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diff --git a/old/62930-0.txt b/old/62930-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e40b86f..0000000 --- a/old/62930-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,12047 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dick Merriwell's Backers, 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/license - - -Title: Dick Merriwell's Backers - Or, Well Worth Fighting For - -Author: Burt L. Standish - -Release Date: August 14, 2020 [EBook #62930] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Tonsing, David Edwards, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - Dick Merriwell’s Backers - OR, - WELL WORTH FIGHTING FOR - - - BY - BURT L. STANDISH - Author of the famous MERRIWELL STORIES. - -[Illustration] - - STREET & SMITH CORPORATION - PUBLISHERS - 79–89 Seventh Avenue, New York - - - - - Copyright, 1907 - By STREET & SMITH - - Dick Merriwell’s Backers - - - (Printed in the U. S. A.) - - All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign - languages, including the Scandinavian. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CONTENTS - - CHAPTER I. LACK OF CONFIDENCE. - CHAPTER II. A HEART-BREAKING FINISH. - CHAPTER III. A SURPRISE FOR DICK. - CHAPTER IV. A HEARTY WELCOME. - CHAPTER V. THE DINNER. - CHAPTER VI. THE BLACKMAILER. - CHAPTER VII. BEHIND THE PALMS. - CHAPTER VIII. HUSH MONEY. - CHAPTER IX. ARLINGTON TAKES A HAND. - CHAPTER X. A HOT OPENING. - CHAPTER XI. CAUGHT WITH THE GOODS. - CHAPTER XII. RETURNING THE MONEY. - CHAPTER XIII. JEALOUSY. - CHAPTER XIV. HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. - CHAPTER XV. THE ABANDONED CAPTIVE. - CHAPTER XVI. AN EVIL BAND. - CHAPTER XVII. TUCKER GETS WARMED. - CHAPTER XVIII. THE FIRE. - CHAPTER XIX. THE NEXT MORNING. - CHAPTER XX. A PAIR OF RASCALS. - CHAPTER XXI. FURTHER PLOTTING. - CHAPTER XXII. A CERTAIN VISITOR. - CHAPTER XXIII. THE CONSOLER. - CHAPTER XXIV. SOMETHING DOING. - CHAPTER XXV. REFUGE IN THE RIVER. - CHAPTER XXVI. WHAT HAPPENED TO BRAD. - CHAPTER XXVII. FROM THE BAR Z RANCH. - CHAPTER XXVIII. A PITCHER NEEDED. - CHAPTER XXIX. DICK ACCEPTS A CHALLENGE. - CHAPTER XXX. THE FRESHMAN PITCHER. - CHAPTER XXXI. THE GREAT REBELLION. - CHAPTER XXXII. CUT DOWN. - CHAPTER XXXIII. THE RED STAIN. - CHAPTER XXXIV. THE UNSEEN SHADOW. - CHAPTER XXXV. AN APPARITION. - CHAPTER XXXVI. A TERRIFIED TRIO. - CHAPTER XXXVII. PANGS OF CONSCIENCE. - CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE ESCAPE. - CHAPTER XXXIX. THE GHOSTLY FACE. - CHAPTER XL. A QUEER DELUSION. - CHAPTER XLI. SILVER BULLETS. - CHAPTER XLII. BAD NEWS. - CHAPTER XLIII. THE SILVER BULLETS. - CHAPTER XLIV. LYNCH CONFESSES. - CHAPTER XLV. MIKE PUTS IT ON PAPER. - CHAPTER XLVI. TURNING A NEW LEAF. - CHAPTER XLVII. A BITTER DOSE. - CHAPTER XLVIII. WAS HE SINCERE? - CHAPTER XLIX. A WASTED WARNING. - CHAPTER L. WOLFE HAS AN IDEA. - CHAPTER LI. THE HOLDUP. - CHAPTER LII. ROUTING THE RUFFIANS. - CHAPTER LIII. THE ODDS AGAINST YALE. - CHAPTER LIV. MANHATTAN IN THE LEAD. - CHAPTER LV. A BEAUTIFUL BINGLE. - - - - - DICK MERRIWELL’S BACKERS. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - LACK OF CONFIDENCE. - - -At the beginning of the sixth inning, Sam Kates went into the box -against the Tufts freshmen. The score then stood seven to one, in favor -of Yale Umpty-ten. Tufts had shown no ability to connect with Dick -Merriwell’s shoots and benders. This was the opportunity to give Sam a -good try-out, and so, at Dick’s suggestion, he changed places with -Kates, who had been playing first. - -At the opening of the game, Tufts had professed a hilarious confidence -in its ability to hit Merriwell, but within a short time this confidence -oozed away, and the game was proving tiresomely one-sided and monotonous -when Yale changed pitchers. - -Immediately Tufts braced up and took heart. Kates was nervous, and the -visitors seemed to know it. They whooped and barked joyously as the -first man to face Sam lined out a sizzling two-bagger. - -“Never mind that, Kates,” came reassuringly from Dick. “Those things -will happen occasionally. They can’t all do it.” - -Nevertheless Kates realized that he was trying to fill the position just -vacated by one vastly his superior, and he also knew the Yale men who -had been cheering lustily in the stand were aware of the same fact. This -placed him at a disadvantage, for he was extremely anxious, and a -pitcher who gets anxious in the box is almost sure to be an easy mark -for the opposing batters. Kates, under the manly influence of Dick -Merriwell, had broken away from former undesirable associations and was -now putting forth his best efforts to redeem his past mistakes. - -The following Tufts man pounded a long fly into the outfield. The ball -was caught, but the runner on second advanced to third after the catch. - -“It’s all right,” again assured Dick. “They haven’t scored, Sam.” - -But, unfortunately, the team had even less confidence in Kates than he -had in himself. Therefore, they were likewise anxious, and this anxiety -caused Claxton, at second, to let a warm grounder get through him. - -The little band of Tufts rooters yelled wildly as another tally was -chalked down for their side. - -“Keep after him! keep after him!” whooped a coacher, as the next batter -pranced out to the pan. “Got him going!” - -“We’ll put the blanket on him in a minute,” came from the other coacher. -“Knock his eye out, Tompkins!” - -Tompkins responded by slamming a hot one into right field, where Bouncer -Bigelow fell all over himself, and lost the ball until another run had -been credited to the visitors and Tompkins had third safely within his -clutch. - -“Not your fault, Kates,” said Dick, as the wretched pitcher cast him an -appealing glance. “Nobody can blame you.” - -Blessed Jones, captain of the team, rushed part way in from left field -and called to his players to steady down. - -On the bench Robinson, the manager, was fidgeting ponderously, and -muttering to himself that Merriwell would have to go back on the slab. - -Dick walked out into the diamond, and many thought that he was going to -change places with Kates once more. Instead of doing so, he placed a -hand on Sam’s shoulder and spoke to him in low tones. - -“Don’t get worried now because of those errors behind you. They’ve made -one clean hit off you, and that’s all. This sort of a thing is likely to -happen to any one. It might have happened to me.” - -“But I don’t believe it,” muttered Kates. “They won’t back me up, -Merriwell, old man.” - -“They’ll learn to back you up before the season’s over.” - -“Not if I throw away the first game in which I’m given a chance to -pitch.” - -“But you’re not throwing it away. Don’t look round, Kates. That fellow -on third is going to try to steal home. He thinks neither of us sees -him. He’s edging off. Now—nail him!” - -Kates whirled like a flash, and found the runner well off third, -balanced on his toes, and ready to make a sprint for the plate. - -With a snap Sam sent the ball to Otis Fitch, who had covered the sack -behind the runner’s back. - -Nipped just in time, the Tufts man tried to plunge headlong back to -third, but Fitch clutched the ball and nailed it onto him. - -“You’re out!” shouted the umpire. - -This piece of work caused the Yale men to cheer, while the Tufts lad who -had been caught in his own attempt to work a bit of craft walked in to -the bench shaking his hanging head. - -“Rotten! rotten!” snapped one of the coachers. “Why don’t you keep your -eyes open? Why don’t you do your sleeping nights? You can’t afford to -get dopy on bases.” - -“But everybody hits! everybody hits!” came from the coacher at the other -side of the field. “We’ll keep right on. We’ll pound him off the rubber -just the same.” - -But, somehow, Sam’s nervousness had disappeared beneath the effect of -Merriwell’s touch and words. Having caught the runner in this manner, -Kates grew cool and collected, and the next man up promptly bit at two -twisters that he did not touch. - -“Now you’re pitching, old fellow,” laughed Dick. “The poor boy can’t see -the ball. He’s yours, Sam—he’s yours. Eat him up!” - -Kates had a huge drop, and this was the next ball he used. As he -delivered it, however, he pretended it had slipped from his fingers, and -he yelled for Buckhart to “look out.” The batter thought the ball too -high, and made no move to swing. The sphere shot down in an astonishing -manner and crossed the batter’s chest. - -“Three strikes—out!” announced the umpire. - -The deceived hitter stood as if dazed for a moment, and then savagely -hurled his bat to the ground. Once more the Yale stand cheered, and -Merriwell walked in to the bench with Kates, congratulating him with -sincere pleasure. - -“You’ve got to do your best work to-day, Sam,” said Dick. “You’ve got to -prove yourself. I need you. Toleman won’t come out. He’s still sulking. -I can’t do all the pitching. The games are coming too thick.” - -“It wasn’t wholly my fault, was it, Merriwell?” asked Kates. - -“Certainly not. Still, you’d better not kick about your support, for -that gets the fellows sore. They know what they did, and they feel as -rotten about it as any one can. You’ll hold Tufts down after this.” - -“But if you see they’re going to win the game, Dick, you must go onto -the slab again. You’ll do this, won’t you?” - -“If you don’t get the idea into your head that it’s necessary, I believe -I won’t have to pitch another ball to-day.” - -“But if it is necessary——” - -“Oh, I won’t see them win the game if I can help it, you may be sure of -that.” - -The Tufts pitcher, who had improved as the game advanced, now seemed to -be at his best, and Yale could do little with his delivery. - -Not until the first of the eighth did anything more of a sensational -nature occur. In the eighth Tufts got a batter to first by an error, and -then Kates had the misfortune to hit the next man. The third batter -lifted a long fly into center field, where Spratt made a disgraceful -muff and lost sight of the ball. While Jack was spluttering to himself -and pawing around wildly in the grass, all three of the Tufts men romped -over the sacks and raced across the pan. - -There was now great excitement, for Tufts needed only one more run to -tie the game. - -Kates gave Dick a questioning look. - -“No fault of yours,” came once more from Merriwell. - -“But they won’t support me, they won’t support me!” muttered Sam, in a -disheartened manner. - -The uproar was so great that Dick could not hear these words, although -he read them plainly by the movement of Sam’s lips. Again he trotted out -into the diamond, and once more the spectators fancied it was his -intention to resume pitching. - -“Don’t you quit, Kates,” was what he said. “If you do, they’ll never -give you any backing. Pitch as if your life depended on it, but keep -cool—keep cool and use your head.” - -There was an audible groan as Dick was seen returning to first. - -The next Tufts man batted a slow grounder at Tucker, who juggled the -ball a moment and then made a disgustingly bad throw to first. Dick was -forced to leave the sack and leap into the air to get the ball, and the -hitter crossed the hassock in safety. - -With no one out, Tufts’ prospects of tying the score were bright indeed. - -“Look out for a bunt, Sam,” warned Dick, who believed the visitors would -try to sacrifice. - -The infielders crept in toward the plate, and poised themselves on their -toes, every muscle taut. - -The intention of the enemy had not been miscalculated. The bunt came, -and the runner on first reached second while Kates got the ball and -“killed” the batter at first. - -But now a fine single properly placed would be almost sure to give the -enemy the coveted run to make the score a tie. - -More than that, the next hitter was one of the cleverest batsmen on the -visiting team. Kates used all his art and skill on the man, but finally -the fellow smashed the ball, driving it on a line toward right field. - -Dick was playing ten or twelve feet into the diamond. He made an -electrified leap, shot out his right hand, and pulled the liner down. -The moment his feet touched the ground he was ready to throw to second, -but he made sure that Claxton would get the ball. The runner on second -had started for third, but he stopped and nearly broke himself in two in -an effort to get back. - -He was a second too late, and the double play put something of a -dampener on Tufts’ elation. - -Kates heaved a great sigh of relief, and something like a sickly smile -of joy passed over his face. - -This was what he needed to put him once more at his best, for he struck -out the man who followed. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - A HEART-BREAKING FINISH. - - -But Kates’ troubles were not over. Yale did nothing with the Tufts -twirler in the eighth, and Tufts opened the ninth with another two-sack -bingle that made the Yale crowd feel sick. - -Some one yelled for Merriwell. Kates again cast a questioning glance -toward Dick. - -“If we pull him out,” Dick thought, “he’ll have no further backbone for -pitching.” - -Jones started in from the field. Divining the intention of Blessed, Dick -hurriedly waved him back. - -Buckhart looked disgusted, and shook his head. - -“Reckon my pard wants to throw this game away,” he muttered to himself. -“We’ll lose it if we let Kates stay on the rubber.” - -But Kates stayed. Aware that Dick still had confidence in him, Sam -forced the following Tufts man to put up an easy infield fly, which was -captured by Tucker. - -“All we want is a clean hit, Stroud!” cried a Tufts coacher. “You’re the -boy to do it!” - -Stroud was a dangerous man with the stick, and the spectators hung -poised on a point of painful suspense. - -Four times Stroud fouled. Then Sam twisted one round his neck, and he -missed cleanly. - -“That’s the way! that’s the way!” laughed Dick. “Now it’s all right! -That lively lad will pass away on second.” - -With two strikes and only one ball called by the umpire, it began to -seem as if Kates would mow down the last Tufts batter. But the fellow -picked out a corner-cutter and raised it far into left field. - -“All over!” shouted some one. “Jonesy has it.” - -Jonesy thought he had it, but as the ball settled it took one of those -exasperating curves which are troublesome to handle, and Blessed merely -touched it with the fingers of one upthrust hand. - -Before the dismayed Yale captain could get the ball back into the -diamond the score was tied, and Tufts had another runner on third. - -“We’ve got this game—we’ve got it!” barked a coacher. “They’ll never get -away from us now!” - -“Everybody knew what would happen,” cried a voice. “The game was lost -when they changed pitchers.” - -Strangely enough, Kates was no longer downcast and lacking in -confidence. He told himself that any person with good baseball judgment -must know he was not responsible for what had happened. He did not cast -any further questioning looks toward first, but placed himself on the -rubber, ready to pitch at his best as long as they would let him remain -there. - -His best proved good enough to fan the next Tufts man, and Yale came to -bat in the last of the ninth with the tally tied. - -“We’ll do ’em up in the next inning,” announced the Tufts captain, who -seemed confident that there would be an extra inning. - -It quickly began to look as if there would be such an inning, for the -first two Yale batters went out, one on a fly and the other on an easy -grounder into the diamond. - -Then came a bad error for Tufts. Spratt, who batted ahead of Kates, -bumped a bounder toward third, and reached first on an infielder’s -fumble. - -For an instant Kates seemed benumbed as he realized he was the next -person to hit. A strange silence had settled over the field, and Sam -fancied he could feel the eyes of every spectator fixed upon him as he -stepped out, bat in hand. - -As if from a great distance he seemed to hear some one say: - -“Perhaps he’ll win his own game.” - -“If he only could!” said another; but there was only doubt in the words -and the voice. - -Kates glanced toward Spratt, and a signal told him that the desperate -fellow on first would try to steal. To assist Jack, Sam swung wildly at -the first ball pitched, although he was careful not to hit it. - -Spratt’s thin legs carried him down the line to second with deceptive -speed, and a beautiful slide landed him safely on the sack a second -before he was tagged. - -“Safe!” shouted the umpire. - -Spratt leaped up, dusting his clothes and grinning. - -“You’re dud-dud-dreadfully slow,” he observed mockingly to the second -baseman. - -“Oh, never mind,” was the retort. “You won’t go any farther.” - -“Th-think so?” said Jack. - -“Know so.” - -“Bub-bub-bet you on it. Kates is gug-going to biff it.” - -Sam heard those words. Here, at least, seemed to be one person besides -Merriwell who had confidence in him. - -“I will biff it!” he decided. - -He made good in a way that brought the Yale men up standing. Bat and -ball cracked together, and the ball was laced into the field halfway -between right and center. - -Tucker, on the coaching line near third, waved his arms frantically and -shrieked until he was purple in the face as Spratt came straddling on. -Jack’s teeth were gleaming, his hands clenched, and his eyes bulging out -of his head. As he crossed third the breath whistled from his nostrils -with a sound that reminded one of a racehorse coming under the wire. - -A fielder had the ball. He whipped it to the second baseman. The second -baseman turned and lined it to the catcher. - -“Slide!” shrieked Tucker and many others. - -Spratt flung himself headlong, as if making a dive. Along the ground he -scooted in a manner that seemed to proclaim the dry soil greased at that -particular point. - -Plunk!—the ball landed in the catcher’s mitt. Down he ducked and planted -it between Spratt’s shoulders. - -But Jack had both hands on the plate, and the umpire yelled: “Safe!” - -To Dick Merriwell’s unspeakable satisfaction, Sam Kates had really won -his own game. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - A SURPRISE FOR DICK. - - -In the dressing room there was a jabber of youthful voices as the -players got into their street clothes. Kates was feeling pretty well, -for the fellows who had made errors behind him, one and all, had come -forward and offered congratulations over his work, at the same time -blaming themselves for repeatedly putting him into a bad hole. - -Casper Steele, in a motoring suit, appeared and expressed his -appreciation of the hair-lifting game he had witnessed. - -“I was really losing interest when you went out of the box, Merriwell, -old man!” laughed Casper. “That finish was a heart-breaker, though. How -long before you and your friends will be ready to start for Meadwold?” - -“On my word,” said Dick, “I’d forgotten about your invitation.” - -“But you can go?” questioned Steele anxiously. “You said you’d let me -know if you couldn’t get away, and I haven’t heard a word from you.” - -“It’s all right, I can go.” - -“How about Claxton and Buckhart?” - -“They will come along. It’s all fixed.” - -“Good! A day off to-morrow will be to the benefit of all of you.” - -“How about Tucker?” asked Dick, in a low tone. “I don’t like to go away -and leave him to himself for even a day. I’ve taken the liberty of -asking him if he’ll join us, providing you don’t object.” - -“Now, look here, old man,” said Steele, “didn’t I tell you this was to -be your party? Didn’t I tell you to invite any one you wished?” - -“Yes, but——” - -“I meant it. It’s to be a little housewarming, you know. The gov’nor -will have a party of his own down there next week. Just now he has some -sort of a business deal on that is keeping him mighty busy. I have my -car here, and I’ll take you and your chosen friends to pick up your -dunnage. It’s forty miles to Meadwold, and it will be dark before we get -there, anyhow.” - -“It was mighty fine of you to plan this little outing, Steele,” said -Dick. - -“Well, I hope you and your friends enjoy yourselves, and I think you -will.” - -Meadwold was the name given to a large country estate purchased the -previous year by Peyton Steele, Casper’s father. Steele was a man who -loved the country and country life, and it was his intention to make -this newly acquired property an ideal summer home for his occupancy. The -old farm buildings had been renovated and enlarged. Broad verandas had -been built. A fine stable was put up, and the place was stocked with -blooded horses and choice cattle. A complete corps of servants had been -installed at Meadwold, and everything was ready for the housewarming. - -Blessed Jones had been invited to become one of the party, but had -solemnly expressed it as his duty to remain in town and look after those -ball players who needed watching. He now came up, with a sad and doleful -expression on his face. - -“Methinks thou wilt have a high old time, brothers,” he said. “But look -here, Steele, you want to remember that these fellows are under -training-table regulations. Don’t gorge them with ice cream and cake and -such disastrous delicacies.” - -“Leave that to me,” said Dick. “We’ll behave, Jones. Don’t be afraid. -Too bad you don’t feel that you ought to come.” - -“It is too bad,” nodded Steele. “I’d enjoy having you.” - -“Without doubt,” said Blessed. “I would add immensely to the gayety of -the aggregation. I’m generally about as funny as a funeral.” - -Tucker was pleased when he learned beyond doubt that he was to be one of -the party. Steele took them in his car, and soon they were at the curb -in front of the lodging house on York Street. - -“I’ll get my things and come back here,” said Rob Claxton, as he sprang -from the car. - -Thirty minutes later the big touring car was bearing them out of the -city. - -“It’ll certainly be fine to get out into the country, where we can -gambol with the little lambkins,” laughed Tucker. “I need it. My! but -wasn’t that a lovely throw I made to you, Dick? I had a spasm when I -realized what I’d done. Didn’t think you’d ever touch it, but you raked -her in with one paw. Say, how long is your arm? I swear you reached -eleven feet into the air for that ball!” - -“Please don’t talk about errors, suh,” entreated Claxton. “I’d like to -forget that awful mess I made.” - -“Kates sure pitched a good game,” observed Buckhart. “But there was one -time I thought he had gone to the bowwows.” - -“That game reminds me of the last one I played in before coming to -college,” said Tucker. “The finish was just about as sensational. We had -the other fellows going up to the seventh inning, when they got after -our pitcher and bumped him. In the ninth inning they needed one run to -tie, and two to win, and they had the bases filled. It was their last -turn to bat, and two men were out. I was playing center field. Up came -the heaviest batter on their team, and he slammed a long fly out into my -garden. The ground out there was awfully soft in spots, and when I -started for that fly one of my feet got stuck in a hole so that I -couldn’t pull it out to save my neck. There was the ball coming down -just about six feet beyond my reach, and me held fast by one hoof. I -tell you it was awful. Perspiration literally started out on my face in -drops as big as gooseberries. But I got the ball.” - -“How did you do it, suh?” asked Claxton curiously. - -“Why, you see, I just stooped down, cut my shoe laces, pulled my foot -out of my shoe, made a lunge, and grabbed the ball.” - -“Remarkable!” breathed Rob. “Cut your shoe laces, did you?” - -“Yep.” - -“Do you usually carry a knife around in your baseball suit?” - -“Oh, no,” confessed Tommy, looking a bit confused. “I didn’t cut my -laces with a knife.” - -“What did you cut them with, if you don’t mind telling?” - -“With a blade of grass, of course,” snorted Tucker. - -Merriwell, Buckhart, and Steele laughed, and, after a moment, Claxton -joined in. - -“That’ll about do for you, Tommy,” said Dick. “Don’t tell us any more -such wonderful yarns. We can’t quite digest them.” - -New Haven was now left behind, and the car was humming smoothly over the -road. The boys had brought along their heavy coats, and, therefore, were -quite comfortable, although it was growing cool as the sun sank in the -west. A beautiful sunset filled them all with admiration and delight. -The ride in that big, easy car was calculated to soothe their -overstrained nerves after the excitement of the game. - -“Strange,” said Claxton, “I didn’t see Miss Ditson or Miss Midhurst at -the game. They usually attend. Were they there, Dick?” - -“I didn’t see them myself,” confessed Merriwell. - -“Nor I,” said Buckhart. “I reckon they were not there.” - -No one observed the faint smile that flitted across the face of Casper -Steele as he bent over the steering wheel. - -“I fancy you’re right,” he said. “I looked around at the crowd in the -stand, and I saw nothing of those girls.” - -The sun had vanished, and purple shadows were spreading in the east. -They stopped to light the lamps, and then bowled on again. Night -enfolded them softly, and the bright glare of the lamps grew more and -more effective as the darkness increased. - -“We’re getting near Meadwold,” Steele finally announced. - -A few moments later they swung in at a gate with high stone posts, and -followed a private road that wound between long lines of gnarled old -trees. - -“We’ll see the lights in a minute,” said Casper. - -Surmounting a little rise, they beheld before them the gleam of many -lights, and Steele told them that was Meadwold. - -“Gee whiz!” piped Tucker. “They’ve certainly illuminated gorgeously for -our arrival.” - -“I have a party of friends there who are expecting us,” was Casper’s -surprising announcement. - -He now pressed the pedal, and the Gabriel horn sang sweetly through the -spring night. - -“That will tell them we’re coming,” he laughed. “They’ll be on the -veranda to welcome us.” - -And now the boys discovered that the veranda and the trees in the -immediate vicinity of the house were hung with hundreds of Japanese -lanterns. - -As they swung up the fine road to the front of the house they heard a -chorus of youthful voices, and forth from the wide front door came -swarming a merry band of boys and girls. There were fully thirty of -them, and they crowded to the steps, waving their handkerchiefs and -laughingly crying welcome. - -“Great horn spoon!” muttered Brad Buckhart. “What are we up against?” - -But Dick was speechless, for there, in the mellow light of the many -lanterns, standing in front of all the others, her hands outstretched to -him, was the one girl he knew best in all the world—June Arlington! - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - A HEARTY WELCOME. - - -“Welcome, welcome to Meadwold!” cried the merry voices. - -Dick’s eyes swam in a happy, wondering mist. At that moment he feared it -was all a dream from which he would quickly awaken. This vision of -June—June, radiant and flushed, and more beautiful than ever—could not -be other than a dream. - -“Dick—Dick, don’t you know me? Dick, aren’t you glad to see me?” - -It was her voice. He would have known it had it reached his ears in the -heart of darkest Africa. This was no dream; it was a grand, joyous -reality. The next instant he was on the steps, both her warm hands -clasped in his. - -“June, June!” he murmured ecstatically. “June, is it possible? Can it be -I’m really awake and this is you?” - -“Kiss her! kiss her! kiss her!” shouted a chorus of voices. - -June, red as a fresh-blown peony, her voice trembling with excitement, -her eyes gleaming like twin stars, answered his questions. - -“Of course it is I, and, of course, you’re wide awake.” - -“No, he isn’t,” piped another voice, that sounded strangely familiar. -“If he was wide awake, he would never pass up an opportunity like that.” - -“How is it possible that I find you here?” asked Dick. - -“Chester will explain.” - -“Chester——” - -“Present,” laughed a bronzed youth, stepping quickly down and placing an -affectionate hand on Dick’s shoulder. “How are you, Merriwell, old man? -On my soul, I’m quivering with delight over seeing you again. Give us a -grip at that man’s hand of yours.” - -This was June’s brother, who wrung Dick’s hand with all the hearty -regard and affection of his soul. - -“My head is humming,” laughed the bewildered boy. “I thought you were in -Wellsburg, June; and you, Chester—I thought you somewhere away out in -the wild and woolly.” - -“I’ve shed my chaps, had my hair cut, hung up the riata, and come back -to civilization,” said Arlington. “But I don’t suppose we ought to -monopolize him, June. He has other friends who are anxious to get at -him.” - -While June and Chet turned to Brad Buckhart, Dick shook hands with Jack -Randall, of Harvard. - -“Quite a lively little party this of yours,” smiled the handsome Harvard -man. - -“Mine?” said Dick. “Why, Steele got up this party.” - -“But we all understand it’s for your benefit and entertainment. Here are -Barbara and Mabel.” - -And now Dick understood why he had not seen Bab Midhurst and Mabel -Ditson at the baseball game that afternoon. - -“It’s a conspiracy!” he cried. “I have been deceived, and I’m glad of -it.” - -“I brought another friend of yours along with me,” said Randall. “Where -is he? He should have been among the first to attack you.” - -“Like the modest, shrinking little violet that I am,” said the voice -that had declared Dick was not wide awake when he shook hands with June, -“I am content to bloom low amid the other gorgeous flowers of this fair -garden. Therefore, I am easily overlooked. Hello, Dick! Give us the high -wigwag.” - -“Dale Sparkfair, you handsome rascal!” cried Merriwell, getting a good -hold on the speaker’s hand. - -Sparkfair it was, jolly, jovial, scintillating as ever. - -“You see, I’m always loth to thrust myself forward, Dick,” said Spark. -“I’ve been suppressed and sat on so much since butting into Harvard that -my natural timidness and reticence has increased a thousandfold.” - -“Suppressed? Sat on?” laughed Randall. “If ever there was a freshman who -could not be suppressed and sat on, this fresh freshman is the one. Why, -he’s had all Cambridge standing on its head the biggest part of the time -since he landed there. A dozen times he’s turned the old place over to -look at the bottom side of it. He has more friends and enemies to the -square yard than any man at Harvard who is not a senior or a big gun in -athletics.” - -“Fie! fie!” remonstrated Dale. “I fear much that you will give people a -false impression by the careless trippling of your tongue. Trippling is -good. I think I’ll copyright it. I’m great at coining words. That’s -about the only kind of coin I can get hold of lately.” - -Introductions followed, Dick presenting his Yale friends to those -friends of his he had unexpectedly found at Meadwold. All were then made -acquainted with the young people, youths, and maids who belonged to -Casper Steele’s particular set. At the very beginning of these -introductions, in a cautious whisper, Sparkfair warned Dick not to -exhaust his supply of “hot-air compliments” too quickly, as there were -lots of pretty girls in the party, and he would need a liberal supply to -go round. - -Steele had turned the touring car over to his mechanician, who was -awaiting the arrival at Meadwold. He now led the way into the renovated -house, and the chattering guests flocked after him. - -Casper’s mother was there, standing just inside the door and smiling on -them all. She gave her hand to Dick and his friends as her son presented -her. There were also two other middle-aged ladies who were present as -chaperons. - -“I’m very glad to meet Dick Merriwell,” said Mrs. Steele. “You won’t -mind if I call you Dick, will you? You see, I’ve heard Casper call you -that so often that it’s most natural for me.” - -“I am genuinely complimented to know that you wish to call me by my -Christian name, Mrs. Steele,” he bowed. - -“You must make yourself at home—you and your friends. I hope you all -have a pleasant time at Meadwold.” - -“That is assured already, madam. I’ve had one of the most delightful -surprises of my life.” - -Steele took Dick, Brad, Rob, and Tommy upstairs to the room they were to -occupy. - -“You see, we’re a bit crowded,” he explained. “There are two beds here -and a bath adjoining. I think you’ll be comfortable.” - -“Comfortable!” said the Texan, looking around. “Great horn spoon, I -should say so! Why, this is great for a man who has found comfort -sleeping in a blanket, with his boots for his pillow and the ground for -his bed.” - -“Well, I’m certainly glad I came,” said Tucker. “Isn’t it great, boys?” - -“It reminds me of hospitality in old Virginia, gentlemen,” came from -Claxton. “I didn’t suppose they had anything like it in your cold and -reserved North.” - -“Oh, we’re not as cold and reserved as we seem, once you get under our -skins,” chuckled Steele. “Take your time to wash up, fellows. Come down -when you get ready. I fancy we’ll have dinner very soon now.” - -“A great chap, that Steele,” murmured Tommy, as the door closed behind -Casper. “And to think he didn’t get through college—it’s a shame. But -then, he has so much money that he doesn’t need a college education to -help him spend it.” - -“And that’s one of the brightest remarks I ever heard you make, Tucker,” -laughed Dick. - -“Listen!” exclaimed Buckhart. “I sure hear music! On my word, they’ve -got an orchestra.” - -It was true, for the soft strains of an orchestra floated up to their -ears from some part of the house. - -“Steele is certainly doing the thing up brown,” chuckled Tucker. “Go -ahead, Dick, and make your ablutions. You’re the one in this bunch who’s -most wanted down below. The rest of us won’t be missed if we’re slower -in reappearing.” - -Dick pulled off his coat, rolled back his cuffs, and disappeared into -the bathroom. - -“No flies on this party, eh?” grinned Tucker. “Everybody agreeable and -congenial.” - -Buckhart shrugged his shoulders. - -“With one exception, possibly,” he muttered, not wishing Dick to hear. -“Chester Arlington might have improved the party had he remained away. -He was Dick’s bitterest enemy at Fardale, and I can’t easily forget the -dirty tricks in which he was concerned. My pard seems to think the -fellow has reformed, but I’m far from satisfied on that point. I doubt -if any one as rotten as Arlington has been ever wholly reformed. -However, I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt until he shows -the cloven hoof again. If he does that, I’ll certain feel like lighting -on him all spraddled out. You hear me softly warble!” - - - - - CHAPTER V. - THE DINNER. - - -The dinner was a grand success. Two long tables had been placed end to -end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, -skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and -charming girl at his elbow. - -Of course, June was at Dick’s side. For the time being, Mrs. Steele and -the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to -cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering. -Waiters were numerous, silent, and attentive, and the courses came on in -a manner that would have done credit to a first-class hotel. Somewhere -in a near-by room the orchestra discoursed appropriate music. Beneath -the softened lights the china, cutglass, and silverware gleamed, and the -girls, flushed with pleasurable excitement, seemed the fairest to be -found in all the land. - -“Of course, I’m ready to explode with curiosity, June,” said Dick, under -cover of the chatter that rose about them. - -“I suppose you are,” she laughed tantalizingly, giving him a look with -those splendid eyes of hers that shot him through with the old-time -thrill. - -“But you don’t seem in any hurry to satisfy that curiosity. Don’t -tantalize me, June. How did it happen?” - -“Your brother brought my brother back with him to Wellsburg when he -returned from the West.” - -“Yes, I know; but Wellsburg is a long distance from Meadwold. It’s -mysterious. I didn’t suppose Casper Steele knew you, yet I find you here -at his father’s country home.” - -“My father knows Mr. Payton Steele very well.” - -“I see a faint ray.” - -“They have often had business relations. At present father is carrying -through a business deal in company with Mr. Steele. To do this he had to -come on here, and, when he found he was coming, both Chester and myself -begged him to bring us along. That’s the explanation, Dick. We met -Casper Steele, and as soon as he found out we were your friends he began -to plan this surprise party for you.” - -“And I never suspected a thing.” - -From the head of the table Steele laughed at Dick. - -“I was afraid you might get a suspicion of it,” he said, having caught -Merriwell’s words. - -“I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to get even with you, old chap,” -said Dick. “But perhaps I’ll find a way some time.” - -Near the foot of the long table sat Mabel Ditson, with Brad Buckhart on -her right and Rob Claxton on her left. She was dividing her favors -between them, and both seemed satisfied. Her position was a delicate -one, and it required art and cleverness to balance her smiles and words -so that neither should fancy the other to be the one most favored. -Sparkfair was chatting in his airy manner with a beautiful girl by the -name of Agnes Locke. Nevertheless, it seemed that he occasionally cast -faintly regretful glances in the direction of June and Dick. - -Jack Randall talked confidentially with Barbara, and, save Dick himself, -it was possible no one present knew their exact relations. Suddenly -Steele rose to his feet. - -“A toast!” he proposed. - -“A toast! a toast!” cried all. - -Casper lifted a glass. - -“We’ll drink it in water, the favorite beverage of the one to whom it -will be given.” - -They all rose, each with an uplifted glass of water. There was a hush, -and, with a grave smile, Casper turned his eyes on the lad at June -Arlington’s side. - -“Here’s to Dick Merriwell,” he said. “Here’s to his friends and his -foes; may his friends never falter in their loyalty, and may his foes -soon realize their folly and become his friends.” - -“Splendid! splendid!” was the cry as they drank the toast. - -Dick thanked Casper in a clever little speech, his face flushed and his -heart warmed by it all. It was Randall who proposed the next toast. - -“Here’s to Yale,” he bowed; “Yale, Harvard’s beloved rival. May the blue -ever flutter high above all other colors save the crimson.” - -“I’ll have to attach an amendment to that,” laughed Dick. “May the best -team win, and, if it does, the blue has no fear of finding itself -looking up to the crimson.” - -“You wait until your freshman baseball team goes against our freshies!” -cried Randall. “You know we have a slab wizard by the name of -Sparkfair.” - -“Keep it dark, keep it dark!” came in a hoarse whisper from Dale. “Don’t -put the enemy wise. Let him march unsuspecting to the slaughter.” - -Randall laughed. - -“I think I’ll have to tell how I happened to bring Spark with me to -Meadwold,” he said, as the entire party was again seated. - -“I can’t bear to have you tell,” objected Dale. - -“This reckless young blade,” said Jack, “has injected himself into all -sorts of trouble since descending on Cambridge. He seems to enjoy -trouble with a keen and fiendish enjoyment. The rackets he has been in -would fill a three-volume novel. Repeatedly he has escaped disasters by -a hair’s breadth. His last escapade proved rather more serious than the -others. He stole a cinnamon bear.” - -“Tut, tut!” remonstrated Sparkfair. “State the facts, Randall—the bear -conceived an overweening affection for me, and insisted on following me -like a dog.” - -“Insisted on following you after you had fed him a two-pound box of -chocolates and bon-bons,” said Jack. “It was this way: An Italian organ -grinder brought a tame dancing bear into town. The dago did a lively -business around Harvard Square, for the bear was really amusing, and the -students coughed up their spare coins to see him do his stunts. Some -time in mid-afternoon the bear’s master tied him to a tree on -Massachusetts Avenue, and went into a restaurant for something to eat. -About this time Sparkfair hove upon the horizon and espied bruin. Dale -had purchased an extravagant amount of candy for some one of his -numerous lady loves. He took a notion to offer the bear a chocolate -drop, and bruin keenly appreciated the favor. For some time Spark -continued to deal out confectionery to the beast, and with each fresh -chocolate or bon-bon the bear’s liking for Dale increased by leaps and -bounds. Just how bruin’s chain came unhitched from the tree I’m unable -to say. At any rate, when Spark started to depart the cinnamon waddled -after him.” - -“It was a frightful moment,” put in Dale. “Imagine my sensation of -horror when I realized that I was being pursued by a real bear. Of -course, I wouldn’t have minded so much if it had been one of those Teddy -things that they sell at a toy store, but this was the real stuff, with -genuine hair on it. It had claws and teeth, too. At first I was tempted -to fly for my life, but I didn’t know just how fast that bear could -sprint, and, therefore, I was afraid to make a start. In order to -appease the monster I opened up my second box of sweets and handed him -out a few more chocolates.” - -“That’s right,” chuckled Randall. “Behold Sparkfair, in your mind, -backing down Mt. Auburn Street with the bear sniffing along after him -and licking its chops for more chocolates. It seems that Spark has a -sophomore friend whom he greatly admires that rooms in Claverly. This -sophomore’s name is Coakley. Up to date I believe he and Spark have -practiced the manly art of self-defense on each other at least four -times. Coakley has lost one of his front teeth, and for a week or so -Sparkfair was proudly displaying a beautiful black eye. Well, what do -you think Spark did? When he reached Claverly he proceeded to decoy that -bear into the building and upstairs to Coakley’s room. It happened that -Coakley was out, but his door was unlocked. Spark got the bear inside, -and then heartlessly abandoned the poor beast.” - -“Not until I had fed him the last bon-bon in that two-pound lot,” sighed -Spark, with amusing dolefulness. “I know a girl who went hungry for -candy that night.” - -“Coakley returned to his room in the dusk of early evening,” Randall -continued. “He walked right in, without anticipating the welcome he was -to receive. The bear was asleep on Coakley’s best Turkish rug. I don’t -think Coakley saw him. At any rate, he fell over bruin, who rose with a -grunt of disapproval. A moment later other fellows in Claverly were -horrified by the most fearsome, heart-rending scream of terror that ever -smote mortal ears. Coakley yelled murder and made a scramble to get away -from the bear. Evidently bruin fancied his friend with the candied -delicacies had returned, for he tried to embrace Coakley. As I room in -Claverly myself, I happened to see the finish. Coakley ripped open his -door and came gasping and tumbling into the hall. A furry figure -lumbered after him. Coakley slid downstairs, and the bear imitated his -example. Confused and terrified, Coakley made the mistake of dashing -into the swimming room. Bruin kept close at his heels until, with a last -despairing howl of anguish, Coakley plunged headlong into the tank. The -bear sat down on the edge and grinned with pleasure as he watched -Coakley splashing and blowing about in the water. I think Coakley was in -that tank something like three quarters of an hour before some one -brought the bear’s master, who took bruin away. - -“Unfortunately, some one saw Sparkfair decoying the bear into Claverly. -Coakley has sworn vengeance. An investigation is threatened. There is a -tinge of blood on the moon in Cambridge. I thought it would be best for -Spark to get away for a couple of days, and therefore I’ve inflicted him -on this otherwise respectable party.” - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - THE BLACKMAILER. - - -After dinner music and merriment resounded through the many rooms of -Meadwold. The guests were free to go wherever they chose, and all seemed -to feel perfectly at home. A little group had gathered around a girl who -was seated at the piano, and Jack Randall led in the familiar songs of -old Harvard, being joined by both boys and girls in the choruses. - -One of the servants found Casper Steele and spoke a low word to him. -Steele left the room, and was absent a few minutes. Returning, he sought -for Sparkfair, whom he found chatting in his airiest manner with Agnes -Locke, who was holding her own with him in the way of persiflage. - -Begging the girl’s pardon, Casper drew Spark aside. - -“There’s a friend of yours in the next room, Sparkfair,” he said. “He’s -just arrived, and seems very anxious to see you.” - -“That’s natural,” said Dale. “My friends can’t bear to be separated from -me. It breaks their hearts. Did he send in his autograph?” - -“He told me to tell you that he was a classmate from Cambridge.” - -“I will flee to him on the wings of the morning—no, I mean the wings of -the evening. It’s too late for this morning, and too early for to-morrow -morning. But say, old man, don’t let any giddy youth get away with my -find, Miss Locke. We’ve been flinging bon mots and chunks of -scintillating conversation at each other, and at the present time she -has me pretty nearly backed off the map. After holding converse with my -friend from Cambridge I’m going out into the cool night air and think up -a few neat ones to spring on Miss Locke.” - -Spark danced into the adjoining room, but stopped as if shot when his -eyes fell on the new arrival. This was a fellow about Dale’s age, with -restless black eyes, an unnaturally pale face, and startlingly red lips. -He was dressed in a spring suit of the latest cut and most popular -style. He wore a bright red necktie. - -“Hanks!” breathed Spark, in astonishment. - -“That’s me,” nodded the other. - -For a single moment Sparkfair had seemed staggered. He recovered -quickly, and assumed his usual air of nonchalance. - -“Aren’t you lost, strayed, or stolen, Hanksy?” he inquired. - -“Oh, I guess not,” was the answer, with a touch of insolence in both -manner and tone; “but I was afraid you might become lost if I didn’t -take pains to look you up.” - -“It was distressingly kind of you, Hanksy.” - -“Cut out the Hanksy. You can’t afford to be too flip with me just now.” - -“I can’t afford much of anything since the squeezing you gave me,” -confessed Spark. “My dear fellow, you’re certainly destined to become a -millionaire, or a stone breaker in an institution for people who are too -eager to acquire sudden wealth.” - -“None of that,” advised Hanks. “It doesn’t sound well from a chap who -was caught in a piece of gumshoe work that would have done credit to a -second-story man. You can’t throw any stones, Mr. Dale Sparkfair. If you -do, you’re liable to get a few of your own windows broken. I don’t -wonder that you ducked out of Cambridge in a hurry, but you made a -mistake in thinking you could get away without settling with yours -truly, Jimmy Hanks.” - -“Didn’t you see Hunnewell after I left?” - -Hanks permitted his red lips to curve contemptuously. - -“I’m not making any settlement through a third party. I propose to do -business with you direct, my boy. Hunnewell chased me round, but I -declined to enter into dealings with him. I found out where you had -gone, and decided to take a little vacation myself, and look you up. I -am here. Now, take my advice and be good. Unless you do, your goose is -cooked at Harvard.” - -“Why don’t you find an elevated platform somewhere and tell people about -it?” chirped Dale. “Hadn’t you better hire a hall?” - -“If you don’t want your friends here to hear any of our conversation, -you might step outside with me.” - -“I’d like to step outside. I’d like to see you in some quiet, secluded -spot where I could put a few dents in your face, Hanks!” - -“If you want to try that on, you have my permission, but you know what -will follow. I have the proofs, Sparkfair—I have witnesses. You were -caught with the goods. I’m not choosing this as the proper place to -discuss the matter. If you wish to maintain secrecy, there’s a fine -veranda and a broad lawn outdoors.” - -“This is no time to talk of such things,” protested Dale, doing his best -to hide the annoyance and exasperation which threatened to get the upper -hand. “If you wish to see me to-morrow——” - -“But I don’t. To-morrow I return to Cambridge. We’ll come to an -understanding to-night. If not, you’ll be a fool if you ever again show -your head at Harvard.” - -“As long as you’re so urgent,” smiled Spark, “I suppose I’ll have to -give you a modicum of my valuable time. Toddle along, Hanksy, and I will -follow your lead.” - -A couple who happened to be standing on the veranda saw them come out of -the house and stroll away on the lawn, chatting freely in a way that was -deceptive in its seeming friendliness. It happened, also, that Jack -Randall had seen them leave the house, and had recognized the fellow -with Sparkfair. - -“What the dickens does that mean?” muttered Randall. “That was Hanks. -Where did he come from, and what is he doing here?” - -Jack was tempted to follow them, but finally decided not to do so. Some -twenty minutes later Sparkfair reappeared in the house and sought Jack, -whom he drew apart from the others. - -“Randall, old man,” said Dale, “I’d like to borrow a little filthy -lucre. Have you some molding simoleons in your clothes?” - -“What do you want of money?” - -“Now, that’s not nice, you know. If a friend asks you for a loan you -should submit gracefully and without question to the holdup. I’m sure to -pay you if I ever raise the dough. If I don’t, you may rest assured that -you have performed a worthy action in contributing to the peace of mind -of a distressed comrade.” - -“You can’t spend any money here, Spark. How do you expect to get rid of -it?” - -“I’m going to plug up a rat hole with it. I’ve got to plug that hole, or -the rat will eat my cheese. Now, don’t—don’t distress me by further -inquiry. Don’t you observe the beads of cold and clammy perspiration -upon my noble brow? Can’t you detect the haunting terror in my eye with -fine frenzy rolling?” - -“I know what you want with the money.” - -“Tell me not in mournful numbers that this can be true.” - -“I saw Jim Hanks.” - -“You’re on.” - -“Yes, I’m on. Where is he?” - -“Lingering near, like the vulture awaiting the feast.” - -“He’s under this roof?” - -“I expect the shingles of Meadwold shelter him at this moment.” - -“The dishonest crook, he ought to be kicked out! I’ll see that he is -kicked out at once.” - -But Dale grasped Randall’s arm. - -“Be not too hasty in your violent resentment against this pernicious -person,” implored Spark. “You can’t kick him to-night, Randy, without -hitting me. He has me nailed to the wall, and it’s useless to squirm.” - -“Are you going to let that blackmailer squeeze money out of you?” -indignantly demanded Randall. “I wouldn’t do it.” - -“If I refuse, he’ll proclaim to the world my iniquities. I can’t stand -for that to-night, Jack. I’ve got to choke him off, and there’s only one -way to do it. For goodness’ sake, let me have a paltry one hundred -dollars.” - -“So he demands a hundred, does he? He’s modest!” - -“Modesty is no name for it,” grinned Dale, still endeavoring to be -cheerful. - -“And this is only the beginning, Sparkfair. If you give in to him now, -he’ll suck you dry. You’ll have to pay hush money to that fellow -whenever he demands it. You’ll become his slave.” - -“Unless I find some way to trip him. All I want is a little time, -Randall, and I’ll find a way. In order to get time, I’ve got to hoist -the white flag at present. You know where I’d stand if this fellow -should tell a few things in the presence of the assembled merrymakers. I -can get rid of him at once by forking over the sum he demands. If you -don’t help me out, I shall have to give Merriwell the touch, and perhaps -he hasn’t that amount in his jeans.” - -“It certainly galls me to see you stand for blackmail, Sparkfair.” - -“It can’t gall you any worse than it does me, but when a fellow’s guilty -he has to cough if the blackmailer puts on the screws. Let’s not -procrastinate. I want to hasten Hanks forth into the coolness of the -outer air. The knowledge that he is beneath this roof hangs over me like -a fog.” - -“Do you think he’ll go if he gets the money?” - -“He says he will.” - -“I wouldn’t do this for any one else, Sparkfair. I haven’t the money in -my pocket, but I’ll get it for you.” - -“Thanks, a thousand thanks,” said Dale. “I’m so deeply moved that I fear -I may fall on your bosom and weep. I won’t forget it, Randall. On my -word, I won’t. I’m going to get a twist on Hanks if I live, and I’ll -find a way to squirm out of his grip. While I’m planning such a coup -I’ll have to soothe him with the long green. I’ll tell him he shall have -it directly, but don’t be too long in providing the needful, old man.” - -“Don’t worry. If he thinks he’s going to get a hundred, he’ll keep his -face closed.” - -Randall turned away, while Dale once more sought Hanks. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - BEHIND THE PALMS. - - -Ensconced behind some palms, Dick and June were enjoying a delightful -chat. They had a hundred things to tell each other, and June was vainly -trying to tell it all at once. From their nook they could see Buckhart -happily occupied with Mabel Ditson, and apparently satisfied for the -time being that he had stolen a lap on Claxton. Chester Arlington seemed -to be a favorite with the girls, and he appeared happiest with several -of them near. - -“Don’t you think my brother is looking well, Dick?” asked June. - -“Never saw him looking finer in my life,” was the answer. “The West must -have done him good.” - -“Oh, I know it did, but Chester says he owes all the benefit he has -received to your brother Frank. He has told me of the most wonderful -adventures in company with Frank. You know he was seriously wounded down -in Mexico. A bullet grazed his skull, and he was out of his mind for -some time. Frank took care of him and brought him back to Wellsburg. -Chester has been training in Frank’s athletic school, and I feel -confident now that he’s finally succeeded in breaking away from his old -bad habits.” - -“I sincerely hope he has.” - -“He says you, Dick, were the one who started him on the right road that -summer, up in the Blue Hills. Oh, that summer in the Blue Hills! I’ll -never forget it!” - -“Nor I,” said Dick. “It was jolly and strenuous and exciting enough to -satisfy the most adventurous tastes. How is Madge Morgan?” - -“I knew you’d ask. That was almost the first question Dale Sparkfair had -for me. Madge is fine. She’s attending school in Bloomfield, you know. -We have rooms together. Oh, she’s a splendid girl, Dick. She’s so kind -and thoughtful toward her poor old blind father. He’s there living -quietly in a home provided for him by some good people. Madge sees him -almost every day. She’s the only person he has to live for now, and I -know his one fear is that he will lose her somehow. That fear is -groundless, though. She’ll never be parted from him in the world.” - -“Not if I understand her as I think I do,” nodded Dick. - -“Wasn’t it the greatest fortune that Chester and I succeeded in inducing -father to let us come on with him? We planned to surprise you in New -Haven, but when we met Casper Steele, and he found we knew you so well, -he made arrangements for this surprise party.” - -“A surprise it was,” laughed Dick. “The greatest surprise and the most -delightful one of my life. Why, I really thought I must be dreaming when -we stopped at the door and I saw you there on the steps. I wish you -could have seen yourself beneath the light of those Japanese lanterns, -June. I used to think you pretty, but I declare when I saw you to-night -you looked a thousand times——” - -“Now stop—please stop!” she protested, quickly placing a soft palm over -his lips. “Don’t try to flatter me like that, Dick.” - -“The truth may never be called flattery. I had the queerest feeling as I -stared at you. I don’t wonder Sparkfair said I was asleep.” - -“But you weren’t, were you?” - -“I don’t know,” admitted Dick. “I’m afraid I was. I’m almost afraid I’m -still slumbering.” - -“Then you’d better wake up,” laughed the girl. - -“I will!” he suddenly exclaimed, and, screened by the palms, he kissed -her. - -She caught her breath with a little gasp. - -“If that’s the way you wake up, hadn’t you better go to sleep again?” -she said. - -“I don’t think so, for that is the realization of my dreams, June.” - -They both tingled with an unspeakable, undefinable pleasure that was -wholly innocent and harmless. Tommy Tucker, with a tall, dark-haired -girl, peered in upon them. - -“Peekaboo!” cried Tommy. “Caught you. Say, Dick, what makes you -monopolize the only secluded retreat there is in this room? Can’t you -give a fellow a show?” - -“Mr. Tucker!” exclaimed the tall brunette reprovingly. - -“Call me Tommy, Janette—please call me Tommy,” pleaded the little chap. -“And don’t for the love of decorum hitch Mister onto my name. I have to -stop and think who you mean when you do. Nobody ever calls me Mister. -All my friends insult me by calling me ‘Runt’ and ‘Shaver’ and -‘Sawed-off,’ and offensive names like that. I’ve threatened vengeance on -them a thousand times, but it doesn’t seem to frighten them a bit. I -wish I was seven feet tall.” - -“There’s a chap in Chicago, Tommy, who advertises to increase a person’s -height from an inch to two inches,” said Dick. - -“Well, if I can’t put on more than an inch or two,” declared Tucker, -“I’ll let myself remain a sawed-off. What’s the good of stretching one’s -self for a paltry inch of stature? Say, Dick, won’t you give me the -signal when you decide to move? I have a secret which I wish to whisper -in the shell-like ear of Janette. It can’t be told where the morbidly -curious would be liable to overhear a word.” - -“We’ll move at once,” laughed Dick. - -“Don’t permit Mr. Tucker to disturb you,” said Janette. “I think his -secret will keep a while.” - -“Ah, cruel maiden!” cried Tommy dramatically. “Would you keep the -pent-up emotion of my heart burning itself out with a lambent flame? -Gee, but that was a good one! Wonder how I happened to think of it? I -can’t always trace these brilliant ideas which occasionally flash from -the bubbling fountain of my intelligence. They’re really going, Janette. -Let’s rest. Let’s ensconce ourselves. Let’s modestly retire from the -public gaze.” - -But the tall brunette was obdurate, and Tommy could not inveigle her -behind the palms. - -“I must look like a dangerous devil,” said Tucker fiercely. “Never saw a -girl that wasn’t scared to death to get out of sight with me for ten -seconds.” - -“I’ll give you a pointer,” smiled Janette. “Don’t let them know you’re -so dreadfully anxious to get out of sight with them.” - -“Never thought of that,” confessed the little chap. “Say, Janette, let’s -stand under the chandelier a while. I’m awfully timid, you know. I -wouldn’t go behind those palms for the world.” - -Then, in a mock whisper, he murmured to himself: - -“I wonder if it will work?” - -“Oh, you’re the silliest little chap!” exclaimed the amused girl. “I -suppose, now, you expect me to seize you bodily and drag you behind the -palms. You’ve got a lot to learn, Tommy.” - -“Bless you! bless you!” panted Tucker, beaming with gratitude. “You -didn’t say mister.” - -Again he resorted to an aside in a hoarse stage whisper: - -“I’ve got her coming. She’s mine if I don’t make a misstep.” - -Janette began to laugh, and her merriment increased until she almost -gasped for breath. Indeed, she seemed to lose her strength to such an -extent that Tucker hurried to offer his support, and a moment later they -found themselves on the secluded seat behind the palms. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - HUSH MONEY. - - -Two of the rooms of the old house had been converted into one, which was -now the dance room of Meadwold. This was thrown open, and the alluring -strains of the orchestra brought the young people flocking to the -polished floor. Having left Mabel Ditson for a moment, Buckhart hastened -to look for her at the first strains of the dreamy waltz, and was filled -with consternation on discovering her just whirling onto the floor with -Claxton. Some one touched Brad on the arm as he stood glowering after -the lucky Virginian. - -“Don’t give yourself away like that,” said the voice of Barbara -Midhurst. “Why, you look ready to eat some one up.” - -“I see a gent from Virginia that I feel it my solemn duty to -assassinate,” growled the Westerner. - -“Is Mabel Ditson the only girl here?” - -“She is sure the only one for me,” admitted Brad. - -“Haven’t you any finesse?” - -“I don’t know. Down in Texas we don’t run to that a great deal.” - -“I gave you credit for more artfulness, Brad. The first time you met -Mabel you were on your guard, and you upset all her preconceived notions -of you. Don’t spoil it all to-night. You can’t keep her to yourself -every minute of the time.” - -“I notice my pard is hanging onto June Arlington right solid. There they -are waltzing together.” - -“But he hasn’t seen her for a long time. It’s different with you and -Mabel. Now, look at Jack and me. Where is he? I haven’t the remotest -idea. Brad Buckhart, if you don’t dance with me I shall be a wall -flower. You’re going to dance.” - -“I reckon I am,” said Brad submissively. “I hope you can stand for it.” - -“Why, you’re really a splendid waltzer,” said Bab, after they had swept -once round the floor. “Somehow, I didn’t fancy you were.” - -“That’s it,” he muttered, “and I’ll bet Mabel thought the same. If -that’s the case, I won’t trouble her. I’ll dance with somebody else.” - -Bab laughed. - -“You are the most jealous, touchy person I ever saw, Brad Buckhart. Why, -you’re worse than the Virginian you dislike so much.” - -“I don’t dislike him, begging your pardon. I thought I did once, but I -guess he’s all right in his way. We don’t tie to each other a whole lot, -but there’s no longer any hard feelings. We have planted the tomahawk. -If Mabel likes him better than she does me, she sure can have him as -much as she wants.” - -Dale Sparkfair and Agnes Locke swung past them. Spark was laughing and -chattering as if he had not a care in the world. Certainly, trouble sat -lightly on the shoulders of this irresponsible fellow. Nevertheless, -Spark caught his breath on passing the wide door of the dance room and -discovering Jim Hanks standing there, hands in pockets, serenely -following Dale with his dark eyes. - -Jack Randall appeared in the door a few moments later. At the conclusion -of the waltz Sparkfair excused himself and joined Randall. They moved -way. Hanks leisurely turning to watch them. - -“Here’s the money,” said Randall, slipping the roll into Dale’s hand. -“Get that fellow out of here.” - -“I’ll chase him out with great alacrity and unspeakable glee,” said -Dale. “Leave it to me.” - -But when he signalled for Hanks to follow him the intruder seemed -utterly oblivious to his meaning. Dale was compelled to walk up to Hanks -and speak to him in a low tone. This was precisely what Hanks wanted. - -“Oh,” he said, “here you are, Spark, old chap, Didn’t know what had -become of you.” - -“I noticed that,” scoffed Dale. “You were looking right at me, but you -didn’t see me. If you want to close that business, just stroll outside -for a moment.” - -Chester Arlington, having abandoned cigarettes, had wandered out onto -the veranda to whiff a cigar. Lighting the weed, he was tempted to -stroll down across the lawn, and finally seated himself in a -shrub-sheltered arbor. Two minutes later two persons stopped near this -arbor. They were Sparkfair and Hanks. - -“So you succeeded in raising the wind, did you?” chuckled the latter. - -“Yes, I succeeded in raising the wind,” answered Dale, “and, having done -so, I expect you to fan the wind with your heels. Your room is much -preferable to your company.” - -“But I’m enjoying myself,” chuckled Hanks. “It’s really a jolly little -party. I wouldn’t mind staying and joining the gay throng.” - -“But you won’t,” said Dale, with a grimness in his voice. “Having -blackmailed me to the tune of a hundred, you’ll promptly hit the high -places.” - -“But I haven’t seen the hundred yet.” - -“Here it is.” - -The word blackmail had caused Chester to check himself in the act of -coughing, to give them notice that he was sitting near. He now listened -with great interest, peering forth at the dark figures to be seen behind -the shrubbery. - -“It feels like the real stuff,” laughed Hanks, with satisfaction. “Are -you certain it’s an even hundred?” - -“I didn’t count it.” - -“Then I think I will.” - -Hanks struck a match and held it with one hand while he thumbed over the -money with his other hand. - -“Four twenties, a ten, and two fives,” he said triumphantly. “That’s -quite right, Spark, old chap. It looks like good money, too. I need it -in my business, you know.” - -“I don’t know why you should, for you’ve certainly fleeced enough -greenhorns to be good and flush. I caught you at your crooked game and -exposed you.” - -“You did make something of a fuss,” acknowledged Hanks, as he dropped -the expiring match. “You seemed to have me on the hip just then, but a -little later you made a bad mess for yourself. Of course, I shall stand -by my agreement and say nothing about that. I’ll likewise keep silent -the two friends who were with me when we caught you sacking my room.” - -“When you caught me trying to recover some of my goods which you had -beaten me out of,” said Dale hotly. - -“Were the watch and the ring we found on you goods of yours?” sneered -Hanks. “If I remember right, the watch bore my monogram, and I think I -can prove that I bought the ring with my own money.” - -“With the money you had cheated your victims out of.” - -“You were doing a little fine burglar work, Spark. You can’t deny that.” - -“I took that watch and ring with the idea of holding them until I could -force you to give up my property.” - -“That’s a nice little excuse, Sparkfair, but it happened that several -other fellows who had never obtained any of your property recently lost -valuable articles from their rooms. It was believed that the thief was a -college man, and it was freely stated that he would be expelled and -punished if detected. You know well enough what is coming to you if I -ever tell or permit my friends to tell how you were caught.” - -“I’ll not take the pains to deny that I am the suspected thief,” said -Dale. “I have hopes that the real thief will be found.” - -“That’s a pretty little bluff,” sneered Hanks, “but it doesn’t go with -me. Now, don’t get excited. Don’t make any fighting talk. You won’t -fight, because you don’t dare.” - -“Not at present,” acknowledged Dale. “But my time will come. I’m going -back to the house.” - -“And I’ll go with you.” - -“Go with me? You agreed to leave the moment I gave you that money! -Aren’t you going to keep that agreement?” - -“I meant to keep it when I made it,” said Hanks. “But since then I’ve -changed my mind. I’m going back to the house with you, and you’ll -introduce me to your friends. I think I shall enjoy myself very much.” - -“On my word, I’ll wear stripes before I’ll ever introduce you to any of -my friends!” flared Dale, as he whirled and strode away. - -“We’ll see about that,” muttered Hanks, following promptly. “I think -another twist of the screws will bring you to terms.” - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - ARLINGTON TAKES A HAND. - - -Arlington rose and stepped out from behind the shrubbery, standing where -he could watch the two figures passing beneath the glow of the many -Japanese lanterns. He saw Sparkfair mount the steps and enter the house -without once turning his head toward the chap who kept so close at his -heels. Hanks brazenly followed, and likewise disappeared beyond the -hospitable door of Meadwold. - -“Well,” said Chet, taking his cigar from his lips and tapping it to -knock off the ashes, “my friend Spark seems to have gotten himself into -a deuce of a mess. Reminds me of myself in the old days. I was always -getting into some sort of a scrape like that. I sympathize with him, -hanged if I don’t! Spark is a jolly good fellow. He is reckless and -regardless of consequences, and that’s the way I used to be. Used to be? -Perhaps I haven’t fully gotten over it yet. I’m hoping I have, but one -never can tell. If deviltry is in the blood, it’s liable to break out -any old time. Evidently this blackmailer has Sparkfair dead to rights. -He caught Dale in a position that makes Spark look like a sneak thief. -He’s got Spark going, and he’s bound to squeeze him good and hard. I -think I’ll have to take a little interest in Mr. Hanks. - -“I think I’ll have to see what I can do for my friend. From what I -overheard it’s evident that Hanks is something of a card sharp. I should -say he has been skinning Sparkfair and other fellows at Harvard. -Probably he thinks he’s too clever to make a slip and be exposed in his -crookedness, although Sparkfair claims to have caught him. It’s likely -Spark couldn’t prove his claim that Hanks was cheating. I’ve been up -against card sharps all over the country, and I think I know their -tricks. Although I should prefer to forget it, I’ve practiced a few -tricks myself. Really, I’d enjoy a nice, sociable little game with Mr. -Hanks. I’d enjoy having him try some of his slick tricks on me. Yes, I -have decided that I’ll cultivate the acquaintance of Hanks.” - -Flinging away his partly smoked cigar, Chester returned to the house. -The music of a two-step and the rhythmical sound of gliding feet came -from the ballroom. Arlington slowly sauntered in that direction, keeping -his eyes open for Hanks. He found the fellow just inside the door, -watching the dancers. Without hesitation, Chester spoke to him. - -“Hello,” said Chet, “you don’t seem to be dancing.” - -Hanks showed some surprise in being addressed in this manner. - -“No, I’m not dancing,” he answered. “You see, I’m a late arrival here, -and I haven’t met many of the young ladies.” - -“Then you weren’t at dinner? Somehow, I didn’t remember seeing you.” - -“No. I missed the spread. By Jove! that’s a peach of a pretty girl!” - -“Which one?” - -“The one my friend Sparkfair is dancing with. Do you know her?” - -Chester’s eyes found Dale and his partner in the moving throng upon the -floor. - -“Oh, yes, I know her,” he answered. - -“What’s her name?” - -“June Arlington.” - -“Well, that’s a pretty name. On my word, she’s the queen to-night. I’d -like to meet her.” - -“Would you?” - -“You bet I would!” - -“Perhaps your friend Sparkfair will give you an introduction?” - -Hanks chuckled. - -“Well, I don’t know about that,” he confessed. “You see, Spark and I -have lately been mixed up in an unfortunate tiff. Of course, it doesn’t -amount to anything, but he might be narrow and refuse to give me a -knockdown to that girl.” - -“Have you any other particular friends here this evening?” asked Chet. - -“Well, there’s Randall—I know him. He’s a Harvard man. I’m a Harvard -man, you understand. I suppose you’re an Eli?” - -“Not yet. I expect to enter Yale next fall.” - -“Well, say, couldn’t you put me next to that stunning girl with the dark -eyes?” - -“I might if we were better acquainted,” said Chester. “Let’s go up to -the smoking room and have a little chat. There’s plenty of time to dance -later. Come on, old man.” - -He passed his arm through that of Hanks, and led the fellow away. They -mounted the stairs and entered the smoking room, where they found one of -Casper Steele’s chums, Fred Harmford, enjoying a cigarette. Harmford was -the only fellow in the smoking room. - -“Hello, Arlington!” called Fred. “Going to smoke? Have a coffin nail out -of my collection.” - -He proffered his cigarettes. - -“No, thank you,” smiled Chester. “I’ve cut those things out. I prefer -cigars when I smoke now, and I’m careful not to hit them up too hard. -Getting back into form, you understand. Expect to enter Yale in the -fall, and I’m going in for athletics.” - -By this time he had found Steele’s well-filled cigar urn, and offered it -to his new companion. - -“Excuse me,” said Hanks, as he took a cigar, “did I get your name right -when that fellow spoke to you? Is your name Arlington?” - -“I believe it is.” - -“Any relation to the beautiful girl with the glorious dark eyes?” - -“Brother.” - -“Oh, by Jove! this is one on me!” laughed Hanks. “Here I was asking you -if you knew her! Say, a fellow with a sister like that ought to feel -proud enough to blow up. I think she’s the handsomest girl I ever set -eyes on.” - -“You’re quite extravagant in your admiration,” said Chester, waving -Hanks to a comfortable chair, although he felt like punching him in the -eye. “Sit down, old fellow. But first hadn’t you better shake hands with -Mr. Harmford? Harmford, this is Mr. Hanks, of Harvard.” - -They made themselves comfortable before the faintly glowing embers on -the hearth of the open fireplace. The music, softened and subdued by -distance, floated faintly to their ears. - -“How does it happen you’re not dancing, Harmford?” inquired Chet. - -“Don’t care much for dancing—never did. I prefer some less strenuous -form of amusement. Now, if some one would only start up a set at -bridge.” - -“Or poker,” laughed Arlington. “That’s the game for genuine amusement.” - -Hanks had pricked up his ears, and was showing the greatest interest. - -“Poker is a good game,” he said. “A man’s game.” - -“Do you play?” asked Chester. - -“Oh, occasionally—just for amusement, you know.” - -“I understand. Of course, we all play just for amusement. We don’t play -to stick our friends, or anything of that sort. If we had a crowd, and -were certain of no intrusion, I’d like to play a little game now. Would -you come in, Harmford?” - -“If the limit was made reasonable, I might sit in for a short time.” - -“Well, here’s three of us,” said Chet. “That’s better than no crowd at -all. Of course, it isn’t as good a game as more would make, but it will -do. None of the girls will come here, and I don’t think we need to mind -about the fellows.” - -“Steele might object,” said Harmford apprehensively. “I wouldn’t think -of starting a game without his permission.” - -“Well, you and Hanks make yourselves comfortable and sociable while I -look for Casper,” said Chester. “Perhaps he’ll join us.” - -“Doubt it,” said Harmford. “He’s too much interested in a certain young -lady. I don’t think he would venture to leave her long enough to play -poker.” - -Arlington left the room, but returned within ten minutes, bringing a -fancy poker set, with a full supply of chips and several packs of cards. - -“You were right about Steele, Harmford,” he said. “Casper said he -couldn’t think of taking a hand. Said he would have to keep around with -the guests, as it wouldn’t look well if he secluded himself for an hour -or more. He was perfectly willing we should enjoy a little game here in -the smoking room as long as we do not pull away enough of the fellows to -leave any of the girls pining for partners. You know there are several -fellows more than girls in the party. Now, let’s decline to take any one -else into the game. Let’s make it a little exclusive, three-cornered go. -We’ll play for exactly an hour, and then we’ll quit. That’s long -enough.” - -While speaking he had pushed a card table into position beneath the -softened glow of some electric lights. The trio gathered round that -table and settled down for the game. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - A HOT OPENING. - - -“What’s the limit?” asked Harmford. “What sort of a game are we going to -play?” - -“What would you suggest?” inquired Hank. - -“Five-cent ante and quarter limit is good enough for me.” - -“Tut! tut! tut!” cried Hank. “That’s a piker’s game. You can’t play -poker with that sort of a limit. If you attempt to make a bluff, -everybody’ll call you for a quarter. If you open a pot, everybody’ll -stay in on short pairs. Isn’t that right, Arlington?” - -“I’ve noticed,” answered Chester, “that a fellow generally loses as much -with a five-cent ante and a quarter limit as he does with the same ante -and a dollar limit—that is, if he knows how to play poker. The dollar -limit really makes it a good game.” - -“Whew!” whistled Harmford; “that’s pretty near the roof for me. Let me -see, I don’t believe I’ve got more than twenty-five or thirty dollars in -my clothes.” - -“That’s good while it lasts,” grinned Hanks. - -“Then it’s settled as a dollar limit, is it?” said Chet. “We’ll call the -blue chips a dollar, the reds a quarter, and the whites a nickel. I’ll -be the banker. We’ll take ten dollars’ worth of chips, each of us, to -begin with.” - -“Better take enough,” suggested Hanks. “Ten dollars’ worth wouldn’t last -a fellow long if he happened to get a good hand and found himself -bucking against some one else. Why don’t we take twenty-five dollars’ -worth to start with?” - -“As much as you choose,” said Chester, “only it’s understood that the -chips are paid for when I hand them out. There’ll be no credit business -done by the banker this evening.” - -“And if the banker loses I suppose we’re to have some assurance that he -also will make good,” said Hanks. - -“I’ll do precisely as you do,” assured Chester. “I’ll pay for my chips -and put the money in the card box when I take them.” - -“Well, that’s all right,” said Hanks, producing his roll. “Here’s a -yellow-backed twenty and a fiver.” - -“Gee whiz!” grunted Harmford, as he reluctantly counted out twenty-five -dollars. “This is plunging for a little game to pass away the time. I’m -liable to get skinned to the bone.” - -“If you get broke,” said Chester, “I’ll loan you money.” - -“That is, if you don’t get busted, too,” grinned Hanks. “Of course, -that’s not likely to happen, but still, in a three-handed game I’ve -noticed that, as a rule, one man is the winner and the other two are the -losers. I hope it’s my evening to win.” - -He was skillfully rippling the cards as he spoke. Having done this, he -placed them on the table for the cut. - -“Lowest deals,” he said, “and ace is low.” - -“Then I think I’ll deal,” laughed Harmford, turning up an ace. - -He was right, and the game began, Arlington putting up the first ante. - -“Now let them dance their heads off,” said Chester. “I’m better -satisfied right here.” - -Hanks stayed on the very first deal, shoving out two white chips, which -raised Chet a nickel. Harmford glanced at his cards and followed the -Harvard man’s example. - -Arlington promptly made it a quarter. - -“That’s interesting,” said Hanks. “Seems to me we all caught something -right off the reel. Wonder if you could stand another quarter, Mr. -Arlington?” - -“You might try me and see,” said Chester. - -“By Jove, I will!” - -Hanks pushed two red chips into the pot. - -“That lets me out,” said Harmford. “Can’t chase anything as hot as that -on a pair of jacks.” - -He threw down his cards and turned to Arlington, wondering what Chester -would do. Chester pushed a blue chip into the pile. - -“Do you make it a dollar?” inquired Hanks. - -“My money talks,” nodded Chet. - -“Well, you’re going some! But you’ve just begun. I’ll have to part with -one of my blue babies, and I think I’ll send another one along to keep -it company.” - -“That’s a bit over the limit,” reminded Chester. “If you’ll pull down a -couple of red ones, you’ll be right.” - -“Oh, yes,” said Hanks, as he secured two red chips, “you’re correct, -Arlington. I boost you an even dollar.” - -“You must have something good,” observed Chet, with a faltering air. - -“The show-down will tell whether I have or not. On my word, I hate to -win the first pot, but I have to play these cards for all there is in -them.” - -“Don’t worry about taking the first pot,” said Chester. “You haven’t -taken it yet, have you?” - -“No, but——” - -“Well, I’ll just boost you another blue one.” - -“Cæsar’s ghost!” exclaimed Harmford. “You fellows are plunging too -sudden, aren’t you?” - -“What’s the use to hold back when we have the right stuff to make a hot -start?” chuckled Hanks, his eyes beginning to gleam with greed, although -he tried to conceal the look beneath his bushy eyebrows. “I suppose I’m -a fool, Arlington, but you’ve got my dander up. I’ll raise you.” - -“And I’ll raise you.” - -“And I’ll raise you.” - -With each raise they pushed chips representing two dollars into the pot, -and before cards were drawn the first twenty-five dollars’ worth of -ivories had disappeared from the place in front of them. It was -Arlington who finally quit boosting. - -“Help! help!” gasped Harmford. “This is awful! This is the worst thing I -ever saw! Thank goodness, I didn’t get into that mess!” - -“Thank goodness I did,” laughed Hanks. “How many cards will you take, -Arlington? Harmford is ready to hand them out.” - -“You can give them to Hanks, old man,” said Chester. “I don’t think I -need any.” - -“Well, wouldn’t that bump you!” grinned the Harvard man. “Here I am in -precisely the same fix. I don’t need a card.” - -Then they stared at each other as if seeking to read an inkling of the -truth in the expression of their faces. - -One way in which a poker player seeks to judge the strength of an -opponent’s hand is by the opponent’s draw. In this case neither Hanks -nor Chet received any such hint. - -The Harvard man produced his money, saying: - -“I think I’ll have to have twenty-five dollars’ worth of chips, -Arlington.” - -Chester quietly counted them out, taking the proffered money and making -change. - -“I’ll have to have the same amount,” he nodded. “I’m bound to keep even -with you.” - -“Lock the door! lock the door!” palpitated Harmford. “Who’s armed? Who’s -got a pistol? Let him give it up before there’s any further betting.” - -“I always carry a pistol,” laughed Hanks, “but I’ve never had occasion -to use it. Certainly I can’t think it necessary now.” - -Once more the betting was taken up, and not until fully fifty dollars -had been put into the pot by each of them was a call made. At length, -Chester announced that he was satisfied, and that he would call. - -“A touch of cold feet?” murmured Hanks. - -“I don’t think so.” - -“I’m the one that’s got cold feet,” confessed Harmford. “On my word, my -teeth are chattering. Do hurry up and show your hand.” - -“Of course you may take it back,” said Hanks, still keeping his eyes on -Chester. “You may go on betting if you wish to.” - -“I’ve called,” nodded Chester grimly. - -“How large is your straight?” - -“I haven’t a straight.” - -“Oh! Then how large is your flush?” - -“I haven’t a flush.” - -“Then it must be a full hand!” cried Hanks. “But I think my full house -is good enough. Just take a look at it.” - -He spread out three aces and a pair of queens. - -“How does that look to you?” he inquired triumphantly. - -“Pretty good,” nodded Chester. “How do these look to you?” - -He lay down a king and four ten spots. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - CAUGHT WITH THE GOODS. - - -Hanks stared at the cards displayed by Arlington, and then he swore. - -“Where did you get them?” he finally demanded. - -“Harmford dealt them to me.” - -“And Harmford is a friend of yours!” - -“No insinuation, I hope?” murmured Chester, an ugly flash in his eyes. - -“Don’t you think it mighty strange you got a hand like that against this -ace full of mine?” rasped Hanks. - -“Well, it was rather odd,” admitted Chester. “But still, I must repeat -that I hope you’re not insinuating. To begin with, I wish you to -understand that Harmford is not a particular friend of mine. I met him -for the first time in my life to-day at Meadwold. We have never played -cards together before. If you’re not satisfied, Mr. Hanks——” - -“I am!” snapped Hanks, picking up the cards and pushing them across the -table. “The pot is yours, Arlington.” - -“Thank you,” said Chester suavely, as he raked in the chips. - -“Now give me fifty dollars’ worth of those chips,” said the defeated -chap, as he flashed his money once more. “I want you to understand that -I’m after you, Arlington. I’m going to even up for this devilish streak -of yours.” - -“Forewarned is forearmed,” laughed Chet, counting out the chips. “Here -you are.” - -“And here’s your money,” said Hanks, tossing it over. - -“Why, I won’t dare breathe in this game,” murmured Harmford. “I -certainly didn’t know what I was getting into.” - -“If you want to get out,” said Hanks, “Mr. Arlington and I can continue -alone.” - -“Don’t get out, Harmford,” entreated Chester. “That would spoil the -game. Mr. Hanks will feel better after he’s won a pot or two. He seems -to be easily disturbed over a little matter like that.” - -“I suppose you’ve seen plenty of games opened with hands just like -those,” sneered Hanks. “If you have, you began playing with a cold deck. -The cards were stacked.” - -“You can’t mean such was the case in this game,” said Harmford, “for you -shuffled the cards before we cut for deal.” - -“I’m not making any claims whatever. Let’s forget it.” - -Three or four hands were played without any further excitement. Harmford -won two small pots, which put him slightly ahead. Hanks sat grimly -glowering from beneath his shaggy eyebrows. He was biding his time, -feeling determined to get back at Arlington by hook or by crook. -Finally, on an interesting jack pot, all three players remained, Hanks -having opened. Hanks won this pot with three kings, Harmford having -three trays, and Arlington two pairs. - -“That’s just a flea bite,” observed the Harvard man. - -“Well, it leaves me about even,” said Harmford. “Guess I’ve got a couple -of dollars of somebody’s money here, but that’s all.” - -On Arlington’s next deal things happened. Harmford discovered three -sixes in his hand and made a bet. Chester stayed in without taking up -his cards. Hanks raised Harmford. Those three sixes looked good, and -Fred came back with another raise. - -By this time Arlington had examined his hand. He now added to the -excitement by raising a blue chip. Hanks studied his hand a few moments. - -“I think I’ll stay right with you people,” he observed. “I’ll have to -see you.” - -“But you don’t raise?” inquired Chester. - -“No.” - -“Nor I,” said Harmford, making good. - -Hanks took one card. Harmford took two, but failed to better his hand. - -“I think one will be enough for me,” said Chester. - -The card Chet drew would have improved Harmford’s hand, for it was the -fourth six spot. It did not improve Arlington’s hand, for Chester -already held four eight spots. - -Harmford bet a dollar. Arlington raised a dollar. Hanks pushed out three -blue ones. Harmford began to look disgusted. - -“One or both of you fellows filled your hands,” he observed, glaring at -the three sixes he held. “What’s the use for me to stick?” - -“We may be bluffing,” grinned Hanks. - -“If you’re both bluffing, I’ll let you fight it out between you!” -snapped Harmford, flinging down his cards. As he tossed them on the -board one of those cards was faced, but he quickly covered it with his -hand and turned it down. - -“It’s up to you, Mr. Arlington,” nodded Hanks. - -“In that case I shall have to give you another boost,” said Chester. - -They continued to raise each other until Hanks had exhausted his supply -of chips. Plunging down into his pockets, he raked up all the money he -possessed. - -“Here’s twenty-two dollars,” he said. “Give me that amount in ivories. -That’s my last dollar.” - -“In such a case,” said Arlington, “I should advise you not to press the -betting any further. You may need some money to-morrow.” - -“Don’t worry about me,” said Hanks. “I have you beaten this time.” - -Chester accepted the money and counted out the chips. While he was doing -this Jack Randall and Casper Steele wandered into the room and paused -near the table. - -“How’s the game going?” inquired Steele. - -“Too hot for me,” confessed Harmford. “I just dropped threes to let -these two crazy chaps buck each other.” - -“What threes did you hold?” inquired Casper, leaning over Harmford. - -Harmford whispered the answer in Steele’s ear. Having secured more -chips, Hanks resumed betting, quite unaware that Jack Randall stood -directly behind him. Chester followed Hanks up until the fellow had -pushed in his last chip and was compelled to call. - -“I’d never call in the world if I could borrow some money,” he said. -“I’ve got you beaten, Arlington, old fellow. You’re trimmed this time.” - -“Can you beat four eights?” inquired Chester, as he spread out his hand. - -“Easy,” laughed Hanks. “Here’s a beautiful straight flush. Just take a -look at that dusky array of spades.” - -The cards exposed by him were the three, four, five, six, and seven of -spades. - -“That looks pretty good,” said Chester; “but what card was it you picked -up out of the discard?” - -Instantly Hanks flew into a rage. - -“What do you mean?” he snarled. “Do you accuse me of cheating?” - -“I saw you steal a card from the discards,” declared Arlington grimly. - -“It’s a lie!” snarled Hanks fiercely. “It’s a trick to beat me, but I -won’t stand for it! I’ve won that money fairly, and I’m going to have -it!” - -“Wait a minute, wait a minute!” exclaimed Harmford, who had just made a -startling discovery. “Arlington holds four eight spots and a six, -doesn’t he?” - -“Yes,” nodded Hanks; “but I hold a straight flush, and that wins.” - -“Wait,” repeated Harmford. “Let’s examine this pack. There must be too -many cards in it.” - -“Too many cards? What do you mean?” - -“You have the six spot of spades in your hand.” - -“What of it?” - -“I started the betting on three sixes. When I quit I threw them into the -discards. That makes it seem that there are five sixes in the pack, or, -as Arlington claims, you secured one of mine from the discards.” - -“Harmford just informed me,” said Steele, “that he had dropped three -sixes. Let’s take a look at the discards, gentlemen. If there’s cheating -here, we want to know it.” - -In spite of himself, Hanks turned pale, for he realized that he was -trapped. He sought to hide his dismay and alarm by a great amount of -bluster, but Steele sternly commanded him to be silent. The discards -were inspected, and only two six spots were discovered among them. - -“That settles it,” said Steele, his eyes fastened on Hanks. “This fellow -came here without invitation, and he has remained without invitation. -He’s a card sharp and a cheat.” - -“It isn’t true,” protested Hanks. “There’s a mistake somewhere.” - -For the first time Jack Randall spoke. - -“That’s right, Hanks,” he said. “There’s a mistake, and you made it. You -tried your old trick of cheating, but you overstepped yourself. -Gentlemen, this fellow is known at Harvard as a crook. He’s likewise a -contemptible blackmailer. Shall we kick him out, Steele? I’d like the -pleasure of booting him myself.” - -“Let him get out as quietly as possible,” urged Casper. “We don’t wish -to raise a disturbance. We don’t wish to alarm the girls.” - -“You’re getting off mighty easy, Hanks,” said Randall. “Hereafter, I -think you’ll find Cambridge a most disagreeable place for you. Perhaps -you hadn’t better remain there longer than to pack up your belongings -and depart quietly.” - -Hanks had risen to his feet, and he faced Jack defiantly. - -“I’ll go back to Cambridge and stay as long as I please,” he declared. -“You can’t drive me out. If you try it, you know what will happen to -your freshman friend, Mr. Sparkfair.” - -“Do urge him to go hastily, Steele,” implored Randall, “for if he -doesn’t, I’ll certainly have to kick him.” - -Hanks was followed down the stairs by the entire party. His hat and coat -were handed him at the door, and he passed out into the night without a -dollar in his pocket and with rage and longing for revenge filling his -heart. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - RETURNING THE MONEY. - - -Chester found Sparkfair chatting with June. - -“If you don’t mind, sis,” he laughed, “I’ll relieve you of this noisy -insect. I’ll take him away and give your ears a rest.” - -“You’re wonderfully cocksure about that,” said Dale. “Perhaps I’ll -decline to be torn away. This is the first time I’ve been able to find -June when she didn’t have Dick Merriwell hanging around her. If I leave -her for ten seconds, he’ll swoop down on her again. I don’t know where -he is this minute, but I’ll wager he’s watching his opportunity.” - -“Perhaps he is with another girl now,” laughed Chester. - -“I don’t believe it possible,” said Spark. “There are no other girls for -him while June is near.” - -“I’d like to see you just a minute or two on a matter of some -importance,” said Chet. “June will wait for you.” - -“Will you, June?” asked Spark anxiously. - -“Oh, yes,” she laughed, “I’ll wait.” - -When Arlington had drawn Sparkfair aside, he drew from his pocket a wad -of money and began counting it. - -“A fellow you know,” he murmured, “sent this money back to you by me.” - -“Eh?” exclaimed Spark. “What is it, stage money?” - -“Oh, no, it’s the real stuff. Here, I believe that is an even hundred. -Take it.” - -“You’ll have to enlighten me still further,” muttered Dale, as Arlington -thrust the money into his grasp. “You have me a bit twisted, Chet.” - -“It’s yours.” - -“Impossible! I haven’t had so much money of my own for months.” - -“Tut! tut!” remonstrated Arlington. “I happen to know a thing or two. -That’s the money you paid a fellow by the name of Hanks in order to keep -his mouth closed.” - -Sparkfair could not help looking startled. - -“Hanks!” he exclaimed. “What do you know about him?” - -“I know a great deal about him,” laughed Chet, “and I reckon he knows a -few things about me. That’s the very money you coughed up to him. He -decided to leave it with me before taking his departure from Meadwold.” - -“Is he gone?” asked Spark anxiously. - -“Gone. Skidooed. Faded away. Vamosed, as they say in the West. You’ll -see no more of him this evening, at least.” - -“For which relief I must confess I’m truly thankful,” said Spark. “But -you’ve got me guessing, Chester. What do you know about any deal between -Hanks and myself?” - -Arlington was enjoying the mystification of his companion. - -“I know Hanks is a crook and a card sharp,” he answered. “I know he has -been cheating you at poker.” - -“Hush!” said Dale. “Don’t speak so loud. If Merriwell should find it -out——” - -“Oh, I won’t blow on you, old fellow,” laughed Chester. “I’ve been there -myself too many times. I can sympathize with you, my boy. I know how it -feels to be skinned by a cheating poker player, but I haven’t -experienced anything like that for some time. After passing through a -few experiences, I decided to do the skinning myself. With that object -in view I learned all the crooked tricks of the game, and since then -I’ve had the satisfaction of stabbing several gentlemen who were trying -to knife me. It’s disreputable business, Sparkfair. A man who gambles at -cards will learn to cheat sooner or later. He has to do it or remain a -sucker for the sharks to skin. You found out Jim Hanks was skinning you. -It made you hot when you realized how you had been robbed. You had even -put up your watch and some other valuables to raise money. Hanks had -loaned you the money you wanted, and then won it back from you. When you -found out he was dishonest, you boiled with indignation.” - -“Boiled, sizzled, steamed, blew up,” said Dale. - -“Precisely. You made up your mind that the valuables he had secured from -you were still rightfully your property. You slipped into his room to -see if you couldn’t find them. You didn’t find them, and this made you -still hotter. You decided to take a few trinkets of his and hold them -until he coughed up your own property. Unfortunately, Hank and a couple -of friends dropped on you before you could get out of his room. They -caught you with the goods. Now, Mr. Hanks has been blackmailing you. For -some reason he’s short of money of late, and, therefore, he chased you -down here, thinking it possible you might not return to college after -that cinnamon-bear escapade, and feeling determined to get a last crack -at you. He squeezed a hundred dollars out of you this evening under -threat of exposing you before the company here. I’ve recovered that -hundred, and you have it in your hand. That’s all.” - -“No, it isn’t all,” said Dale. “How the dickens do you happen to know so -much about this business?” - -“I won’t keep you guessing any longer,” said Chet, and he told Sparkfair -how it was he happened to know so much. - -“But how did you get the money from him? How did you force him to give -it up?” - -“That was easy,” chuckled Chester. “Hanksy thinks himself clever at -poker, but he has lots of tricks to learn. I’ve played the game from -Fardale to Mexico. I’ve been up against all kinds of crooks, and I’ve -learned some tricks never dreamed of by Hanksy. It didn’t hurt my -conscience a bit to work some of those tricks on him this evening. I -inveigled him into a little three-cornered game, Fred Harmford serving -as the dummy most of the time. Most of the fighting was between Hanks -and myself. Harmford broke about even. I had luck at the very start, for -the first deal gave me a top hand over a full house by Hanks. This -enabled me hastily to relieve him of about half the money you had handed -over to him a short time before. That made him ugly. - -“He was bound to get at me somehow, but he overstepped himself by -stealing the six spot of spades from the discards. The stolen card gave -him a straight flush against four eights held by me. But you see, Steele -and Randall had dropped in on us, and I was able to prove that Hanks -stole the card. That was his finish. He had bet his last red cent, and a -few moments ago he was quietly escorted outside by Steele. He didn’t -make any fuss about it, for he was afraid to do so. He’s gone, -Sparkfair. You have the hush money he squeezed out of you, and you -needn’t worry about being bothered by him again to-night. There’s June -still waiting for you, and the orchestra is starting another waltz. So -long, old chap. Enjoy yourself.” - -Refusing to hear any words of thanks, Arlington turned away, and Dale -hastened back to June. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - JEALOUSY. - - -In spite of herself, June could not help wondering what had become of -Dick. After dancing again with Dale, she listened to his suggestion that -they should stroll out onto the veranda. There were other couples -outside, and, having paused near a corner, June’s keen ears detected the -sound of a faint familiar voice. Dick was near at hand, speaking -earnestly with a girl. - -“You know you can trust me, Bab,” he was saying. “The secret is safe. -Have I ever failed you?” - -“No, Dick,” was the answer. “You’re a dear good fellow. Really. I feel -like hugging you.” - -June’s hand closed convulsively on Dale’s arm, and she turned away. -Sparkfair had caught a bit of this conversation, which was not intended -for their ears, and, strangely enough, instead of feeling elated, he was -seized by a sudden paroxysm of indignation toward Merriwell. - -“Why, confound him for a scoundrel!” thought Spark. “I didn’t think it -of him. He’s got another girl on the string, and there’s a secret -between them. If I get a good opportunity, I’ll have to give him my -opinion of his conduct.” - -“Let’s walk down across the lawn, Dale,” said June, suddenly anxious to -get away from the house. “I don’t think I’ll dance any more to-night.” - -For the first time in his life Sparkfair, usually glib of tongue, was at -a loss for words. He felt awkward and embarrassed, and every moment it -seemed that his indignation toward Merriwell increased. - -“You should be careful, June,” he finally said. “You are very warm, and -your dress is thin. You may catch cold. You may get pneumonia.” - -“I don’t care if I do!” she exclaimed bitterly. “Really, I think it -would be fine to have pneumonia.” - -“Oh, I say, June, that’s ridiculous. Now you’re talking like me. You’re -just saying that to hear yourself say something.” - -“I mean it, Dale. I’m never ill, anyhow. Nothing ever happens to me. -Occasionally I get thin and ethereal, but that’s all.” - -They sauntered past the shrubbery behind which Arlington had listened -some time before to the words of Spark and Hanks. Once more some one was -hidden behind that shrubbery. A pair of restless dark eyes peered out at -Spark and the girl. A pair of very red lips softly whispered: - -“It’s Sparkfair, and that’s Arlington’s sister with him. Curse -Arlington! I’ll get even with him!” - -Crouchingly, the fellow slipped to the shelter of another cluster of -shrubbery. In this manner he followed the couple some distance. At last -they paused and turned back toward the house. As they passed a thick -rosebush a pantherish figure leaped onto Sparkfair’s back and hurled him -fiercely to the ground. - -Dale was stunned and rendered helpless. The assailant, who had a -handkerchief tied over the lower part of his face, whirled and caught -June Arlington in his arms. She uttered a scream of terror. - -“All right, my beauty—squawk away!” laughed the fellow hoarsely. “You’re -the prettiest girl I’ve seen in a year, and I’m going to kiss you.” - -He attempted to lift the handkerchief in order to accomplish his -purpose, but she fought him with such fury that he was overcome by -surprise. With a snatch she tore the handkerchief from his face and -flung it to the grass. Still it was too dark for her to see his features -distinctly. By this time the girl’s fight had been answered. Voices were -calling to her, and running feet were thudding across the lawn. - -“Guess I’ll have to lose that kiss!” panted the ruffian. “Never mind, -I’ll get it some other time!” - -But when he attempted to free himself and take to his heels, the girl -held fast and battled him in spite of all he could do. - -“Help!” she cried. “Quick! This way!” - -A moment later she felt a pair of strong hands tear her free from the -scoundrel, who was instantly flung face downward upon the ground and -pinned there with the knee of Dick Merriwell driven between his shoulder -blades. Steele, Buckhart, Randall, and several others came hurrying to -the spot and surrounded them. - -Sparkfair had revived and was sitting up, although bewildered and dazed -to such an extent that he could not tell what had happened to him. June -could tell, however, and she explained in a very few words. - -The rage of those lads was boundless. Only for the coolness of -Merriwell, the captive might have been vigorously manhandled. - -“Strike a match, somebody,” said Dick. “Let’s get a look at his face.” - -A match flared in Buckhart’s hands. Protected by Brad’s curving palms, -its light was flung on the face of the captured rascal. - -“On my word, it’s Hanksy!” breathed Sparkfair. “Why, Hanksy, you -shouldn’t get so careless.” - -“Attacked you, did he, Sparkfair?” cried Casper Steele. “Assaulted you -and Miss Arlington, eh? Had a handkerchief tied over his face when he -did it, did he? A pretty serious piece of business. I think it ought to -give Mr. Jim Hanks a nice little vacation behind some good strong iron -bars. Tie his hands, fellows.” - -“Hold on! hold on!” protested Hanks. “What are you going to do with me? -I didn’t mean to hurt anybody but Sparkfair, and I’ve got a grudge -against him. Here, Sparkfair, speak up for me. If you don’t, I’ll tell -them what I know about you.” - -“Go ahead,” said Dale defiantly. “I doubt if any one would believe you -now.” - -The captured ruffian’s hands were pinioned, and he was marched back to -the house. On the veranda the girls were gathered, vaguely and -apprehensively speculating on the cause of those startling cries for -help. Beneath the light of the Japanese lanterns they made a beautiful -group, in dresses of white and pink and light blue. - -Randall was sent to reassure the girls, while the captive was marched -along toward the stable. Reaching the stable, Hanks was bound and thrust -into a box stall, the door being fastened upon him. Steele called one of -the stablemen and gave him instructions to guard the captive cautiously -and faithfully. - -“Now, fellows,” laughed Casper, “we’ll go back to the girls and forget -that there’s been anything to mar the pleasure of the evening.” - -Returning to the house, Dick inquired for June. He was told that she was -in her room, and they assured him that she had not been harmed. It was -fully half an hour before June reappeared in the ballroom. He had been -watching for her, and hastened without delay to join her. - -“I trust you’re all right, June,” he said. “I was afraid that scoundrel -had hurt you.” - -“I’m all right,” she answered, with surprising coolness. “I was not -harmed in the least.” - -“You must have been frightened.” - -“Naturally, I was frightened somewhat, but I’m all right now.” - -“Will you dance any more?” - -“Yes.” - -“Then this waltz—let’s——” - -“I beg your pardon,” she said. “There’s Dale. I am to dance with him.” - -She gave Sparkfair a signal and moved toward him, leaving Dick feeling -perplexed and hurt. - -“You must dance with me this time, Dale,” she said. - -“By the ears of Midas, I can’t!” he gasped, in dismay. “I’ve engaged -Janette Brice, and she has her eye on me this minute, June.” - -“Then get me a partner and be quick about it,” June urged. “Don’t leave -me alone more than twenty seconds.” - -Out shot Dale’s arm, and he collared Harmford, who was passing. - -“Here you are,” said Spark. “Fine girl, fine fellow. Go it. You know Mr. -Harmford, June.” - -“Goodness!” gasped Harmford, as Spark hustled away. “Is that his style -of doing things? Will you dance with me, Miss Arlington?” - -June was ready to dance with any one save Dick. She knew Dick was -watching her, and as she whirled onto the floor with Harmford she was -filled with a feeling of satisfaction, for it seemed that she had -retaliated, in a measure, for the deception of Merriwell. As for Dick, -he was simply filled with astonishment, being utterly unable to -understand what it meant. - -“Sparkfair has stolen a march on me,” he decided. “Well, if June is as -fickle as that, he may have her. I’ll show her that there are others.” - -With this resolution in mind, he found another partner, and, thereafter, -during the remainder of the evening he and June did not dance together. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. - - -In the morning the hostler came to Steele and sheepishly informed him -that some time during the night the captive had slipped his bonds, -managed to get out of the box stall, and escape. - -“I don’t see how he did it, sor,” said the hostler. “I wisht you’d tell -me how he opened the door of the stall from the inside, sor.” - -“You must have slept like a log, Killen,” said Casper. “I’m sorry the -fellow got away, but perhaps it saved the trouble of prosecuting him. I -don’t believe he’ll show his nose in Cambridge again.” - -Breakfast, with the morning sun streaming in at the windows of the -dining room, was a jolly affair. Of course it was not what might be -called an early breakfast, but before nine o’clock every one of the -guests was up and ready to sit down at table. - -And now Dick found that, in some manner, June’s seat had been changed. -She was no longer at his side, but Sparkfair had the pleasure of -discovering her beside him. Outwardly, Dick did not seem a bit -disturbed. He chatted and laughed as easily as ever. The girl who filled -June’s former seat received Dick’s smiling attention. - -Plans for the day were freely discussed, and new projects were proposed, -until Steele laughingly reminded them that they had suggested enough -things to keep them all busy for a week, at least. - -“Who’s for a ride?” cried Agnes Locke. “Casper has a stable full of -saddle horses.” - -“I accept the challenge,” came quickly from Arlington. “You can’t shake -me, Miss Locke, I’m with you.” - -“And I think I’ll go, too,” said June. “Will you come along, Dale?” - -“Will I? Ask me,” laughed Sparkfair. - -“Perhaps you’d like to join them, Merriwell,” said Steele. “I have a -fine black thoroughbred that it would do your soul good to mount. I have -plenty of riding togs. What do you say?” - -“Of course I wouldn’t think of forcing myself on such a satisfactorily -arranged party,” laughed Dick. “Still, Steele, I’d like to bestride your -thoroughbred.” - -“Where’s there another girl to balance the party?” cried Sparkfair. - -June touched his arm. - -“Hush!” she murmured. “Are you going to insist on inviting Dick -Merriwell to join us?” - -“Not if you don’t want him,” he whispered. - -“I don’t,” she declared. - -Therefore, it happened that less than an hour after breakfast two lads -and two girls rode out from Meadwold, and Dick was not one of them. - -Nevertheless, Merriwell had donned riding clothes offered him by Steele, -and the quartet had no more than disappeared when he galloped out from -the stable, astride the black thoroughbred. - -Sparkfair found June in a nervous, excitable mood. Several times he -detected her looking back over her shoulder as if half expecting to -discover some one in pursuit of them. In truth, she was looking for -Dick, but he had taken another course, and there was no chance that he -would come upon them from the rear. - -“I can’t get over the nervous feeling caused by that affair last night,” -said June. “I was dreadfully frightened when that scoundrel leaped upon -us from behind the rosebush.” - -“But you proved yourself a heroine, June. You hung to him and yelled -bloody murder until the fellows came up and nabbed him. At first I was -sorry when I learned this morning that he’d escaped in the night. Now -I’m rather glad of it. It saves us the trouble of pressing the case -against him, and I don’t believe he’ll go back to Cambridge.” - -“If he does——” - -“If he does, I may have further trouble with him, but I’m not worrying -over that.” - -After a time Arlington and Agnes fell behind. Beneath some trees by the -roadside they halted, and soon Dale and June passed from view. Finally -discovering that their companions were not following closely, they drew -rein and waited for them to come up. June was seized by a strange desire -to be alone for a time, at least. - -“I wish you’d go back and look for them, Dale,” she said. “Please do. -You can overtake me. I’ll wait for you.” - -Thus urged, he finally turned back. She permitted her horse to move -along slowly, the rein lying loose upon its neck. She was buried in deep -thought when a sheep suddenly started up by the roadside and gave the -horse a fright. An inexperienced horsewoman would have been thrown from -the saddle by the sidelong leap of the animal. June maintained her seat -and caught up the reins. But the horse had the bit between his teeth. -With ears set flat back, he was running away. Through a gate he tore, -and away across an open field the girl was carried. - -Merriwell, cutting across that field to reach the highway, saw what had -happened. Immediately he headed the black thoroughbred in pursuit of the -runaway. It was a wild and thrilling race, for neither walls nor fences -nor ditches could check the frightened animal that was bearing June. -Over them all he sailed. The girl heard some one shouting to her, and, -half turning her head, she caught a glimpse of the pursuer. - -“Dick!” she breathed. - -But she could not understand his words, although she fancied they -contained a warning. Ahead of her loomed another stone wall. She -wondered if the runaway would not be turned by it. Not until the animal -was sailing over that wall did she realize what lay beyond it. A moment -later horse and girl struck with a mighty splash in the placid water of -a small river. - -Carried from the saddle, June rose to the surface just in time to see -the black horse bearing Dick Merriwell come flying over the wall above -her. - -What followed seemed like a dream to June. She knew Dick clutched her -with his strong hand, and she had good sense enough to give herself up -without struggle or effort, so that he was finally able to bring her -unharmed to the low bank on the far side of the little river. - -The horses had swam out and were grazing in companionable contentment -upon the grass as Dick and June, dripping wet, sat on the bank and -looked at each other. - -“Well,” said Merriwell, with a light laugh, “I hope this doesn’t give -you a cold.” - -“I hope it does!” she cried. “I told Dale last night that I wanted to -catch cold and have pneumonia and die. Now this is my chance.” - -“It surely is,” agreed Dick. “But why this sudden morbid desire for -death? What’s the matter?” - -“You ought to know.” - -“I don’t.” - -“You’ve deceived me, Dick. I heard you last night—I heard you talking to -that girl they call Barbara Midhurst. You were speaking about a secret -between you. If you like her better than you do me, I’m sure you’re -welcome to her. I don’t care. I’m glad of it! I hope you’ll live long -and both be happy. I’m going to die, anyhow!” - -“And I hope it isn’t quite as serious as that, June,” he laughed. “I’m -glad I know what was the matter. Yes, there is a secret between Barbara -Midhurst and myself, but I give you my word that the secret concerns a -third party. I discovered it by accident, and I’ve kept it for her sake -and the sake of the third party. I don’t care for Barbara, June—that is, -not as you mean. Don’t you believe me? Did I ever tell you a lie in my -life? You’re the girl I care for more than all others in the world. -Can’t you trust me? What’s the matter? You’re crying!” - -“Oh, I’m all we-wet, and fuf-feel just per-perfectly horrid!” sobbed -June. - -“And you think I’m a two-faced scoundrel?” - -“No-no I don’t. I tried to think that, but now I know I was fuf-foolish. -I’m ashamed of myself, Dick. I can’t help crying, and I haven’t even got -a dry handkerchief to wipe my eyes with.” - -“Nor I,” he said, glancing around to make sure no one was in sight. -“Never mind the handkerchief. Let this dry your tears.” - -And behind the palms they kissed and the misunderstanding was at an end. - -The next day the house party dispersed, Dick and his friends returning -to Yale to resume active work in their baseball work. - -Dick had not been in New Haven two hours before he heard news that -worried him. He learned that some one had sold the baseball team’s -signals to the enemy. He quickly discovered the guilty person, and, -knowing that no further useful steps could be taken in the matter, he -told his friends that the incident was closed. - -But the incident was not closed. For the guilty man’s friends took the -matter up. Not knowing that Dick Merriwell already knew the identity of -the traitor, they resolved to capture Tommy Tucker for the purpose of -forcing him to sign a supposed confession. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - THE ABANDONED CAPTIVE. - - -Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, -choking groan. After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in -despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn -so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the -circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was -nearly smothering him. - -From the wall at his right projected a feebly fluttering gas jet. The -faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a -slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age. - -It was Tommy Tucker, and the freshman was in a decidedly unpleasant and -apparently serious situation. - -Returning along a dark block after having seen a charming and -interesting girl to the door of her home, Tucker was suddenly pounced -upon by three or four fellows, who seized him, flung a blanket over his -head, tripped him up, sat on him, and held him helpless until a cab drew -up at the curb. The victim was bundled into the cab and carried away. -After his first efforts at resistance he made very little struggle, -realizing it was folly to fight against such odds. - -By the time his assailants had pulled the blanket off him inside the cab -Tucker was feebly gasping for breath. The curtains were closely drawn, -and it was so dark in the cab that he could not discern anything -whatever. - -“Gug-golly!” he gasped, catching his breath. “I’d been cooked in ten -seconds more. I was almost smothered.” - -“I always did like smothered chicken, ta-ra-tum,” sang a hoarse voice in -Tommy’s ear. - -“Shut up!” snarled another voice. “Don’t talk—don’t anybody talk! I love -silence. I adore silence. I will have silence.” - -“Hush-h-h-h-h!” breathed Tommy. “Be still as any mouse. But, say, permit -me to inquire what the dickens you fellows are trying to do. Are you -kidnaping me with the idea of holding me for a ransom? If you are, -permit me to inform you that you’ve captured the wrong kid. There are no -millions in my family, and I believe my father would feel actual relief -if some one should be foolish enough to take me away where I wouldn’t -bother him any more. Or are you some poor, deluded sophomores who -contemplate having real fun with me? If such is the case——” - -“If he doesn’t shut up, blanket him again.” - -“Oh, if you’re going to do that, I’ll keep mum,” said Tucker hastily. -“Please don’t put that thing over my head again. Refrain, and I’ll close -up like a clam.” - -How far he was carried in the cab Tucker had no accurate means of -telling. Finally the cab stopped. An instant later the blanket was again -wrapped tightly about the captive’s head and shoulders. They dragged him -out and forced him along, stumbling and half-falling down a flight of -stairs. The sound of their feet echoed gloomily in what seemed to be a -big room. The air was damp and stale, as Tucker quickly discovered when -the blanket was lifted in order that he might get a breath. It was, -likewise, dark as Erebus. - -Although he was highly indignant over the treatment, Tucker knew the -uselessness of displaying anger and resentment. He permitted them to -force him down upon a chair and tie him there, although he made -occasional calls for the lifting of the blanket in order that he might -breathe. Finally they cast the blanket aside, but he was given no more -than a glimpse of them, for a bandage was quickly slipped over his eyes. -The gas jet had been lighted, and they were working by the aid of the -wretched light thus provided. - -“I think I’ll raise a howl,” said Tommy. “I think I’ll yell bloody -murder.” - -“Howl your head off,” said one of the captors huskily. “You’re in the -basement of Dinsmore & Hyde’s old warehouse. You might shout for a week -without any one happening to hear you.” - -“Then I will not rupture my voice,” said Tucker. “But my unquenchable -curiosity compels me to inquire your motives and intentions. What are -you going to do with me?” - -“You’ll find out in time,” was the answer. - -“But I’m very impatient.” - -This provoked a burst of suppressed, mocking laughter. - -“You’ll get a fine lesson in patience to-night,” Tucker was told. “It -will do you good.” - -“What the dickens is the use to tie those ropes so tight? Old Samson -couldn’t get away after being trussed up like this, and I’m no relation -to Sam.” - -Behind his back one of the captors whispered a hoarse question: - -“How long did you say a man could live without food or water, captain?” - -“That depends,” was the wheezy answer. “Some live longer and some live -shorter. This little runt is one of the kind that lives shorter. He -won’t last more than three or four days at most.” - -“My golly!” exclaimed Tommy. “Are you going to leave me without anything -to eat or drink for three or four days?” - -“It’ll be well enough to silence his tongue,” said the wheezy voice. -“Art ready, Eros?” - -“Sure, Charon,” was the answer. - -“Then gag him.” - -Tucker started to object, but his words were cut short as they bound the -thick cloth over his mouth. - -“’Tis well,” said one, when the task was finished. “Now he is secure and -silent. We can leave him, comrades. Our direful work is well did.” - -“Indeed I think we have dooded it well,” said another. “But methinks it -were best to leave his eyes uncovered, captain. What say ye?” - -“’Tis well. Remove the bandage from the wretch’s eyes.” - -When this was done Tommy looked around for them, but heard the sound of -retreating feet behind him. Turning his head, he caught a glimpse of -their dark figures melting from view amid the dim, dusty, and empty -boxes at the far side of the room. Seized by something like panic, he -would have called to them, but the muffling cloth prevented this. The -sound of their footfalls grew fainter and fainter. A door creaked on its -rusty hinges. A few moments later the door closed with a slam, and the -deserted lad fancied he heard the grating of the bolt as it shot into -the socket. - -To the unfortunate boy it soon seemed that hours had passed since his -abandonment. Vainly he had squirmed and twisted in an effort to free an -arm or a leg. Vainly he had worked his head and jaws, trying to get his -mouth clear of the bandage which covered it. The silence that surrounded -him seemed appalling at first, but in time his ears detected a -suspicious rustling, which sent a chill through his body. - -Although he would not have acknowledged it, Tucker was a chap who -believed in the supernatural. All his life he had been industriously -looking to see a spook in the dark. Up to date he had never seen the -genuine article, although on various occasions he had fancied many -material things to be of a ghostly nature. Still, all these failures had -not shaken his conviction that some time he would see a real ghost. - -And now he remembered the gruesome tale that, after being ruined by his -partner, old man Hyde had locked himself up in the basement of the big -warehouse and committed suicide. From that day a hoodoo had seemed to -hover over the building. Ignorant people asserted that the warehouse was -haunted. It was finally abandoned, and for years the heirs of the -Dinsmore estate had been vainly trying to get it off their hands at any -old price. - -“Gee whiz!” thought Tucker; “I’ll bet a cruller old Hyde’s spook is -prowling around here to-night. Goodness, I thought I felt the touch of -his fingers then! Wish I had eyes in the back of my head. It’s awful -being able to see only one way. There it is again! I know I heard -something move.” - -Nearly twisting his head off, he peered apprehensively into the shadows. -The gas jet continued to flicker and flare, and, once when it died down -and he fancied it was going out, his heart nearly stopped beating. - -Sque-e-e-eak! - -Tucker’s hair stood at the sound, but in a twinkling he felt something -like relief, realizing at last that the noise was made by a rat. This -explained the mysterious rustling he had heard. - -“If I ever find out for certain just who those fellows were, I’m going -to murder the bunch of them,” decided Tommy. “Talk about the tortures of -the Inquisition! This is worse! What’s that?” - -Something slipped past like a flitting shadow on the cement floor. It -was a scampering rat, but it had given the captive an awful start. - -“I don’t like rats,” thought Tucker. “They’re nasty creatures, and -sometimes they’re dangerous. Let’s see, I think it was in ‘Les -Miserables’ I read about the sewer rats of Paris, big, hungry, creatures -ready to attack a man. Goodness, I hope these rats are well fed! They’re -getting altogether too friendly.” - -For he had seen two or three others flit past him. He was electrified by -a shrill squeal close behind his chair, followed by a scampering rustle. - -“Deuce take ’em!” he mentally exclaimed. “They’ll be climbing over me in -a minute.” - -Indeed it seemed so, for one big fellow advanced boldly before him and -sat up to inspect his appearance. Tucker longed to hurl something at -this old fellow, who had a full set of grayish whiskers. - -The example of the old rat emboldened others, and within a few moments -they were frisking about Tucker’s feet. - -Only for the gag Tommy would have yelled lustily. He was covered with -cold perspiration, while his mouth seemed dry and parched. His eyes -bulged with terror. - -Of a sudden one of the rats made a leap and landed on Tucker’s knee. - -With a convulsive twist, Tommy flung himself, chair and all, over -backward. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - AN EVIL BAND. - - -With a terrific squeaking and scampering, the rats fled in all -directions. Tommy was both relieved and dismayed. His position was now -decidedly awkward and painful. - -“If this keeps up long, I can see my finish,” he thought. “Bet my hair’s -begun to turn gray now. A few hours more will make it white as the -driven snow.” - -After a time the rats began to return. He could see them creeping out -cautiously from the deeper darkness which the flickering light did not -penetrate. - -A faint rattling sound made him prick up his ears. His heart throbbed, -for something told him that some one was fitting a key to the lock of -the door. He was right in this supposition, and soon the old door -creaked once more on its hinges. - -There was a faint gleam of light, which moved slowly amid the old empty -boxes. Tucker heard the sound of many feet, and finally a grotesque -figure appeared, bearing an iron pan with a long handle. On the surface -of this pan, which seemed half filled with grease, a saturated rag was -burning. It was a huge candle. - -Tommy blinked rapidly as his eyes perceived the figure which bore the -flaring light. Apparently it was a huge bear, walking upright on its -hind legs. - -A second later Tucker gasped again. Following the bear, a gigantic bird -that resembled an owl strutted into view. Behind the owl came a turbaned -Turk with a curved sword in his hand. The Turk was followed by a painted -and grinning clown. On the heels of the clown trod a crimson-clad, -cloven-hoofed figure which resembled Satan himself. Then came a somber -form in a long black cloak and high-peaked cowl. This last person bore a -huge broad-bladed ax in his hands. - -Tucker wondered if he was dreaming. As they gathered around him he saw -that Satan was carrying a tinsmith’s hand furnace, in which a fire -glowed. - -“Hoo! hoo!” hooted the owl. “Look! See! He has upset!” - -With a fierce growl the bear waved the flaring light in front of -Tucker’s eyes. - -“Pick him up,” said the Turk, flourishing his sword. - -“Let him lie,” said Satan. “It comes natural for him.” - -“Let him lie,” said the one in black, as he flourished the ax. “In this -position I can easily lop off his head.” - -“Restrain yourself, executioner,” chuckled the clown. “We must have fun -with him first. He must answer my conundrum. Tell me, thou wretched -creature, why is a hen?” - -“Back up,” said the bear, elbowing the clown aside. “He can’t talk. -Don’t you see he’s gagged?” - -“Who gagged him?” cried the clown. - -“Hoo? hoo?” hooted the owl. - -“Take hold, you imps,” commanded Satan. “Set him upright.” - -The chair was lifted and planted on its legs. - -“Poor fellow!” said Satan, with mock sympathy. “See how frightened he -is! Why, Turk, you could hang your turban on his eyeballs.” - -The executioner leaned on the handle of his ax. - -“Some one remove the gag,” directed the wearer of the crimson. - -“Hoo? hoo?” cried the owl. - -“You! you!” commanded Satan, pointing. - -The huge bird complied, and Tommy, with great relief, filled his lungs -as the cloth was stripped away. - -“Much obliged,” he said, his voice just a bit unsteady. “If you go away -again, please don’t close my trap. The rats are a little too thick for -comfort around here, and I couldn’t even cuss at them.” - -“When we leave you next time your tongue will be silenced forever,” -declared the executioner solemnly. “With this good blade I shall sever -your head from your body.” - -He flourished the ax as he spoke, swinging it with a sidelong movement -until the edge touched the captive’s neck. - -“Boo! that’s pleasant!” shivered Tucker. “So you’re going to decapitate -me, are you?” - -“No,” chuckled the clown, “we’re only going to cut your head off.” - -“But first,” said the Turk, “we must examine your feet. We have a -peculiar notion that you are the unfortunate possessor of extremely cold -feet.” - -“Even so,” nodded Satan. “Remove his shoes and stockings.” - -“Why don’t you take a hand, Sate,” piped the clown. - -“Yes, get busy,” said the bear. “I’m holding the light. That’s my job.” - -Tommy’s ankles had been bound to the legs of a chair, but now they were -set free, and a few moments later his shoes and stockings were stripped -from his feet. - -“Indeed his tootsies are very, very cold,” said the owl. “Start up the -fire in your little furnace, Sate.” - -Satan turned a thumbscrew which seemed to open a valve of compressed -air, for there was a hissing sound, and the furnace began to glow almost -at once. - -“What the dickens does all this tomfoolery mean?” demanded Tucker. “What -are you trying to do with me, anyhow?” - -“As Sate hath remarked,” said the Turk, “you’re an easy-going liar. We -are prepared to force the bitter truth from your unwilling lips. A short -time ago some one sold the baseball signals of Umpty-ten to the manager -of a rival team. You, Thomas Jefferson Tucker, were the miserable wretch -who did that.” - -“You, Turkey, old boy, are a liar by the clock!” flung back Tommy. “I -had nothing to do with it. I thought that was proven long ago.” - -“Nothing of the sort,” said Satan. “Your fine friend, Richard Merriwell, -induced a wretched bummer to shoulder the blame of that piece of -treachery, but we happen to know that the bummer was paid to clear you -of stigma. While you have been cleared, suspicion has continued to rest -on another who is innocent.” - -“I suppose you mean Bern Wolfe?” - -“You have named him,” was the answer. “We know Wolfe had nothing to do -with that dirty business, and we, likewise, know that you did. This very -night we caught you in company with the public stenographer who made a -typewritten copy of those signals. After you escorted her home you were -brought here for treatment.” - -“Ha! ha!” laughed the clown. “Treatment is an elegant and appropriate -word.” - -“We have here,” continued Satan, producing a sheet of paper, “a nice -little typewritten confession of your sins, which we expect you to sign. -I’ve brought a fountain pen for the purpose. In this document you -acknowledge that you are the traitor who gave the signals to Ben -Newhouse of the Hudson team. Would you like to read it?” - -“I don’t care to waste my time,” said Tucker. “If you think you’re going -to get my autograph hitched onto the bottom of that document, you’re a -bigger fool than I ever took the devil to be.” - -“Cold feet,” snickered the clown. - -“But we have the facilities for warming them,” said Satan. “Turk, kindly -move the furnace a little nearer. We’ll give his tootsies a nice -comfortable baking. By the time his toes are well done and crisp he may -change his mind and decide to append his signature to this little -document.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - TUCKER GETS WARMED. - - -By this time the tiny furnace was glowing redly. Its heat had reached -Tucker, who made a wry face as the Turk seized the handle and started to -move the furnace nearer. - -“Really,” said Tommy, “I think you kind gentlemen are awfully obliging, -but you’re greatly mistaken in fancying me at all troubled with cold -feet. I beseech you not to disturb yourselves to warm me up.” - -“You’ll do a great deal more begging before we finish with you!” growled -Satan. “Push the furnace up close, Turk. Now get him by the ankle, -clown—that’s right. You take the other leg, Hooter. Hold his feet -extended so the bottoms will be thoroughly warm.” - -With a sudden kick, Tucker upset both the clown and the owl. - -“What’s the matter with you fellows?” snarled Satan. “Aren’t you strong -enough to hold his feet?” - -“Hoo? hoo?” cried the owl, scrambling up. “You bet we are! If he kicks -me again, I’ll warm his foot by soaking it right plumb against the -furnace.” - -“Oh, look!” grinned the clown, as Tommy began making both feet fly like -paddle wheels. - -“He’ll get tired of that in a minute,” said the crimson-clothed imp. “Be -ready to grab the instant he lets up.” - -In truth, Tommy was unable to keep up those kicking movements for more -than a few moments. He soon began to pant, and the instant he ceased -snapping his bare feet through the air the owl seized an ankle. On the -opposite side the clown did the same, and both clung fast with such -strength that Tucker could not jerk his feet away. - -“Oh, say, I don’t see any fun in this,” protested the little chap. -“Ouch! Thunderation, that’s warm! Look out, you’ll have my Trilbys -against the old thing! Wow! wow! I can’t stand that. It’s too much! Oh, -say, let up, will you? If this is a joke, you’re carrying it too far.” - -“It’s no joke,” grimly declared Satan. “We mean business. When you fully -understand that, you may come to your senses and decide to sign this -little confession of your treachery to the baseball team.” - -“Say, give me a chance to think it over, will you?” panted Tucker. -“You’re blistering my feet now—on my soul you are!” - -“That’s where we intend to blister them, on the sole,” said the leader. -“Lower his toddlers a moment, boys. Let’s see if he is coming to his -senses. But keep a firm hold on his ankles. If he doesn’t agree to our -terms, we’ll warm him up again in a moment.” - -“You’re very rude and cruel,” said Tucker. “Jinks, I believe you did -blister my feet! If you have, I’m going to murder somebody! I’ll murder -the whole bunch of you!” - -“Isn’t he dangerous!” mocked the clown. - -“Better let me put an end to him,” said the executioner, spitting on his -hands and grasping the ax handle. - -Beyond the flaring pan of burning grease the bear grinned and yawned. - -“Do hurry up,” he said. “This confounded rig is sweating me to death.” - -“Evidently you know how I feel,” said Tommy. “I’m perfectly willing to -change places with you, Teddy.” - -“Come, come!” said Satan, flourishing the paper in front of the -captive’s eyes. “Are you ready to sign this confession?” - -“What would it amount to if I did sign it?” sneered Tucker. “You -couldn’t make any use of it.” - -“Couldn’t we?” - -“No.” - -“Why not?” - -“Because I’d tell the truth and let everybody know how I was forced into -putting my name onto that lying document. The moment one of you fellows -showed it he’d find himself in a lot of trouble.” - -“But I don’t think you’ll do anything of that sort,” said the leader of -the disguised chaps. “This is a fair and square statement of the truth. -You are the traitor who betrayed the team.” - -“You are a liar!” said Tommy, slowly and distinctly. - -“Wait a minute, Tucker—you’ll get all that’s coming to you if you don’t -get humble. I say you betrayed the team. I’m not the only one who -believes it. Merriwell saved your pelt by hiring a disreputable -character to take the blame on his own shoulders. Every one knows that -man Smith lied when he said he was the one who stole the signals and -gave them to the manager of the Hudson team.” - -“I think he lied myself,” said Tommy. “I’m satisfied that some one on -the team gave Smith the signals and paid him to have them copied.” - -“And you’re that some one,” declared the Turk. - -“I’ll hand you out the same remark I just applied to old Sate,” flashed -the captive. - -“You’ll have to sign this paper,” asserted the wearer of the crimson. - -“If I sign it,” said Tommy, “I’ll lose no time in telling every one -under what circumstances I was forced into it.” - -“And if you tell any one that,” threatened Satan, “you’ll get it again, -and next time we’ll blister you from your heels to the nape of your -neck. We don’t propose to make this confession public, but we’re going -to use it to force Merriwell and his friends to give certain fellows of -the freshman class a square deal at baseball.” - -“And a sillier scheme I never heard of!” derided Tucker. “You can’t -force Dick Merriwell’s hand in such a manner, and you ought to know it. -Of course I know you’re Merriwell’s classmates and enemies. I think I -could name you all. I’m dead sure I can name four or five of you. It -seems astonishing to me that by this time you have not learned that Dick -Merriwell cannot be forced or browbeaten into anything.” - -“Will you sign this paper?” - -“Sure.” - -“Do you mean it?” - -“Yes, I mean it because I realize that you’re just fools enough to cook -my feet unless I do sign.” - -“Release his hands, boys,” directed Satan. “Stand close around him and -be ready to jump on him if he makes a scrap of it.” - -“I’m not as big a fool as you fellows are,” mocked Tommy. “You’re six to -my one, and I have no idea of scrapping.” - -In a few moments they set his hands free, and he stretched and rubbed -his arms with grunts of relief. - -“I hope some time I’ll have the pleasure of giving a few of you fellows -some of the same medicine I’ve had to take to-night,” he said. - -“Here,” said Satan, placing a short piece of board across Tucker’s knees -and spreading the confession upon it. “Get ready to make your autograph. -Here’s a fountain pen.” - -“Goodness! give me time,” urged Tucker. “How do you expect a fellow to -write when his blood is stagnated? Why, even my fingers are stiff.” - -“Watch him,” warned the Turk. “He’s tricky.” - -The executioner lifted and poised the ax. - -“If he tries any tricks,” he declared, “I’ll let him have a taste of -this where Nellie wore the beads.” - -Tucker glanced around at all of those grotesque figures and then twisted -his face into a comical look of disgust and resignation. - -“Give me the goose quill,” he said. “Here goes my Thomas J. right at the -bottom of this lying mess.” - -Being a very little chap, Tommy wrote, like most undersized persons, in -a large, bold, flourishing hand. In a moment he had dashed off his -signature. - -“There’s my John Hancock,” he said. “I hope you can see it.” - -The leader took the paper with a nod of satisfaction. - -“So far everything is satisfactory to us,” he chuckled, folding the -document and thrusting it into a pocket. - -“So far?” murmured Tommy questioningly. “Well, I wonder how much farther -you’re going? Isn’t this about the limit?” - -Satan made a gesture, and in another instant the captive was once more -seized and pinned fast to the chair. - -“Here! here!” he spluttered, in disgust. “What the dickens are you up to -now?” - -“We’re going to put you on your oath now,” announced the leader. “We’re -going to make you swear by all things sacred, by all you hold dear, that -you’ll never tell under what circumstances you affixed your signature to -that document.” - -“Oh, you make me sick, the whole of you!” said the little chap. “I’ll -never swear to anything of the sort.” - -“His feet are getting cold again,” snickered the clown. - -“Go ahead and warm them up,” directed Satan. - -Tommy squirmed and twisted and yelled at the top of his voice. In the -midst of his struggles the basement door was hurled open with a bang, -and, shouting loudly, a dozen boys, headed by Dick Merriwell, came -rushing to the rescue. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - THE FIRE. - - -“This way! this way!” shouted the clear voice of Merriwell. “Here they -are!” - -Instantly Tucker was released by the startled and dismayed fellows who -had been torturing him. The flaring light of a “slut” candle, aided by -the dimly flickering gas jet, showed the rescuers a most remarkable -group huddled there in the basement of that old warehouse. The clown -looked frightened; the bear seemed ready to run; the Turk was crouching -on one knee and feeling blindly for his curved sword; the executioner -had dropped his broad-bladed ax; the owl sought to edge away into the -shadows. - -Only Satan stood his ground boldly and defiantly. In front of them all -he stood with clenched fists, glaring at the unexpected and unwelcome -rescuers. The flaring lights made him look very fierce and demon-like. -Involuntarily the rescuers halted and stared at that remarkable group. - -“Come on!” yelled Tucker, giving the Turk a savage jab in the ribs and -upsetting the clown by kicking his feet from beneath him. “Get into ’em, -fellows! Give ’em fits! They’ve been giving me fits.” - -“We’ve got them foul,” declared Dick. “They’ll have to surrender.” - -“Surrender?” snarled Satan. “Not on your life! We’ll fight.” - -Fight they did. It was a fierce old battle that took place down there in -the warehouse basement. Dick signaled out the crimson-clothed leader of -the rascals and engaged him. While they were tussling and writhing and -squirming, other struggles were taking place amid the boxes and bales -and dim shadows of the place. - -Merriwell found his antagonist strong as a bull, but was finally getting -the best of the fellow when some one kicked over the pot of grease, the -“slut” candle. The burning stuff ran flaring into a dry mass of straw -and excelsior. Fire leaped up in a twinkling, illuminating the entire -basement. - -Startled, the boys stopped in the midst of their furious struggles. - -“Fire!” yelled one, in a tone of great alarm. - -“That’s bad business!” panted Dick, tearing away from his antagonist and -leaping toward the flames. “Quick, boys, let’s see if we can’t smother -it!” - -Satan, enraged by what had happened and utterly reckless of -consequences, sprang after Dick and grappled with him again. - -“You fool!” exclaimed Merriwell, twisting about. “Let me alone! Don’t -you see what’s happening? The building will go up in flames!” - -“Let it go!” rasped the disguised fellow. “You’re the cause, and I’m -going to soak you.” - -He struck Dick in the face, although the force of the blow was partly -broken by an upthrust arm. This aroused young Merriwell and made him -furious as a wild creature. With a shout, he broke the fellow’s hold -upon him, seized the chap, snapped his heels into the air, and whirled -him headlong against the stone wall. The crimson figure dropped limply -to the cemented floor and lay still. - -“Fellows, fellows!” shouted Dick, realizing that a great many of the -boys were taking to their heels and getting out as quickly as possible. -“Don’t run away. We must smother this fire. We must put it out somehow.” - -It was Buckhart who joined him, and they did their best to put out the -flames. - -“No use, partner,” said the Texan, “she’s got too much headway. She’s -bound to go. If we stay here, we’ll be caught, and that will be mighty -bad business for us.” - -“Come on, Dick—come on!” cried Bouncer Bigelow, making frantic gestures. -“Everybody else has skipped. I’m going. You can’t do anything. Let her -burn.” - -The fat boy ended with a choking, strangling cough, for the place was -rapidly filling with a thick volume of pungent smoke. Brad seized Dick -by the collar and literally dragged him toward the door. Not until they -were in the outer air did Dick remember the crimson-clad fellow he had -last seen lying stunned at the foot of the basement wall. - -“Follow me!” said Buckhart. “We must get away lively.” - -He took to his heels, covering the ground with rapid strides and -plunging into the darkness between two buildings. Instead of following -his friend, Dick turned and rushed down the rotten basement stairs. A -volume of smoke met him, rolling forth from the door and veiling the -interior of the place. Through this smoke the fire sent a dull lurid -glow. - -Stooping low, Dick plunged into the smoke. He ran full against a huge -box, but managed to grope his way along until he could see the spreading -flames and feel their scorching heat. Through the yellowish light he saw -something moving. In a twinkling he had the fellow by the shoulder. It -was his crimson-clothed antagonist, who had partly recovered and was -blindly trying to find the way out. - -“This way!” wheezed Dick, pulling the bewildered chap toward the door. -“Hang onto me!” - -They reached the door and started up the steps just as a burst of fire -behind them sent its flaring gleam out into the darkness of the night. -At the head of the steps stood a huge man, on whose breast gleamed a -badge. - -It was the night watchman of an adjoining lumber yard. As Dick appeared -he whipped out a revolver. - -“Hold on, you firebug!” he shouted. “Stop where you are, or I’ll bore -ye!” - -Then, plainly revealed by the flaring light of the fire, he obtained a -view of the demoniac, crimson-clothed figure at Dick’s heels. To the -superstitious watchman it seemed like the Evil One himself, and, with a -howl of dismay, the man turned and took flight. Merriwell was -unspeakably relieved. - -“That was lucky for us,” he gasped. “Now we’d better do some tall -thinking.” - -Thinking the chap he had rescued would follow him, Dick imitated -Buckhart’s example by choosing the darkness between two wretched -buildings, reached an old board fence, skulked hurriedly along beside -it, came to the railroad tracks, and for the first time found himself -alone. - -“Hello!” he muttered. “That chap didn’t stick by me. Well, I got him -out, and I guess he can take care of himself. That watchman will turn in -a fire alarm, of course. The healthy thing for me to do is to get as far -away from here as possible in a very short time.” - -He fled along the tracks until a crossing was reached and he could leave -the railroad. As he cut across an open lot and set his course toward -York Street he heard the fire engines coming whistling on their way to -the fire. - -“Bad business! bad business!” muttered the boy. “I don’t suppose any one -will feel very sorry to see the old warehouse burn, but still, I’d -rather it would have happened some other way. What if the lumber yard -takes fire also?” - -The question brought beads of perspiration out upon his face. On the -steps of the York Street house he found Brad Buckhart and Tommy Tucker. -The latter was barefooted. - -“Lost a good pair of shoes and some beautiful fifty-cent stockings this -evening,” said Tommy. “I can’t afford it.” - -“Great horn spoon, I’m glad to see you, partner!” breathed the Texan, -with unspeakable relief. “I thought you right behind me until I hit the -main highway. When I discovered you weren’t with me I didn’t know what -to do. I thought of going back to look for you, but that seemed foolish, -for I knew you wouldn’t turn round after getting out of that old -building.” - -“I did turn round, though,” said Dick. - -“Did?” - -“Yes.” - -“What for?” - -“I happened to think of the fellow I pitched against the wall and left -stunned when we made haste to get out. I didn’t really know whether he -had escaped or not. I went back to see.” - -“Great tarantulas!” exploded Brad. - -“You’re referring to old Sate, I presume?” said Tucker. “Well, I really -hope he got scorched a little. He didn’t quite blister the bottoms of my -feet, but I thought he had.” - -“The fellow would have perished in that fire if I hadn’t turned back to -look for him,” said Dick. “I got him out, all right, but we came mighty -near being nabbed by a night watchman.” - -Tucker snickered half hysterically on hearing Merriwell tell how the -watchman had yelled and taken to his heels at sight of the satanic -figure. - -“Tommy’s been telling me all about it,” said Buckhart. “Why, those -fellows were going to bake his feet. We got there in the nick of time.” - -“What I’d like to know,” said Tucker, “is how you happened to get there -at all.” - -“I’ll have to pledge you to keep it a secret,” said Dick, “but there is -a chap who used to be mighty thick with that crowd, and he got onto the -plot. He gave me a tip, but made me swear I wouldn’t mention his name.” - -“I can guess,” chuckled Tucker. “It was Kid Lee. Am I not right, Dick?” - -“Haven’t I just stated,” said Merriwell, “that I promised not to mention -his name?” - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - THE NEXT MORNING. - - -Early the following morning Tommy Tucker, in pajamas, came bouncing into -Dick’s room. Merriwell was already up. He had bathed and was partly -dressed. - -“Pa-pore! pa-pore!” cried Tommy, flourishing a newspaper. “All about de -great fire last night! Dinsmore & Hyde’s old warehouse burned to de -ground! Pa-pore! pa-pore!” - -“Shut up, you yapping idiot!” cried Dick laughingly. “Where’d you get -the paper?” - -“Oh, I fixed it with Maggie last night. Bribed her to rise early this -morn’ and hustle out for a newspaper. She just left it at our door. See, -here’s all about the fire, Dick!” - -Blessed Jones turned over in bed, jabbed his head halfway under a -pillow, and smotheredly droned: - -“‘Him that disturbeth the sleep of the righteous let him be condemned to -fire and brimstone and let him burn forever.’” - -“Oh, you were there, old snooker!” cried Tommy. “You ought to be -interested in this report. You were with the gang last night.” - -Buckhart stuck his head into the room. - -“Read it, Tucker,” he urged. - -Thus requested, Tommy read the account of the fire which had destroyed -the old warehouse and which was believed beyond question to be the work -of incendiaries. Indeed, it was said that the watchman at Gray S. -Walpole’s lumber yard had detected two of the firebugs in the act of -leaving the basement of the warehouse. According to the statement of -Hatch, one of these chaps had been dressed in bright red and looked like -the devil himself. The watchman acknowledged that the appearance of this -fellow so startled him that he permitted them both to get a flying -start, and, in spite of his efforts to run them down, they had managed -to avoid him and escaped in the darkness. - -Thinking of what had really happened when the watchman saw that -crimson-clad figure, Merriwell was compelled to laugh. - -“It says here,” said Tommy, “that the old building was fully covered by -insurance. I guess the owners are mighty glad it burned.” - -“But not the insurance company, Tucker. Of course that fire was an -accident and we could prove it, but it’s just as well for us if we can -escape getting mixed up in the business. If the fellows are wise, -they’ll keep still about it.” - -“I’ll have to read this to Big,” said Tommy, rising. “See you later, -fellows. Ta! ta!” - -Merriwell and Buckhart were ready to start out for their usual morning -walk, and Jones was sitting yawning on the edge of the bed when callers -arrived. They were Jack Spratt, Otis Fitch, and Rob Claxton. Hearing -them come in, Tucker promptly appeared, followed a moment later by -Bouncer Bigelow, who was rubbing his eyes and yawning, his uncombed hair -standing up like a topknot. - -“Have you fellows seen the morning newspaper?” was Claxton’s anxious -inquiry. - -“Sure,” answered Tucker. “I took pains to provide them with a few -morning shivers by reading the report of a fire that occurred last -night.” - -“I was in hopes the firemen would be able to save the building,” said -Claxton. “I dislike very much to think that I was in any way responsible -for that fire.” - -“You really were not responsible, Claxton,” said Dick. “None of us -fellows were. The really responsible ones are the chaps who carried -Tucker into the basement of that building and attempted to have fun with -him.” - -“Gwathuth!” lisped Fitch. “I’ll never forget the thtart I got when I -thaw thothe fellowth. Wonder where they got their cothtumes?” - -“Didn’t you read about that in the paper?” asked Tommy. “The shop of -Julius Steiger, the costumer, was broken into and looted last night. A -number of valuable costumes and wigs were stolen.” - -“Which explains the astonishing disguises worn by Tucker’s captors,” -said Dick. “While I don’t fancy being mixed up in this affair, I -wouldn’t hesitate to testify against those rascals if they were -arrested.” - -“I wonder what became of that document they persuaded me to sign?” -laughed Tommy. “If they ever try to use that paper, it will be their -prompt undoing. Of course, old Sate has it in his possession. Oh, I’ll -see that chap again, and I’ll know him, too. I’ve got a nice little -razzer hidden up my sleeve for Mr. Sate. If I ever get a good -opportunity, I’m going to slice him good and deep.” - -“You sus-seemed to cuc-cuc-come out of the bub-business all right,” -observed Spratt. “You don’t look any the w-w-worse for wear.” - -“Thank you, thank you,” bubbled Tucker. “And you, Spratt, are looking -perfectly divine this morning.” - -“But I haven’t a cent to my nun-name,” said Jack quickly. - -“My dear boy, you misunderstand me!” cried Tommy. “Can’t I pay a man a -compliment without wanting to borrow money?” - -“I sus-suppose you can,” answered Spratt, “but sus-somehow you -nun-nun-never do.” - -“Now that’s an insult!” snapped Tommy belligerently. “I challenge you to -a duel. Let’s not lose a moment’s time. Let’s fight a duel right away.” - -“You needn’t lose any time,” laughed Dick. “It only takes two seconds to -fight a duel.” - -Tucker collapsed on a chair. - -“I was going to spring that myself,” he said dolefully. “It must be -awfully stale.” - -“It is,” said Dick. “I thought I was stealing a lap on you.” - -“You have certain enemies, Tucker,” observed Jones, “who seem determined -that you shall not play on the team.” - -“Thus far they’ve simply injured themselves,” said Dick. “They must be -disgusted with the way everything has gone against them. We play Brown -at Providence, Saturday, and if we win that game it will be the utter -discomfiture of our enemies and the enemies of the team.” - -“Oh, we’ll win the game, partner,” said Buckhart confidently. - -“I hope we do,” nodded Dick; “but Brown has a hot team, they say—the -best freshman team she’s had in years.” - -Dick smiled. - -“Well, how about uth?” inquired Otis Fitch. - -“It has been generally reported that Yale has the weakest freshman team -she’s had in years, but I notice we’ve been winning thus far.” - -“Even with Sam Kates in the box,” grunted Bigelow. “Of course, you’re -going to pitch Saturday, Dick? You wouldn’t think of putting Kates -against Brown?” - -“I wouldn’t put him against Brown. I shall wait to hear what Captain -Jones has to say.” - -“You’ll pitch, all right,” announced Blessed. “And you’ll pitch the -whole game, too.” - -“Very well,” said Dick, “that seems to be settled.” - -“And that settles the game,” asserted Spratt. “I’ll bet my last dollar -we win. It’s a sure thing.” - -“Better not bet,” said Dick. “There’s nothing like a sure thing in -baseball. I may have my off day—I have one sometimes. Anyhow, I shall -have to depend on my backers. Without good backing I can’t hope to get -away with that game. Only for old Brad behind the pan to steady me and -assist me in working the batters I fear I’d make a pretty poor showing. -In most cases the success of a pitcher depends on the sort of catcher he -works with.” - -“Oh, dear, partner, let up on that!” exclaimed the Texan, really -confused. “You know you can pitch ball without any old catcher at all -behind the pan.” - -“Yes, I can pitch, but I can’t win games, Brad. To win games I need the -backing of the whole team, and the man I depend on most is the man -behind the bat.” - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - A PAIR OF RASCALS. - - -At the tinkle of his alarm clock Mike Lynch awoke, opened one eye, -squinted at the clock, and growled like a flea-bitten dog. - -“Rot it!” he muttered. “I haven’t had thirty minutes’ decent sleep all -night long. Whew! whew! I can taste smoke clean down to my toes. Got a -bump as big as half a watermelon here on the side of my head, and the -cords of my neck are stiff and sore. All I’ve done is dream fire, fire, -and twist and snort and make up and try to go to sleep again. Dash it -all, I must look like a wreck! I feel like one, anyhow.” - -Making an attempt to sit up, he dropped back with a doleful groan. - -“Jingoes, but that does pull on my neck!” he murmured, holding his head -canted to one side. “What makes my neck so lame? I suppose I know. That -whelp Merriwell chucked me headlong against the wall in the basement of -that old warehouse. Wonder I didn’t spill my brains all over that wall. -Next thing I knew I was getting scorched and everything around me seemed -on fire. That brought me to my senses in a hurry, but when I tried to -find the way out I was so bewildered that I didn’t know what to do. How -did I get out, anyhow? Oh, yes, somebody came back and grabbed me and -dragged me toward the door. Somebody—it was Merriwell! That’s right, by -Jove, it was Merriwell! The rest of the fellows were gone. They had -sneaked and left me, the cowards! They left me to roast in that fire -trap. That’s a fine bunch of friends to have!” - -He finally succeeded in sitting up, holding both hands to his head as he -groaned and cursed in mingled pain and anger. - -“That was just about the worst night I ever experienced. And to think I -might have roasted only for Merriwell! Hang it all! I hate to know I owe -him anything. Do I owe him anything? Why, of course not. Didn’t he chuck -me against the wall and knock me senseless? Gee! I wouldn’t like to tell -anybody that he did, but that’s what happened. I suppose some of those -sneaks who skipped and left me will tell. No, they won’t. They don’t -dare. They’ll keep their faces closed. But Merriwell’s friends—those who -were with him—they’ll tell. Let ’em! let ’em! They don’t know who it was -rigged up in those devil togs. Anyhow, if they do suspect, they can’t -prove it. I won’t acknowledge it, you bet your sweet life! - -“No, I don’t owe Merriwell anything. If he’d left me there, it would -have been the same as murder. After chucking me against the wall and -sending my wits wool-gathering, it was up to him to get me out. I’m not -going to blow up with gratitude toward him.” - -Lynch was greatly relieved over the thought that he did not owe the lad -he bitterly hated anything like a debt of gratitude. This caused him to -grin the least bit, and, with some mumbling and muttering, he painfully -dragged himself out of bed. - -“Suppose a hot bath would do me good,” he said, “but I’m too stiff to -get into a tub. I don’t know when I ever felt this way before. Toleman -was the only one who had decency enough to come around last night to -find out whether I was alive or had been cooked in that fire. I suppose -he told the rest of the bunch that I was here, all right. Confound it! -what brought Merriwell and his gang out there to the warehouse? That -fellow always turns up and spoils things. How did he know we had Tucker -there? He seems to get onto every move we make lately. Somebody is -giving us away. It can’t be Wolfe, for he wouldn’t dare, and I know it -isn’t Ditson or Toleman. I can trust Poland, too. But Daggett—that -fellow would do anything for money. If the Merriwell gang tried it, they -could buy him easy enough. Still, he seems the fiercest against Dick -Merriwell. I don’t trust him. We’ve got to cut him out somehow. It’s -pretty hard work doing it now he knows so much, but it’s necessary to -find a way. We had to cut Lee out. Only yesterday I gave Wolfe a -call-down for telling Lee about our plans. The kid hasn’t any backbone.” - -After washing up, Mike began to dress with more or less difficulty. At -intervals he paused to touch gently the lump on his head. Every time he -did this he growled. - -His head still throbbed, and when he stooped over to lace his shoes -something like a sledge hammer seemed pounding within it. - -“Oh, ache! ache!” he rasped. “You’ll get over it pretty soon—you’ll have -to. I’m glad I haven’t any marks on my face, and I won’t wear a bandage -round my head. My hat will cover that bump. They can’t spot me. I’ll -have to get rid of that devil rig, though. Found my overcoat where we -left our clothes when we dressed back of the old warehouse. Only for -that I’d never been able to get to this room without being pinched. -Lucky my overcoat was good and long and hid my costume. Two fellows did -stop to stare at my red ankles, but I took to my heels, and I know they -didn’t recognize me.” - -Opening his wardrobe door, he found the crimson masquerade suit, which -he made into a bundle carefully wrapped in brown paper and securely tied -with stout cord. This bundle was hidden away beneath some underclothing -in a drawer of the dresser. - -“I’ll dispose of that to-night,” he muttered. “Don’t like to have stolen -property on my premises. It was Ditson’s idea to rig up in those -costumes. He thought it would frighten Tucker. Hanged if it didn’t seem -to amuse the little fool! I’m going to quit taking the foolish advice of -Ditson or anybody else. I didn’t see anything like a joke in that -business. I was in earnest. But now I suppose we wasted our time. Of -course this isn’t any good at all, and I may as well destroy it.” - -From a pocket he produced the typewritten confession which Tucker had -been forced to sign. - -“No, it’s no good now,” he muttered, after reading it over. “The little -rat could prove he was compelled to sign against his will. If any one -tried to use this document, it would get him into a nasty scrape. This -will settle it.” - -In front of the fireplace he struck a match and applied the flame to one -corner of the paper. - -“What are you doing?” cried a voice that made him jump as if struck by a -bolt. - -The burning paper fluttered to the hearth, and Lynch turned a pale face -toward the lad who had softly opened the door and thrust his head into -the room. - -“Gee!” he breathed, with mingled relief and resentment. “You gave me a -jerk. What the dickens do you mean by poking your head into my room and -yelling like that? Come in and shut that door.” - -Bern Wolfe needed no invitation. Slamming the door behind him, he leaped -toward the hearth and placed his foot on the burning paper. - -“Get away! get away!” said Lynch, catching the visitor by the collar, -and jerking him back. “Let it burn.” - -“It’s Tucker’s confession!” - -“Yes.” - -“Are you crazy?” - -“I guess not.” - -“We had trouble enough getting that confession.” - -“Too much trouble,” confessed Mike. - -“And now it’s destroyed!” groaned Bern, as he watched the flames char -the sheet and turn it to a black film of ash, which crinkled at a breath -and dissolved into fluttering fragments. - -“It wasn’t any use after what happened,” declared Lynch. And he -proceeded to explain his reason for thinking so. “You see,” he -concluded, “that thing might have gotten me into trouble if I had kept -it and any one had chanced to find it in my pocket.” - -“I suppose that’s right,” muttered Bern, his thin lips pulled back from -the points of his sharp white teeth. “Yes, I see you’re right, Mike, but -I swear I’d like to get some sort of a twist on that fellow Tucker. He’s -playing the position on the nine that I ought to fill. I’m a better -shortstop than Tucker ever was or ever will be.” - -“Perhaps you are,” nodded Mike, “but you’re not one of Richard -Merriwell’s petsy-wetsies. Therefore you have no show to play on the -team.” - -“That’s not the reason why I’m not playing on the team.” - -“Eh? It isn’t?” - -“No.” - -“Then what is the reason?” - -“You know well enough!” snapped Bern bitterly. “You know I had my chance -to get on the team, and I landed there, too. Only for your great scheme -to knife Merriwell, I’d be playing on the team now.” - -“Now, hold on—hold on. Don’t always try to shoulder everything onto me.” - -“I’m telling you the truth, and you know it!” cried Wolfe, smashing his -clenched right hand into his open left. “If I’d refused to listen to -your scheme, I’d be playing shortstop and Tucker would be on the bench.” - -“Bah! bah! What are you giving us?” - -“Bah! bah! Bleat away. It’s a fact. Merriwell was ready to use me. He -did use me. I played in that Hudson game until I got spiked.” - -“And you haven’t played since,” grinned Lynch. - -“Because Merriwell and his friends are dead sure that I was concerned in -the giving away of Umpty-ten’s signals. That was your plan to hurt -Merriwell, but it never harmed him a bit. Instead of that, it swamped -me, all right, all right.” - -“What right has Merriwell to keep you off the team? There’s never been -anything proven against you, has there?” - -“Not proven perhaps, but——” - -“Then you’re not being used right, Bern.” - -“Not proven, but established as a conviction in Merriwell’s mind.” - -“Rot! rot! You just think it has been established as a conviction in his -mind. You don’t know whether it has or not.” - -“I do know he is satisfied that Tucker is innocent.” - -“And Tucker, being one of his goo-goo boys, gets the chance to play, -while you pine on the bench.” - -“Merriwell knows I’m friendly with you. He knows you would do anything -in this world to hurt him. He doesn’t trust me. If I’d cut loose from -you the way Kates did, I’d be on the team the same as Kates is. He’s -there, isn’t he? You can’t say Merriwell is keeping one of his -particular pets on first to the exclusion of Kates.” - -“Merriwell had to have a first baseman and an assistant pitcher. -Ambitious as he is, as much as he likes to show off, he can’t do all the -pitching. Toleman was sulking, and the team just had to accept Kates. -That’s plain enough. You didn’t have a chance of forcing yourself in the -way Sam did.” - -“Oh, don’t tell me that! I don’t believe it. I got there once. What have -I made by listening to your plans and plots? I’ve lost the chance I had, -and even though they can’t prove anything against me I’m under -suspicion. You’ve said you would clear me, but never yet have you made a -single promise good.” - -“Now, hold on!” snarled Lynch, his red hair seeming to bristle. “That’s -just about enough from you. Haven’t I been doing my best? Wasn’t I -putting myself out on your account last night, and didn’t it come near -being my finish?” - -“I told you that was a preposterous scheme before we started in upon it. -You were the only one in the crowd who thought it would amount to -anything.” - -“How do you know so much?” - -“Oh, I know—I heard ’em say so.” - -“Then why did they take any part in it?” - -“For a lark. It was to have some amusement with Tucker that those -masquerade costumes were stolen and worn. I was against that piece of -business, but Ditson had been drinking, and he was ready for any piece -of recklessness. Give him a couple of drinks, and you never know what -he’ll do.” - -“Well, you’re about as ungrateful a runt as I ever saw!” declared Lynch -bitterly. “I wash my hands of it. I’m through trying to help you. If you -want to, you can go tell every one that you gave away the team’s -signals.” - -“You know I’m not likely to do that.” - -“I don’t know what you’re likely to do. Why, I’ve even convinced our own -bunch that Tucker was the guilty one instead of you. They believe it.” - -“They pretend to,” muttered Bern, “but I’m not sure they do.” - -“To tell the truth, a fellow can’t be sure of much of anything with -them,” growled Mike. “Look at the way they skipped me last night! Wasn’t -that fine? You did the same thing. You dusted out with the rest and left -me to the mercies of the Merriwell bunch, or to roast.” - -“It was every man for himself then.” - -“Oh, was it?” - -“Sure.” - -“And in such a case you’d leave a friend lying unconscious to be burned -to death, would you?” - -“I didn’t know you were unconscious. I was having troubles enough of my -own. I didn’t know what happened to you.” - -“Well, I’ll tell you what happened. About four of those fellows, -including Merriwell himself, jumped on me in a bunch. One of them hit me -over the head with a piece of lead pipe or something like that. That was -the last I knew until I found myself lying on the floor, almost choked -by smoke and nearly roasted by fire.” - -“That was a tough situation,” admitted Wolfe. “How’d you get out?” - -“How did I? I wish you’d tell me. I crawled among those boxes and bales -on all fours without having an idea where the door was. Just by good -luck I found it. Only for that good luck, my bones would be lying this -minute in the ruins of Dinsmore & Hyde’s old warehouse.” - -“It was a mighty bad piece of business,” breathed Bern, shaking his -head. “Only for that accidental fire the Merriwell crowd would have had -us all pinched. I can see what would have happened to us. The fire gave -us a chance to break away, for they had to take care of themselves, and -they were all afraid of being nabbed by the police or some one. You see -you can’t blame me for leaving you, Mike. I didn’t know what had -happened to you, and I don’t think the others did. It was pretty rank of -the Merriwell bunch when they skipped out and left you there. Seems to -me it was up to some of them to look after you.” - -“Well, they didn’t,” lied Mike. “But why didn’t some of you fellows come -around last night to find out whether I reached my room or not? Toleman -was the only chap who had decency enough to poke his nose in here.” - -“We sent him.” - -“Oh, you did?” - -“Yes. He came back and reported you were here. We didn’t think it best -to come around in a bunch just then. I’m the first one to show up this -morning, ain’t I? Well, doesn’t that indicate that I take some -interest?” - -“Oh, yes,” mocked Mike, as he buttoned his collar and began knotting his -necktie. “I expect you were so terribly disturbed over me that you -didn’t sleep a wink.” - -“Well, I didn’t sleep much,” confessed Wolfe. “I haven’t been doing much -sleeping for the past two or three weeks. I’m getting thin, and I feel -like a leftover jag the most of the time.” - -“Don’t tell me how you feel. I’ve got a bump as big as a lemon here on -my coconut. My head aches. My neck is stiff. My back is lame, and every -breath I exhale smells of smoke. All on your account, too. And you come -around here and growl! You make me sick. Get out of my way! Sit down!” - -Lynch thrust his companion on a chair just as the door opened and other -visitors appeared. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - FURTHER PLOTTING. - - -Duncan Ditson was the first to speak. - -“Hello, you here, Wolfe?” he said. “We wondered where you were.” - -Bill Toleman stalked in behind Dunc. - -“I reported last night, Lynch,” he said. “Let them know you were still -on earth.” - -“And that soothed our disturbed spirits a great deal,” said Jim Poland, -finding a chair and gracefully seating himself. - -“’Sst!” hissed Mel Daggett, who was the last to enter. “Don’t you know -the door’s open? Don’t talk so loud, you fellows.” - -Softly and silently closing and latching the door, Mel waddled to the -morris chair and squatted on the broad arm of it. - -Lynch, hands resting on hips, squared himself in front of Daggett. - -“I wish you’d tell me something, Mel,” he said, with an air of -unmistakable accusation. - -“Will if I can,” whispered Mel. - -“How did the Merriwell bunch know where to find us last night?” - -Daggett’s froglike mug took on an expression of puzzled blankness. - -“That’s something I’d like to know,” he declared. - -“Don’t you know?” - -“Don’t I know?” - -“That’s the question I put to you.” - -Mel caught his breath with a hissing sound, glared at Mike with his -green eyes, and then slowly rose to his feet. - -“Now, see here,” he snapped, shaking one of his knobby fists at Lynch, -“if you mean to insinuate anything about me, you’d better go slow!” - -“Aw, sit down,” said Mike, placing his fingers against Mel’s breast and -pushing him back upon the chair. “Don’t do that with me, Daggett. Don’t -lift your fist to me; you’re liable to get hit if you do.” - -“If you hit me, you’ll be sorry.” - -“What’ll you do, peach on the crowd?” - -“I won’t stand for that—I won’t stand for it!” palpitated Daggett. - -“You’re not standing for it—you’re sitting. Somebody gave away our plans -to carry Tucker off to that old warehouse last night. Who did it? Who -peached?” - -“Why do you come at me like this? Am I the only one who knew about your -plan? Didn’t the others know? Why don’t you make your talk to them?” - -“Because I know Ditson, Poland, Toleman, or Wolfe would not breathe a -word of it. I don’t know about you.” - -Mel squirmed and tried to rise again, but was once more pushed back by -Mike. - -“Don’t get up,” said Lynch. “I’ve asked you a question.” - -“And I’ve given you all the answer you’ll get from me!” snarled Daggett. -“I didn’t peach on anybody. You’ve never seen me trying to get in with -the Merriwell crowd. You can’t say as much about some of the rest of -your friends. I’m not calling any names, but you know who I mean.” - -“Yes, you mean me,” said Wolfe. “Perhaps you think I’m the one who gave -it away?” - -“I didn’t say so. I’m not accusing anybody. Lynch is making all that -sort of talk that’s being made.” - -“Because I mean to find out how it happens that Merriwell gets wind of -everything we plan to do. Of course, if you say you didn’t let anything -slip, we’ll have to take your word for it, Daggett.” - -“You needn’t take my word for it if you don’t want to. But if you -continue to insinuate, I’ll fight you as sure as I live. Perhaps you can -do me up, but we’ll see.” - -“I hardly believe Dag would go back on us, Mike,” said Poland. - -“Of course not,” put in Toleman. - -“Anyhow,” said Ditson, “we can’t afford to suspect a fellow unless there -are proofs against him. Have you any evidence—any reason to believe Mel -squealed on us?” - -“No reason beyond the fact that some one must have squealed, and I feel -confident the rest of the crowd wouldn’t do that.” - -“This is not the first time you and I have had words, Lynch,” said -Daggett. “I want you to understand that I’m just as trustworthy as you -are.” - -“But you’re a greedy hog. A fellow who asks friends twenty per cent a -month on money loaned to them would do almost anything.” - -“That’s business, that’s business!” snapped Mel. “There’s nothing -underhand or sneaky about it. If they borrow, they know what they’re -expected to pay. If you mean to insinuate that I would sell my friends -out to the Merriwell crowd, let me tell you that you’re a confounded -liar. Is that good enough for you?” - -It seemed that Lynch would make a lunge for Daggett’s throat, but both -Ditson and Toleman interfered and checked him. - -“Steady, Mike,” said Dunc. “We can’t afford to have a fuss just now. The -very fact that Mel is so indignant over your suspicions ought to satisfy -you of his innocence. I’m satisfied.” - -“Of course it was queer that Merriwell got onto the business the way he -did,” admitted Toleman; “but I am not willing to think that any one of -the fellows here turned traitor. It leaked out through some accident and -not through deliberate treachery.” - -“You may be right,” admitted Mike, calming down. “I’m in a rotten bad -humor this morning. I ought to be after what happened last night. I’ve -just been telling Wolfe what I thought of you fellows for quitting me -the way you did. Somebody must have seen me knocked out by the Merriwell -crowd, yet you all skidooed like a lot of frightened rabbits.” - -One and all, they protested that they had not realized he was knocked -out. Apparently none of them had seen Merriwell fling him against the -wall, at the foot of which he fell stunned and helpless. Satisfied that -this was the case, Mike once more repeated his statement that he had -been attacked by at least four of the Merriwell crowd and had been -knocked senseless by a blow on the head. - -“I was having it with Merriwell himself when the others jumped on me,” -he said. “If they’d only let me alone about ten seconds more, I’d broken -that fellow’s back for him.” - -“Perhaps,” nodded Ditson doubtfully; “but he has a very tough back.” - -“Have you fellows read the papers this morning?” inquired Poland. “I -have. The police say the old warehouse was burned by firebugs. We want -to keep mum, fellows.” - -“That was not all I read in the paper,” came from Toleman. “Didn’t you -notice the account of the burglarizing of Steigler’s costuming shop? I -want you to know that I’ve disposed of the outfit I wore last night. You -can’t find it anywhere around my joint. The rest of you chaps better get -rid of your stuff.” - -“Oh, don’t be so timid!” mocked Ditson. “Who’ll ever suspect us?” - -“Wait! What if some of the Merriwell crowd were seen and recognized? -What if they’re cornered and tell all they know? What if they take a -notion to tell, anyhow? Although they can’t prove it against us, I’ll -venture to say they know every one of us. Now, if the police get next to -them and ask them questions, won’t they name us chaps as being -responsible for that fire? If we’re named, you can bank on it that the -cops will search our rooms for some of the rigs we wore. I’d a hundred -times rather be pinched for the fire than the other job. We could swear -that the fire was the result of an accident, a lark; and, although we -might regard the other business as a lark, the police would not look on -it in that light, and the court would be sure to inflict punishment.” - -“He’s right,” nodded Lynch. “I’m going to dispose of my outfit just as -soon as I can, and the rest of you better do the same.” - -“I suppose you’re all so frightened now,” sneered Ditson, “that there -isn’t one who’ll dare lift his hand against Merriwell during the rest of -the term.” - -“What’s the use?” grunted Toleman. “Never anything works right. Fellows, -Merriwell is too much for us. He has too much luck or too much -something. We’ll never do him any harm by striking at him direct.” - -“You may be right about that, Bill,” acknowledged Lynch. “I’ve begun to -think so myself. It’s queer how some chaps seem to have a guardian -angel, or a genius, or something that always takes care of them. All -winter we’ve been saying Merriwell wouldn’t make much of a reputation at -baseball with the kind of team he’d have behind him this spring. Now -he’s attracting any amount of attention. Why, Billings—the great -Billings—has written it that Merriwell might coach the pitchers of the -varsity. Think of that—a freshman coach for the varsity pitchers! But no -one seems to realize the fact that Merriwell himself would be rotten if -he didn’t have a catcher behind the bat who knows him and all his -peculiarities. Only for Buckhart, Merriwell wouldn’t be such a star on -the slab. Where’s there another freshman who could go behind the bat and -handle Merriwell’s pitching? Where’s there another chap who could handle -the combination ball or any of Merriwell’s queer kinks and shoots? Of -course, a professional catcher, a big-league man, would be all right for -it; but I’m talking about the freshman ball players to be found at Yale -to-day. Don’t think I’m in love with Buckhart—he’s the fellow I dislike -most next to Merriwell himself. I’m simply stating the truth. Without -Buckhart, Merriwell would be an ordinary dub of a pitcher that any one -could hit.” - -“I think there’s something in that, Mike,” nodded Ditson. - -“I think so, too,” said Toleman promptly. - -“Well, can’t you see what I’m driving at?” inquired Lynch. - -“Not yet,” was the answer. - -“Take Buckhart away from the team, and what will happen to Merriwell? -He’ll get his bumps, won’t he?” - -“Very likely,” nodded Duncan. - -“Sure he will,” persisted Mike. “If he tries to use those effective -balls of his, the catcher will fumble them. There’ll be passed balls -galore. Every man on the field faces the catcher. Let the catcher go to -pieces, and it’s up in a balloon for the rest of the bunch. Now, look -here, Umpty-ten Yale plays Umpty-ten Brown at Providence next Saturday. -Those Brown fellows can bat. If anything should happen to Brad Buckhart -to prevent him from catching in that game, Brown would have a cinch. I -know of lots of Yale money that is just begging for a chance to back -Umpty-ten. Fix it so Merriwell will lose his catcher, and we fellows can -line our pockets just as sure as fate.” - -“How are you going to fix it?” inquired Ditson. - -“Well,” grinned Mike, “if this crowd hasn’t got brains enough to devise -a scheme, it’s a mighty poor bunch. Let’s put our heads together and do -a little plotting.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - A CERTAIN VISITOR. - - -Dick gave up trying to grind. It was mid-afternoon and once more his -friends who roomed in the house had wandered in upon him and were -chattering away regardless of his desire to study. - -They had been speaking of disguises and practical jokes. Bigelow was -telling them what a fine Irishman Dick became when he wished to -represent one and had the necessary make-up. - -“Didn’t he fool the cops that night you took in the cock fight, Tucker?” -demanded Big. “Didn’t he fool you, too? You know he did. Both you and -Jones were scared out of your senses when you got back here. Said you’d -been recognized and your names called by a policeman. Felt sure that -meant the end of Yale for both of you. Oh, but you were scared! Tommy -was white round the gills, and all Blessed could do was groan and quote -fake scripture.” - -“Verily I was exceedingly distressed,” acknowledged Jones. - -“Oh, I confess I was scared blue,” said Tucker. “But out in that old -barn with only two or three lanterns to illuminate the place it was easy -enough for anybody to fool us. I’m not saying Dick isn’t good at making -up and playing a part, but he never could deceive a native of old Erin -if he tried to represent an Irishman.” - -“Bet he could, bet he could!” spluttered Bouncer. “Couldn’t you, Dick?” - -“I don’t know,” confessed Dick, “but I have an idea that I might -succeed.” - -“I’m willing to bet ten you can’t fool any real Irishman,” cried Tucker. - -“I won’t bet, you know,” laughed Dick, “but I don’t mind trying it. Tell -you what I’ll do—I’ll experiment on Maggie Swazey. She’s a good subject, -isn’t she?” - -They agreed that Maggie, the maid of all work in the rooming house, was -acceptable. - -“How are you going to experiment on her, partner?” questioned Buckhart. - -After a moment’s thought Dick unfolded his plan. - -“I know where to get a policeman’s uniform that will fit me unless those -fellows who robbed Steiger’s place got away with the outfit. I’ll rig up -as an Irish cop this evening, and I’ll stroll around here and call on -Maggie shortly after eight o’clock. Tell you what I’ll do, fellows—I’ll -make love to Maggie. That ought to be a satisfactory test. If I can fool -her to that extent, I ought to be able to fool any one.” - -“Truly thou art taking thy life in thy lily-white hands,” said Blessed. -“If Maggie ever tumbles to the trick, she’ll split your skull.” - -“Oh, say, that ought to be a circus!” shouted Tucker hilariously. “I’d -give anything if I could see the sport.” - -“Can’t you find a way to see it?” - -“I’d like to be in it, too,” grinned Bigelow. “Oh, I wouldn’t want to -miss that.” - -“Miss it?” said Buckhart. “You bet your boots I don’t propose to miss -it!” - -“What’ll you do?” asked Tommy and Bouncer in a breath. - -“It’s the pantry for mine!” announced the Texan. “I’ll ensconce myself -in the pantry where I can take in the doings.” - -“Maggie has an old couch down there that she rests on when she’s very -tired,” grinned Tucker. “I speak for a snug berth beneath that couch.” - -“But where can I conceal my slight and sylphlike form?” asked Bigelow. -“Say, Buckhart, you ought to let me have the pantry.” - -“Then where would I fit in?” - -“The sink,” cried Bigelow; “you can get under the sink.” - -“Aw, no, that won’t do,” protested Brad. “Think of me hiding under a -sink! Great horn spoon!” - -“But you’re selfish,” declared Bouncer. “Yes, you are selfish, Buckhart. -I can’t get under the sink to save my neck—you can. I could hide in the -pantry or the cold room. If you’re going to have the pantry, I’ll take -the cold room.” - -“I’ll see more of the fun than either one of you,” laughed Tucker. “Next -to my chosen retreat beneath the couch, I’d choose the sink, for then I -could keep the door open on a crack and watch everything that was going -on.” - -“This don’t seem to be a time for dignity,” said Brad, “so I’ll take the -sink for mine. But, however are we going to get to our retreats, gents?” - -“You’ve got sort of left me out,” observed Jones. “I suppose you think I -don’t enjoy life, anyhow, and there’s no use in trying to amuse me.” - -“Tell you what you can do,” cried Tommy. - -“That’s kind, indeed.” - -“You can help us out.” - -“If Maggie ever catches you stowed around the kitchen, she’ll help you -out.” - -“You can call her upstairs for something, Jonesy, and give us a chance -to sneak into the kitchen. Will you do it? Sure you will.” - -“Oh, certainly!” grunted Blessed. “That’s all I’m good for. Work me, -work me.” - -“If you fellows want to be sure of seeing the sport,” smiled Dick, -“don’t fail to have yourselves properly concealed in the kitchen by -eight o’clock. I shall arrive within five or ten minutes after the hour. -That’s settled now. You chaps skidoo. Yes, I mean it. Your room is -preferable to your company for the next hour. I’ve got to study.” - -According to the arrangement, Jones appeared at the kitchen door some -five minutes before eight that evening, and requested Maggie Swazey to -do him a little favor. He was studying hard, he said, and couldn’t spare -the time to run out to the nearest stationery store for a couple of -notebooks. Would she mind getting them for him? - -The sight of a silver quarter in the way of emolument for her services -quickly banished any sign of hesitation on Maggie’s part. - -“Certainly, sir—certainly I’ll git ye the books,” she smiled. - -“You know what I want,” said Blessed. “If you don’t, here’s a -sample—here’s one of my old books. You can take that along. When you -come back bring them up to my room, but get them right away—don’t lose a -minute. Time is precious with me this evening.” - -The moment the door closed behind Maggie three chuckling lads scudded -into the kitchen and prepared to conceal themselves. At the last moment -Buckhart seemed inclined to rebel against hiding beneath the sink. - -“You can sure get in there, Big,” he said. “Try it.” - -Bouncer dropped on all fours and quickly demonstrated the impossibility -of seeking to stow himself away beneath the sink. - -“It’s a slick place, Brad,” he gurgled. “If I could only get in there, -I’d take it in a jiffy. You can back in all right, and here’s a nice -little knot hole through which you can see everything that’s going on. -Cricky, that knot hole must have been made on purpose.” - -“That certain is a right fine knot hole,” agreed the Texan, with a grin. -“Don’t know but I’ll make use of it.” - -With more or less clattering and banging, he finally succeeded in -backing in amid the pots and pans and settling himself in a comfortable -position with the knot hole convenient to his eye if he lifted his head -a bit. But even after getting in there he was again struck by the -thought that his position was most undignified, and he started to crawl -out. - -“No, you don’t!” spluttered Bouncer, slamming the sink door and turning -the little wooden button that held it. “You just keep still. It’s me to -the pantry, and I won’t have you spoiling my fun.” - -“You wait till I do get out!” growled Buckhart’s smothered voice. “I -sure will spank you good and plenty.” - -“Hurry up, Big!” hissed Tucker, thrusting his head out from beneath the -couch. “If you keep on puttering around, Maggie will come back and catch -you.” - -The fat boy made a dash for the pantry. Five minutes after the return of -Maggie Swazey there came a familiar tapping at one of the kitchen -windows. - -“Good gracious!” exclaimed the girl; “it must be Dennis. I didn’t expect -him to-night.” - -She hastened to the door and opened it wide in a welcoming manner. - -“Good avenin’, Dennis,” she laughed. “How does it happen you’re here so -early?” - -“It’s not Dinnis Oi am,” announced a voice, as a man wearing the uniform -of an officer stepped into the room. “Me name is Patrick McGee, and -Oi’ve been app’inted to the beat lately hild by me lamentid fri’nd -Dinnis Maloney.” - -“Your lamented friend?” gasped Maggie. “Why, what do you mean, sir? Oh, -tell me, has anything terrible happened to Dennis?” - -“Sure and there has,” was the sad and solemn answer. - -Maggie seemed ready to faint. - -“He isn’t dead, is he?” she almost shrieked. - -“Worse thon thot,” answered the visitor. - -Maggie stiffened up in astonishment. - -“Worse than dead?” she gasped. “Why, how can that be possible? What do -you mean?” - -“He’s married,” said the stranger, in a heart-broken manner. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - THE CONSOLER. - - -And now Maggie did utter a shriek. After swaying a moment, she fell -limply into the arms of Patrick McGee, who unhesitatingly supported her. - -He was a queer-looking, medium-sized man with a face which, using the -hackneyed phrase, “looked like a map of Ireland.” He had bushy eyebrows, -a fringe of chin whiskers, sand hair, and a plentiful spattering of -freckles. On finding himself clasping the limp form of Maggie, Patrick -twisted his mug into a comical expression of dismay so that Tommy -Tucker, eagerly peering forth from beneath the couch, was forced to -stuff his handkerchief into his mouth to hold back a shout of laughter. - -“Howld on, howld on, mavourneen!” spluttered Pat. “Don’t yez be afther -floppin’ over loike this, me darlint.” - -“Married?” choked Maggie, in the greatest anguish. “Oh, it can’t be -true!” - -“Av it ain’t true, Oi’m a liar!” said McGee. - -“When did this happen?” asked the girl, attempting to brace up. - -“This marnin’,” was the answer. “Yer see she caught him, and he had to -marry her.” - -“She caught him? Who caught him?” - -“Wan of his girruls.” - -“One—one of his girls?” - -“Yis, my dear.” - -“One of them? How many did he have?” - -“Well, my dear, Oi don’t think he really knew himsilf. Wan toime he -towld me he was shpooning around some sexteen or seventeen girruls.” - -Maggie popped up straight and stiff as a ramrod, flinging the visitor’s -supporting arms aside. - -“Sixteen or seventeen girls?” she cried furiously. “Impossible! I can’t -believe that! You are deceiving me!” - -With his hand to his chin and his head canted sidewise, Patrick McGee -gave her a look of injured reproof. - -“Desaving ye, me darlint?” he said. “I wouldn’t do that for the -worruld!” - -“Now hold on right where you are,” commanded Miss Swazey. “Don’t you -dare to ‘darlint’ me. Why, you scoundrel—to think of you coming around -here with such terrible inflammation and then calling me darlint! And -you tried to hug me—you know you did! There’s the door, sir!” - -“A foine door it is,” said Patrick, as he closed it. “Exchuse me av Oi -forgot to shut it behoind me. Now phwats the use av gittin’ dishturbed -loike this over a little thing, Maggie, dear?” - -“Maggie, dear; Maggie, dear? How do you know my name is Maggie?” - -“Phwoy, me fri’nd Dinnis towld me, av course.” - -“Your friend! your friend! So you shamelessly confess you’re the friend -of that deceiving monster! Oh, I wish I had him here. I wouldn’t do a -thing to him! I’d scratch his eyes out! I’d pull his carroty hair out by -the roots! The monster! Deceiving a poor trusting girl like me!” - -“Hush now,” protested McGee. “Don’t be too harrud on Dinnis, the poor -bhoy. He couldn’t hilp it, you know.” - -“Couldn’t help it? Couldn’t help having sixteen or seventeen girls at -the same time?” - -“But ye see he was such a fascinating divvil,” whispered Pat, with a -grin and a wink. “The girruls, the darlints, wouldn’t let him alone at -all, at all. But it nearly broke poor Dinnis’ heart whin Katie nabbed -him and led him to the praste. She meant business, and there was nivver -a bit av a chance for him to escape. Whin it was all over he says to me, -says he: ‘Pathrick, I lave it to yez to break the news to me Maggie. -It’s me Maggie Oi loved most of all other girruls in all the worruld. -It’s me Maggie Oi meant to marry. Tell her, the swate crather, that me -heart do be breaking. Oi’ll nivver see her again. Oi’m done wid me job, -and ye’ve got it, Pathrick. Oi’m going to lave this city and go far away -to some foreign country. Oi think Oi shall go to New Jersey.’ Then the -poor bhoy broke down and placed his head on me breast and sprinkled me -bosom wid his tears. Exchuse me, Miss Swazey, but Oi have to wipe me -eyes.” - -Not only did he wipe his eyes but he blew such a bugle blast with his -nose that Maggie was actually frightened. - -Something like a smothered snicker seemed to come from some part of the -room, but Patrick coughed loudly and Maggie failed to detect the -suspicious sound. Miss Swazey was affected in spite of herself. She -began to choke and sob into her apron, which she now held before her -eyes. - -“Dennis was a fine gent,” she said. “He used to bring me candy and -peanuts, and sometimes he brought me banannies and other fruit. I don’t -know what I will do without Dennis.” - -At this Patrick placed his hand over his heart and lay his head sidewise -upon his own shoulder, while a sickly languishing light filled his eyes. - -“Av ye’ll not take it amiss, Miss Swazey,” he murmured, “you nade nivver -go wanting for candy and peanuts and banannies as long as Pathrick McGee -remains on this bate. Av course Oi know Oi’m not such a handsome mon as -Dinnis, but Oi’ve got a heart in me bosom, Oi have. Besoides thot, not -being handsome, there’s no danger thot Oi’ll have sixteen or seventeen -other girruls. Oi’m ready to do me bist to take the place of Dinnis.” - -“Oh, but I’ll never trust another man—never! never!” moaned Maggie. -“They’re all deceivers, every one of them!” - -“Oi wouldn’t desave yez for the worruld,” assured the visitor earnestly. -“Just give me one trial, Maggie, me darlint. It’s awful lonesome ye’ll -be now without Dinnis to come round and tap at yer windy. Ye’ll be -afther broodin’ over yer throubles, and maybe ye’ll pine away and doie.” - -“I hope I do!” sighed Maggie. “I’d like a quiet resting spot in the -cold, cold ground. If I die, perhaps Dennis would come to my grave some -time and place a flower upon it.” - -“Or a bananny,” said Patrick. “But yez couldn’t ate a bananny then.” - -“If Dennis could only see me in my coffin, I know he’d have remorse. I -know—boo, hoo!” - -Maggie broke down completely, and the visitor made bold to slip an arm -around her waist again. - -“Ye poor choild!” he murmured, leading her toward the couch. “Do be -afther sitting down, me dear. Oi’ll sit besoide yez. Rist yer head on me -shoulder. There, there, don’t cry loike thot! It’ll make yer nose red.” - -At this moment Tommy Tucker who had discovered one of Maggie’s hatpins -beneath the couch proceeded to jab the instrument up between the -springs. - -“Ow! wow!” howled Patrick McGee, making an electrified spring into the -air. “Bumblebees and hornets! phwat were thot?” - -With one hand he industriously rubbed the spot that had been reached by -the hatpin. At the same time, he danced round the room in the most -grotesque manner imaginable. Maggie lowered her apron and stared at him -in surprise. - -“What’s the matter with you?” she asked. “Have you gone crazy?” - -“It’s just a bit of neuraligy,” spluttered Patrick. “Did yez iver have -it, Maggie? It’s worse thon the jumpin’ toothache. Whin it gives me a -twinge loike thot Oi am liable to yell the top av me head off, so I am.” - -While making this explanation he walked back to the couch and kicked -beneath it in the vain hope of hitting the mischievous rascal concealed -there. - -“Do sit down again,” urged Maggie. - -“Oi don’t dare.” - -“Why not?” - -“Oi fear Oi’d have another attack of the neuraligy. Shtand up, me -darlint—sthand up and look into me eyes. You remind me av Kate Kearney. -Did ye iver hear of Kate Kearney?” - -Then he sang: - - “Oh, did yez not hear of Kate Kearney? - She lives on the banks of Killarney; - From the glance av her eye shun danger and fly, - For fatal’s the glance of Kate Kearney.” - -“Oh, you’re a perfectly lovely singer!” exclaimed Maggie, rising with -clasped hands. “You have the most beautiful voice!” - -“Indade Oi have,” agreed Pat. “Unfortunately thot’s the ownly thing -beautiful about me. Oi can sing loike a birrud.” - -At this moment there was a slight rattling amid the pans beneath the -sink. - -“Goodness me, there’s that rat again!” cried Maggie. “I’ll set the trap -for that rat this very night.” - -“Oi hope ye catch him,” said Pat. “Oi wish ye’d be after telling me -whether me voice is tenor eleven.” - -Once more he sang: - - “O the days of the Kerry dancing, - O the ring of the poiper’s tune! - O for one of those hours av gladness, - Gone, alas! like our youth, too soon.” - -“Lovely! lovely! lovely!” gushed Maggie. “A man who can sing like that -must have a beautiful disposition.” - -“Oi have,” assured McGee. “Av Oi iver git married, Oi’ll trate me wife -roight. Av she cooks me meals, washes the dishes, split the wood, brings -in the coal, takes in washing, and kapes the household running dacently, -Oi’ll nivver hit her.” - -At this moment there came a sudden crash from the cold closet. - -“Good heavens!” cried Maggie. “What’s happened now? Has the old cat got -in there again?” - -She sprang to the door and flung it open. Out rolled Bouncer Bigelow -covered from head to heels with buttermilk, a panful of which he had -upset and brought down upon his head. - -“Land of wonders!” gurgled Maggie, aghast. “What was you doin’ in -there?” - -“I was just looking for something to eat,” spluttered Bouncer feebly. “I -was starving to death, Maggie.” - -Officer McGee promptly pounced on Bigelow. - -“Ye spallpane!” he cried. “Ye thafe of the worruld, it’s a burglar ye -are! Oi place ye under arrist. Not a worrud, ye villain! Oi’ll take yez -to the station house. Ye can talk to the sargint.” - -Bigelow appealed to Maggie. - -“If you let him pinch me,” said he, “I’ll tell Mrs. Watson what’s going -on here in her kitchen night after night.” - -Maggie grasped Patrick by the arm. - -“It’s nothing, only one of the stujents that rooms in the house,” she -explained. “Do let him go.” - -McGee looked doubtful. - -“The scoundrel has been listenin’ to phwat we’ve been sayin’, me -darlint. He’ll be afther tillin’ on us.” - -Bigelow pretended that he was very much alarmed. In Bouncer’s ear the -pseudo officer whispered: - -“Come on, Big. It’s time I got out of this. I think I’ve made good, all -right.” - -But as he was dragging the fat boy toward the door that door suddenly -opened and in it appeared Officer Dennis Maloney himself. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - SOMETHING DOING. - - -Dick stopped in his tracks. - -“Stung!” he muttered. - -Officer Maloney wore an expression of puzzled astonishment. - -“Phwat’s going on here, Oi dunno?” he inquired, fixing a jealous eye on -Patrick McGee. - -Maggie Swazey seemed flabbergasted for a moment, but she quickly -recovered, and, pointing an accusing finger at the new arrival, she -shrieked: - -“How dare you show your face here, you wretch?” - -“Hey?” grunted Maloney, in astonishment. - -“You scoundrel! You reprobate! You base deceiver! You breaker of -innocent hearts! You—you—you——” - -She could find no epithet that expressed her intense emotion. Behind the -excited girl’s back Tommy Tucker thrust his head out from beneath the -couch and cried: - -“Hit the high places, Dick! Hump yourself!” - -Beneath the sink there was a crash as Buckhart inadvertently brought -down one of the tin pans. Bouncer Bigelow was fruitlessly trying to mop -some of the buttermilk off his clothes with his handkerchief. It was an -interesting tableau, and, in spite of himself, the disguised boy -laughed. - -“Phwat do ye mane by laughing?” roared Officer Maloney. “Phwat’s your -name? How did yez happen to come on my bate? Ye shnake, ye’re trying to -steal me girrul!” - -The hot blood mounted to the face of the speaker, and he stepped -belligerently into the room. - -“Skip, Dick!” said Tucker, once more. “It’s your last chance!” - -“Get out!” cried Maggie, waving Maloney back. “I don’t want to see your -treacherous features. Don’t show your face to me! You’ve broke my poor -heart! you’re a monster! Go back to your wife!” - -“Me woife?” shouted Dennis, astounded. “Go back to phwat?” - -“Back to your wife, you monster! Had seventeen girls on the string at -once, did you? Bragged about it, did you? If I’d ever found that out in -time, I’d served you the way the other one did: I’d married you!” - -“Sure, darlint, Oi don’t undershtand yes,” faltered Maloney. “It’s not -married Oi am at all, at all.” - -“Not—not married?” - -“Not yit, and Oi nivver will be onless ye have me yersilf.” - -“But—but—but your friend—your friend, Officer McGee—he told me you were -married this morning.” - -Maloney glared at the disguised boy, at the same time reaching for his -club. - -“Me fri’nd, Officer McGee?” he rasped. “So thot’s phwat he’s been -telling ye, is it? Well, now Oi think Oi’ll hav a bit to say to Officer -McGee, a mon phwat Oi nivver saw before in all me loife. Ye lyin’ -shnake! Oi’m goin’ to break yer head, so Oi am!” - -He meant it, too, for he charged at Dick, who barely escaped with a -nimble duck and a quick dodge to one side. - -“Hold on, hold on!” spluttered Bigelow, managing to get in the enraged -policeman’s way. “Let’s have an understanding.” - -“An ondershtandin’?” howled Maloney. “Oi’ll give him an ondershtandin’!” - -Tucker started to crawl from beneath the couch, but the enraged Irishman -hurled Bigelow staggering to one side, and, getting his feet tangled, -the fat boy spun like a top and finished by sitting down heavily on -Tucker’s head. - -Thump! thump! thump! It was Buckhart pounding furiously on the sink door -in an effort to get out. - -“Yow! yow!” squawked Tucker smotheredly; “my nose—you’ve smashed my -nose!” - -Having clung fast to the hatpin, he now jabbed it fiercely into Bigelow, -who gave a wild yell of pain and rolled out into the middle of the room -just in time to catch Officer Maloney’s foot and send him sprawling. - -“Heaven sakes!” palpitated Maggie Swazey, with uplifted hands. “This is -terrible!” - -Dick saw his opportunity now and embraced it. He did not wait for -Maloney to rise, but promptly ducked for the back door and disappeared -into outer darkness. - - - - - CHAPTER XXV. - REFUGE IN THE RIVER. - - -Although he did not fully understand the rather surprising affair, -Policeman Dennis Maloney was now satisfied that his sweetheart, Maggie -Swazey, had been outrageously imposed upon by the scrubby-bearded, -red-faced, blue-coated, brass-buttoned individual he had accidentally -discovered there in the kitchen. What part the three boys had taken in -the affair he could not understand. In fact, he was decidedly bewildered -and vexed, but, at the same time, his fighting blood was aroused and he -vowed terrible vengeance on Patrick McGee if he could but once get his -hands on that deceiving scoundrel. - -With a furious imprecation, Maloney gave Bigelow a fierce kick in the -ribs, which brought another howl of pain from the lips of the fat chap. -Scrambling to his feet, the policeman dashed toward the door unmindful -of the imploring shriek which came from Maggie’s lips. Forth into the -darkness he hustled in pursuit of the disguised and fleeing lad, -swearing the most terrible vengeance as he vanished. - -Scuttling along the alley, Dick paused to peer out upon the street. He -did not fancy Maloney would pursue him closely, and therefore he was -startled by the sound of thudding feet and turned to see the dark figure -of the policeman charging upon him. - -“Cæsar’s ghost!” gasped the boy. “Here’s where I take Tucker’s advice -and hit the high places.” - -He knew it would be a serious thing for him if he fell into the hands of -the enraged officer. Confident of his ability to outrun Maloney, he -laughingly skipped away. Behind him the policeman raised a great -shouting. - -“Stop thafe! stop thafe!” - -Looking back, Merriwell saw the bluecoat, club in hand, covering ground -with wonderful speed. - -The boy dodged to the right at the first corner. He collided with -another policeman who had heard Maloney’s shouts, and was rushing to -discover the meaning of the uproar. Down they went. - -“What in blazes——” - -Dick stopped the policeman by savagely interrupting: - -“What do you mean by interfering with me? Why didn’t you nab that -thief?” - -“What thief?” - -“The one who just dodged round this corner.” - -“I didn’t see any one,” said the surprised officer. - -“Then you were asleep!” snorted Merriwell, scrambling up just as Maloney -came panting and shouting round the corner. - -“Stop thafe! stop thafe!” howled Dennis. - -“Stop thief! stop thief!” shouted Dick, taking up the cry and leading -Maloney by barely a few yards in the breathless rush down the street. - -Into the very heart of town they raced, and the crowds upon the lighted -street scattered to give them room. People stared in wonderment, seeking -to catch a glimpse of the fleeing thief whom those two policemen seemed -pursuing. A crowd of men and boys fell in behind Maloney, joining in the -cry of, “Stop thief!” - -“There he is, the spallpane!” panted Dennis, pointing at Dick, who was -gradually increasing the distance between them. “Shtop him! shtop him!” - -But no one fancied that he meant the blue-coated person who seemed to be -leading this wild and desperate pursuit of the unseen thief. Pointing -ahead, Dick took up the cry of the Irish cop. - -“There he is! there he is! Stop him! stop him!” - -At the very first opportunity Merriwell made haste to escape from the -more-crowded and better-lighted streets. Round first one corner and then -another he whisked. Behind him came the hounds in full cry, led by the -persistent Irishman, who seemed entirely oblivious to the fact that -already he was far off his beat. - -“Evidently Maloney will follow me as long as there’s the slightest -chance of overtaking me,” decided Dick. “I’ve got to shake him and that -mob.” - -Nevertheless, not until the vicinity of the Quinnepiac was reached did -the boy feel that he had succeeded in his purpose. Resting beside the -river a short distance above the drawbridge, Merriwell chuckled over his -adventure. - -He did not remain long undisturbed. Through the darkness two skulking -figures moved toward him, and, fancying they were pursuers searching for -him there, he hastily crouched beside a pile of timbers. - -The two figures paused a short distance away and began speaking in low -tones. Peering through the gloom, the boy made out that each carried a -bundle in his hand. - -“I’m going to chuck my outfit in right here,” said one. - -“I wanted to burn mine,” whispered the other hoarsely, “but I couldn’t -find an opportunity.” - -“Hello, hello!” thought the hidden boy. “I fancy I know those chaps. I -wonder what it is they’re going to chuck into the river. My curiosity is -too much for me.” - -Suddenly he leaped out and was right upon them before they became aware -of his presence. - -“Surrender, ye raskills!” he cried. “Don’t thry to resist an officer av -the law.” - -With gasps of dismay, both dropped their bundles and took to their -heels, running as if their very lives depended upon it. - -“Thanks,” laughed Dick, picking up the bundles. “Now I’ll find out what -you were so anxious to dispose of.” - -Returning to the lumber pile, he settled himself on a stick of timber -and began to open the bundles, both of which had been tightly rolled and -securely tied with cords. The knots bothered Dick, and he felt in vain -through the pockets of his unusual clothing in search of a knife. - -“Of course I haven’t a knife,” he muttered. “Didn’t think to put my own -in a pocket of this suit. I’ll have to untie those knots.” - -It was a long and tiresome task, but he finally succeeded with one of -the bundles which was untied and spread out on the ground at his feet. - -“Clothing of some sort,” he decided, “but it’s too dark to see just what -it is. I need a match.” - -Once more he searched through his pockets, finally discovering the -brimstone end of a broken match. - -“This will have to do,” he said, as he carefully struck the match on his -trousers leg. - -Shading it with his hands, he threw the light upon the clothing -outspread before him. It was a masquerade suit of crimson. - -“Ah-ha!” muttered Dick. “I think I have seen this rig before. I think it -was worn by Satan the night the old warehouse burned, and if I’m not -greatly mistaken I recognized the voice of Satan just now.” - -He was startled by the sound of footsteps, and, turning to glance over -his shoulder, discovered three dark figures rapidly coming down upon -him. The match was dropped. - -One of the three figures had appeared between the boy and a distant -electric light. He saw it was a policeman. - -“Cornered!” thought Dick. “Jingoes, if they catch me with this rig, I’ll -be in a bad scrape! I can’t deny that I was at the warehouse, and it’ll -look as if I was concerned in robbing the costumer’s shop.” - -Catching up the crimson suit and the bundle, he sought an opening by -which he could escape, but the trio had spread out and were hemming him -in so that there seemed absolutely no chance to dodge them. - -“Begobs, we have him now!” shouted an exultant voice—the voice of Dennis -Maloney. - -“Not yet!” cried the boy. - -Splash!—he flung himself into the cold Quinnepiac. Freeing himself of -the bundle and the crimson masquerade suit, the boy struck out into the -river. - -“Come on!” he challenged. “Follow me! Catch me! I dare you!” - -“Come back here, ye spallpane!” roared Maloney, pausing at the water’s -edge and vainly shaking his club at the dark head which bobbed like a -cork on the surface of the river. - -“In a minute—I don’t think,” was the answer. “Why don’t you come in for -me?” - -“He’ll have to come ashore somewhere,” said another one of the trio. -“The current is carrying him down toward the bridge. Keep watch of him. -We’ll nab him when he tries to get out.” - -“I’m afraid they will,” thought the boy. “I’m still in a nasty scrape. -What’ll I do?” - -Suddenly he flung up his arms and uttered a painful cry for help. - -“Cramps! cramps!” he shouted, floundering and splashing in the current -which was sweeping him toward the bridge. “Help! quick! Ah——” - -Down he went, the water seeming to cut short that last gasping cry for -assistance. - -“The poor devil is drowning,” chattered one of the officers. - -“He’s gone!” cried another. - -“And Oi nivver aven put the weight of me hand on him,” muttered Maloney -regretfully. - -The dark current swept on into the black shadows, beneath the bridge, -but they watched in vain for the fugitive to rise to the surface. - -“He’s gone,” muttered Dennis. “Oi’ll howld no grudge. May the saints -rest his sowl.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - WHAT HAPPENED TO BRAD. - - -The boys waited in Dick’s room for him to reappear. They were confident -he had escaped Maloney. With tears of merriment streaming down his -cheeks, Tucker rehearsed every particular of the preposterously amusing -affair that had taken place in the kitchen. Tommy’s version of it was -sufficient to bring a ghastly smile to the solemn face of Jones. - -“Oh, yes, it was funny, wasn’t it?” sneered Bigelow. “I ruined a good -suit of clothes, and then Tucker stuck a butcher knife into me about a -foot and a half, and that Irish policeman wiped his feet on me and broke -a couple of ribs.” - -“What I want to know,” said Buckhart, “is who fastened me under the -sink. Had to brace and push with all my strength in order to break that -door open.” - -“When Dick skipped and Maloney went after him, howling like a madman,” -laughed Tommy, “Maggie promptly collapsed. About that time Mrs. Watson -came down on us, and I expect we’ll all get fired out in the morning.” - -“Do wish my pard would show up,” muttered Buckhart, glancing at the -clock. “It’s strange he doesn’t come back. Been more than an hour and a -half now. If he doesn’t get in before eleven, I’m going out looking for -him.” - -The restlessness of the Texan finally led him to slip downstairs, and, -hearing the murmur of voices coming from the kitchen, he tiptoed to the -door and listened. A few minutes later he came charging into the room -where the boys were gathered. - -“Great horn spoon!” he gasped, his face pale and his eyes betraying the -greatest excitement. “That Irish cop is in the kitchen this minute. Just -heard him telling Maggie how they chased Dick clean to the river, and he -tried to get away by swimming. Maloney says he got cramps and went down. -Maloney said he sure was drowned. I don’t believe it, but I’m going to -find out what I can about it. Who’s with me?” - -Seizing their hats, they followed the Texan; but on the front steps they -encountered Merriwell, who was getting out his latchkey. - -“Hello, fellows,” said Dick coolly. “Where are you bound in such a -rush?” - -“Well,” breathed Brad, in relief, “this sure is some satisfying, -partner. Just heard you were last seen hollering for help in the river. -You’re supposed to be drowned.” - -“That’s right,” laughed Dick, “and I’m willing they should continue to -cherish that delusion. It was the only way I could escape. I pretended -to sink, but when the current carried me under the bridge I clung to a -pier until I could swim ashore without being seen. It was hard work -reaching the costumer’s without attracting undesirable attention in my -dripping clothes, but I finally got there and made a change for my own -garments. I’m here, and I guess I’m all right unless I get cold from -that ducking.” - -In his room he told them about the two chaps who had brought bundles of -clothing with the evident intention of casting those bundles into the -river. - -“One of the fellows was Ditson,” said Dick. “I think the other was -Lynch. Either Ditson or Lynch wore that satanic masquerade outfit. Of -course, I have no proof against them, and they could give me the laugh -if I accused them; but those chaps were concerned in the game to amuse -themselves at your expense, Tucker.” - -“I’ve thought so right along,” said Tommy. “They’ll overstep themselves -yet and get into a scrape they can’t squirm out of.” - -In spite of the exciting events of the evening, Merriwell slept well -that night and did not catch cold from his ducking. Shortly before one -o’clock the following day Brad Buckhart came hurrying into Dick’s room -and found Merriwell on the point of going out. - -“Pard,” said the Texan, “I’m in a scrape. Just met Mabel Ditson and Bab -Midhurst. Mabel was feeling rather blue and downcast. It seems that Rob -Claxton invited her to attend Professor Oblong’s lecture on Japan and -then found out he couldn’t get seats. I thought I knew where I could get -a couple of seats, and it seemed to me a good chance to get ahead of our -friend, the Virginian, and so I asked her if she would go with me. She -said she sure would, and I’ve been round to the scalpers’ after those -seats. There isn’t one to be had for love or money. Now what do you -think of that? She’s going to be a whole lot disgusted when I tell her I -fizzled the same as Claxton did.” - -“Let’s see, when is this lecture?” - -“Thursday evening.” - -“And Friday afternoon we leave for Providence. It’s just as well you -didn’t get seats, Brad. You’re supposed to turn in at ten o’clock -Thursday night.” - -“Oh, I could make it pretty near that,” said the Texan. - -“How?” - -“Those lectures never last later than ten. I’d have a cab take Mabel -home, drop her, and have cabby land me at this ranch in double-quick -order.” - -“Well, you ought to thank your luck that you’re not compelled to listen -to that lecture. Don’t you hear lectures enough?” - -“Listen!” snorted Buckhart. “What’s the matter with you, pard? You don’t -suppose I was going to that lecture with the idea of listening to it, do -you? I was going to take a girl—the girl—the only girl. I was going to -steal a lap on Claxton. I wouldn’t care if the old lecture was about the -Hottentots or the Zulus. Partner, I’m going to get into that lecture if -I have to pay a ten-dollar premium on tickets. You hear me warble!” - -“You’d better forget it,” said Dick. - -But the Texan did not forget it, and on Thursday he triumphantly -announced that he had secured tickets by paying double price for them. - -“Well, you’d better consult Jones about staying out after ten to-night,” -advised Dick. - -Brad consulted Blessed and was given permission to attend the lecture on -his pledge to lose no time about getting to bed after it was over. - -“Going to do this thing up brown, partner,” chuckled Buckhart, as he -dressed that evening. “My carriage will call for me at seven-thirty. If -you happen to see Claxy this evening, be good enough to find a way to -tell him that I’ve taken Miss Ditson to the lecture. That sure ought to -bump him some.” - -In spite of his promise to seek the mattress as quickly as possible -after the lecture was over, Brad permitted himself to be lured into the -house by Mabel, who told him that Barbara wished to see him. He did not -stop many minutes, but came out in high good spirits, bounded down the -steps, reached the waiting cab, flung open the door, and jumped in. - -He sprang into the enfolding arms of some one who was sitting inside the -cab. Those arms, clasped about his own, held him like bands of steel. - -“Whoop!” roared the Texan, in astonishment. “Whatever does this mean?” - -Over his shoulder a voice said: - -“Lively with that stuff! Come on, quick!” - -Then Brad perceived a dark figure in front of him and suddenly a sickly, -pungent odor assailed his nostrils. A handkerchief saturated with -chloroform was held over his mouth and nose. - -The Texan put up a savage fight, but his efforts were futile, and in the -end he was overcome, sinking helpless in the arms of the fellow who had -clung to him with such fierce tenacity through it all. - -When Brad revived he found himself in a basement room, stretched upon a -wretched cot, with a rough table near at hand and a smoking lamp burning -on the table. It was some time before he could realize his situation. -Gradually he recalled what had happened, and, with a groan, he started -up from the couch. He was still dressed in evening clothes, although his -collar and necktie had been torn away. There was a sensation of nausea -at the pit of his stomach and his head swam. After a moment he was -forced to sink back upon the couch. - -“What does it mean?” he muttered. “Where am I, anyhow? How did I get -here?” - -There were no windows save a small, narrow transom above the one heavy -door of the room. He was impressed with the belief that the room was -sunken deep beneath the ground and no sounds he made could be heard -outside. Nevertheless, finally summoning his strength, he raised an -outcry. - -When there was no answer he succeeded in dragging himself to his feet, -reeled across the cemented floor, and tried to open the door. - -It refused to move before his efforts. - -“No use,” he muttered, stumbling back to the couch and dropping upon it. -“I’m bagged. I can’t understand it, and I suppose I’ll have to wait -until somebody comes around to explain. If it’s a joke, it’s a blamed -poor one. You hear me gurgle!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - FROM THE BAR Z RANCH. - - -Although he had promised to return early that night, the Texan did not -return at all. Dick was highly vexed over Buckhart’s failure to come in -as soon as he had promised, finally falling asleep with the intention to -give Brad a piece of his mind in the morning. - -In the morning the Texan was still absent. Dick became alarmed. As soon -as possible he telephoned to Mabel and learned that Brad had bidden her -good night before ten-thirty the previous evening. - -What had become of Buckhart? This was the question which soon stirred up -no end of excitement, but midday delivery brought Dick a letter which he -anxiously opened, reading the following message: - - “DEAR PARD: Suppose you’re a heap worried about me. You needn’t be. - I’m all right. Will explain on meeting you in Providence. I’ll be - there in time to do the backstopping in that game. Depend on me. - - “Faithfully, BRAD.” - -Not thirty minutes behind the letter arrived a startlingly picturesque -individual who nearly pulled the door bell out by the roots and scared -Maggie when she appeared at the door by yanking off his broad-brimmed -hat, making a sweeping bow and huskily saying: - -“How are yer, miss? Is this yere the ranch where Brad Buckhart can be -found?” - -Maggie was tempted to close the door in the face of that bewhiskered, -sunburned, booted, and spurred man. From his Stetson hat to his -high-heeled boots he looked like the burlesque Western desperado seen on -the stage. Around his waist he wore a loose belt which supported a -pistol holster, the latter, however, being empty. - -“Mr. Buckhart—he—rooms here,” faltered Maggie, “but you see, -sir—he—ain’t to home now.” - -“Waal, that’s all right, my gal,” said the fierce-looking man, “I’ll -just walk in and wait for him. You see I’m from his father’s ranch, the -Bar Z, and the old man axed me to look up Brad while I was on yere. You -can show me his room, little gal. I’ll squat thar.” - -Shiveringly Maggie led the way to Buckhart’s room, into which the -visitor strode with an air of perfect self-assurance. - -“I—I’m afraid you’ll have to wait an awful long time, sir,” said the -girl. “I understand Mr. Buckhart he has gone away somewhere, sir.” - -“Waal, whar’s he gone?” - -“I dunno, sir. I dunno’s anybody knows, sir.” - -Dick Merriwell looked in from the adjoining room. He had the singular -letter in his hand, for he was still puzzling over it. - -“Do you want to see Buckhart, sir?” he inquired. - -“I sure do,” answered the visitor. “Mebbe you can tell me when he’ll git -back. My name is Bill Bugle, and I’m a cow-puncher from the Bar Z. You -see the boy’s old man axed me would I drop round and see him and bring -back a report as to how he was gittin’ along here. Who are you?” - -“My name is Merriwell, and I’m——” - -“Put her thar!” shouted Bugle, extending his hand. “Why, you’re Brad’s -kid pard. You’re the youngster he’s writ so much about to his old man. -I’m certain powerful glad to meet up with you.” - -Maggie retreated, leaving them together, and in a very short time Dick -and the visitor became surprisingly friendly. The door into the hall was -closed, and, listening from the stairs some minutes later, Miss Swazey -heard Dick and Bugle laughing in the most friendly manner. They seemed -to be enjoying something like a joke. - -A little later Dick gave out the contents of the letter he had received. -When its genuineness was doubted he asserted that the writing looked -like that of Buckhart, and he was confident the Texan would show up in -Providence according to his promise. - -Among the freshmen who accompanied the team to Providence were to be -seen the entire Ditson crowd. On reaching the city they took a suite of -rooms at a medium-priced hotel, and immediately pooled every dollar they -could raise for the purpose of betting against Yale. - -“It’s a dead cinch!” Mike Lynch asserted. “Without Buckhart behind the -bat Merriwell will be hammered out of the box.” - -“But how do you know for a fact that he won’t have Buckhart?” inquired -Mel Daggett. “Of course we all know that the Texan isn’t with the team, -but they say Merriwell has heard from him and he’s promised to be in the -game.” - -“That’s all right, Mel,” smiled Duncan Ditson knowingly. “We have -reasons to know that Buckhart won’t show his nose on the field -to-morrow. He won’t be in the game, so don’t you worry about your money. -Here’s where we fellows make a clean-up that will put us on our feet -again.” - -“If we don’t,” said Jim Poland; “if we lose, I’m ruined this time. I -don’t know how I’m going to raise another dollar.” - -That night Ditson and Lynch slept well after drinking to their good -luck, which they believed was assured. The following forenoon the Yale -men put in some light practice on the field. They waited in vain for the -appearance of Buckhart, although Dick remained confident that Brad would -show up. - -But when the time arrived for the team to dress and proceed to the field -Buckhart was still missing. No one seemed more disappointed over this -than Bill Bugle, who hung around the boys, and, through Dick’s -intercession, was finally given permission to ride to the field on the -barge with the players. - -“I used to play this yere game some myself,” he announced. “I wonder if -you youngsters wouldn’t let me git holt of the ball. I’d like to do some -batting for ye when ye practice.” - -“We’ll have to take you for a mascot,” said Robinson. “If you can bat -for us, we’ll let you do so.” - -There was more or less laughter and joshing from the Providence boys as -the Yale team marched onto the field with Bugle at the side of Blessed -Jones. Every one watched with intense curiosity to see what the man -would do when he seized a bat and prepared to take part in the practice. -To the surprise of all, he hammered the ball in a scientific manner, -driving it wherever he chose and in whatever manner he chose. - -But Buckhart was still absent and the Yale players were downcast. They -were talking about a substitute catcher when Bugle announced that he was -going to do the catching himself. They gave very little heed to this -until Tucker called attention to the fact that the Westerner was -shedding his garments. The man had stepped out into an open space near -the Yale bench where he proceeded to kick off his high-heeled boots, -skin his shirt over his head, and snap himself out of his trousers -before a hand could be lifted to prevent. These movements produced a -most astonishing metamorphosis, for beneath those outer garments Bugle -wore the baseball uniform of Yale Uumpty-ten. Not only that, but his -whiskers and long hair vanished with the rest of his outfit, and, as he -turned toward the bench, Dick Merriwell observed: - -“I told you Brad would arrive on time, boys. Here he is.” - -The astonishment of the Yale lads was unspeakable, for before them stood -Buckhart, smiling and wiping some of the grease paint from his face with -a soiled handkerchief. - -“Just a little joke,” explained Brad, with a wink. “We’ll talk it over -later, fellows. Now let’s get into this game and eat Brown up.” - -In the midst of the universal excitement the consternation of the Ditson -crowd failed to attract particular attention. As for Lynch and Duncan, -both seemed to fancy themselves dreaming. They were aroused by Daggett, -who snarled at them: - -“You know a lot, don’t you? You knew Buckhart wouldn’t be here, but -there he is!” - -“Yes, there he is,” muttered Poland, who had lost heart at once, “and -Yale will win this game. Fellows, we’re busted, every blamed one of us.” - -Jim was right, for Yale put up a great game against the clever Brown -freshmen. Nevertheless, it was nobody’s game until the eighth inning, -when, with the bases filled, Buckhart smashed out a home run that proved -to be the undoing of Brown. Among Dick’s backers the man behind the bat -was the one who really won the game. - -It was true the entire Ditson crowd was unspeakably disgusted and sore. -That night they quarreled among themselves, and Mel Daggett wore a black -eye for some days thereafter. - -Of course Dick had known for a certainty that Buckhart would be in the -game, having penetrated the disguise of the young Texan shortly after he -appeared as Bill Bugle. The letter was a clever forgery. Brad had -succeeded in escaping through his own efforts, having broken the lock on -the door of the wretched room in which he found himself confined. - -Although the Texan believed there had been no intention to perpetrate -serious injury upon him, he thirsted for revenge upon the fellows who -had sought to carry through such a rascally piece of business. This led -him to visit the costumer so often patronized by Dick, where he secured -the cowboy outfit and made himself up to pass as a cattleman from the -Bar Z. - -“But the fact that they lost their bets doesn’t satisfy me by a whole -lot,” he declared. “I’d like to have proof of the identity of those two -gents who nabbed me in the cab. If I ever do get such proof, I’ll light -on them all spraddled out. You hear me softly warble!” - -A few days later, Dick was pitching for practice, when a number of the -members of the varsity nine happened along and were at once struck with -the wondrous way in which Dick manipulated the ball. - -“The varsity nine is mighty weak as to pitchers,” said one of the -spectators of Dick’s skill. “I wish it were possible to get Merriwell to -help us.” - -The others laughed at the idea of the possibility of a mere freshman -giving instructions to the men of the varsity nine. Yet this chance -remark made by a junior classman led on to very practical results. For -not long after that Dick was called upon to give a practical -demonstration of his cleverness with the ball for the edification of the -varsity nine. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII. - A PITCHER NEEDED. - - -For some time, indeed, there had been a feeling of uneasiness and -apprehension on the varsity nine. This feeling culminated following the -game with Williams in which the youngsters from the hilly country came -near administering a most disgraceful trouncing to Yale. Pitcher after -pitcher was tried in the box by the Elis, but the Williams lads seemed -to find every blue twirler an easy mark. Only for the terrific batting -of Henderson, and Cunningham’s freak home run that sent in three men -ahead of him, Williams would have scooped the game. - -That there was something the matter with Yale’s pitching staff the -critics acknowledged. Efforts had been made to keep this fact out of the -newspapers, and in some way influence had succeeded in gagging Walter -Billings, the college reporter, whose opinions in regard to Yale -athletics were highly respected and universally conceded to be -remarkably astute. But Billings could be choked off no longer. He grimly -declared that it was for the good of the nine and forthwith proceeded to -express his opinion in print. From him it became universally known that -Yale was far from satisfied with her pitching staff. - -“Pumper” Welch, the chief pitcher of the team, was so sore over this -that he refused to recognize Billings for several days. Welch claimed -that a slight lameness in his arm had prevented him from doing his best -in the Williams game. No one could remember of hearing him mention this -lameness before he was batted out of the box. More than that, he seemed -to have unusual speed that day, but the Williams lads had a taste for -speed and simply ate up his fast ones. - -In order to do its best a team must have confidence in its pitcher. -Without such confidence the players are liable to make the most -outrageous errors and in many cases the entire team will get rattled and -go to pieces at a critical moment. - -Yale dreaded the games that lay before her. The harder ones were to -come. If Williams could be defeated only by a fluke home run, what would -happen when the blue went up against the crimson? Harvard had the -pitchers, and everything seemed to indicate that her team was stronger -than it had been the season before when she snatched the championship -from Yale in two straight. - -Manager, captain, and coaches were worried. Consultations were frequent -There was any amount of guarded talk and argument and a great deal of -dubious head-shaking. Something must be done, but what?—that was the -question. - -One balmy morning Dick Merriwell met Billings on the campus. Walter -squinted at Dick through his spectacles and then stopped short and -called to him. - -“Hello, Merriwell,” he said, shaking the freshman’s hand. “How’s trix? -Everything going all right?” - -“First-rate,” was the cheerful answer. - -“But you’re pitching your arm off, boy. Now don’t tell me you’re not. -You’re doing too much. You’ll hurt yourself.” - -“I’m pretty careful of that arm,” laughed Dick. “I watch it and care for -it as if it were a baby. I don’t think I’ll injure it, Billings.” - -“But you’re doing more than half the pitching for your team. You’re -winning the games, too, and I know you’ve got a third-rate bunch behind -you.” - -Some fellows would have swelled up and looked flattered over a -compliment like this, but not so with Dick. Instead of that he gravely -protested that he thought the Umpty-ten team very good indeed. Billings -grinned but failed to provoke the freshman into the slightest display of -amused sarcasm. - -“You talk as if you meant it,” said the reporter. - -“I do.” - -“Impossible!” - -“I do,” repeated Dick. “No pitcher can win right along unless he has -good backing.” - -“Oh, but there are a lot of soreheads who are not playing on your team.” - -“I know that, and we’re better off without such fellows. Their -jealousies and ambitions make them detrimental to the good of any team -they get on.” - -“Well, I guess that’s right,” nodded Billings. - -“I’d rather have nine men who are not quite so brilliant, but who have -the right spirit and the determination to play the game for the glory of -their team or college than to have a team made up of stars, every one of -whom is looking for his own glory.” - -“You’ve got a level head, young fellow,” said Billings. “You’re all -right. I’ve been watching you some time. You’re a comer, and I bet my -life you’ll get there.” - -“Thank you,” murmured Dick, blushing. - -“I’m sorry you’re a freshman this year. Wish you weren’t barred from -varsity baseball. The varsity needs you.” - -“Oh, I don’t think——” - -“I know,” interrupted Billings quickly. “You’d be a great help to the -varsity nine. It’s no secret now that we are weak on the slab.” - -“There are candidates enough.” - -“Candidates enough, such as they are. Never in my life saw such a swarm -of fellows trying to pitch. They’ve been culled out and sifted down to -five or six at the present time, but out of what remains there’s not a -single steady, cool-headed, reliable man with real talent for pitching. -Of course, I don’t want to be quoted, Merriwell. I wouldn’t say this to -every one, but it’s a fact.” - -“There’s no danger that I’ll repeat it, Billings. It’s a shame.” - -“It is a shame!” growled Walter. “Already we’ve been beaten by some of -the smaller teams. What will happen to us when we go up against some of -the better ones? It makes me sick to think what Harvard is sure to do to -us.” - -“What’s the matter with Welch for a pitcher?” - -“The trouble is right here,” answered Billings, tapping his forehead. -“Welch has speed and kinks and all that, but he doesn’t use his head.” - -“Well, there’s Swett. Every one seemed to think him a wizard.” - -“He’s a spit-ball pitcher, and that’s all you can say about him. He -hasn’t another thing but the spit ball, and some days he’s liable to -throw that straight up into the air.” - -“How about Dud Towne?” - -“All he knows anything about is a drop. Give him a hard game, put him up -against good batters, and he insists on pitching that drop all the time. -Result, a lame arm constantly. He’s been told that he’ll ruin his wing.” - -“Well, there’s Wilbur Keene.” - -“In my opinion he’s the most promising man we have. He’s the youngest -and the least experienced, but he’s in earnest and he has a splendid -inshoot which is frightfully hard to hit; but he lacks confidence, and -there’s always a chance that he’ll blow up in a tight place.” - -“With proper coaching some of these fellows ought to make good men.” - -“With proper coaching—there’s the rub. Welch resents coaching. Towne is -too opinionated, and set to improve by it. Swett is so sensitive that he -can’t accept criticism. Besides that, it takes a peculiar talent to -coach a pitcher properly. I say, Merriwell, why don’t you come out to -the field this afternoon? I suppose you’re busy with your own team, but -you might get off for an hour. Come along with me, will you? I’d like to -have your ideas concerning the practice and the men. You might give me -some hints that I can use.” - -“I wouldn’t like to do that,” said Dick. “Not for the world would I let -any one get the impression that I had criticized the varsity.” - -“All right, then, don’t give me any hints, but come out to the field. It -won’t do you any hurt to stay away from your own team’s practice -to-day—it’ll do you good. Will you come if I’ll fix it? I’ll speak to -Jones about it.” - -“Well, if you’re so eager for my society and you can arrange it,” -laughed Dick, “I’ll come.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX. - DICK ACCEPTS A CHALLENGE. - - -The field presented a lively appearance when Billings and Merriwell -arrived that afternoon. Three or four coachers were hard at work with -the regular players and the substitutes. Of the pitchers three were -limbering their arms while two more batted for the practicing fielders. -The manager and the head coach were standing apart from the other men on -the field, engaged in an earnest argument. Captain Emery was working -like a Trojan, and it was plain by the expression on his face that he -was not wholly without worry. Some forty or fifty students were -scattered about in little groups on the bleachers, watching the -practice. - -Billings was recognized the moment he appeared, but the sudden show of -interest, the sudden craning of necks—Billings’ companion caused all -this. - -“It’s Merriwell.” - -“What’s he doing here?” - -“There’s a pitcher.” - -“It’s a shame we can’t use him.” - -“Oh, I don’t know. He might not prove so much in real fast company.” - -At this the fellow who had expressed regret because the varsity was not -permitted to use Dick proceeded to straighten up and assert his belief -that the freshman was just about the hottest thing in the way of a -twirler that had been seen at Yale since the days of his famous brother. - -“Mark what I say,” said this chap, shaking a finger in the air, “that -boy is a wizard. I’ve watched him pitch, and I know what I’m talking -about. He has some kinks up his sleeve that no one ever saw before.” - -“Can he throw the double shoot?” laughed a sarcastic chap with a -cigarette. “You know Frank Merriwell had the reputation of pitching such -a ball. Why, there are fellows right here in college who really believe -he could throw a ball that would curve two ways.” - -“Of course you don’t believe anything of that kind?” - -“Do I look like an idiot? I admit that Merriwell had some kind of a -deceptive twist, but common sense will tell any one that the double -shoot is a rank impossibility.” - -“There was a time,” said the other, “that common sense seemed to tell -every one that any kind of a curve was an impossibility. Even at the -present time there are lots of curves and shoots that cannot be -explained by the wisest seers. Who can give an acceptable theory of the -erratic actions of the spit ball? Sometimes it curves slowly, sometimes -it doesn’t curve at all, and sometimes it breaks at a sharp angle.” - -“What’s Billings doing with Merriwell?” inquired a curious chap. “He’s -taken him over to the bench. They’re talking with Leyden.” - -Leyden was the head coach. It happened that Billings was simply -introducing Dick to the man. - -“How are things going to-day, Mr. Leyden?” inquired the reporter. - -The coach regarded him suspiciously. - -“Now don’t come to me for material,” he said. “You’ve made trouble -enough already, Billings. Go ahead and write your stuff, but don’t -expect assistance from me.” - -Billings smiled. - -“I think I’ve taken pains never to give away any confidences or -secrets,” he said. “No one has the good of the team more at heart than I -have. Sometimes it becomes necessary to tell the truth. I kept still -until outsiders began to get onto the actual condition here. It’s no -secret that Yale needs pitchers. I wish we were in position to give this -boy a trial, Leyden.” - -He placed his hand on Dick’s shoulder as he spoke, causing the lad to -flush and look embarrassed. - -“Of course you know we can’t do that, and he might not prove the man we -need if we could.” - -“This boy,” said Walter, “is a natural pitcher. He’s made a study of it, -and he has a few original curves of his own.” - -“There are no original curves nowadays, Billings. There’s nothing new in -that line.” - -“Think so?” - -“Say, why don’t you give Merriwell an opportunity to pitch for batting -practice? Your batting practice is rather tame in my estimation. Can’t -get a pitcher to go out there and pitch the way he would in a game, you -know. They simply go out and throw the ball straight over. This doesn’t -do much good for the batter.” - -“I didn’t come out to take any part in the practice, Billings,” said -Dick hastily. - -Discovering Merriwell, Pumper Welch came slouching up, a sarcastic smile -on his face. Welch had never liked Dick, and he now seized the -opportunity to be nasty. - -“Hello, Merriwell,” he said. “I suppose you’ve come out to show us how -to pitch?” - -There was something absolutely insulting in the way these words were -spoken. - -“How do you do, Welch,” bowed the freshman, his eyes snapping a bit. “I -didn’t come out to show you how to pitch. I presume you know it all.” - -“I won’t come to you to learn what I don’t know,” was the instant -retort. - -Dudley Towne came forward. Like Welch, Towne had no love for Dick. He -had not forgotten how, in the fall games, the freshman had outpitched -him. - -“Why aren’t you practicing with your team this afternoon, Merriwell?” he -inquired. “I presume you’re such an expert that you really don’t need to -practice much of any?” - -Frank Emery came trotting forward. - -“We’re going to get some batting practice now,” he said. “You pitch -first, will you, Towne? Wake up a little and give ’em something to hit. -Don’t simply lob over some lazy straight ones. You haven’t got to pitch -your arm off, but you can use a few curves, you know.” - -Towne scowled and looked sulky. - -“My wing is lame, cap,” he said. “Don’t you think I’ve used it about -enough this afternoon? Of course, I’ll pitch if you say so, but——” - -“If your arm is lame, I should think you’d keep it covered up when you -get through working,” said Emery warmly. “Why, you don’t even put on a -sweater, Towne. A man without sense enough to take care of his arm is -bound to have a lame wing the most of the time. We can get along without -you. Where’s that freshman, Toleman? He’s the only fellow who really -does give the batters any practice that’s worth while.” - -“Toleman hasn’t been out this afternoon,” said Leyden. “Billings was -just proposing that we should use this youngster in batting practice.” - -“Oh, hello, Merriwell!” cried Emery cordially. “What are you doing here? -All right, come ahead and pitch a while, will you?” - -“This was not my proposition,” said Dick. “I simply came round to look -on. Thought I might pick up some points for my own benefit, you know.” - -At this Welch laughed unpleasantly. - -“Just peel off and pitch a while, Merriwell,” he said. “I wish you -would. I’d like to bat against you. I’ve never had a chance. You’re -pretty clever at striking out freshmen, but you’ll find it different -against real batters. I’m a fairly good hitter myself, and I don’t think -you could strike me out in a week.” - -“Perhaps not,” admitted Dick. - -Thinking Merriwell frightened, Welch proceeded to rub it in by offering -to give the boy ten dollars every time he struck out if Dick would give -him a dollar for every clean hit he made. - -“Which is the same as betting,” said Dick. “I never bet.” - -“Of course he doesn’t,” chuckled Towne. “He hasn’t sand enough. I don’t -believe he has the nerve to get out here and pitch for batting -practice.” - -“What sort of batting practice is this to be?” demanded Dick sharply. -“Under ordinary circumstances the pitching is not made too difficult for -the batter. It’s not customary in such practice for the pitcher to -deceive the batter in any possible way. Instead of that, he is to put -the ball over if he can.” - -“If you’ll pitch, I shall be highly pleased to have you deceive me in -any possible manner,” said Welch. “Just show what you can do, will you? -They say Manhattan College has a pitcher after your style, and I just -want to show the boys what I’m going to do to him.” - -“Go ahead, Merriwell,” urged Emery. - -Thus challenged, Dick proceeded to pull off his coat and get ready for -business. - - - - - CHAPTER XXX. - THE FRESHMAN PITCHER. - - -Dick had not come out for that purpose, and he gave Billings a -good-natured frown, receiving in return an equally good-natured smile of -satisfaction. Things had happened exactly the way Billings had hoped -they would. It was his belief that Merriwell could show the varsity -pitchers a few tricks, but the boy was not the kind voluntarily to show -off, and the pride and prejudice of the varsity pitchers would prevent -them from seeking any tips of a freshman. - -It must be confessed that Merriwell’s blood had been warmed a little by -the unconcealed sneering of Welch and Towne. He knew both of these -fellows disliked him heartily, and, to tell the truth, he was not -inclined to waste any love on them. - -Having practically stated that he would do all sorts of things to Dick’s -delivery, Welch sought permission to lead off in the batting and was -given a nod by Emery. - -For the first time Billings was a trifle worried, for he feared the -freshman might not be up to his usual form. If this should be the case -and the boy was batted freely and heavily, Billings knew he would “get -the laugh” from those chaps who were eagerly watching for him to make a -mistake in judgment. - -“As this is not to be ordinary batting practice, Emery,” he said, “why -don’t you appoint an umpire to call balls and strikes? That’s the only -way to make a fair test of it.” - -“You might do that, Leyden,” suggested Emery. “It will give you a chance -to watch the kid’s curves. You can tell in a few moments if he has -anything up his sleeve.” - -The coach jogged out and took his position back of the pitcher’s stand. -A few of the regulars and a number of subs were placed on bases and in -the field. Del Cranch, the catcher, leisurely sauntered into position -some twenty-five feet behind the batter. There was no reason why he -should get under the stick where he might be hurt, just to limber his -arm a bit, Dick threw a few balls to the chap on first. - -“Now watch me pound this wonderful freshman’s curves,” invited Welch, in -a low tone, as he walked out to the plate. - -“Pumper is too confident,” muttered Dudley Towne. “I’ve batted against -Merriwell, and he isn’t easy, although I wouldn’t tell him so for the -world.” - -The first ball delivered by Dick looked good to Welch, but it took a -queer inward twist, passing close to his knees, and he did not even foul -it. - -“One strike,” called Leyden. “You’ll have to use better judgment than -that, Welch. It didn’t even cross the inside corner.” - -Pumper shrugged his shoulders and grinned. - -“Just wanted to encourage him, that’s all,” he said. “Now he’ll have to -put ’em over.” - -But the next two balls were wide, which made it seem that Dick’s control -was rather poor. - -“Oh, come! come!” cried the batter. “You can’t fool me, kid. Don’t wear -yourself out. Don’t waste your strength. Get ’em over, get ’em over.” - -Even as Pumper was speaking Dick delivered a speedy one that seemed to -make the air sizzle. - -Welch struck under it at least a foot. - -“Hello, hello,” muttered Leyden, “that was a pretty jump ball. Can you -throw it when you wish, youngster?” - -“If I’m in proper form, I can. Occasionally I can’t make it jump as much -as I would like. It’s one of the hardest balls to pitch, because there -seems to be no regular way to throw it that will give positive and -consistent results. Sometimes when I try hardest to make it jump it pans -out to be merely a high straight ball.” - -“Do you pitch a raise ball the same as you do the jump?” - -“Oh, no,” answered Dick quickly. “The two are pitched in entirely -different ways. The jump is the result of extreme speed with an overhand -delivery. I’ll pitch the raise ball now.” - -These final words were spoken in such a low tone that they did not reach -the ears of Welch. Grasping the ball exactly as if he meant to pitch an -outcurve, Dick swung his arm, dropping his hand nearly to the level of -his knee. The ball left his hand and came floating up toward the -batter’s shoulder in a most deceptive manner. There was no great speed, -and it seemed easy enough to hit the ball. Nevertheless, Welch struck -under it, for, even though he knew it was a rise, he found it something -he could not accurately gauge. - -“One strike-out,” called Leyden. “Try again, Pumper. Perhaps you’ll do -better next time.” - -A tinge of red leaped into the cheeks of Welch, and he bit his lips -angrily. - -“Yes, that’s once,” he admitted. “I’m all through encouraging the kid.” - -“You’ve been very kind,” said Dick, with mock gratitude. - -“He’s laughing at you, Welch,” whispered Towne behind his outspread -hand. - -Pumper set his teeth and squared his jaw, gripping the bat fiercely. An -outcurve nearly led him into reaching, but he checked himself just in -time for Leyden to call a ball instead of a strike. Another outcurve -followed and Welch edged up close to the rubber, his toes almost -touching it. - -Dick now grasped the ball firmly with two fingers, while his curved -thumb touched it very lightly. Keeping his hand in an upright position -as he swung, he let the ball go over the tips of his fingers with a -lateral motion. All the speed he could command was put into this -delivery. When the ball left his fingers it was turning from right to -left and apparently aimed to cross the outside corner of the plate. - -Just as Welch swung the sphere took a sudden inshoot, and he actually -felt its breath as it twisted past his ear. - -Realizing he had been deceived by a high inshoot that had nearly hit -him, Welch snarled at the freshman: - -“Look out there! You came near hitting me in the head then! You want to -be careful!” - -“If you’d been hit in the head, Pumper, you might have blamed yourself,” -said Leyden. “You’re standing on top of the rubber. Get back the proper -distance.” - -By this time Welch was both angry and ashamed. He sullenly moved back -from the plate, feeling his blood leaping hotly in his veins. - -“I’ve got to hit the next one I swing at,” he thought. “I’ve got to—and -I will.” - -In spite of this determination, he merely fouled the next ball he went -after. - -“Saved yourself by touching it,” said Leyden. “You still have a chance.” - -Thus far, with the single exception of the raise ball, Dick had been -using speed. He now swung overhand as if intending to throw a swift one, -but when the ball left his fingers it seemed to hang in the air as if -some invisible force was retarding it. Welch saw it coming and knew it -would cross the pan fairly. He was impatient to hit at it, and, in spite -of himself, he could not wait until the ball was near enough. Swinging -far too soon, he missed it entirely. Some of the spectators laughed. - -Welch longed to send his bat spinning at Dick Merriwell’s head, for -there is nothing so provoking to a batter as to be fooled by a slow -ball. It makes him feel foolish, and the laughter that invariably greets -his ears arouses his ire. - -“That’s two strike-outs, and you haven’t even hit a little one into the -diamond, Welch,” reminded Leyden. “The youngster is fooling you.” - -Welch was at a loss for words. - -“Where’s Henderson?” cried some one. “Carl’s the man to bump that sort -of pitching.” - -Carl Henderson was the most reliable batter on the Yale team. The -pitcher who could strike him out had good reason to plume himself on his -feat. - -“I’m not through yet,” declared Welch hastily. “I’m just getting his -measure. In batting practice we always have three hits at the ball.” - -“But there are others who wish to try their skill some time this -afternoon, you know,” drawled Billings. “If they wait for you to get -three hits, Welch, I’m afraid they won’t have a chance to try their luck -at all.” - -“Yar!” muttered Pumper to himself. “That bighead Billings always did -make me sick! He says the varsity is weak in the box. I suppose the next -thing that will happen he’ll write an article claiming the freshmen have -a better pitcher than the varsity.” - -“Don’t go off in a trance, Welch!” cried Leyden, as the ball whistled -past the batter. “That ball was straight over the heart of the pan, but -you didn’t see it, and I won’t call a strike on you.” - -Again Pumper heard a titter, and by this time his blood was being pumped -through his veins in such a manner that it caused a hammering sound in -his ears. He glared at Dick with the most malicious hatred. - -“Come on! come on!” he snapped. “I’m waiting! When you get through -showing off and playing your monkey tricks perhaps you’ll settle down -and pitch in a decent manner!” - -Merriwell made no retort, but deliberately tossed up a straight ball -that cut the plate in two equal halves. - -Welch, however, could not believe Merriwell had thrown a straight one, -and swinging in anticipation of a curve, he made another clean miss. -After all his boasting he was making a sorry spectacle of himself. - -Following this Pumper managed to foul the ball twice, but he ended by -biting at another jump and being again declared out by Leyden. - -“Here, give somebody else a chance, Welch,” called Captain Emery. “Let’s -see if the freshman is invincible. Come on, Henderson, show us what you -can do.” - -Pumper turned and savagely flung his bat toward the pile lying near the -bench. Even Towne joined in the chaffing that was tossed after him as he -retired from the plate. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXI. - THE GREAT REBELLION. - - -Two of the pitchers, Sweet and Keene, were now behind Cranch, watching -the freshman’s curves. - -“I don’t see that he has anything in particular, do you?” muttered -Swett. - -“Nothing remarkable,” said Keene. - -“He has good control for one thing,” observed Cranch. “He can put the -ball just where he wants to.” - -“I don’t know,” came from Swett. “He doesn’t put them all over.” - -“He doesn’t want to.” - -“Most pitchers try to in batting practice.” - -“But you seem to forget that the freshman was up against a challenge. -Pumper made some talk about pounding him all over the field.” - -“Oh, Pumper’s great on making talk,” said Swett. “He doesn’t mean half -he says.” - -“But he’s sore now,” declared Keene, as Welch hurled his bat aside and -walked toward the bench. - -“Now take a lesson by that fellow,” muttered Cranch. “I’ve told him time -after time that his temper spoiled his pitching. When things go wrong in -a game he acts just as he’s acting now. A pitcher who permits himself to -get wrathy never can do his best.” - -“Well, we’ll see what Henderson can do to the freshie,” said Swett. “Old -Hen ought to biff him some.” - -Dick knew he was up against the crack batter of the varsity, and his -first inclination was not to attempt to strike Henderson out. The first -ball he delivered was straight over, and Carl smashed it out on a line. - -“Clean hit!” cried Leyden. - -“Oh, it’s different now! it’s different now!” shouted a voice. “The -freshie will find he’s pitching against a real batter!” - -“What fool said that?” snarled Welch, glaring around in search of the -speaker. - -Whoever it was, the fellow kept himself out of sight for the time being. - -Dick saw Swett and Keene laughing behind Cranch. There were other -players behind those fellows, all eager to watch the work of young -Merriwell. The boy was now spurred to do his best. - -When the ball was returned to him Dick settled himself for business. -Three times he pitched the jump to Henderson and three times Henderson -fouled. Then a sharp twisting drop caused the batter to make a clean -miss, and Merriwell secured the credit of a strike-out. - -“Well! well! well!” shouted a fellow on the bleachers. “What’s the -matter with Hen?” - -Welch sat up and took notice. - -“If he can strike Henderson out again,” thought Pumper, “I won’t feel so -bad over my own batting.” - -The great Yale hitter leaned over the rubber plate and thumped it with -the end of his “slugger.” - -“That was first-rate, Merriwell,” he nodded. “You certainly caught me -napping.” - -A moment later Henderson batted a slow grounder into the diamond. It was -gathered cleanly and snapped to first. - -“No hit,” came from Leyden. “That would have been an easy out at first.” - -“Well, what do you think of that, Swett?” muttered Wilbur Keene. “Hen -doesn’t seem to be hitting the freshman very hard.” - -“Wait,” said Swett, “Carl is taking Merriwell’s measure. I reckon he’ll -baste it next time he swings.” - -But Dick was taking Henderson’s measure, and by this time he had learned -something of the great batter’s weak points. Two fouls followed, and -then, for the first time that day, Dick used the combination ball. It -started like a rise, but shifted into a drop, and once more Henderson -experienced the mortification of striking out. - -“Here, give me a chance,” laughed Captain Emery, seizing a bat and -trotting out to the plate. “Of course I don’t expect to do any better -than you fellows, but I want to see why it is you can’t hit him. He -looks easy enough.” - -Emery was a left-hand hitter. The moment he saw this, Dick shifted his -position, took the ball in his left hand, and pitched in that manner. - -“Hold on! hold on!” cried Emery. “You’re right-handed. What are you -doing, anyhow, Merriwell?” - -“I pitch with either hand,” smiled Dick. “As a rule, I use my left hand -when I find myself up against a left-hand hitter.” - -“Well, by Jove, I knew that, but I’d forgotten it!” said Emery. “You’re -the only pitcher I ever saw who could really do that trick. Have you any -speed with your left?” - -“Not much,” answered Dick; but a moment later he sent over a left-hander -that seemed to make the air smoke. - -“Oh, not a bit of speed—not a bit!” cried Emery, who struck and missed. - -Having struck the Yale captain out, Dick seemed satisfied, for he made -no further effort to secure strike-outs, although he continued pitching -for ten minutes or more. Once in a while he would send in a queer shoot -or curve that would bewilder the man at bat, but he did not keep himself -constantly at his best. - -Bill Toleman had arrived on the field as Dick walked out to pitch. After -watching Merriwell a while, Toleman retired to the bleachers and -listened to the comments of the spectators. What he overheard did not -seem to please him, and finally, in a surly manner, he left the field. -Keene was called out to pitch when Dick stopped. Leyden walked in to the -bench with the freshman. - -“Well, what do you think about the boy, Bill?” asked Billings, who was -smiling with a great deal of satisfaction. - -The coach scratched his head. - -“He certainly has the kinks and the control,” he admitted. “I’ve never -seen him pitch in a game, but if he has a level head I should say he’s -all the mustard.” - -This pleased Billings, who proceeded to call Emery and Leyden aside -where he could speak to them privately. - -“I don’t want you gentlemen to think I’m butting in,” he said, “but, of -course, you know that I have the interest of the team at heart just as -much as any one. I’m not here to give you any advice, but if you won’t -be offended, I’ll make a suggestion.” - -They exchanged glances, and then Emery said: - -“We’ll listen to your suggestion, Billings.” - -“Sure,” nodded Leyden. “We don’t have to accept it.” - -“Certainly not,” said Walter quickly. “It’s rather unusual, I will -admit; but why not get Merriwell to coach the varsity pitchers?” - -Emery looked astounded. - -“Unusual?” he cried. “I should say so. Whoever heard of such a thing? -Whoever heard of a freshman coaching men on the varsity nine?” - -“But there’s no reason why a freshman should not do such a thing if he’s -capable, is there? I don’t know of any reason.” - -“Nor I,” admitted Emery, turning to Leyden. “What do you think of this -peculiar proposition, Bill?” - -Leyden was a Yale grad. Had he been a professional coach, it is likely -he would have received Billings’ proposal with scornful derision; but, -really having the good of the team at heart, he now admitted that there -was, to his knowledge, no reason why a freshman should not coach any -member of any varsity team. - -“Will he do it?” asked Emery. - -“I think he’ll do anything in his power to help his college. He has the -right spirit. He’s a true Yale man.” - -“He must be pretty busy on his own team,” said Leyden. - -“He is,” nodded Billings. “Still, I think he would find a little time to -do this work I’ve suggested.” - -“If he undertook to coach all our pitchers, it would take his entire -time,” said Leyden. “We must pick out a man and turn him over to -Merriwell.” - -“A good suggestion,” nodded Emery. “Let’s see what the youngster can do -with one man.” - -“Whom will you choose?” questioned Billings. - -“Welch is our best pitcher. If he could get some of Merriwell’s kinks, -it would make us strong in the box. I suggest Welch.” - -A moment later Pumper was called by Emery. Wondering what they wanted, -he sauntered up and joined them. - -The captain of the nine quickly explained Billings’ proposal. Before -Emery had finished speaking the lips of Welch had begun to curl -disdainfully. - -“Preposterous!” he exclaimed, giving Walter a scornful look. “Why, there -isn’t a man on the team who’ll be coached by that freshman. The fellow -has a terrible swelled head, anyhow. If he got a chance to coach a -member of the varsity nine, he’d be simply intolerable.” - -Billings surveyed Pumper from head to heels. - -“Welch,” he said, “I’ve never yet seen a fellow as capable as Merriwell -who was so absolutely modest and unassuming. When you say he has a -swelled head you do so without reason.” - -“Perhaps I do,” growled Welch. “But what made him come out here and show -off to-day?” - -“I induced him to come, and as for showing off he was literally baited -into doing what he did. I believe that you announced that you were going -to show what you would do to some pitcher who resembles Merriwell. Well, -you demonstrated precisely what you will do. If you ever get up against -a pitcher like Merriwell, you’ll strike out. If that boy wasn’t a -freshman and barred from the varsity on that account, Yale would have a -cinch at the college baseball championship this year.” - -The flush had left Pumper’s face, and he was now quite pale. - -“I don’t know what business you have to meddle with baseball affairs, -Billings!” he cried hotly. “You’re always spying around to get hold of -something you can write up for the papers. You betray Yale’s athletic -secrets in order to get a few paltry dollars for your greedy pockets. -It’s mighty contemptible business, I think. This coaching idea was -suggested by you, and, therefore, I wouldn’t accept it, anyhow.” - -“Hold on, Welch,” came quickly from Emery; “you forget yourself. I’m -captain of the team. What I say——” - -“What you say goes, captain,” interrupted Pumper. “It goes with me as -long as I remain on the team; but if you attempt to put that freshman -over me as a coach, I’ll get off the team. I beg your pardon for -speaking like this, but I was forced into it.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXXII. - CUT DOWN. - - -Dick was crossing the campus. - -“Hello, Merry!” cried one of the group near the fence. “They tell me -you’re pitching for the varsity now.” - -“Not yet, Peterson,” smiled Dick, unruffled. - -“Not yet, but soon, I suppose. Toleman says you were out for practice -with the varsity team.” - -“Note the haughtiness of his manner,” cried another chap. “I suppose the -rules will be suspended in order to permit him to pitch.” - -There was much more of this sort of chaffing, but Dick took it all -good-naturedly and passed on his way. Buckhart was sitting on the steps -of the house on York Street. - -“Hey, pard!” he cried. “Waiting for you. She’s a baby!” - -“Who’s a baby?” asked Dick, in surprise. - -“My Sallie.” - -“Your who?” - -“Sallie. She’s a trim little girl. Light and airy and just my size.” - -“Say, what ails you?” - -“Come on and let’s hit the grub pile,” said Brad. “After we fill our -baskets I’m going to introduce you to Sallie. You’ll love her, I know -you will.” - -“I think you had better excuse me,” said Dick. “I’m too busy just now to -make the acquaintance of your Sallie, whoever the delightful damsel is.” - -The Texan chuckled but continued to insist that Dick must meet Sallie. -Nor would Brad accept no for an answer. In the soft twilight they made -their way down to the harbor front, and there, lying among other boats -at a float, was one toward which the Texan led his chum. - -“There’s _Sallie_,” said Brad, with a proud wave of his hand. “I told -you I was going to buy a boat, and I’ve done it. Paid thirty-five -dollars for her. How do you like her, Dick?” - -“So this is _Sallie_?” laughed Merriwell. “Well, by Jove! I expected to -meet a fair damsel with golden hair and heavenly blue eyes. She looks -good to me, Brad.” - -“Get the oars, boy,” said the Texan, turning to a rather tough-looking -youngster who had charge of the boats. “Bring both pair.” - -In a few moments the oars were brought and placed in the boat. - -“Now,” said Brad, “we’re going to be able to enjoy a row every night. -Three times we’ve been down here after a boat and couldn’t get anything -better than an old scow. There’ll be no more of that.” - -There was a soft haze on the harbor as the boys swung out from amid the -piers. Both handled the oars skillfully, and the light rowboat seemed to -glide over the surface of the water with scarcely a ripple. Here and -there a light was commencing to gleam along the shore. On the vessels -red and green lights were also being hoisted. Still, there was a golden -afterglow in the western sky, which flung its orange reflection over the -water. From one of the vessels at anchor came the sound of singing. -Other rowboats were gliding hither and thither amid the shipping. The -air was cool and refreshing. - -“This is great!” exclaimed Dick, with satisfaction. “By Jove! this will -be a good thing for us every night, Brad. I’m glad you bought _Sallie_, -and I agree with you that _Sallie_ is a peach.” - -“If it wasn’t for baseball,” said the Texan, “I’d sure go in for rowing. -A fellow can’t do both and cut much ice at either.” - -“Look out!” called Dick, looking over his shoulder. “There’s a small -steam launch cutting our course ahead of us. Let’s not try to run her -down.” - -They shifted their course, but a moment later, to their surprise, they -found that the launch had also changed its course and was heading almost -directly for them. - -“Wonder what they’re trying to celebrate?” growled Buckhart. “Can’t they -see us?” - -“Starboard, pull—pull hard!” cried Dick. - -But Brad misunderstood and pulled hard with his port oar, which offset -the efforts of Merriwell. - -With a rushing swish, the tiny steam launch puffed down upon them. - -“Look out!” roared the Texan. “Keep off! You’ll run us down!” - -Apparently the pilot of the launch did not hear this cry, for an instant -later, with a cutting crash, the sharp prow of the craft struck the -rowboat. - -The Texan had dropped his oars and risen to his feet. With an -electrified spring, he seized the gunwale of the launch and held fast as -the rowboat melted beneath his feet. - -Twice the Texan shouted for help. His feet and ankles were caught by a -rushing current of water and this brought a strain upon his hands which -threatened to break his grip. - -It seemed that at last his cries were heard, for some one looked over -the gunwale and discovered him clinging there. Looking upward, the Texan -found himself gazing straight into the evil, malicious eyes of Mike -Lynch. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIII. - THE RED STAIN. - - -For a moment Lynch seemed to leer triumphantly at Brad, who realized -only too well his own desperate plight. The Texan knew the probable -result of losing his hold and being carried beneath the swiftly moving -launch. In a moment almost the boat would pass over him and the whirling -screw would cut and mangle him with its churning blades. It was sure -death to let go. - -And still he knew his hold would be broken unless he received aid within -a very few seconds. He could feel his fingers slipping on the smooth, -moist rail of the launch—slipping, slipping, slipping. Above him bent -the face of a fellow who hated him with an intensity that was really -deadly. Lynch was a vindictive, revengeful fellow, who would stop at -nothing in order to injure a person who had aroused his enmity. In those -moments of distress and anxiety, Buckhart was struck by the thought that -this malicious young ruffian had deliberately brought about the running -down of the _Sallie_. Having seen Dick and Brad in the rowboat, Mike had -deliberately cut them down. - -But where was Dick? As this question flashed through the Texan’s brain -he was seized with a shuddering, sickening sensation of horror. -Merriwell had vanished as the launch smashed into the rowboat, which was -cut in two like a frail eggshell. If overwhelmed and carried beneath the -launch, of course Dick had been struck by the propeller. - -That meant death. It meant that the boy’s mangled body might be found -drifting at the will of the harbor tides. It meant that he might be left -lifeless, gruesome, and ghastly, upon the muddy flats when the tide -receded. Perchance he might be carried out into the great Sound, the -blue waters of which were traversed by hundreds of sailing vessels, huge -white passenger steamers, and the magnificent pleasure yachts of -money-squandering millionaires. It was murder, and this creature Lynch -had committed the crime! - -With a snarl, a showing of his strong teeth, a fire gleam of his eyes, -the Texan strained and lifted himself in the effort to swing over the -rail and reach the wretch who hovered above him. - -Little chance he had of doing that through his own efforts. Apparently -Mike understood what Buckhart was trying to do, for in a moment he -seized the Texan’s hands and tore them from the slippery rail. - -“You cur!” groaned the helpless boy. - -But even as he expected to be dropped into the hissing water Mike -shouted for assistance, and a second person joined him, bending over the -rail and getting a grip on Brad’s coat between the shoulder blades of -the Texan. - -“Hoist away!” cried Lynch. - -An instant later the bewildered boy was dragged over the rail and found -himself floundering in the bottom of the launch. - -There were four persons in the boat. The one at the wheel was a rather -rough-looking, bearded man. The others were Mike Lynch, Duncan Ditson, -and Harold Du Boise. - -Ditson had assisted Lynch in lifting Buckhart to safety. Du Boise, -sitting in the stern, stared at the rescued youth with an air of dopey -comprehension. Lynch swore, and Ditson expressed his feelings by crying: - -“Well, what do you think of that? What the dickens were you trying to -celebrate, Buckhart?” - -“Just pulled right in front of me,” said the man at the wheel. “Couldn’t -help hitting his boat. She’s gone, and he can consider himself mighty -lucky that he didn’t go under with her.” - -The Texan sat up. - -“You lunatic at the wheel!” he roared. “You deliberately ran us down! My -pard—where is he? You’ve killed him! You’ve murdered him!” - -“What’s that?” exclaimed Lynch. “Was there any one with you in the boat -we struck?” - -“You know there was.” - -“We didn’t see you at all,” asserted Ditson. “We were sitting aft when -we heard the crash and felt a slight shock. Even then I didn’t know what -had happened. Berger said we’d hit a rowboat.” - -“I sprang forward and looked over,” said Lynch. “Saw you clinging to the -rail. This is mighty bad business.” - -“Turn back—turn back!” cried Buckhart. “Dick Merriwell was carried down -when you smashed my boat.” - -“Turn back at once, Berger,” commanded Ditson. “By Jove! this is bad. -There are the pieces of the boat, but I can’t see a sign of Merriwell.” - -The débris of the wrecked boat lay floating on the orange-tinted waves, -but Duncan spoke truly when he said there was no sign of Dick. Buckhart -rose to his knees and stared heart sick along the wake of the launch. - -“Gone!” he said. “He could swim like a fish, and we’d see something of -him if he had not been injured.” - -The man at the wheel brought the launch round with a sharp, sweeping -curve. - -“Slower, Berger,” commanded Duncan. “Here, let me have that wheel. You -look after your steam. Keep your eyes open, Mike. Can you see anything -of Merriwell?” - -In the stern Du Boise stirred slightly and drawled: - -“Didn’t you say you were going to hit the boat before we struck it, -Mike? I thought you said something about a rowboat.” - -“You’re dreaming!” snapped Lynch. “You didn’t hear us say anything of -the sort. Did he, Berger? We didn’t see the boat, did we?” - -“Not until it was too late to avoid it,” answered the bearded man, who -was now monkeying with the steam valves. “I’m not running down rowboats -for pleasure, although it’s a wonder the fools who row around the harbor -don’t get run down oftener than they do.” - -Buckhart was saying not a word now. With his strong hands gripping the -rail, he leaned forward, gazing at the placid water where the golden -tint was gradually changing to a dull reddish color like stagnant blood. -They slipped past a huge black hulk that lay anchored near the spot -where the catastrophe had occurred. Under the eastern rail of this -vessel the shadows were almost inky black. - -“We’ve passed the spot, Lynch,” muttered Ditson. “I’m afraid Merriwell’s -gone down for good.” - -“I’m afraid he has,” whispered Mike huskily. - -“Turn back,” came hoarsely from Buckhart’s lips. “We’ll cruise around -this locality as long as there’s a ghost of a hope left.” - -Duncan brought the boat round, and they retraced their course. This was -repeated over and over until the afterglow of sunset had faded in the -west and darkness shrouded the entire bosom of the harbor. Not until -Buckhart huskily confessed that he no longer hoped did Lynch or Ditson -propose abandoning the search. They had been questioned by other -persons, and a number of boats were moving about in that vicinity, while -the report of a collision and a drowning had been carried to the shore. - -The Texan seemed completely overcome by the horrible thing that had -happened. Not a word did he speak after the search was abandoned until -the launch swung alongside a float where they were to disembark. - -“You’ve tried all sorts of tricks to down my pard and myself,” he -observed, fixing his gaze on Lynch and Ditson. “At last you’ve succeeded -in murdering one of the whitest lads who ever lived. I said murder, and -that is the word I meant to use. Don’t tell me you didn’t see our boat. -Don’t tell me you didn’t run us down intentionally. And don’t you think -for an instant that you’re going to escape paying the penalty for the -crime. You can’t lie out of it. There are four of you in the secret, and -some one of you will make a false step and trip you all up. This thing -shall be investigated, I give you my word. If the body is found, you’ll -have a chance to face the coroner’s jury. If it isn’t found, you’ll have -a chance to face a jury just the same.” - -“Why, you’re daffy, Buckhart!” exclaimed Ditson. “You must be bughouse -to think we’d deliberately do anything like that.” - -“I know you wouldn’t stop at anything. Perhaps you didn’t mean to drown -either one of us when you ran us down. Perhaps you thought it would be a -fine joke to smash our boat and give us a ducking. Well, you see what’s -come of your fine joke. Dick Merriwell is at the bottom of the harbor, -and you, you miserable spawn of the earth—you have his blood on your -hands! You can’t wash it off. The stain will cling there even as it -clung to the hands of Lady Macbeth. And retribution is as sure for you -as it was for her.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIV. - THE UNSEEN SHADOW. - - -He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came -not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of -the harbor. They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the -float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the -pier. - -Lynch was the first to break the silence. He forced a laugh as he turned -to Ditson. - -“We’ve got something interesting to look for,” he observed, with an air -of bravado. “Mr. Buckhart was very theatrical in his threats.” - -“If I’d ever thought it would end this way——” - -Mike checked his companion by suddenly gripping Dunc’s arm and hissing: - -“Shut up! Don’t talk like that now! Of course we didn’t mean to drown -either one of them.” - -Berger stepped forward. - -“There’s something coming to me, gents,” he said. “Don’t forget it. You -made me a proposition to run down that boat.” - -“And you want to forget all about that, my man!” remarked Mike. “You’ll -get the money, all right, but you don’t want to tell any one that there -was any understanding between us. The whole thing was an accident. -Nobody saw the rowboat until just as we struck it. Say so and stick to -it—unless you want to do a turn in the stone jug.” - -“The money——” - -Lynch stepped close to Du Boise, to whom he spoke in a low tone. - -“Got to have some more money, Hal,” he said. - -“We’ve got to put a plaster over that man’s mouth. Cough up.” - -“Now, hold on,” protested Hal, after reaching into his pocket. “Seems to -me you’re inclined to push this thing too far. I’ve coughed up enough -already. I’ve been paying your bills for the last three days.” - -“Ever since I caught you skinning a bunch of easy marks with marked -cards,” said Mike. “I saved you from exposure by getting away with those -cards and substituting another pack when I found two of the fellows were -planning to make an investigation. You ought to be grateful, Du Boise. -You’re not as clever as you were once. There was a time when you didn’t -have to use ordinary markers to win at poker. The pace you’ve been -hitting has proved too much for you. But you made a fine haul off those -suckers, and when they insisted on examining the cards not a thing could -be proved against you, thanks to me. It was lucky I had a pack in my -pocket with backs almost exactly like those markers. The resemblance was -sufficient to fool the most of those chaps. Why, you thought you were -cornered yourself until you picked up one of the cards and examined it -closely.” - -“That’s right,” nodded Du Boise. “Even then I wondered if I wasn’t -dreaming. I didn’t know how it happened until you got me alone and -explained. I think I’ve shown my appreciation. It’s cost me over a -hundred dollars already.” - -“I tell you I’ll square with you when I’m flush again. I went broke on -that Providence game, and I had to raise money by hook or crook. You -came like a delivering angel, Hal. I’ve got to pay Berger twenty-five -dollars before we leave him this evening. Hand it over, old chap.” - -With a sigh, Du Boise drew forth his money, and, holding it close to his -eyes, separated four bills from the roll, three fives and a ten. - -Lynch took this money and gave it to Berger. - -“There it is,” he said, in a low tone. “Now let that keep your tongue -still. If you don’t, you’re liable to find yourself in a nasty scrape. -You were doing the steering, and, therefore, you were the one most -responsible.” - -“That’s right,” agreed Ditson quickly. “If you think to get out of this -business by turning State’s evidence, we’ll swear we were not in earnest -when we suggested you should run that boat down. We’ll say we were only -joking. We’ll deny we ever gave you a cent of money for that piece of -work.” - -“Now you’d better hold up right where you are,” growled the man, with an -intonation of disgust. “I’m no fool.” - -“I don’t know about that,” muttered Lynch. “If I’d been in your place, -twenty-five dollars never would have tempted me to run down a rowboat -containing two persons.” - -“You heard the threat of the chap who escaped,” said Ditson. “He’s the -kind of a fellow to make good. He talks a whole lot, but he means what -he says. You want to stand on your guard all the while. Don’t let any -one pump you. Of course you’ll be questioned about the affair.” - -“I don’t have to have no advice from youngsters like you,” growled -Berger, as he thrust the money deep into a safe pocket. “You take care -of yourselves, and I’ll take care of myself. You want to look out that -you don’t get tripped up. I reckon you’d better report this business to -the authorities. I’m going to see the harbor master myself. Good night.” - -Silently they mounted the steps from the float and paused, a shivering -group, on the unlighted pier. The little launch, with lights set, swung -out from the float and puffed away. Ditson stood gazing out over the -inky harbor, a feeling of horror threatening to take possession of him -and turn his blood to ice water. - -“Bad! bad!” he muttered. “If I’d only thought what might happen! But I -knew Merriwell could swim like a fish.” - -“Oh, cut that out!” growled Mike. “It’s no use getting sloppy now. What -I want is a drink, and I want it right away.” - -Du Boise buttoned his light overcoat and shrugged his shoulders. - -“I need a bracer myself,” he said. “Let’s get one quick.” - -They patronized the first saloon they came to, which proved to be a -rather disreputable-appearing sailors’ resort. Lynch and Ditson ordered -whisky, but Hal called for absinthe. - -“We don’t have none of dat here,” said the barkeeper. “Dem fancy drinks -don’t go wit’ our customers.” - -“Then I suppose I’ll have to take the same as my friends,” murmured Du -Boise. - -The whisky was of the vilest sort, and he shuddered and gasped after it -had passed down his throat. - -“A man who can drink that can stand anything,” he said, as he paid the -bill. - -In spite of the fiery drink they had swallowed, their blood remained -chill and sluggish, and a terrible load seemed weighting down their -hearts. Ditson could not help thinking of Dick Merriwell lying beneath -the dark waters of the harbor. The gruesome vision haunted him, and -finally he fiercely exclaimed: - -“Let’s go where we can get some decent whisky. Confound it all, I’m -frozen clean to my marrow.” - -“Where’ll we go?” inquired Du Boise. - -“Let’s go to Fred’s.” - -“And let’s get off this dark street,” said Lynch, who had been casting -occasional glances over his shoulders. “I can’t shake off the feeling -that some one is following us.” - -“Perhaps some one is following us,” said Du Boise. - -“Eh?” exclaimed Duncan, also glancing round. “I don’t see anybody. -There’s no one behind us.” - -“Perhaps there is,” said Hal. “Maybe you can’t see him even though he is -there.” - -“What do you mean? Who do you think is following us?” - -“A ghost,” was the whispered answer. “I don’t dare to look round, -fellows, but I can feel it. It’s right at our heels.” - -“Oh, rats!” sneered Lynch, forcing a hoarse laugh. “If you believe in -ghosts, you’re a big fool, Du Boise. There are no such things. I’m not -the least bit superstitious myself.” - -“Aren’t you?” - -“No.” - -“Not a bit?” - -“Not a bit.” - -“Then what makes you look round? You know there’s no living thing behind -you, yet you keep turning your head to peer over your shoulder. You -don’t see anything, but you can feel it just the same as I can. Ditson -feels it, too. We all know it’s there, fellows. I’m afraid the thing -will follow us the rest of our lives. I’m afraid we’ll never be able to -get away from it.” - -“For Heaven’s sake, cut that out!” entreated Ditson. “Like Lynch, I’m -not superstitious, but I swear you’ve got my teeth chattering by your -silly talk. I agree with you, Mike. This street is too dark.” - -Hasten their footsteps as they might, they could not escape from the -uncanny conviction that something silent and ghostly and terrible was -hovering at their very heels. Even the better-lighted streets did not -banish that feeling, and by the time they reached Fred’s the three were -in a terrible state of funk. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXV. - AN APPARITION. - - -Not a little to their satisfaction, they found that one of the card -rooms upstairs was unoccupied. Not wishing to be seen at the bar by -acquaintances, as they were beginning to feel that their faces bore the -stamp of guilt, they made haste to mount the stairs to that little room -where they could seclude themselves and order such drinks as they -fancied might steady their shaken nerves. - -Mike and Duncan stuck to whisky, but Du Boise called for an absinthe -frappé. - -“There’s nothing like it,” he asserted. “I’ve tried everything when my -nerves needed bracing.” - -“It’s a deadly poison,” said Ditson. “I see they’re trying to pass a law -in France that will make the manufacture of absinthe unlawful in one -year and the sale unlawful in two years. Absinthe is one of the most -potent influences in the degeneracy of the drinking people of France. -Why, man alive, if you were to give a horse an ounce or two of absinthe, -it would throw the animal into convulsions and might cause its death. If -you yourself were to drink it the way you would swallow a drink of -whisky, the chances are it would knock you stiff.” - -At this Harold simply shrugged his shoulders and smiled a pale, -bloodless smile. - -“But that’s not the way to drink absinthe,” he said. “The man who drinks -whisky that way simply throws it down his throat in order to get the -effect. To get the effect of absinthe, you sip it slowly. If your nerves -are in a bad state, if your luck is rotten, if the world has turned its -face against you, just try a little absinthe. I need it this minute. It -works like a magic charm. Gradually all the shadows disperse and flee -away, the sun smiles upon you and the weeds beneath your feet blossom -into the most lovely flowers. A sensation of peace and buoyancy and -confidence and contentment gradually pervades your entire being. From a -dark and dreary cave the world changes into a glorious, heaven-smiling -paradise. There’s nothing quite like absinthe to accomplish this -marvelous change. - -“I don’t mind telling you, fellows, that I’ve tried almost everything. -Opium works nicely in a way, but it seems to interest you rather too -much in other people. Their pleasures become your pleasures. The most -trivial things are sufficient to amuse you. You watch a laborer and his -wife marketing on a Saturday night, and somehow it is better than the -finest theatrical performance you have ever witnessed. Your heart goes -out to those humble people, and you accept them as kin to you, blood -relatives as it were. A child playing with a top fills you with -unspeakable satisfaction and sympathy. A dove building its nest may -chain your attention for hours. Through such trivial things you are made -supremely content and satisfied. - -“Other drugs with which I have experimented produce different effects, -but they all bring about a relapse in time, and you suffer the most -horrible tortures as retaliation for the pleasures that have been yours. -With absinthe I have not yet reached the point where it retaliates and -inflicts torments. It has helped me shake off the grip opium had upon -me. I prefer absinthe to opium.” - -“It’s simply a case of taking one poison as an antidote for another,” -said Ditson. “The time will come, Du Boise, when you’ll find your blood -entirely eaten up by the poisons you have absorbed.” - -“And by your looks,” said Lynch, “I should say that is not very far -away. Never knew a chap to change the way you have in the past four -months. It’s a wonder to me that you’ve managed to stick in college this -long. Don’t you realize what is coming to you? Can’t you see your -finish?” - -“I think I did realize it in time to escape,” said Hal. “I began -experimenting with opium for amusement. I wanted to experience the -effect. I had no idea of letting the stuff get a hold on me, but when I -found it had I fled to absinthe, and absinthe has proved my salvation.” - -“It will prove your destruction,” declared Duncan. “You’re its slave -to-day, and you’ll never break away from it. Here are our drinks.” - -In the wall a sliding panel shot back, and through the opening could be -seen the face of the waiter who had brought the drinks. He pushed in a -tray, which Lynch received. The drinks were removed from the tray and -placed on the table. Du Boise tossed some money on the tray, which was -then passed back through the opening. The sliding panel closed softly, -and they were again alone. - -“Here’s to forgetfulness,” said Du Boise, lifting the glass, which was -filled with fine cracked ice and a greenish-amber liquid. “Here’s to -forgetfulness, but I fear you’ll not find it in the stuff you are -drinking.” - -Ditson’s hand shook a bit as he lifted his glass of whisky and literally -tossed it down his throat. Du Boise sipped softly at the absinthe. In a -moment a dreamy light seemed creeping into his faded eyes. Before long a -bit of color mounted into his cheeks. - -“Why should we worry about anything in this world or the next, my -friends?” he murmured. “Let’s have another drink. I need just one more.” - -In a short time another drink was brought. It was strange to note the -effect of the stuff on those youths. Ditson and Lynch became flushed and -excited, talking with a sort of reckless and fictitious hilarity. Du -Boise, calm, placid, smiling, lay back in his chair and watched them as -if studying them sympathetically, graciously, almost pityingly. - -“Now, here,” said Duncan, shaking an uplifted finger, “we’ve got to -stick together on this business. Of course it was an accident, for we -didn’t think either of those fellows would be drowned when we ran them -down. There’s only one way to protect ourselves, and that is to swear -that neither one of us saw the boat until there was no chance to avoid -hitting it. I feel like the devil about this business. To tell you the -truth, I feel like what Buckhart called me—a murderer.” - -“Don’t talk that way!” growled Lynch, shrugging his thick shoulders. “I -don’t like it. Even if I didn’t have any love for Merriwell, I wouldn’t -want to kill him, would I? We’re going to have lots of trouble over -this.” - -Again Du Boise smiled. - -“Don’t worry, my friends,” he said. “Nothing really matters, anyhow. -This life is of no consequence. Perhaps Merriwell is better off this -minute than he would be if he were living. Perhaps he’s thankful for -what happened. I’m sure the dead are better off than the living. Why -should he haunt us? We were foolish to fancy we could feel him following -us through the streets to-night. And even if he were following us, he -could do us no harm. The spirits of the departed cannot harm the living. -Why, I wouldn’t be afraid this minute to stand face to face with -Merriwell’s ghost. If such a thing happened, I would greet the spirit -pleasantly and without the least emotion of terror or dread.” - -“The blazes you would!” growled Lynch. - -“You’d be scared to death,” asserted Ditson. - -“I wish I had power to summon the spirit of Merriwell,” said Du Boise. -“I would show you how mistaken you are. If by a mere incantation I could -bring his wraith before us, I’d joyfully do so.” - -Barely were these words spoken when suddenly the electric lights in the -room went out, plunging the place into deep darkness. This was rather -startling and caused the trio to utter exclamations of surprise. -Apparently the electric current had been suddenly turned off. - -Lynch made a move to rise from the table. Ere he could do this the -lights began to glow dimly, illuminating the room with a faint radiance -that gradually grew stronger. - -A sudden scream burst from the lips of Hal Du Boise. Flinging up his -hand, he pointed toward the panel in the wall. - -“Look!” he cried chokingly. “Great heavens, look! There it is!” - -The panel had been silently opened, and through that opening the trio -could see the deathly white face of Dick Merriwell, whose dark, staring -eyes were fixed upon them with an accusing gaze that made their very -souls seem to shrivel within them. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVI. - A TERRIFIED TRIO. - - -Duncan Ditson tried to speak, but his dry tongue clove to the roof of -his mouth and his heart seemed on the point of bursting in his throat. - -Lynch, having turned to look over his shoulder, sat like an image of -stone, the color slipping from his usually ruddy face and leaving it -almost as ghostly as that dead-white face seen beyond the open panel. -One of Mike’s hands lay half-closed upon the table. It began to shake, -causing his finger nails to rattle upon the uncovered top of the table -like the faint far-away tapping of castanets. - -From the lips of Du Boise, who had lately boasted that he would feel no -terror were he brought face to face with the wraith of Dick Merriwell, -there issued a sibilant hissing breath followed by a quavering whisper: - -“It’s the dead! It’s Merriwell’s ghost! We are haunted—haunted!” - -There was a thud as he slipped from the chair on which he had been -sitting and fell limp and fainting upon the floor. The lights came on -with full force. An unseen hand closed the sliding panel, hiding that -death-white face from the staring eyes of Lynch and Ditson. - -Still those two frightened fellows sat immovable, their bodies cold as -ice for some moments after the apparition vanished. - -Ditson was the one who broke the spell. Grasping the edge of the table, -he rose to his feet, upsetting his chair, which fell with a clatter upon -the floor. - -“Lynch,” he whispered hoarsely; “Lynch, for Heaven’s sake tell me what -you saw!” - -Mike gave himself a little shake and turned his horrified eyes toward -his companion. His face was ashen, and there was a purple ring around -his mouth. At the corners of his nose, extending downward, were two deep -lines. His voice was husky and unsteady as he answered: - -“I don’t know what I saw, but it looked like the dead face of——” - -He paused, apparently unable to speak Merriwell’s name. - -“And I saw it, too!” groaned Duncan. “So did Du Boise. He’s fainted, -Mike. We must call assistance.” - -At this juncture, however, Hal began to show symptoms of reviving. He -gasped and moaned, moving his limbs weakly. Ditson stooped and bent over -him, seizing his collar and breaking it loose with a twisting jerk. The -touch of Duncan’s hand seemed to revive Hal, but apparently it filled -the fellow with unspeakable terror, for he shrank away, choking forth a -cry and beginning to quiver violently in every limb. - -“Why, don’t you ring a bell, Lynch?” said Duncan. “Du Boise is having a -fit. He may be dying for all I know.” - -But Lynch, leaning forward with his elbows on the table, had covered his -face with his hands as if seeking in that manner to shut out a terrible -vision which he could not otherwise dismiss. There was a strange -stooping slouch to his broad, thick shoulders—a droop throughout his -entire figure like that which assails an old man or a younger one who -has felt the crushing hand of some fearful calamity. - -With his legs beneath the table, Du Boise began to mutter and mumble -incoherently. Although he seemed suffering from terror, he finally fell -to laughing in a hysterical manner, whereupon Duncan once more clutched -him by the shoulder and gave him a shake. - -“Stop it! stop it!” commanded Ditson. “Are you losing your senses? Get -up!” - -“Don’t! don’t! don’t!” gasped Hal, shrinking away. “I’m all right. I’ll -be all right in a minute. Did I faint? I’m a fool! That’s right, Ditson, -give me a hand. Help me up. Oh, how ridiculous! Oh, what a fool I am!” - -But the moment he was lifted he turned his eyes fearsomely toward the -panel in the wall. On seeing it closed he seemed inexpressibly relieved. -With Duncan’s aid he regained his seat at the table, although he still -seemed dizzy and weak. - -“Never did that before in all my life,” he whispered apologetically. -“Wasn’t it a silly trick? Don’t laugh at me—don’t laugh!” - -“I’m not laughing, Du Boise.” - -“I beg your pardon if I frightened you by yelling the way I did. I -thought I saw something. Of course I know I was deceived. It must have -been a hallucination. Perhaps it was the effect of what I’ve drank. -Perhaps the absinthe is beginning to go back on me. If it is, what can I -turn to next? What’s the matter with Mike?” - -At this moment all three were given another frightful start, for the -panel was shot back with a rattling sound, causing them to turn with a -jerk and face it. The face of the waiter who had served their drinks -appeared at the opening. - -“What’s the matter in there?” he inquired. “T’ought I heard somebody -give a yelp. T’ought I heard somet’ing bump on the floor. Didn’t know -but youse chaps was havin’ a mix-up.” - -“Say, Martie, come in here a minute,” invited Duncan, quickly rising and -unfastening the door. - -The waiter stepped into the room, still wearing a suspicious air as he -eyed the pale-faced trio. - -“Anyt’ing wrong?” he interrogated. - -“I guess not,” answered Duncan slowly. “You see we were talking over -private matters, and so we fastened the door. We didn’t want any one to -come in on us.” - -“Dat’s all right. We know youse fellers here, and if yer want ter use -dis room dat way when dere’s no game nor nuttin’ goin’ on, dere’s no -objection.” - -“We didn’t wish any one to overhear what we had to say. While we were -talking somebody sneaked up there and slid open the panel. They must -have turned off the lights, too.” - -“Turned off der lights?” - -“Yes. The lights went out and then came on again, although they were dim -at first. There’s a switch outside the door, I believe?” - -“Sure t’ing, dere’s a switch out dere, but I don’t see who it was dat -monkeyed wit’ it.” - -“Didn’t you encounter any one on the stairs?” - -“No.” - -“Any fellows in the other room?” - -“Dey just went out about five minutes ago.” - -“Of course you know Dick Merriwell by sight?” - -“I t’ink I do. Everybody knows him.” - -“Has he been in the place to-night?” - -“He don’t come around this place much of any unless he’s lookin’ for -some of his friends.” - -“Have you seen him to-night?” - -“No.” - -“Where were you when you thought you heard a scream and a fall in this -room?” - -“I was out back tappin’ a barrel of ale.” - -“And you came upstairs at once?” - -“Soon as I could. ’Twan’t more dan a minute.” - -“But that was time enough for an eavesdropper to slip downstairs without -being caught by you. Somebody was listening there at the panel. We all -saw the person. That’s why we raised a rumpus. There’s no trouble -between us, Martie. Everything’s all right. But if you catch anybody -listening around that slide, jump on ’em and kick them downstairs. Bring -us another round of drinks. I reckon we need them. I’ll have the same, -and Lynch will, too. You’d better switch off that stuff you’re drinking, -Du Boise. It isn’t good for you.” - -“Can’t switch now,” said Hal. “Just one more, Martie. It’ll be my last -to-night. Just one more.” - -When the waiter had disappeared and the door was fastened behind him -Ditson came back and stood by the table, looking inquiringly at his two -companions. - -“Well, what do you think of it?” he finally forced himself to inquire, -ineffectually trying to assume an air of nonchalance. “It certainly -looked like the real thing to me, and it scared Du Boise out of his -senses.” - -“Then you saw something, did you?” whispered Hal. “Tell me what it was.” - -“I thought I saw a face.” - -“I know I saw a face,” said Lynch. “Fellows, we’re haunted! This is the -first time I’ve ever acknowledged a belief in ghosts, but I’ve got to -acknowledge it now. The face I saw was that of Merriwell, and we know he -is lying at the bottom of the harbor.” - -“Don’t talk that way—don’t!” implored Du Boise. “It was a hallucination. -It could have been nothing else.” - -“How does it happen that we were all deceived by the same -hallucination?” questioned Ditson. “There’s something you can’t explain, -Hal. You saw it first and uttered a yell. We turned and looked. I -confess that I saw it as distinctly as I ever saw anything in my life. -It was ghastly pale with wide-open eyes which struck terror to my heart. -By Jove! I got such a start that I’m afraid I’ll never have any more -nerve. I wish Martie would hurry up with those drinks. I’m still cold -from my head to my heels.” - -To the relief of the agitated trio of rascals, Martie now appeared with -a tray that bore the ordered drinks. Ditson relieved the waiter, handing -out the money supplied by Du Boise. When Martie had vanished and they -were again sitting around the table, Duncan lifted his glass with a -quivering hand. - -“Here’s hoping we’ve seen it for the last time,” he muttered. - -“For the last time,” echoed Lynch hoarsely. “I hope so, but I fear it’s -only the beginning.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVII. - PANGS OF CONSCIENCE. - - -Having sipped a little of the absinthe, Du Boise began to smile in a -silly, satisfied manner. He surveyed his companions with a superior air -of knowledge, in which there was unmistakable pity. - -“The psychology of the mind is a mysterious and perplexing thing,” he -observed. “As yet the phenomena of mental telepathy is but faintly -understood. Like electricity, we know it exists and we experiment with -it, but the real vital force and power is beyond the comprehension of -the human mind in its present state of development. I think, gentlemen, -we have this evening experienced a most remarkable case of mental -suggestion. I think we all have been deluded by our own overwrought -imaginations. There is no other reasonable explanation which we, as sane -and sensible men, can afford to accept.” - -Lynch gazed at him blankly, while Ditson sharply demanded: - -“What are you driving at now?” - -“Perhaps I may not succeed in arousing your comprehension. Perhaps you -may not agree with me if you do catch my theory and fully comprehend its -significance.” - -“Come down to earth and talk plain English.” - -“I acknowledge that I was frightened by what I fancied I saw,” said Hal, -“but I’ve put that aside. I’m no longer alarmed in the least. I now -believe beyond question that I was deluded by a hallucination conjured -before my mental vision by my own unwitting efforts. I was in precisely -the proper psychological condition to deceive myself into believing that -I saw something which did not exist. We had been talking of supernatural -things. This, following the unfortunate tragedy which we lately -witnessed, was enough to place us all in a mental condition that made us -peculiarly susceptible to a certain delusion. - -“We were speaking of ghosts. We had fancied while walking on the street -that something was following us, although we could discover nothing when -we looked round. I assure you that I was sincere when I stated a -willingness to conjure up the spirit of Dick Merriwell. At that moment I -longed for the ability to bring his ghost before me. I even fancied it -as appearing. With this powerful fancy overcoming me, I lifted my eyes -and looked toward yonder panel. The lights were turned off at that -moment. As they came on dimly my overwrought fancy made me believe I -beheld the pale and ghostly face of Merriwell peering in upon us. It was -nothing in the world but a hallucination.” - -“That might be true were it not for the fact that Lynch and myself -beheld the same white, ghostly face,” said Ditson. “I’d like to think -you have hit on the real explanation of the affair, Du Boise, but I -can’t accept it. Had you been the only one to see that apparition, your -explanation would be received by us both; but how can you account for -the fact that we also saw what you believed you saw—and we saw it at -precisely the same time.” - -“Telepathy,” said Du Boise, nodding his head. “Mental transmission of -thought. Did I not cry out that I saw it as I pointed toward the panel?” - -“You did.” - -“I thought so. Being thus firmly convinced that I really beheld such an -apparition, I transferred the conviction to both of you, and you, too, -were deluded into believing you saw it.” - -Again Dunc shook his head. - -“That’s too much for me to accept,” he said. “It’s barely possible such -a thing might have happened between two persons, but when three -individuals are involved, it’s wholly beyond acceptance.” - -Harold shrugged his shoulders and sipped a little more of the cool -absinthe. - -“Of course I cannot compel you to accept my explanation,” he said, “but -I am certain you will come to it in time. At present you are both -overcome by unreasoning fears. As time passes and you are not again -visited by such an apparition you will gradually be forced to confess -that my explanation of this strange phenomenon is the only one that can -be given. You still remain frightened, both of you. Lynch looks ten -years older than he did three hours ago. Your nerves are quivering in -your bodies. Look—look at my hand, it’s steady as a rock.” - -He lifted his glass and held it unquivering above the table. - -“That’s not you,” said Duncan. “You couldn’t do that yourself.” - -“Not me?” - -“No.” - -“Then what is it?” - -“The absinthe. Only for the stuff you’ve drank, you’d be a pitiful, -cowering, cringing creature this very minute.” - -“Then here’s to absinthe!” laughed Hal, with a wave of his glass. -“Here’s to absinthe, the magic potion which makes every man the -commander of his own soul!” - -“Until the cursed stuff takes command and wrecks both soul and body,” -said Ditson. “I fear that time is not far away for you, Du Boise.” - -Lynch now filled his lungs with a deep breath, betraying a sudden -restlessness and an eager desire to leave the place. - -“Let’s get out of here,” he urged. “I’m going to my room. I’m going to -turn in. It’s a wonder we haven’t had newspaper reporters after us -already. Of course by this time they all know of Merriwell’s drowning. -We’ll have to tell the story until we’re sick of it in the morning. -We’ll have to face both reporters and police. I’ve got to rest in order -to do that.” - -“Rest?” said Duncan. “I hope you can. I’m afraid I shall get very little -rest to-night.” - -Nor was Lynch to experience any genuine refreshing rest. In his room, -with the door locked, he paced the floor for hours, pausing at intervals -to listen, with shuddering heart, to every faint sound of the night. His -face was drawn and lined like a graven mask. His eyes rolled restlessly -in their sockets. The passing footsteps of a night watchman caused him -to stand with quivering hand pressed to his bosom, his jaw drooping, his -breath suspended, waiting, waiting—for what? - -He had closed his window and drawn the shade so that not even a crack -remained at the bottom. Even though every light in the room was at full -blast, he whirled now and then to peer nervously into the corners and -behind the morris chair. The sudden scampering of a mouse somewhere in -the wall dropped him nerveless upon the couch, where he sat mopping the -beads of cold perspiration from his face. Once as he walked the length -of the room he caught a glimpse of a phantomlike figure which gave him a -sidelong leap and brought a gasping “Ah!” from his lips. Half crouching -and staring across his shoulder, he realized that the thing he had seen -was his own reflection in a mirror. - -“Fool! fool!” he huskily whispered. “Why don’t you go to bed? Are you -trying to wear your own nerves to a frazzle? What a coward you are, Mike -Lynch! If your friends knew, they’d be disgusted with you. You didn’t -mean to drown the poor devil when you suggested that Berger should run -down that cockle shell of a rowboat. It was an accident—I say it was an -accident. You can’t make anything else of it. No one can make anything -else of it. Even if they prove we smashed the boat intentionally, we can -swear we meant it for a joke. What if they do say it was a crazy, -foolhardy joke? We’ll stick to it that there was no malice in it. That -ought to save us. Perhaps we may have to leave college, but I don’t see -how anything worse is going to happen. - -“But Merriwell’s friends will know it was not meant for a joke. They’ll -swear it was malicious. They’ll swear it isn’t the first time I’ve tried -to injure him. The fact that there was bad blood between us is going to -make it rather unpleasant for me. But I’m not alone in this. Ditson is -as deep in the mud as I am in the mire. Du Boise—I’m sorry we had him -with us. He’s the fellow I fear. Unsupported by either drink or drug, Du -Boise is a shivering, weak-kneed, spineless creature. There’s no -reliance to be placed upon him. But I don’t believe even he is fool -enough to think we intended to drown Merriwell. I’m going to bed now. -I’ve got to go to bed. Why, I’ll be a wreck in the morning if I don’t -get a little sleep.” - -But there was no sleep for Mike. He dared not turn off his lights, and -when he attempted to woo slumber with them blazing at full blast he soon -found his efforts vain. Groaning and cursing, he tossed to and fro upon -the bed. Gradually the ticking of his little clock beat in his ears -louder and louder until it sounded like hammer-strokes upon an anvil. -Whenever he closed his eyes a ghastly white face seemed to rise before -him, and he fancied he beheld an outstretched accusing finger pointing -at him. - -Finally in despair he rose, drew his bathrobe about him, and sat down -near the study table. Seizing a novel, he tried to read. The sentences -ran into a meaningless jumble before his eyes, and his tortured mind -continued to wander to the thing he longed to forget. Repeatedly he -started up and turned to look behind him, shuddering and cold with the -conviction that some ghostly thing was hovering at the back of his -chair. - -And thus the long night passed. Between three and four o’clock in the -morning Lynch opened his window and waited for dawn. He joyously hailed -the first faint streaks of gray in the eastern sky. - -“It’s morning,” he said. “Now perhaps I can sleep.” - -But no, even daylight could not bring him rest. The sun was tinting the -east with a delicate blush when Mike slipped downstairs and hurried -away, filling his lungs with long, deep breaths. The streets were silent -and deserted. Not even a policeman seemed stirring at this hour, for -which he was sincerely thankful. Without knowing whither he was bound, -he turned his face toward the outskirts of the city and with long -strides made for the open country. - -An hour later Lynch was lying exhausted by the roadside in the midst of -a strip of woods. All around him the young day was fresh and beautiful -and joyous. In the thickets the birds were singing happily. The air was -clean and sweet with the fragrance of springtime. - -Mike had been there before. He remembered the very cluster of bushes -beside which he now lay. At one time, with two companions, he had hidden -himself there to await the appearance of Rob Claxton, against whom he -entertained a feeling of hatred and whom he was determined to thrash in -a fist fight. With some bitterness he recalled the fact that Claxton had -whipped him in that fight which took place not far from this spot. - -“And Merriwell was responsible for it!” he snarled. “For a long time he -had been secretly training that haughty Virginian in order that the -fellow might do me up in a scrap. No wonder I hated Merriwell! I had -good reasons to hate him! I had good reasons to wish him dead! I’m a -fool to be upset like this! I’m a fool to run away from investigation -and questioning! Wait, after I’ve rested a while I’m going back. Never -anything took hold of me the way this business has. On my word, I’m done -up!” - -He rolled over upon his back and lay there, with his hat covering his -eyes, until a faint far-away sound led him to lift his head and listen. - -“Runners!” he said. “They’re coming this way. Great Scott! are they -after me?” - -Jerking himself to his feet, he cautiously peered over the cluster of -bushes. - -Far along the road where it wound through the woods some lightly clad -figures came into view. His relief was intense, for he saw at a glance -that they were college lads out for an early morning run. Their white -clothes, swinging bare arms, and churning legs cut moving silhouettes -against the dark background of the woods. - -“I mustn’t be seen,” muttered Lynch, sinking down and creeping close -behind the bushes. “I’ll lie here and watch them as they pass. They -won’t notice me.” - -The runners were Mike’s classmates. First came Claxton, the Virginian, -and Sam Kates almost shoulder to shoulder. A short distance behind them -Brad Buckhart appeared. - -Then came another, at sight of whom Lynch uttered a hoarse, choking cry, -sought to rise and then fell back, his head swimming, his senses -deserting him, completely overcome by the fearful strain and the second -appearance of the “apparition.” - -For he had again seen Dick Merriwell. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVIII. - THE ESCAPE. - - -Dick heard a cry and caught a glimpse of the figure which dropped back -behind the bushes. Shouting to his companions, he whirled to the -roadside and knelt over Lynch, whom he found stretched unconscious upon -the ground. - -When Mike revived he found them working over him, and the boy he had so -bitterly hated, the boy he had fancied dead, was one of them. - -“Take him away! take him away!” cried Lynch, struggling weakly and -staring at Dick with unutterable horror. “He’s dead! Don’t let him touch -me!” - -“He means you, partner,” said Buckhart. “I sure reckon he’s some -disturbed to see you alive and kicking.” - -“He’s dead!” groaned Mike. “I killed him, but I didn’t mean to do it. I -wanted to run him down and let him swim for it. That’s all. I didn’t -think he would drown, but I killed him, and I’m a murderer! There, I’ve -confessed it now! You all hear me—I’ve confessed it! I killed him! Hang -me! I suppose they will. Don’t let him look at me like that. Take him -away—please take him away! Don’t look at me, Merriwell! I can’t bear -those eyes. I felt you following at my heels last night. I saw you when -you appeared to us at Fred’s. Even after I locked myself in my own room -I knew you were near. I couldn’t stand it long. It was too much for me. -You’ve forced me to confess at last. You’ve made me put my neck in a -noose. Now you should be satisfied.” - -In vain they had tried to check his panting flow of words, but now Dick -managed to make his voice heard, speaking quietly and soothingly. - -“I’m no ghost, Lynch. I’m here in the flesh. You didn’t drown me. I’m -glad to know that you didn’t really try to drown me. I couldn’t think -that of you, revengeful as I know you to be. Look here, touch my hand -and satisfy yourself that I’m living.” - -But when he held out his hand to Lynch the fellow writhed and squirmed -and rolled away, shrieking with fear until his lips were covered with -froth. - -“Great horn spoon!” muttered the Texan. “That gent is pretty near daffy, -partner. Never expected to see him go to pieces like that.” - -“Keep him away from me!” shrieked Mike. “Don’t let him touch me! Let me -go! Help me to my feet!” - -It was with the utmost difficulty that they prevented him from rising -and taking flight. Indeed he did get upon his feet and stagger out to -the road, fighting them all off as they sought to assist him. - -A farm wagon, bound for town, came along, drawn by two scraggy horses. -On the seat sat a bewhiskered old fellow who regarded the boys with no -small curiosity. - -“Hey!” he called, pulling up the horses. “What’s the matter with that -fellow, anyhaow? Goshfry mighty, he acts as if he was purty nigh crazy! -Guess he must have been hittin’ up somebody’s hard cider, hey? -Jerusalem! but they do git an awful jag when they fill up on cider. I -know haow it is, for I’ve been there myself. The gosh-derned stuff makes -ye act like all thutteration. What’s he sayin’ a-yappin’ about spooks -and dead folks and things like that? By gum! I guess you fellers better -take keer of him. Be you his friends? Waal, you better git him to a -doctor jest as soon as you ken. Put him in my waggin? ’Course you ken. -Jest ketch right holt and h’ist him aboard. Couple of ye better come -along with him to keep him quiet. I’ll only charge ye twenty-five cents -apiece to take you clean into the city, and that’s cheap enough, by -gum!” - -So Lynch was tossed aboard the old farm wagon, and two of the boys -clambered in after him. Not until the strip of woods was left far behind -did Mike quiet down and become amenable to reason. Even then when they -attempted to explain he grew violent and shriekingly forbade them to -mention Merriwell’s name. - -Brad Buckhart remained with Dick and the others who decided to complete -the morning run ere retracing their steps. - -“Partner,” said the Texan, as they were again jogging along the road, “I -sure reckon you have accomplished your object with that gent. He’s just -about as near bughouse as any galoot I ever saw.” - -“Yes,” agreed Dick, “I think he has been properly punished. I’m willing -to let up on him now, and I hope he comes out without going clean -daffy.” - - * * * * * - -A moment before the sharp prow of the steam launch struck Buckhart’s -_Sallie_, Dick realized the collision could not be averted, rose to his -feet, and made a headlong dive into the water. His action was not seen -by Buckhart, whose eyes were fastened on the launch. - -Understanding the danger of being hit by the whirling propeller of the -launch, Merriwell dove as deep as possible. With powerful strokes he -swam some distance beneath the water. When compelled to rise to the -surface, he turned his head and found that the launch had passed over -him and was some distance away. - -He wondered what had become of Brad and looked around in vain for some -sign of his companion. Near at hand swung a vessel at anchor. Toward -this Dick swam, reaching its side and seizing a hawser which dangled to -the water’s edge. - -As he clung there in the deep shadow of the vessel he discovered that -the launch had slackened its speed and was swinging round on its course. -Across the intervening water came the sound of excited voices. Brad -Buckhart was hotly denouncing the fellows who had cut down the rowboat. - -A great wave of relief swept over Dick, for he knew now that in some -manner the Texan had escaped and was on board the launch. - -Dick’s first inclination was to raise a shout and announce that he also -was safe and unharmed. This was suppressed almost instantly by a desire -to wait and see what would happen, and so, clinging to the hawser there -in the dark shadow of the vessel with only his head above the surface of -the water, the boy watched and listened. - -Like Brad, Merriwell believed the rowboat had been cut down by -deliberate intent. On discovering that Lynch and Ditson were aboard the -launch, this belief became a fixed certainty in Dick’s mind. - -The launch slid slowly past, with Buckhart vainly straining his eyes for -some glimpse of his chum. - -“It’s awfully tough on Brad,” thought Dick; “but I’m more than willing -those other fellows should think I’ve been drowned. If they have a -conscience, it ought to prick them a little.” - -Pulling at the hawser, he found that it was secure, and when the launch -had passed he lost little time in lifting himself up by the rope, hand -over hand, and, rolling over the rail of the vessel, dropped to the -deck. - -From the vessel Dick watched the launch as the afterglow of sunset died -in the west, and night spread its sable wings above the world. He saw -other boats join in the search, but still he declined to make known the -fact that he had escaped. - -A huge colored man, stretching his arms, and yawning, appeared on deck -from below. - -“Mah golly!” he muttered. “Ah must hab slept like a log. Why, it’s gone -got dark areddy, and Ah ain’t lit dem lights. If de cap’n evah foun’ dat -out, Ah’d ketch it. Ah guess Ah’ll hurry up about gittin’ dem lights -lit. Yes, sah!” - -“That’s right, Sambo,” said Dick, in a low tone, as he stepped out and -confronted the negro. “You better get onto your job.” - -“Fo’ laws sake!” gasped the colored man, starting back. “Where yo’ come -from, maan? How’d yo’ git on dis yere vessel? What yo’ doin’ on dis yere -vessel? By golly! Ah guess yo’ one ob dem pirate thieves dat goes round -stealin’ from vessels, ain’t yer? Now, yo’ keep yo’ distance. Don’ come -near dis nigger, fo’ Ah’ll crack your skull jes’ as sure’s yo’ do. Ah’s -a baad maan, Ah is. Mah name is Thomas Jefferson Jackson Jones, and Ah’s -dangerous when Ah gits mah mad up. If Ah eber hits yo’ wif one of dese -mauls ob mine, dat will be yo’ funeral, maan. Yo’ll ride along wif de -flowers in de front carriage, and yo’ won’t hear none of de music. Yes, -sir; yes, sir! Ah’s dangerous!” - -“You look it,” laughed Dick, for through the darkness he could see the -darky’s eyes rolling with terror, and it seemed that the fellow’s -shaking knees would melt beneath him. “Don’t let my accidental presence -on board the vessel disturb you.” - -“Oh, Ah’s not disturbed in the slightes’ declivity,” hastily retorted -Thomas Jefferson Jackson Jones. “Ah’s puffeckly caam and placated, Ah -is. Ah’s a maan dat nebber takes no chances. Always carries a razzor in -mah pocket for ’mergencies. Yes, sah!” - -“Well, let your razor stay in your pocket,” said Dick. “You won’t have -to use it. Be kind enough to do me a favor—don’t speak quite so loud. -I’ll explain how you came to find me here.” - -The darky listened with an air of doubt to Dick’s words, but the boy -called his attention to the fact that the launch and a number of small -boats were moving about near the spot where the collision had occurred. - -“They’re still searching for me,” said Merriwell. “For certain reasons I -don’t want them to know I escaped. I want them to think I was drowned. -Now, Sambo, I’m going to make you a proposition.” - -“Ah beliebe Ah ’stinctly tol’ you mah name is Thomas Jefferson Jackson -Jones. Yo’ll kindly deflane from callin’ me Sambo, sah.” - -“All right, Thomas,” laughed Dick. “I see you’re very sensitive. I have -no desire to hurt your tender feelings. Instead of that, I feel very -friendly toward you. After you have lighted those lamps you can make -five dollars by taking a boat and setting me ashore.” - -“Ah ain’t s’posed to leabe dis vessel, sah,” said the colored man, “but -if Ah saw a five-dollar bill a-comin’ mah way, Ah might be injewsed to -leave it fo’ a short time.” - -The boy brought out some money, and finally succeeded in peeling a -dripping five-dollar bill from the small roll. - -“It’s the real stuff, Thomas,” he said. “If you give me your word that -you’ll set me ashore, and say nothing about it, the money is yours.” - -“Mah word is jes’ as good as mah bond,” chuckled the negro, “and dey -ain’t either one wuth a tinker’s rap. Yah! yah! yah! But when Ah see a -five-dollar William comin’ mah way, Ah’s ready fo’ almos’ anything. Yo’ -hol’ up, maan, till Ah gets dem lamps lighted. Ah’ll be wif yer in jes’ -about two seconds.” - -Made secure by a painter, a boat lay floating under the stern of the -vessel. When the colored man had set the lamp he returned and drew this -boat up on the port side of the vessel and dropped into it along with -Merriwell. It was now dark, so Dick was not recognized by any of the -searchers, and therefore his plan of deception was carried through -successfully. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIX. - THE GHOSTLY FACE. - - -“’St, Brad!” - -The Texan stopped in his tracks as a dark figure stepped out before him. -Brad had just left the pier, having told Lynch, Ditson, and Du Boise -what he thought of them and what he meant to do. - -A queer, quivery sensation shot along Buckhart’s spine. He stood quite -still and stared at the dark figure which promptly strode toward him. - -“Don’t raise a shout, old man,” said the voice of Dick Merriwell. “Don’t -let those fellows hear you. It is I.” - -Brad deliberately pinched himself to make sure he was awake. - -“It sounds like you, and it looks like you,” he said, “but it can’t be -you. You’re drowned!” - -“Hardly,” said Merriwell, as he dropped a hand on the shoulder of his -chum. “But I want those fellows still to think I’m drowned. I’m in hopes -it will worry them some. That’s why I didn’t let you know I hadn’t gone -to the bottom.” - -Realizing at last that Merriwell was there in the flesh, the Texan -suddenly caught Dick’s wet figure in his arms and gave him a bear hug. - -“Oh, great horn spoon, I’ve got to yell!” he panted. “If I don’t, I’ll -sure blow up. Say, partner, can’t I yell just once? Can’t I let off -steam a little? Gophers and jack rabbits, I thought you were dead! Oh, -say, what a funny feeling I’ve got! I don’t know how to express it. Hang -it all, didn’t you know I was searching for you with the rest of the -bunch? Didn’t you realize how I felt about it? Partner, I wouldn’t go -through that thing again for fifty thousand dollars! I sure reckoned you -were food for the fishes.” - -The Texan’s voice was quivering with emotion, and he trembled in every -limb. - -“It was rough on you,” agreed Dick, “and perhaps I’m mistaken in -thinking it will disturb those rascals to fancy me done for. Let’s wait -here until they pass. We can tell by what they are saying whether they -are disturbed or not.” - -Hidden in the narrow space between two of the old buildings, the boys -waited until the trio of rascals came along and passed on their way. -Falling in behind but taking pains not to be seen, Dick and Brad -followed the three to the first saloon and from thence to Fred’s place -of business. - -“They’ve taken a private room,” said Brad, after peering between the -swinging doors. “They’ve gone upstairs, partner. I reckon they intend to -drown their remorse with plenty of booze. If you should appear before -them now, they’d certain think you a spook.” - -Dick laughed softly. - -“I have a fancy to play the spook,” he said. “Come with me.” - -In a near-by restaurant he purchased a few cents’ worth of flour, which -was given him in a paper bag. Slipping this into his pocket, he led the -way back to Fred’s. - -There were a very few patrons in Fred’s as the boys entered. Spofford, a -sophomore, was leaning lurchingly on the bar and telling a story. Two or -three of Spofford’s chums were with him. The barkeeper was listening and -the waiter was opening a barrel in the back room. No one paid any -attention to Dick and Brad, who sauntered through and quietly ascended -the stairs. - -There were two rooms above. Listening, Merriwell soon learned which of -these was occupied by the fellows he hoped to frighten. Having located -them, he brought forth the bag of flour, which he proceeded to smear -over his face until his features were well coated with it. - -“Do I look rather ghostly, Brad?” he whispered. - -“Your face looks that way,” softly chuckled the Texan, “but there’s -nothing very ghostly about the rest of you.” - -“Then I’ll show only my face,” decided Dick. “Here’s the panel through -which drinks are passed into that room.” - -“They shouldn’t see you in too strong a light,” murmured Brad. - -Merriwell’s fingers found the switch and turned it. This cut off all the -lights in the upper part of the building. - -“That’s too much,” he whispered quickly. “Turn off that one over your -head, Brad. Hurry up.” - -There was a faint click, and the Texan announced that he had found the -electric bulb and turned off the current. Then Dick softly pushed back -the panel and manipulated the electrical switch. He did not turn it on -at once, but moved it gradually, getting the result hoped for as the -lights glowed dimly at first. - -The startled fellows within that room saw the white, ghastly face at the -open panel and Du Boise shrieked and fell to the floor in a faint. Dick -closed the panel at once. - -“Skip, Brad!” he hissed. “We must make a sudden duck.” - -Spofford and his friends had left, and only the barkeeper was found in -the lower room. - -“What’s that yell I heard?” he asked, as the boys appeared. - -“Nothing but a little practical joke,” said Dick, as he mopped the flour -from his face with his handkerchief. “Those fellows upstairs are hitting -the booze too hard. It’s time they swore off. They may think they’ve -seen a ghost. Perhaps you’ll help them reform if you fail to undeceive -them.” - -“Don’t say a word,” said Brad, tossing a silver dollar on the bar. - -“You sure gave those gents something of a start, partner,” said Brad, as -they hurried away. - -“I think I did,” agreed Merriwell. “You should have seen them, Brad. -Their eyes stuck out of their heads. Du Boise collapsed like a pricked -bladder. It was really amusing. I’ve been well paid for the ducking I -received.” - -“Perhaps you have!” growled the Texan. “But I’ve got a bill to settle -with those gents. They still have to pay me for my _Sallie_, and you bet -your life I’ll make them cough up. You hear me gently chirp!” - - - - - CHAPTER XL. - A QUEER DELUSION. - - -Mike Lynch was placed under the care of a doctor, who found it necessary -to give the fellow opiates in order to quiet him. The doctor fancied -Lynch would come around all right in case he could get some sleep, which -he seemed to require. Mike’s friends took turns in watching him through -the day. - -Toward nightfall Lynch awoke and discovered Ditson and Wolfe in the -room. He announced his intention of getting up and proceeded to do so in -spite of their remonstrances. - -“I’m all right,” he declared. “The trouble with me was that I couldn’t -seem to sleep after the unfortunate drowning of Merriwell last night. -I’ve been troubled with hallucinations I suppose. Never had anything -like that before. I’m nearly starved, fellows.” - -“I should think you would be,” said Ditson, exchanging glances with -Wolfe. “Come on with us and get something to eat. You know we all -thought Merriwell drowned, and even now I don’t know how he escaped. Of -course we’re glad he did escape.” - -“What are you talking about?” cried Lynch, beginning to show excitement. -“Merriwell’s dead. Don’t think you can soothe my feelings by giving me -the impression that he escaped. Don’t try to deceive me, Ditson.” - -“Now listen to reason, Mike,” urged Duncan. “Here’s Bern—he’ll tell you -that Merriwell’s all right. We’ve both seen him several times to-day.” - -But at this Lynch fell into such a state of excitement that both his -friends were startled and alarmed. He beat the air with his clenched -fists and cried out that Merriwell was dead and would have to remain so. - -“By Jove!” whispered Wolfe, in Ditson’s ear. “We’d better let up on -this. The only way to satisfy him is to show him Merriwell alive and in -good health.” - -“And that may not satisfy him,” murmured Dunc. “They say the thing that -threw him into a fit was the sight of Merriwell this morning. Mike’s the -last person I’d ever fancied would get this way. I didn’t suppose he had -any nerves. He’s literally gone to pieces.” - -They soothed him by changing the subject of their conversation. By the -time he was dressed and ready to go out he again seemed in his normal -condition. - -On their way to a restaurant they met Merriwell, who, with several -friends, was coming from the gymnasium. - -At sight of Dick, Lynch turned ghastly pale and trembled. Not a word -came from his lips, but he turned his head away and walked on with -averted eyes. - -“Merriwell is looking pretty healthy for a dead man,” observed Wolfe, -winking at Ditson. - -“Stop!” cried Mike, with a snarl. “Don’t try any more of that! I won’t -have it. I know he’s dead, and that ends it.” - -His companions looked at each other in wonderment, deciding that, -although Lynch seemingly had recovered, he was a subject for the care of -a physician. - -But even the doctor who attended Lynch could not quite understand the -condition of the fellow’s mind. In everything else Mike seemed rational, -but the mere mentioning of Merriwell’s name in his hearing threw him -into a state of excitement that bordered on frenzy. At sight of Dick, -whom he occasionally encountered, he invariably turned pale and averted -his eyes. Some of the fellow’s friends insisted that he ought to go home -and take a rest, but this caused Lynch to grin and declare that he was -in “the finest condition ever.” He simply refused to acknowledge that -Dick Merriwell was not dead. - -Ditson and Du Boise raised money to settle for Brad Buckhart’s boat and -felt that they were getting out of the affair very cheaply. Of course -Dick was told of Mike Lynch’s singular mental delusion, but he, like -nearly every one else, believed Lynch would get over it in time. - -These were busy days for Dick. Baseball absorbed nearly all his spare -time. He was not a little surprised when Wilbur Keene came to him and -asked to be coached in pitching. At first Dick thought the fellow -joshing, but Keene was in sober earnest, and therefore day after day -Merriwell spent thirty minutes or more time instructing the varsity -pitcher. - -When Welch and the rest of the varsity twirlers learned that Keene was -being coached by Dick they unbottled their scorn upon Wilbur. He was -compelled to endure all sorts of jeers and sneers. Nevertheless, he -persisted, for from the very start he was convinced that Dick’s tutoring -would be beneficial to him. Within a few days he could see an -improvement in his work. - -The first thing Dick insisted on was that Keene should persist in -obtaining control of the ball. This he declared was far more essential -than speed or curves. The man who possessed perfect control and had a -good head on his shoulders could often deceive a batter who could not be -deceived by the chap whose control was imperfect, even though the latter -had everything else that a pitcher needs. - -The moment Keene could, put the ball where he wished to put it Dick -began on other things, and from that time the pupil made rapid progress. - -In practice on Friday, the day before the scheduled game with Cornell, -Keene did some pitching for batting practice. It happened that Dick was -present and on the bench. Wilbur decided to try his newly learned kinks -upon his comrades, and did so with the most surprising and satisfying -results. Safe hits were few and far between. When hit at all the ball -had a nasty way of popping into the air or rolling punkily along the -ground. To the exasperation of the players, they could not seem to get -their bats squarely against the ball. - -“What do you think of that, Leyden?” inquired Emery, trotting up to the -coach. “Keene seems to be in pretty good trim to-day, doesn’t he?” - -“And you know why, don’t you?” said Leyden. “He’s the only pitcher who -has taken the freshman Merriwell as a coach. The rest are prejudiced -against Merriwell or else they have too much foolish pride. Keene is -certainly improving. You’d better consider putting him into the box -to-morrow. It would be a good time to try him out.” - -“Welch expects to pitch to-morrow.” - -“But you haven’t told him that he’s to pitch, have you?” - -“Hardly. I don’t choose a pitcher so far ahead of a game.” - -“Well,” said Leyden, “I urge you once more to consider my suggestion. -Keene hasn’t been given much real work. Start him on the slab to-morrow. -If they pound him, pull him off.” - - - - - CHAPTER XLI. - SILVER BULLETS. - - -Mike Lynch dropped into an old curio shop and inspected an old-fashioned -powder-and-ball pistol. - -“Will it shoot all right?” inquired Mike, as he snapped the weapon. - -“Vy, certainly, mine frendt—vy, certainly it vill,” answered the Jew -proprietor. “It vos a goot pistol. It vos choost as goot as it efer vos. -But you don’t vant it to shoot vid, do you? Most beople buy such dings -as a decorations. Dey put dem up on der vall to look ad.” - -“That’s what I want it for,” said Mike; “but, still, I want to know that -the old thing will really shoot. If it was properly loaded, would it -kill anything?” - -“Vy, certainly, mine frendt—certainly. Dot pistol vent through der -Revolutionary Var. Heer vos der bullet mold dot goes vid it.” - -“You don’t say so! Why, I thought they used flintlocks then. This is a -percussion cap pistol. Do you suppose I could get any caps to fit it?” - -“Right over at der hardware store,” said the old Jew. “You vill find -plenty of dem, mine frendt.” - -“What’s the price of the pistol and mold?” - -“Fife tollars.” - -“I’ll give you a dollar.” - -“Oh, mine cootness! Do you vant to rob me? I pay four tollar for dat -pistol.” - -“All I have is a dollar,” said Mike, taking out a bill. “Here it is. -Take it or not just as you please.” - -“Cootn’t you make it two tollar?” whined the old Jew. “I vill lose money -on it at dot, but I vant to get rid of it.” - -“Take it or not,” repeated Mike, waving the dollar bill in front of the -shopkeeper’s face. - -He got the pistol and left with it in his pocket. Visiting the hardware -store, he secured a box of caps and a small supply of powder. In the -hardware store Lynch found a tinsmith to whom he made a most peculiar -proposition. - -“Do you see this?” said Mike, producing the bullet mold. “I want you to -mold me a few silver bullets.” - -The tinsmith gazed at him in surprise. - -“Silver bullets?” he questioned doubtfully. “Why aren’t lead bullets -good enough?” - -“I want silver bullets,” persisted Mike. “A silver bullet is the only -thing that will destroy a ghost.” - -“Look here, young man,” said the tinknocker, “is there anything the -matter with your head, or are you talking to hear yourself?” - -Mike winked gravely. - -“Never mind,” he said. “You have a nice little furnace there, and here -is a couple of silver dollars. Can’t you melt that money and mold me -some bullets?” - -“It’s against the law to destroy United States money.” - -“But no one besides ourselves will know anything about it. I’ll give you -five dollars to do the job for me.” - -“Five dollars is an inducement. Have you got it?” - -“Here it is,” said Mike, handing it over. “I’ll pay you in advance, and -I’ll wait for those bullets.” - -When he left he had several fresh-molded silver bullets in his pocket. - -The night, in the privacy of his room, with the door securely locked, -Lynch carefully loaded and capped the old pistol. Two of the silver -bullets were rammed down on top of the powder. - -“It’s my only way to get rid of Merriwell’s spook,” he muttered. “My -grandmother used to say that a silver bullet would always lay a spook. -Unless I get rid of this one it will drive me crazy. I’ll find an -opportunity to do the job to-morrow.” - - * * * * * - -During the game between Yale and Cornell, Dick Merriwell sat on the Yale -bench. He did so at the request of Keene, who had been sent in to pitch. -Wilbur believed the presence of the lad who had coached him would serve -to steady his nerves and carry him through the critical points of the -game. - -Keene astonished and delighted the Yale crowd, pitching a masterly game -from start to finish. Had he failed in any inning, Yale would have been -defeated, for the score was running close and Cornell had a team that -would not be likely to yield any advantage it might secure. - -Mike Lynch sat on the bleachers with several of his classmates. Having -discovered Dick on the Yale bench, Mike stared at him through inning -after inning, paying very little attention to the conversation of his -companions or the excited cheering of the great crowd. - -Ditson nudged Bern Wolfe and called his attention to Lynch. - -“Mighty queer about Mike,” he whispered. “I was talking with the doctor -to-day. He seems to think Mike has received some severe shock from which -he will not recover unless he gets a counter shock. Just look at him, -Bern. See his eyes. See him glare. Why, he looks absolutely dangerous -to-day.” - -“It isn’t right for him to stay in college,” muttered Wolfe. “He ought -to get away and take a rest.” - -In the seventh inning Lynch rose from his seat and announced that he was -going to leave the field. Although his friends felt that some one should -accompany him, the game was at such an exciting point that not one of -them wished to miss any of it. Therefore Mike was permitted to depart -alone. - -Instead of leaving the field, Lynch descended from the bleachers, -followed the walk round toward the locker house, and let himself in by -the gate onto the field. He was wearing a light overcoat, although the -day was very warm. Beneath that coat there was a strange bulge over his -hip pocket. - -“I’ll do it now!” he whispered huskily, as his eyes fell on Dick -Merriwell’s back. “I’ll end it right here!” - -His hand found and gripped the stock of the old pistol. Swiftly -advancing toward the unconscious lad, Mike produced the weapon and -softly cocked it. - -Just then a foul tip carromed from the bat of a Cornell man, came -whistling through the air, and struck Lynch near the temple, dropping -him unconscious to the ground. - -When Mike opened his eyes he was in the locker room and Merriwell was -the first person he saw. Several others were there, but Dick was on his -knees, working over Lynch. - -Mike caught his breath and lifted a hand to his head. - -“What—what happened to me?” he muttered huskily. - -“You were hit by a baseball,” answered Dick. “It knocked you senseless. -It hit you in a bad place, too—close to the temple.” - -“Hit by a baseball!” muttered Lynch. “Knocked me out, didn’t it? Isn’t -it queer, but I seem to have been dreaming. I seem to remember the -queerest things, but they’re all hazy like the visions of a dream. I -thought you were drowned, Merriwell. I thought we ran you down in a -steam launch, and then it seemed that your ghost was haunting me. What a -ridiculous dream, wasn’t it?” - -“Ridiculous, indeed,” nodded Dick. “But you see I’m not drowned, and you -realize I can’t be a ghost in my present material condition.” - -“Oh, yes, I realize that,” said Mike. “Of course I know there’s no such -things as ghosts. What’s that cheering?” - -The sound of the cheering spectators came to their ears. Into the room -rushed several bronzed, healthy-looking baseball men all in a hilarious -condition of triumph. One of them espied Dick and cried: - -“You’ll have your hands full coaching the rest of our pitchers now, -Merriwell! By Jove, Keene pitched a corking game! And he says you made -him fit for the job! We won, four to three! Hurrah for our new coach!” - -“Rah! rah! rah! New coach! new coach! Merriwell,” cried another chap, -flinging his sweater into the air. - -“Congratulations, Merriwell,” said Lynch. “You’re a winner at anything -you attempt. You always come out on top.” - -Dick now coached Keene for the great forthcoming game with Cornell. When -the two teams met, Yale came out victorious and again Merriwell was -hailed as a hero and the credit for the victory freely given him. - -Meantime, however, the pistol carried by Mike Lynch on the day he was -struck senseless by a foul ball had been found, and trouble was brewing -for Mike. - - - - - CHAPTER XLII. - BAD NEWS. - - -Wilbur Keene, bronzed, flushed, well satisfied, yet modest in bearing, -entered the locker house, surrounded by his comrades of the varsity -nine, which had just defeated Cornell in the game for which Merriwell -had coached Keene and which proved to be one of the closest and most -exciting games of the season. - -Every one was congratulating Wilbur and telling him what a wonderful -game he had pitched. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say nearly -every one was congratulating him. Two of the varsity pitchers, Pumper -Welch and Dudley Towne, had not expressed themselves. Towne seemed -wavering, but Welch wore a sullen, half-sneering look upon his not -unhandsome face. Hitherto Pumper had been considered the leading pitcher -for Yale, and now he realized that a rival who might snatch some of -these honors from him had suddenly arisen. - -“You certainly held ’em down in the tight places, Keene, old man,” cried -the tall Scotchman, Greg McGregor, slapping Wilbur on the shoulder. “You -pulled out of the bad holes in beautiful shape.” - -“It was control—control that did it,” asserted Cranch, the catcher. “On -my word, Wilbur seemed able to put that ball precisely where he wanted -to put it. Never caught a fellow with better control in all my life. -And, say, Keene, where did you get that queer hinkey-dink curve that you -use for a strike-out?” - -“I got that where I got my control,” answered Keene. “I’m not too proud -to acknowledge that I owe it all to Merriwell’s coaching. The first -thing he did was to keep at me about perfect control. Said it was more -important than speed or curves. Said it was the first thing a pitcher -ought to work for. As for that little hinkey-dink curve, as you call it, -I got that trying to throw Merriwell’s combination ball. I didn’t get -the combination, but I did get a queer little quirky shoot, which I used -in the game to-day.” - -At this moment Greg McGregor made a lunge through the crowd and seized a -lad who was trying to slip out. - -“No, you don’t!” shouted Greg triumphantly. “Hi, fellows! Here he is! -Here’s Merriwell! He was making a sneak.” - -The freshman was dragged back into the room and surrounded by the -bronzed, bare-armed, laughing youths. - -“I take off my hat to you, Merriwell,” said Bill Leyden, with mocking -seriousness. “When it comes to coaching pitchers, you seem to have me -skinned a mile.” - -Leyden was the baseball coach. - -“Hi, Merriwell!” cried Ben Carter. “Heard about the horrible calamity -that happened to your class team this afternoon? It’s simply awful.” - -Now, the Yale freshmen had been playing Highbridge High, and, regarding -the game as a cinch, the class of Umpty-ten had sent out a wretchedly -small aggregation of rooters. - -“What did they do?” laughed Dick. “Did they win by a score of about -twenty to nothing?” - -“Hardly that,” returned Carter. “Highbridge ate ’em up.” - -“Go on!” mocked Dick. - -“It’s a fact.” - -“Oh, you’ll have to tell that to some one else.” - -“I’m not joshing,” persisted Carter. “That’s the report. Umpty-ten was -trimmed by Highbridge. Horrible doings. Two pitchers knocked out of the -box.” - -“I can’t believe it,” said Dick, the smile slowly disappearing from his -face. “Why, no one regarded Highbridge as dangerous. Both Jones and -Robinson told me I would not be needed with the team to-day. That’s how -I happened to be here.” - -“You never can tell,” chuckled Carl Henderson. “Sometimes these things -happen when they’re least expected. It’s possible you might have saved -the game if you’d been with the team, Merriwell.” - -“And it’s possible I might have lost this game if he had been with his -own team,” confessed Wilbur Keene. “Every time I found myself in a hard -hole I got a nod of encouragement from Merriwell, and it seemed to -stiffen my backbone.” - -“Well, will you hear that blamed fool?” muttered Welch, in Dud Towne’s -ear. “He makes me sick at the stomach.” - -“If this keeps up,” said Towne, “Merriwell will have the credit for -winning the game, not Keene.” - -“It was a fluke, anyhow,” growled Welch. “Keene never pitched like that -before, and I doubt if he ever will again.” - -“What was that fellow trying to do who got hit by the ball in the -seventh inning?” inquired Towne. “How did he happen to be on the field? -I know him. He’s a freshman by the name of Lynch.” - -“Oh, I suppose he’s one of Merriwell’s chums,” answered Welch, with -scornfully curling lips. “He was sneaking in to get a word with -Merriwell when that swift foul tip caught him and stretched him out -cold.” - -“There he is now,” said Dud, jerking his head toward Lynch. “If I -remember right, he’s no friend of Merriwell.” - -“Then why did Merriwell take such an interest in him after he got -knocked silly? Why did Merriwell come here and work over the fellow the -way he did?” - -“Did he do that?” - -“Sure. I wouldn’t stay on the bench, you know. I was here, and I saw -them lug Lynch in. A doctor came along, but he wasn’t needed. Merriwell -had the fellow’s shirt torn open at the throat and was chafing his -wrists and moistening his forehead. By the time the doctor got ready to -do something his assistance wasn’t needed.” - -“That’s like Merriwell. He does those things for friends and foes alike. -Let any one need assistance and he doesn’t stop to ask whether the -person is a friend or an enemy.” - -“Haw!” grunted Welch. “He’s a great poser. He’s always trying to show -off. Of course he’s all swelled up now because he’s been coaching a -varsity pitcher. They wanted me to let him give me points. Think of -that! I’m not taking any coaching from a freshman. I notice that you -didn’t grab at the proposition. Keene was the only one who——” - -“And Keene pitched the game to-day and won it,” interrupted Towne, with -a shade of regret in his voice. - -“Any one would think you were sorry that you didn’t let Merriwell coach -you.” - -“Perhaps I am.” - -This was too much for Pumper Welch. - -“You make me sick, too!” he said. “Go ahead and coax Mr. Merriwell to -coach you. Perhaps you’ll pan out a great pitcher under his -instructions. Oh, thunder, what fools some fellows are!” - -With this final exclamation, Welch strode disgustedly away. As soon as -possible Dick escaped and made his way from the field. He was disturbed -over the rumor that Umpty-ten had lost to Highbridge High, and at the -gymnasium he sought for confirmation of this report. Apparently it was -true, for every one who had heard anything at all about it said the same -thing. As Dick was leaving the gym he encountered Bertie Lee. - -“Hello, Kid,” he called. “What do you know about the Highbridge game?” - -“Only what I’ve heard. I was out to watch the Cornell game.” - -“That report must be a josh,” said Dick. “Highbridge couldn’t beat -Umpty-ten.” - -“It doesn’t seem possible,” said Lee, swinging in at Dick’s side and -stretching his short legs to catch Merriwell’s stride. “Say, I want to -tell you something, Dick. I saw Lynch when he sneaked in onto the field -to-day and I followed him. I think I was the first fellow to reach him -after the ball stretched him out. Do you know what made me follow him?” - -“Can’t say that I do.” - -“Well, I’ll tell you. I got a look at his face, and I knew he was up to -some trick. If ever I saw a sneaky, bloodthirsty mug, it was that of -Mike Lynch. You know I’ve had trouble with him, and I don’t love him -any. I’m scared to death of him now. He’d cut his grandmother’s throat, -that fellow would. Funny nobody noticed what he had in his hand when he -was hit by the ball.” - -“What he had in his hand?” - -“Yes.” - -“What did he have in his hand?” - -“I can’t show you here. I’ve got it. It’s in my pocket. I picked it up. -I want you to have it. You better find out what Mike Lynch was going to -do. He was sneaking up behind you.” - -“I’ve wondered what he was trying to do,” said Dick. “Lee, you’ve got my -curiosity aroused. Come on over to the house and show me what it was you -picked up.” - -Bertie followed Dick to his room on York Street. The moment the door was -closed behind them Dick expectantly faced the little fellow, who had -once been prominent in the Ditson set, but who was now practically -ostracized. - -“I’m liable to get hurt for this,” said Lee, who now appeared genuinely -alarmed. “Those fellows have threatened me. They suspect I’ve told you -about several of their sneaking plots and schemes against you.” - -“It’s too late to back out now, Kid,” said Dick. “You know I won’t -betray you. You may as well tell me the whole business. What was it you -picked up on the field after Mike Lynch was knocked senseless?” - -Bertie unbuttoned his coat and produced something from beneath it. - -“This is what I found,” he announced, handing it over to Dick. - -It was an old-fashioned percussion-cap pistol. - - - - - CHAPTER XLIII. - THE SILVER BULLETS. - - -“Look out!” exclaimed Bertie; “it’s loaded.” - -Dick held the queer old pistol in his hand, turning it slowly and -looking at it with a puzzled expression on his face. - -“This is mighty queer,” he muttered. “I don’t understand it. Did you see -Lynch with this weapon in his hand?” - -“He dropped it when he was knocked out by the ball,” persisted Bertie. -“He was sneaking up behind you with that pistol, Dick.” - -Merriwell shook his head. - -“Why should Mike Lynch, or any one else for that matter, carry a weapon -like this?” speculated Dick. “It’s an ancient relic.” - -“You know Mike has been rotten queer lately.” - -“Yes, I know,” nodded Dick. “He’s been troubled with hallucinations. Of -course, you know about the running down of Buckhart’s boat in the -harbor. At that time Lynch and his friends fancied I was drowned. -Strangely enough, Mike was the one most affected by this belief. It -seemed to upset him mentally, and no one could convince him that I was -not dead. On other things he appeared rational enough, but he certainly -was queer on that point. Whenever he met me he refused to look at me. -They told me he invariably flew into a passion if any one spoke of my -escape from drowning. After being hit by that baseball to-day Lynch -seemed rational for the first time in many days. You know I did what I -could to restore him to consciousness. When he came round he stated that -he seemed to have dreamed that I was dead. I fancied the shock had -knocked the delusion out of his head and restored him to his normal -condition.” - -“Well, I don’t know what sort of condition he was in,” said Bertie; “but -I do know he was sneaking up behind you with this loaded pistol in his -hand. You can imagine what he meant to do. I don’t like to think of it.” - -“If he meant to shoot me,” muttered Dick, “the fellow was certainly -crazy. There’s no other explanation. No chap in his right mind would -attempt such a deed.” - -“Probably he meant to plead brain storm as an excuse,” said Lee. - -Dick shook his head decisively. - -“I must refuse to believe that Lynch contemplated any such dastardly -act. Perhaps there’s nothing but powder in this pistol. Perhaps he had -some freakish scheme in his befogged mind. Lee, I’m going to find out -whether there’s anything more than powder in this pistol. I haven’t -anything to draw the charge, but there’s another way to settle the -point. Come down into the back yard with me.” - -They descended the stairs and passed through the kitchen into the back -yard. Finding a heavy block of wood, Merriwell placed it close to the -fence, retreated a few feet, and leveled the pistol at it. When he -pulled the trigger there was an explosion like the report of a shotgun. -Springing forward to the block of wood, Dick examined it. - -“Great Scott!” he cried, his face paling. “Look here!” - -His finger pointed to the spot where two bullets had entered the wood -close to each other. - -“I see it! I see it!” spluttered Lee. “That settles it! Now you know the -old thing was loaded with something more than powder.” - -Dick took out his handkerchief and wiped beads of perspiration from his -forehead. - -“Mike Lynch must have been crazy,” he said huskily. “Only a crazy man -would think of using such a weapon as this, anyhow. Any one in his right -senses would have chosen an up-to-date revolver. Kid, I wish you’d ask -the kitchen girl for a hatchet. I’m going to get those bullets or slugs -out of this block.” - -But Maggie herself was on hand, having been brought out by the report of -the pistol. - -“Heavings save us!” she gasped, holding up her hands. “What air you -doing, Mr. Merriwell? You nearly scat me to death a-shootin’ out here in -the yard.” - -“Bring me the hatchet, Maggie!” called Dick. “I want to use it right -away.” - -The girl reëntered the house and reappeared with a heavy, broad-bladed -hatchet in her hand. Seizing this implement, Dick split off a piece of -the bullet-pierced block. - -“Say, but there was a heavy charge of powder in that old thing,” -observed Lee. “Look how deep the bullets went in.” - -Merriwell hacked at the block until finally one of the bullets was -uncovered. Cutting away around it, he pried it out with a corner of the -hatchet. - -“Fresh-molded,” he muttered, holding it up. “See how bright it is.” - -Lee seized the hatchet and hacked away at the block to bring the other -bullet to light. While Bertie was doing this, Dick produced his -jackknife and tried the blade on the bullet he had secured. - -“This is not lead,” he announced. “It’s too hard and too bright. If it -were lead, it would have flattened out. By Jove, Kid, this looks like -silver to me!” - -“Here’s the other one!” cried Lee. “They’re mates, Dick. Say, if you’d -ever got those through your head, it would have been your everlasting -finish.” - -Dick took the second bullet, inspected it, compared it with the first, -and dropped them both into his pocket. - -“Bertie,” he said, “I want you to keep a close mouth about this -business. Don’t mention it to any one—at least, don’t mention it until I -give you permission.” - -“I’m not liable to mention it,” said Bertie quickly. “I don’t want Mike -Lynch on my neck. I don’t know what you think about it, Dick, but it -seems to me that Lynch had something mighty nasty in his mind when he -was sneaking up behind you. If he’s daffy, he should be placed in -confinement where he’ll do no injury to any one. It isn’t right to let a -crazy fellow run loose. I’m afraid of him. If they don’t take care of -Lynch, I’m liable to get out of New Haven myself, I tell you that.” - -“Don’t hurry, Kid. If Mike Lynch is crazy enough to attempt murder, I’m -going to see that he is taken care of. But first I think I shall talk -with Lynch myself.” - -Having arrived at such a decision, Dick wasted little time. He proceeded -straight to the room occupied by Lynch and unhesitatingly knocked for -admission. - -A voice called, “Come in!” - -Lynch was sitting in a morris chair with a bandage around his head. He -was wearing a dressing gown and looked pale and listless. - -“Hello, Merriwell!” he said, with an intonation of surprise as Dick -appeared. “I didn’t suppose it was you. Thought it might be some of my -friends, but they don’t seem to be in any hurry about calling to find -out whether I’m seriously injured or not. Won’t you sit down?” - -“I’m not going to make a long call,” said Dick. “I dropped in to ask you -about this queer old pistol. Have you ever seen it before?” - -He produced the weapon and held it up before Lynch as he spoke. - - - - - CHAPTER XLIV. - LYNCH CONFESSES. - - -At sight of the pistol Mike started violently, betraying much agitation. -It seemed that his pale face grew still whiter. For a moment he sat -quite still, but finally, summoning command of himself, he extended a -hand and took the weapon from Dick. - -Merriwell stood watching every shade of expression that flitted across -the face of the sandy-haired youth. He was wondering if Mike would deny -having seen the pistol. In such a case Dick was ready with a hot -denouncement. In fact, he had practically determined to make public the -truth of the affair and force Lynch out of college. Why not? Certainly -there was no reason why he should permit the fellow to remain there -after this second attempt to commit murder. The running down of the -rowboat might be called a piece of reckless maliciousness without any -deliberate desire to take human life, but when, with a loaded pistol in -his hand, a man creeps up behind another man whom he hates, it certainly -looks like premeditated crime of the most bloodthirsty sort. - -Twice Lynch sought to moisten his lips with his tongue before speaking. -When he did speak his voice was husky and faltering. - -“Where did you get this, Merriwell?” he asked. - -“You haven’t answered my question,” reminded Dick coldly. “When you do -answer it I’ll answer yours. Have you ever seen that pistol before?” - -“I—I think I have,” muttered Mike. - -“Well, it was picked up on the baseball ground after you were knocked -senseless by that foul ball. It was found where you dropped when the -ball hit you.” - -Lynch drew a deep breath and a shiver seemed to run over him from his -head to his feet. - -“Then it was no dream,” he whispered huskily. “I was thinking about that -when you came in. I was trying to clear up things in my mind. I was -wondering what had really happened and what I had dreamed as happening.” - -Still holding the pistol and fixing his gaze upon it, Mike lifted one -hand to his bandaged head, apparently seeking to get a grip on his -disturbed and scattered thoughts. - -“Merriwell,” he said, “I wish you would tell me a few things. We ran -down a rowboat containing you and Buckhart, didn’t we?” - -“Yes.” - -“Buckhart escaped and was pulled on board our launch.” - -“Yes.” - -“But you—we saw nothing of you after the rowboat was wrecked. We -believed you were drowned. Buckhart thought so. We searched for your -body until long after it was dark. Others joined in the search. Finally -we gave it up. That night in Fred’s saloon we saw your white face -through the panel hole in the wall. We were drinking heavily. Du Boise -fainted. I’m sure both Ditson and myself believed we had seen an -apparition, a ghost. Du Boise tried to explain it by saying it was a -hallucination. I didn’t sleep much that night—in fact, I don’t think I -slept at all. I never passed through such a night. At daybreak I started -out into the country, seeking to get away from myself and my haunting -thoughts. Perhaps you don’t believe me, Merriwell, but I was the most -wretched fellow in the world. I didn’t think there was any real danger -that we would drown you when we ran your boat down. I wanted to give you -a ducking. There was malice in my heart perhaps, but not murder. I hope -you believe this.” - -Without speaking, Dick motioned for him to continue. - -“I say I started out early the following morning, but I’m not sure of -that. I don’t seem to know just what happened. I have fancied it was -nothing but a dream. I have fancied that I remained and dreamed that I -rose and took a long walk into the country. In a strip of woods I -stopped to rest. Along came some fellows taking a morning run. You were -with them. This seems to be a part of my dream. Tell me, Merriwell, did -such a thing happen?” - -“Yes, such a thing happened. You seemed terribly excited at sight of me. -You were brought back to town and placed under the care of a doctor. To -all outward appearances, you recovered in a very short time; but ever -since then up to the present day you have maintained that I was dead, -and whenever you met me you have refused to look at me.” - -Gripping the edge of the table, Lynch slowly rose to his feet. - -“Perhaps you’ll not believe it, Merriwell,” he said, “but I think I’ve -been slightly deranged. Getting hit by that baseball seems to have -straightened out my mind and brought me round.” - -Merriwell pointed sternly at the pistol. - -“What were you doing with that weapon?” he demanded. - -Lynch shook his head. - -“I can’t tell you,” he answered hoarsely. - -“Was the pistol loaded?” - -“It’s not loaded now, is it?” - -“Was it loaded when you started to creep up behind me with it in your -hand?” - -“I think it was.” - -“What were you going to do?” - -“Heaven help me! I am afraid I meant to shoot you.” - -Once more Mike was trembling, and it seemed necessary for him to cling -to the study table in order to stand. - -“I’m glad you see fit to tell me the truth,” said Dick grimly. “Here are -the bullets with which the pistol was loaded.” - -He produced them and held them in the hollow of his hand. - -“Silver bullets!” whispered Mike. - -“Silver?” - -“Yes.” - -“Why silver?” - -“To destroy a ghost.” - -“To what?” cried Dick. - -“It sounds foolish, doesn’t it?” muttered Lynch. “It’s an old -superstition. I heard my grandmother tell of it when I was a mere child. -My grandmother came from Ireland. She said the only way to lay a spook -was to shoot it with a silver bullet.” - -“And you—you believed such a ridiculous thing, Lynch? That’s too much!” - -“I don’t know whether I believed it or not,” muttered Mike. “You -understand that I was somewhat daffy. Whenever I saw you I fancied I -beheld a ghost. I thought myself haunted. In this state of mind I -remembered the words of my grandmother and resolved to exorcise you with -the aid of silver bullets. I seemed to remember some crazy conviction -that you would vanish instantly if shot with a silver bullet.” - -In spite of himself, Dick smiled. It seemed unspeakably preposterous, -and yet had not this fellow crept upon him with a pistol containing such -bullets? - -“I bought that old pistol,” Lynch went on. “You see an ordinary pistol -wouldn’t do. I had to get one that used powder and ball. I bought a -bullet mold and had a number of silver bullets made. At first I thought -I would creep up behind you some time when no one else was near, but -after a while I decided that, as long as you were a ghost, it made no -difference when I put an end to you. Certainly it could not be a crime -to destroy a ghost. I went to the game to-day little thinking that I -would find you there. When I discovered you I couldn’t keep my eyes off -you. I don’t remember anything at all about the game. At last I became -so worked up that I resolved to do the thing without loss of time. You -know what followed. This is the whole story, Merriwell. I don’t ask you -to believe a word of it. I don’t expect you to believe it. I don’t think -I would believe it if I were in your place. I’ve made a confession. I -acknowledge I tried to shoot you. Under any circumstances I shall not -deny it. You have all the evidence you need against me. I’ll wait here -for the officers.” - -It must be confessed that Merriwell was puzzled and felt himself in a -peculiar position. If Lynch spoke the truth, Dick had no desire to -punish him, as he now seemed genuinely penitent. Furthermore, his -actions had been those of a deranged man. - -“Hadn’t you better take a vacation, Lynch?” suggested Merriwell. “Don’t -you think you need it?” - -“I suppose you mean that I must leave college for good? You are going to -force me out?” - -“No. I mean exactly what I said—I think it will be beneficial to you if -you take a vacation without waiting for the term to close. I have not -accepted your story as true, and yet I hope it is true. I’ve always -fancied you to be a person with an ordinary amount of common sense. No -person with ordinary intelligence would have thought of shooting an -enemy, but if your mind was in a condition that led you to try such a -thing, it’s high time that you gave up studying and sought rest and -quiet in the country. If you don’t, you’re liable to break down entirely -and go to pieces beyond cure.” - -“I presume you’re afraid I’ll get another daffy streak, and repeat the -attempt on your life. I don’t blame you, Merriwell. Still, I’m not going -to leave college now. I’m all right at the present moment, and I believe -I’ll remain so. You know I’ve been dreadfully worried over my bills -here, for I ran deeply in debt. I didn’t know what would happen to me. I -thought I was swamped. As a last resort, I wrote a letter to my mother, -making a full confession. This morning I received her answer. She sent -me a check. It was large enough to enable me to pay all my debts and -have something left over. For the first time in weeks I’m straightened -out and ready to go ahead without worry. The only thing that will -prevent me is this business to-day. If you proceed against me, my -college career is ended. I have been a rather nasty enemy toward you, -Merriwell. I know that. I’ve hated you bitterly, and I’ve tried my best -to injure you. It was wrong. Now I throw myself on your mercy. Do -whatever you like.” - -With a sigh, Lynch sat down. - - - - - CHAPTER XLV. - MIKE PUTS IT ON PAPER. - - -It is a simple matter to imagine what would have happened to Lynch had -he, under similar circumstances, thrown himself on the mercies of almost -any other boy whom he had hated and plotted against as he had against -Dick. - -At the outset Merriwell’s intention had been to force the truth from -Mike’s lips, and then give him the alternative of leaving college or -being arrested at once. Even now Dick hesitated and wondered if that was -the only course to pursue. He stood meditating, with his eyes fastened -upon Mike’s face. - -Somehow, a most remarkable change seemed to have come over Lynch. His -face wore a sad, resigned expression that was genuinely pathetic and -appealing. It had lost its usual grim and half-brutal aspect. Indeed, as -Dick watched, Mike’s chin began to quiver, and two tears started from -his eyes and rolled slowly down his cheeks, although no sound came from -his lips. Indeed, he bowed his head, seemingly seeking to hide these -tokens of weakness. - -Was the fellow faking, or was he genuinely repentant? This question -troubled Dick. Under any circumstances, Merriwell believed the fellow -needed the attentions of a competent physician, for surely he must have -been mentally unbalanced for a time. It was not reasonable to suppose he -had been cured instantly. - -“I am going to think this matter over, Lynch,” said Dick, after a few -moments. “I want to do what is right. If I decide to keep this thing -quiet and make no move against you, you must promise me one thing.” - -“Anything,” murmured Lynch, without lifting his head. - -“You must be examined by an expert in mental disorders. If he says your -mind is in such a condition that you should quit college for a time, you -must accept his decision.” - -“Very well.” - -“You agree, do you?” - -“Yes, I’m ready to agree to anything that will give me a fair chance. I -don’t want to leave college. I believe I am all right now. Perhaps I -need a little medicine to tone me up, but that’s all. I appreciate this, -Merriwell. I can’t say much about it now, but I think I’ll prove to you -that I’m not ungrateful. I know what would have happened to me had you -been almost any one else. I confess I was depending on your generosity. -You have been generous with all your enemies—almost too generous. In the -end you overcome their enmity and win their respect. If you were afraid -of them, such would not be the case. At first I thought you were afraid, -but now I know my mistake. I doubt if you fear any one in the world. -Tell me the truth, Merriwell. Were you really ever afraid of anything?” - -“Yes, indeed,” was the prompt answer. “No credit for courage may be -given a person who has never known fear. It is the one who has -experienced fear and overcome it who is really brave. I’m going to take -this pistol, Lynch. I shall also keep these bullets. I did not pick up -this weapon after you dropped it. Another person did that. In case I -find you’re not sincere in your seeming repentance, I’ll have evidence -enough against you to put you out of college in a hurry.” - -Mike made no objection as Dick took the pistol and thrust it into an -inner pocket. - -“I’ll prove to you that I’m sincere,” he suddenly exclaimed, once more -rising to his feet. “You wait; I’ll place the proof in your hands this -very night. I’ll fix it so that you won’t need that pistol as evidence.” - -“What are you going to do?” asked Dick wonderingly. - -“Never mind,” said Lynch. “You’ll find out soon. I would offer to shake -hands with you, but——” - -“Prove to me beyond doubt that you’re genuinely repentant and ready to -do what’s right in future, and you’ll find my hand open to you,” said -Dick, as he turned toward the door. - -“I’ll prove it!” cried Mike, following him across the room and letting -him out. “You’ll be convinced sooner than you think. Good night, -Merriwell.” - -When Dick was gone Lynch turned back to his study table, produced a -paper pad, seized a pen, and prepared to write. - -Across the top of the first page he wrote these words: “Voluntary -Statement of M. J. Lynch, Student at Yale, Class of Umpty-ten.” This was -followed by the date. - -At this point Lynch paused, with uplifted pen, and a queer, crafty look -flitted across his face. - -“I shall ask Merriwell to destroy this paper when he is satisfied that I -am sincere in my repentance. But what if he forgets to destroy it? What -if it falls into other hands, and is read by some one for whose eyes it -is not intended? I must be cautious. I must look out for that.” - -Pulling the sheet from the pad, he tore it up and flung the pieces into -his waste basket. Then he arose, crossed the room, and opened a drawer -of his dresser, from which he took a very small bottle of ink. Returning -to the table, he sat down, selected a fresh, clean pen, and prepared to -use the small bottle of ink. For fully thirty minutes Lynch wrote. - -“There,” he said at last, “there’s a full confession of my connection -with the running down of Buckhart’s boat, and of my attempt to destroy -Merriwell’s ghost with silver bullets. Now, what I need is a witness for -my signature.” - -The witness appeared directly, for Bern Wolfe entered without pausing to -rap. - -“Thought I’d come round to find out how you are, Mike,” said Wolfe. “By -George, you got a bump! What the dickens were you doing, anyhow? You -left us on the bleachers, and went hustling away, after announcing that -you couldn’t stay there any longer, and had decided to leave the field. -How’d you happen to get in there where you could be hit by that ball?” - -“Never mind that,” said Lynch. “You’re just the fellow I want to use. I -have a little document here that I’m about to sign. I want you to attach -your name as witness.” - -“What’s the document?” - -Wolfe started to pick up the confession, but Lynch hastened to prevent -him. - -“It’s private,” he said. “I can’t let you read it, you know. All I wish -of you is that you put your name on as a witness to the genuineness of -my signature.” - -“That’s funny,” muttered Bern. “I don’t often sign anything unless I -know what I’m hitching my name to.” - -“I’m not asking you to sign it. I’m asking you to append your name as a -witness to my signature. I give you my word that it won’t get you into -any trouble. Here, I’m going to put my name to it.” - -Mike did so, writing his name in big, flourishing letters. - -“Sit down,” he said, getting up from the chair and covering the paper -with a blank sheet which left no more than the bottom line and his own -signature in view. - -Wolfe took the chair and picked up a pen, dipping it into the larger ink -bottle. - -“Hold on!” cried Mike, catching his wrist and checking him. “Don’t use -that ink.” - -“Eh? Why not?” - -“Well, for certain reasons that I won’t name. Take that other pen, -please, and use the ink from this smaller bottle.” - -“Aren’t you rather fussy?” grunted Wolfe, as he complied. “Where do you -want me to write and what do you want me to write?” - -“Write here,” indicated Mike. “Write these words: ‘Witness for M. J. -Lynch.’ Then sign your name.” - -Bern followed instructions, and then paused, with pen suspended. - -“Hey? What’s this?” he muttered, staring at the exposed line of writing. -“What’s this about ‘a full and complete confession?’” - -“That’s all right,” said Lynch, hastily catching up the sheets of paper. -“Don’t be such a rubberneck, Bern.” - -Having made sure that the ink was dry upon the paper, Mike carefully -placed the sheets together, folded them, and slipped them into an -envelope. - -“Now, if you’ll let me sit there a moment, Wolfe,” he suggested. - -Once more sitting down, Lynch addressed the envelope, using the ink from -the larger bottle. Bern peered inquisitively over Mike’s shoulder. - -“Eh?” he ejaculated. “Richard Merriwell? Say, what the dickens are you -writing to Dick Merriwell?” - -With a queer, grave smile, Lynch found a stamp and affixed it to the -envelope. - -“It won’t hurt you if you don’t know, Bern,” he answered. - -“But I have a right to know,” spluttered Wolfe. “If I had thought you -were writing anything to him, you’d never got my autograph on it.” - -“Make yourself comfortable,” said Mike, as he tossed aside his dressing -gown and took a coat from his wardrobe. “I’m going to step down to the -mail box.” - -“Needn’t trouble yourself so much,” said Wolfe, with sudden eagerness. -“You’re not feeling well, Mike. Give me the letter. I’ll mail it.” - -But Lynch shook his head. - -“I wouldn’t trust you,” he said. “I wouldn’t trust any one. I’m going to -mail it myself. I’ll be back in a minute.” - -“Well, what does it mean?” growled Wolfe, as Lynch went out with the -letter in his hand. - - - - - CHAPTER XLVI. - TURNING A NEW LEAF. - - -When Mike returned he was accompanied by Duncan Ditson and Mel Dagett. -The moment they were in the room and the door was closed, Dunc turned -fiercely on Mel. - -“Confound you!” he cried. “I tell you I haven’t any money! I tell you I -can’t pay! I’m broke—dead broke! You know it! You know what happened at -Providence. I raked up every dollar I could raise to bet against -Umpty-ten, and lost.” - -“Oh, yes, I know that,” sneered Dagett. “I let you have part of the -money. Didn’t I lose, too? That’s why I want you to pay me. I need it. -I’m strapped.” - -“Tell that to your grandmother,” sneered Dunc. “You’re not strapped. -Why, you’ve been loaning money at twenty per cent a month for the last -five months. You’ve bled everybody you could.” - -“But I’ve been unfortunate,” whined Mel. “I took your advice on that -Brown game, and you see what happened. You agreed to pay me a week ago. -I’ve been putting it off to give you time. You said you’d have money -to-day.” - -“Because I thought I’d get some from home. It hasn’t come. Do you know -how I’ve managed to scrub along the past week? Well, I’ll tell you: I’ve -borrowed from my sister. Yes, borrowed from my sister, and she gets what -little money she has by teaching music. It comes hard enough, and she -needs every dollar.” - -“I’ve got to have ten,” hissed Mel, wagging his head from side to side. -“I won’t wait any longer. Can’t you borrow that of her?” - -“Say, I’d like to choke you! No, I can’t; see?” - -“Well, then, there’s only one thing for me to do,” said Mel, with a -shrug of his shoulders and an upward toss of his hand. - -“What’s that?” - -“I’ll have to raise money on the securities you let me have. That was -according to the agreement. I’ll have to find out what they’ll bring.” - -“If you sell my stuff, I’ll knock the head off you!” shouted Duncan. - -“Don’t yell like that in this room,” remonstrated Lynch. “I can’t have -it, Ditson.” - -“But look at that cursed Shylock!” panted Dunc, pointing at Mel. “He’d -steal coppers off a dead man’s eyes.” - -“You have no right to say that,” complained Dagett. “Simply because I do -business in a businesslike fashion you insult me. I suppose you think I -ought to let you have the money for nothing. I suppose you think I ought -to give it to you. Mike has paid me what he owes me.” - -“Has he?” exclaimed Ditson, in surprise. “Why, I didn’t know——” - -“Sit down, both of you fellows,” directed Lynch. “Sit down, I say. -That’s right, Dagett, back yourself into that chair. Now, look here, -Dunc, how much do you owe Mel?” - -“I agreed to pay him ten dollars this week.” - -“How much is the full amount that you owe him?” - -“Forty-five dollars.” - -“What security has he?” - -“Two rings, a watch, and my scarfpin.” - -“Worth how much?” - -“Oh, the rings are worth thirty or forty dollars. The pin is worth about -ten. I don’t suppose I could get more than fifteen or eighteen on the -watch, but to me it’s worth twice that, as it was a present.” - -“Can you get those things and bring them here right away, Dagett?” asked -Mike. - -“Why, yes, if——” - -“Then hustle—hustle, I say! Get them! Go ahead now!” - -“But what’s the use if he can’t pay?” - -Lynch smote the table with his huge fist. - -“If he can’t pay, I can!” he roared. - -Duncan Ditson gasped with astonishment, for this was the last thing he -had expected from Mike. - -“If he can’t pay, I can,” repeated Lynch. “We have been friendly, and -I’m going to get him out of your greedy clutches, Dagett.” - -“Oh, you needn’t pay the whole of it,” said Mel quickly. “I only want -what’s due this week.” - -“You only want to keep him indebted to you, so you can continue to -squeeze him. If he can’t pay what’s due next week, then you’ll threaten -to sell his stuff. I know your game, Dagett, and it’s a mighty dirty -one.” - -“Now, don’t you start to preach to me,” sneered Mel. “I guess you’ve -been in some dirty jobs yourself.” - -“I have,” acknowledged Lynch instantly. “I’ve been in a number of them, -but that’s past now, and I’m done with it. Understand, I say I’m done -with it. I’ve turned over a new leaf, and in future I’m going to conduct -myself differently. Don’t grin, Dagett; I mean business. Your warped and -distorted mind may not be able to comprehend me, but I mean just what I -say. Heretofore I’ve carried around a grouch that has made me ugly and -disagreeable even toward my own friends. I haven’t enjoyed life. I’ve -been getting little satisfaction out of it. From now on I’m going to -follow a different plan. I begin here and now by helping one chap to get -out of your clutches, Dagett, even though it leaves me practically -broke. Now get those things and bring them here just as quick as you -can.” - -Ditson and Wolfe exchanged wondering glances. When Mel had left the -room, Duncan started to express his thanks, but Mike cut him short. - -“Why shouldn’t I do it?” he said. “Haven’t we been on friendly terms? -What’s a friend good for if he won’t help another out in a time of -need?” - -“Gee! is this Mike Lynch?” muttered Wolfe. “Say, Dunc, what do you think -I caught him doing? You can’t guess, so don’t try. I caught him writing -a letter to Dick Merriwell, and he induced me to hitch on my name as a -witness to his signature.” - -“What were you doing, Lynch?” grinned Ditson. “Telling Merriwell to go -to the dickens?” - -“No,” was the answer. “I was telling him something entirely different. -You heard me inform Dagett that I have turned over a new leaf. I wasn’t -talking to hear the sound of my own voice. Did you ever hear me admit -that I consider Merriwell the whitest man in college? You never did, but -I admit it now. I’m through trying to throw him down.” - -Both Ditson and Wolfe seemed thunderstruck. At first Duncan was inclined -to ridicule Lynch, but he quickly discovered that Mike would not endure -ridicule on that point. - -By the time Dagett returned with the valuables belonging to Duncan, -Ditson was satisfied that some remarkable change had taken place in -Lynch. - -Mike paid the money due Dagett. With his own hands he destroyed the -agreement held by Mel and signed by Ditson, by which Duncan was bound to -meet the extortioner’s demands or suffer the penalty of having his -valuables disposed of to raise the cash. - -This done, Mike took Mel by the collar, led him to the door, and ejected -him from the room. - - - - - CHAPTER XLVII. - A BITTER DOSE. - - -When the freshman team arrived in New Haven that night, Dick Merriwell -was the only one who appeared at the station to meet them. - -A sorry, downcast-looking bunch they were as they left the train, -carrying their bat bags and satchels. Blessed Jones had a face nearly a -yard long. Jack Spratt looked as if he had shed tears and had a reserve -supply on tap and ready for delivery. Rob Claxton carried his head high, -but could not disguise the fact that he was very much disgusted. The -round face of Bouncer Bigelow wore a moonish expression of mingled -regret and shame. Brad Buckhart looked ugly enough to eat railroad -spikes. Even Tommy Tucker seemed upset and downcast. - -Of them all, however, Sam Kates appeared to be the most wretched. He -lingered behind, being the last one to reach the platform, and showed an -inclination to slip away from the others if he could do so without being -detected. - -Although they saw Dick waiting for them, the most of the boys declined -to meet his inquisitive eyes. Truly, it was with no small difficulty -that Merriwell repressed a rising inclination to shout with laughter. In -spite of himself, a faint smile crept over his face, and this he tried -to conceal by covering his lips with his hand. Buckhart had observed it, -however, and he stopped at Dick’s side, glaring at his friend as he -muttered: - -“If you laugh, you certain take your life in your hand, partner. You’ll -have the whole blamed bunch on your back like a lot of catamounts. They -are sure the ugliest crowd I ever traveled with. We’ve had three scraps -on the way here, and if you’ll take a look at Otis Fitch, you’ll -discover that he’s wearing a handsome black eye. He made some -uncomplimentary remark about Spratt’s fielding, and Spratt punched him.” - -“Well, you must have had a hot time,” observed Dick. - -“Hot sure is no name for it. Don’t ask any questions now. Wait till we -get under cover. I want to sneak in by the back way. Think of being -walloped by a lot of high-school kids. Waugh!” - -Never had the Texan expressed greater disgust than he threw into that -final exclamation. Swinging on his heel, he strode away, regardless of -Merriwell. - -Failing to accept Brad’s warning, Dick took Jones by the arm and began -to question him. - -“A wise head containeth a silent tongue,” muttered the disgruntled -captain of the freshman team. - -“But he that seeketh diligently after wisdom shall obtain it,” reminded -Dick. - -“And he that is devoured by much inquisitiveness causeth disturbance,” -retorted Blessed. “Let us seek the shelter of our roof tree before we -prattle of our disgrace.” - -“Evidently you all take it sorely to heart,” said Merriwell. “I never -saw such a cut-up looking bunch of ball players.” - -“Cut up? If I’d let them scrap on the train, they’d be worse cut up than -they are now. Dick, I’m afraid harmony on the team is a thing of the -past. This has been a fatal day. And they all blame Robinson and me for -letting you stay behind. Don’t talk of it now.” - -That was all he could get out of Jones until they were in their room. -With his door open, Buckhart could be heard prowling about in the -adjoining room, but he seemed quite willing to let Blessed explain how -the thing had happened. - -According to Jones, it was a case of overconfidence by Umpty-ten, -followed by the rattles when Highbridge fell on Kates and batted him out -of the box. - -“Who filled Sam’s place?” inquired Dick. - -“Oh, Spratt helped the suffering along,” groaned Blessed. “He’s been -wanting to show what he could do on the slab, and I gave him a chance. -Every one of those kids got a bingle off him. So help me, Joshua, it was -an unspeakable relief when the game finally dragged to an end!” - -Buckhart stuck his head in at the door. - -“When Highland can do us up,” he said, “we’ll make a fine showing -against those Manhattan College sons of Erin. If those husky Irishmen -don’t eat us up Wednesday, it will certain be a miracle. You hear me -murmur!” - -“Dick will pitch that game,” said Jones. - -“And he’ll have a fine team behind him,” said the Texan. “Unless some -one pours oil on the troubled waters, I don’t believe we’ll get out more -than half the team next week.” - -“Well, you were to blame for a good deal of the trouble,” declared -Jones. “You told Kates he was bum, you reviled Spratt, you derided -Bigelow, and Claxton was about the only man you didn’t insult. I suppose -you realized you’d have a fight on your hands if you said much to him.” - -“It was enough to make anybody sit up on his haunches and howl like a -wolf,” said the Texan, as he stepped through the doorway. “I won’t get -over it in a month.” - -“Oh, forget it! forget it!” piped a voice, as Tommy Tucker pushed open -the door and peered in. “Still chewing it over? What’s the use? Say, -Dick, have you heard the story about the powdered sugar? Haven’t heard -it? Well, it’s fine.” - -Bang!—a shoe flew past Tucker and struck the half-open door, which was -knocked against the nose of Bouncer Bigelow, who had just started to -peer into the room. - -“Oh, wow!” cried the fat boy, grabbing his nasal organ with both hands. -“Be careless, will you? What are you trying to do, anyhow?” - -“Shoe fly, don’t bother me!” cried Tucker. “Come in quick and close the -door. These people seem violent. We may have to sit on them, and you’re -the proper size and weight for that job.” - -“Wonder you didn’t make my nose bleed,” grunted Bigelow, as he came in -and leaned against the closed door. “What is it, another fight? -Jerusalem! there hasn’t been a thing doing but fights ever since the -middle of that game. Never saw such a scrappy crowd. But, say, there -were a lot of pretty girls out to the game. They enjoyed it immensely -seeing Highland rub it into us. They kept squealing their class cheer -and waving their flags until I was afraid they would all have spasms. I -can’t seem to get the sound of that yell out of my ears. It was a sort -of a hiky-yi! ye-yo! yow! wow! wow! Even when they were yelling their -loudest they were pretty. I tell you, fellows, the fair sex is -beautiful.” - -“That’s natural,” said Dick. - -“Not always,” grinned Tucker. “Sometimes it’s artificial.” - -“But really,” said Bouncer, “I can’t understand girls. I don’t believe -any fellow ever does. Somehow, they seem to understand us better than we -do them.” - -“That began with the first woman created,” said Tommy. “See how well old -Mother Eve understood old Father Adam.” - -“That was because she was on the inside at the beginning,” said Dick. - -“Somebody loan me a brick, please,” begged Tucker. “I’ll give it to -Merriwell—good and hard!” - -“You seem to have recovered from your recent depression,” said Dick. - -“Oh, he doesn’t know enough to remain depressed long,” sneered Bigelow. -“He told me he was coming in to punch Buckhart for insulting him. I came -to save his life if he tried it.” - -“We’ll have to assemble the braves and smoke the pipe of peace,” said -Dick. - -“How can you show such unseemly merriment?” snarled Jones. “I believe -you’re pleased because we were beaten.” - -“You’ve got another guess coming,” said Dick. “But there’s no use crying -over spilled milk.” - -“‘Doth not wisdom cry and understanding put forth her voice?’” mocked -Blessed. “I think we’d better call the team together and choose a new -captain.” - -“Choose a new captain?” exclaimed Merriwell, in surprise. - -“Sure. I couldn’t seem to do anything with that crazy bunch after Kates -went to pieces. The more I talked to them, the worse they played. They -wouldn’t pay any attention to my orders, yet the wise in heart will -receive commandments, but prating fools shall fall.” - -“Weren’t you too harsh in your manner of reproving them?” asked Dick. - -“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge, but he that hateth reproof -is brutish.” - -“I’m afraid you all lost your heads,” said Dick. “It may do the team -some good.” - -“How can that be?” - -“A team that can’t take defeat isn’t fit to win victories. An occasional -failure acts like tonic on an ambitious person. Let’s call this a good -dose of tonic for the team.” - -“Call it that if you like,” muttered Brad. “It tasted bitter enough, -anyhow.” - - - - - CHAPTER XLVIII. - WAS HE SINCERE? - - -The following day being Sunday, the boys were given a chance to rest. It -was a gloomy, sullen set that appeared at training table, and all -efforts to arouse them seemed wasted. One fellow was missing. Kates was -reported ill. - -Dick found an opportunity to hunt Sam up and talk to him. Kates would -have avoided Merriwell, but he could not do so, and he faced Dick with a -crestfallen air of shame. - -“Are you really ill, Sam?” Dick questioned. - -“You bet I am,” was the answer. “I’m downright sick. I haven’t been -right for a day or two, you know.” - -“No, I didn’t know it.” - -The fact was Dick had fancied Kates in the very best of health and in -fine spirits the day before the game with Highland. - -“Well, it’s true,” persisted Sam; “there’s something the matter with me. -I can’t stand for training-table feed. It makes me sick. All I can think -of is rare roast beef and stuff like that. I’d like to sit down and make -a square meal off cake and pie and ice cream and strawberries and -chocolates and bon-bons. I think it’s all rot this tying a fellow down -on a certain line of diet. One man’s food is another’s poison, you know. -How’s any one going to tell me what I need to eat unless he’s an expert -physician, and I’m ill with dyspepsia, or something of that sort? No -wonder I couldn’t pitch yesterday. Jones is too blamed rigid with the -team. It needs some one more liberal. Then there’s Robinson—he keeps -watch of us as if we were criminals or a jury sitting on a murder case. -Some day—some day I’m going to punch that man Robinson. I tell you I’m -in revolt, Merriwell.” - -“Let me tell you something, Sam,” said Dick quietly: “You’re trying to -make unnecessary excuses for yourself. You’re disgusted because you were -batted hard Saturday, and so you think you’ve got to lay the blame to -something. Shoulder it, shoulder it—that’s the only way. Evidently you -were not wholly to blame. According to what I’ve learned, there were -some rotten errors made.” - -“But they did hit me hard,” groaned Kates, shaking his head. “Merriwell, -I believe there were some ringers in that bunch. I don’t believe they -were all high-school boys. I never saw a high-school team hit the way -they did. The more I’ve thought about it, the sicker I’ve grown. It took -the heart out of me.” - -“Well, I’m sorry to know that you’ll let a thing like that take the -heart out of you, Kates. You’ve got to have more backbone.” - -“I suppose Buckhart told you all about our trouble?” - -“I don’t know as he mentioned any particular trouble with you, Kates. It -seems that the whole team was fussing and quarreling.” - -“But Buckhart called me a few names that I couldn’t swallow. I told him -I’d never pitch to him again until he apologized, and I meant it. He’s -got to apologize, Merriwell, or I’m done.” - -“A better way would be to drop it—to forget all about it,” said Dick. -“This demanding an apology for every hasty and unintentional word is a -poor business. The rest of the fellows have practically dropped it, and -you should do the same, Kates.” - -“Suppose you say that because Buckhart is your particular friend. I -suppose you think I ought to apologize to him, don’t you?” - -“I don’t think either of you should demand an apology from the other. -Nor should you hold a grudge. You’re not playing for Buckhart; you’re -playing for the team. Think it over, Kates. I’ll expect to see you out -with the others to-morrow afternoon. We’ve got to get together and play -ball if we hope to defeat Manhattan.” - -“We’ll have to play different ball than we did Saturday,” said Sam, as -Dick departed. - -On Monday morning Dick received a letter that surprised him unspeakably. -It was the confession of Mike Lynch. - -“Well, that beats!” he cried when he had finished reading it. - -“What is it?” questioned Jones. - -“I’d like to show this to you,” said Dick. “I’d like to have you read -it.” - -But when Jones reached for the letter, Merriwell drew it away, shaking -his head. - -“No, I can’t, old man,” he said. “It’s confidential. The fellow who -wrote this has trusted me. He has placed himself in my hands. With this -document I could have him expelled from college. He has thrown himself -on my mercy. The fellow must be sincere. He certainly protests that he -is, and he urges me to keep this letter, to be used against him in case -I ever find he is not in earnest. I think I’ll take him at his word.” - -Returning the confession to the envelope, Merriwell placed it in a -drawer which he always kept locked, and the key of which he carried -constantly. From this drawer he took the queer old horse pistol and the -two silver bullets. - -“What the dickens have you there?” asked Jones. - -“It looks like a young cannon, doesn’t it?” smiled Dick, as he procured -a sheet of wrapping paper and carefully wrapped the pistol. - -“What are you going to do with it?” - -“I’m going to return it to its owner. Remember he that is devoured by -much inquisitiveness causeth disturbance.” - -Carrying the carefully wrapped pistol under his arm, Dick knocked at the -door of Mike Lynch’s room. Mike was on the point of going out. He -flushed as Merriwell entered. - -“Here’s that pistol you asked for,” said Dick, handing the weapon over. -“Here are also the silver bullets. What do you propose to do with these -things?” - -“So you got my letter, did you?” - -“Yes, I received it.” - -“And read it?” - -“Every word.” - -“I’m going to hang this pistol on the wall yonder. I’m going to keep it -there as a reminder of my pledge to you. It will be a warning of what my -folly led me into. It will also remind me of your generosity toward me. -That letter ought to convince you that I mean business when I say I’ve -turned over a new leaf.” - -“It begins to look as if you do, Lynch,” said Dick. - -“Were you surprised by the contents of the letter?” - -“I was surprised, perhaps; but you told me nothing I did not already -know.” - -“Perhaps I told you nothing you did not suspect. But you had absolutely -no proof that I was really the one who betrayed the team some weeks ago. -That was a dirty piece of business, Merriwell, and I’m heartily ashamed -of it. I did it out of spite toward you. You see, I am in your power -now. If I do another dirty trick, you can publish that confession, and -that will be my finish. Not many fellows in my place would dare trust -any one as I’ve trusted you, for not many fellows in your place would -treat their enemies with the generosity you show them. I wish you would -promise me one thing, Merriwell.” - -“What is it?” - -“Unless something happens to convince you that I’m insincere in my -resolve to behave in future, I hope you’ll never read the contents of -that letter again. You’ve perused it once, and you know what there is in -it. This may sound like a queer request, and I don’t know as I can make -you understand my reason for it. You think badly enough of me now. If I -behave, and you begin to believe there is a decent streak in me, you may -get the belief knocked out of you if you reread that confession. That’s -why I hope you’ll never look at it after this day. When you’re -satisfied—thoroughly satisfied—that I mean to do right, I wish you would -return that confession to me, that I may destroy it. While it remains in -existence there’ll always be the danger that it may fall into the hands -of some one who’ll use it against me. Oh, I realized this when I wrote -it. I’m taking all the chances. I’ve asked you to keep it where it will -be safe.” - -“It’s under lock and key at this moment.” - -“But that’s not always safe. Don’t think I’m sorry I wrote it. Don’t -think I want to squeal. I could see no other way to convince you that I -meant to do the right thing. I wanted a chance to prove myself.” - -“You shall have it, Lynch,” said Dick earnestly. “But don’t forget your -promise to consult a physician.” - -“I’ve done so already. I was thoroughly examined yesterday. The doctor -says he sees no reason why I should leave college at the present time. -He thinks I’ll go through the term all right. I’m certain there’s -nothing the matter with me now, Merriwell. That bump on the head -straightened me out.” - -“I have just one question to ask,” said Dick. “Wolfe’s name was hitched -to that confession as a witness. Did he read it?” - -“Oh, no; he simply saw me sign my name. I didn’t permit him to read it.” - -“I thought not,” nodded Dick. - - - - - CHAPTER XLIX. - A WASTED WARNING. - - -Another surprise followed. Lynch came out to watch the team practice -that afternoon. When Kates failed to appear, Mike asked permission to -cover first. - -“Let me try it, Merriwell,” he begged. - -“You’re asking the wrong man,” said Dick. “I’m not captain of the team. -You’ll have to call on Jones.” - -“But he won’t give me a show unless you say something. Won’t you say -something? You know I can play baseball. The rest of them know I can -play, too, but they won’t trust me. It wouldn’t do any hurt to let me -practice with the team. Just say a word to Jones, won’t you, Merriwell?” - -Thus importuned, Dick trotted over to Blessed and told him of Mike’s -appeal. - -“That fellow!” growled Jones. “Forwardness is in his heart, he deviseth -mischief continually; he soweth discord.” - -“But he has promised——” - -“Put no dependence in the promises of such as he. I wouldn’t trust him, -Dick.” - -“He can do no particular harm in practice to-day. We’re not trying out -any signal work. Let him cover first.” - -“All right,” growled Jones. - -So Lynch got his chance to practice. Although he was not in uniform, he -stripped off coat and vest, rolled up his sleeves; and went at it in -earnest. His work at first was of an order to cause some favorable -comment from the spectators. Not a man in the infield entertained a -friendly feeling toward Mike. For this reason, all sorts of erratic -throws were sent over to him. The stops he made were simply marvelous. -Time after time he stretched himself on the ground with his toe clinging -to the sack and scooped the low ones. Again and again he leaped into the -air and pulled down high ones which seemed far beyond his reach. Hot -grounders and whistling liners he took whenever they came in his -direction. Not only that, but his throwing to second and third and to -the plate was little short of perfect. - -“There’s the man to cover that hassock,” some one finally cried. “He’s -needed.” - -Jones, at work in the field, did not fail to notice what was happening, -and began to regret that Lynch had been tried. - -“If we don’t give him a show, there’ll be a fuss,” muttered Blessed. -“Jerusalem! this old baseball team is worrying me to death.” - -The report that Lynch had been tried on first reached the campus ahead -of the players that night. It caused something of a sensation among the -freshmen. - -As soon as the news reached the ears of three fellows, they made haste -to Mike’s room, seeking confirmation. Bern Wolfe came upon Ditson and Du -Boise upon the steps, and the trio sailed in upon Lynch without -announcement. - -“Say!” cried Ditson challengingly; “what’s this yarn that’s come to our -ears?” - -Mike, with a towel bound round his head, rose from his chair by the -window. - -“What yarn?” he asked quietly. - -“Why, we understand you’ve been out practicing with the Merriwell -crowd.” - -“Yes, and we want to know about it!” snapped Wolfe. - -“I’ve been out practicing with the team.” - -“Oh, you have?” snarled Ditson. “Now, what do you mean by that?” - -“I suppose he’s going to try to get onto the team,” sneered Wolfe. - -“You couldn’t make a better guess if you had several more tries,” said -Lynch coolly. - -This seemed to be a staggerer for Bern. - -“Wh-what?” he gasped. “You don’t mean it?” - -“Oh, yes, I do.” - -“Lynch, you’re plumb daffy,” said Ditson. “Why, you’re the last fellow -in the world to strike his colors and surrender to that bunch.” - -“You’re crazy!” shouted Wolfe furiously. “You know what happened to me.” - -“Yes, I know what happened,” remarked Mike. - -“They kicked me off the team after giving me a show.” - -“For excellent reasons.” - -“And you were frothing mad with me because I thought of getting onto the -team in the first place. You were furious with Kates, and now you’re -going to try for it. That’s too much, Lynch. I won’t stand it.” - -“I don’t see how you can help it.” - -“I’ll—I’ll tell a few things.” - -“You can’t tell anything that’ll hurt me.” - -“Oh, can’t I?” - -“Not a thing. Do you remember I had you affix your name to a document I -had just completed Saturday. Well, that’s a full confession, and it’s -now in Merriwell’s hands. In that I took all the blame for a certain -affair in which you and I were concerned. You ought to know what I -mean.” - -“The sig——” - -“You can tell these fellows about it if you wish,” interrupted Mike -hastily. - -“If you’ve told Merriwell, everybody’ll know it. Lynch, you’re daffy. -You’re crazy as a March hare.” - -“I don’t think so. You’ll observe that I was given a chance to practice -with the team to-day. I believe I’ll have still further opportunities. -Unless I’m mistaken, I’ll be playing on the team before the end of the -season.” - -“And where will I be?” cried Wolfe. “It was your scheme that threw me -off the team.” - -“I’ve explained that, Bern. I’ve shouldered everything.” - -Duncan Ditson whistled wonderingly as he sank upon a chair. - -“What the devil has happened to you, Lynch?” he asked. “I swear I can’t -comprehend it. I agree with Wolfe that you’re bughouse. You’d better -hold up right where you are. You’d better not try to get in with the -Merriwell crowd. If you do, you’ll find yourself in trouble.” - -“Wait a minute, Duncan,” urged Mike quietly. “You’ve called yourself my -friend, haven’t you?” - -“Yes, but——” - -“But now you threaten to quit me. Have you forgotten what I did for you -Saturday? Have you forgotten how I saved you from the grip of Shylock -Dagett? I am still your friend, Ditson. You may need me again. Wolfe may -need me. If either of you need assistance, don’t hesitate to come to me. -I’ll do what I can for you. But I can’t listen to your talk now. I’ve -got a headache. I wish you would both get out.” - -Ditson sprang up. - -“I’ll go,” he snapped. “By Jove! I don’t know what the class of -Umpty-ten is coming to. Every man in it will be prostrating himself at -Merriwell’s feet if this thing keeps up. It’s simply disgusting.” - -“That’s what it is!” cried Wolfe, as he followed Ditson from the room, -slamming the door behind him. - -Mike returned to his chair and sat down with a weary expression, resting -his head on his hand. - -“I think I’d better go, too,” murmured Du Boise. - -“Wait a minute,” said Lynch. “Were you ever troubled with headaches, -Hal?” - -“I should say so.” - -“Had them bad, did you?” - -“I certainly did.” - -“Ever use any headache powders?” - -“Yes.” - -“What kind would you recommend?” - -“No kind,” answered Du Boise, at once. “They’re good things to let -alone.” - -“Eh? Don’t they stop the headache? - -“Sure they do.” - -“Then why——” - -“Why let them alone? I’ll tell you. Almost all of them contain cocaine. -I acquired the drug habit by using headache powders, to begin with, -Lynch. Don’t touch the things. The kind that seem to do you the most -good are the most dangerous, for they invariably contain the most -cocaine. Cure your headaches in some other way.” - -“Much obliged, Du Boise,” said Lynch. - -But ten minutes after Hal had left, Mike put on his coat and hat and -proceeded to the nearest drug store, where he purchased some headache -powders. And in twenty minutes after taking the first powder his -headache had vanished, and he was feeling like a fighting cock. - -The warning of Du Boise, himself a wreck from the use of drugs, had -fallen on barren ground. - - - - - CHAPTER L. - WOLFE HAS AN IDEA. - - -Reaching the street after leaving Mike Lynch’s room, Wolfe and Ditson -paused and looked at each other. - -“Well, what do you think of it?” asked Bern, in a disgusted way. - -“It beats me,” declared Dunc. “There’s something the matter with the -fellow. There’s been something the matter with him ever since the night -we accidentally ran down Merriwell and Buckhart as they were rowing on -the harbor.” - -“Accidentally?” murmured Bern, with a crafty wink. “Are you sure it was -an accident, old chap?” - -“Well, we didn’t take particular pains to avoid hitting their boat. I -don’t understand now how it was Merriwell escaped. He disappeared, and -we saw nothing of him. Even Buckhart thought for a time that he was -drowned. You see, Lynch got a foolish idea into his head that he was -haunted by Merriwell’s ghost. When the rest of us learned that Merriwell -was still alive, Mike persisted in fancying him dead. That was the first -indication of an unbalanced mind. He seems to have thrown off that -delusion, but with its disappearance he has suddenly changed in a most -astonishing way. He was the bitterest and most persistent of Merriwell’s -enemies. Now he’s joined the ranks of the Merriwell toadies. All of a -sudden he’s got good. Think of Mike Lynch doing anything like that!” - -“When the devil a saint would be, the devil a saint was he,” quoted -Wolfe. “I can’t believe he’s in earnest.” - -“Somehow, I think he is. He’s not the sort of fellow to try deception on -us.” - -“Well, confound him!” snapped Bern. “If he’s really in earnest, I’d like -to punch him. Only for him I might be playing on the baseball team now. -I’d like to tell you a few things, Ditson. Where can we go?” - -“There’s my room,” suggested Dunc. - -“The very place,” said Bern eagerly. - -Among the anti-Merriwellites Ditson was something of an aristocrat. He -was a fellow who regarded himself as very exclusive and well-bred. He -roomed alone, and his rooms were furnished with something like luxury. -There were fine rugs on the floors, plenty of books, easy lounging -chairs, athletic pictures on the walls, and the usual Yale flags, -crossed foils, boxing gloves, Indian clubs, and so forth. - -“You’ve got slick rooms,” observed Bern, as he flung himself on Duncan’s -comfortable, cushion-piled couch. - -“Oh, they don’t satisfy me,” said Ditson. “I’m going to have something -decent next term. I’ve got the rooms spotted now.” - -“Of course, you’re going to leave this locality?” - -“Well, I should say so. You don’t suppose I’d hang around Freshman Row -in my sophomore year? I’ll be glad when I get into a dormitory. Have a -smoke, Wolfe?” - -Bern accepted a cigarette, and lighted it. - -“This is my only consolation for being dropped from the baseball team,” -he said. “I can smoke as much as I choose.” - -“You were going to tell me something,” reminded Duncan, who had likewise -fired up, and was now standing with his elbow resting against the -mantelpiece. “Go ahead.” - -Wolfe sat up and eyed his companion askance. - -“I don’t know just how to begin,” he hesitated. “You remember that -Hudson A. A. business—the giving away of our signals, don’t you?” - -“As if I’d forget it!” exclaimed Ditson. - -“Well, you always thought Tommy Tucker betrayed the team, didn’t you?” - -“I believe that was practically proven, although Merriwell hired a cheap -bum to shoulder the blame, and Tucker is still on the team.” - -“Tucker didn’t do it,” announced Wolfe. - -“Tucker didn’t?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Then who did?” - -“I did.” - -“Wha-a-at?” Duncan dragged forth the exclamation with an intonation of -great astonishment. - -“Yes, I did it,” repeated Wolfe defiantly. “I was forced into it.” - -“By whom?” - -“Mike Lynch.” - -“How did he force you into it?” - -“Oh, he knew something about me that I wouldn’t have come out for the -world, and he threatened to expose me unless I went in with him on his -plan to throw down the team. You see, I had a good chance to do that. -Tommy Tucker had quit, and I was almost the only man who could come -anywhere near filling his place at shortstop. They had to have as good a -man as they could get. I believe I can play the position all around -Tucker. I went out and showed them what I could do. Merriwell advised -Jones to give me a chance on the team, and Jones decided to do so.” - -“Oh, of course!” sneered Ditson, exhaling a blue smoky breath while his -lips curled with scorn. “Jones is a mere figurehead. He agrees to -everything Merriwell proposes. Manager Robinson is another dummy. -Manager? Why, he couldn’t manage a chicken hatchery. He’s about the -biggest slob in the whole bunch.” - -Ditson’s doubled disgust for Robinson came principally from the fact -that big Rufe had at one time seemed inclined to favor the -anti-Merriwell crowd. After becoming manager of the team Robinson had -flopped, cutting out Duncan and his associates. - -“Well, I had my chance to make good and nail myself fast to the team,” -Wolfe hastily continued. “I meant to do it. I was in earnest, for I love -baseball more than any other sport. Lynch became infuriated with me. You -know what he thinks of Sam Kates. Kates got his chance on the team the -same time I did. He’s stuck there.” - -“But he made a beautiful mess pitching that Highbridge game,” smiled -Duncan, filliping a bit of ash from his cigarette. - -“Oh, as a pitcher Sam is erratic. He’s a wizard one day and a slob the -next. That experience will teach them better than to rely on him, even -against the weaker teams. As I was saying, Lynch put up that Hudson job. -He got me to make out a list of the teamwork signals. He told me how we -could make money by handing the signals over to Newhouse, the Hudson -manager. But I didn’t propose to have those signals turning up in my -handwriting, and so we engaged a bummer to get them typewritten for us. -In order to doubly cover our tracks, we actually fooled Newhouse into -believing that Tucker was the one who gave him the signals. - -“Lynch made the bargain with Newhouse, and arranged that I should meet -the man on a certain dark corner, and give him the typewritten document. -I kept the appointment, wearing an old ulster, with the collar turned -up, and a wide-brimmed hat pulled low down over my eyes. When Newhouse -inquired if my name was Tucker I said yes. That’s the way the trick was -worked. It was a mighty rotten piece of business, but Lynch was to blame -for it all. He drove me into it. I’m satisfied that Merriwell got at the -truth, and that’s why I was bounced from the team and Tucker taken back. -You can’t blame me, Ditson. You see the kind of a fix I was in. I didn’t -want to do it, but I had to.” - -Duncan tossed the butt of his cigarette into the open grate. - -“I see,” he said, with a shrug of his shoulders; “and I’ve been thinking -all the time that Tucker did it. I’ve been despising Merriwell because -he kept Tucker on the team. I must acknowledge that you and Lynch fooled -me, all right. I’m sorry to learn that Tucker was not the traitor.” - -“I didn’t want to be a traitor,” said Wolfe. “Do you wonder I’m sore on -Mike Lynch? I tell you I love baseball. I’m not playing, and Lynch is to -blame for it. Now he suddenly has a spasm of virtue, and it looks as if -he might get a chance to play on the team himself. Think I’m going to -stand for that? Not on your life! Say, I’m going to make a howl. I’m -going to rip up things generally.” - -“Are you?” smiled Ditson, as he selected and lighted a second cigarette. -“I wonder how you’re going to do it. It seems to me you’re in a tight -corner, and you haven’t much chance to make a disturbance. Didn’t I -understand Lynch to say he had written a full confession of his errors -and sent it to Merriwell?” - -“That’s what he says.” - -“Well, there you are. Merriwell has read that confession, and yet this -very day Lynch was given a chance to practice with the team. What does -that look like to you, Wolfe? Doesn’t it strike you that Merriwell has -accepted Mike Lynch’s protestations of regret and promises to reform as -genuine? If Merriwell didn’t believe Mike in earnest, the contents of -that confession would be public knowledge now. Merriwell is going to -keep still until he can satisfy himself whether Lynch means what he says -or not. If Mike proves that he’s sincere, that confession will be -destroyed.” - -“And Mr. Lynch will come out on top of the heap, while you and I will -remain in the soup,” snarled Wolfe, leaping up and excitedly pacing the -floor. “You’d like to play baseball yourself, Ditson. Have you had a -chance to play this spring?” - -“Oh, I suppose I might have played if I had bowed the suppliant knee to -the great mogul, Merriwell.” - -“But you wouldn’t do that.” - -“Not much!” - -“Nearly all the rest of the crowd have squealed and given in to him.” - -“I’ll never squeal. The squealers make me sick! Mike Lynch was the last -one I’d ever thought would lie down. I’m more disgusted with him than -any one else.” - -“I’m glad you are—I’m glad of it!” said Bern exultantly. “I hate him! -I’d like to get a good twist on him! I’d like to hold his nose to the -grindstone! It would do my soul good! And to think I witnessed his -signature to that confession! To think Merriwell has that document with -my name attached as a witness! I’d give something to get hold of that -paper.” - -“It would be rather valuable,” murmured Duncan, as if struck by a sudden -thought. - -“You bet it would! With that document in his possession, a fellow could -just about make Mike Lynch do as he pleased. Mike said that he had -shouldered all the blame for the betraying of those signals. If that’s -true, and I could get hold of that document, I’d have the power to drive -him out of college. Say, Ditson, isn’t there any way we can get our -hands on that paper?” - -Duncan meditated a moment, puffing softly at his cigarette. - -“It’s not easy to get anything away from Merriwell,” he said. “I presume -Merriwell will carry that paper in his pocket. If some fellow could find -an opportunity to go through his pockets——” - -“At the gymnasium, say?” - -“Not so easy there, for he has a locker into which he puts his -valuables. Of course, a man might find an opportunity to break open that -locker, but it’s dangerous trying such a thing.” - -“He might be held up on the highway and robbed.” - -“That gives me an idea,” muttered Dunc, scratching his head. “Saw my -sister this afternoon, and she told me that Merriwell and Buckhart were -going to call on her this evening. Unless they’re taking the girls out, -those chaps usually walk when they call there. The Midhursts live pretty -well out toward the outskirts of the city. I suppose a man might be held -up out that way. It would be much easier, though, if one of those chaps -was going out there alone.” - -“Don’t you suppose that we could do it?” asked Wolfe. “We could wear -masks and turn our coats, and have a couple of pistols, and I’ll bet we -could pull off the job.” - -“I don’t know,” murmured Dunc, rubbing his chin. “It would be better to -have two more fellows with us.” - -“But we don’t want to let anybody else in on this. Besides, I don’t know -whom you’ll get. The most of our crowd wouldn’t have nerve enough to -tackle the job. They got pretty well upset after that racket with -Tucker, when the old warehouse burned.” - -“I wouldn’t try to get any of the old crowd,” said Dunc. “I think I know -one chap we might induce to take a hand. He’s a tough customer, and I -don’t suppose it would be the first holdup he’s ever participated in. -More than that, he has a grudge against Merriwell. It would be well -enough to take him into the game in case he’ll work for a reasonable -sum. I think he will, as he’s on his uppers at the present time. He’s a -big brute, and he might make some impression on Buckhart and Merriwell. -Unless we can get some one like that, I hardly think we had better -tackle the job.” - -“If—if you can—get hold of this—this person,” faltered Wolfe. - -“I’ll try it,” said Duncan promptly. “Meet me at Fred’s about eight this -evening. I’ll let you know, what success I’ve had and whether we’ll try -this holdup scheme or not.” - -“All right,” said Bern, turning toward the door; “I’ll be there.” - - - - - CHAPTER LI. - THE HOLDUP. - - -Dick and Brad, in a jovial mood, were returning from their evening call. -It was about nine-thirty, and the night was dark, with a raw wind from -Long Island Sound. - -“This is a rather dark old corner,” observed Dick, as they started to -turn into another street. “Wonder what’s the matter with the street -light here? It doesn’t seem to be attending to its duties this evening.” - -“Gone on a strike, perhaps,” observed Brad, with a chuckle. “This would -be a good place to——” - -“Hold up your hands!” commanded a hoarse voice, as two masked figures -suddenly sprang out before them. - -One seemed to be a big man, while the other was a rather undersized -chap. Both held their arms outstretched, and, despite the darkness, the -boys fancied they caught the gleam of nickel-plated revolvers held in -the hands of the masked men. - -“Be quick about it, youse fellers!” growled the one who had ordered them -to put up their hands. “H’ist your paws if you don’t want to git the -tops of yer heads blew off! Put ’em up, I say!” - -“Yes, put ’em up!” wheezed the little chap, shaking his pistol. “Don’t -try no funny business, fer dere’s two udder fellers behind ye, see?” - -“Great horn spoon!” exploded the Texan. “Partner, it’s a holdup!” - -“We’re right here,” announced a voice behind them, “We’re not going to -hurt you unless you make a foolish move. Better act sensible.” - -In spite of this warning, the Texan made a sudden duck and lunged at the -small man who had confronted him. With a sidelong sweep of his arm, -Buckhart struck the pistol aside. Evidently, this caused the man’s -finger to contract on the trigger, for there was a sudden spurt of fire -and a sharp report. - -This astonished Brad, who had more than half fancied the holdup was a -practical joke. Realizing that the masked men were carrying real pistols -which were loaded, the Texan gave a snarl and grappled with the little -fellow. - -In the meantime, Dick Merriwell had sought to imitate his chum’s -example, but had been clutched from behind and flung to the ground. - -There were four of the assailants, two of whom had come upon the -unsuspecting boys from the rear. These two sought to give their -attention to Merriwell, and the trio went flopping and twisting and -writhing into the gutter, striking against the electric-light pole with -such violence that the stick of carbon in the globe far above their -heads was loosened, a contact was made, and, with a spluttering, hissing -sound, the light came on. - -The big ruffian who had first commanded the boys to put up their hands -now turned his attention to Buckhart, who had the smaller rascal pinned -fast to the ground. - -Reversing the pistol in his hand, the man lifted it and struck Brad a -stunning blow upon the head. With a faint, gasping groan, the Texan fell -across the little man. - -“Come on here, Cully!” said the thug who had dealt the blow, as he -kicked Brad one side with his foot, and attempted to lift his comrade. - -Evidently, Cully was also knocked out, for he made no effort to rise. - -Merriwell had seen Buckhart struck down. With a shout of fury, he -smashed one of his antagonists a staggering blow, torn free from the -other, whirled, and hurled himself upon the thug with the revolver. - -“You whelp!” he said, seizing the fellow’s wrist and giving it a twist -which caused him to drop the weapon. - -Ditson and Wolfe were the two fellows who had come upon the waylaid boys -from the rear. Like the thugs whom they had paid to assist them, they -were masked and otherwise disguised. But they carried no weapons. - -Duncan had made a bargain with the big man, Slugger Shea, who had -proposed bringing along Cully as a companion. - -Shea had ridiculed the idea that the boys might put up a fight. It was -his belief that he could scare any two Yale men blue, and relieve them -of their valuables without assistance. Still, he acknowledged that Cully -would come in handy to go through the pockets of the victims. Besides -that, Slugger had a friendly feeling for Cully, and he wanted his friend -to share in the profits of the job. It was understood, however, that, -under any circumstances, the two ruffians should be paid five dollars -apiece, and they agreed to give up to their employers whatever papers, -letters, or other documents they might secure. - -Dunc and Bern had decided that it would be well enough for them to take -a hand in the business, as they could then make certain of getting -possession of such plunder as they desired. Besides that, they fancied -Merriwell and Buckhart would be doubly frightened on finding themselves -trapped between two fires. But the boys had upset the calculations of -these rascals by unexpectedly showing resistance. - -“Good gracious!” gasped Wolfe, in dismay. “Hadn’t we better hit the high -places, Dunc? The police—that shot is liable to——” - -“Buckhart is down and out!” hissed Ditson. “Give a hand here! We’ll have -Merriwell down in a jiffy!” - -Again he hurled himself on Dick’s back. He did this just as Merriwell, -having secured a Japanese wrestling hold on Slugger Shea, sent the big -ruffian sprawling. - -Dick was nearly upset by Ditson’s weight, but he managed to keep his -feet, squirm around, and get a hold on Duncan. Wolfe rushed in, seeking -to render such assistance as possible. By this time Merriwell’s fighting -blood was thoroughly aroused. - -“The more the merrier!” he cried, with a strange, reckless laugh. “Call -up your friends! Get them into it!” - -In some manner he succeeded in slamming his elbow against Wolfe’s jaw, -and Bern staggered backward, nearly knocked out. - -Shea was a man with a violent temper, and without an oversupply of -brains. By this time his fury was thoroughly aroused. Snarling like a -madman, he rose to his feet, drawing from beneath his coat a long, keen -knife, on which the cold white light of the street lamp glinted and -gleamed. - -“Hold him, cuss him!” cried the slugger, rushing at Dick. “I’ll cut him -open!” - -But, with a cry of horror, Ditson gave Dick a sidelong thrust, at the -same time releasing his hold on the boy. - -Merriwell tripped over Buckhart, tried to recover his balance, and went -down heavily on his right shoulder. Shea followed the boy like a -bloodthirsty panther, and pounced upon him as he struck the ground. - -“For Heaven’s sake, let’s get out of this!” gasped Bern Wolfe, as he -wheeled and took to his heels. - -“I think we’d better,” muttered Ditson, imitating Wolfe’s example. - -But, having fled a short distance, something caused Duncan to stop and -cast a fearsome glance over his shoulder. - -What he saw chilled him to the core. With Dick Merriwell still pinned to -the ground, Shea had lifted that gleaming knife to plunge it into the -boy’s breast. - -“Murder!” thought Duncan, turning again to run as if his life depended -on it. - -Behind him a pistol shot ruptured the night, followed by a scream of -pain. - - - - - CHAPTER LII. - ROUTING THE RUFFIANS. - - -Buckhart’s senses had been sent wool-gathering, but he recovered in time -to see the ruffian with the knife pinning Dick to the ground a short -distance away. Merriwell was fighting for his life, but the injury to -his shoulder had seemed to benumb his entire body and rob him of his -strength. Snarling, spluttering, swearing, the ruffian lifted the deadly -knife. - -Within reach of his hand, Buckhart saw the pistol that Dick had wrenched -from the man’s grasp. Quick as thought, the Texan seized the weapon. The -double click of a hammer was followed an instant later by a sharp report -and a cry of pain. - -Brad had fired at the uplifted hand of the thug. The bullet struck and -shattered two of the man’s fingers. The knife dropped harmlessly. -Holding up his injured hand, the slugger sprang to his feet. - -“Stop—stop right where you are!” commanded Buckhart, leveling the -pistol. “If you don’t, I’ll sure run a tunnel through you! I’ll -ventilate you good and proper!” - -But Shea turned and fled. - -“I don’t want to kill him,” said the Texan, who was sitting up, “but I -think I’ll try for his legs.” - -Crack! crack! crack! crack! - -The weapon was emptied, but the fleeing wretch kept on and disappeared -into the darkness. - -“Well, I sure am a rotten bad shot,” observed the Texan, in disgust. -“Reckon that’s because I got a bump on the head that made me see a few -stars and comets. I say, partner, how are you?” - -“Alive, thanks to you,” answered Dick. “You chipped into the game at the -right moment. I believe that brute meant to knife me.” - -“It certain seemed that he had some such intentions. Where are the rest -of the gents?” - -“They’ve skipped—all but one. One of them should be here.” - -But the little man Cully, who had been knocked down, had crawled off -into the darkness and could not be found. - -“Evidently they’re all gone,” said Dick, rubbing his right shoulder with -his left hand. “I’m afraid that shoulder is hurt pretty bad.” - -“And I’m a whole lot unsteady on my pins,” muttered the Texan. “That was -a joyous old scrimmage, but it didn’t seem to wake up the neighborhood -much.” - -“Some one is coming now,” said Dick. “I can see a row of brass buttons -dancing this way.” - -“Well, it’s about time!” said Brad, as a policeman came up panting. -“You’re rather late, officer.” - -“What’s the matter here?” demanded the officer. “What are you doing with -that pistol? What do you mean by firing a pistol? You’re both drunk! I -think I’ll take you in.” - -Dick gave his chum a whimsical look of disgust. - -“What do you think of that, Brad?” he said. “He’s going to take us in. -We get held up and nearly murdered, and after it’s all over a gallant -policeman appears and arrests us.” - -“What’s that you’re saying?” snapped the officer. “What kind of a -fairy-story have you invented? You’re a couple of students, and I’m onto -your game. You fellows are forever making trouble. Give me that pistol.” - -“Sure,” growled Brad, handing over the weapon. “You’re welcome to it.” - -“Perhaps you’d better take this knife, also, officer,” said Dick, -picking up the knife and holding it out to the policeman. “You may find -a little blood on the handle, and it strikes me that there’s a man’s -finger lying there on the ground. Perhaps you’ll want that.” - -The cop bent over and stared in amazement at the bloody human digit -which lay on the ground. - -“So help me, it’s a finger!” he gasped, as if unable to believe his -eyes. “What’s it mean? How—why—when——” - -“As long as you’re determined to arrest us,” said Dick, “we’ll explain -to the sergeant at the station house. Of course, you won’t believe our -fairy-story about a holdup.” - -“By Jupiter! I’ll believe anything now!” cried the policeman. “Tell me -about it.” - -While they were telling him, several citizens from the neighboring -houses come out and surrounded them. One, a timid, nervous man, -substantiated their statements, shamefacedly acknowledging that he had -rushed out immediately after the first shot, and had witnessed the -encounter between the lads and their assailants. - -“I didn’t feel like dipping in,” he said, “so I jest stood back and -looked on. It was the hottest fight I ever witnessed. By Jove, these -young fellers did put up a fearful scrap! There was four against them, -and I don’t know but more than that. I saw four myself. I tried to -holler ‘murder’ when one of the masked men got this young feller down -and lifted a knife to stab him. Couldn’t seem to make a sound. Then I -saw the other chap grab up a pistol and shoot. The fellow with the knife -gave a howl and then jumped to his feet. I could see blood running off -his hand when he held it up in the light. When he took to his heels, the -fellow with the pistol banged away at him, but he kept on running. I’m -ready to swear to every word of this statement.” - -The policeman now sought to obtain a description of the holdup men from -the boys. Of course, this description was vague and unsatisfactory, as -the masks of the ruffians had prevented Dick and Brad from seeing their -faces. - -The citizens crowded around the two lads and insisted on shaking hands -with them and congratulating them over their nerve and success in -beating off the holdup men. - -“If you don’t mind, young gentlemen,” said the policeman, now addressing -them with the greatest respect, “I’d like to have you come to the -station and tell the sergeant all about it. This is my beat, but I was -down at the other end when I heard the shooting. I came as soon as I -could. I think we’ll take this along as a bit of evidence.” - -He displayed the human finger, which he now held partly wrapped in a -handkerchief. The timid citizen who had witnessed the encounter gave his -name and address, stating that he was willing to tell what he knew of -the affair at any time. - -It happened that there was a police reporter at the station house, and -the morning papers contained a complete account of the attempted holdup, -the courage of the boys being lavishly praised. - -But, with the Manhattan College baseball game only one day away, Dick -found himself with a very lame shoulder and an almost useless right arm. - - - - - CHAPTER LIII. - THE ODDS AGAINST YALE. - - -“No use, Kates,” said Dick soberly. “You’ve got to pitch this game. I -can’t.” - -The time for the game with Manhattan to begin had arrived. Yale -Umpty-ten was ready to take the field. The sturdy, bronzed, -healthy-looking visitors were on their bench and ready for the fray. -O’Mora, the first batter, was swinging two heavy clubs, in order to make -one seem lighter when he stepped up to the plate. - -Dick had been vainly trying to work the lameness out of his shoulder. -His comrades of the team had watched him anxiously, for on him they -relied. Unless Dick could pitch, they could not believe there was any -chance of defeating the visitors. - -But Dick could not pitch. He realized it, and at the last moment he told -Kates to go in. Blessed Jones, captain of the team, heard Merriwell’s -words, and his long, doleful face suddenly looked longer and more -doleful than ever. - -“All right, Dick,” he said soberly. “If you can’t, you can’t, and that -settles it. Go ahead, Sam, and do your best.” - -“Now, that’s encouraging!” muttered Kates, with a touch of bitterness, -as he turned to Dick. “What show have I, Merriwell? There is not a man -on the team who has any confidence in me.” - -Dick seized Sam’s hand, held it with a firm grip, and looked straight -into his eyes as he said: - -“I haven’t lost confidence in you, Kates. Do your level best, old -fellow. Do it for my sake—and for Yale.” - -“I will!” exclaimed Sam, in a low tone, as he strode out to the -pitcher’s position. - -Of the teams dreaded by the Yale freshmen, the one they now faced had -been regarded as among the most dangerous. The Manhattan College lads -always played the game for all there was in it, and fought it out to the -last gasp. There were no quitters among them, and therefore they were -always dangerous. - -On the scorers’ books the two teams were recorded as follows: - - MANHATTAN FRESHMEN. YALE FRESHMEN. - O’Mora, 2d b. Tucker, ss. - Bestock, cf. Lynch, 1st b. - Hanley, rf. Buckhart, c. - Marone, ss. Claxton, 2d b. - Snaith, 1st b. Jones, lf. - Carney, lf. Spratt, cf. - Halloran, 3d b. Bigelow, rf. - McDougal, c. Fitch, 3d b. - Hogan, p. Kates, p. - -Dead silence fell on the assembled spectators as Kates walked into the -box. Sam’s keen ears fancied this silence was broken by a number of -repressed groans. Involuntarily, he flashed a look of resentment toward -his classmates on the seats. Then he threw a few to Mike Lynch, just to -give his wing a last limbering, whirling and facing O’Mora as the umpire -called: “Play.” - -Sam’s first ball was far too high. O’Mora grinned and held his bat above -his head in a derisive manner after the ball had passed. - -The next one was straight over, and the Manhattan headliner met it with -a sharp, snappy swing. It was a pretty line drive, which whistled past -Kates ere Sam could thrust out a hand for it. With anxiety in his heart, -the pitcher whirled like a flash, making the relieving discovery that -Rob Claxton had seized the ball and clung to it like grim death. - -“Clever work, Clax—clever work!” cried Buckhart heartily. “That’s the -way to do it.” - -Kates grinned approvingly, and received the ball tossed to him by the -Virginian. O’Mora had started for first, but he turned back, shaking his -head in a disgusted manner. - -“Never mind,” called Captain Mike Marone, of the visitors. “That was a -case of horseshoe. Get after him, Bestock! Start us off now!” - -Bestock, one of the clever hitters of the visitors, waited until Kates -bent one over, and then nailed it with terrific force. - -It was a scorching hot grounder, but, with an electrified sidelong leap, -Tommy Tucker forked the sizzling ball with his bare right hand. Tucker -was whirled round in his tracks with a toplike motion, but managed to -keep his feet, recovered, and sent the ball across to Lynch. - -It was a bad throw, and Mike was compelled to leap high into the air to -get the ball. He got it, however, and down upon the sack he dropped, -just in time to secure a put-out. - -“More horseshoes!” yelled Marone. “Whose hunch did you rub, old man?” -This question was directed at Lynch, who retorted with a satisfied grin, -but made no answer in words. - -Hanley looked dangerous as he squared himself at the plate, poising his -bat over his shoulder. He was a big fellow, and he wielded a heavy club. -He had a reputation as a hard hitter. - -Kates was afraid of this man, and, in working desperately to prevent -Hanley from hitting, Sam got himself into a bad hole. One strike and -three balls were called. - -“Make ’em be good!” cried Marone. “He can’t put it over!” - -After glancing toward the bench, on which sat Merriwell, Kates steadied -himself, and carefully sent over a swift, straight ball. Hanley let it -pass, and the second strike was called. - -“That’s the talk, Sammy,” chirped Tucker encouragingly. “Now he’s got to -hit. Make him do it. Don’t let him walk.” - -Sam wisely decided to depend on his backing, and quickly whistled over -another straight one. - -Hanley smashed it far into the field, but, after an astonishing run, -Captain Jones smothered the ball and held it. - -“Well, what do you think of that?” asked Mel Dagett, who was sitting on -the bleachers, between Toleman and Poland. “That’s a good start for us, -isn’t it? We ought to be cheering with the rest of the bunch.” - -“It was luck—nothing more,” said Poland. “I don’t wonder Marone is -howling ‘horseshoes.’” - -“With that kind of backing, Kates may be able to hold the score down, -don’t you think?” questioned Bern Wolfe, at Toleman’s elbow. - -“Never,” answered Bill promptly. “Those Manhattan fellows are not going -to bat the ball right at somebody every time they hit it. Notice every -man did hit it. Kates never can win this game in the world.” - -“Between us four,” said Poland, in a low tone, “I don’t believe -Merriwell’s shoulder is as lame as he pretends it is. He’s afraid of -Manhattan, that’s what’s the matter. That was quite a fine and fancy -story about the holdup, but it sounded too fancy for me to believe.” - -“Oh, but the police say the story is all right,” snickered Dagett. “Have -you forgotten that Officer Jordan, who arrived on the scene after the -holdup men had escaped, picked up a human finger that had been shot from -one of the ruffians’ hands by the wonderful cowboy, Bradley Buckhart? -Say, I wonder how much those two fellows paid the cops and the reporters -to get such a yarn into the papers?” - -“Then you don’t take any stock in that holdup story?” questioned Wolfe -quickly. - -“I don’t,” answered Dagett. “Do you?” - -“Well, I don’t know,” said Bern. “It doesn’t seem to me that the yarn -can be wholly a fake.” - -“Why not?” questioned Poland. - -“I should fancy some one would expose the deception.” - -“I don’t know whether it’s a fake or not,” said Toleman, “but I agree -with Jim in thinking Merriwell has a case of cold feet, and is getting -out of pitching this game by pretending his shoulder is lame. It’s an -outrage to shove Kates in there to-day. Manhattan has Hogan, their very -best pitcher, against us. He’s on the slab now. Watch him. Note what he -does to our boys.” - -“Our boys! He! he! he!” scoffed Dagett. “Do you mean Mike Lynch? I -suppose you’re dead stuck on Mike now that he’s become a Merriwellite? -Yah! He makes me sick! What do you think of a fellow like him posing as -the soul of generosity and paying other fellows’ debts? I don’t blame -Ditson for taking advantage of his attempt to fool people, but I guess -we all know the kind of a fellow Lynch is.” - -“By the way, Wolfe,” questioned Toleman, “where is Ditson? Is he here?” - -“I don’t know,” answered Bern. “I haven’t seen him to-day.” - -But Wolfe lied. He had seen Duncan, and he believed he knew what the -fellow was doing that very hour. Both Ditson and Wolfe felt that they -were hovering over a volcano that might burst forth any moment. They -were frightened, and had agreed that they must take certain precautions -to protect themselves. - -Hogan now opened up on Tommy Tucker, who was the first batter for Yale. -The visiting pitcher had a great assortment of shoots and benders which -seemed too much for Tommy to fathom. As a result, Tucker slashed the air -twice, fouled a couple of times, and then lifted a little pop-fly which -Halloran gathered in. - -Mike Lynch looked grim enough as he strode forth to the plate. He had -been placed second on the batting order because of his ability as a -hitter. Realizing, however, that he was not a popular man in his own -class, Mike now seemed distressingly self-conscious, and, as a result, -he fell an easy victim to the wiles of Hogan, who struck him out. - -Brad Buckhart did little better than the two who had preceded him. He -hit the ball, and, for a moment, it seemed that he had popped out a -“Texas Leaguer.” But the infielders of the visiting team could cover -lots of territory, and cover it in a hurry. Both Marone and O’Mora went -after Brad’s ball. - -“I’ll take it!” yelled O’Mora. And he caught it beautifully while -running at full speed, with his face toward the outfield. - -While the little crowd of visiting rooters were cheering this play, -Wolfe espied Duncan Ditson, who was looking over the crowd in search of -Bern. Immediately Wolfe waved his cap at Duncan, who clambered up over -the seats and found room at the side of his fellow conspirator. - -“Well, how did you succeed?” whispered Bern, under cover of the noise. - -“I succeeded,” answered Duncan grimly. “I had to.” - -“You raised the money?” - -“Yes.” - -“How?” - -“I pawned my sister’s watch and rings.” - -“Did she let you have them?” - -“I took them. Couldn’t wait to ask her in an emergency like this. Shea -had to get out of New Haven. The police were looking for a man who had -lost a finger, and they were bound to nab Slugger sooner or later if he -remained in town. He knew it as well as I did. He was willing to go, but -he had to have the money to get away. I put the money in his hands -myself, and he says he’ll be out of the city before midnight.” - -“Do you think he can get away? Won’t they nab him? The cops are on the -watch, you know.” - -“If they don’t corner him before dark, I think he’ll get away. He’s been -a hobo, and he knows how to bum his passage on freight trains. As soon -as it’s dark he’ll stow himself away aboard some freight bound for New -York or Boston. If he’s not caught to-day, there’s every prospect that -he’ll not be caught at all. I’m not going to worry about it any more. -How’s the game going?” - - - - - CHAPTER LIV. - MANHATTAN IN THE LEAD. - - -A most astonishing thing was the manner in which the team backed up -Kates this day, while on the previous Saturday it had gone to pieces -behind him in an exasperating manner the moment the Highbridge School -boys began to hit him. As inning after inning progressed, with the -infielders making the most astonishing stops and throws, and the -outfielders pulling down hard-batted flies which seemed good for two or -three bases, Kates got a hold on himself, and gradually improved in his -box work. In the fifth inning Yale made her first runs, two scores, -secured through a clean hit by Buckhart, a sacrifice by Claxton, a base -on balls handed out to Jones, and Manhattan’s first error, the fielder -dropping Spratt’s hit to right and losing the ball, while Brad and -Blessed tore over the plate. - -But in the sixth the visitors retaliated with a vengeance. Three men hit -safely in succession. Then, for the first time, Yale showed symptoms of -going to pieces, for a couple of errors followed, and the Manhattanites -had tallied three times when the smoke cleared away. - -“I told you what would happen!” exclaimed Bill Toleman. “It’s all off -now. Kates is useless from this time on. Look at him! See him crawling -in to the bench like a yellow dog with its tail between its legs.” - -“Evidently you love Kates,” snickered Dagett. - -“Well, if I can’t pitch better than he can, I’ll eat my boots. Has any -one seen me asking Merriwell or Jones or Robinson for a chance to pitch -on their great team? I fought against them at the outset, and I’ve taken -my medicine. I haven’t squealed. I hate a squealer. That’s why I’m -disgusted with Mike Lynch. I’m not saying that he isn’t sincere now, but -I do say that he has squealed. After blowing and bleating around about -Merriwell, and making so much talk, he suddenly threw up the sponge. I -swear I didn’t know he was a quitter, but I know it now. He has -disgusted me more than any chap I know of. I’d like to see him kicked -out of college.” - -At this Wolfe gave Ditson a nudge. - -“There are others,” whispered Bern. “Oh, if I could only get hold of -that confession! If I knew how to put my hands on it! Do you suppose -Merriwell carries it round in his pocket all the time?” - -“I don’t know,” muttered Dunc, absent-mindedly. - -“Well, I’ve got an idea that he may keep it somewhere in his room,” said -Wolfe. “I’d like to get into his room and make a search. I’d dig it out -if it was there.” - -“Better forget it,” said Duncan. “That blamed old confession got us into -a nasty scrape. I’m worried.” - -“But I thought you said Shea would get out of town all right.” - -“I’m in hopes he will, but you never can tell what will happen.” - -“Think he’d squeal if he was nabbed?” - -“Of course he would. That would be the easiest way for him to get a -light sentence. He’d say he was paid to do the job by a couple of Yale -men. He’d ring us in as sure as fate.” - -“How about the other man?” - -“Cully? Oh, he’s sneaked already. He’s gone. He didn’t wait until -morning.” - -Having obtained the lead, Manhattan seemed determined to hold the home -team down. Hogan pitched as if everything he held dear depended on the -result. Nevertheless, Yale was warmed up, and the visiting twirler had -his troubles. But the Blue could not push a runner past third. Fast -fielding behind Hogan terminated the sixth inning, with the score three -to two, in favor of Manhattan College. - -“Now get after that pitcher and pound him to death!” fiercely urged -Marone, as the visitors trotted in to the bench. “This ought to be our -inning. We ought to pile up some more runs right here.” - -Merriwell had talked encouragingly to Kates, and, to the surprise of -every one, Sam opened the seventh by striking out a man. Even though the -next fellow hit safely, Kates did not seem disturbed, and he forced the -following chap to put up an easy infield fly. - -“All right, Katesy—all right!” piped Tucker. “They thought they had you -going, eh? Well, they’ve got another think coming!” - -But the next man hit, and the fellow on first made third by fast -running. - -“We’ll do it right here,” announced Marone, from the coaching line. -“Everybody run on a hit.” - -Merriwell smiled at Kates and nodded. Sam toed the slab without a -tremor, and quickly put the batter in a hole, two strikes and one ball -being called. - -“That’s all right! that’s all right!” yapped Marone. “You can hit him -just the same! He’s easy!” - -The batter did hit, but it proved to be an easy fly to right field, and -Bouncer Bigelow did his duty nobly by gathering it in. - -“Well, if that wasn’t crawling out of a small hole!” exclaimed Bill -Toleman. “Kates certainly is lucky to-day.” - -“But the boys can’t seem to hit Hogan,” said Wolfe. “Do you think they -have a chance to win, Bill?” - -“Not much of a chance, I imagine,” was the answer. “Still the score is -mighty close.” - -“I’d like to leave,” whispered Wolfe, in Ditson’s ear, “but I hate to -quit this game. I want to see it out.” - -“Why do you want to leave?” - -“I have a scheme.” - -“What sort of a scheme?” - -“Think I know how I could get a chance to rustle round in Merriwell’s -room. I’d just rush up to the house, ring the bell, and tell the girl -that Merriwell had sent me after something he’d left in his room. If she -let me upstairs, I’d come pretty near finding that confession if it’s -stowed away there. What do you think of that plan?” - -“If you want to take the chances——” - -“Don’t talk about that after the chances we took trying to hold those -fellows up. I wouldn’t touch anything else but the old confession. What -could Merriwell do about it if he did prove I got that? What value could -he put on such a paper? Besides, I’d give the girl at the house a -fictitious name. I’d like to try the trick.” - -“I advise you against it. Better be careful until the clouds roll by.” - -In spite of this advice, Wolfe grew restless every minute, and when the -seventh inning ended, with the score three to two, Bern whispered a -good-by to Duncan, told the others he would be back in a short time, and -left the stand. - - - - - CHAPTER LV. - A BEAUTIFUL BINGLE. - - -In the eighth inning Manhattan betrayed dangerous symptoms, for she made -a run and filled the bases, with two men out. Kates then struck out the -last batter. - -But the score was now four to two. Jones urged his men to get after -Hogan without delay, and they responded in a promising manner. In a -sharp batting rally, they drove in a score, but a fancy double play cut -short their chances of tying or taking the lead. - -Manhattan abated none of its fierceness when the ninth opened. The first -batter landed on Kates for a safe single. Following this, came a fierce -drive that got away from Tucker, and two men were on bases. - -A moment later Sam hit a batter on the hip, and the sacks were filled. - -Marone coached jubilantly, announcing his belief that something like a -dozen runs would be chalked down to Manhattan’s credit in the ninth. - -It was the critical point of the game, and Kates got the rattles at -last. Try as he might, he could not find the plate, and, as a result, he -walked the next batter, forcing in a run. - -“It’s all off,” announced Bill Toleman, to his companions in the stand. -“He couldn’t find the rubber now to save his life.” - -Dagett seized Toleman’s wrist. - -“Look!” he said. “What’s that mean?” - -“What?” - -“Merriwell——” - -“By Jove! Kates is going to the bench!” exclaimed Ditson. “Who’ll -pitch?” - -“Merriwell,” said Poland. “He’s going into the box as sure as fate.” - -“But he has a lame shoulder,” snickered Dagett. - -“He’s let Kates lose the game,” said Toleman, “and now he’s going to -show off. It’s too late for him to do anything.” - -“That’s right,” nodded Ditson. “The game is over. Merriwell ought to be -batted after sitting on the bench and letting those fellows have their -own way.” - -Mike Marone stood, hands on his hips, and laughed as Dick walked out to -pitch. - -“Like to limber up a little, Merriwell?” he inquired. “Give you all the -time you want.” - -“Thanks for your generosity,” said Dick. “I don’t believe I’ll bother to -limber up.” - -“Wow! wow! wow!” barked O’Mora. “He don’t have to limber up! He thinks -we’re easy.” - -Dick received the ball, and toed the slab in a position to pitch with -his left hand. He could not use his right, but he hoped to check the -enemy, just the same. The first ball delivered was so wild that it came -near getting past Buckhart, who stopped it by a marvelous sidelong leap. - -“Wow! wow! wow!” came again from O’Mora. “What do you think of that? -Better use your other hand, Merriwell. You can’t find the pan with your -left.” - -“Everybody run!” shouted Marone. “Score on the first passed ball!” - -“There won’t be any,” muttered Buckhart, as he resumed his position -behind the bat and gave Dick a signal. - -The next ball pitched by Dick came over the plate. It looked good to the -batter, but he simply popped up an easy fly that was taken by Otis -Fitch. - -“Don’t try to kill the ball!” shouted Marone. “Don’t try to knock the -cover off! You can all hit it!” - -“Sure you can hit it,” said Buckhart, in a low tone; “but hitting it -safe is what counts.” - -When Dick had fooled the next batter with two elusive benders, it began -to look as if hitting the ball was not such an easy thing, after all. -Forced into a corner, the batter finally lifted a high foul, which -Buckhart got under and gathered in. - -“That’s two, partner,” laughed the Texan, as he tossed the ball to Dick. -“Why, they couldn’t hit you safely if you pitched with your feet.” - -“Get in there, now,” urged Marone, as O’Mora trotted to the plate. “A -little single is all we want. A little safety is the goods. You know -where to put it, Mat.” - -But suddenly Dick bored over a fast one, and O’Mora literally threw -himself off his feet in the effort to get against it. - -“Wow! wow! wow!” he yapped, as he picked himself up. “Where’d you get -that speed, Merriwell? How can you do it with your little left? Be -gentle! be gentle! Give me a chance to look at the ball when it comes -over.” - -“All right,” said Dick. “How’s this?” - -He lobbed up a slow one, and O’Mora nearly broke his back reaching out -to hit the ball before it was anywhere near the plate. - -Marone snapped at the batter, and O’Mora shook his head with a comical -look of dismay. - -“I won’t strike out!” he muttered to himself. But that was precisely -what he did do. Dick worked with all the craft at his command, and -finally led O’Mora into reaching for a nasty curve which he could not -touch. - -Yale came to bat in the last of the ninth, with the score four to two -against them. - -“We’ve got to have two to tie and three to win,” said Dick cheerfully. -“Here’s where we get them.” - -But the wrong end of the batting list was up. Jones was to be followed -by Spratt, Bigelow, and Fitch, the three weakest hitters on the team. - -“Get to first, Blessed,” urged Merriwell. “Get there somehow.” - -Although the captain felt that it might not do any good, he stalked -forth and smote the ball a terrific crack that landed him on the initial -sack. - -“Hit and run, Spratt—that’s the game,” murmured Merriwell, as Jack -walked out to the pan. - -But Spratt simply lifted a high infield fly that was captured by Marone. - -“Looks bad, partner,” whispered Buckhart, in Dick’s ear. - -Merriwell made no reply. Claxton and Tucker were coaching. Bouncer -Bigelow, looking pale and shaking like a jellyfish, walked out and swung -with all his might at the first ball pitched by Hogan. The ball struck -on the under side of the bat, shot down to the ground, and twisted off -to one side with a queer, toplike motion. - -Without the remotest idea as to what he had done, Bigelow hurled the bat -straight up into the air and let himself out for first, while Jones went -to second. It was a lucky stab, for the ball, after threatening to roll -foul, stopped inside the base line, and Bouncer got a safe hit in this -manner. - -“Two to tie and three to win, Fitch,” said Dick, as the next batter left -the bench. - -Fitch had not touched the ball for the day. Hogan regarded the fellow as -an easy mark. Otis surprised every one by smashing a hot grounder toward -Marone, who made a startling stop, but juggled the ball and permitted -the bases to fill. It was Merriwell’s turn to strike. - -“Two to tie and three to win, partner,” said Buckhart, as Dick picked -out a bat. “You’ve got to do it for us! You’ve got to save this game! -Give us a bingle.” - -Dick forgot his lame shoulder. He forgot everything except the necessity -of getting a clean hit. After missing one of Hogan’s curves, he found -the ball with a sharp, snapping swing, and lined it far into right -field. - -The Yale stand rose with a roar as it was seen that Hanley could not -touch that long line drive. The ball struck the ground and went bounding -away, away to the far extremity of the field, while man after man romped -joyously over the plate. Dick had won the game by this beautiful bingle. - - * * * * * - -When Merriwell entered his room, followed by Jones and Buckhart, he -discovered that everything was in disorder. The drawers of his desk had -been pulled out and their contents emptied on the floor. This was -likewise the case with his dresser. - -“Hello!” he cried. “What’s this mean? Some one has been here while I was -gone.” - -A moment later he had reached the private drawer which he always kept -locked. One glance showed him that it had been pried open and the lock -broken. The contents of this drawer, however, had not been scattered -upon the floor. Everything was there—everything save one thing. - -The confession of Mike Lynch was gone. - -It was about the time when Merriwell made this discovery that Duncan -Ditson entered his own room and found Bern Wolfe waiting for him there. - -“Hello!” exclaimed Dunc, in surprise. “Forgot about you in the -excitement. Say, do you know what happened? Well, Merriwell went into -that game and won it with a corking hit in the ninth inning. Isn’t that -just his luck?” - -“Don’t talk to me about luck!” snarled Wolfe. “I’m sore! I’m disgusted!” - -“Eh? What’s happened? Did you try to get hold of that confession?” - -“Try?” rasped Bern, producing an envelope and flinging it on the study -table. “I should say I did! There it is!” - -“There it is? Then what’s the matter? What ails you?” - -Wolfe caught up the envelope, and drew forth the sheets of paper it -contained. - -“What ails me?” he hissed. “Just take a look at this! Here’s that -valuable confession!” - -He spread out the sheets of paper, and Ditson gazed at them in surprise, -for apparently there was not a line of writing upon them. - -“Confession?” muttered Duncan. “What are you talking about? There’s -nothing there.” - -“There was once. Look here—look close. Here, you can see the faintest -tracing of a word. There, you can see part of another word. There was -writing on this paper once. Why, I can even see a bit of my own -signature down in this corner, but it’s gone. It’s faded. It’s no good -to any one now.” - -Looking intently at the paper, Ditson was able to make out the faint -tracing of a few detached words upon it. - -Suddenly Duncan smote his clenched right fist into his left palm. - -“Well, if that wasn’t a slick trick on the part of Lynch!” he cried. “He -wrote his confession with sympathetic ink.” - -“With what? Sympathetic ink?” - -“Yes. That’s ink that will fade and vanish entirely, a few days after it -is used. I was with him when he bought it. He told me he had a girl to -whom he was writing letters, and, as he feared she might not destroy his -letters, he was taking care to use the kind of ink that would prevent -those epistles from ever rising like ghosts to haunt and confuse him. -Wolfe, we’re a couple of blamed fools!” - - - THE END. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -No. 150 of the MERRIWELL SERIES is entitled “Dick Merriwell’s Best -Work,” by Burt L. Standish. Admirers of Mr. Standish will find this -story up to his usual high standard—and this is the highest praise we -can give it. - - - - - BOOKS FOR YOUNG MEN - - MERRIWELL SERIES - - ALL BY BURT L. STANDISH - - Stories of Frank and Dick Merriwell - - Fascinating Stories of Athletics - - -A half million enthusiastic followers of the Merriwell brothers will -attest the unfailing interest and wholesomeness of these adventures of -two lads of high ideals, who play fair with themselves, as well as with -the rest of the world. - -These stories are rich in fun and thrills in all branches of sports and -athletics. They are extremely high in moral tone, and cannot fail to be -of immense benefit to every boy who reads them. - -They have the splendid quality of firing a boy’s ambition to become a -good athlete, in order that he may develop into a strong, vigorous, -right-thinking man. - - _ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ - - 1—Frank Merriwell’s School Days - 2—Frank Merriwell’s Chums - 3—Frank Merriwell’s Foes - 4—Frank Merriwell’s Trip West - 5—Frank Merriwell Down South - 6—Frank Merriwell’s Bravery - 7—Frank Merriwell’s Hunting Tour - 8—Frank Merriwell in Europe - 9—Frank Merriwell at Yale - 10—Frank Merriwell’s Sports Afield - 11—Frank Merriwell’s Races - 12—Frank Merriwell’s Party - 13—Frank Merriwell’s Bicycle Tour - 14—Frank Merriwell’s Courage - 15—Frank Merriwell’s Daring - 16—Frank Merriwell’s Alarm - 17—Frank Merriwell’s Athletes - 18—Frank Merriwell’s Skill - 19—Frank Merriwell’s Champions - 20—Frank Merriwell’s Return to Yale - 21—Frank Merriwell’s Secret - 22—Frank Merriwell’s Danger - 23—Frank Merriwell’s Loyalty - 24—Frank Merriwell in Camp - 25—Frank Merriwell’s Vacation - 26—Frank Merriwell’s Cruise - 27—Frank Merriwell’s Chase - 28—Frank Merriwell in Maine - 29—Frank Merriwell’s Struggle - 30—Frank Merriwell’s First Job - 31—Frank Merriwell’s Opportunity - 32—Frank Merriwell’s Hard Luck - 33—Frank Merriwell’s Protégé - 34—Frank Merriwell on the Road - 35—Frank Merriwell’s Own Company - 36—Frank Merriwell’s Fame - 37—Frank Merriwell’s College Chums - 38—Frank Merriwell’s Problem - 39—Frank Merriwell’s Fortune - 40—Frank Merriwell’s New Comedian - 41—Frank Merriwell’s Prosperity - 42—Frank Merriwell’s Stage Hit - 43—Frank Merriwell’s Great Scheme - 44—Frank Merriwell in England - 45—Frank Merriwell on the Boulevards - 46—Frank Merriwell’s Duel - 47—Frank Merriwell’s Double Shot - 48—Frank Merriwell’s Baseball Victories - 49—Frank Merriwell’s Confidence - 50—Frank Merriwell’s Auto - 51—Frank Merriwell’s Fun - 52—Frank Merriwell’s Generosity - 53—Frank Merriwell’s Tricks - 54—Frank Merriwell’s Temptation - 55—Frank Merriwell on Top - 56—Frank Merriwell’s Luck - 57—Frank Merriwell’s Mascot - 58—Frank Merriwell’s Reward - 59—Frank Merriwell’s Phantom - 60—Frank Merriwell’s Faith - 61—Frank Merriwell’s Victories - 62—Frank Merriwell’s Iron Nerve - 63—Frank Merriwell in Kentucky - 64—Frank Merriwell’s Power - 65—Frank Merriwell’s Shrewdness - 66—Frank Merriwell’s Setback - 67—Frank Merriwell’s Search - 68—Frank Merriwell’s Club - 69—Frank Merriwell’s Trust - 70—Frank Merriwell’s False Friend - 71—Frank Merriwell’s Strong Arm - 72—Frank Merriwell as Coach - 73—Frank Merriwell’s Brother - 74—Frank Merriwell’s Marvel - 75—Frank Merriwell’s Support - 76—Dick Merriwell at Fardale - 77—Dick Merriwell’s Glory - 78—Dick Merriwell’s Promise - 79—Dick Merriwell’s Rescue - 80—Dick Merriwell’s Narrow Escape - 81—Dick Merriwell’s Racket - 82—Dick Merriwell’s Revenge - 83—Dick Merriwell’s Ruse - 84—Dick Merriwell’s Delivery - 85—Dick Merriwell’s Wonders - 86—Frank Merriwell’s Honor - 87—Dick Merriwell’s Diamond - 88—Frank Merriwell’s Winners - 89—Dick Merriwell’s Dash - 90—Dick Merriwell’s Ability - 91—Dick Merriwell’s Trap - 92—Dick Merriwell’s Defense - 93—Dick Merriwell’s Model - 94—Dick Merriwell’s Mystery - 95—Frank Merriwell’s Backers - 96—Dick Merriwell’s Backstop - 97—Dick Merriwell’s Western Mission - 98—Frank Merriwell’s Rescue - 99—Frank Merriwell’s Encounter - 100—Dick Merriwell’s Marked Money - 101—Frank Merriwell’s Nomads - 102—Dick Merriwell on the Gridiron - 103—Dick Merriwell’s Disguise - 104—Dick Merriwell’s Test - 105—Frank Merriwell’s Trump Card - 106—Frank Merriwell’s Strategy - 107—Frank Merriwell’s Triumph - 108—Dick Merriwell’s Grit - 109—Dick Merriwell’s Assurance - 110—Dick Merriwell’s Long Slide - 111—Frank Merriwell’s Rough Deal - 112—Dick Merriwell’s Threat - 113—Dick Merriwell’s Persistence - 114—Dick Merriwell’s Day - 115—Frank Merriwell’s Peril - 116—Dick Merriwell’s Downfall - 117—Frank Merriwell’s Pursuit - 118—Dick Merriwell Abroad - 119—Frank Merriwell in the Rockies - 120—Dick Merriwell’s Pranks - 121—Frank Merriwell’s Pride - 122—Frank Merriwell’s Challengers - 123—Frank Merriwell’s Endurance - 124—Dick Merriwell’s Cleverness - 125—Frank Merriwell’s Marriage - 126—Dick Merriwell, the Wizard - 127—Dick Merriwell’s Stroke - 128—Dick Merriwell’s Return - 129—Dick Merriwell’s Resource - 130—Dick Merriwell’s Five - 131—Frank Merriwell’s Tigers - 132—Dick Merriwell’s Polo Team - 133—Frank Merriwell’s Pupils - 134—Frank Merriwell’s New Boy - 135—Dick Merriwell’s Home Run - 136—Dick Merriwell’s Dare - 137—Frank Merriwell’s Son - 138—Dick Merriwell’s Team Mate - 139—Frank Merriwell’s Leaguers - 140—Frank Merriwell’s Happy Camp - 141—Dick Merriwell’s Influence - 142—Dick Merriwell, Freshman - 143—Dick Merriwell’s Staying Power - -In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the books -listed below will be issued during the respective months in New York -City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance -promptly, on account of delays in transportation. - - - To be published in July, 1926. - - 144—Dick Merriwell’s Joke - 145—Frank Merriwell’s Talisman - - - To be published in August, 1926. - - 146—Frank Merriwell’s Horse - 147—Dick Merriwell’s Regret - - - To be published in September, 1926. - - 148—Dick Merriwell’s Magnetism - 149—Dick Merriwell’s Backers - - - To be published in October, 1926. - - 150—Dick Merriwell’s Best Work - 151—Dick Merriwell’s Distrust - 152—Dick Merriwell’s Debt - - - To be published in November, 1926. - - 153—Dick Merriwell’s Mastery - 154—Dick Merriwell Adrift - - - To be published in December, 1926. - - 155—Frank Merriwell’s Worst Boy - 156—Dick Merriwell’s Close Call - - - - - Round the World Library - - Stories of Jack Harkaway and His Comrades - - -Every reader, young and old, has heard of Jack Harkaway. His remarkable -adventures in out-of-the-way corners of the globe are really classics, -and every one should read them. - -Jack is a splendid, manly character, full of life and strength and -curiosity. He has a number of very interesting companions—Professor -Mole, for instance, who is very funny. He also has some very strange -enemies, who are anything but funny. - -Get interested in Jack. It will pay you. - - _ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ - - By BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG - - 1—Jack Harkaway’s School Days - 2—Jack Harkaway’s Friends - 3—Jack Harkaway After School Days - 4—Jack Harkaway Afloat and Ashore - 5—Jack Harkaway Among the Pirates - 6—Jack Harkaway at Oxford - 7—Jack Harkaway’s Struggles - 8—Jack Harkaway’s Triumphs - 9—Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands - 10—Jack Harkaway’s Return - 11—Jack Harkaway Around the World - 12—Jack Harkaway’s Perils - 13—Jack Harkaway in China - 14—Jack Harkaway and the Red Dragon - 15—Jack Harkaway’s Pluck - 16—Jack Harkaway in Australia - 17—Jack Harkaway and the Bushrangers - 18—Jack Harkaway’s Duel - 19—Jack Harkaway and the Turks - 20—Jack Harkaway in New York - 21—Jack Harkaway Out West - 22—Jack Harkaway Among the Indians - 23—Jack Harkaway’s Cadet Days - 24—Jack Harkaway in the Black Hills - 25—Jack Harkaway in the Toils - 26—Jack Harkaway’s Secret of Wealth - 27—Jack Harkaway, Missing - 28—Jack Harkaway and the Sacred Serpent - 29—The Fool of the Family - 30—Mischievous Matt - 31—Mischievous Matt’s Pranks - 32—Bob Fairplay Adrift - 33—Bob Fairplay at Sea - 34—The Boys of St. Aldates - 35—Billy Barlow - 36—Larry O’Keefe - 37—Sam Sawbones - 38—Too Fast to Last - 39—Home Base - -In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the books -listed below will be issued during the respective months in New York -City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance -promptly, on account of delays in transportation. - - - To be published in July, 1926. - - 40—Spider and Stump By Bracebridge Hemyng - 41—Out for Fun By Bracebridge Hemyng - - - To be published in August, 1926. - - 42—Rob Rollalong, Sailor By Bracebridge Hemyng - 43—Rob Rollalong in the Wilds By Bracebridge Hemyng - 44—Phil, the Showman By Stanley Norris - - - To be published in September, 1926. - - 45—Phil’s Rivals By Stanley Norris - 46—Phil’s Pluck By Stanley Norris - - - To be published in October, 1926. - - 47—Phil’s Triumph By Stanley Norris - 48—From Circus to Fortune By Stanley Norris - - - To be published in November, 1926. - - 49—A Gentleman Born By Stanley Norris - 50—For His Friend’s Honor By Stanley Norris - - - To be published in December, 1926. - - 51—True to His Trust By Stanley Norris - 52—Facing the Music By Stanley Norris - - - - - A CARNIVAL OF ACTION - - ADVENTURE LIBRARY - - Splendid, Interesting, Big Stories - - -This line is devoted exclusively to a splendid type of adventure story, -in the big outdoors. There is really a breath of fresh air in each of -them, and the reader who pays fifteen cents for a copy of this line -feels that he has received his money’s worth and a little more. - -The authors of these books are experienced in the art of writing, and -know just what the up-to-date American reader wants. - - _ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ - - - By WILLIAM WALLACE COOK - - 1—The Desert Argonaut - 2—A Quarter to Four - 3—Thorndyke of the Bonita - 4—A Round Trip to the Year 2000 - 5—The Gold Gleaners - 6—The Spur of Necessity - 7—The Mysterious Mission - 8—The Goal of a Million - 9—Marooned in 1492 - 10—Running the Signal - 11—His Friend the Enemy - 12—In the Web - 13—A Deep Sea Game - 14—The Paymaster’s Special - 15—Adrift in the Unknown - 16—Jim Dexter, Cattleman - 17—Juggling with Liberty - 18—Back from Bedlam - 19—A River Tangle - 20—Billionaire Pro Tem - 21—In the Wake of the Scimitar - 22—His Audacious Highness - 23—At Daggers Drawn - 24—The Eighth Wonder - 25—The Cat’s-paw - 26—The Cotton Bag - 27—Little Miss Vassar - 28—Cast Away at the Pole - 29—The Testing of Noyes - 30—The Fateful Seventh - 31—Montana - 32—The Deserter - 33—The Sheriff of Broken Bow - 34—Wanted: A Highwayman - 35—Frisbie of San Antone - 36—His Last Dollar - 37—Fools for Luck - 38—Dare of Darling & Co. - -In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the books -listed below will be issued during the respective months in New York -City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance -promptly, on account of delays in transportation. - - - To be published in July, 1926. - - 39—Trailing _The Josephine_ By William Wallace Cook - 40—The Snapshot Chap By Bertram Lebhar - - - To be published in August, 1926. - - 41—Brothers of the Thin Wire By Franklin Pitt - 42—Jungle Intrigue By Edmond Lawrence - 43—His Snapshot Lordship By Bertram Lebhar - - - To be published in September, 1926. - - 44—Folly Lode By James F. Dorrance - 45—The Forest Rogue By Julian G. Wharton - - - To be published In October, 1926. - - 46—Snapshot Artillery By Bertram Lebhar - 47—Stanley Holt, Thoroughbred By Ralph Boston - - - To be published in November, 1926. - - 48—The Riddle and the Ring By Gordon MacLaren - 49—The Black Eye Snapshot By Bertram Lebhar - - - To be published in December, 1926. - - 50—Bainbridge of Bangor By Julian G. Wharton - 51—Amid Crashing Hills By Edmond Lawrence - - - - - BOOKS THAT NEVER GROW OLD - - Alger Series - - Clean Adventure Stories for Boys - - The Most Complete List Published - - -The following list does not contain all the books that Horatio Alger -wrote, but it contains most of them, and certainly the best. - -Horatio Alger is to boys what Charles Dickens is to grown-ups. His work -is just as popular to-day as it was years ago. The books have a quality, -the value of which is beyond computation. - -There are legions of boys of foreign parents who are being helped along -the road to true Americanism by reading these books which are so -peculiarly American in tone that the reader cannot fail to absorb some -of the spirit of fair play and clean living which is so -characteristically American. - -In this list will be included certain books by Edward Stratemeyer, -Oliver Optic, and other authors who wrote the Alger type of stories, -which are equal in interest and wholesomeness with those written by the -famous author after which this great line of books for boys is named. - - _ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ - - - By HORATIO ALGER, Jr. - - 1—Driven from Home - 2—A Cousin’s Conspiracy - 3—Ned Newton - 4—Andy Gordon - 5—Tony, the Tramp - 6—The Five Hundred Dollar Check - 7—Helping Himself - 8—Making His Way - 9—Try and Trust - 10—Only an Irish Boy - 11—Jed, the Poorhouse Boy - 12—Chester Rand - 13—Grit, the Young Boatman of Pine Point - 14—Joe’s Luck - 15—From Farm Boy to Senator - 16—The Young Outlaw - 17—Jack’s Ward - 18—Dean Dunham - 19—In a New World - 20—Both Sides of the Continent - 21—The Store Boy - 22—Brave and Bold - 23—A New York Boy - 24—Bob Burton - 25—The Young Adventurer - 26—Julius, the Street Boy - 27—Adrift in New York - 28—Tom Brace - 29—Struggling Upward - 30—The Adventures of a New York Telegraph Boy - 31—Tom Tracy - 32—The Young Acrobat - 33—Bound to Rise - 34—Hector’s Inheritance - 35—Do and Dare - 36—The Tin Box - 37—Tom, the Bootblack - 38—Risen from the Ranks - 39—Shifting for Himself - 40—Wait and Hope - 41—Sam’s Chance - 42—Striving for Fortune - 43—Phil, the Fiddler - 44—Slow and Sure - 45—Walter Sherwood’s Probation - 46—The Trials and Triumphs of Mark Mason - 47—The Young Salesman - 48—Andy Grant’s Pluck - 49—Facing the World - 50—Luke Walton - 51—Strive and Succeed - 52—From Canal Boy to President - 53—The Erie Train Boy - 54—Paul, the Peddler - 55—The Young Miner - 56—Charlie Codman’s Cruise - 57—A Debt of Honor - 58—The Young Explorer - 59—Ben’s Nugget - 60—The Errand Boy - 61—Frank and Fearless - 62—Frank Hunter’s Peril - 63—Adrift in the City - 64—Tom Thatcher’s Fortune - 65—Tom Turner’s Legacy - 66—Dan, the Newsboy - 67—Digging for Gold - 68—Lester’s Luck - 69—In Search of Treasure - 70—Frank’s Campaign - 71—Bernard Brook’s Adventures - 72—Robert Coverdale’s Struggles - 73—Paul Prescott’s Charge - 74—Mark Manning’s Mission - 75—Rupert’s Ambition - 76—Sink or Swim - 77—The Backwoods Boy - 78—Tom Temple’s Career - 79—Ben Bruce - 80—The Young Musician - 81—The Telegraph Boy - 82—Work and Win - 83—The Train Boy - 84—The Cash Boy - 85—Herbert Carter’s Legacy - 86—Strong and Steady - 87—Lost at Sea - 88—From Farm to Fortune - 89—Young Captain Jack - 90—Joe, the Hotel Boy - 91—Out for Business - 92—Falling in with Fortune - 93—Nelson, the Newsboy - 94—Randy of the River - 95—Jerry, the Backwoods Boy - 96—Ben Logan’s Triumph - 97—The Young Book Agent - - - By EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - 98—The Last Cruise of _The Spitfire_ - 99—Reuben Stone’s Discovery - 100—True to Himself - 101—Richard Dare’s Venture - 102—Oliver Bright’s Search - 103—To Alaska for Gold - 104—The Young Auctioneer - 105—Bound to Be an Electrician - 106—Shorthand Tom - 107—Fighting for His Own - 108—Joe, the Surveyor - 109—Larry, the Wanderer - 110—The Young Ranchman - 111—The Young Lumberman - 112—The Young Explorers - 113—Boys of the Wilderness - 114—Boys of the Great Northwest - 115—Boys of the Gold Field - 116—For His Country - 117—Comrades in Peril - 118—The Young Pearl Hunters - 119—The Young Bandmaster - 120—Boys of the Fort - 121—On Fortune’s Trail - 122—Lost in the Land of Ice - 123—Bob, the Photographer - - - By OLIVER OPTIC - - 124—Among the Missing - 125—His Own Helper - 126—Honest Kit Dunstable - 127—Every Inch a Boy - 128—The Young Pilot - 129—Always in Luck - 130—Rich and Humble - 131—In School and Out - 132—Watch and Wait - 133—Work and Win - 134—Hope and Have - 135—Haste and Waste - 136—Royal Tarr’s Pluck - 137—The Prisoners of the Cave - 138—Louis Chiswick’s Mission - 139—The Professor’s Son - 140—The Young Hermit - 141—The Cruise of _The Dandy_ - 142—Building Himself Up - 143—Lyon Hart’s Heroism - 144—Three Young Silver Kings - 145—Making a Man of Himself - 146—Striving for His Own - 147—Through by Daylight - 148—Lightning Express - 149—On Time - 150—Switch Off - 151—Brake Up - 152—Bear and Forbear - 153—The “Starry Flag” - 154—Breaking Away - 155—Seek and Find - 156—Freaks of Fortune - 157—Make or Break - 158—Down the River - 159—The Boat Club - 160—All Aboard - 161—Now or Never - 162—Try Again - - -In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the books -listed below will be issued during the respective months in New York -City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance -promptly, on account of delays in transportation. - - - To be published in July, 1926. - - 163—Poor and Proud By Oliver Optic - 164—Little by Little By Oliver Optic - 165—The Sailor Boy By Oliver Optic - - - To be published in August, 1926. - - 166—The Yankee Middy By Oliver Optic - 167—Brave Old Salt By Oliver Optic - - - To be published in September, 1926. - - 168—Luck and Pluck By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 169—Ragged Dick By Horatio Alger, Jr. - - - To be published in October, 1926. - - 170—Fame and Fortune By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 171—Mark, the Match Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. - - - To be published in November, 1926. - - 172—Rough and Ready By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 173—Ben, the Luggage Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. - - - To be published in December, 1926. - - 174—Rufus and Rose By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 175—Fighting for Fortune By Roy Franklin - 176—The Young Steel Worker By Frank H. MacDougal - - - - - VALUE - - -Although literature is generally regarded as more or less of a luxury, -there is such a thing as getting your money’s worth, and a little more, -in the way of literature. - -For seventy years the firm of STREET & SMITH has specialized in the -publication of fiction. During all this time everything bearing our -imprint represented good value for the money. - -When, about thirty years ago, we began the publication of a series of -paper bound books, which has since become world famous by the name of -“The S & S Novel,” we did our best to publish the right sort of fiction. -The sales of these books proved that we have succeeded in interesting -and pleasing the American reading public. - -There are over 1,800 different titles in our catalogue, and every title -above reproach from every standpoint. The STREET & SMITH NOVEL has been -rightly called the fiction of the masses. - -Do not be deceived by books which look like the STREET & SMITH NOVELS -but which are made like them only in looks. Insist upon having paper -covered books bearing the imprint of STREET & SMITH, and so be sure of -securing full value for your money. - - * * * * * - - STREET & SMITH CORPORATION - 79 Seventh Avenue :: New York City - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES - - - 1. Listing, moved the first four pages book listings to the end of the - novel and before the listings at the end. - 2. 70, supplied “fight” as unknown 5 letter word in “By this time the - girl’s _____ had been answered.” - 3. Table of Contents added by transcriber. - 4. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling. - 5. Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed. - 6. 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