He
+threatened to have the persons who were using the pea-shooters arrested,
+and this threat was greeted by hisses and catcalls.
+
+After a while, however, the curtain went up once more, and the play
+proceeded in a tangle of "real Siberian bloodhounds," _Gumption Cutes_,
+_Marks_, _Topsies_, _Little Evas_, escaping slaves, slave hunters and
+general excitement and confusion.
+
+It was plain that the actors feared further trouble, and they were
+rushing through their lines, eager to get off the stage as soon as
+possible.
+
+The bloodhounds were cheered by the students and peppered with peas.
+When _Topsy_ declared she "nebber was born, but jes' growed," some one
+inquired the name of the fertilizer used in her rearing. When the
+jackass appeared, a solemn voice from some uncertain part of the theatre
+called the attention of the audience to the "leading actor of the
+colossal aggregation." _Little Eva_ was invited to exhibit her wings.
+
+The college boys were irrepressible, and yet they did not do anything to
+absolutely break up the show, although Joe Gamp's haw-haws came near
+proving disastrous several times.
+
+A policeman came down to the box and threatened to arrest Joe, but he
+was pacified by Creighton, who had a decidedly smooth way of "fixing
+things."
+
+Frank Merriwell remained quiet until near the end of the play, enjoying
+the sport the other fellows were making. At last, however, he decided to
+produce some amusement himself.
+
+Frank was a very good amateur ventriloquist, although he seldom
+practiced the art. Now, however, he saw his opportunity.
+
+_Little Eva_ was on her deathbed, and the mourners were assembled about.
+All at once one of the mourners seemed to say:
+
+"This business is on the bum."
+
+Every one started and stared. The actors were astounded, and the
+audience amused. Then the death agony went on until another of the
+watchers by _Eva's_ side observed:
+
+"It makes me sick!"
+
+The manager was heard to hiss from the shelter of the wings:
+
+"I'll make you sick when you come off!"
+
+"Oh, go fall on yourself, you old cheat!" the actor seemed to fling
+back.
+
+Then _Little Eva_, in her death agony, apparently remarked:
+
+"Give it to the old duffer! He owes me six weeks' salary, and I'll quit
+dying right now if the ghost doesn't walk immediately!"
+
+This brought laughter and hearty applause from the college lads.
+
+When the applause had subsided _Uncle Tom_ apparently observed:
+
+"He can't get ahead of me. I've put an attachment on the jackass."
+
+This was more than the excitable manager could stand, and he rushed
+onto the stage, shaking his fist at _Uncle Tom_ and crying:
+
+"Confound you! I don't owe you a cent! You obliged me to pay up before
+you would go on to-night!"
+
+And then he nearly collapsed when he realized what his anger had led him
+to do and say.
+
+The college lads arose from their seats and cheered.
+
+Standing in the front of the box, Charlie Creighton shouted:
+
+"This is the best part of the show, fellows. Let's give 'em one!
+Now--all together!"
+
+Then the Yale yell pealed forth, and _Little Eva_ came near dying in
+reality from heart failure.
+
+This broke up the show entirely, and the curtain came down with a rush,
+while the frightened orchestra made haste to disappear. From behind the
+curtain the manager shouted that the show was over, and the laughing,
+tumultuous students hurried out of theatre.
+
+"Well, Merriwell," said Charlie Creighton, "how have you enjoyed the
+evening?"
+
+"Immensely," laughed Frank.
+
+"It was a regular sus-sus-sus-circus," declared Joe Gamp. "Never had so
+much fuf-fuf-fuf-fuf-fun in all my bub-born days!"
+
+"We had them on a string, like a kite," murmured Bruce Browning.
+
+"And that's what made them soar," chuckled Griswold.
+
+Just as the street was reached, Frank gave a slight exclamation, and
+quickly forced his way through the crowd toward a man who was near at
+hand.
+
+That man was the mysterious stranger.
+
+The unknown seemed to be watching Merriwell, for he whirled about and
+hastened away the moment Frank started in his direction.
+
+"Oh, I want to get my hands on that fellow!" grated Frank.
+
+The man did his best to escape, but Merriwell was close after him. The
+stranger hurried along a street, and Frank broke into a run. Then the
+unknown glanced over his shoulder, and started to run himself.
+
+"Hold on!" commanded Frank.
+
+That made the stranger run the faster.
+
+Frank followed, but could see nothing of the person he was pursuing.
+
+"He must have dodged into a doorway," decided the lad. "No--here is
+where he went, down this alley."
+
+The mouth of a dark alley was before him, and he plunged into it. He did
+not go far before he decided that further pursuit was folly, and he
+turned back.
+
+"He's slippery," muttered the boy; "but I'll catch him some time, if he
+continues to shadow me."
+
+Dark forms appeared at the mouth of the alley, and a hoarse whisper came
+to Merriwell's ears:
+
+"He went in here, and the alley is blind, so he can't get out. Do
+him--and do him dirty!"
+
+For all that Frank had been often in desperate peril, something about
+this situation chilled him to the heart. The uncanny darkness, the
+unknown alley, his creeping foes coming down upon him, possibly with
+deadly intent, all served to make him feel weak and helpless for the
+moment.
+
+There are times when the bravest heart shrinks with dread, and, for all
+that Frank was a lad with remarkable nerve, it is not strange that he
+felt a thrill of fear at that moment.
+
+It is claimed that men have lived who "never knew the meaning of the
+word fear," and it is possible that this may be true; but in case they
+ever were placed in situations of extreme peril, such persons must have
+been lacking in some of the essential elements that compose a human
+being. We think of them as deficient in certain ways, wanting in the
+finer qualities, and naturally coarse and brutish.
+
+It is the person who experiences fear and conquers it by his own
+determination to do so who is the greatest hero.
+
+One of the bravest generals America has produced, a man who had the
+reputation of being utterly fearless, once was asked if he ever had been
+afraid while in battle. "No, sir," was his reply, "never in battle; but
+sometimes just before going into an engagement, I have felt it necessary
+to keep my teeth clinched to prevent my heart from jumping out of my
+mouth."
+
+Still the men whom he commanded never knew that he experienced a single
+thrill of fear. He conquered his trepidation by his wonderful will
+power, and always in battle he appeared perfectly unaware that there was
+the least danger. Indeed, he was sometimes criticised for his apparent
+recklessness in exposing himself to deadly peril.
+
+Frank Merriwell never courted peril, and he avoided danger when he could
+do so in a manly way and without lowering his own sense of dignity.
+
+Once engaged in a dangerous encounter, or forced into a position of
+peril, Frank's blood arose, and he seemed to be seized by a reckless
+disregard of his personal safety. Then it was that he laughed in a
+singular manner, and his enemies had learned that he was the most
+dangerous when that laugh sounded from his lips.
+
+As he heard those unknown foes creeping down upon him in the darkness of
+the alley, Frank crouched close to the ground, and felt about with his
+hand for some weapon of defense.
+
+Fear suddenly gave place to anger, and he longed to retaliate on his
+enemies. He knew well enough that the men creeping down upon him were
+hired tools, chosen by his foes to do him severe bodily injury.
+
+"Oh, for a club--a stone--anything!" he thought.
+
+But his hand found nothing that suited his need at that moment.
+
+The cautiously advancing men came nearer and nearer. He could hear them
+whispering to each other, and they seemed to block the entire width of
+the narrow alley. He could not make out their number, but he was sure
+there must be several of them.
+
+"Can yer see him, Jake?"
+
+"No, an' I can't hear him neither."
+
+"But he's here somewhere, and they say he'll fight. Look out fer him."
+
+Frank heard these whispered words, and then, without realizing that he
+was about to do so, he laughed!
+
+There were hoarse cries, curses and blows. A savage struggle suddenly
+was begun in the dark alley.
+
+Frank had hoped to break through the line of his foes by his sudden
+rush, but he was not successful, although his hard right fist knocked a
+man down with his first blow.
+
+Then he received a shock that seemed to cause a thousand bright lights
+to flash before his eyes, and he knew he had been struck on the head
+with some sort of weapon.
+
+The boy staggered. Uttering hoarse exclamations, his assailants, like
+beasts of prey, sprang upon him.
+
+"Give it to him!" cried a voice.
+
+With new strength, Frank twisted and squirmed. In doing so, he threw his
+head from side to side, and it chanced that he succeeded in saving it
+from the blows which were intended to render him helpless.
+
+Those blows, many of them, at least, fell on his shoulders and his back
+with benumbing force.
+
+He forgot that his left hand was not yet well, but he used it as freely
+and as vigorously as his right.
+
+And, once more, something like a laugh came from his lips.
+
+"Hear him!" hissed one of the ruffians. "Why, he's a perfect young
+fiend!"
+
+But Frank could not long hold his own against such odds. Some of the
+blows aimed at his head fell glancingly, but they were enough to rob him
+in a measure of his strength. He tried to tear away, and then he was
+felled to the ground.
+
+Merriwell felt that "the jig was up" with him. They had him at their
+mercy, at last.
+
+Then it was that a surprising thing happened. With encouraging cries,
+two men came through the darkness and attacked the boy's assailants.
+
+That the new arrivals on the battlefield were armed with heavy clubs was
+apparent, and they used them mercilessly on the ruffians.
+
+This attack was unexpected by Frank's assailants, and they could not
+meet it. Immediately they turned and fled, pursued by one of the men who
+had set upon them.
+
+Just then, apparently disturbed by the sounds of the fight, some person
+came to a nearby window with a lighted lamp.
+
+The light shone out into the alley, and fell on Frank Merriwell and one
+of the men who had saved him.
+
+"Plug Kirby!" gasped Frank, sitting up.
+
+"Dat's wot, me boy!" cried the bruiser, cheerfully. "An' I kinder t'ink
+we didn't git round any too quick neider."
+
+"You came just in time."
+
+"Be yer hurt much, youngster?" asked Kirby, anxiously, assisting Frank
+to arise.
+
+"I think not. Got a few cracks and was upset, but that is all. Where is
+the man who was with you?"
+
+"He whooped it along after der gang. Kinder t'ink he wanted ter ketch
+one of der blokes an' hold him fer der perlice ter pinch."
+
+"Who was he?"
+
+"Dunno."
+
+"What?" cried Frank, astonished--"don't know who was with you when you
+came to my aid?"
+
+"Well, I dunno his name, youngster, and that's on der level."
+
+Frank was eager to ask more questions, but Plug said:
+
+"We'd best push outer dis. Dunno wot'll happen if we stays here too
+long. Der gang might come back."
+
+So they hurried out of the alley, Frank receiving some assistance from
+Kirby, as he was rather dizzy when he tried to walk.
+
+When the street was reached no one seemed to be in the immediate
+vicinity.
+
+"Shall we wait for your friend?" asked Merriwell.
+
+"Naw," answered Plug. "He ain't likely ter come back."
+
+A short time later they were seated at a table in a nearby resort, and
+Frank was treating Kirby.
+
+Frank had examined his own injuries, and discovered they were not
+serious, although it was likely that he would be sore about the head and
+shoulders from the bruises he had received.
+
+"Now tell me," urged Frank, "who was with you when you came to my
+assistance? I am eager to know."
+
+"I tole yer dat I don't know der cove's name, but I do know dat he is
+all right an' on der level."
+
+"Well, how is that you do not know his name?"
+
+"Never asked him."
+
+"How do you happen to know him?"
+
+"Well, yer see, it was dis way: I was inter Jackson's der odder evenin'
+takin' me nightcap. Dere was some fellers in dere wot was college chaps,
+and dey was talkin' about races and t'ings. Pretty soon dey said
+somet'ing about you. Some of 'em was hard on you, an' dat got me mad up.
+I jes' waded inter der gang an' offered ter lick anybody wot didn't
+t'ink you was der clean stuff."
+
+Frank smiled a bit, realizing that he had, indeed, made a firm friend of
+this bruiser who had once tried to whip him, but had received a severe
+drubbing, instead.
+
+"Dey didn't want ter shove up against me," Kirby went on, "an' dey got
+out right away. Den a man walks up ter me, and he says I was all right,
+an' he blows me. He continues ter blow me, an' ask me questions about
+you. Arter a while, he asks me if I would fight fer you if I had der
+chance. 'Would I!' says I, jes' like dat. 'Well, old sport, show me der
+chance!' Den he says dat you has some enemies wot is plannin' ter do
+yer, an' he might be able ter give me a chance ter put in a few licks
+fer yer.
+
+"Well, dis evenin', as I was inter Jackson's, who should come in an'
+call me aside but dis same cove. He says ter me, 'Kirby'--he had found
+out me name--'Kirby,' says he, jes' like dat, 'I'm goin' ter give yer
+dat chance ter put in some licks fer Frank Merriwell.'
+
+"Den he tells me dat he were in a place an' heard a scheme ter put some
+toughs onter yer ter-night w'en yer was goin' home from der t'eeter. Dey
+had heard some feller say dat he was goin' ter invite yer ter be in er
+box wid him at der t'eeter, an' so dey knew yer was goin'.
+
+"Dat's all, 'cept dat me an' der bloke wot was wid me went ter der
+t'eeter, him payin' all expenses, an' we kept watch of yer. W'en we came
+out, you started fer him, an' he hooked it. I was s'prised, but I
+follered. Den I found dere was odders follerin', an der gang run yer in
+here. Der feller I was wid, as was in a doorway nigh der alley all der
+time, skipped back fer me, an' we jumped right down inter der alley,
+takin' some heavy canes, wot we had wid us all der time. You know wot
+happened arter dat."
+
+Frank was puzzled and mystified. He asked Plug to describe the
+mysterious man, and Kirby did so. This added to Frank's wonderment, for
+the description tallied with that of the stranger who had tried to bribe
+him to throw a ball game to Harvard; but that it could be the same man,
+even though everything indicated that it must be, Frank could not
+believe.
+
+That night, after going to bed, Frank lay awake for hours, thinking of
+the stranger and the mystery which surrounded him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+AN EMISSARY FROM THE WEST.
+
+
+Frank was determined to solve the mystery of the unknown man. He did not
+tell Rattleton everything concerning his adventure of the previous
+night, although he was forced to explain that he had been in an
+encounter, and that he did not know who his assailants were.
+
+The theatre party had wondered greatly at Frank's sudden disappearance,
+and Frank confessed that he had followed the mysterious unknown, who had
+given him the slip.
+
+"That fellow is playing the shadow on you, Frank," cried Harry,
+indignantly. "He's up to some sort of crookedness."
+
+"He must bear a charmed life, or he would have been killed the night he
+jumped from the New London special," said Frank.
+
+"He decided it was best to take chances by jumping rather than to fall
+into the hands of Old Eli's sons, and I think he was right."
+
+Creighton came around to inquire how it happened that Merriwell
+disappeared so suddenly the previous evening.
+
+Since the boat race Creighton had sought Merriwell's company, although
+he had scarcely given Frank any attention before that.
+
+Creighton was a prominent society man and had considerable influence at
+Yale; his friendship was of value to any fellow on whom he saw fit to
+bestow it.
+
+His father was rich, and Charlie spent money freely, as his whims
+dictated. Not even those with whom he was not on friendly terms,
+however, could justly accuse him of being a cad.
+
+"Awfully jolly time last night," yawned Creighton. "It was rather
+kiddish, but it is a relief to play the boy once in a while. It capped
+the whole business when the actors themselves finished the fun by giving
+the manager away in the last act."
+
+Frank smiled, but did not explain his connection with the crowning event
+of the evening.
+
+"Jove! I'm hungry," Charlie declared. "Come on, Merriwell and
+Rattleton, we'll go down to Bob's, and have a chop."
+
+He would not take no for an answer, and so, a few minutes later, the
+trio crossed the campus, Creighton in the middle, his arms locked with
+those of the other lads. All were laughing and joking in a light-hearted
+manner.
+
+Creighton took them directly to a restaurant that was famous for its
+chops. They ordered, Charlie and Harry taking ale with their food.
+
+Just as the chops were brought on, a man came in and took a seat at a
+table nearby. This man was dressed in a new suit of "store clothes," and
+wore a full beard. He gave his order to the waiter in a low tone, and
+then began perusing a paper, behind which his face was almost entirely
+hidden.
+
+Rattleton happened to sit so that he naturally looked toward the man,
+and, several times, he caught that individual peering over the top of
+the paper. It did not take Harry long to note that the person with the
+paper seemed to be watching Frank Merriwell.
+
+Suddenly Frank's roommate arose, and, with two swift steps, he was at
+the man's side. Without a word, Harry caught the gentleman by the
+beard, which he gave a sharp jerk.
+
+The beard came off in Harry's hand!
+
+It was false!
+
+"Look, Frank!" cried Rattleton, pointing at the smooth-shaven face
+exposed; "it is the mysterious man who has been following you about!"
+
+It was in truth the mysterious unknown, and Frank was on his feet in a
+twinkling, resolved not to let the man escape till he had given a full
+explanation of his remarkable conduct.
+
+To Merriwell's surprise, the stranger showed no desire to run away, but
+sat smiling serenely up at him, calmly observing:
+
+"Do not excite yourself, Mr. Merriwell; there is no reason for it. I
+have completed my business in a most satisfactory manner, and I am now
+ready to explain everything to you."
+
+"It is an explanation which I expect and demand," said Frank, coldly.
+"It is no more than fair that I should have one, as you have shown
+yourself my persistent enemy, and that without any just cause that I
+know of."
+
+"You are mistaken," returned the man; "instead of your enemy, I have
+been your firm friend from the very first."
+
+"I fail to see how you can make that out."
+
+"I will call at your rooms this evening and give you a full
+explanation."
+
+"No!" cried Frank, promptly, "you will give me an explanation here and
+immediately."
+
+"I do not think you will press me to that," was the calm assertion. "I
+might speak of affairs of a personal and family nature."
+
+"You--you speak of such affairs--to me? Now it strikes me that you are
+attempting a bluff, sir; but it will not work."
+
+The stranger reached into his pocket and took out something, which he
+held up before Frank's eyes.
+
+"This," he said, with confidence, "will convince you that I speak
+nothing but the truth."
+
+"My father's ring!" gasped Frank.
+
+"Yes," bowed the man; "it is the ring that led him to one of the richest
+mines in the Southwest. He said that it would simply be necessary for me
+to show it to you, and you would know that he sent me. Shall I call
+this evening, Mr. Merriwell?"
+
+"If you please, sir," said Frank, bowing respectfully.
+
+The boys were surprised, but Frank said he would explain some time
+later.
+
+That evening the stranger called, as he had said he would. Frank had
+taken pains to run Harry out of the room, so they were quite alone. The
+boy locked the door, as a precaution against unwelcome interruptions.
+
+The mysterious man introduced himself as David Scott, the confidential
+agent of Charles Merriwell, Frank's unfortunate father, who had spent
+the best years of his life and separated himself from his family and
+friends in the mad search after "phantom fortune."
+
+At last Charles Merriwell had "struck it rich," and he was now a very
+wealthy man; but he was broken in health, and he often feared for his
+reason. As Charles Merriwell had been eccentric and unfathomable all his
+life while poor, thus he remained now that he was rich. Of late he had
+been seized by a conviction that he could not live long, and it was his
+desire to make a will that would give almost his entire wealth to his
+son. But before he made such a will, Mr. Merriwell decided to know just
+what sort of a young man his son had become. As he did not feel like
+leaving his mine and going East to investigate, he sent his confidential
+clerk, David Scott.
+
+In his instructions to Scott, Charles Merriwell showed the peculiarities
+of his character. He provided the agent with plenty of money, and
+instructed him to thoroughly probe the inward character of the youth
+about which he was to acquire information. Scott was instructed to
+discover all of Frank's bad habits, and to determine if the lad could be
+led astray by evil influence, or in any other manner. The agent had
+carried out his instructions to his complete satisfaction, and he
+complimented the blushing boy on his integrity of character and sterling
+manhood.
+
+Scott explained how he had pretended to ally himself with Frank's foes,
+and thus had heard the plots against the boy. He had sent Frank the
+warnings, and he had secured the aid of Plug Kirby to aid him in beating
+off Merriwell's ruffianly assailants.
+
+"I scarcely think you will be troubled any more by your enemies,"
+declared Scott. "I had a session with them last night, after the failure
+of their attempt on you, and I sent the varmints scurrying for tall
+timber in a hurry. I told them that I was your friend, and not your
+enemy, and that I would come up as a witness against them if you saw fit
+to prosecute them. Then they begged me to keep still, and agreed to let
+up on you for good and all if I wouldn't chirp. I made the galoots no
+promises."
+
+For hours Frank and Scott sat and talked of Charles Merriwell, his
+health, his mine and his plans. And when the man departed, it was with a
+letter from Frank Merriwell to Charles Merriwell in his possession.
+
+The next evening Frank received a call which surprised him greatly. What
+it was the next chapter will tell.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+FRIENDS OR FOES.
+
+
+Thump--bang! thump--bang!
+
+"Open this door!"
+
+Thumpety--thump--bang! bang; bang!
+
+"Open this door, or I will dake it brown--I mean I will break it down!"
+
+Harry was excited.
+
+"Hold on a moment, can't you?" cried the laughing voice of Frank from
+within the room.
+
+Harry was pressing against the door with one hand, having rained the
+heavy blows upon it with the other hand, which was clinched in a most
+threatening manner.
+
+The door flew open with a suddenness that precipitated Rattleton into
+the room with a headlong rush and plunged him plump into the stomach of
+a young man who happened to be in the way.
+
+"Ugh!"
+
+"Wow!"
+
+Bump! bump!--both went down, clasped in each other's arms.
+
+Two other lads stood staring at the fallen ones. They were Frank
+Merriwell and Fred Flemming.
+
+Tom Thornton was the unfortunate who stood in the way of Rattleton's
+headlong rush.
+
+And Harry, quite unintentionally, had struck Thornton a smart blow with
+his clinched fist.
+
+At that moment it did look as if the excited lad had rushed into the
+room with the premeditated purpose of hitting Tom.
+
+"Here! here!--break away!" cried Merriwell, sharply.
+
+"Not much!" panted Tom, in excitement and anger. "Think I'm going to let
+him go, so he can hit me again?"
+
+"Catch hold, Flemming," ordered Frank--"catch hold of your friend, and
+we'll part them."
+
+He grasped Rattleton by the collar as he spoke, but Fred made no move to
+pull Thornton away.
+
+Seeing this, Merriwell obtained a firm hold on the collars of both Harry
+and Tom, and, with a surprising display of strength, wrenched them
+apart, yanked them to their feet, and held them at arm's length.
+
+"Steady, now!" he cried, as they seemed to betray a desire to get at
+each other. "Quit it!"
+
+"He struck me!" cried Thornton.
+
+"It was antirely excidental--no, entirely accidental," declared Harry,
+flourishing his arms.
+
+Tom dodged.
+
+"Well, you act as if you are trying to bring about another accident," he
+said. "I know you hit me intentionally, and I'll make you pay for it,
+too!"
+
+"Bah! you can't make me pay for anything!" flung back Harry, his anger
+aroused by Thornton's words.
+
+"Do you think you can run around punching fellows in this way without
+getting it back? You'll find you are mistaken!"
+
+"You were in my way when I came in."
+
+"I didn't have time to get out of your way."
+
+"Well, what's all this about anyway?" demanded Frank. "Are you fellows
+trying to settle some sort of a score?"
+
+"It looks to me," said Flemming, stiffly, "as if Mr. Rattleton took
+advantage of our presence in this room to strike Thornton."
+
+"Well, what are you chaps here for, anyway?" demanded Harry. "That is
+what I would like to know. We don't run in your class, and so----"
+
+"Hold up, old man," interrupted Merriwell, promptly. "Mr. Flemming and
+Mr. Thornton called to see me about a personal matter."
+
+"I thought so," declared Rattleton, "and I decided you would get the
+worst end of it, as they were two to your one--and the door was locked.
+If they are here to do you, count me into it. I'll take care of this
+fellow Thornton while you polish off Flemming."
+
+"We did not come here to fight," said Fred, haughtily.
+
+"Didn't?" exclaimed Harry, in surprise. "Then what sort of a game are
+you up to, for I know it is something crooked?"
+
+Flemming tossed his head.
+
+"Mr. Rattleton," he said, "your language is very offensive to me."
+
+"Had to glear it--I mean glad to hear it," shot back Rattleton, rudely.
+"I didn't want you to misunderstand me."
+
+"Mr. Merriwell," said Fred, turning to Frank, "I think we had better go.
+Our business was with you, and Mr. Rattleton seems determined to raise a
+quarrel with us. As you know, we did not come here to quarrel, and,
+regarding Mr. Rattleton as your friend, we will endeavor to overlook his
+behavior and insulting language."
+
+"But we cannot forget it," added Thornton, giving Harry a fierce look.
+"It will be remembered."
+
+"I am sure I don't want you to forget it," flung back Rattleton.
+
+"Come, Tom," urged Flemming, "we will go. Good-day, Mr. Merriwell."
+
+Frank released Thornton, who followed Flemming from the room, simply
+pausing at the door to say:
+
+"Good-by, Mr. Merriwell."
+
+"Good-by," smiled Frank.
+
+And then, when the door had closed behind them, Frank dropped into a
+chair and laughed softly but heartily.
+
+"Well, I fail to fee anything sunny about it--I mean I fail to see
+anything funny about it," growled Rattleton, prancing fiercely up and
+down the room. "If you'll tell me where the laugh comes in, I'll
+snicker, just to keep you company."
+
+"The whole thing is very funny," laughed Merriwell. "Why, you were eager
+to hammer Thornton, and the fellow was afraid you would, for all the
+bluff he put up."
+
+"It would have given me great satisfaction to thump him," confessed
+Harry; "for I know it is exactly what he deserves. What were they up to,
+anyway? That's what puzzles me. I expected to find that they had done
+you up."
+
+"Oh, nothing of the sort!"
+
+"But they were up to some crooked game--I know it. I thought they had
+fastened the door, so that they could do the job without being
+interrupted."
+
+"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Frank. "That explains why you looked as if you
+were literally thirsting for gore when you lunged into the room and
+grappled with Thornton."
+
+"Did I hit him?"
+
+"You had your fist clinched, and you may have given him a slight rap in
+your excitement."
+
+"Well, I did not give him that rap intentionally; if I had, he'd found
+something entirely different. By jingoes! I may get the chance to show
+him the difference some time!"
+
+"You'd better drop it, old man."
+
+"Eh? Drop it?"
+
+"That's what I said, Harry, and that is what I meant, my boy."
+
+"But why? I don't think I understand you. Those fellows are your
+enemies, and that makes them mine."
+
+"They have been my enemies, but we have had a peace conference."
+
+"The dickens!"
+
+"And we buried the hatchet."
+
+"Well, I didn't suppose you could be fooled so easy! I knew they were up
+to some sort of a game--I knew it."
+
+"Well, what sort of a game do you think it was?"
+
+"They're trying to fool you--trying to make you think they are ready to
+bury the hatchet, while they are still waiting to hit you behind your
+back whenever they can. That's the kind of chaps they are. They can't
+fool me, if they can you. If they can lull you into carelessness till
+their opportunity comes, they will drive the knife into you, and sink it
+deep. Don't mink I'm thisted--I mean don't think I'm twisted. I am dead
+certain of the sort of cattle I'm talking about. You will be playing
+right into their hands if you get the idea that they have let up on you
+in the least. When they get a good chance, you'll get it in the neck."
+
+"Well, Harry, you may be right; but I have reasons to believe that
+Flemming is anxious to call a truce just at present. He made a serious
+mistake when he tried to enlist David Scott against me. Scott found out
+all of Flemming's plots and secured enough evidence of the fellow's
+rascality to cause his expulsion from Yale if it were made public."
+
+"Well, it should be made public immediately."
+
+"Oh, I don't know about that! Expulsion from college might mean the ruin
+of Flemming's future."
+
+"If he keeps on, he'll do that, whether he is expelled or not."
+
+"If he does it himself, I shall not have it on my conscience. If I were
+to bring about his expulsion, and he went to the dogs, I might blame
+myself for it, thinking he would have done differently had he remained
+here. Do you catch on?"
+
+"I catch on that you are dead easy with your enemies till they force you
+to down them for good."
+
+"But when they do compel me to down them----"
+
+"I will acknowledge that you always do a good job," said Rattleton, with
+an approving grin.
+
+"Mr. Scott believed that I should be severe with Flemming and Thornton,"
+admitted Frank; "but I knew that Thornton was dragged into the business
+by Flemming, without having any real heart for what he was doing. If I
+were to expose Flemming, it would implicate Thornton, and that seemed
+too much of a retaliation. I thought the whole matter over carefully,
+and decided to give the fellows a chance. Then Mr. Scott went to them
+and nearly frightened the life out of them by saying he meant to expose
+them to the faculty. That brought them to their knees immediately."
+
+Rattleton expressed his satisfaction by a vigorous pantomime.
+
+"Finally," continued Frank, "when they had begged and promised, Mr.
+Scott agreed to let up on them if they would come to me, offer
+apologies, and give me their pledge to let me alone in the future."
+
+"And that is how they happened to be here to-day?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why was the door locked?"
+
+"I locked it to prevent any of the fellows from dropping in on us while
+we were talking the matter over."
+
+"Well, Jones told me he had seen those chaps come in here, and I decided
+they were looking for bother, so I made a hustle to get here. When I
+found the door locked, I was sure they had you in a corner, and so I
+threatened to break it down if it was not opened without delay."
+
+"And, when it was opened, you came in like a raging lion."
+
+"Well, I was ready for any scrim of a shortage--I mean any sort of a
+scrimmage."
+
+"You showed your readiness," laughed Frank. "I have the word of those
+fellows that they will let me quite alone if I drop the past."
+
+"I wouldn't believe either of them under oath!"
+
+"You are a doubter anyway. We'll wait and see what will occur."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+TALK OF A TOUR.
+
+
+There was a rap on the door, which immediately popped open, and in
+bobbed a head, thatched with carroty hair, upon which was perched a
+crumpled cap. A freckled, jolly face was wrinkled into a cheerful grin,
+and a voice that was made up of bubbles and hollows cried:
+
+"Hello, chaps! I just looked in to see if you were doing well, as the
+cook said to the lobster, when she lifted the sauce-pan lid."
+
+"Come in, Stubbs," invited Frank, promptly--"come in and make yourself
+as big a nuisance as possible."
+
+"No need to tell me to do that," piped the lad at the door, as he
+bounced into the room. "I always make myself a nuisance wherever I am.
+It is my policy."
+
+He was a little short-legged fellow, with a roly-poly body and twinkling
+eyes. Good nature bubbled out all over him. At a glance you could see he
+was the sort of chap who would try to be merry under almost any
+circumstances.
+
+This was Bink Stubbs, a lad with whom Frank and Harry had recently
+become acquainted. Frank had picked him up because of his merry ways and
+quaint sayings of the wise and humorous order.
+
+"Have you fellers got any smokers?" asked Bink, as he deposited himself
+on a chair.
+
+"No, we haven't got any smokers," answered Harry. "And the last time you
+were here, Bruce Browning said you swiped a whole package of cigarettes
+from him."
+
+Stubbs tried to look horrified, and then cried:
+
+"Well, I'll be hanged! as the picture said when it found the cord was
+tied to it."
+
+"You know neither of us smoke," said Merriwell.
+
+"I know you pretend you do not, but I don't know that you are not
+bluffing when you say so."
+
+"What's that? Do you mean to insinuate that I am lying? Why, I'll step
+on you, Stubbsie!"
+
+"In that case my days are numbered, as the calendar said to the
+blotter."
+
+There was a sound of voices outside the door, and then, with very
+little ceremony, three lads came filing into the room.
+
+There were Browning, Diamond and Griswold.
+
+"Get up, you little villain!" said Bruce, as he collared Stubbs and
+yanked him off the easy-chair. "Don't you know enough to let other folks
+have a chance to sit down, you lazy little rascal?"
+
+And then, with a sigh of relief, Bruce deposited his corpulent form on
+the chair.
+
+Stubbs bristled up, as if he meant to fight, then seemed to change his
+mind, and shook his head and remarked:
+
+"Such things are bound to a cur, as the dog said when he looked at the
+tin can that was tied to his tail."
+
+The boys were welcomed by Frank and Harry, and Merriwell said:
+
+"I'm glad you fellows dropped in. I want to find out how many of you are
+going to take that bicycle trip across the continent during the summer
+vacation."
+
+"Jeewhiskers!" grinned Danny Griswold. "Think of Bruce Browning, the
+champion lazy man at Yale, riding a bicycle across the continent. The
+exertion of riding across the campus would utterly prostrate him."
+
+"Um!" grunted Bruce. "It's singular that small things annoy one worst."
+
+"Oh, yes," returned Danny, promptly; "even a little mosquito bores me
+frightfully."
+
+"Say, Griswold," piped Stubbs, "that's a bad habit to get into."
+
+"What's a bad habit to get into?" demanded Danny, bristling up
+resentfully.
+
+"That suit of clothes you have on," said Stubbs, whimsically. "It's a
+miserable fit."
+
+"Well, you'll have a bad fit if I get after you!" exclaimed Griswold,
+hotly. "You're a base fraud and an impostor! You are trying to steal my
+thunder by reading the same comic papers that I do. If you keep this up
+you'll use up all of my original jokes."
+
+"Oh, well," said Stubbs, "cough up a cigarette and I'll let you forgive
+me. I'm dying for a whiff."
+
+Griswold hesitated, and then flung a package of cigarettes at Bink, who
+skillfully caught them, extracted one, closed the package, and tossed it
+back. A moment later the little chap had lighted the cigarette, and, as
+he deposited himself at full length on a tiger-skin rug, he puffed out a
+great whiff of smoke, and murmured:
+
+"Now I have something to blow about, as the cyclone said when it lifted
+a house and barn into the next State."
+
+"Speaking about clothes," said Browning, languidly, "did you see
+Goldstein, the tailor, to-day, Rattleton?"
+
+"Yes, I saw him," nodded Harry.
+
+"And did you tell him I said I would settle that little bill?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"That's kind of you. Did he seem convinced?"
+
+"He said he was."
+
+"Was what?"
+
+"Convinced that you lied."
+
+This provoked a laugh. When the laughing had ceased, Griswold sagely
+observed:
+
+"It is remarkable that man is the only animal that can lie standing up."
+
+"Say, you chaps," called Frank, "drop this sort of chatter, and answer
+my question. How many of you are in for spending the summer vacation in
+a bicycle trip across the continent?"
+
+"You'll have to excuse me," said Griswold, as he followed Stubbs'
+example and lighted a cigarette. "I'm going down to Bar Harbor, and play
+tennis on my vacation."
+
+"I can't endure tennis," drawled Browning.
+
+"I should say not. Too much exertion for you."
+
+"It is not that. I don't like to be around where others are playing it."
+
+"Don't? Why not?"
+
+"Because it is so noisy."
+
+"Noisy? Christmas! How do you make that out?"
+
+"Why, you can't play it without a racket," said Browning.
+
+Griswold staggered and clutched at his heart.
+
+"What papers have you been reading?" he gasped.
+
+Diamond spoke up for the first time:
+
+"I'll tell you what I'll do, Merriwell--I'll go on this bicycle trip
+across the continent, if I can secure my mother's consent?"
+
+"Will you?" cried Frank, eagerly. "Then see her as soon as possible. I
+couldn't ask for a better fellow than you. Harry thinks he can go, and
+that makes three of us. We'll do the trick, even if we can't get another
+fellow. Is it agreed?"
+
+"It is agreed if I can get my mother to agree to it," assured Jack.
+
+"Well, let's talk about another matter," said Bruce. "The tournament at
+Madison Square Garden is right upon us. Are you on for anything,
+Merriwell?"
+
+"Yes," answered Frank, "I shall take part in several contests."
+
+"How about the mile run?" questioned Diamond.
+
+"I believe Yates is in for that," said Merriwell.
+
+"That's something I want to speak to you about," drawled Bruce.
+
+Frank was rather surprised, as Browning had taken very little interest
+in athletics of late. During his early days at Yale, Bruce had been a
+pusher in athletic matters, being at that time an athlete himself, as he
+kept himself in form and held back the threatening development of flesh
+by the severest sort of training.
+
+But Bruce could not continue to resist the temptations of his appetite,
+and it became more and more difficult for him to keep in trim. As long
+as he was a freshman he had done so, but when he became a sophomore he
+gradually abandoned the struggle.
+
+Still he had remained active as a leader, and had been known at one time
+as "the King of the Sophomores." His final effort at training had been
+when he put himself in condition to meet Merriwell in a four-round
+hard-glove contest.
+
+The bout had been pronounced a draw, but Browning afterward acknowledged
+that he must have been knocked out had it continued to a finish.
+
+From that time Browning's interest in athletic matters waned.
+
+He lost ambition in that line, and he soon became so overburdened with
+flesh that nothing save a question of life or death could have induced
+him to go into training.
+
+It was not so very long before Bruce was known as the champion lazy man
+at Yale. All that he seemed to care about was to eat, drink, smoke and
+loaf. He seldom was known to "grind," and his attempts at "skinning"
+were pitiable failures.
+
+Then he was dropped a class, and, as he still stuck to Yale, he found
+himself arrayed with Merriwell and the fellows whom he at one time had
+regarded as enemies.
+
+In that class Merriwell was regarded as a leader in athletic matters,
+and Bruce seldom mentioned anything of the kind. Now, however, to
+Merriwell's surprise, he displayed sudden interest in the great
+intercollegiate tournament to be held in Madison Square Garden, New
+York, directly at the close of the spring terms.
+
+In the various contests Yale was to be represented by her best men.
+There had been some uncertainty concerning the one who would wear Yale's
+colors in the mile run, but the belief grew that Duncan Yates, a junior,
+would be the one finally settled on by the committee in charge of the
+matter.
+
+"Why don't you go into that race, Browning, old sylph?" grinned Danny
+Griswold. "You would astonish the public."
+
+"Some time I'll sit on you, runtie," growled Bruce.
+
+Stubbs remarked:
+
+"That will settle it, as the sugar observed when the egg dropped into
+the coffee."
+
+Rattleton threw a slipper at Bink, who grunted as it struck him in the
+ribs, but serenely continued to smoke, his mottled face wrinkled into a
+quaint grimace.
+
+"What is it that you want to say about the mile race, Browning?" asked
+Frank, his curiosity aroused.
+
+"I want to say that I do not believe Yates is the proper man to
+represent Old Eli."
+
+"He is fast, and he has a record."
+
+"It's no use to talk about his record."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Orton, of U. P., lays over him, and this will be a case of Yale against
+the field. Better men than Orton may show up."
+
+"Yates may break his own record."
+
+"That word 'may' is all right, but it can be applied both ways. He may
+not."
+
+"There's Van Tassle," said Diamond. "He claims to be a record-breaker."
+
+"A record-breaker!" sniffed Griswold. "Why, that fellow couldn't break
+an egg!"
+
+"That's right," nodded Rattleton. "He breaks records with his mouth.
+Don't talk about him."
+
+"Well, there are others," laughed Frank.
+
+"Name a few of them," invited Browning, with more animation than he had
+displayed for some time.
+
+"There's Hickson."
+
+"He's stiff in the joints, as you know."
+
+"Walter Gordan."
+
+"He's no stayer. That fellow can run, but he has not the sand to make
+himself a winner."
+
+"He thinks himself the biggest thing on ice," said Rattleton.
+
+"By the way," broke in Griswold, "what is the biggest thing on ice?"
+
+"The profit," promptly answered Stubbs, and then he made a scramble to
+get out of Griswold's way.
+
+"It's no use, I can't shine when that chap is around!" exclaimed Danny,
+with attempted seriousness. "He has an answer for all my conundrums."
+
+"That makes me think of one for you," piped Bink, who was now perched on
+the back of a high chair, like a monkey. "Why is a duel a quick affair?"
+
+"Answer it yourself. I'll never tell."
+
+"Well, a duel is a quick affair because it takes only two seconds to
+arrange it."
+
+"There won't be a duel in this case," grunted Browning; "but there'll
+be a cold-blooded murder if you kids keep on. I'll assassinate you
+both!"
+
+Frank laughed.
+
+"Oh, let them go it, Bruce," he said. "It seems to amuse them, and it
+doesn't harm anybody else."
+
+"I think Browning is right about Yates," declared Diamond. "He is not
+the proper man to represent Yale in that race."
+
+"Whom would you suggest?" asked Frank.
+
+"Frank Merriwell, by all means."
+
+"Now that is folly!" said Merriwell, seriously.
+
+"I fail to see why it is folly," cried Browning. "You are the man I have
+had in my mind all along."
+
+"But I have no record."
+
+"To the winds with your records! What we want is a man who can run.
+He'll make a record."
+
+"Why do you think I can run?"
+
+"I have seen you run, and I have heard the fellows tell about your
+speed. That is enough in your case."
+
+Frank shook his head.
+
+"It is not enough," he contradicted. "I know I have a record as a base
+runner in a ball game, but the best base runners are not always able to
+make good showings in races. Besides that, base running is dash work,
+and this is a case of running a mile. There is a vast difference."
+
+"That's all right," spluttered Harry, quickly. "You can mun a rile--I
+mean run a mile with the best of 'em. I've seen you on a long run."
+
+"When was that?"
+
+"When we had that turkey chase. You led us all, and it didn't bother you
+a bit. Then, after you made the run out into the country and back,
+Pierson got after you before you could get to our rooms. You ran away
+from him, and held on to the turkey. That settled in Pierson's mind that
+you could hustle along all right, and it had something to do with his
+giving you a place for a trial on the ball team."
+
+"That is true," Frank was forced to confess.
+
+"Have you ever been in any races?" asked Diamond.
+
+"Oh, I took part in some races when I was at Fardale Academy."
+
+"What did you do in them?"
+
+"I believe I won, but you must remember that I had no such rivals to go
+against as will be found at the tournament."
+
+"And you were in no such condition as you are now. Is that right?"
+
+Frank was forced to confess that it was. Then Browning tried to pin
+Frank down and make him answer the question whether he did not have
+confidence enough in himself to believe he could race Duncan Yates for a
+mile.
+
+"Of course I could race him," smiled Frank, "but the matter of winning
+is another question."
+
+"Well, I believe you are the man to run for Yale in that race," said
+Browning; "and I am going to use my influence to see that you, and not
+Yates, are entered. That is settled, and it is no use for you to make
+any objections."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+A HOT RUN.
+
+
+Soon it became evident that Bruce Browning had not lost his old-time
+push entirely. When there was something to arouse him, he could bestir
+himself and get to work in a marvelous manner, as long as it was not
+necessary for him to again go into training.
+
+Browning knew Paul Pierson, who was one of the committee of arrangements
+for the coming tournament, and he knew that Pierson was well aware of
+Frank Merriwell's general ability. Bruce had heard Pierson express a
+belief that Merriwell was one of the persons who, by sheer determination
+and sand, as well as ability, was bound to win in almost everything he
+attempted.
+
+Bruce went to Pierson immediately after leaving Merriwell's room.
+Pierson was one of the sort who seldom said much, and Browning left him
+without knowing whether he had made an impression or not.
+
+Late that afternoon, however, Pierson accidentally met Frank, who was
+crossing the campus.
+
+"I say, Merriwell," said Paul, in his abrupt manner, "can you run?"
+
+"Some," answered Frank, sententiously.
+
+"Hum!" grunted Pierson.
+
+Then he looked Frank all over, as if he had never seen him before and
+was taking his physical measure.
+
+"You keep yourself in the very best condition all the time, I see," he
+finally observed.
+
+"Well I seldom do anything to abuse myself."
+
+"Are you in training for a race?"
+
+"Not exactly."
+
+"How long would it take for you to put yourself in condition?"
+
+"Possibly a week."
+
+"What are you good for--a short dash, or a long run?"
+
+"I think I can do either fairly well."
+
+"Fairly well does not go at Yale, as you know, Merriwell. You must do
+things exceptionally well. You are altogether too modest. If something
+had not brought you out, nobody could have known you could do anything
+at all. You have been pushed in various ways by others, but you fail to
+push yourself."
+
+"Oh, I do not go about blowing my own horn," said Frank, smiling.
+
+"You will find you'll have to blow your own horn when you go into
+business, or my brother is a liar. He keeps hammering at me that the man
+who does not blow his horn is the fellow who gets left. To a large
+extent, it is that way here at Yale. The fellow who keeps still and sits
+back gets left. That's my sermon. I'm not going to say any more now. Get
+into training for a long run. I'll come round at nine this evening and
+go you a sprint of a mile or two, just to see how you show up."
+
+That was all. Pierson turned and sauntered away, without another word.
+
+Frank whistled softly, and smiled.
+
+"This is Browning's work," he muttered. "Pierson takes things for
+granted. How does he know I will take any part in a race? He does not
+ask if I will, but he tells me to go to work and get into shape. He is
+coming round to-night to see how I show up. All right."
+
+At ten minutes of nine that evening, Paul Pierson rapped on the door of
+Merriwell's room, and was invited to walk in. He was in a rig for
+running, and he immediately said:
+
+"Come, come! get out of those duds, Merriwell. You are to run with me
+to-night."
+
+"How far?"
+
+"From one to five miles, as I take a fancy."
+
+"Oh, well, I won't change my clothes for a little thing like that," said
+Frank, carelessly.
+
+"You'd better," declared Paul. "I'm going to give you a hustle, and
+you'll find you can keep up better if you are in a suitable rig."
+
+"I'll take the chances of keeping just as I am."
+
+Pierson's teeth came together with a click. He did not like that,
+although he tried not to show it.
+
+"The fellow thinks he can outrun me on a long pull, as he happened to do
+so for a short distance once on a time," he thought. "I'll see if I can
+fool him."
+
+Pierson considered himself an excellent long-distance runner, although
+he seldom took part in races, realizing that, good though he was, there
+were still better men.
+
+Frank had on a loose thin shirt, and a light-weight suit of clothes. He
+caught up a cap, and announced that he was ready to go with Paul.
+
+They went out, and soon were crossing the campus. Having arrived at a
+point quite outside the college grounds, Paul paused and said:
+
+"We will start from here and make a run out into the country. I will set
+the pace going out, but when we turn to come back, it will be a case of
+the best man gets home first. The termination of the run will be your
+room."
+
+"That is satisfactory," nodded Frank.
+
+Far away a band of jolly students were singing "Stars of the Summer
+Night," their melodious voices making sweet music beneath the great
+elms. The soft breath of June came across the campus, seeming to gently
+bear the words of the beautiful song to their ears.
+
+"Are you ready?" asked Pierson, sharply.
+
+"All ready."
+
+"Then here we go."
+
+They were off, shoulder to shoulder.
+
+Although Frank had not seemed to prepare for the run, he had put on his
+running shoes, feeling that he might absolutely need them.
+
+Along the streets of New Haven they went, attracting but little
+attention, as it was not an uncommon sight at that season to see some of
+the college lads taking a night run in that manner.
+
+They passed a group of fellows who were standing beneath a street light
+near a corner.
+
+"Here!" softly exclaimed one of the group; "who are these chaps?"
+
+The entire party turned to take a look at the runners.
+
+"It's Pierson----"
+
+"And Merriwell!"
+
+"What did I tell you, Yates!" exclaimed Fred Flemming, a ring of
+satisfaction in his voice.
+
+"Well, may I be kicked!" growled Duncan Yates, as he started after the
+two lads, who had passed and were scudding along the street at a steady
+trot.
+
+"Flem seldom makes a mistake," murmured Tom Thornton.
+
+"But Merriwell is not in his rig," said Andy Emery, the fourth one of
+the group.
+
+"That doesn't make any difference," declared Flemming. "He is taking a
+run with Pierson, and that proves what I told Yates. You all know how
+that chap undermined me on the crew. I don't say that he can't row, mind
+you--I do not claim that I could have done any better than he did; but I
+do claim that he is full of such sneaking underhand tricks, and I knew
+he was trying for something when I saw him stop Pierson on the campus
+to-day."
+
+Yates was silent, staring along the street, down which the two runners
+had disappeared.
+
+"Come, old man!" cried Flemming, slapping Yates on the back, "let's go
+into Morey's and sit down, where we can have a drink and talk this
+matter over."
+
+Duncan shook his head.
+
+"I won't go in there," he said.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I am in training, you know, and somebody would see me drinking there.
+That would kick up some talk."
+
+"Well, will you go anywhere?"
+
+"Yes, I'll go somewhere that we can sit down in a quiet room, where
+there is no chance that fellows who know me will drop in. I feel just
+like having something."
+
+"I know the very place," declared Flemming. "Come on."
+
+Then the quartet moved away, Flemming leading.
+
+In the meantime Merriwell and Pierson had continued on their way. As had
+been agreed, Pierson set the pace. At first he ran along at a gentle
+trot, but by the time the outskirts of New Haven were reached he had
+begun to increase his speed.
+
+"Now," he thought, "I'll put Merriwell to the test, and I do not fancy
+he will be in condition to make a very hot run on the return."
+
+Faster and faster went Paul, and still the lad at his side kept there
+with apparent ease. With their clinched hands held close to their
+breasts and their heads thrown back, they ran on and on.
+
+There was a slice of a moon in the western sky, shedding a thin white
+light over the world. From far to the south came the shrill whistle of a
+locomotive, cutting through the air like a keen knife.
+
+The road which Pierson had selected was one over which there was
+considerable travel, and it was in very fair condition.
+
+Without appearing to do so, Paul slyly kept watch of Merriwell, wishing
+to see just how Frank stood the strain. He was forced to acknowledge
+that, for a time at least, Merriwell was standing it very well.
+
+"Oh, he is endeavoring to show me how easy he can do it!" mentally
+exclaimed Paul. "Wait--wait a bit! I think I will give him a hot push
+for a bit."
+
+Faster and faster ran Pierson, and soon he was rather gratified to hear
+Frank beginning to breathe heavily. Yes, although Paul had hoped that
+Merriwell would show up well, he did feel a momentary sense of
+satisfaction when it seemed that he was making the pace a hot one for
+his companion.
+
+Then Frank began to lag. He did not fall far behind Paul, and still he
+seemed unable to keep his place at Pierson's side.
+
+"I won't do a thing to him coming back!" decided Paul. "Browning was
+dead wrong. The fellow is capable of short dashes, but he is not the man
+for a long run. I am rather sorry."
+
+At last, he decided that they had gone far enough into the country, and
+so he turned about, without stopping, calling to Frank:
+
+"Now for the hustle into town, and let's see what you are made of, my
+boy. I am going to run away from you as if you were standing still."
+
+"I wouldn't do that!" flung back Merriwell, as he wheeled about.
+
+Somehow it seemed to Paul that there was a touch of sarcasm in the way
+Frank uttered the words. That aroused the committeeman still more, and
+he retorted:
+
+"No, you wouldn't do it, because you couldn't; but I am going to."
+
+"All right," laughed Frank. "I don't suppose there is any danger that
+somebody will steal me for my beauty if you leave me alone out here in
+the country. Go ahead and run away from me."
+
+"Good-by."
+
+"Good-by."
+
+Then Pierson did run. He skimmed over the ground in a wonderful manner,
+but the sound of running feet clung close behind him, and, when he
+glanced over his shoulder, Merriwell was still there.
+
+"Hanged if he doesn't hold on well!" mentally exclaimed Paul.
+
+Then, as he glanced around, it began to seem that Merriwell was running
+with still greater ease than he had at any previous time. Somehow it
+appeared as if he was keeping close behind Pierson without any
+particular effort.
+
+"You're doing well," Paul finally flung over his shoulder. "Can you keep
+it up?"
+
+"I think so," was the half-laughing answer. "I am holding myself in so
+that I can make an attempt to follow you a short distance when you get
+ready to run away from me."
+
+"Great smoke!" thought Paul. "Is he guying me? or does he fancy I have
+not been doing my best?"
+
+After a little, he confessed:
+
+"I am beginning to think that won't be an easy trick, Merriwell. You
+will not be far behind when we reach your room."
+
+At this, Frank suddenly came up beside Paul.
+
+"Judging by the way you talk, you are somewhat out of wind," he said.
+
+"Not at all," declared Pierson.
+
+"Then I presume you are in condition for a little dash?"
+
+"Oh, of course! But you may beat yourself out if you crowd yourself too
+hard."
+
+"Think so?"
+
+"Sure. Better not."
+
+"Oh, I think I'll chance it. Come on, old man, let's tear up some dust."
+
+Then Frank spurted.
+
+Pierson set his teeth and made a desperate effort to keep up, but,
+despite his determination not to fall behind, he found that Merriwell
+was steadily and surely drawing away.
+
+"Come on," called Frank, in a rather tantalizing manner. "It can't be
+that you are going to let me run away from you?"
+
+Paul did not answer.
+
+"What's the matter?" called Frank again. "Are you ill?"
+
+Still no answer.
+
+"Well, you are not sociable at all," laughed the lad in advance,
+tauntingly. "I don't seem to like your company, and so I think I will
+move along. Good-by."
+
+With that, Pierson could see that the tantalizing fellow actually made
+an increase of speed.
+
+"Confound him!" grated Paul. "I believe he was fooling me all along when
+he seemed to be having a hard time to keep up. All that panting and
+heavy breathing was put on."
+
+It was decidedly humiliating to be "jollied" in such a manner; but Paul
+found he could not hold his own with Frank, and he finally gave up the
+struggle. Still he continued to run on, thinking that the lad ahead
+would use up his wind by such a burst of speed, and believing there was
+a possibility of overtaking Merriwell before South Middle was reached.
+
+This did not happen, however, and when Paul burst into Frank's room, he
+found Rattleton there, listening to a funny story that Merriwell was
+telling.
+
+And Merriwell? He had his feet resting comfortably on the top of a
+table, while he lay back in an easy-chair, looking remarkably cool, as
+if he had not lately made a run of several miles.
+
+More than that, he had changed his clothes, as the suit he had on was
+not the same he had worn during the run!
+
+Paul staggered in, and dropped limply on the couch, staring at Frank, as
+if he saw a ghost.
+
+"Look--here--Merriwell," he panted, "what--are--you--made--of?
+Are--you--run--by--steam?"
+
+"Oh, no!" laughed Frank. "I beg your pardon for leaving you in such a
+manner, but you know you had become so very unsociable that I had to
+do----"
+
+Pierson made a weak gesture, and interrupted with:
+
+"Don't apologize for that--it was the agreement that one should run away
+from the other, if possible, on the way back. You had a right to do it."
+
+"What is all this about?" asked Rattleton, in a mystified manner. "What
+have you fellows been doing?"
+
+"Don't you know?" cried Paul, amazed.
+
+"No, I don't know," declared Rattleton. "Frank walked into the room a
+short time ago, went into his bedroom, took a sponge bath and changed
+his clothes, and we have been telling stories since then."
+
+"Took a sponge bath?" shouted Pierson, popping bolt upright.
+"Jerusalem. You talk as if he had been here half an hour! I will admit
+that this beats anything I ever experienced!"
+
+Then he flopped down on the couch again, as if utterly overcome.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+AN INCENTIVE TO WIN.
+
+
+Paul Pierson had made a discovery that night, and, before he left, he
+told Frank Merriwell to put himself into condition to enter one of the
+races at the Madison Square Garden tournament in New York.
+
+"You seem to be in pretty good condition now," he said, with a grim
+smile; "but you know whether you can improve your condition or not. If
+you can, do it, for you are liable to be pitted against men who will
+give you a decidedly hotter time than you have ever struck."
+
+"All right," said Frank, quietly. "You'll find that I shall be in shape,
+and I'll do my best to be a credit to Old Yale."
+
+"You have been a credit to Yale ever since the day you entered college,"
+said Pierson, sincerely. "To-night has settled one thing in my mind. I
+believe you are a wonder in almost anything in the way of athletics."
+
+"Oh, not a wonder!" said Frank. "But you can be sure that I am bound to
+do my level best in anything I attempt."
+
+"I know it! I am not sure I'll be able to get you on, but I am going to
+try to run you into the one-mile race. We have some men for the shorter
+dashes, but do not seem to have but one man besides yourself who can be
+considered for the mile run. He has been in training for some time, and
+the committee had nearly decided on him. Now I am satisfied that you are
+the better man, but I'll have to satisfy the others."
+
+"I want you to bear witness that I have not worked to fill the place of
+any other fellow."
+
+"It might be better for Yale if you would work for such things," growled
+Pierson. "You will not find other fellows holding back. If any chap is
+capable of filling your place at anything, you may be sure he will fill
+it, and he'll never stop to consider your feelings about the matter."
+
+"That is rust jite--I mean just right!" cried Rattleton, approvingly.
+
+"Well, I am going to my rooms and take a rub down," said Paul.
+"Good-night, fellows."
+
+"Good-night, Mr. Pierson."
+
+When the door had closed behind Paul, Rattleton executed a grotesque
+dance on the carpet.
+
+"Whoop!" he softly cried. "Didn't I knock him silly when I pretended not
+to know anything about the run this evening! Oh, wheejiz--er, jeewhiz!
+he nearly fainted when I told him you calmly walked into the room, took
+a sponge bath, put on another suit, and then we had been telling
+stories."
+
+"You rascal!" cried Frank, laughing and giving Harry a shake. "That was
+all your own work. I didn't know you were thinking of running such a
+bluff on him."
+
+"Never thought of it myself till he came in," chuckled Harry. "Between
+us we managed to get you out of your other clothes, give you a quick
+rub, and jump you into a fresh suit before Pierson showed up."
+
+"It has been a very enjoyable evening," smiled Frank, as he again
+deposited himself on the easy-chair. "If I had planned to have sport
+with Pierson, I could not have worked it better. You should have heard
+me panting and puffing along behind him on our way out! You should have
+heard him bidding me good-by when we started to come back! And then you
+should have heard me asking him if he was ill when I got ready to leave
+him!"
+
+Harry laughed in the heartiest manner, as his imagination supplied the
+picture.
+
+"It is too good!" he cried. "And you will go into the mile run sure!
+Browning caused Pierson to tackle you."
+
+"It seems that I have done pretty well in athletic matters this spring,"
+said Frank, "and I was rather indifferent concerning the matter of
+taking any prominent part in the tournament at Madison Square. However,
+if I can do anything to uphold the standard of Old Eli, I want to do my
+best."
+
+"Frank, if you run in that race, you will win," came soberly from
+Harry's lips. "I shall stake every dollar I can rake on you. If you do
+win, I'll have enough cash to take me through the summer vacation we
+have planned."
+
+The door had been softly opened, and the most of Rattleton's speech was
+overheard by a third person, who now exclaimed:
+
+"And I'm going to bank my cash on you, Merriwell! If you win,
+I'll--I'll--why, hang me! I'll make that trip across the continent with
+you!"
+
+It was Bruce Browning, who advanced into the room.
+
+"Are you in earnest about that, Bruce?" asked Frank.
+
+"You bet I am in earnest!" was the assurance.
+
+"You will try to pump a bicycle from New York to San Francisco?"
+
+"Try it! Confound it! I tell you I'll do it if you win the mile run for
+Old Yale!"
+
+"Then," said Frank, "I have a double object to work for, and I am going
+to win if it is in my body to do so!"
+
+Rattleton was astonished to see Browning show so much animation.
+
+"Why, you actually appear like your old self!" he exclaimed.
+
+Bruce sat down.
+
+"Tell me about it," he invited, speaking to Frank. "Some of the fellows
+said they saw you and Pierson chasing yourselves, and I caught what
+Rattleton was saying just as I came in."
+
+Frank told Bruce all about the night run, and a lazy smile spread over
+the fat lad's round face as he listened.
+
+"That's one on Pierson!" he exclaimed. "He thinks he is unequalled when
+it comes to a long-distance run, and I'll wager something that you have
+fixed him so he will fight to get you into that race. I can see him
+bidding you farewell! Ha! ha! ha! And then I can see him when you took
+your turn! Ha! ha! ha!"
+
+Bruce laughed in a hearty manner, and, for some time they talked over
+the events of the evening.
+
+"What sort of a fellow is Yates?" asked Frank. "I've never met him to
+have a talk with him."
+
+"Oh, he isn't half bad," answered Bruce, in a somewhat noncommittal
+manner.
+
+"I presume he will feel injured if I am chosen to run, instead of him?"
+
+"What if he does? That's none of your business."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+THE RUN TO THE STATION.
+
+
+The final ball game of the series between Harvard and Yale was to take
+place at Springfield. The day of the game arrived, and there was an
+exodus from Yale.
+
+There was a rush for the last train by which the college lads could
+reach Springfield in time to witness the whole of the game.
+
+On their way to the station, Frank and Harry fell in with Jack Diamond
+and Danny Griswold.
+
+"We've got to hurry," said Diamond, glancing at his watch. "There is no
+time to waste if we want to catch the train."
+
+They soon overtook Flemming, Emery and Yates. These fellows were in the
+company of several other lads, among whom were two of the committee of
+arrangements for the tournament.
+
+"You fellows seem to be in a great rush," one of the party called to
+Frank and his friends.
+
+"You had better rush a little, if you want to catch the train," flung
+back Griswold.
+
+"Ah!" said Andy Emery, with an undisguised sneer; "it's Merriwell and
+his trainers. They are putting him in condition to beat the field in
+that race he expects to enter."
+
+"Go him to the station, Yates!" exclaimed one of the lads accompanying
+Duncan. "Just show him he doesn't know how to run."
+
+"Yah!" flung back Griswold, quick as a flash. "Yates knows better than
+to try that. Where would he be when Merriwell reached the station?"
+
+"Buying his ticket inside," sneered Emery, in return.
+
+That aroused Jack Diamond, who flushed hotly and turned on Andy.
+
+"I'll go you ten even that Merriwell beats Yates to the station
+platform," he flashed, producing a roll of bills. "This is business!
+Take me if you have the nerve!"
+
+"Oh, I'll take you!" cried Emery; "and, when the business is over, I'll
+take your money, too."
+
+He promptly produced a ten-dollar bill, and the money was quickly
+thrust into the hands of a stakeholder, who was chosen by mutual
+agreement.
+
+"It strikes me you men are pretty swift," said Yates, in a manner that
+showed his disapproval. "How do you know I will run?"
+
+"'Sh!" warned Flemming. "You'll have to run now, or they'll say you were
+afraid to go against Merriwell."
+
+It was plain that Yates did not feel at all pleased by the situation,
+but he said:
+
+"If I must run, I will, and I'll beat the fellow, but I don't care about
+getting into a sweat just now."
+
+"Never mind that," said Emery, in Yates' ear. "If you beat Merriwell to
+the station, it is pretty sure that you spoil his show for getting into
+the mile run. This is your chance to do that little job, so don't let it
+slip."
+
+Frank had said very little. It was not easy to tell if he felt satisfied
+or displeased over the situation.
+
+The party turned a corner, and came in view of the station.
+
+"Here is a good starting point," said Emery. "Does it satisfy you,
+Diamond?"
+
+"Perfectly," bowed Jack.
+
+"Then that's all right. Are you going to run, fellows?"
+
+"I leave that entirely to Mr. Yates," said Frank, quietly.
+
+"Oh, I'll go you--and I'll do you!" exclaimed Yates, as he tore off both
+coat and vest and flung them at Flemming, who caught them.
+
+That started Rattleton, who excitedly cried:
+
+"I'll tet you ben dollars--I mean I'll bet you ten dollars you don't do
+it!"
+
+Yates paid no attention to this, but Flemming said:
+
+"I'll have to go you, Rattleton. Put up the tenner."
+
+The money was quickly posted, and then the rivals stood side by side,
+with their coats and vests removed, ready for the word.
+
+Merriwell seemed quiet and indifferent, as if it were an event of no
+particular moment; while on Yates' face there was a look that plainly
+showed he was determined to settle all dispute by winning the dash to
+the station.
+
+One of the committee had been chosen to give the word, and he stepped
+out, sharply calling:
+
+"Ready!"
+
+The lads leaned forward over the scratch in the dirt, which had been
+drawn by somebody's heel.
+
+"Go!"
+
+Away shot the rivals like leaping fawns. They seemed like two foxes, and
+the crowd of lads who broke away in pursuit resembled a pack of hounds.
+
+It was a hot dash, and, for some time, the boys were running side by
+side, neither seeming to have an advantage.
+
+"Wait a bit," panted Emery, at Diamond's side; "you'll soon see Yates
+spurt and leave Merriwell."
+
+"What do you think Merriwell will be doing while Yates is spurting?"
+asked Jack, sarcastically.
+
+"He'll seem to be standing still."
+
+"Will he? Wait and see!"
+
+The rivals were drawing near the station, and still it seemed that they
+were keeping side by side.
+
+"Now they are spurting!"
+
+Yes, they were spurting for the finish, but, to the amazement of Yates'
+friends, a single bound had seemed to carry Frank Merriwell two yards in
+advance of the other runner, and this advantage Merriwell maintained.
+
+In another moment the station would be reached, and the race must end.
+Seeing this, Andy Emery was bitterly grinding out an exclamation of rage
+and disgust.
+
+Suddenly Yates seemed to trip and fall heavily. He tried to spring up,
+but seemed to be hurt, and he was struggling to rise when Flemming
+reached the spot and lifted him to his feet.
+
+"Are you hurt?" asked several, as they gathered around Duncan.
+
+"Not much," he answered, rather thickly; "but I lost the dash by that
+fall."
+
+"Rats!" muttered Harry Rattleton. "He had lost it before he fell."
+
+"I was ready to make the final spurt, which would have carried me ahead
+of Merriwell at the finish," declared Yates.
+
+"Oh, it is a case of beastly luck!" growled Andy Emery. "It is the way
+everything turns in Merriwell's favor. He never wins except it is by
+cold luck."
+
+"Oh, come off!" chirped Danny Griswold. "You're sore, that's all ails
+you!"
+
+"Shut up, or I'll wring your neck!"
+
+"You can't catch me, you know," taunted the little fellow, as he skipped
+out of reach.
+
+On the station platform Merriwell was quietly waiting the arrival of the
+others, fanning himself with his handkerchief.
+
+It happened that Bruce Browning was at the station, and he had seen the
+race between the rivals. In his ponderous manner, he hurried to
+congratulate Frank.
+
+"Yates was a fool to try it!" declared Bruce, his round face seeming to
+expand into one broad grin. "He might have known what would happen. I
+see Crockett and Gibbs, two of the committee, with the fellows. They
+witnessed the whole business, and it must have settled matters in their
+minds."
+
+"I wish Yates had not fallen," said Frank, with regret.
+
+"He did not fall accidentally, and you can bet your greasy coin on that!
+It was plain enough."
+
+"Then you think--just what?"
+
+"That he saw he was beaten, and fell so that he might make a claim that
+you outran him by accident."
+
+"I had the lead."
+
+"Yes, and he could not have recovered and overtaken you in a week! But
+that makes no difference. Allee samee, I rather fancy Yates will not
+fool anybody very much."
+
+The knot of fellows now approached the station, where there was a great
+throng of Yale lads who had seen the race.
+
+Yates was very pale, but there was a burning light in his eyes. He
+advanced straight to Frank, and distinctly said:
+
+"Mr. Merriwell, you beat me this time through an accident; but I will
+run you again, and I'll win."
+
+Frank bowed with the utmost courtesy.
+
+"Mr. Yates," he said, "you will find me willing and ready to run with
+you any time."
+
+"Whoopee!" squealed Danny Griswold, turning a handspring. "That's
+business straight from headquarters!"
+
+"Here comes the train!" was the cry.
+
+Then there was a scramble for tickets and for seats on the train.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+ENEMIES AT WORK.
+
+
+It happened that Merriwell and his friends entered the smoker. They
+found Bink Stubbs curled up in a corner, puffing away at a cigarette.
+
+"You seem to be well fixed, Stubbs," said Frank.
+
+And the little fellow cheerfully returned:
+
+"Oh, I've got a snap, as the bear said when he stepped into the steel
+trap."
+
+Then room was made for a jolly little party in the corner, and all the
+fellows who smoked lighted up cigarettes or cigars.
+
+"I've got ten more to put on the game to-day," cried Rattleton,
+gleefully. "And I took it out of Flemming. That is what pleases me the
+most."
+
+Jack Diamond smiled.
+
+"It pleases me to say that I pulled a sawbuck out of Emery," he said.
+"He squirmed a little, but it was too late to squeal."
+
+"We'll all come back with our clothes stuffed with money," declared
+Browning. "Yale is sure to win to-day, and that will put lots of fellows
+on their feet. Some of the boys have soaked everything they could rake
+together to get money to put on the game, for Heffiner's arm is in great
+form, and he says he will make monkeys of the Harvard Willies."
+
+"Speaking about hocking things," said Bandy Robinson, "I let my unc.
+have a dozen white shirts, among other things. If Yale doesn't win, I
+won't have a shirt to my name."
+
+"That's nothing," declared Ben Halliday, nonchalantly, as he blew out a
+big whiff of smoke. "I've soaked my entire wardrobe, save what I have on
+my back. But Willis Paulding did the slickest trick to raise the wind."
+
+"Paulding?" cried Diamond. "I'd never dreamed he could do anything very
+smooth."
+
+"He did, just the same. Last year, when Merry pitched the deciding game
+of the series, Paulding felt sure Harvard would win, and he stuck on 'em
+every last rag of money he could rake and scrape. Well, Yale won, and
+Willis was busted. He was forced to tell his old man the whole truth
+before he could get money enough to let him out of New Haven for the
+summer. More than that, the old man has taken precautions to prevent
+Willis from having any money to waste in betting this year. He has all
+of Willis' bills sent to him to settle, and keeps his son horribly short
+of filthy. Just as hard, Willis found out that the governor had told his
+tailor to make the boy all the clothes he wanted. That was enough.
+Willis ordered six suits at fifty dollars each, and he soaked every one
+of them at ten each as soon as he got them. So you see Paulding is
+provided with plenty of coin for this little racket, and he says he is
+going to put every red he has on Old Yale. Last year cured him of
+betting against his own colors."
+
+"If Willis thought of that scheme himself, he has more brains in his
+head than I fancied," smiled Diamond.
+
+"Tell you how I made a strike," chirped Danny Griswold. "You know I've
+been writing a few things and giving them away to the papers. Well, the
+governor heard of it, and he decided I was making a fool of myself, so
+he sat down and fired a shot at me. He called my attention to the fact
+that Johnson said the man who writes for anything but money is a fool.
+This is the way I answered: 'Dear Gov: I observe you say some chap by
+the name of Johnson says the man who writes for anything but money is a
+fool. I quite agree with Mr. Johnson. Please send me one hundred
+dollars.' That must have hit the old boy about right, for he sent me
+fifty."
+
+Danny ended with a gleeful chuckle, and the listening lads laughed.
+
+"That's pretty good--for you," nodded Bink Stubbs; "but speaking about
+clothes reminds me that I had a little lunch in a restaurant last
+evening, and I found a button in the salad. I called the waiter's
+attention to it, and he calmly said, 'That's all right, sir; it's part
+of the dressing.'"
+
+"Now he has broken loose!" cried Danny Griswold. "There is no telling
+what sort of a rusty old gag he'll try to spring. If we only had a few
+stale eggs for him!"
+
+Bink grinned, as he observed:
+
+"There's nothing like poached eggs, as the nigger said when he robbed
+the hencoop."
+
+Diamond proposed a song, and soon the boys were at it. When they had
+finished one song, Browning soberly observed:
+
+"It seems to me that there is one song which would be particularly
+appropriate for this season when all of us are soaking something in
+order to raise the wind."
+
+"What is it?" shouted several voices.
+
+"Solomon Levi."
+
+In another moment the merry lads were shouting:
+
+    "My name is Solomon Levi, my store's on Salem Street;
+    That's where you buy your coats and vests and everything that's neat.
+    I've second-handed ulsterettes, and everything that's fine,
+    For all the boys they trade with me at a hundred and forty-nine.
+
+    CHORUS:
+    "Oh, Solomon Levi! tra, la, la, la!
+    Poor Sheeny Levi! tra, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
+
+    "And if a bummer comes along to my store on Salem Street
+    And tries to hang me up for coats and vests so very neat,
+    I kick that bummer right out of my store, and on him sets my pup,
+    For I won't sell clothing to any man who tries to hang me up."
+
+Thus the rollicking lads spent the time as the train rolled along
+bearing them to witness the great ball game of the season with Harvard.
+
+Again and again Frank Merriwell's friends expressed regret because his
+hand, on which there had been a felon, prevented him from taking part in
+the game. They could not forget that he had pitched the deciding game
+between Yale and Harvard the previous year, and had won it.
+
+Frank had also done some good work during the present season, and
+sporting papers all over the country had declared that he was one of the
+very best college "twirlers."
+
+This, however, was Hugh Heffiner's last year at Yale, and, without
+doubt, the coming game was the last he would ever pitch for "Old Eli."
+
+Until Merriwell appeared, Heffiner had been Yale's mainstay in the box,
+and his admirers declared that it was pretty sure that a long time would
+elapse before he would have a worthy successor.
+
+But Heffiner was overworked, and he came near throwing his arm out. As
+it was, he strained his arm so that he was utterly unable to pitch at
+all.
+
+Then it was that it was found necessary to find somebody to assist the
+"change pitcher," Dad Hicks, in his work.
+
+Hicks was good for four or five innings, but he was unable to keep up
+the strain through an entire game.
+
+Paul Pierson, captain and manager of the Yale nine, had seen Merriwell
+do some pitching for the freshmen, and he resolved to give Frank a
+trial.
+
+Pierson's judgment was not at fault, and Merriwell quickly proved that
+he was worthy to become Heffiner's successor.
+
+Of course there was much regret because Frank could not be on the bench,
+at least, ready to go into the game if needed; but all seemed to feel
+confident that Heffiner would make his last game for Yale a hot one. He
+had done some marvelous work, and, as he declared himself in prime
+condition, there was no reason why he should not hold Harvard down on
+this occasion.
+
+While Merriwell was surrounded by friends in the smoker, and the boys
+were having a decidedly jolly time, Duncan Yates was getting into a
+decidedly ugly mood in the adjoining car.
+
+When Yates thought of his failure to beat his rival in the dash to the
+station he ground his teeth and muttered bitter curses.
+
+And he was egged on by Fred Flemming and Andy Emery. Tom Thornton had
+joined the group, but he said very little; and, when he found an
+opportunity, he whispered in Flemming's ear:
+
+"Better go slow. Remember the promise we gave Merriwell. If he finds out
+we are working against him, it will go hard with us."
+
+"He won't find it out. I hate him too much to keep still if I can arouse
+another fellow against him. Give me your flask. Yates has killed all I
+have in mine."
+
+Thornton took a whiskey flask from his pocket, and slipped it into
+Flemming's hand. Then he left, for he did not wish Merriwell's friends
+to see him in such company.
+
+Flemming and Emery made a pretense of drinking with Yates, but they did
+not take much. Yates, however, continued to "hit the bottle hard." His
+face became flushed, and his eyes glowed as Flemming continued to tell
+him of Merriwell's "underhand work."
+
+"That fellow did me dirt," declared Flemming. "In this same sneaking
+way, he had me dropped from the crew this spring, and got on in my
+place."
+
+"That's right," agreed Emery. "He has a way of influencing such men as
+he can get at, and he is using his influence to get the committee to
+throw you over."
+
+"And he can't run with you, anyway," said Flemming. "It is possible that
+he can lead you in a short dash, like the race to the station to-day,
+but he would not be in it in a long run."
+
+"That race was one of his tricks," asserted Emery. "I believe the job
+was put up by him."
+
+"How?" asked Yates, huskily.
+
+"Why, he saw you in company with the rest of us, and he thought he stood
+a good show of outrunning you for a short spurt, so he had Diamond and
+Rattleton make the talk that they did to bring the race about."
+
+"If that was not crooked, I don't know what you could call it," nodded
+Flemming. "He sprung it on you when you were not suspecting, and he led
+you to go against him for a short run, in which he is at his best. All
+the time, he knew he was not your match for a long race. That doesn't
+make a bit of difference to him."
+
+"Not a bit," said Andy. "He is not looking for the good of Old Yale, but
+he is looking to get into the big race at the tournament. He has been
+lucky in everything he has tried, and he is depending on his luck to
+win the race and acquire further glory for himself."
+
+"Let's have another drink all round," suggested Flemming, as he produced
+Thornton's flask once more.
+
+Yates took several swallows. Emery and Flemming pretended to drink in a
+hearty manner, but they allowed very little whiskey to go down their
+throats.
+
+This drink seemed to be the one that aroused Yates to action. He
+suddenly jumped to his feet, and there was a fierce look on his face as
+he cried:
+
+"Come on!"
+
+"What are you going to do?" asked Flemming, quickly thrusting the flask
+into his pocket.
+
+"I am going to find Frank Merriwell!" came hoarsely from Yates' lips.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+BASEBALL.
+
+
+There was a crush in the rear end of the smoker. A crowd had gathered
+there, and the lads were singing, shouting, laughing and making merry in
+various ways.
+
+Some fellows were sitting on the backs of the seats. The trainmen could
+not drive them down. It was useless to try with such a set of lads.
+
+Danny Griswold was astride the shoulders of Dismal Jones, who was the
+only solemn-looking man in the car. Occasionally Jones would "break out"
+in his peculiar camp-meeting revivalist's style and would deliver
+fragments of a sermon on the frivolous things of the world. Each time he
+was quickly suppressed, however.
+
+Into the midst of this jolly crowd came a lad whose face was flushed and
+whose eyes were gleaming strangely. His lips curled back over his set
+teeth, and he seemed to quiver with a strange eagerness.
+
+"Let me through!" he growled, forcing his way along. "There is a fellow
+here I want to see."
+
+There was something in his voice that caused them to give him room to
+advance till he was standing directly in front of Frank Merriwell. Then
+his hands clinched, and, as he tried to speak, he choked with passion,
+so that words failed him.
+
+A sudden hush came over the throng, for they saw that there was trouble
+impending.
+
+"It's Yates!"
+
+Somebody muttered the words, and they seemed to break the spell that had
+fallen on the enraged lad who was glaring at Frank.
+
+"Yes, it is Yates!" he snarled. "I suppose all you fellows are Frank
+Merriwell's chums, but that makes no difference to me."
+
+He stopped a moment, but he did not take his eyes from Frank's face. He
+seemed to be gathering himself for the supreme effort.
+
+"Merriwell," he said, his voice shaking, "you are a sneak!"
+
+Every one expected Frank would leap to his feet and strike Yates, but he
+did nothing of the kind. The hot blood rushed to his face, and then
+fled away again, leaving him cold and pale. About his firm jaws there
+was a sudden hardening, and in turn he showed his teeth.
+
+"Mr. Yates," he said, "you are not complimentary."
+
+"I do not mean to be to such a fellow as you!" Yates shot back.
+
+"You are insulting!"
+
+"I am if the truth can be considered an insult."
+
+"I demand an explanation."
+
+"I do not propose to waste any breath in giving explanations to such as
+you. You know why I say you are a sneak--you know you are a sneak!"
+
+Frank Merriwell laughed. That laugh was a warning that he was dangerous.
+Diamond knew it; Rattleton knew it. They held themselves ready to make
+room when Frank Merriwell saw fit to act.
+
+"You put yourself in a bad light by calling a man a sneak and then
+refusing to tell why you call him that," said Frank.
+
+Yates did not know Merriwell very well and that laugh had not sounded a
+warning to him. Instead, it really seemed that Frank was frightened,
+and he had laughed to conceal the fact.
+
+"It is my conviction," he cried, "that you are not only a sneak, but you
+are also a coward! If that is not enough, I will make it still more
+forcible."
+
+Quick as a flash, he struck Frank in the face with his clinched fist.
+
+A gasp came from those who witnessed this act. There was no time given
+for further words.
+
+Like a leaping panther, Frank Merriwell shot up and alighted on Duncan
+Yates. He clutched Yates in his strong grasp, snapped him off his feet,
+swung him into the air.
+
+The spectators had fallen back in a wild sort of scramble to get out of
+the way. Thus enough room was made for Merriwell to act.
+
+It was a warm day, and the car door was open. Almost before any one
+could tell what Frank thought of doing, he leaped out through the
+doorway, and, with the lad who had delivered the blow still poised above
+his head, seemed on the verge of hurling Yates from the flying train!
+
+"Stop, Frank!"
+
+Diamond shouted the words.
+
+Cries of horror broke from the lips of the other spectators of the
+scene, but, strangely enough, none of them made a move to prevent
+Merriwell from carrying out his apparent purpose.
+
+If Merriwell flung Yates from the train the unfortunate lad who had
+aroused Frank's wrath must be instantly killed.
+
+At first, when he had felt himself clutched, Yates had struggled, but,
+to his amazement, he seemed like a child in the grasp of the infuriated
+athlete.
+
+As Frank reached the platform and poised Yates aloft, the latter seemed
+to realize his peril, and fear robbed him of nerve and strength. He was
+limp and helpless in Merriwell's grasp.
+
+And then, almost as quickly as Frank had caught the lad up, he lowered
+him to his feet.
+
+Again Merriwell laughed, but this time there really seemed to be
+something of amusement in the sound.
+
+"If I had dropped you off, Mr. Yates, you must have been injured," he
+said, and his voice was soft and gentle.
+
+Yates gasped.
+
+"Jee!" chattered Bink Stubbs. "That was a regular hair-raiser, as the
+fellow said when he finished the blood-and-thunder story."
+
+Yates swayed and caught at the iron rail. The flush had gone out of his
+face, which was ashen-gray.
+
+"Better go into the car," said Merriwell. "You seem rather unsteady, and
+you might fall off here."
+
+Without a word, Yates steadied himself by taking hold of the side of the
+door, and entered the car.
+
+Merriwell followed, taking out his handkerchief and pressing it lightly
+to the spot on his cheek where a slight bruise marked the spot that had
+felt the enraged lad's fist.
+
+The witnesses of this scene seemed to breathe freely for the first time.
+They stared at Frank as if his marvelous display of strength had been a
+revelation to them.
+
+Yates had plenty of friends, as he had never seemed a bad sort of
+fellow, but the fact that he had struck Merriwell while the latter was
+sitting down was against him.
+
+"He's been drinking," one declared. "Merriwell could not have handled
+him that way otherwise."
+
+"Did Merriwell really mean to throw him off?" asked another.
+
+There were some murmurs of disapproval at Frank's action, but the
+expressions of astonishment and admiration for his display of strength
+drowned all other sounds.
+
+Yates turned and looked at Frank, but he seemed unable to express his
+feelings by means of words.
+
+Jack Diamond was flushed with rage.
+
+"It would have served the fellow right if Merriwell had dropped him
+off!" declared the hot-blooded Southerner.
+
+Andy Emery was near at hand, but he had been unable to give Yates any
+assistance when the latter was grasped by Frank.
+
+"Good heavens!" he kept repeating, as he stared at Frank Merriwell in a
+manner that showed his unutterable amazement.
+
+It was plain that such a display of strength had been a revelation to
+him, and from that time Emery was bound to regard Merriwell with renewed
+respect.
+
+"Mr. Yates," said Frank, quietly, "this is no place to settle any
+quarrel that has arisen between us; but I wish to say before witnesses
+that I consider you entirely in the wrong, and certainly you owe me an
+apology. You may not think so now, but I believe you will think so in
+time."
+
+That was all. He returned to his seat and sat down. Yates seemed to
+hesitate, and then turned away, accompanied by Emery.
+
+Flemming had kept himself in the background during the entire affair.
+
+When the train reached Springfield Yates was in no condition to go to
+the ball ground. He had taken too much whiskey to carry, and his
+pretended friends, Flemming and Emery, were forced to get him out of
+sight as soon as possible.
+
+"That ought to be a settler for him," said Diamond. "A fellow who is in
+training for a race can't afford to get loaded."
+
+Yale men had heavily backed their own club to win, and it seemed that
+the majority of the Harvard crew was trying to put money on the blue.
+
+It was expected by Harvard that Merriwell would pitch the deciding game,
+for the actual condition of his hand had been kept a secret, and
+Harvard feared Merriwell.
+
+To himself Frank confessed that he could pitch the game, as his hand was
+in fairly good condition, but such improvement had not been expected,
+and it had been arranged that he should do no "twirling."
+
+Besides that, it was Heffiner's last game for Yale, and, taking into
+consideration the record he had made, it seemed no more than right that
+he should be placed in the box.
+
+The usual crowd had gathered to witness the game, and there was the
+usual display of flags. Yale was over-confident; Harvard was hopeful,
+but filled with fears.
+
+The game began, and for three innings Yale had the advantage. The "sons
+of Old Eli" were jubilant, and they made the air ring with their cheers
+and songs.
+
+At the end of the third inning it was seen that Harvard must make a
+change if it had any hope of winning. Yedding, the great Cambridge
+pitcher, was "rocky." He could not find the plate, and he was "hammered"
+when he did "get 'em over."
+
+Some Yale man with an inclination to rhyme had composed some doggerel
+verse, which about twenty lads were singing to some sort of mongrel
+tune.
+
+    "Poor Harvard she can talk--
+        (That's all!)
+    At other things she'll balk;
+    We'll beat her in a walk--
+      Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!
+
+    "Poor Harvard's lost her grip--
+        (That's so!)
+    She's let the pennant slip,
+    We've done her up this trip--
+      Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!"
+
+"It is altogether too early in the game to crow," declared Frank
+Merriwell. "Several things may happen before the ninth inning is over."
+
+"Oh, we've got the game nailed solid now!" declared Bruce Browning, in a
+satisfied way. "Robinson will be able to get his shirts out of soak."
+
+In the fourth inning Harvard sent a new pitcher into the box. It was
+Coulter, who, as a freshman, had pitched against Merriwell.
+
+Coulter was nervous and rather wild at first, but he puzzled the Yale
+men, who could not hit him when he did get them over the plate.
+
+"If he steadies down, he will prove to be a bad man," said Frank,
+soberly. "This is his first trial on the regular team, and he is not at
+his best just now."
+
+Yale secured one score in the fourth inning, while Harvard retired with
+her third whitewash.
+
+In the fifth there was a change. Coulter did steady down in a most
+astonishing manner, for he sent the Yale men to the bench in
+one-two-three order.
+
+That seemed to give Harvard new life, and, when she came to bat, she
+showed a determination to do something.
+
+Right there was where Heffiner took a streak of wildness, and Harvard
+scored three times.
+
+Coulter kept up his work in the sixth, by allowing but one short single
+to be taken off his delivery, and no Yale man got further than second
+base.
+
+Then it seemed that Harvard came to the plate with a determination to
+"pound it out." The defenders of the crimson jumped on Heffiner's
+curves, and the way they banged the leather gave the Yale crowd symptoms
+of heart failure. A single, a two-bagger and a homer in quick succession
+caused Heffiner to develop a bad case of "rattles," and it seemed that
+Harvard would never let up. There was consternation in the Yale ranks
+when Harvard tied the score with but one man out, and that consternation
+threatened to become a panic when two more scores came in.
+
+Old Man Hicks was set at work "warming up," although it was felt that he
+must be a desperate resort. When Harvard scored again, Hicks was sent
+into the box.
+
+The change seemed to work well, for Harvard's score getting was brought
+to an abrupt termination.
+
+But Yale was in a desperate situation, for, at the beginning of the
+seventh, Harvard was three scores in the lead.
+
+Merriwell had been on the point of going down and offering to do what he
+could to check Harvard's wild career, but it seemed that Old Man Hicks
+had done that, and so he sat still.
+
+But Yale could not score. Coulter seemed to feel that the opportunity of
+his life had arrived, and he sent the Spalding's over the plate with all
+sorts of twists. The Yale men could not make fair and satisfactory
+connections with the ball, so no man reached home.
+
+Hicks was lucky, and he succeeded in scattering the hits, which, with
+fine support, enabled him to retire Harvard with another goose's egg.
+
+The eighth inning was disastrous for the blue, although Yale won a score
+by hard base running. When Harvard took her turn, she seemed to fathom
+Dad Hicks' delivery, and, for a short time, he was treated quite as bad
+as Heffiner had been. At the end of the eighth inning Harvard was six
+scores ahead, and it was plain that the game was lost for Yale.
+
+Scores of sad-faced Yale spectators were heard expressing regret that
+Frank Merriwell had not been used in the game. Some of the wearers of
+the blue left the field immediately, unwilling to witness the
+termination of the game.
+
+With despair set upon their faces, the Yale men went to the bat, ready
+to fight to the last gasp. But Coulter was also determined not to let
+slip any of the glory he had won, and all Yale's efforts to score were
+fruitless. The game ended with Harvard still six in the lead.
+
+Phil Coulter was the hero of Harvard that night, while poor Hugh
+Heffiner returned to New Haven with his heart almost bursting with
+disappointment.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+KIDNAPED.
+
+
+"We'll down Harvard in everything at the tournament," was the angry
+resolve of the disappointed Yale crowd, who returned to New Haven to
+find no band and no great gathering of cheering students awaiting them
+at the station.
+
+Among them all, not excepting Hugh Heffiner himself, no one felt worse
+about the defeat than did Frank Merriwell. In his heart, he blamed
+himself for not going to the manager of the Yale team and offering his
+services in case of emergency. He knew it was possible he might not have
+been able to save the game, but still the possibility that he might have
+done so bore heavily upon him.
+
+But Frank did not dream that his enemies would make capital out of the
+fact that he had not taken any part in the game. He did not know they
+were saying he had kept among the spectators where he could not be found
+when things seemed to turn against Yale.
+
+"Merriwell didn't dare pitch any part of that game," they were saying.
+"He was afraid, and he knew it would dim his glory if Harvard won. He
+has his record, and you won't see him pitching out any games in order to
+pull Yale out of a hole."
+
+But Yates had ruined his chance of running in the mile race at the
+tournament by getting full on the train. Directly after the next meeting
+of the committee of arrangements, Frank was notified that he had been
+chosen to represent Yale.
+
+Each night Frank took a run out into the country. He was determined to
+put himself in the very best condition possible.
+
+This practice of Merriwell's was generally known, and he was watched
+with interest by friends and foes.
+
+The time for the tournament drew near. Arrangements for all the contests
+had been completed. The end of the spring terms had come. Commencement
+was over, and another class had been showered with sheepskins.
+
+In all the doings of this busy time of the college year Merriwell took
+little part, as he was putting himself in shape to do his best at the
+tournament, and the time he had to spare from "grinding" was given to
+hard physical work.
+
+Then he went down to a summer cottage on the sound. The cottage was
+located near Southport, and there he continued his training, taking long
+runs into the country.
+
+The day before the great tournament came at last. That afternoon Frank
+took his last run in training. He waited till near evening, and then
+jogged gently out along the country road.
+
+It was dusk when he turned back toward the cottage where he knew Bruce
+Browning, Rattleton and Diamond were loafing on the veranda and awaiting
+his reappearance.
+
+As he was passing through a small patch of woods, a cord that was strung
+across the road, about six inches from the ground, tripped him, and he
+fell heavily.
+
+Frank was stunned by the shock. Before he could recover, dark forms
+rushed out and flung themselves upon him.
+
+Frank realized that he had been attacked, and he tried to make a fight
+of it, but the shock of the fall had taken away his strength, and then
+he found there were three against him.
+
+"Work lively!" growled a hoarse voice. "He's worse than a tiger in a
+scrap!"
+
+His hands were twisted about behind his back and held there, while a
+cord was bound about them. In a remarkably brief space of time he was
+rendered helpless.
+
+Then Frank's feet were bound, and he was forced to submit to the tying
+of a blindfold over his eyes. Before this was accomplished, however, he
+saw the three men through the gloom, and discovered that all wore masks
+to hide their faces.
+
+When Frank was blindfolded, the man who had given all the commands, and
+who seemed to be the leader, said:
+
+"Bring out the team."
+
+Frank's ears told him that one of the men went away, and soon, by the
+sound, the boy decided that a team was being brought from some place in
+the woods, where it had been concealed.
+
+"What sort of a job is this?" thought the captive lad. "It seems to be a
+case of real highwaymen right here in Connecticut. And still they do
+not seem like highwaymen, for then they would have robbed me and let me
+go. They are up to something else."
+
+He soon found that his captors meant to remove him from the spot, for he
+was lifted from the ground and tossed into the bottom of the wagon, like
+a sack of grain. Then the men climbed in, the horses were whipped up,
+and away they all went.
+
+After a drive of at least two hours, during which Frank had several
+times asked where they were taking him, and had been repeatedly
+cautioned to "shut up," the team came to a halt.
+
+Frank was glad of it, for much of the distance had been made over rough
+roads, and he had been several times menaced in order to keep him quiet,
+and once choked into silence by two of the men, who sat upon him while
+they passed another team.
+
+Frank was taken from the wagon, his feet were set at liberty, and he was
+marched into some sort of a building.
+
+"There," said the hoarse voice of the leader. "He's safe and solid
+here."
+
+Through the blindfold there was a glow of light, and then the cloth was
+removed from his eyes.
+
+Frank found himself in a rough room, to which there seemed to be no
+windows and but one door. In the room there was a table, a broken chair,
+and a rude sort of bed.
+
+One of the two men who had brought him into the room coolly sat down
+astride the chair, and stared at Frank, his eyes gleaming by the flaring
+light of the tallow-dip that burned on the table.
+
+"Set down," invited the man, making a motion toward the bed. "We offer
+our visitors the upholstered furniture out of courtesy. Make yourself at
+home."
+
+"Don't care if I do," returned the boy, with equal coolness, "but in
+order for me to be thoroughly comfortable, it will be necessary for me
+to have my hands free."
+
+"Sorry I can't accommodate ye just now, but I want to have a talk with
+yer first. Set down."
+
+Frank obeyed.
+
+"Well," he observed, "I suppose I might as well, as long as I do not
+seem to have much to say about it; but I'd like to know what this little
+game is."
+
+"Thought you'd be kinder curious," said the man, with a hoarse laugh.
+"Well, ye see, it's this way. We've heard so much about you that we
+thought we'd kinder like the pleasure of your company for a day or two,
+and so we brought you over here."
+
+A day or two! Frank gasped for breath, as a sudden light dawned upon
+him.
+
+If he were held there for a single day he would not appear at Madison
+Square Garden to take part in the tournament!
+
+"This is the work of my enemies!" he mentally cried. "They have hired
+these ruffians to kidnap and hold me till the tournament is over!
+Caesar's ghost! I never dreamed such a thing could be done in this quiet
+part of the New England States!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+THE TOURNAMENT.
+
+
+The interior of Madison Square Garden was decorated with the colors of a
+dozen colleges, and was aglow with hundreds of bright lights. The rows
+of seats, tier upon tier, were packed with people. The private boxes
+were all taken. A band was playing a lively air, and the tournament was
+on. Down in the great cleared space young men from the various prominent
+colleges of the country were struggling for victory in the athletic
+feats on the programme. At times some well-known amateur contestant was
+greeted by cheers as he appeared or accomplished a feat that was plainly
+remarkable. The favorites were greeted by the yells of the colleges
+which they represented, as they were seen preparing for some difficult
+attempt.
+
+It was a scene of the greatest excitement and enthusiasm. Pretty girls
+were there in large numbers, their faces glowing with admiration for the
+young men who were struggling like gladiators down in the modern arena.
+The swell set of New York occupied the boxes. Fathers and mothers,
+sisters and brothers, cousins and aunts of the contestants were on hand,
+watching with eagerness for the appearance of those in which their
+interest centered.
+
+In some instances the parents of the young men engaged in the contests
+were plainly from the country. Their manners, their dress, their
+language indicated this. It was a wonderful occasion for them, and their
+hearts almost ceased beating when the favorite for whom they were
+watching showed himself and made his brave effort in some trial of
+strength and skill. Happy were they if he acquitted himself nobly.
+
+The blue of Old Yale dominated one great section of seats. And when a
+Yale man won in some of the contests hundreds upon hundreds of
+strong-lunged young men arose to their feet and sent the college slogan
+pealing forth, while that great mass of blue fluttered and swayed as if
+swept by a fitful tempest.
+
+It was Yale against the field, and Old Eli was acquitting herself nobly.
+
+One of the private boxes was occupied by the Hon. Andrew Flemming and
+his family. His wife and his two daughters were there. In a corner of
+the box sat two lads who were talking earnestly in guarded tones. They
+were Tom Thornton and Andy Emery.
+
+Thornton and Emery had been entertaining Fred Flemming's sisters, but
+now, for the moment, they had drawn aside and were earnestly discussing
+some point that seemed to interest them greatly.
+
+"It must be that the matter is settled, and Yates has been substituted
+for the one who is missing," said Thornton; "but it seems rather
+astonishing that Flem should be so sure Merriwell would not appear."
+
+"But he did seem sure," nodded Emery. "He told me over and over that
+Merriwell would not be here to run."
+
+"And you must know enough of Frank Merriwell to be sure he would be here
+if he could get here, even if he had to crawl on his knees."
+
+"That's right."
+
+"Then what has happened to Merriwell?"
+
+"You tell!"
+
+"I can't. I know Flemming would go to any extreme to carry out his
+desires. In fact, he is altogether too reckless and headstrong. I knew
+he did not mean it when he told Merriwell he was ready to bury the
+hatchet, and I have felt that he was not talking to hear his own voice
+when he told us Merriwell would not be on hand to race to-night."
+
+At this moment Fred Flemming entered the box. His face was flushed, and
+there was a look of triumph in his eyes. He spoke to his mother, and
+then addressed himself to the two boys, saying:
+
+"It's all right."
+
+Some event below attracted the full attention of all in the box save the
+trio in one corner.
+
+"Yates will run?" asked Emery, eagerly.
+
+"You bet your filthy!" nodded Fred. "I told you he would."
+
+"But where is Merriwell?"
+
+Flemming smiled mysteriously.
+
+"It is evident," he said, "that Mr. Merriwell decided not to attend the
+tournament."
+
+"Look here, Fred," said Thornton, nervously, "you haven't done anything
+that will get you into trouble, have you?"
+
+Flemming snapped his fingers.
+
+"What is it to me if Merriwell sees fit to stay away?" he asked. "He
+may tell some sort of a wild story, but it seems that he was afraid to
+appear and run. All I ask of you fellows is that you keep your mouths
+closed on one point."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"I don't care to have you breathe to a living soul that I knew in
+advance that Merriwell would not be on hand."
+
+"We'll not say a word about it."
+
+"Yates had no idea that he might be called on. I found it necessary to
+keep with him all the time and see that he did not get geared up. Then I
+had him where he could be found by the committee in case he was needed."
+
+"And----"
+
+"And he was found."
+
+"He has gone to prepare for the race?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"That settles it! Merriwell has failed to show up!"
+
+A wild Yale cheer turned their attention to the arena at this moment.
+Big Hickok was preparing to put the shot, and he had been greeted in
+this manner by his admirers as he stepped out.
+
+Hickok was a giant, and Yale had the utmost confidence in him. Thus far
+the best record made by any other man was forty-one feet and five
+inches. Hickok must do his very best to beat that.
+
+The cheers died away as the Yale Goliath poised himself for the effort.
+He crouched, and then the heavy iron sailed through the air and fell
+with a thud to the ground.
+
+The tape was quickly drawn, and then the score went up.
+
+Forty-two feet and three inches!
+
+Once more Yale let herself loose, and it seemed that the roof must
+crack.
+
+Hickok quietly declined to take the two remaining trials open to him. He
+was the last man on the list, and Yale had won. The hammer-throwing was
+to follow, and he was entered for the contest.
+
+In the hammer-throwing contest Yale had another opportunity to yell, for
+Hickok was again the winner over all others, making a record of one
+hundred and twenty-three feet and nine inches.
+
+The contests followed each other in swift succession, and Yale more than
+held her own. There was no reason why the wearers of the blue should
+not be jubilant.
+
+At last, the races came on. Up in the Flemming box were three lads who
+were anxiously awaiting the announcement of the one-mile run.
+
+Despite the triumph which he felt, Fred Flemming betrayed a sort of
+hilarious nervousness as he chatted with his sisters and his friends.
+
+Watching Fred closely, Tom Thornton saw that he was under a strain. And
+again Thornton wondered what had become of Frank Merriwell.
+
+Princeton won one of the shorter races, and Harvard won another. In each
+of these a Yale man was second.
+
+"If Mr. Merriwell had contented himself with being less ambitious, he
+might be here to-night," said Flemming, in an aside to his college
+comrades.
+
+Emery and Thornton exchanged glances. There was a significance about
+such language that could not be misunderstood. Thornton shivered a bit,
+and, unconsciously, drew back from Flemming.
+
+The excitement of the evening was at its highest pitch thus far. The
+contestants for yet another race were getting into position, and, in
+another moment, they were off like a pack of greyhounds.
+
+This time a Yale man carried his colors to victory, and the "Sons of Old
+Eli" yelled their approval and delight. Yale was doing nobly. This night
+she was making a record for herself that would be remembered.
+
+But now came the greatest race of all--the mile run. Preparations were
+made for it, and feverish anticipation swayed the great multitude.
+
+Fred Flemming was literally quivering as he leaned over the rail of the
+box.
+
+"Let's give Yatsie a great send-off!" he exclaimed. "They are coming out
+in a minute."
+
+He was watching the point where the runners must first appear. His hand
+shook on the rail.
+
+The runners appeared. The first was Beatty, the Harvard man, and the
+Harvard crowd "hoo-rahed" hoarsely. Then came Mansford, of Princeton,
+and the Tigers let themselves loose. Jetting, of Dartmouth, followed,
+and the New Hampshire lads greeted him in a manner that brought the
+blood to his cheeks. Then little Judd, the U. P. man, trotted out, and
+he was received with howls of delight from the Quakers.
+
+"Now--now comes Yates!" cried Fred Flemming.
+
+The Yale man appeared, and Flemming stood up to cheer. He dropped into
+his seat as if he had been shot, his face turning ashen gray, and the
+cheer dying on his lips.
+
+"Good heavens!" gasped Tom Thornton. "It is Frank Merriwell!"
+
+But his exclamation was drowned by the mighty cheer which greeted the
+appearance of the Yale standard-bearer.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+TO VICTORY--CONCLUSION.
+
+
+"Merriwell! Merriwell! 'Rah! 'rah! 'rah!"
+
+It was a mighty roar of voices. Then came the well-known Yale yell,
+which was repeated again and again. The entire Yale crowd was standing,
+wildly waving hands, hats, flags, handkerchiefs, anything and everything
+that could be found to wave. It was an ovation that might have gladdened
+the heart of an emperor.
+
+It was not strange that the sound nerved the Yale man to vow within
+himself to die in the effort to win for dear "Old Eli," if he could not
+win otherwise.
+
+But up in one of the boxes not far from the starting point were three
+young men who were utterly overcome with amazement and consternation.
+One of them had a face that was drawn and pale, as if he had received a
+mortal wound.
+
+"What's it mean, Flem?" asked Andy Emery, in Fred's ear. "Merriwell is
+here! Have you been horsing us?"
+
+Then, for all that his parents and his sisters were present, Fred
+Flemming ground out a bitter cry. His voice shook and he choked, as he
+answered:
+
+"You know as well as I what it means! Oh, what luck!"
+
+He was utterly unmanned, and his mother, observing his pallor, asked him
+if he had been suddenly taken ill. He answered her with a snarl, like a
+mad dog.
+
+The five runners came down to the line. Just as they did so, Duncan
+Yates burst into the Flemming box.
+
+"What sort of a jolly business is this, Flemming?" he demanded, his face
+pale with anger.
+
+And then, seeing there were ladies present, he removed his cap and
+mumbled an apology.
+
+Fred did not introduce Yates; he was too much broken up to think of such
+a thing.
+
+"That's what I'd like to know," he said, helplessly. "You know we were
+told Merriwell was not on hand to run."
+
+"But he showed up in time to dress, and I was coolly informed that I
+wasn't in it. I object to such treatment, and I want to know if it was a
+job on me."
+
+"If it was a job, I'll give you my word I know nothing about it," said
+Fred, in a weak and humble manner.
+
+At this moment, as they looked down, Frank Merriwell was seen to gaze
+straight toward them, and something like a scornful, triumphant smile
+flitted across his face.
+
+"I'd like to strangle him!" grated Flemming.
+
+The runners were preparing for the start. Pistol in hand, the starter
+stood ready to give the signal. His voice was heard bidding them make
+ready.
+
+A moment later, the pistol cracked, and the runners leaped away.
+
+"Oh, if he'll come in the tail-ender!" panted Fred Flemming.
+
+The band was playing its liveliest air, and the runners sped around the
+track like fawns. Graceful fellows they were, with the possible
+exception of little Judd. Judd started off bravely, however, seeming to
+scoot into the lead like a squirrel, his short legs fairly twinkling.
+
+The U. P. crowd let out a great cheer to encourage the little fellow.
+
+Beatty, of Harvard, was likewise a quick starter, and he was right at
+Judd's heels, while Mansford and Merriwell got away side by side.
+Jetting, the Dartmouth representative, was slow about starting, but
+still he was a runner.
+
+It had been expected that other colleges would take part in this race,
+but, for certain reasons, there were but five starters.
+
+Around the track ran the lithe-limbed youngsters, with Judd holding the
+lead for two laps. Then he was passed by Beatty, who spurted to get to
+the front, and this gave Harvard an opportunity to "hoo-rah."
+
+From the very outset it seemed that Merriwell and Mansford were in for a
+neck-and-neck match. They clung together in a singular manner.
+
+For a time the five runners were well bunched, but there came a
+stringing out at last. Little Judd began to lag, and Jetting, who had
+pushed past Merriwell and Mansford, went by the U. P. man and began to
+crowd Beatty.
+
+The New Hampshire boys cheered him on, and the sound of the yell he
+loved to hear got into his head and worked his undoing. Otherwise
+Jetting must have been a dangerous man for the leaders at the finish. As
+it was, he pumped himself out some seconds too soon.
+
+At the first quarter Harvard led, and she was still leading, with
+Dartmouth second, when the first half was passed.
+
+Then came a fierce struggle for the lead, which ended with the weakening
+of both Beatty and Jetting. Beatty weakened first, however, and fell
+back, but Jetting was seen to stagger a bit, recover and go on.
+
+Merriwell and Mansford passed Beatty and narrowed the gap between them
+and Jetting. Mansford set his teeth and gained an advantage of ten feet
+by a quick break. This advantage he was resolved to hold.
+
+Jetting fought like a tiger to hold the lead, but Mansford crowded him
+harder and harder, finally going to the front.
+
+Then came a desperate struggle between Merriwell and Jetting, but Yale's
+colors were carried into second place at the beginning of the last
+quarter.
+
+And now--now there was excitement. The finish was drawing near, and
+Princeton had the lead, although the distance was short.
+
+As Frank passed the Yale crowd he was given a rousing cheer, which
+seemed to put fresh life and strength into his body. He crept up on
+Mansford, who was running like the wind. The difference grew less and
+less. Eight feet, six feet, four feet--could he close the gap?
+
+Then, for a moment, a black cloud seemed to pass before Frank's eyes.
+His heart was in his mouth, where it lay hot and dry, like a stone that
+has baked in the sun. It seemed that he must fall.
+
+"Win or die! win or die!"
+
+Those words rang through his head as if some one had shouted them into
+his ear.
+
+"I will!"
+
+He knew the end was close at hand, and still the black and yellow was
+before him.
+
+Then it was that Frank nerved himself for one last great effort, and
+dashed forward with a fresh burst of speed that seemed little short of
+marvelous. That burst carried him to Mansford's side--carried him into
+the lead--carried him over the line at the finish--a winner!
+
+There was a grand supper in New York that night, at which Frank
+Merriwell was the guest of honor. He was toasted again and again by his
+admiring friends, and it seemed that everybody was his friend at last.
+There were speeches and songs and a general merry time. Old Yale had
+carved her way to glory once more, and among her standard-bearers
+Merriwell was the leader.
+
+"Tell us, tell us, old man," cried Paul Pierson, "how was it that you
+happened to be so late in appearing at the garden? Really we had given
+up hope that you would come, and were for getting Yates into running
+rig. You barely got along in time. What kept you away?"
+
+"I was unavoidably detained," answered Frank, smiling.
+
+"Yes, but that is an unsatisfactory explanation. Rattleton and the
+fellows who were with you reported your mysterious disappearance, and we
+were for putting detectives on the case to-morrow. Can't you clear up
+the mystery?"
+
+"Well, you see, it is like this: I fell in with some gentlemen who
+seemed to take a strong interest in me. Note the word strong there. In
+fact they were too strong for me. They seemed to like me exceedingly
+well, and they pressed me to stay all night with them. I was sort of
+roped into it, as it were. I found it difficult to get away without
+wounding their feelings."
+
+This was said in a queer manner, and the lads about the table looked at
+each other inquiringly.
+
+"But you managed to get away?" said Pierson.
+
+"Yes, I offered them inducements in the shape of coin of the realm. They
+seemed to be out for stuff, and some person, who must love me
+dearly--had induced them to take charge of me and care for me tenderly.
+However I worked on their greed by offering more than my friend had
+offered, and, as I promised not to make too much of a fuss about it, I
+was let off, but barely in time to reach here. I am not going to say
+anything more about this matter just now, but I expect to look around
+some and find out who my friend is who engaged the gentlemen to care for
+me so tenderly. When I find him--well, I won't do a thing to him!"
+
+"Well, here's luck to you!" cried Pierson, lifting his glass.
+"Gentlemen, here's luck to Frank Merriwell, the best all-around man who
+ever called dear Old Yale _alma mater_. Drink--drink hearty!"
+
+A few words more and we will bring this story to a close.
+
+Frank was truly the hero of the college, and it was many a day before
+his wonderful dash was forgotten by even the most indifferent of the
+students.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S RACES***
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