MEBRMELL'S 
 POWER 
 
 BURT L 
 STAN DISH
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 IN MEMORY OF 
 EDWIN CORLE 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 JEAN CORLE
 
 \ 
 
 Tarlx)3c coming on with speed like a steam engine, won out handsomely. 
 
 (Page 213)
 
 FRANK MERRIWELL'S 
 
 POWER 
 
 
 
 A STORY FOR BOYS 
 
 BY 
 
 BURT L. STANDISH 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 "The Merriwell Stories" 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 
 DAVID McKAY, PUBLISHER 
 
 604-8 SOUTH WASHINGTON SQUARE
 
 Copyright, 1900 
 By STREET & SMITH 
 
 Frank Merriwell's Power 
 
 AD rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages, 
 including the Scandinavian.
 
 FRANK MERRIWELL'S POWER. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 A DANGEROUS SCHEMER. 
 
 Dade Morgan sat alone in his room. The moon 
 rode high over the trees of the campus and the green, 
 and the soft night wind, odorous of the sea, brought 
 to his ears sounds of singing and laughter. 
 
 Seniors, juniors, and sophomores were making 
 merry about the famous college fence. 
 
 Some juniors strolling along the pavement beneath 
 his window sent up this snatch of song: 
 
 "Wrap me up in my tarpaulin jacket 
 And say, 'A poor duffer lies low !' " 
 
 From a sentimental trio at the fence floated the 
 words of another song much sung by Yale men: 
 
 "Nut-brown maiden, thou hast a bright blue eye for love! 
 Nut-brown maiden, thou hast a bright blue eye ! 
 
 A bright blue eye is thine, love; 
 
 The glance in it is mine, love; 
 Nut-brown maiden, thou hast a bright blue eye." 
 
 "Light heads!" Dade muttered. "But light heads 
 are easily handled." 
 
 Drawing back from the window and lowering the
 
 6 A Dangerous Schemer. 
 
 blinds, he took from his pocket a letter which he had 
 received by mail that afternoon and began to reread 
 it by the light of his student-lamp. 
 
 He had no roommate and wanted none, for room- 
 mates expect confidences and he had none to give. 
 The letter spoke of possible "tools," and gave a list 
 of names of college men. 
 
 "Bertrand Defarge, Donald Pike, Roland Pack- 
 ard," Dade read, as he ran his eyes down the written 
 page. "Packard? Oh, yes, that's the medical stu- 
 dent I heard talking against Merriwell yesterday. 
 He doesn't like the Yale king a little bit. I wonder 
 how I'll go to work to handle him. I must find out 
 his pet weakness." 
 
 There were other names in the list, and he read 
 on: 
 
 "There's not much stuff in the Chickering set, out- 
 side of one or two fellows, perhaps, but they hate 
 Merriwell, and it will stand you in hand to coddle 
 them." 
 
 Dade Morgan smiled when he read this. He had 
 met the Chickering set. 
 
 "I can work them on Dashleigh. As good luck 
 would have it, I'm .already acquainted with them, 
 even though they are high and lordly juniors. All 
 they need is a little patting on the back to make them 
 swell up like the ox in the fable. They're just dying 
 for popularity, and they get precious little of it."
 
 A Dangerous Schemer. 7 
 
 "Gil Cowles , Mat Mullen, Lib Benson, Newt 
 Billing's, Chan Webb," he read on. "These were 
 once open enemies of Merriwell, but he has squelched 
 them. They pretend to be his friends, but they hate 
 him like sin. Maybe you can use some of them." 
 
 "If only Morton Agnew were here," was Dade's 
 thought. "He has some iron in his blood, and 
 wouldn't stick at anything. But these fellows? Bah! 
 I've already sounded some of them, and, though they 
 are willing enough to have Merriwell done up, they 
 haven't any sand. I'll have to do all the difficult 
 things alone." 
 
 The name of a detective appeared in the body of 
 the letter, and Dade looked at it curiously. Then he 
 glanced at the signature, and read this in connection 
 with it: 
 
 "For the sake of safety, I shall hereafter sign my- 
 self, HECTOR KING/' 
 
 When he was sure he had mastered the letter in 
 all its details, he kindled a little fire in his grate and 
 committed the writing to the flames. 
 
 He sat with half-lowered lids as he watched the 
 letter curl and crisp and burn to ashes. The lowered 
 lids and the sinister smile gave to his handsome face 
 a distorted look. 
 
 "I don't know but I've been too reckless in my 
 stabs at Merriwell," he ruminated, putting his hands
 
 8 A Dangerous Schemer 
 
 above his head and stretching out his feet as he stared 
 into the fire. "I must use caution. The advice in 
 that letter is good. If I use these tools, I must not 
 let them know that they are tools. I must stir tr 
 their hate against Merrivvell and then take care to 
 direct that hate. I'll play the fine Italian hand." 
 
 His eyes glittered as he continued these musings. 
 
 "Oh, how I hate that fellow!" he hissed, as if 
 speaking to the log that lay sputtering before him 
 sending up a cloud of smoke and steam. "I'll wring 
 his heart before I'm through here. Yale is a great 
 institution! Oh, yes! I don't doubt that a bit, and 
 I'll have to study to keep up, so that I won't flunk 
 in the exams. But the study is just to enable me to 
 stay here where I can strike at Merriwell. These 
 other fellows that have locked horns with him haven't 
 had the money to back them that I have, nor have 
 they had the brains, nor have they hated him as I do. 
 He's the king of Yale now, but wait a while! Just 
 wait a while!" 
 
 He was thinking of the writer of the letter, and 
 seemed to be growling these declarations and promises 
 to him. 
 
 The burning stick broke in two and fell apart with 
 a volley of sparks. Morgan straightened in his chair 
 and lowered his hands. 
 
 "But I'll never do anything, if I allow myself to 
 get excited in this way!"
 
 A Dangerous Schemer. 9 
 
 The sinister smile passed. He arose and stood be- 
 fore the mirror, drawing his handsome form up to its 
 full height and looking into his dark and strangely 
 attractive face. 
 
 "Such frowns will spoil these good looks! In a 
 fight like this, good looks and a seemingly amiable dis- 
 position are in the list of winning cards. 'A man may 
 smile and smile and be a villain!' but if he wants to 
 smile effectively in public he must continue to smile 
 in private, no matter what he feels or thinks." 
 
 There was a laughing light now in the dark eyes 
 and a winning smile on the lips. He felt his arms. 
 
 "And biceps are not to be despised ! I've got to go 
 in for athletics more than I've been doing lately, for 
 the time is coming when I shall want to try conclu- 
 sions with that big freshman, Dick Starbright." 
 
 He still smiled at himself in the glass, though he 
 seemed to feel the rough grip of Starbright on his 
 collar. 
 
 Bade Morgan was no mean athlete, and he had 
 already taken elaborate lessons in the "manly art of 
 self-defense," but he felt that he would need every 
 atom of ability and strength possible for him to pos- 
 sess in the struggle he saw coming between himself 
 and Frank Merriwell. 
 
 He sat down again and continued to think and to 
 plan. 
 
 "One of the first things to do is to get Bert Dasfc-
 
 io A Dangerous Schemer. 
 
 leigh in the power of the Chickering set. That ought 
 to be dead easy." 
 
 He recalled these words from the burned letter : 
 
 "Dick Starbright's one weakness, according to the 
 detective who has been looking up his antecedents, is 
 an inherited love of drink." 
 
 "One wouldn't think it, to look at him. Of course, 
 he has come here with a firm determination to keep 
 away from everything of the kind. But I'll see to it 
 that he doesn't. With the temptations round a fellow 
 here, that ought to be easy, too !' 
 
 Then he sat thinking of Merriwell. 
 
 "I'll have to oppose him in every way. Every 
 popular man has a host of enemies. Scores are jealous 
 of him simply because he is popular. There seems to 
 be a defect in human nature that makes it want to 
 pull down every man who rises above the dead level. 
 I'll use this feeling, and I'll use it for all it's worth. 
 I'll become his rival and rally round me all the op- 
 position." 
 
 There was no doubt in the schemer's head that he 
 was equal to all this. He felt himself to be a born 
 leader. In the school from which he had come he had 
 contrived to put himself in the forefront of about 
 everything. He had not only been a leader in sports 
 and athletics, but in matters literary as well. 
 
 There could be no doubt that Dade Morgan was the
 
 A Dangerous Schemer. n 
 
 most dangerous enemy who had yet risen in Merri- 
 well's path. He was especially gifted, a natural 
 leader, an athlete and fighter of no mean skill, a fine 
 football-player, and he hated Merriwell more fiercely 
 than any enemy who had ever opposed him, though 
 apparently for no reason whatever. 
 
 For a long time Dade sat there, outlining his cun- 
 ning plans and mentally preparing himself for his 
 fight to down Frank Merriwell. The sounds at the 
 fence and in the campus died away. Still he sat there, 
 with drawn blinds and low-burning lamp. 
 
 "I can do it!" he smiled, as he aroused himself at 
 last and prepared for bed. 
 
 The next evening Bert Dashleigh bounded into the 
 apartments which he occupied with Dick Starbright 
 in Farnam. 
 
 "Just look at that !" he said, slapping a neatly writ- 
 ten note down on the table where Starbright was en- 
 gaged in study. 
 
 "That's great, coming from juniors to a freshman !" 
 
 Dick looked into his friend's smiling and exultant 
 face. 
 
 "Better sit down and fan yourself a bit. You're 
 wildly excited." 
 
 "Look at the letter!" 
 
 Dick looked at it and found it to be an invitation 
 to a little "dinner" to be given that evening by the
 
 12 A Dangerous Schemer. 
 
 dickering set. It was written in a fine hand on de- 
 licately scented paper and requested the "honor" of 
 M. Bert Dashleigh's presence. 
 
 Starbright's face darkened. 
 
 "I suppose it's all right, of course, even if a little 
 unusual. But I shouldn't accept it, if I were you." 
 
 "Oh, bother! Why wouldn't you accept it? I 
 know, though!" 
 
 "Well, they haven't been exactly nice to us since 
 we've been here. You know that, as well as I do." 
 
 "But if they haven't treated me right in the past, 
 that note shows that they're going to begin it now. 
 Old boy, I'll speak a good word for you. Those fel- 
 lows are rich and they're juniors. That makes it 
 worth our while to know them, if we can." 
 
 He took up his guitar and began to thump it as if 
 to cut off all objections. 
 
 "Oh, Solomon Levi ! Tra-la-la, la-la-la, la !" 
 
 Dick Starbright turned back to his book and his 
 study. 
 
 "Oh, saw off on that!" he impatiently exclaimed, 
 looking up from the table after Bert had sung a verse 
 or two. 
 
 "Well, I don't want you to study just now. I want 
 to talk to you. I want your opinion about that invita- 
 tion." 
 
 "You're going to accept it?"
 
 A Dangerous Schemer. 13 
 
 "Yes ; I'm thinking that I will. But you don't seem 
 to like it." 
 
 Dick leaned back in his chair and stuck his thumbs 
 in the armholes of his vest. 
 
 "My opinion is like that of Lincoln, when asked 
 to recommend a certain book: 'For people who like 
 that kind of a thing, it is just the kind of a thing they 
 will like!' For people who fancy fellows like the 
 Chickering set, the Chickering set are just the kind of 
 fellows they will fancy. For myself, I don't fancy 
 them, and if I should receive such an invitation I'd 
 ignore it." 
 
 "That's because you don't know them. I thought 
 I hated them, until I met Rupert Chickering himself 
 this morning. Of course, he's something of a cad 
 in his dress. I'll admit that. But he was the most 
 genial fellow I've met since coming to Yale. I fancy 
 I impressed him a little with a sense of my own im- 
 portance, and the result is this invitation." 
 
 "Oh, I knew you would go!" 
 
 "Yes, I'm going. Such a chance doesn't come 
 every day in the week, and I can't afford to throw it 
 away." 
 
 Dade Morgan would have laughed could he have 
 heard that speech, and he would have laughed more 
 loudly if he could have seen Bert Dashleigh begin to 
 dig out his collars and ties and lay out his best apparel. 
 
 An hour or so later Dashleigh was admitted to the
 
 14 A Dangerous Schemer. 
 
 perfumed atmosphere of Rupert Chickering's aris- 
 tocratic apartments, and was warmly greeted by 
 Chickering himself. 
 
 Julian Ives was there with his darling bang, and 
 Gene Skelding with his gorgeous necktie. Ollie Lord 
 lifted himself on his high-heeled shoes to welcome the 
 newcomer, and Tilton Hull smiled over his high 
 choker collar. 
 
 "We've been waiting for you," said Rupert, in a 
 manner that made Dashleigh feel that he was the only 
 man at Yale worthy of such consideration. 
 
 And he saw that he was the only guest. Then he 
 thought that perhaps the other guests had not ar- 
 rived. 
 
 "Just one of the little feeds we have up here now 
 and then," Chickering explained. "We thought we'd 
 like to have you with us." 
 
 "I've been admiwing you, don't you know, ever 
 thinthe the night of the Torch Light Wush!" Lew 
 Veazie simpered, holding out his hand like the fin of 
 a fish. 
 
 Bert Dashleigh was not particularly pleased with 
 this reference, for on the night of the Rush he had 
 been badly handled in the wrestling-match with Jack 
 Ready, and was still sore on the subject. However, 
 he showed nothing of this. 
 
 The tables were already laid in an adjoining room, 
 and the dinner was ready and waiting.
 
 A Dangerous Schemer. 15 
 
 Bert Dashleigh was a well-meaning fellow and hon- 
 est, but he was somewhat rattle-brained and frivolous, 
 and he liked attention and flattery. He had not re- 
 ceived much of either at Yale so far, and the open 
 compliments and honeyed words of these juniors were 
 doubly pleasant to him on this account. It did not 
 occur to him that they might have a sinister purpose 
 in thus admitting him to the charmed circle of their 
 friendship, and he had not been at Yale long enough 
 to know the exact estimation in which they were held. 
 
 The handsomely furnished apartments, the glitter- 
 ing silver and glass on the tables, the immaculate dress 
 of his hosts, and the elaborate dinner caught his fancy 
 and intoxicated his imagination. He could no longer 
 doubt that the Chickering set, in spite of all that might 
 be said against them, were worthy of cultivation, and 
 the belief came to him that the fellows who spoke so 
 severely against them were moved to it through jeal- 
 ousy and envy. 
 
 Dashleigh did not care for wine, though he had no 
 scruples against its use; but it was so persistently 
 pressed on him, and he had such a fear of not doing 
 just the thing he ought to do on this occasion, that he 
 permitted his glass to be filled again and again, until 
 his head took to itself a queer feeling, and the objects 
 in the room began at times to assume a strangely 
 wabbly aspect. 
 
 By and by the talk turned to college athletics and
 
 1 6 A Dangerous Schemer. 
 
 college men. Whenever the talk at Yale turned to 
 these subjects, no matter who the speakers were, 
 Frank Merriwell's name was invariably mentioned. 
 Dashleigh mentioned it now, speaking rather favor- 
 ably of Frank. 
 
 "I must say that I don't like Jack Ready," he con- 
 fessed, for the wine he had taken made him incautious 
 in his statements and caused him to give free expres- 
 sion to his feelings. 
 
 He had not liked Ready since the time Ready won 
 from him in the wrestling-match. That had humili- 
 ated him and embittered him against the apple-cheeked 
 sophomore more than anything else could have done. 
 
 "Merriwell isn't like Ready, though," he went on. 
 "Ready is a hare-brained sort of fellow, I take it, who 
 is simply stuck on himself." 
 
 "And Merriwell is in the same boat!" Gene Skeld- 
 ing declared, with a show of feeling that surprised 
 Dashleigh. 
 
 But Chickering came purringly to the rescue of 
 Merriwell's reputation. Chickering always pretended 
 great fairness, though he did not feel it. 
 
 "Never speak ill of a person behind his back, espe- 
 cially if he is a Yale man!" he urged. 
 
 "Well, I don't want our friend Dashleigh to make 
 the great mistake, at the outset of his career here, of 
 becoming a worshiper of Frank Merriwell," said 
 Skelding. "You'll want to keep away from him when
 
 A Dangerous Schemer. 17 
 
 you know him, Dashleigh. That's straight. He has 
 a lot of fellows trailing round at his heels all the time, 
 singing his praises, but there is really nothing in the 
 fellow not a thing." 
 
 "We may as well admit that he's done some re- 
 markable things," said Chickering. "I don't particu- 
 larly like him, as you know. No one does who is not 
 of his stripe. But I want to be fair to everybody. Of 
 course, he was helped by an uncommon run of luck in 
 that tour he took this summer with his so-called Yale 
 Athletic Team." 
 
 "Yale team!" sniffed Ollie Lord. 
 
 "What right had he to call it a Yale team ?" asked 
 Julian Ives, squaring his shoulders to give himself a 
 manly look. 
 
 "That'th what I thould like to know mythelf?" 
 lisped Lew Veazie, taking a delicate sip of wine, for 
 too great a quantity always turned his little head. 
 
 "He had no right to call it anything of the kind, 
 I'll admit that!" was Chickering's answer. "They 
 didn't represent Yale, but " 
 
 "It was simply an exhibition of unbounded gall!" 
 growled Skelding. 
 
 Dashleigh was beginning to feel that perhaps he 
 had been wrong in rating Merriwell as a hero. These 
 were Yale men who had known Frank for a long time. 
 Consequently their words were entitled to weight. 
 He was sorry that Dick Starbright could not be there
 
 1 8 A Dangerous Schemer. 
 
 to hear this, for Starbright had become a Merriwell 
 worshiper. 
 
 After dinner the party adjourned to the room which 
 Dashleigh had first entered, where there was more 
 talk about Merriwell, and the fact was developed that 
 Frank was using all his exertions to become the cap- 
 tain of the football-team. 
 
 "You see, it's this way," Skelding explained. 
 "Mark Alcott was chosen football captain, but his 
 father has since failed in business, and Mark couldn't 
 come back to Yale this year. That makes it neces- 
 sary to choose a new captain, and Merriwell's friends 
 have begun to pull strings for him to get him the 
 place. He'll get it, too, unless a big fight is put up 
 against him." 
 
 "He'th got evewbody nearly on hith thide!" Lew 
 Veazie dolefully lisped. 
 
 "Yes, I fully expect to see the president of Yale 
 college polishing his shoes before the month is out!" 
 snapped Skelding. 
 
 "His own shoes or Merriwell's?" asked Chicker- 
 ing, who fancied himself something of a wit 
 
 "Oh, this is no joking matter!" Skelding retorted. 
 
 "We won't quarrel!" Chickering said, as he slowly 
 exhaled a cloud of cigarette smoke. 
 
 Julian Ives was daintily lifting his coat tails and 
 standing with his back to the low fire that burned in
 
 A Dangerous Schemer. 19 
 
 the grate, and at the same time admiring his full- 
 length figure in the mirror opposite. 
 
 "We just want to put our new friend on guard 
 against the brazen fellow!" he said. "It's so easy, 
 you know, to get in with the wrong crowd, when one 
 first conies to Yale." 
 
 Dashleigh was beginning to feel sure that Merriwell 
 was not a proper man for captain of the football-team, 
 though he did not see that he could do anything to 
 keep him from becoming so. 
 
 Tilton Hull dragged out a mandolin. 
 
 "I hear you're something of a musician," he said, 
 offering it to Bert. 
 
 "Yes, I intended to ask you to bring your guitar," 
 said Chickering. "I neglected it when I wrote the in- 
 vitation." 
 
 Bert rather prided himself on his skill with the 
 mandolin, and the whole party began to listen to his 
 efforts, to his great delight, and by and by to sing 
 college songs. 
 
 Dade Morgan, passing beneath the windows of the 
 Chickering apartments, smiled when he heard the 
 mandolin and the songs, for he knew what it meant. 
 
 "I've a dozen little parties going like that to-night, 
 and every one of them is working against Merriwell. 
 It's a good beginning, and I'll keep it up. In a month 
 I'll shatter the popular idol and lay his pride in the 
 dust. There's nothing downs a man so quickly as
 
 2o A Dangerous Schemer. 
 
 public sentiment, and I'll work the sentiment of Yale 
 against Merriwell." 
 
 It was a large boast, but Dade Morgan felt that he 
 could do it. 
 
 "I must report this to Agnew," he whispered, as he 
 walked on. "It will warm the cockles of his heart."
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 TEMPTED. 
 
 That same evening Dick Starbright stumbled up 
 against Roland Packard in front of the New Haven 
 House. Roland had been waiting for him there, with 
 an evil plan in his mind, suggested by Dade Morgan. 
 
 "Hello!" he said, extending his hand. 
 
 Starbright did not know Roland Packard, but he 
 knew his brother Oliver and admired him. Both were 
 students in the medical school. They were brothers 
 and twins, who looked so much alike that only their 
 most intimate acquaintances could tell one from the 
 other. In addition to this they had a trick of dress- 
 ing alike, even to the minutest details. 
 
 So when Roland thus addressed Starbright, and 
 familiarly extended his hand, Dick took it without a 
 thought that the speaker was other than Oliver. 
 
 "The football question fills the air like a fog," said 
 Roland, as he walked along with Starbright, linking 
 his arm into that of the tall freshman and looking up 
 into his face. "But you're tall enough to thrust your 
 head above any fog that may rise." 
 
 "Thanks! I hope I'm not tall enough to attract 
 the attention of any modern Barnum." 
 
 "I saw Walter Camp go by a while ago. It's a big 
 thing fer Yale that he's here this year, if it's only as
 
 22 Tempted. 
 
 an adviser, for what Camp doesn't know about the 
 great game wouldn't fill a large book." 
 
 Starbright was willing to concede this, and said 
 as much. 
 
 "I had a talk with Camp this morning, after I saw 
 you." 
 
 Roland knew that Oliver had conversed with Dick 
 Starbright on the football question that morning, and 
 he knew what had been said, for Oliver had told him. 
 He also knew that Starbright was the captain of the 
 Andover football-team of the year before, and that 
 he was considered at Yale the most promising of all 
 the freshmen for football honors, with perhaps the ex- 
 ception of Dade Morgan. 
 
 "The big question this year will be to find a full- 
 back, and I don't mind telling you, Starbright, that 
 there is talk of you for that position. Yale is living 
 in hope that the freshman class will produce good 
 timber for that place. Anyway, I'm betting that 
 you'll get on the team. You were captain a' Andover 
 last year?" 
 
 "Yes; I told you so, you'll remember, this morn- 
 ing." 
 
 "Ah! so you did. I thought you said captain!" 
 
 It warmed Starbright's heart to be spoken to in 
 this pleasant manner by a man whom he believed to be 
 worthy of his friendship. 
 
 "Yale abolished summer practise this year, you
 
 Tempted. 23 
 
 know; and the team is going to have precious little 
 time to get into shape for effective and winning work. 
 But she can do it, if no breaks are made in making up 
 the team." 
 
 "Well, I think I could name some good men." 
 
 "Who are they?" 
 
 "Merriwell and certain members of his Athletic 
 Team." 
 
 Roland laughed. 
 
 "So you've got the Merriwell fever, have you ? It's 
 really wonderful." 
 
 "What's wonderful?" 
 
 "The pull that fellow has. It just beats creation. 
 But if Merriwell goes on the team, in my opinion 
 .Yale might as well keep out of the games." 
 
 "Who is a better man?" 
 
 "Beckwith, for one!" 
 
 "He's sure of a place." 
 
 "I don't know about that" 
 
 "Who is another?" 
 
 "Dade Morgan." 
 
 "I don't like him." 
 
 "That's because you don't know him. You'll like 
 him when you come to know him better." 
 
 They had passed down the street beyond Traeger's, 
 but now turned back, walking slowly as they talked. 
 
 "I can't understand why you don't fancy Merri- 
 well !" said Dick.
 
 24 Tempted. 
 
 "You'll understand, after you've been here a while. 
 He's popular with a certain class, that's all. He has 
 round him a lot of sycophants who are Merriwell 
 worshipers, and who are ready to sneeze every time 
 he takes snuff. You'll find out by and by that is the 
 truth. I've nothing personal against Merriwell. He's 
 a pleasant fellow, in many ways; but he won't do to 
 tie to in an emergency. Besides that, he's got the 
 swelled head. He took some of his chums out West 
 this summer, and because they happened to buck 
 against some weak ball-teams and win a lot of games, 
 Merriwell thinks he owns the earth." 
 
 Roland's brother Oliver was to be away for a few 
 days, and Roland felt that this, given as Oliver's opin- 
 ion, would remain uncontradicted for a little while, 
 anyhow, long enough, perhaps, for it to have effect 
 in certain ways. But he was not so much desirous 
 of striking at Merriwell now as at the man with whom 
 he was talking. He did not want Dick Starbright 
 to become a member of the football-team, simply be- 
 cause he believed that Merriwell did want him, and 
 it was his plan to prevent it if he could. He and 
 Dade Morgan had talked the thing out that day, and 
 there was a perfect understanding between them. 
 
 When they again stood in front of Traeger's, he 
 drew Dick toward the door that leads to the down- 
 stairs portion of that establishment and Dick went in 
 with him. Here, at one of the small round tables
 
 Tempted. 25 
 
 which fill the lower room, the talk about football was 
 continued. 
 
 Dick could not agree with his supposed new friend 
 in the latter's opinion of Merriwell, but he could agree 
 with him on many other points, and the talk was ex- 
 ceptionally pleasant to the young and inexperienced 
 freshman who was longing for sympathy and com- 
 panionship. 
 
 Roland Packard showed a surprising amount of in- 
 formation concerning Yale's football timber and their 
 plans, all of which was intensely interesting to the 
 ex-captain of the Andover eleven. 
 
 Students came and went, and the two talked on in 
 that genial way for a time, when Roland beckoned to 
 a waiter. The waiter disappeared, soon returning 
 with a bottle and some glasses. The bottle contained 
 a fine grade of whisky. 
 
 Roland turned out a quantity in one of the glasses, 
 and the odor smote strongly the nostrils of Dick Star- 
 bright. He grew as white as a sheet. Roland poured 
 another glass, covertly watching the young freshman. 
 
 "Here's to the success of Yale's football-team, no 
 matter who is in it!" he said, pushing one of the 
 glasses to Starbright. 
 
 There was a strange light in Dick's eyes. His hands 
 trembled and his form shook. 
 
 An almost overpowering temptation to lift the glass 
 to his lips came upon him. He asked himself, where
 
 26 Tempted. 
 
 was the harm? Why should he offend this genial 
 friend by a refusal to drink this toast with him? 
 Many Yale men drank liquor there at Traeger's. 
 True, he knew that the temptation to drink was the 
 black temptation of his life, and that if he began to 
 drink he might not be able to stop. 
 
 Nevertheless, he put out his hand. Packard smiled 
 encouragingly. 
 
 Starbright's hand stopped half-way to the glass. 
 Merri well's voice had sounded from the pavement. 
 Frank was talking to some one on the street. He 
 did not know that Starbright was in Traeger's, shaken 
 by that almost overmastering temptation. The words 
 themselves were trivial, but somehow they took hold 
 on Dick Starbright like fibers of steel. The uplifting 
 feeling that had come to him from Frank's words on 
 the night of the great rush when he sat on Merri- 
 well's knee between the bouts of the wrestling-match 
 came to him again. It again gave him strength and 
 determination. 
 
 He drew back the extended hand. His face was 
 still white and his eyes bright as stars. 
 
 "No; I can't do it!" he declared. 
 
 "Why, what's the matter?" 
 
 Packard had heard that voice on the sidewalk, and 
 he now wondered if it could have influenced the 
 tempted freshman. He knew something of Merri-
 
 Tempted. 27 
 
 well's powerful influence his wonderful mastery of 
 minds that were friendly toward him. He asked him- 
 self if the freshman had not given Merriwell some 
 promise not to drink, which Frank's voice now re- 
 called. From the room above came the words of the 
 song: 
 
 "Here's to good old Yale! drink her down, drink her down!" 
 
 The song seemed to say to Starbright, "Drink! 
 drink!" The fumes of the liquor cried to him, 
 "Drink! drink!" 
 
 Roland Packard, sitting opposite him like a smiling 
 fiend, was, by his manner, urging him to drink. 
 
 "Why, what's the matter with you, old fellow?" 
 Packard queried. "Just a toast to the success of the 
 football-team ?" 
 
 "I could willingly drink the toast, but not in 
 liquor." 
 
 "Oh, you're one of those temperance men !" 
 
 Packard said this with an impatient sneer that cut 
 Starbright to the quick. But the color was coming 
 back to Starbright's face and strength to his brain. 
 
 "I can't do it !" he said, in a trembling voice. "You 
 must pardon me." 
 
 He felt that he must run, if he saved himself. He 
 did not know how he got out of the chair ; but he rose 
 up, pushing back the liquor. 
 
 Then, with his heart hammering and his face on
 
 28 Tempted. 
 
 fire, Dick Starbright stumbled up the steps and into 
 the street like a man pursued. 
 
 Merriwell had passed on, but he felt that Frank's 
 voice had saved him. He did not stop to look back. 
 He could explain and apologize to Packard at some 
 other time, if necessary. 
 
 Then he hurried blindly away, not stopping until he 
 had gained his rooms. Here he paused, breathing 
 heavily and looking reproachfully at himself in the 
 glass. 
 
 "You aren't fit to live, Starbright! You just now 
 insulted one of the few friends you have made since 
 coming here! But, what else could I do? I had to 
 get out of there!" 
 
 He scorned and hated himself and his weakness, 
 feeling that he, the Andover athlete and football- 
 player, was weaker and more cowardly than a child, 
 and really needed a guardian. 
 
 Then he went to bed, where he lay tossing, until 
 Dashleigh came into the rooms talking hilariously and 
 volubly of the great time he had enjoyed in Chicker- 
 ing's apartments, and with a breath smelling of the 
 wine he had swallowed and the cigarettes he had 
 smoked.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER. 
 
 A few evenings later Dade Morgan had a visitor. 
 The man came to his rooms after nightfall, tapped 
 softly on the door, and was cautiously admitted. Dade 
 stared as the light revealed the face and figure, if a 
 face may be said to be revealed which is disguised by 
 heavy false beard, and mustache and wig. 
 
 "You wouldn't know me on the street?" 
 
 Dade stared again. The voice was disguised, too! 
 
 "I am not dead sure that I know you now !" 
 
 "You ought to know Hector King! I told you 
 I was coming." 
 
 "No; I shouldn't have known you on the street in 
 broad day. That's a funny disguise you've got on." 
 
 "Well, as you know, I've my special reasons for not 
 wanting to be recognized here." 
 
 The man laughed as he said this and took the chair ; 
 and the laugh was disguised. 
 
 "You ought to go into the detective line." 
 
 "Thanks; but I've got one of the best detectives 
 in New Haven at work for me. My part in this game 
 is more important. How are you getting along?" 
 
 He had spoken in low tones, and now he glanced 
 toward the door. 
 
 "Oh, we're all right," Dade said, seating himself.
 
 3o The Mysterious Stranger. 
 
 "The fellows are all out at the fence or strolling about 
 town. I ought to be getting the night air for the 
 benefit of my health and muscle." 
 
 He smilingly glanced at some dumb-bells and In- 
 dian clubs and a strength-developing machine in the 
 corner of the room. The stranger nodded and 
 laughed. 
 
 "I'm plowing into Merriwell all I can," said Dade. 
 "I'm working up a tremendous sentiment against him. 
 He hasn't begun to feel it much yet, but he'll feel it by 
 and by. I've been trying to think out a plan to throw 
 Bart Hodge down. That would hurt Merriwell more 
 than anything else. I think I can do it by and by!" 
 
 Then he told of Dashleigh and Starbright. 
 
 "I've got Dashleigh on the string all right, and 
 I'll get Starbright. I came near getting him the other 
 evening. I've a trick that's working now that will 
 surely throw him." 
 
 He laughed like a fiend; then remembered himself 
 and drew his features into a smile of apparent joy. 
 Getting up, he looked at his handsome face in the 
 glass. 
 
 "I keep practising this effective smile all the time. 
 You don't know how powerful it is. It's already won 
 me a host of friends, and will win me more. The fel- 
 lows are coming over to my side. I'm Merri well's 
 open enemy now, and I'm stacking the cards against
 
 The Mysterious Stranger. 31 
 
 him. He wants to be captain of the football-team, but 
 he'll get it in the neck." 
 
 "Perhaps you can guess what brought me here?" 
 
 "To hear how I am getting along, and because you 
 said you were coming." 
 
 "I'm going to help you crush Merriwell by spirit- 
 ing away his father!" 
 
 Dade gasped. 
 
 "If Frank carries out his plans, he must be right 
 here on the grounds; but he, won't remain here, if his 
 father suddenly and mysteriously disappears." 
 
 "But the old man has gone away in that queer 
 manner before. It won't work." 
 
 "Merriwell thinks that his father is all right now; 
 and he is all right. But when he suddenly drops out 
 of existence Frank will be alarmed, for he will think 
 that one of the old streaks of insanity has attacked his 
 father, and he will devote his energies to the work 
 of rinding him." 
 
 "You are going to spirit him away?" 
 
 The disguised laugh that followed was so harsh ' 
 and cold-blooded that Dade shuddered. 
 
 "Yes, I shall spirit him away and to-night. My 
 plans are all laid. That's why I came to New Haven 
 to-night. I shall strike in the dark and disappear in 
 the dark. That's why I am in this disguise. That's 
 why I am Hector King, instead of my real self." 
 
 "But "
 
 32 The Mysterious Stranger. 
 
 The right name of the man before him was on 
 Dade's lips, but the stranger seemed to divine it and 
 held up a finger warningly. 
 
 "That name must never be spoken by you until I 
 give permission. I am Hector King! Understand! 
 That is my name to you, and you must not even think 
 of any other name." 
 
 "How are you going to get Charles Merriwell away 
 from his room at the New Haven House? He stays 
 there pretty closely." 
 
 "I shall not try to get him away from his room. 
 He takes a walk through the green every evening. I 
 shall find him there. Eleven o'clock is his favorite 
 time. Sometimes, when he does not sleep well, he is 
 to be seen there at much later hours." 
 
 He laughed, so falsely and in such a disguised voice 
 that Bade Morgan shivered. 
 
 "To-morrow morning you may begin to tell the fel- 
 lows that Charles Conrad Merriwell has had another 
 of his insane spells and has skipped out. Work this 
 for all its worth. Insanity runs in families. Merri* 
 well has done queer things in his time Frank Merri- 
 well, I mean. Pull that string; and show that he is 
 not a fellow to be trusted. Say that it was a crazy 
 streak that led him to organize his chums into an 
 Athletic Team for an advertising tour. You can 
 work it." 
 
 "I will work it !" Dade tremblingly promised.
 
 The Mysterious Stranger. 33 
 
 "I knew you would. Now I'm going!" 
 
 "So soon?" 
 
 "Yes. I'll see you again ; and if I don't, I'll write. 
 If you want detective help, go to the fellow named in 
 my letters. He's shrewd and capable, and he knows 
 how to hold his tongue when he's well paid." 
 
 The disguised man rose to his feet, softly opened 
 the door and slipped away, leaving Dade staring at 
 vacancy.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A BLOW THAT HURT. 
 
 Dick Starbright received a letter the next afternoon 
 which took all the strength out of him. The envelope 
 was addressed in a delicate feminine hand and post- 
 marked in an interior town, and Starbright tore it 
 open with eager impatience. It held but a few words, 
 but these stabbed him like a knife. 
 
 "You will please discontinue your letters to me, 
 for we shall be henceforth only strangers. 
 
 "ROSALIND THORNTON/' 
 
 Dick's fingers shook as he read the letter over and 
 over. His face whitened, and there were lines of pain 
 round the firm, true mouth, but that was the only out- 
 ward sign of anguish. 
 
 "I have been afraid of it," he muttered. 
 
 He folded the letter, put it back in its envelope, 
 carefully stowed it in an inner pocket, as if it were 
 something precious, and began to pace the floor. 
 
 "I might as well get out of Yale now!" was his 
 thought. "What's the use?" 
 
 His mind went back to the glorious summer days 
 recently past and to the time when he had first met 
 Rose Thornton. It was at a little village in a notch 
 of the White Mountains. He had been boarding and
 
 A Blow that Hurt. 35 
 
 lounging there, when the girl, who had since become 
 so much to him, had come to the place with her aunt 
 for a few days' stay. 
 
 He went over in memory that first meeting, to- 
 gether with the other meetings that followed. They 
 had played tennis and golf together, they had walked 
 together along the rim of the hills and through the 
 woodland paths, they had ridden and driven together. 
 He had said some words to her that might mean a 
 great deal if the fates willed, but which became mean- 
 ingless now. 
 
 Rosalind Thornton had been in his dreams when 
 he came to New Haven. Thought of her had spurred 
 his ambitions. A desire to do something and be 
 something for her sake had nerved his hand and his 
 brain. 
 
 She had relatives in New Haven. The aunt with 
 whom she had visited the White Mountains was a 
 resident of that city. For this reason he had ex- 
 pected to be able to meet Rose more than once during 
 his first college term. He had thought of her as he 
 walked about the New Haven streets through those 
 first homesick days at college. 
 
 But it was all over now. They had been unfortu- 
 nate enough to quarrel a few weeks before, but that 
 had been patched up. He had been fearful, though, 
 since.
 
 36 A Blow that Hurt. 
 
 "It's all over!" he said, as he tried to pull himself 
 together. 
 
 He did not blame Rose for putting in no word 
 of explanation. Certain things had been told her 
 against him before. He knew that, for she had so in- 
 formed him. They were true. Something else had 
 now been told her. Perhaps that was also true. 
 
 "Well, I won't get down on my knees and beg her 
 to let us remain as we were!" he grimly declared. 
 
 Then, feeling miserable, he left the room and went 
 out for a stroll. The afternoon was a half-holiday. 
 He might have remained in for study, but he knew 
 that he could not study. He wanted to get away from 
 himself and from thoughts of Rosalind; yet he knew 
 that, wheresoever he wandered, this was impossible. 
 
 Down by the New Haven House he once more met 
 his evil genius, whom he again mistook for Oliver. 
 
 He could not know that Roland was expecting 
 him, with an assured feeling that he would come 
 sooner or later, and that he was but the victim of a 
 plot hatched in the cunning brain of Dade Morgan, 
 for the letter had been unmistakably in the handwri- 
 ting of Rose Thornton. 
 
 He had kept away from Packard since the evening 
 of that visit to Traeger's, but he now welcomed the 
 warm grasp of Roland Packard's hand. He was in 
 a reckless mood, too. He was telling himself over 
 and over, "What's the use?"
 
 A Blow that Hurt. 37 
 
 Seemingly, there was no use. What if he did fail 
 in class and athletic honors at Yale? It made no dif- 
 ference now. Nor did it matter much if he went to 
 the dogs over the shortest possible route. 
 
 Packard again linked his arm warmly in Dick's, 
 and they turned down the street together. Packard 
 did not seem to notice that they were walking toward 
 iTraeger's. Dick Starbright noticed it, and he did not 
 care. He cared nothing now to drink that toast to 
 the success of Yale's football-team, but he would not 
 have pushed the glass from him. 
 
 But Packard was crafty, and pulled him by Trae- 
 ger's without so much as looking at the place. He 
 had failed in his previous effort at Traeger's, and he 
 purposed now to steer his intended victim into 
 Morey's, for many freshmen like to get a view of the 
 interior of that famous old tavern, a privilege which 
 is not accorded them unless they are accompanied by 
 an upper classman. 
 
 Roland Packard was well acquainted with Morey's 
 and the keeper there. Starbright was going along 
 willingly enough, thinking of Rosalind and telling 
 himself that nothing in the world was of any use 
 now. 
 
 They crossed Temple Street and turned down that 
 thoroughfare. Just then there was a whirr of wheels 
 and the buzzing sound of an automobile, and Frank 
 Merriwell's voice came out of the noise:
 
 38 A Blow that Hurt. 
 
 "Starbright! I should like to speak to you a min- 
 ute!" 
 
 Again, as it seemed, had Merriwell drawn Dick 
 Starbright back from the power of the insidious 
 tempter. 
 
 "Just a moment!" said Starbright, turning from 
 Packard, who uttered a low and bitter curse under his 
 breath. 
 
 "The scoundrel!" Packard hissed, as Dick was 
 walking off. "Merriwell is always turning up at the 
 wrong moment. How the deuce did he know?" 
 
 It was a queer mental question, yet Roland Packard 
 could not help the feeling that Merriwell had in some 
 manner divined his intentions. Frank spoke a few, 
 words to Starbright, then called out: 
 
 "I have invited Starbright to take a little ride with 
 me, Roland, and he has accepted. See you later per- 
 haps!" 
 
 "Roland?" 
 
 Frank Merriwell's automobile had started on with 
 Dick at Frank's side, leaving Roland Packard white 
 with wrath. The question was from Starbright. 
 
 "You thought the fellow was Oliver. I guessed as 
 much!" 
 
 Merriwell had guessed a good deal more, had in 
 truth seen perfectly through Roland's sinister inten- 
 tions, though he did not care to say so just then.
 
 A Blow that Hurt. 39 
 
 "Do you mean to say that was not Oliver Pack- 
 ard?" 
 
 "A very different fellow from Oliver. Oliver is a 
 gentleman. Roland is a scamp that any one will do 
 well to keep away from. I was sure you were mis- 
 taken. They are twin brothers, and their most inti- 
 mate friends find trouble at times in telling them 
 apart. I can't always do it, but I knew it was Roland 
 as soon as I saw him heading in that direction. Not 
 but that Morey's is all right in many respects, but I 
 think Oliver does not go there." 
 
 The automobile was spinning along the firm road- 
 way, and the motion, together with Merriwell's 
 strengthening presence, seemed to lift the young fresh- 
 man out of his depressed state. Again he felt that 
 influence which Frank was able to exert over those 
 who desired to have his help and become his friends. 
 
 Starbright had taken no stock in the stories which 
 the Chickering set had diligently poured into the ears 
 of Bert Dashleigh and which Dashleigh had repeated 
 to him. He still believed in Merriwell, and wanted 
 to be numbered among his friends and adherents. He 
 had been called "Frank Merriwell's New Protege," 
 and the title, which seemed destined to stick, had 
 drawn him nearer to Merriwell than anything else. 
 
 Frank headed the automobile 'Out into the country, 
 when the streets of the city were left behind. The 
 odors of autumn were in the air and the brush of the
 
 40 A Blow that Hurt. 
 
 great painter, Nature, had given to the trees an in- 
 finite variety of gorgeous tints. 
 
 The two young fellows had been chafting of college 
 subjects, especially of college sports, but nothing had 
 been said for some time of Roland, though the events 
 of the afternoon were constantly in Dick's mind. 
 
 "I was about to make a fool of myself," he declared 
 at last, in a sudden outburst, for something in Merri- 
 well's manner invited the confidence. "Perhaps I 
 might have had strength to resist after entering the 
 place, but I doubt it. A man never resists anything 
 unless he wants to resist, and the desire to resist had 
 been taken from me. You don't mind, if I tell you of 
 myself?" 
 
 "No; I want you to. Perhaps I can be of service 
 to you." 
 
 Dick thought of Rosalind Thornton, and felt that 
 here Merriwell could not help him. 
 
 "I was about to do the one thing of all others that 
 I ought not to do go into Morey's and take a drink 
 as a bracer." 
 
 He waited for Merriwell to say something; then 
 went on: 
 
 "That's a thing I've got to fight against, Merri- 
 well, though I'm ashamed to say it." 
 
 Frank urged him to go on. 
 
 "The desire is in my blood, and I inherited it from 
 my father. There seems to be two natures struggling
 
 A Blow that Hurt. 41 
 
 in me continually for the mastery that of my father 
 and that of my mother. My father had but one fault 
 he was a drinking man." 
 
 He was stumbling on as if he feared he would lose 
 his courage. 
 
 "Father was a sea captain of the old style. Bluff, 
 gruff, brave, and jolly. He was generous to a fault, 
 and I think it must have been his generous disposition 
 which led him to drink, for when he sailed the seas, 
 drinking was common among seafaring men. He was 
 in the China trade, and he made a fortune in it and 
 came home to enjoy it. But he could not get away 
 from drink. It killed him and almost broke my 
 mother's heart. Yet, knowing all this, I have a cra- 
 ving for the stuff. I must have inherited it from him, 
 for I never did anything to acquire it." 
 
 Frank Merriwell, looking into the open, honest face, 
 unsullied and unpolluted, could see that this was so. 
 
 "That's all, Merriwell at least, all that's pertinent 
 now. I'm a mixture, and the devil fights within me 
 for the mastery." 
 
 He could feel Frank's sympathy, and it strength- 
 ened him, though no word was spoken. Frank was 
 thinking of his own peculiar temptation, against which 
 he had been compelled to wage an unrelenting war- 
 fare the temptation to play cards and gamble. 
 
 "I know how it is, Dick. You must just make up 
 your mind to keep away from the stuff. Shun the
 
 42 A Blow that Hurt. 
 
 companionship of fellows who drink. Come to me, 
 whenever you feel pressed, and I think I can help 
 you." 
 
 "I take my great size and height from my father; 
 that is to say, my physical strength, and along with 
 it this weakness. I don't look weak, Merriwell, but I 
 am!" 
 
 Suddenly Starbright uttered a cry: 
 
 "Rosalind!" 
 
 The name came from his lips before he could 
 check it. Just ahead of them was a narrow bridge 
 over a stream. On this bridge, coming toward them, 
 was a young woman on a bicycle. 
 
 A horse was dashing along the bridge on the farther 
 side, drawing a buggy. Frank saw in an instant that 
 the horse was running away. 
 
 The young woman became aware of the same thing 
 at that moment, and, turning her wheel to the railing, 
 dismounted. The railing gave way as she did so, for 
 she fell heavily against it in her excitement, and the 
 next instant she went plunging downward from the 
 bridge. 
 
 Dick Starbright leaped from the automobile before 
 Frank could stop it. The girl who had fallen from 
 the bridge was Rosalind Thornton. 
 
 The runaway horse came tearing along, with the 
 man hanging frantically to the reins, grazed a wheel 
 of the automobile, then dashed madly down the road.
 
 A Blow that Hurt. 43 
 
 Frank had brought the automobile to a stop, and 
 now sprang after Starbright He feared the girl had 
 fallen to her death, for the drop from the bridge 
 seemed a big one. On the impulse of the moment, 
 without realizing the dangers, Starbright leaped from 
 the bridge for the purpose of jumping into the stream 
 to rescue her. 
 
 As Frank reached the first boards, he was greeted 
 by a shout, which he was sure was not a shout for 
 help or a cry of despair. Then he saw Starbright 
 standing up on a load of hay, wildly waving his hat, 
 and with the other hand supporting the girl. This 
 was so different from what Frank expected that for a 
 moment he stared. 
 
 By some miraculous chance, a farmer with the load 
 of hay had chosen to ford the stream rather than the 
 bridge. When Rosalind went off the bridge, she fell 
 upon this load of hay, which was just below and at 
 the side of the bridge, and Starbright had leaped after 
 her and landed at her side. 
 
 The stolid driver had pulled his horses to a stop and 
 now sat in front on his load of hay, staring back at 
 Starbright and the girl as if he could not understand 
 how they came to be there. 
 
 This unexpected development of what might have 
 been a grave accident was so much like a scene out of 
 a comic opera that Frank laughed, then swung his cap 
 and sent back a cheer.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 MR. MERRIWELL'S DISAPPEARANCE. 
 
 "I was foolish enough to believe a slanderous letter 
 about Dick that I received from an acquaintance here 
 in New Haven." 
 
 Frank Merriwell's automobile was spinning home- 
 ward. Dick Starbright and Rose Thornton were 
 seated in it, side by side, holding the bicycle. They 
 had taken time for a talk, which had resulted in an 
 understanding and a restoration of the old order of 
 things. 
 
 Rosalind was a pretty girl of seventeen, with dark, 
 laughing eyes and a winsome smile. But Merriwell 
 could see that she could become intensely jealous on 
 slight provocation. 
 
 "It was from Grace Garcelon. She has pretended 
 to be my friend all along. I ought to have known 
 enough, though, not to believe anything she would 
 write about Dick. She was up in the White Moun- 
 tains with me this summer, and I had enough chances 
 to know her!" 
 
 Frank concealed a smile. He knew that Dick Star- 
 bright had also been in the White Mountains. Rose's 
 manner told him that she was jealous of Grace Garce- 
 lon. He knew, now, why Dick had been so depressed. 
 There had been a quarrel of some kind between Dick
 
 Mr. Merriwell's Disappearance. 45 
 
 and Rose, and the result had been to make Dick 
 despondent and somewhat reckless. Thinking along 
 this line, as the two chattered on in the back seat, he 
 suddenly remarked: 
 
 "Perhaps Dick has some enemy in Yale who has 
 told false stories to Miss Garcelon about him?" 
 
 As usual, Merriwell's keen discernment had struck 
 right to the root of the matter. Through the machi- 
 nations of Dade Morgan, Grace Garcelon had been led 
 to write the letter to Rosalind, which had brought the 
 discouraging note to Dick Starbright. 
 
 Merriwell understood, too, another thing. Rose 
 had been introduced to him by Starbright as from 
 another town than New Haven, and as being on a 
 visit to her aunt, Mrs. Virgil Throckmorton. She had 
 arrived in New Haven only that morning; and Mer- 
 riwell knew that her desire to learn the truth of Grace 
 Garcelon's account had drawn her to the city. 
 
 She had ridden on her wheel out into the coun- 
 try, merely because she was too nervous and upset to 
 remain in the house or in the New Haven streets and 
 stores; and, by a happy chance, she had encountered 
 Dick in that wholly unexpected way, and so there had 
 been brought about a talk and an understanding. 
 
 "Dick is safe from Roland Packard and Dade 
 Morgan for a while," was Frank's conclusion, as he 
 sent the automobile on toward the streets of the col" 
 lege city.
 
 46 Mr. Merriwell's Disappearance. 
 
 Dick and Rosalind left the car when they reached 
 Church Street to go to Mrs. Throckmorton's, and 
 Frank set out for his rooms in Vanderbilt Hall. 
 
 He found a number of friends there, awaiting him 
 in much excitement. Hodge was there, with Brown- 
 ing, Ready, Carker, Carson, and others. 
 
 "Do you know what Dade Morgan is telling?" 
 Hodge asked, and his excited and angry manner 
 showed that he was aching to punch Dade's head. 
 
 Frank dropped into an easy chair, as smiling and 
 undisturbed as a May morning. 
 
 "I'm sure I shall not let myself get excited over 
 anything that fellow may say!" 
 
 "Well, he started in this morning, and it's all over 
 Yale, that your father became violently insane last 
 night, and has disappeared mysteriously from his 
 rooms at the New Haven House, and from the city." 
 
 "Which can be easily disproved by any one who 
 will take the trouble to go down to the New Haven 
 House." 
 
 "But we've been there!" 
 
 "And he isn't there?" 
 
 "No. That's just it. He went out for a walk in 
 the green last night and failed to return. His room 
 showed that he was not in it last night. No one down 
 there knows what has become of him." 
 
 Merriwell was disturbed, in spite of his declaration 
 that nothing Dade Morgan could say would have that
 
 Mr. Merriwell's Disappearance. 47 
 
 effect. He remembered the time when Dade stretched 
 a rope across the path of Charles Merriwell at night 
 in the green and tripped him. A sense of impending 
 ill came to him. 
 
 "Have you made any inquiries?" 
 
 "As much as we could without exciting undue sus- \ 
 picion," said Browning. 
 
 "Have you found out how Dade Morgan obtained 
 his information?" 
 
 He felt sure that Dade Morgan knew more than he 
 had declared. 
 
 "He says he saw your father on the green last night 
 wandering round raving mad and muttering to him- 
 self that he was going to get out of New Haven." 
 
 "Of course that's a lie!" said Hooker. 
 
 "A lie right out of his black heart !" Hodge panted. 
 
 "That part of it is a lie," said Frank, "but I'm 
 afraid there has been some underhanded work." 
 
 "Dade Morgan is at the bottom of it !" Bart fiercely 
 declared. 
 
 Merriwell rose from his chair. 
 
 "I'm going to look into this thing." 
 
 Hodge followed him out into the hall, though un- 
 invited. 
 
 "I want to go with you, Merry. Perhaps I can 
 help you!" 
 
 The others trailed out after Hodge. 
 
 "Hodge and I will look into this thing. Just keep
 
 48 Mr. Merriwell's Disappearance. 
 
 mum, fellows, until we make a report. There's no 
 use in scattering the news." 
 
 "Oh, Bade Morgan's doing that, you bet!" grunted 
 Browning. "It makes me want to shake that lying 
 tongue out of his head." 
 
 "I'll hammer it down his throat, if I run up against 
 him!" Hodge asserted. 
 
 "You know how Dade has been working against 
 you, Merry!" Hodge continued, after they descended 
 from the Hall. 
 
 "Anything new?" 
 
 "Well, he's using this against you with the football 
 men, and all his clackers are retailing the same thing. 
 They're saying that you are crazy at times, that you 
 take it from your father, and that it would be suicidal 
 to put you in as captain of the team." 
 
 "I'm not anxious to go in as captain, if I'm not 
 wanted." 
 
 "But you are wanted." 
 
 "Then these stories can't hurt me." 
 
 "But they are hurting you. Your friends want you 
 for captain of the team, and they are going to put you 
 there if they can, whether you care anything about it 
 or not. We're going to fight for it. Dade Morgan 
 is against you, and he has rallied every man who ever 
 fancied you did him an injury, and that other great 
 lot of fellows who have always been jealous of your 
 popularity."
 
 Mr. Merriwell's Disappearance. 49 
 
 "That doesn't matter." 
 
 "It does matter!" 
 
 "You know, Bart, that in football I'm only anxious 
 to have Yale win. I've no personal feelings in the 
 matter, no ax to grind, no enemies to punish." 
 
 "Well, I want you to punish Dade Morgan !" 
 
 "In football?" 
 
 "Yes; he mustn't go on the team. You can keep 
 him off, if you will use your influence. He's pulling 
 every string he can against you, and you ought to 
 strike back." 
 
 Frank smiled, in spite of his anxiety about his 
 father. 
 
 "It would be a strange thing if I, a senior, should 
 range myself against that freshman in such a con- 
 test. It's simply ridiculous." 
 
 "Then he will go on the team!" 
 
 "If he adds strength to the team, I'm willing." 
 
 "Merry, you make me tired! That kind of talk 
 makes me sick!" 
 
 "He's said to be a fine football-player." 
 
 "I shouldn't care if he were the finest on earth, I'd 
 never let him have the satisfaction of going on the 
 Yale team, if I had my way!" 
 
 Merriwell was striding on as if this subject did not 
 concern him. 
 
 "Why, look at what he's doing! He is telling all 
 sorts of stories about you; and not only that, he has
 
 5o Mr. Merriwell's Disappearance. 
 
 in some manner got every man who dislikes you to 
 telling the same. They're doing everything they can 
 to rub dirt all over you, to smirch your character, and 
 to injure you in the eyes of all Yale men." 
 
 Frank turned toward a street-car when they reached 
 the line. 
 
 "Where are you going?" Hodge impatiently asked. 
 
 "To see Selton Dirk, the detective," answered 
 Merry quietly.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A VISIT TO BADE MORGAN. 
 
 Merriwell saw Selton Dirk, talked with the pro- 
 prietor of the New Haven House, questioned quietly 
 the officers at the railway station in fact, left no 
 stone unturned to locate his father or determine what 
 had become of him, but without avail. Charles Con- 
 rad Merriwell seemed to have dropped out of ex- 
 istence. 
 
 Frank was deeply disturbed and distressed. No 
 one would have guessed it, however, from any out- 
 ward sign. Only his friends knew how the disappear- 
 ance troubled him. He could not hide from himself 
 the fact that there might be more than a grain of 
 truth in Dade Morgan's statement that Charles Merri- 
 well's mind was deranged. But Frank was determined 
 not to believe this until it was absolutely forced on 
 him as the truth. 
 
 "I shall proceed on the theory that there has been 
 some foul play, of which Dade Morgan is cognizant," 
 he said, speaking to Bart, as they turned toward Van- 
 derbilt, at the end of their wearying and fruitless 
 search. 
 
 The day had passed and night had again descended 
 on the elms of the college city. Freshmen were
 
 52 A Visit to Dade Morgan. 
 
 skurrying about the streets and college grounds, and 
 the seniors and juniors were gathering at the fence. 
 
 "I just want an opportunity to take the scoundrel 
 by the throat!" Hodge growled. Suddenly Frank 
 stopped. 
 
 "What is it, Merry?" 
 
 "I'm going over to see Dade Morgan." 
 
 "Good! I'll go with you! We'll choke the truth 
 out of the scoundrel !" 
 
 "That's the trouble withTybu, Bart! I don't think 
 you're the one to go with me in that mood. That 
 may be the very worst course to take." 
 
 "Run it to suit yourself, Merry!" Hodge im- 
 patiently grumbled. "That's my way of doing busi- 
 ness, though!" 
 
 Frank knew that he had no better friend than Bart 
 Hodge. 
 
 "You're all right, Bart ; only you're fiery. We'll go 
 over there, and I'll do the talking. If the fellow 
 knows anything " 
 
 "Knows anything? The scoundrel is at the bottom 
 of the whole business!" 
 
 "I think so, myself. Come on." 
 
 Dade Morgan's room was not far away, and they 
 soon reached the building. When they mounted to 
 the floor on which his room was located they found 
 his door open and Dade in. He looked surprised and
 
 A Visit to Dade Morgan. 53 
 
 somewhat perturbed by the unexpected call. But only 
 for a moment; then the smile returned to his hand- 
 some face. Hodge wanted to choke him for that 
 smile. 
 
 "Be seated, gentlemen!" he invited. "To whom 
 am I indebted for the honor?" 
 
 Merriwell dropped into a chair, but Hodge re- 
 mained standing near the door. He had a notion 
 that Dade might try to make a break for the outer 
 air, and he wanted to be where he could stop him in 
 that event. 
 
 Frank sat down and began to talk on indifferent 
 things, all the while looking into Morgan's handsome, 
 smiling face, but making no mention of the subject 
 uppermost in his mind. 
 
 Morgan was a good talker on any subject. He was 
 wonderfully well informed. He fancied that Frank 
 was trying to take a mental measure, and he tried to 
 make as brilliant a showing as he could. 
 
 By and by it began to seem to Hodge that Frank 
 had entirely forgotten the subject that brought them 
 to Dade's room. He grew impatient and anxious, but 
 he did not sit down, and he never left the vicinity of 
 the door. 
 
 "Why does he amble on in that fashion?" he men- 
 tally grumbled. "My way is to go right to the point 
 at once." He did not see that Frank was trying to 
 get Dade under his powerful and subtle influence for
 
 54 A Visit to Dade Morgan. 
 
 the purpose of then extracting all the information he 
 possessed concerning Frank's father. 
 
 But Dade Morgan knew it and understood. His 
 eyes wavered away from Frank's as they talked on, 
 but always came back. Finally Frank began to think 
 that he was about to accomplish his purpose. 
 
 But suddenly Dade aroused himself with an ap- 
 parent effort, and, picking up a heavy book, hurled 
 it straight at Hodge's head. It fell short, striking 
 Hodge on the shoulder and almost knocking him 
 down. 
 
 With an enraged roar, Hodge sprang at Dade Mor- 
 gan's throat. 
 
 "You villain!" he snarled. 
 
 Dade rose to meet him, now thoroughly aroused 
 and on the defensive. He cleverly evaded the blow; 
 that Hodge launched at his head, met it with a counter 
 blow on Hodge's cheek, and tried to drive his heavy, 
 left into the pit of Hodge's stomach. 
 
 But Bart's rush was irresistible. It carried Mor- 
 gan off his feet; and in another moment they were 
 rolling on the floor, with Hodge's hand searching for, 
 Dade's throat. 
 
 Frank knew that Dade had roused himself in a 
 desperate effort to break the spell that was being 
 woven round him. 
 
 "You scoundrel!" Hodge was panting. "I'll choke 
 the black heart out of you!"
 
 A Visit to Dade Morgan. 55 
 
 Merriwell quietly closed and locked the door, to 
 shut out from the other rooms the sounds of the 
 struggle. Then he turned to the combatants. 
 
 Hodge was not having it all his own way. Dade 
 had hurled Bart aside, pushed back the outstretched 
 hand, and, with his fingers in Bart's hair, was forcing 
 back his head. 
 
 The freshman was a fighter. He planted a blow 
 on Bart's cheek that brought a red welt. Then he 
 broke from Hodge's grasp and backed into a corner 
 of the room. Here he put his back against the wall, 
 lifted his hands in a defensive attitude, and called to 
 Hodge to "come on." 
 
 There was a sound of hurrying feet in the outer 
 hall, together with cries and calls. Frank heard the 
 iword "Proctor." He did not want Hodge to be 
 'found fighting with the freshman, and, with a leap, 
 he put himself between the belligerents. 
 
 "Drop it!" he commanded. "This thing must not 
 go on. Drop it right here and now!" 
 
 The words were quietly spoken, but there was deep 
 meaning in them. Hodge drew himself up with an 
 effort. 
 
 "He began it, Merry! I don't care a fig for the 
 authorities. Let me get at him!" 
 
 "Drop it!" Merriwell commanded; and Hodge, 
 picking up his cap, turned sullenly toward the door, 
 that red welt showing plainly on his face.
 
 56 A Visit to Dade Morgan. 
 
 "I'll see you again!" he growled, turning to Dade 
 Morgan. "Then we'll settle this thing." 
 
 "Any time and place you please!" Dade retorted, 
 with a cold, taunting smile. 
 
 A rap sounded on the door. Frank opened it. The 
 man outside bowed and smiled when he saw Mer- 
 riwell. 
 
 "Anything wrong in here, Mr. Merriwell?" he 
 asked. 
 
 Frank answered the question, Yankeelike, by asking 
 another : 
 
 "What's the row?" 
 
 "There were sounds of fighting along here some- 
 where." 
 
 "Well, I haven't been fighting, as you can see!" 
 
 "Certainly not. I didn't suppose that you had, Mr. 
 Merriwell. I beg pardon for interrupting you. But 
 it was along here somewhere." 
 
 Then he bowed apologetically to the famous senior 
 and went on his way, searching for the culprits. 
 Frank turned back to Dade Morgan. There was no 
 further use to disguise the cause of his visit to the 
 room. 
 
 "Mr. Morgan, my father is missing from his hotel 
 and from the city. You know what stories you have 
 been telling." 
 
 "They're all true!" Dade hotly declared. 
 
 "Pardon me, if I tell you that you lie!"
 
 A Visit to Dade Morgan. 57 
 
 Dade had tried to coax the smile back to his face, 
 but now his cheeks flamed. He wanted to launch 
 himself at Merri well's head, but he did not dare. 
 
 "I know nothing about your father, more than I've 
 told, and if I did I should refuse to tell you." 
 
 "Oh, I've got to get at him, Merry!" Hodge panted. 
 
 Merriwell pushed his friend back. 
 
 "There's no friendship lost between you and me, 
 Merriwell!" said Dade. "You know that, even if I 
 am only a freshman and you a senior. I've set out to 
 down you, and I'll do it. Put that in your pipe and 
 smoke it !" 
 
 He was white now and shaking like a leaf, yet he 
 was still defiant and courageous. He looked like a 
 stag at bay. Frank saw that it was a mere waste of 
 breath to try to extract anything from him. Choking 
 and blows would not have dragged from Dade Mor- 
 gan's breast any of its secrets. 
 
 "The next time Hodge goes at you I hope it will 
 not be necessary for me to interfere," said Frank 
 grimly. 
 
 He turned toward the door. 
 
 "I don't want you to interfere. If he ever tackles 
 me again I'll teach him a lesson that he'll never 
 forget." 
 
 "Bah!" Hodge sneered. 
 
 Merriwell was unlocking the door. Hodge stopped 
 as if he still had a thought of going back and trying
 
 58 A Visit to Dade Morgan. 
 
 conclusions with Morgan. But Frank pulled him 
 through the doorway. 
 
 "Come on," he said. "I've other work to do to- 
 night. We don't want to have the room raided while 
 we're here. Cork up, and come on!" 
 
 "You allowed him to defeat you!" Hodge grum- 
 bled as he followed Frank from the building. 
 
 "He hasn't defeated me. I shall strike in another 
 direction. I must have time to think. There's no 
 use following a trail when there's nothing at the end 
 of it, merely to gratify a desire for revenge. I've 
 other plans to work to-night. If he feels that he has 
 defeated me, I shall be glad to have him think so."
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 IN THE HANDS OF HAZERS. 
 
 Jack Ready hopped into the rooms occupied by Diet! 
 Starbright and Bert Dashleigh. 
 
 "Say, fellows," he chirped airily, blowing out his 
 cheeks, "if you want to see something that's more fun 
 than a dog fight, just chase your faces down to tha, 
 front entrance." 
 
 The hour was late, and Starbright had been on the 
 point of retiring. Dashleigh jumped up to follow 
 Ready. Dick opened his window and looked out. 
 The moon was shining brightly and the night was 
 still, except for such sounds as were made by various/ 
 groups of rollicking students. 
 
 "What's the row?" he asked. 
 
 Dashleigh was following Ready along the hall, and 
 Dick now chased unsuspectingly after him. 
 
 He did not once think of hazers. Continued se- 
 curity had caused a lack of caution, and, besides, 
 knowing that Ready was a particular friend of Frank 
 Merriwell, he expected no hazing trick from the 
 apple-cheeked sophomore, notwithstanding the fact 
 that sophomores are the sworn enemies of new] 
 freshmen. 
 
 When he reached the entrance he was unceremoni- 
 ously picked up in the arms of a half-dozen stalwart
 
 60 In the Hands of Hazers. 
 
 sophomores, among whom he recognized Ralph Bing- 
 ham. Dashleigh was already in the toils and had 
 ceased to struggle. Dick looked round on this sopho- 
 more contingent, as he felt himself caught up. 
 
 "Gentlemen !" he drawled, assuming an imperturba- 
 ble manner. "I learned to walk a long time ago. 
 There doesn't seem to be any particular necessity for 
 carrying me." 
 
 His coolness struck the sophomores favorably. 
 
 "If you'll go along peaceably, we'll let you down!" 
 -said Bingham. 
 
 "Use him tenderly, for he's my friend!" said 
 Ready. "Don't jab pins into him, gentlemen! For 
 pity's sake, don't ! Observe the proprieties and it will 
 {make you feel bigger than other people. Yea, verily !" 
 
 Dashleigh appeared to be inclined to make a strug- 
 gle. Dick gave him a word of advice : 
 
 "No use rowing! If there's any medicine to take, 
 take it and have done with it." 
 
 They had talked this matter over in their first days 
 at Yale and reached the conclusion that if they were 
 caught by the sophomores the best thing was to sub- 
 mit as gracefully as possible and implicitly obey all 
 orders, no matter how ridiculous. And really this is 
 the only way to escape severe hazing. 
 
 Another party of sophomores had approached the 
 freshman boarding-house occupied by Dade Morgan. 
 
 "You can't come in !" the landlady declared. "It's
 
 In the Hands of Hazers. 61 
 
 a perfect shame the way you soph'more fellers bam- 
 boozle the poor freshmen!" 
 
 With this she unceremoniously slammed the door in 
 their faces. Only a few moments later she came run- 
 ning out of the house, shrieking. 
 
 "I'll have the police on yer ! Come down from that 
 ladder in a minute, or I'll pull it out from under yer!" 
 
 At the top of the long ladder, which reached up to 
 Dade Morgan's room, were two strong sophomores, 
 who had unceremoniously invaded the premises 
 through the window. 
 
 "Madam," said a calm voice from the top of the. 
 ladder, "there is no necessity for such exuberance on 
 your part. Kindly let go of the ladder or I'll drop on 
 you!" 
 
 "Sarah! Sarah!" she screeched, looking toward the 
 entrance. "There goes two more of the rapscallions 
 inter the front door." 
 
 More than two went in, and the irate landlady 
 frantically gathered up her skirts and sprinted for the 
 front stoop, wildly declaring that she would call the 
 police. 
 
 With sophomore foes to the front of him and 1 
 sophomore foes to the rear, and more coming, Dade 
 Morgan wisely decided that it was useless to kick, and 
 he calmly prepared to submit. 
 
 The landlady was telephoning for the police, shriek-
 
 62 In the Hands of Hazers. 
 
 ing her woes into the instrument in so frantic a way 
 that a whole platoon of the blue-coated gentry hur- 
 ried to the scene; but like every other well-conducted 
 organization of the kind, they arrived when every- 
 thing was quiet again, and the freshman, sophomores, 
 and ladder were all gone. When they understood, the 
 guardians of the peace smiled at the woman's woes. 
 
 "They may git kilt!" she sobbed. "Yer never kin 
 tell what them college fools will do." 
 
 "I guess he'll not be so much killed but that his 
 room rent will go on," was the answer. 
 
 Two other freshmen, big Hawaiians, whose room 
 had been invaded, put up a stiff fight before they 
 yielded, and, as a consequence, had scored up two 
 sophomoric black eyes. This was a heavy tally, and 
 had their youth been brought up in regions less re- 
 mote from civilization they would have known that 
 to inflict such injury was only to punish themselves 
 with tenfold severity. 
 
 In this way a press-gang of thirty or more fresh- 
 men was gathered under the glare of an arc light on 
 the green. They were a fantastic and unique com- 
 pany, and they made a sorry spectacle, with their 
 coats turned inside out and their trousers rolled up to 
 the knee. Each of them was armed with a broom, 
 which he was required to handle as if it were an army 
 rifle. 
 
 The sophomores who formed the escort of this
 
 In the Hands of Mazers. 63 
 
 meek and grotesque array were congratulating them- 
 selves on the splendid round-up of the evening. Not 
 for a long time had such a number of freshmen been 
 beguiled from their rooms to undergo the trials that 
 were about to be put on them. 
 
 As the freshmen were being lined up and set in 
 marching order, Frank Merriwell appeared on the 
 scene. Some of the sophomores were disguised in 
 various fanciful ways, and among these, Frank, also 
 disguised, smuggled himself. He smiled in a grim 
 and mysterious way when he beheld Dade Morgan. 
 He had a little plan to trip Dade Morgan, and he was 
 there to work it out. 
 
 Frank's influence as a senior and popular Yale man 
 would have been sufficient to bring about Dade's re- 
 lease from the toils qf the sophomores. But Frank 
 did not want that. 
 
 "Hep! hep! hep! Company halt! Parade * 
 rest! No levity, freshmen; no levity!" 
 
 The entire sophomore class had gathered on the 
 green to witness the public humiliation of the fresh- 
 men, and a swarming rabble of Townies was there for 
 the same purpose. 
 
 Merriwell recognized the big sophomore who was 
 shouting the orders as Ralph Bingham. In fact, Bing- 
 ham seemed to be the leading spirit of the inquisition, 
 for such was the character this demonstration was 
 soon to assume.
 
 64 In the Hands of Hazers. 
 
 "Company, 'tention!" Bingham shouted. "Line up 
 for inspection! Carry arms!" 
 
 The fun had begun. 
 
 The freshmen fell into a long line on the asphalt 
 walk and "carried arms" at such various angles that 
 the whole row presented a ridiculous rear view of 
 white legs, variegated backs, and bristling broom- 
 heads. 
 
 Bingham, as drill-master, had many lieutenants, all 
 armed with keen switches, and he and his lieutenants 
 were literally whipping the freshmen into line. 
 
 "Stand up straight ! Bunch up ! Head erect ! Eyes 
 to the front !" 
 
 Swish! swish! swish! went the switches. 
 
 "Wow!" Dashleigh exclaimed, as the switches cut 
 his legs. 
 
 "No levity, freshman!" 
 
 Swish! swish! swish! 
 
 "Wipe off that smile!" 
 
 This to Dade Morgan, who was still putting into 
 practise his belief that "a man may smile, and smile, 
 and be a villain still." 
 
 "Trim down those piano legs." 
 
 "I'll trim you down !" was shouted back. 
 
 Swish! swish! the switches fell on the "piano legs," 
 making the owner dance a hornpipe. 
 
 "No back talk, fresh ! If it hurts, that's what it's 
 meant for."
 
 In the Hands of Hazers. 65 
 
 Dick Starbright and Bert Dashleigh, near the center 
 of the line, were hopping up and down like chickens 
 on hot coals, but Dick knew enough not to use any 
 "back talk." 
 
 The two big Hawaimns near the head of the line 
 were being unmercifully castigated. They were boil- 
 ing mad. They wanted to fight, and would have done 
 so if the sophomores had not been round them in over- 
 powering numbers. 
 
 "Gentlemen," said Bingham, when the line had 
 been switched into some sort of shape, "this is a very 
 pleasant occasion. It gives me great pleasure to say 
 that it has never before been my privilege to look upon 
 such a mean, raw-boned, poorly-developed, knock- 
 kneed, scared-to-death aggregation of freshmen !" 
 
 Bingham's speech was punctuated with howls from 
 the sophomores of "Footless freshmen!" "Rotten!" 
 "Pie-eyed!" "Dopes!" and similar uncomplimentary 
 things. The freshmen moved restlessly under these 
 epithets, and one of the Hawaiians audibly growled 
 his resentment. 
 
 "Give 'im another for me!" ordered the sophomore 
 whose nose had been hammered by the Hawaiian. 
 
 Swish ! 
 
 The Hawaiian got it and took it with wrath at the 
 boiling point. 
 
 "Yes, gentlemen, you are a lovely set!" continued 
 Bingham. "And now we, are ready to proceed with
 
 66 In the Hands of Hazers. 
 
 the physical examinations. If the surgeons have their 
 knives in readiness " 
 
 Shouts of "Fruit! fruit!" interrupted him. 
 
 "Exactly!" assented Bingham. "We are now about 
 to operate on and remove the 'appendix togae,' popu- 
 larly known as the 'fruit.' The results of these several 
 operations will be sold at auction sale at 64 Vanderbilt 
 to-morrow afternoon, the object being to make this 
 'fruiting' as systematic as possible." 
 
 Two sophomores came up behind the Hawaiian, 
 while Bingham and four others approached the head 
 of the line. One of the sophomores carried an opened 
 penknife in his hand, and he thus addressed the big 
 Pacific Islander: 
 
 "Does your mouth trouble you while eating?" 
 
 "No!" angrily. 
 
 Thump! thumpf 
 
 The two sophomores behind the Hawaiian brought 
 their knees up against him with jarring force. 
 
 "No, what?" demanded the man with the knife. 
 
 "No, it doesn't " 
 
 Thump ! 
 
 "Trouble me " 
 
 Thump ! 
 
 "My mouth!" 
 
 The confused freshman stammered and gulped, for 
 at almost every word those jarring knees came up 
 against him.
 
 In the Hands of Hazers. 67 
 
 "One moment, if you please, surgeon," interposed 
 Bingham. "I don't think the gentleman understands 
 the question. Freshman, will you listen carefully to 
 what I say?" 
 
 "Yes," replied the Hawaiian. 
 
 Thump ! thump ! 
 
 "Yes, what?" demanded Bingham. 
 
 "Yes, I'll listen carefully!" 
 
 Thump ! thump ! 
 
 "You are very stupid," said Bingham, with con- 
 descension. "But try to open the avenues of your in- 
 tellect to my words while I tell you that it is cus- 
 tomary when addressing an upper classman to say 
 'sir.' " 
 
 "Oh!" exclaimed the Hawaiian. 
 
 Thump! thump! "Oh, what?" shouted the man 
 with the knife. 
 
 "Oh, sir!" 
 
 "Right!" cried Bingham. 
 
 "Have you heart disease?" asked the surgeon. 
 
 "No, sir!" 
 
 "Ever been in Philadelphia?" 
 
 "No, sir!" 
 
 "Then let the operation proceed!" 
 
 Two sophomores held the big fellow's arms, and 
 another seized the tag at the end of his shirt bosom, 
 which appendage bears the name of "fruit," and this 
 the man with the knife deftly removed.
 
 68 In the Hands of Hazers. 
 
 "Now," said Bingham, who wanted to humiliate 
 the big fellow all he could for what he had done, "be- 
 ing a prominent man, we desire people to know who 
 you are. Put your arms about yonder light-pole and 
 continue to call as loud as you can, 'I am a greasy 
 Kannaca!' Do you understand?" 
 
 "Yes yes, sir!" said the subdued Hawaiian, who 
 proceeded to follow out his instructions, while the 
 ministers of the inquisition passed down the entire 
 line, removing the fruits as they went. 
 
 Starbright and Dashleigh let them take away the 
 tags bearing their initials without a word of protest. 
 It was better so. The work occupied some minutes, 
 but all this time the big Hawaiian clinging to the elec- 
 tric-light pole was shouting with the best power of his 
 lungs : 
 
 "I am a greasy Kannaca ! I am a greasy Kannaca !" 
 
 If he paused for a moment he was urged to it again 
 by hissing switches, which played familiarly about his 
 calves. Truly enough, he was paying dearly for those 
 blackened sophomore optics and bleeding proboscis. 
 
 Finally, the public humiliation being completed, the 
 freshmen were turned into regimental columns of 
 fours. 
 
 "Carry arms! For-ward march!" shouted Bing- 
 ham, and the freshmen began to move on to further 
 troubles, with the great crowd of "muckers," which 
 had gathered to watch the proceedings, following and
 
 In the Hands of Hazers. 69 
 
 surrounding the dejected and ridiculous-looking com- 
 pany amid hoots and yells. 
 
 "Hep! hep! hep!" 
 
 The freshmen were marched from the green and 
 gyrated up Elm Street toward "Billie's."
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 HAZING AT BILLIE'S.. 
 
 The indignity which was thus being thrust upon the 
 freshmen was the relic of a barbarous form of hazing, 
 which has been so ceaselessly agitated and legislated 
 against that it has fallen into disrepute and disuse. 
 
 Hazing as practised in the past has completely un- 
 nerved many a strong man and has not infrequently 
 terminated in violent death. Nevertheless, when the 
 jolly old grayhead of 'umpty-eight returns to see the 
 old place again and there falls in with the jovial old 
 fellow of 'umpty-nine, they will laugh over their Toby 
 at Morey's, or their Musty at "Heibs," as they recall 
 the wild, rollicking history of the days that were truly 
 hazing days a history that contains many bits of 
 humorous, startling, and grave story. 
 
 Mounting the steps of the low frame building, Bing- 
 ham swung back the door and disclosed the interior.
 
 Hazing at Billie's. 71 
 
 A narrow, low-ceilinged room whose mural decoration 
 consists of red and yellow cuts depicting pugilistic 
 champions and scantily appareled histrionic beauties. 
 The ceiling is dingy and dark. 
 
 Dividing this room in half runs a long maltreated 
 bar, over which a single light burns in a red globe. 
 Opening at the rear are several doors which lead into 
 a maze of little rooms. 
 
 Behind the bar, with his back leaning against the 
 bottle-shelves, stood the little man of the place, with 
 his sleeves rolled to his elbows and his round stomach, 
 covered with a spotless white apron, resting against 
 the inner rail of the bar. He was a jovial little fellow, 
 smiling genially and constantly, with a head profanely 
 called "the human billiard-ball," shining merrily be- 
 neath the red globe. 
 
 Bingham held the door open, and the sophomores 
 and freshmen began to pour into the room, which was 
 reeking with fumes of liquor and tobacco. 
 
 "Line up, freshmen!" shouted Bingham. The 
 freshmen wheeled into crowded line, broomsticks and 
 all, to face the broadly-smiling Billie. 
 
 "Billie," said Bingham, "the honor, sir, has de- 
 volved upon me to introduce to your excellent notice 
 this congregation of pusillanimous warts, representing 
 the freshman class." 
 
 Billie smiled till the smile became a grin.
 
 72 Hazing at Billie's. 
 
 "Freshmen," commanded Bingham, "bow to this 
 august gentleman!" 
 
 The freshmen, broomsticks and all, bent forward 
 in a ludicrous salaam. , 
 
 "Freshmen," continued Bingham, "this is honest 
 Billie. If there is one thing he longs for more than 
 your happiness it is your money." 
 
 Merriwell was closely watching Dade Morgan. The 
 crowd began to surge back through the little rooms, 
 with Frank close to Dade, and soon they reached a 
 wide open space, covered by a canvas roof, beneath 
 which ran a long line of heavy tables. 
 
 In a moment this summer-garden was filled to its 
 limits. Bingham stood up on one of the tables and 
 addressed the freshmen, saying that, as it would 
 shortly be their duty to uphold the honor of the uni- 
 versity on the water, they were therefore about to re- 
 ceive some instructions in this noble sport. 
 
 Eight freshmen, among them Dade Morgan, Dick 
 Starbright, and the big Hawaiian, were now seized 
 and set astride the long tables and made to use their 
 brooms in the manner of oars. Dick had the position 
 of "stroke," while the Hawaiian was set to coxswain 
 the unhappy crew. 
 
 "Now, fresh, ready, row!" 
 
 The freshmen began to swing their bodies and arms 
 furiously, sweeping the eight brooms with vigor
 
 Hazing at Billie's. 73 
 
 through the empty air. Immediately cries of derision 
 filled the tent. 
 
 "Coach there ! Give the time !" commanded a num- 
 ber of sophomores, speaking to and crowding about 
 the big coxswain. 
 
 "Hi, whoop!" cried the unlucky Pacific Islander. 
 
 Thump! whack! whack! 
 
 "Hi, whoop what?" they yelled, beating him lustily 
 about the shoulders. 
 
 "Hi, whoop, sir ! Hi, whoop, sir ! Hi, whoop, sir !" 
 sang the miserable Hawaiian, swinging his body in 
 time with the crew till the perspiration stood out on his 
 brow in great beads. 
 
 Then came admonitions from the coaching line. 
 
 "Steady, 7!" 
 
 "Don't rush that slide, 4!" 
 
 "Quicker on the catch, 2 !" 
 
 "Leave a little water in the pond, 6!" 
 
 "No bucking there, stroke!" 
 
 "Whoop, now, all together!" 
 
 And all the while the freshmen swung to their work 
 with enough energy to send a boat flying over a course. 
 
 "Now," shouted Bingham, "we are ready for the 
 great four-mile race with Harvard. Freshmen, upon 
 your right is the Harvard crew waiting for the signal. 
 The word 'go' releases you both, and the honor of 
 Yale hangs upon your efforts." The freshmen bent
 
 74 Hazing at Billie's. 
 
 forward for the catch. The crowd waited in breathless 
 suspense. 
 
 "Go!" cried Bingham. 
 
 Back swung the freshmen, forward swept the 
 brooms. Cries, yells, and howls rose from the spec- 
 tators. Many of the sophomores stood on chairs, 
 waving their hats and yelling encouragement to the 
 laboring crew. 
 
 "Hi, whoop,, sir! Hi, whoop, sir!" sang the Ha- 
 waiian. 
 
 "Go it ! Hit it up. You're gaining. You're ahead ! 
 Go it! Go it!" cried the crowd in a frenzy, as the 
 crew was rowing its phantom course so fast and furi- 
 ously that the entire summer-garden trembled and 
 strained on its foundations. Suddenly the sophomores 
 bawled into the boating-song : 
 
 "And if it's a girl, sir, 
 
 I'll dress her up in blue, 
 And send her out to Saultenstall 
 
 To coach the freshmen crew. 
 And if it is a boy, sir, 
 
 I'll put him on the crew, 
 And he shall wax the Harvards, 
 
 As his daddy used to do ! 
 
 CHORUS : 
 
 "I'm a son of a, son of a, son of a, 
 
 Son of a gambolier; 
 I'm a son of a, son of a, son of a, 
 
 Son of a gambolier. 
 Like every honest fellow, 
 
 I take my whisky clear; 
 I'm a rambling rake of poverty, 
 
 A son of a gambolier."
 
 Hazing at Billie's. 75 
 
 "One-half mile from the finishing-line!" howled 
 Bingham, swinging his arms wildly about his head. 
 "Pick up your stroke now. Hit her up! Make the 
 water boil! You're gaining! You're ahead! One 
 scant length ! Hold your stroke. Steady. Yale ! Yale ! 
 Pump your very hearts out! Still gaining! Full 
 length ! Length and a half ! Magnificent spurt ! Oh, 
 you're beauties! You've got 'em going! They're 
 cracking! There's the flag! Just a little further! 
 Give it to her, my hearties! Go over the line like 
 heroes! Don't break now! Not a crack! Steady! 
 Throw her over the line with a jump! Splendid! 
 Once more altogether now for old Yale ! You've done 
 it! Yale wins by two and one-half lengths!" 
 
 The speaker ceased. 
 
 Panting from their violent exertions, the freshmen 
 came to rest on their ungainly oars. The crowd had 
 increased its uproar tenfold. All the previous noise 
 was but the dinning of a tin horn compared to this 
 stentorian outburst. 
 
 A rush was made for the victorious crew. Each 
 was dragged from the table and congratulations were 
 rained, poured, thumped, and pounded upon him till 
 he staggered about like a drunken man. Especially 
 did the Hawaiian seem a mark for these muscular con- 
 gratulations, for his admirers, not satisfied with slap- 
 ping him on the back, drove home their appreciation 
 with closed fist and shoe-toe.
 
 76 Hazing at Billie's. 
 
 The hazing had not ended, however. When the 
 cheering and noise had subsided Bingham clapped his 
 hands as a signal, and two sophomores appeared bear- 
 ing an oak board with keen knives set in it, points 
 upward. 
 
 The freshmen looked at the ominous thing with a 
 shiver, for they heard the sophomores whispering that 
 the freshmen were to be made to leap on these knives 
 with their bare feet. 
 
 Starbright, Bade Morgan and other freshmen se- 
 lected for this trial were hurried away, and the big 
 Hawaiian, against whom the efforts of the sopho- 
 mores seemed to be now principally directed, was 
 commanded to remove his shoes and stockings. 
 
 He seemed about to rebel, as he looked at the shi- 
 ning knives in their cruel array. Other freshmen were 
 hurried away, and the sophomores crowded round the 
 board with the knives as if for the purpose of keeping 
 the freshmen from seeing what was about to be done. 
 
 Looking at the Sandwich Islander, Frank saw that 
 his yellow face was covered with perspiration, and 
 that his eyes held a hunted and distressed look. 
 
 Suddenly Frank stripped away his disguise, bring- 
 ing wondering cries from the crowd, for his presence 
 had up to that moment been unsuspected. 
 
 "Fellows ! You've gone far enough with this chap." 
 
 The sophomores fell back when they beheld the face 
 of Merriwell, the senior. They stood in awe of all
 
 Hazing at Billie's. 77 
 
 seniors, but more in awe of Merriwell. Even those 
 who had been arrayed in opposition to Frank through 
 the machinations of Dade Morgan, felt the influence 
 of his presence, and not for a moment did one of them 
 think of disobeying him, save Jack Ready. 
 
 "Oh, I say, Merry! Let's have this thing. We 
 want to prove his courage. It takes courage for a 
 man to jump barefooted on those knives. I don't be- 
 lieve the Kannaca will do it. If he does, he will prove 
 himself to have the heart of a knight of old." 
 
 "Let the Hawaiian go, and bring on some other 
 fellow!" 
 
 The Sandwich Islander gave Frank a grateful look. 
 He was a man who would remember such a favor. 
 Instantly there arose a cry for Dick Starbright. And 
 Starbright was brought forward, while the Hawaiian, 
 once more breathing easily, was pushed back and or- 
 dered to "rehabilitate his corns !" 
 
 Frank looked into Dick's face as the big freshman 
 came forward. He saw Dick glance unquailingly at 
 the knives, as he was instructed to bare his feet and 
 get ready to jump on them. The board with the 
 knives was also given him to examine, that he might 
 be sure they were real knives and their points sharp. 
 
 There could be no doubt that they were all of shi- 
 ning cold steel, with points like needles. 
 
 But Starbright stripped off his shoes. Again the 
 sophomores crowded round, for the apparent purpose
 
 78 Hazing at Billie's. 
 
 of hiding the performance from the other freshmen 
 who might be called to undergo the same ordeal later, 
 and therefore should be kept in ignorance concern- 
 ing it. 
 
 A stool was brought for Dick to stand on in taking 
 the leap. He mounted this as requested. There was 
 a deep silence the silence that seems to precede a 
 tragedy. Frank caught Starbright's eyes. They were 
 clear and calm. 
 
 "The fellow has infinite nerve!" was his thought. 
 "He will make the jump!" 
 
 "Freshman," said Bingham, again assuming au- 
 thority, "you will proceed to jump with your bare feet 
 upon those knives. You have seen that they are sharp. 
 This is a test of freshman courage. If you fail in 
 this ordeal we will know that you are a craven. Fresh- 
 man, jump!" 
 
 Without an instant's hesitation Starbright jumped 
 straight out from the stool in his bare feet and de- 
 scended on the murderous-looking oaken board. A 
 groan went up from some of the spectators who still 
 believed the knives what they seemed. 
 
 But Starbright's feet struck nothing more danger- 
 ous than knives of rubber, which bent under the pres- 
 sure and inflicted no wound. Frank pushed forward 
 and took the big freshman by the hand. 
 
 "Did you know what they were?" he asked. "Did
 
 Hazing at Billie's. 79 
 
 you see the sophomores change the board with the real 
 knives for this one?" 
 
 "No," Dick answered, "but I was dead sure that 
 there was a trick somewhere, for no men in their 
 senses would ask any one to jump with bare feet on 
 real knives. So I jumped !" 
 
 Others were called on to undergo this ordeal; but 
 many of them quailed and refused to do so, and, when 
 that occurred, the offender was picked up bodily and 
 jammed down on the dangerous-looking knives. More 
 than one of the freshmen shrieked with fear when 
 thus forced to sit down on the rubber knives. 
 
 Again there were shouts for the Hawaiian, followed 
 by a rush for him. But Frank once more interposed, 
 for he saw that the nerves of the big fellow were so 
 badly shaken that it was worse than cruelty to force 
 him further. 
 
 Then there was a bustling about, and excited whis- 
 perings. Frank put up a hand and called for attention. 
 
 "The hazing has gone far enough to-night !" he de- 
 clared. 
 
 "But we've got a whole lot of hair-raisers left in 
 store!" Jack Ready howled. "Why, we haven't be- 
 gun ! We've some other things stowed back here that 
 will make those knives lose their glitter." 
 
 But Frank Merriwell was obdurate; and when he 
 said positively that the merriment had gone far 
 enough, that great mob of sophomores, who could
 
 8o Hazing at Billie's. 
 
 have ridden over him and done as they pleased by 
 sheer force of numbers, meekly yielded. 
 
 Merriwell had said it, and Merriwell's word was 
 law in this thing. Not even his enemies offered a 
 word of protest, but meekly submitted. 
 
 Dade Morgan heard the outcry, and this show of 
 Merriwell's influence and mastery was almost more 
 than he could bear. He had fancied that he was 
 swinging the power of the most influential of the 
 sophomores against Frank, but this exhibition taught 
 him his error. He saw that Merriwell was the same 
 unsubdued, conquering, and invincible Merriwell as of 
 old. 
 
 "Well, we must have this then!" chattered Ready, 
 motioning toward Dade, who, held far in the rear, had 
 not been able to see or understand the trick of the 
 rubber knives. The sophomores looked at Frank; 
 and, when he did not object, a half-dozen of them 
 rushed back for Dade, pounced on him and dragged 
 him forward for the knife ordeal. 
 
 At this moment Frank put up his hands in a peculiar 
 way. Then Dade, mounted on the stool, saw a form 
 rise up from the midst of the sophomores opposite. 
 
 It was the form and face of Charles Conrad Merri- 
 well. Dade stared. He thought Charles Merriwell 
 had been spirited away. But he showed no other sign. 
 
 Frank was watching him with the eye of an eagle.
 
 Hazing at Billie's. 81 
 
 "Not the guilty one!" he murmured. "Whoever 
 did it, that one was not Dade Morgan!" 
 
 Dade was as fearless as Dick Starbright and took 
 the leap upon the seeming knives without a shiver. 
 
 Then there was a rush for the outer entrance. 
 Frank linked his arm in that of his father and hur- 
 ried out, being among the first to pass through the 
 doorway. 
 
 A young man had walked stealthily along outside 
 and stopped in front of the doorway, where he stood, 
 listening to the sounds within and furtively watching 
 those who came out. 
 
 When he saw Charles Merriwell, with his remark- 
 able face and snow-white hair a face that could not 
 be mistaken anywhere he uttered a cry, and fell back- 
 ward. The young man was Morton Agnew! 
 
 Agnew fancied he had seen the ghost of Charles 
 Conrad Merriwell. The plot hatched in the brain of 
 the mysterious stranger, Hector King, Agnew had in 
 fact sought to carry out, though without King's knowl- 
 edge or the connivance or knowledge of Dade Mor- 
 gan. 
 
 King had planned to capture Charles Merriwell in 
 the green and spirit him away, but had been baffled, 
 for the reason that Merriwell did not that night walk 
 in the green. He sent word by mail to Dade of his 
 failure, but Dade was industriously spreading the 
 story when the letter was received.
 
 82 Hazing at Billie's. 
 
 Morton Agnew, knowing nothing of King's plot, 
 had by a mere chance encountered Charles Merriwell 
 walking at night along the wharves. With the assist- 
 ance of a disreputable sailor who was in his pay, he 
 had secured Merriwell and put him in a rowboat, 
 with the rather wild and foolish idea that he could 
 smuggle him aboard the Whippoonvill, a schooner 
 lying not far from shore with sails up and on the point 
 of sailing for the Bermudas. 
 
 But Charles Merriwell had struggled so much that 
 the boat was upset as it neared the schooner, and the 
 entire party was thrown into the water. 
 
 Agnew had seen Charles Merriwell, with hands 
 bound, sink, as he believed, to a watery death. 
 
 But the man was a magnificent swimmer, and man- 
 aged to reach a rowboat, to which he clung while the 
 tide carried it out of the harbor. His cries were heard 
 and he was rescued by a fishing-schooner. 
 
 As soon as he arrived in New Haven, which was 
 the next night, he had communicated with Frank. 
 
 What followed was largely of Frank's planning. 
 Knowing from Ready that Dade Morgan was to be 
 hazed, Frank planned to have his father appear be- 
 fore Morgan in that spectacular way, believing that 
 Morgan would not be able to conceal a show of fear 
 if he were guilty. 
 
 He knew now that Dade Morgan, whatever else he 
 had done, was at least innocent of this. Agnew was
 
 Hazing at Billie's. 83 
 
 the guilty man. But Frank was not at once able to 
 punish the rascal, whom he had driven out of Yale the 
 previous year, and whose undying enmity he had 
 earned in consequence. 
 
 He sought to lay hands on him, but, even while ut- 
 tering that telltale and frightened cry, Agnew stepped 
 backward, and, the tide of excited sophomores and 
 freshmen pouring out and around Frank at the mo- 
 ment gave the man an opportunity to escape. 
 
 "I unveiled the real villain, anyway," Frank thought, 
 as he walked homeward from Billie's, "and I'm glad 
 to know that it was not Dade Morgan. He is capable 
 of it, perhaps, but he didn't do that!"
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE NEW CAPTAIN. 
 
 "Merriwell, Merriwell, Merriwell! Hurrah!" 
 
 The cry went up from hundreds of throats as stu- 
 dents came rushing out of Alumni Hall, cheering 
 madly and waving their hats and caps. 
 
 Men were running hither and thither across the 
 campus, yelling joyously as they ran, as if seeking to 
 hurriedly convey good news of some sort. Waiting 
 groups rose and howled and danced like wild Indians. 
 Windows of the quadrangle flew open on all sides, 
 and heads of students filled them; these took up the 
 cheering. 
 
 "He's got it!" shouted the excited students at one 
 another. "We knew he would! Hurrah for Frank 
 Merriwell!" 
 
 Suddenly a part of the great throng broke into a 
 familiar tune, to which the following words had been 
 improvised : 
 
 "Here's to good old Frankie drink it down ! 
 Here's to good old Frankie drink it down! 
 Here's to good old Frankie, 
 Who's never mean nor cranky, 
 A true-born, true-blue Yankee ! 
 
 Drink it down ! Drink it down ! Drink it down ! 
 down ! down !" 
 
 A tall, handsome youth was seen in the midst of one
 
 The New Captain. 85 
 
 group, and it was evident that he was the leader. This 
 was true, even though he had already graduated, for 
 he was Jack Diamond, of Virginia. 
 
 Being in New Haven, he had found time to work 
 hard for the interest of Frank Merriwell in the strug- 
 gle that had been taking place at college. Jack, some- 
 what to his surprise, had discovered that he could 
 wield a powerful influence among the students who 
 had known him, and he had exerted that influence to 
 its full extent. 
 
 It was plain that he had prepared his particular 
 friends for the outcome of the struggle, for now, at 
 a signal, the group that surrounded him began to sing 
 the tune of "Dixie," a song that quickly evoked a 
 perfect whirlwind of enthusiasm. Others rushed over 
 to the group, and soon it seemed that the entire body 
 of students were singing: 
 
 "Rally, fellows, round our Merry, 
 All his foes we'll help to bury! 
 
 Cheer up! cheer up! cheer up for Frankie! 
 We are to our captain plighted, 
 With him on the field united 
 
 Cheer up! cheer up! cheer up for Frankie! 
 
 "Arise ! ye men of Eli ! 
 
 Hurrah ! hurrah ! 
 
 Join our band and take your stand 
 For vict'ry, Yale, and Frankie! 
 
 Rise up ! rise up ! 
 All those who stand by Frankie! 
 
 Rise up ! rise up ! 
 And cheer fer Yale and Frankie!"
 
 86 The New Captain. 
 
 The spirit and rhythm of the tune set their feet to 
 tramping, and soon that vast throng was marching 
 round the quadrangle as they sang, Jack Diamond at 
 their head, his fine face glowing, and his heart thump- 
 ing. 
 
 This was the day and hour he had waited long to 
 see. His heart had told him it must come, but disap- 
 pointment had followed disappointment until at last 
 it began to seem to the Virginian that even at Yale, 
 for all of her boasted democracy, real genuine merit 
 seldom obtained its just due. 
 
 The freshmen knew little of Diamond, but the spirit 
 of the tune, the words and the occasion seized upon 
 them, and they fell in at the rear of the procession, 
 singing with the others. 
 
 In front of Vanderbilt Hall they stopped. Up went 
 Jack Diamond on brawny shoulders. His head was 
 bare, and he tossed back his long dark hair as he flour^ 
 ished one hand, crying: 
 
 "Gentlemen, brothers, comrades, men of Old Eli 
 this is one of the grandest and most glorious occa- 
 sions Yale has ever known. Though that glad, sad, 
 longed-for and regretted day of commencement has 
 made me an 'old grad/ yet my heart is here, and I 
 feel that I am still one of you in spirit. 
 
 "To-day a victory has been won, and that victory 
 shall lead to others grander and more glorious. In 
 this college there has been one qualified from the
 
 The New Captain. 87 
 
 close of his freshman year to become your leader in 
 all lines of manly and athletic sports, and especially 
 qualified to be the captain of the football-team. To 
 him can be traced the winning of more than half of the 
 football games accredited to Yale when he has been 
 one of the players. 
 
 "This is a strong statement to make, but the record 
 will prove that it is the sober truth. Yet this man has, 
 for some reason, been kept down as far as it was pos- 
 sible to keep such a man down. He has been subjected 
 to the whims and caprices of captains and managers. 
 He has been moved about from position to position. 
 He has been relegated to the second team. And never 
 has he been given a single opportunity to show what 
 he could do as a leader, free and untrammeled. 
 
 "At last, as it seems, Fate determined that he should 
 have his opportunity. That this opportunity came 
 through the misfortune of another who had been regu- 
 larly elected captain of the eleven, but who is no longer 
 able to be here in college, no one can regret any more 
 than does Frank Merriwell himself. He used his in- 
 fluence most generously to bring about the choosing 
 of Mark Alcott for that position. In return, Alcott 
 expressed a strong hope that Merriwell should be 
 chosen to fill his place. 
 
 "You all know how much influence was brought to 
 bear against Merry, but the time had come, and all the 
 scheming of his enemies could not defeat him. He
 
 88 The New Captain. 
 
 has been appointed captain of the eleven. Not only 
 that, but he has been given the assurance that his ad- 
 vice will be followed in whatever policy the manage- 
 ment of the team may decide upon, and it is safe to 
 say that at last he has reached the position he is so 
 thoroughly competent to fill to the glory of Old Eli. 
 
 "Under the leadership of Frank Merriwell, Yale 
 will again take her preeminent position on the gridiron. 
 He will lead to victory ! Three cheers for Frank Mer- 
 riwell, captain of the eleven! Ready now!" 
 
 It had been almost impossible to repress the enthusi- 
 asm of the crowd till Jack finished his speech, and 
 now the students again burst into the wildest cheering 
 for the new captain of the eleven. 
 
 "Where is he?" was the cry, when, after some time, 
 the cheering had abated somewhat. 
 
 At that moment Frank himself, dressed in a hand- 
 some, rough gray suit, came out through the doorway 
 and paused on the broad stone steps. 
 
 A roar of admiration went up from that great 
 throng! The hot blood mounted to the cheeks of the 
 young athlete for whom this ovation was meant ! He 
 was thrilled, and a mist blurred for an instant his clear 
 eyes! 
 
 It suddenly developed that a committee had been 
 chosen to notify Frank of his election. The committee 
 pressed forward and attempted to do their duty 
 formally, but the chairman was forced to cut it short.
 
 The New Captain. 89 
 
 Somebody yelled for Merry to make a speech, and 
 then the crowd bellowed for a speech. 
 
 "Fellow students, brothers of Old Eli," he began, 
 his voice clear and steady, "I am in no mood for 
 speechmaking. There has of late been much talk, my 
 friends say, as to what my policy would be if I were 
 elected to fill the vacancy made by the unfortunate 
 failure of Mark Alcott to return to college. I want to 
 say now and here that in no way shall I permit per- 
 sonal feelings and my own likes and dislikes to have 
 anything to do with the making up of the eleven. Be 
 he friend or foe, every candidate for the team shall 
 have a fair chance and a fair trial, for my policy shall 
 be to put the best team possible into the field and to 
 fight to the last gasp for Yale." 
 
 That was all ; it was enough. They knew he meant 
 it, and it struck a responsive chord in their breasts. 
 Jack Diamond came up the steps and grasped Frank's 
 hand. Others followed, and for all of his protests, 
 Merriwell was lifted aloft, carried down the steps, and 
 borne out through the archway of the gate on the 
 shoulders of his singing, shouting, cheering admirers.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A PRECIOUS PAIR. 
 
 Of course there were students who did not join in 
 this demonstration. Two of them had paused by the 
 fence before the appearance of Merriwell. They were 
 Roland Packard and Dade Morgan. 
 
 "What do you think of that?" asked the medical 
 student, with a sneer. 
 
 Morgan's lips were pressed together, and the pleas- 
 ant smile he so assiduously cultivated had been ban- 
 ished from his face, which now looked black as a 
 storm-cloud. 
 
 "I think there are a lot of duffers in this college," 
 he said harshly. "But they are like the great mass of 
 human beings; they long for a golden calf to worship. 
 It is strange how men love to be led about with rings 
 in their noses. But it suits my purpose that such is the 
 case, for I am manufacturing a large supply of rings. 
 When the time comes, I shall put them all to use." 
 
 "Hear the fools cheering for Merriwell!" snapped 
 Packard. "Doesn't it make you sick?" 
 
 "A trifle," admitted Morgan ; "but what can you ex- 
 pect of such cattle! At this moment Merriwell is the 
 popular hero, and they have gathered around him. 
 But every popular hero stands on a dangerous pinnacle. 
 As long as the weather is fair, he may be able to keep
 
 A Precious Pair. 91 
 
 his balance and retain his position; but when storms 
 arise and the winds blow, it is a much more difficult 
 task. Let him topple and tumble and great is the fall 
 thereof. Sometimes a popular hero falls because he 
 is pushed. Mr. Merriwell wants to be constantly on 
 his guard. We are open enemies, and I'm able to do 
 considerable pushing." 
 
 "But you were not able to keep him from being 
 chosen to fill Alcott's place as captain of the eleven?" 
 
 Dade bit his lip, his eyes flashing with suppressed 
 rage. 
 
 "No," he grated. "Last night I would have sworn 
 I had him. The pipes were placed." 
 
 "But you failed." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "Through my own carelessness!" 
 
 "How was that ?" 
 
 "I'd never met that fellow Diamond. None of our 
 class knew him. When he dropped into Jackson's, I 
 mistook him for some upper-classman who was in with 
 me, and I talked over matters before him. He got 
 onto the game, and he defeated me. Frank Merri- 
 well can thank Jack Diamond for his success in obtain- 
 ing his position." 
 
 Packard was regarding Morgan wonderingly. 
 
 "You're a dandy," he finally declared. "I don't be- 
 lieve any other freshman ever would have thought of
 
 92 A Precious Pair. 
 
 trying such a trick against a senior. I don't believe 
 any other freshman who ever entered Yale could have 
 wielded the power you have here." 
 
 Something like a grim smile of satisfaction flickered 
 about Dade's hard, firm mouth. 
 
 "I reckon not," he agreed. 
 
 "How do you do it? That's what I'd like to know." 
 
 "My dear fellow, if I were to tell you, you'd not 
 know any better than you know now. It is mental 
 caliber and power; a will to dominate and command. 
 I possess it. I know I was born to lead, I am deter- 
 mined to lead, and I do lead." 
 
 "But you could never lead Merriwell." 
 
 "Perhaps not!" snarled the freshman. "I don't 
 want to! I want to crush him!" 
 
 "See here, Morgan," said Roland, his wonder in- 
 creasing, "I can't understand you at all." 
 
 "I know it. If you could, if I were open as a book, 
 so any one could understand me, my power as leader 
 would be gone." 
 
 "What I cannot understand is your intense hatred 
 for Merriwell. Now, if you had known him for some 
 time and had been given any apparent reason for ha- 
 ting him, it would not be so strange; but you seemed 
 to hate him from the very day you entered Yale." 
 
 "I hated him before that." 
 
 "Ha ! Then you knew him before you came to col- 
 lege?"
 
 A Precious Pair. 93 
 
 "No." 
 
 "You had never met him ?" 
 
 "Never." 
 
 "Has he ever done you a wrong?" 
 
 "Never." 
 
 "Ever wronged any of your relatives?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Well, it beats anything I ever heard of!" admitted 
 Packard. "It must have been instinctive hatred. 
 Otherwise there can be no real reason why you should 
 hate him so." 
 
 "That's where you're wrong; there is a real reason 
 for my hatred a good reason, too." 
 
 This was more bewildering than ever for Roland, 
 but Morgan had no notion of explaining at that time, 
 so the medical student remained in the dark as to the 
 underlying cause for Dade's enmity toward Merri- 
 well. 
 
 "They've gone to cheer under his window," mut- 
 tered Morgan. "They have gone to tell him that he 
 has been chosen captain of the eleven. Listen to that !" 
 
 They could hear the clear, ringing voice of Jack 
 Diamond as the triumphant Southerner made his 
 speech before Vanderbilt. 
 
 "I'd like to shoot him for spoiling my plans!" 
 snarled the freshman. 
 
 "And I'd like to shoot him for other reasons," said 
 Roland, who remembered an encounter with the Vir-
 
 94 A Precious Pair. 
 
 ginian that he longed to forget. "I have a score 
 against him." 
 
 "But I can't afford to waste my time on him," Mor- 
 gan averred. "He is no longer in college." 
 
 "Why is he back here?" 
 
 "Perhaps he contemplates taking a post-graduate 
 course." 
 
 "I think not. I believe some other reason brought 
 him to New Haven." 
 
 "Well, whatever it was, it ruined my well-laid plans. 
 He must have worked like a tiger to upset 'em." 
 
 "Well, what will you do, now that you are beaten?" 
 
 Morgan turned his piercing eyes on his companion, 
 his look one of rebuke. 
 
 "Beaten!" he exclaimed. "I am not beaten!" 
 
 "But Merriwell is captain of the eleven." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Then " 
 
 "Do you think I'm going to lay down now? Not 
 much!" 
 
 "What will you do?" 
 
 "I'll do him before I have finished, or my name's 
 not Morgan ! I shall not waste my time on small fry, 
 like this Diamond. Let Diamond have his little vic- 
 tory now. I shall wait till the right time comes, and 
 then I'll strike straight at Merriwell. When I strike, 
 he shall fall!" 
 
 "In the meantime "
 
 A Precious Pair. 95 
 
 "Let whoever may, think I am defeated. Let them 
 think I've given up. It will suit my purpose all the 
 better." 
 
 "I believe you had some ambition to get onto the 
 eleven?" 
 
 "I not only did have, but I still have." 
 
 "What with Merriwell captain!" 
 
 "Merriwell is captain to-day. Long before the sea- 
 son ends he may not be anything." 
 
 "Morgan," cried Packard, "I like your style ! You're 
 a stayer! You are the first man I've ever met who 
 didn't show weak spots." 
 
 "Thanks," said Dade dryly. 
 
 "Of course," Roland continued, "you're a freshman, 
 and that counts against you." 
 
 "Rot!" said Dade shortly. 
 
 "It does," persisted Packard. "If you were even 
 a sophomore it would be different, but a freshman 
 that's bad." 
 
 "Blithering rot!" Dade asserted. 
 
 "Call it what you like, you can't swing men same 
 as you might if you were advanced a class or two. 
 Sophs will not affiliate with freshmen." 
 
 "But juniors " 
 
 "They pretend to back up the freshmen, but that's 
 only to keep the ball moving and make plenty of sport. 
 They really regard freshmen with contempt." 
 
 "There's one freshman they'll not regard with con-
 
 96 A Precious Pair. 
 
 tempt when they come to know him," grated Morgan. 
 "If you shy at being seen with me, Packard, a fig care 
 I. You'll find other upper-classmen are not so snob- 
 bish." 
 
 "Oh, you quite mistake me !" Roland hastened to as- 
 sure. "I was just telling you so you'd understand 
 how " 
 
 "I've been here long enough to get my eyes open. 
 I knew how it would be before I came. But I'll open 
 your eyes later when you see the influence I wield. 
 I'm not boasting; you'll find I never boast. In the 
 meantime, our hatred for Merriwell ties us together. 
 I may depend on you when I want you?" 
 
 "Sure thing." 
 
 "Good ! There's Merriwell on the steps. He's say- 
 ing something. Hear the fools yell! Look at them 
 rushing up to shake hands with him!" 
 
 "They've lifted him on their shoulders," said Pack- 
 ard. "They're going to carry him round the campus 
 that way." 
 
 "Then I think I'll move. I don't care for any of 
 them to see me just now. So long, Packard. Remem- 
 ber we're united in a common cause." 
 
 After the ovation given him by his fellow students, 
 Frank turned toward his room, accompanied by Dia- 
 mond, Hodge, and Browning. Never in all his life
 
 A Precious Pair. 97 
 
 had the loyal Southerner been happier than he was in 
 that hour of Frank's triumph. His face glowed, his 
 blood was leaping in his veins, and he walked with a 
 bounding, springy step. 
 
 "I couldn't believe it would never come," he de- 
 clared. "Something told me you would get there, 
 Merry. Now the bill is filled, and I shall leave New 
 Haven perfectly happy." 
 
 "I have heard," said Frank, "how you pulled for 
 me, Jack, and I want you to know that I shall not 
 forget." 
 
 "Even though he may his foes," said Hodge, with 
 a short laugh. 
 
 "I do not forget them, old man," declared Merry. 
 "I may hold my hand from revenge, but I never for- 
 get." 
 
 "I'm glad I'm not one of the hand-holding kind. 
 Now, there's that whelp Morgan; if I were in your 
 place, I'd wring his neck. The idea of a freshman 
 presuming to try to play the game he's been at ever 
 since the fall term opened ! He came mighty near suc- 
 ceeding, too." 
 
 "But, thanks to Diamond and other loyal friends, 
 he was frustrated. Perhaps that will settle him." 
 
 "Don't you think it," broke in Jack. "You can't 
 settle a fellow of his caliber so easy. I'd like to run 
 against him once more before leaving." 
 
 "Why does he hate you, Merry?" grunted Bruce
 
 98 A Precious Pair. 
 
 who betrayed amazing few symptoms of his old-time 
 chronic laziness, and who, having trained steadily since 
 the close of the summer vacation, was rapidly getting 
 rid of his superfluous flesh. "That's something 
 queer ?" 
 
 "It is queer," admitted Frank; "and it interests me 
 in the fellow. I know there must be some underlying 
 motive, yet what it is I cannot fathom." 
 
 "Well, one thing is certain," said Bart. 
 
 "Mr. Morgan's ambition to get onto the eleven is 
 knocked in the head now." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "Why? Because you have been elected captain. 
 That cooks his goose." 
 
 "In what way?" 
 
 "Why," cried Bart, astounded, "you don't mean to 
 say you'll let him make the team? You wouldn't do 
 a thing like that?" 
 
 Frank smiled quietly. 
 
 "Hodge," he said, "didn't you hear me say in the 
 presence of that crowd that personal feelings and 
 prejudices should have nothing to do with that matter. 
 I am a Yale man, and I'd fight for the glory of Yale 
 shoulder to shoulder even with Morgan, if necessary." 
 
 They were ascending the steps of Vanderbilt. 
 
 "But it isn't necessary!" exclaimed Bart. "There 
 are others \vho are better " 
 
 "Let those others prove it, and Morgan will never
 
 A Precious Pair. 99 
 
 make the eleven while I am captain. Let him prove 
 himself a superior man for any particular position, 
 and he'll fill that position if I can put him into it." 
 
 Bart actually ground his teeth in rage. 
 
 "Talk about not understanding Dade Morgan!" he 
 grated. "I've known you a long time, Merriwell, and 
 I've not begun to understand you yet." 
 
 "I suppose Merry is right," admitted Diamond, as 
 they passed into the building and climbed the stairs; 
 "but I do not believe there are many fellows in Yale 
 who could take the stand he has." 
 
 "Yale will play football this fall to win," said Frank 
 unswervingly. "I shall be glad to see any of my 
 friends make the team, but friendly feelings will not 
 put one of them onto it over another fellow who is bet- 
 ter qualified." 
 
 "Are you satisfied with the make-up of the first 
 eleven as it stands now?" asked Bruce. 
 
 "Hardly," admitted Merry. "Of course, Murphy 
 knows his business, and I think his scheme of pulling 
 the heavy men back from the line may pan out great, 
 but there are fellows on the second eleven who should 
 be on the first. If you keep up your work of the past 
 two weeks, Bruce, you're bound to get a chance on the 
 first team, mark what I say." He paused with his 
 hand on the knob of his door to add : "I didn't think 
 it was in you to work as you have, but I knew you 
 could win if you'd try. After getting into shape as
 
 ioo A Precious Pair. 
 
 you did this summer, it will come easier than ever be- 
 fore to train down for the eleven. Keep it up. Come 
 in, fellows." 
 
 He opened the door and walked into his room, fol- 
 lowed by the others. A surprise awaited him. 
 
 In that room, ready to greet him, were Dolph and v 
 Juliet Reynolds, Inza Burrage and Elsie Bellwood. 
 
 "Hail to the conquering hero!" drawled the young 
 Englishman, with a placid wave of his hand. The 
 girls came forward together. Frank's cap was off, 
 and his manly face glowed with the pleasure he felt. 
 
 "Elsie! Inza!" he cried, extending a hand to each 
 the right to Elsie, the left to Inza. "Why, 
 when " 
 
 "We came in while they were raising the rumpus 
 over you out on the green, dear boy," Dolph explained. 
 "A little surprise party, don't y' 'now." 
 
 "A surprise party indeed !" laughed Merry. "I did 
 not even know you were in New Haven." 
 
 "Then Mr. Diamond, my friend from Virginia, 
 didn't tell you ? I wasn't sure he could keep it to him- 
 self." 
 
 "Did he know the rascal?" cried Frank, turning 
 on Jack, who was smiling. "He never murmured a 
 word." 
 
 "I was pledged to silence; my lips were sealed," ex- 
 plained the Southerner. 
 
 "That's right," smiled Dolph, with a queer look to-
 
 A Precious Pair. 101 
 
 ward his sister. "I happened to witness by accident 
 the sealing process." 
 
 Juliet blushed furiously, giving Dolph a reproachful 
 look, which caused him to chuckle softly, as if he 
 fancied it all a splendid joke. 
 
 "You see," the young Englishman explained, "we 
 three sail for Liverpool next Monday." 
 
 "Three?" exclaimed Frank. 
 
 "Yaas; Juliet, myself, and Jack." 
 
 "Diamond?" 
 
 "My friend from Virginia." 
 
 "Why, how does that happen?" 
 
 "Simple, old fellow simple. Jack is going over 
 with us at my invitation. I'm going to show him a 
 little shooting down in Surrey, and we're talking of a 
 visit to Paris and a trip to Italy. We'll manage to 
 worry away the winter. Perhaps," he added slyly, 
 "perhaps he may like England well enough to settle 
 down over there." 
 
 Hodge had remained in the background with 
 Browning, but Frank drew them forward now, and 
 there was more handshaking. 
 
 "I suppose," said Dolph, "that Yale will now re- 
 cover her former position of glory on the gridiron. 
 In fact," he added, "I'm blooming sure of it, don't y' 
 'now, for I am well aware of Mr. Merriwell's ability 
 as a manager. Thanks to him and his unconquerable 
 baseball-team, I've enjoyed a delightful uting this
 
 102 A Precious Pair. 
 
 summer, spent all the money any man could wish to 
 spend, and I'm going back home with a fat little purse. 
 Next year I'm thinking of taking hold of baseball on 
 the other side myself. We've just begun to pick up 
 the game, don't y' understand, and I rawther fawncy 
 we'll like it after a while. Now, if I could get Merry 
 to bring over a team " 
 
 "Oh, that would be just perfectly lovely!" exclaimed 
 Juliet, with sudden effusion. 
 
 "It's too far ahead to plan such a thing now," smiled 
 Merry. "But we can sit down and talk over old 
 times." 
 
 This they did, and a right jolly party they were. 
 After a time, there came a confident little rap, and 
 the opened door revealed Jack Ready outside. 
 
 "Refuse me!" he cried, when he saw those within 
 the room. "I'll call again. Fm so shy!" 
 
 But they urged him to come in, and, in his own 
 original way, he finally did so, murmuring: 
 
 "I know I shall be stolen. How can those girls re- 
 sist the temptation when the full radiance of my daz- 
 zling beauty dawns upon them! I really need an 
 armed guard constantly about me. I fear I may be 
 forced to wear a mask." 
 
 Jack was as refreshing as a cool breeze on a hot 
 summer day. He expressed his pleasure at meeting 
 old friends again, shook hands with Dolph, and, hand 
 on his heart, bowed very low to the girls. Then, re-
 
 A Precious Pair. 103 
 
 membering certain events at Niagara, he turned and 
 gave Diamond a sly, meaning wink. 
 
 But, for some strange reason, the Virginian was not 
 jealous now, and he simply smiled kindly, possibly a 
 bit patronizingly, on the flippant collegian. There was 
 confidence in his manner. Ready seemed quick to 
 realize the real situation. At the very first oppor- 
 tunity, he slyly said to Diamond : 
 
 "Congratulations, old fellow. Send cards to my ad- 
 dress. May Heaven bless you." 
 
 "Go on!" muttered the Southerner, his face flush- 
 ing. "Why do you try to be a guy all the time ?" 
 
 "Natural; born that way; can't help it. Ah! but 
 this is a great day for Yale. At last our chieftain has 
 come to his own, and my heart is full to overflowing. 
 Alas ! however, my purse is as empty as usual. 'Twas 
 ever thus." 
 
 His laughter was followed by a sigh. 
 
 "Poor fellow!" exclaimed Elsie. "Permit me to 
 loan you a nickel." 
 
 "The price of a single hot dog. Even that would 
 not fill my stomach. Ah ! never mind the nickel ; give 
 me but a smile from those ruby lips and I'll " 
 
 "Look here!" laughed Frank; "there is such a thing 
 as being too fresh." 
 
 "Squelched!" sobbed Ready, with a gesture of an- 
 guish. "It's the same old story. I always get it that 
 way."
 
 104 A Precious Pair. 
 
 "Then you are not lucky in love?" said Juliet, pos- 
 sibly with a bit of malice in her manner. 
 
 "Lucky?" cried Ready. "Oh, yes, I am!" 
 
 "How's that?" 
 
 "Why, I've been refused by seven different girls 
 within a year. Talk about being lucky; I'm it!" 
 
 "Don't you think that rather unkind in the presence 
 of ladies?" put in Diamond, who could not resist the 
 temptation to prod the breezy sophomore. 
 
 "Perchance, it may be thus construed," admitted 
 Ready; "but I am ever truthful. It's a way I have. 
 I've never deceived anybody or told a lie in all my 
 life." 
 
 "My!" cried Inza. "You'll be frightfully lonesome 
 in heaven with just George Washington for company." 
 
 Then all laughed merrily. The conversation flowed 
 on till football became the topic. 
 
 "I say, Dolph," cried Frank, "can't you postpone 
 your voyage over, long enough to stay and witness our 
 game with Columbia?" 
 
 "My deah boy," drawled the young Englishman, 
 "it'll be impossible." 
 
 "I suppose," said Elsie, "that now you are captain, 
 Frank, you'll have all your friends on the eleven?" 
 
 "If they are better men than other candidates, yes; 
 if I find others better than they, no. Football cannot 
 be run on the basis of friendship. There's often too 
 much of that kind of business in it."
 
 A Precious Pair. 105 
 
 "But your enemies," came quickly from Inza; 
 "surely you'll keep them off the team?" 
 
 "Not if they are better men than other candidates. 
 But I'm not the entire management, you must remem- 
 ber." 
 
 "You'll be just about that," Browning asserted. "I 
 know. Your policy will be followed in everything, 
 and what you say about the make-up of the team will 
 go." 
 
 "I have some friends," admitted Frank, "whom I 
 should like to see on the eleven." 
 
 "Many thanks," said Ready, rising and bowing. 
 "Kind of you." 
 
 "Oh, you've nerve enough to get there without any 
 assistance from me," Merry laughed. "The former 
 leader of the freshmen is now a mighty sophomore, 
 and his road to the eleven lies wide open if he can 
 but travel it. There is, however, a new man in Yale, 
 a freshman, whom I'd like to see have a show on the 
 eleven. I believe he's capable, and he is just the kind 
 Mike Murphy is looking for to fill a position back 
 of the line." 
 
 "We know whom you mean!" exclaimed Hodge. 
 "You're thinking of that big boy Starbright." 
 
 "Correct. I've watched his practise work, and he's 
 all right. He's remarkably agile for such a giant, has 
 wonderful strength, can run and kick, and I believe
 
 106 A Precious Pair. 
 
 he has sand and staying power. I hope to see him one 
 of the backs." 
 
 "I should think the team would be all made up by 
 this time," said Dolph. "You are going to play in 
 another week, and yet you talk of the make-up of the 
 team. By Jawve! I don't understand it." 
 
 "You take these opening games too seriously, 
 Dolph," exclaimed Merry. "They are only practise, 
 so that we may be in condition for the great games to 
 come. Sometimes it happens that no more than two 
 or three of the men who begin the season on the first 
 eleven are able to hold their places till after the 
 Thanksgiving game. Others prove themselves better, 
 or injuries put the original men off the field. There 
 are fifty men in college, every one of whom has hopes 
 of making the eleven before the season ends. There 
 are something like thirty fellows, substitutes and all, 
 who are working on the first and second eleven now. 
 A man on the first eleven to-day may be transferred to 
 the second eleven to-morrow or dropped entirely; his 
 position is never secure." 
 
 "And can you get the best work out of them under 
 such uncertain conditions?" the Englishman asked. 
 
 "The very best. Every man is supposed to be work- 
 ing for the glory of Yale, not for his own personal 
 glory. If he is dropped because a better man can be 
 found for his place, he is supposed to entertain no 
 hard feelings, but still to pull for Old Eli."
 
 A Precious Pair. 107 
 
 "Is that always what happens? Do none of the 
 dropped candidates entertain feelings?" 
 
 "I regret to say," admitted Merriwell, "that some- 
 times a man is so sore that he can't get over it." 
 
 "Don't talk football any more," entreated Juliet. 
 "You'll have time enough for that after we're gone. j. 
 Sing some of your college songs, please. I love them !" 
 
 "Yaas," drawled Dolph. "They're great, don't y' 
 'now. Give us some of them." 
 
 Being urged, the boys finally consented, and soon 
 they were singing the old favorites. The girls joined 
 in every chorus. Time flew swiftly till there came a 
 knock on the door, and there stood Bernard Burrage, 
 Inza's father, who had come for the girls.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 THE TEAMS IN PRACTISE. 
 
 The coaches had put various candidates "through 
 their paces" on the field. They were beginning to 
 work the men hard, and the aspirants for football 
 honors stood all kinds of criticism and abuse with the 
 patience and meekness of cattle. 
 
 Then the first eleven, with Frank Merriwell in com- 
 mand, lined up against the scrub. Everybody was anx- 
 ious to see what Merry would do with the team. 
 Chickering and his chums were on hand. 
 
 "Now," sneered Julian Ives, brushing back his glori- 
 ous bang, "we'll behold an exhibition of Merriwell's 
 ability as a commander-in-chief. Doesn't he feel that 
 he's the whole push !" 
 
 "He maketh me thick !" lisped Lew Veazie. "He ith 
 thimply nautheating. Give me a thigawette, Ollie." 
 
 "Yes, chummie," said Lord, handing over a pack- 
 age and then affectionately passing his arm over Lew's 
 shoulders. "We shall need something to steady our 
 nerves." 
 
 "Bah !" growled Gene Skelding. "I hope he'll make 
 a mess of it." 
 
 "Don't, fellows!" murmured Rupert. "If the poor 
 fellow can do anything, don't be too hard on him." 
 
 "There's Morgan playing on the scrub," said Gene.
 
 The Teams in Practise. 109 
 
 "Why, he's a better man than Merriwell ever dreamed 
 of being, but he's only a freshie, and he's Merriwell's 
 enemy, so he hasn't a ghost of a show to make the 
 eleven. It's no use for him to try." 
 
 "They're going to begin," said Julian. "Now, keep 
 watch." 
 
 The scrub and the first eleven were lined up against 
 each other, with the ball in possession of the scrub. 
 There was a hush, and then the practise game began. 
 The scrub kicked off, and Frank, playing right half, re- 
 turned the kick. After some volleying of this sort, 
 Hodge attempted to advance the ball, but his inter- 
 ferers were mowed down, and he did not make five 
 yards before he was slapped to the ground by Jack 
 Ready. 
 
 There was a careful line-up, under the direction of 
 the coaches, and the ball was sent back to Frank, who 
 tried the scrub's center. Browning was on the scrub, 
 and he blocked Merry in handsome style, holding him 
 for a down. Frank's friends on the second team were 
 showing up strong. 
 
 Next time the ball went back to Deerfield, who was 
 playing left half, and he tried to go round the end 
 with it, but Bade Morgan was there, and Deerfield 
 went down with a slam that knocked the breath out of 
 him. This gave Chickering's set an opportunity to 
 yell, and they accepted it. 
 
 Another down would give the ball to the scrub, so
 
 no The Teams in Practise. 
 
 it went back to the full-back, the big sophomore Beck- 
 with, for a kick, and he slammed it far down the field. 
 
 Then there was some hot work, out of the midst of 
 which Dade Morgan shot with the ball, went through 
 the first eleven's line, got past Deerfield, and seemed to 
 have a clear path to the goal-line. Half the length of 
 the field he ran amid a great uproar, and then Merri- 
 well caught him with a flying-tackle and stopped him 
 fifteen yards from a touch-down. 
 
 But Morgan had won the attention of everybody by 
 that run, though he was inwardly furious and raging 
 because Merriwell had been the man to stop him. 
 
 Now, Frank showed his generalship by anticipating 
 and blocking every move the scrub attempted. He 
 seemed to divine in advance just what would be tried, 
 and his rushers were ready to tear to pieces the inter- 
 ference of the scrub, so that the ball quickly went to 
 the first team on downs. 
 
 From that time on the ball remained in the posses- 
 sion of the regular team the most of the time, though 
 it was not without a hard fight that Hodge was finally 
 pushed over the scrub's line for a touch-down. Merri- 
 well kicked a goal handsomely. 
 
 The scrub was unable to score, though it seemed 
 once or twice that it had a fair show of doing so. At 
 the same time, it made a far better showing than usual 
 against the regulars, and Merriwell's enemies were 
 duly elated.
 
 The Teams in Practise. in 
 
 But, between the first and second halves, Frank 
 took the head coach of the eleven aside and had a seri- 
 ous talk with him. 
 
 "Now, what do you thuppoth that meanth?" lisped 
 Lew Veazie, whose natural curiosity was whetted to a 
 keen edge. i 
 
 "Something's up," nodded Chickering anxiously. 
 
 "Merriwell's working for a change on his team," 
 Skelding declared. "I'll bet on it. He's trying to pull 
 some of his friends over from the scrub. See if I'm 
 not right." 
 
 But no one was prepared for the violent change 
 about that took place before the second half began. 
 The coach notified Starbright that he would take Deer- 
 field's place on the regulars, while Deerfield was 
 shifted to the scrub. Following this, Jack Ready came 
 over to center on the regulars, and Browning was 
 given the position of right guard. 
 
 "Didn't I tell you!" laughed Gene Skelding sneer- 
 ingly. "I knew what would happen. Merriwell shot 
 off a lot of wind about giving everybody, whether 
 friend or foe, a fair show ; but I knew all the time that 
 he'd make the team up wholly from his personal 
 friends." 
 
 "Defarge is still in the line at right tackle," said 
 Ives. 
 
 "But he'll fall in the next slaughter," prophesied 
 Gene. "Merriwell hates him, and his head will come
 
 H2 The Teams in Practise. 
 
 off. Oh, Yale will have a fine football-team this year, 
 made up of Merriwell's pets." 
 
 "I think that would be a thplendid name to call them, 
 dean boy," came from Veazie. "Merriwell'th Peth. 
 He! he!" 
 
 "What's this?" exclaimed Ives. "Look at this! 
 By Jove ! Morgan is no, it can't be ! yes, he is going 
 onto the regulars, too ! Now, that can't be Merriwell's 
 work!" 
 
 In truth, Dade Morgan had been taken off the scrub 
 and transferred to the first eleven. This wholesale 
 shift about was making some of the old-timers stare, 
 and it had created a buzz of excitement on the field. 
 
 "Merriwell never did that," declared Skelding. "He 
 wouldn't think of bringing Morgan over. That was 
 somebody else's idea, and I'll bet my life on it!" 
 
 "Ah!" sighed Chickering, "you will not give the 
 fellow credit for a single generous impulse." 
 
 "Not one!" snarled Gene. "He pulls for his friends, 
 and that's all the generosity there is in him." 
 
 "Then the shift of Morgan must have come through 
 the manager," said Rupert. 
 
 "Without a doubt," nodded Ollie Lord knowingly, 
 as he lifted himself high as possible on his high-heeled 
 boots. 
 
 "I wonder how Merriwell will play the new men?" 
 breathed Ives, consumed by curiosity. 
 
 This question was answered in a few moments, for
 
 The Teams in Practise. 113 
 
 the regulars lined up with Starbright, the big Andover 
 freshman, at left half, Ready at center, and Browning 
 on his left hand as guard. Dade Morgan was given 
 the left end of the line. Hodge had the right end, De- 
 farge and Beckwith being between him and center. 
 
 "Now, we'll see what they can do," muttered Ives, 
 again caressing his pet bang. "I hope the scrub will 
 make an even better showing against them." 
 
 But his hope was vain. Frank had spoken a few 
 moments to the new men, and each one seemed ready 
 for business when the final half of the practise game 
 began. The regulars went at the scrub in whirlwind 
 style, and Merriwell himself made the first touch-down 
 in just a minute and a half. 
 
 Nothing could hold the regulars. At center, Ready 
 was quick as a flash, active as a panther, and savage 
 as a tiger. Browning slammed his huge bulk into the 
 line of the scrub like a catapult, and Morgan was a 
 perfect mass of steel springs and gunpowder. Star- 
 bright did not have an opportunity to distinguish him- 
 self till near the close of the game, but he finally made 
 a most sensational run through the scrub for a touch- 
 down, dodging or flinging off tacklers with a skill that 
 caused the spectators to rise up and howl with approv- 
 ing delight. 
 
 The new make-up had proved most effective, the 
 work of the regulars in the final half being the most 
 satisfactory of anything seen on the field thus far for
 
 ii4 The Teams in Practise. 
 
 the season, and even the coachers were free with ap- 
 proval and praise. 
 
 Merriwell had found the right men, and he had 
 placed them correctly at the very outset. The men 
 who had been shifted to the scrub to bring about the 
 change felt that their chances of being shifted back 
 were decidedly slim. 
 
 Immediately at the close of the game, Merriwell 
 hurried to Starbright, grasped his arm, and earnestly 
 said: 
 
 "That was a great piece of work, my boy ! You ran 
 like a wild horse, and you dodged or threw off every 
 tackier in handsome style. A run like that is enough 
 to win any game. I thought you might do something 
 of the kind, if given a chance, and I worked to give 
 you the chance. I think you'll stay on the eleven." 
 
 "If I do," said the big freshman, his boyish, hand- 
 some face aglow, "I'll owe it all to you, and I won't 
 forget the debt, Captain Merriwell."
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS MR. KING. 
 
 Dade Morgan sat alone in his room, his eyes fas- 
 tened on the floor, a book resting open on his lap, while 
 a perplexed and angry scowl disfigured his peculiarly 
 handsome face. 
 
 "I don't understand it," he muttered. "I can't be- 
 lieve he would do such a thing. I'd not do it for an 
 enemy of mine, and why should Merriwell do it for 
 me? He knows I'm his bitter and uncompromising 
 foe." 
 
 Flinging the book aside, he rose to his feet and sav- 
 agely paced the floor. 
 
 "There's something back of it," he muttered. "I 
 know it! He is playing some sort of game, and I 
 must be on my guard." 
 
 Morgan judged others by his own measure, which 
 made it impossible for him to understand the new cap- 
 tain of the eleven. At length, happening to pause be- 
 fore a mirror, he observed the black scowl on his face, 
 and his manner underwent a swift change. 
 
 "That won't do, my boy!" he exclaimed, speaking 
 to the reflection. "You have forgotten your winning 
 smile. That smile is worth millions to you if you 
 work it. It wins you friends whom you can use for
 
 n6 The Mysterious Mr. King. 
 
 allies and tools, and it disguises and hides your 
 thoughts. Smile, Morgan smile!" 
 
 Standing there, he did smile, and the mirror showed 
 him a handsome youth whose face bore a most kindly 
 and winning expression. 
 
 "That is quite enough to fool the keenest of them 
 all," he said. "Has it fooled Merriwell ? Who knows? 
 Even as I have not fathomed him, I am sure he has 
 not sounded me. He won in our first struggle, and 
 it may be that he thinks I have given up. Ha ! ha ! If 
 so, he'll find out his error. Dade Morgan never gives 
 up!" 
 
 "That's right," said a strange, hollow voice that 
 sent a chill over the freshman, despite his steady 
 nerves. "It's in the blood. Never give up!" Al- 
 though startled, Morgan had not betrayed it by jump- 
 ing and turning. 
 
 Still facing the mirror, he saw that a tall, dark man, 
 wearing a long coat and a hat slouched over his eyes, 
 had entered the room with the step of absolute silence. 
 
 "You have come," said Morgan, forcing himself 
 to speak with perfect steadiness. "Sit down." 
 
 Then he slowly turned about and motioned toward 
 a chair, his face wearing that same pleasant, guileless 
 smile. The man did not obey immediately, but stood 
 with folded arms intently regarding the student. 
 
 "One bit of advice I have to give you," he finally
 
 The Mysterious Mr. King. 117 
 
 said, his voice seeming to fill the room with queer 
 echoes. "Don't talk too much to yourself. Think, but 
 do not let your thoughts pass your lips. The habit of 
 speaking your secrets aloud, even to yourself, is a bad 
 one. Quit it." 
 
 "Thanks. I have no doubt but you are right. Still, 
 no other living being could have entered this room 
 without my knowledge." 
 
 "That may be true, but even walls have ears. There 
 was a time when I had the habit of muttering to my- 
 self, but I learned my lesson, and it cost me dear. 'Let 
 not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth.' ' 
 
 "A quotation from such a source sounds queer from 
 your lips, my dear " 
 
 "Stop!" commanded the stranger, with suddenly 
 outflung hand. "Be careful! Remember my name is 
 Hector King." 
 
 "My dear Mr. King," Morgan pursued, as if he 
 had not been interrupted. "Now, if there were in 
 print any book whose author was Satan himself, it 
 might be that you " 
 
 "That will do! Don't be too free with me! You 
 [were expecting me?" 
 
 "Not exactly; still, I fancied you might call." 
 
 "I am here. So, despite your efforts, despite our 
 schemes, Frank Merriwell was chosen captain of the 
 eleven ?"
 
 ii8 The Mysterious Mr. King. 
 
 "Yes, confound him!" said Dade, forgetting his 
 smile for a moment. 
 
 "He is powerful here. I told you I warned you 
 it would be a hard struggle to drag him down. But 
 it must be done!" 
 
 "Don't worry; I'll yet succeed with your aid, my 
 dear Mr. King." 
 
 "With my aid; you'll need it. But how is it that 
 you were given an opportunity to play on the first 
 eleven ?" 
 
 "Then you know about that?" 
 
 "I know every move that is made." 
 
 "Then perhaps you can answer your own question. 
 How did it happen that I was taken from the scrub 
 and placed on the regular team?" 
 
 "You do not know?" 
 
 "No. Frank Merriwell brought over three of his 
 friends from the scrub, but I was taken onto the regu- 
 lars at the same time." 
 
 "Well, it is certain he had no hand in your transfer." 
 
 "On the contrary, everything seems to indicate that 
 he did." 
 
 "It is not possible!" 
 
 "So I thought myself." 
 
 "It can't be true!" 
 
 "I have asked the coach, and he declares that I was 
 taken onto the regulars at Merriwell's particular re- 
 quest. More than that, he says that Merriwell would
 
 The Mysterious Mr. King. 119 
 
 not agree to give the sophomore, Jack ^.eady, a chance 
 at center unless I was placed on the end of the line 
 opposite Bart Hodge. You are clever in fathoming 
 motives, my dear Mr. King; fathom that" 
 
 Hector King began to pace the floor, his dark face 
 wearing a singular expression. All at once he paused, 
 turning sharply and fixing his penetrating, changing 
 eyes on Dade. 
 
 "I see it!" he declared, pointing a long finger 
 straight at the waiting freshman's eyes. "I read him !" 
 
 "Well ?" questioned Morgan, calmly sitting down. 
 
 "He recognized your ability, he saw that you were 
 qualified to play on the eleven." 
 
 "Well?" Dade repeated. 
 
 "He has pledged himself to give every candidate a 
 fair show." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "He knew that, playing on the scrub, you were des- 
 tined to make a strong showing against the regulars. 
 It was you who were mainly instrumental in causing 
 the regulars to show up so poorly against the scrub 
 in the first half of the practise game to-day." 
 
 "But he would not " 
 
 "Wait ! This Merriwell is shrewd. He saw where 
 the strength of the scrub lay, and it was his first day 
 as captain of the regulars. It was absolutely necessary 
 for him to make a good showing. Every move of his 
 was a crafty one. He weakened the scrub by his great
 
 120 The Mysterious Mr. King. 
 
 change, and he .strengthened the first eleven. He used 
 you as his instrument in bringing this about ; that's all. 
 You helped him do what he wished to do." 
 
 "Perhaps that is right." 
 
 "Of course it is right. There is no doubt of it." 
 
 "But am I not on the 'Varsity eleven?" 
 
 "You are on it now, but you'll not remain there. 
 I see his plan. He has still other friends on the scrub. 
 One week from Saturday last Yale plays Columbia, 
 but you will not play on the Yale team." 
 
 Morgan leaped to his feet. 
 
 "Why not?" he demanded. 
 
 "Because it is not Merriwell's policy to play you. 
 You will help make the team strong in practise, but, 
 at the last moment, he will fill your place with another 
 one of his friends." 
 
 "By heavens! I believe you are right!" 
 
 "Ha! ha!" laughed King hollowly, "I know I am 
 right. Why, you are permitting this fellow to use 
 you as a tool, and he is laughing to himself over your 
 blindness." 
 
 "Laughing, is he!" grated Morgan furiously. 
 "Well, I'll give him something to laugh about!" 
 
 "How? What can you do?" 
 
 "Tell me tell me what to do! I can't afford to 
 lose my place on the eleven by playing poorly to spoil 
 his plans."
 
 The Mysterious Mr. King. 121 
 
 "That's true; he knows it. Oh, yes, he's clever! 
 But we'll checkmate him." 
 
 There came a sudden sharp knock on the door. 
 
 "A caller!" whispered King. "I must not be seen 
 here!" 
 
 "Behind those curtains," whispered Dade, pointing 
 to some portieres, and the man disappeared from view 
 with the silence of a phantom. 
 
 "Come in," Morgan called, when he had settled him- 
 self in a comfortable position with his book on his 
 lap. 
 
 The door opened and Roland Packard strode into 
 the room. 
 
 "Good evening, Mr. Packard," greeted the fresh- 
 man, loking up with that winning smile. "This is a 
 surprise." 
 
 He arose and offered Roland a chair with the ut- 
 most courtesy. 
 
 "Look here, Morgan," growled the visitor, whose 
 flushed face and vile-smelling breath denoted that he 
 had been drinking heavily, "I didn't take you for a soft 
 mark!" 
 
 "I hope I am not a soft mark," said Dade, as he 
 again sat down, Packard having accepted the chair. 
 
 "It looks like it by the gods of war! it looks like 
 it !" Roland asserted. 
 
 "In what way?" coolly inquired Morgan.
 
 122 The Mysterious Mr. King. 
 
 "Why, you are like all the others; you're ready to 
 pick up with Merriwell at the first opportunity." 
 
 "I fail to see why you should think anything of the 
 sort." 
 
 "Why, hang it, man! didn't you jump at the chance 
 to get onto the eleven with him?" 
 
 "Not at all. I have been working to make the 
 eleven ever since college opened. It was my object be- 
 fore I came to Yale. I have played football since my 
 first year at high school, and, away back in those early 
 days, my one hope was to some day win a place on a 
 college team. I was confident that I'd make the Yale 
 team sooner or later. I fail to see how Frank Merri- 
 well has anything to do with it." 
 
 Packard's lips curled in a sneer. 
 
 "You have pretended to hate Merriwell, haven't 
 you?" 
 
 "You know very well that I do not love him." 
 
 "That's it; you pretended to hate him, but now 
 you say you do not love him. You are softening 
 down." 
 
 "You never made a bigger mistake, Mr. Packard," 
 asserted Morgan, still smiling serenely. 
 
 "Well, I know how it looks. You jumped at the 
 chance when he took you from the scrub and gave you 
 a place in the rush-line of the 'Varsity team." 
 
 "Why shouldn't I? It's just what I've been work- 
 ing for."
 
 The Mysterious Mr. King. 123 
 
 "But, Merriwell did it!" persisted Roland. 
 
 "Mr. Merriwell did not personally request me to 
 play with the regular team." 
 
 "Nor did he personally request any one else to do 
 so, but he has boasted that he'd run the eleven to 
 please himself, and would play such men on it as he 
 liked. He told the head coach to try you. It's that 
 way always. He gets round his enemies by his slick 
 ways, and turns them into friends. He has performed 
 the same trick with one after another of them. He 
 did it with the only powerful enemy he ever had in 
 Yale, Buck Badger. 
 
 "Badger seemed to hate Merriwell with a fierce and 
 undying hatred. He was an athlete and he had influ- 
 ence. Merriwell saw it, and he began working his 
 hoodwinking tricks on Badger. He made the fool be- 
 lieve he was indebted to Merriwell for many favors, 
 and, little by little, he tied up Buck's hands till he 
 could not use them. Then Badger was disarmed, and 
 he lost power and influence. Instead of becoming an 
 independent leader, he became a Merriwell henchman, 
 a tool, a groveling, a nothing ! He performed brilliant 
 athletic feats, but Merriwell was his leader, and Mer- 
 riwell received the glory. It is thus that Merriwell has 
 built up his reputation since entering college; he has 
 taken to himself the credit for everything done by the 
 poor fools he has made to serve his purposes. And 
 you you are falling into the same trap!"
 
 124 The Mysterious Mr. King. 
 
 "No!" cried Dade, with sudden fire. 
 
 "Yes !" insisted the medical student. "You may not 
 see it, but I do. He is captain of the eleven. Last year 
 .Yale failed to maintain her old-time position on the 
 gridiron through incompetent management. This year 
 it is almost certain she will win back her lost prestige, 
 and Frank Merriwell will receive the glory. Are you 
 going to play into his hands By helping him do this?" 
 
 "Do you think I'm going to ruin my own chance of 
 ever getting a show on the eleven by throwing up now ? 
 I'm not built that way, Mr. Packard." 
 
 "Then you will play into that fellow's hands? I 
 didn't think it of you! That is, I didn't think it at 
 first; but I might have known you were like all the 
 others !" 
 
 Packard sprang up, with a furious gesture, and 
 Morgan rose quickly, facing the medical student across 
 the table. The freshman was cool and collected. 
 
 "Don't be hasty, Mr. Packard," he advised. "Let's 
 talk this matter over a little." 
 
 "What's the use of talking!" cried Roland. "He's 
 got you! You are on the eleven now, and you'll be 
 bowing and scraping to him pretty soon. Why, it 
 won't be long before you'll be trying to get into his 
 flock! Let him wipe his feet on you, if you want to! 
 You're just what I called you a soft mark!" 
 
 Morgan went round the table at a bound and placed 
 himself between Packard and the door. His eyes were
 
 The Mysterious Mr. King. 125 
 
 flashing and there was something in his manner that 
 gave Roland a queer feeling of surprise. The smile 
 had vanished, and Bade was grim and stern. 
 
 "Sit down!" he commanded, pointing to the chair 
 from which Packard had risen. 
 
 Roland hesitated. 
 
 "Why should I?" he asked. 
 
 "Because I say so! Sit down!" 
 
 The medical student felt like seizing Morgan by the 
 collar and hurling him aside, but he did nothing of 
 the sort. Instead, he was seized by a sudden, strange 
 conviction that he was in the presence of his master. 
 
 "All right," he said, forcing a broken laugh. "I'm 
 in no great hurry." * 
 
 And he sat down ! 
 
 Dade walked over slowly and resumed his position; 
 at the opposite side of the table, but he did not take 
 a chair. 
 
 "Packard," he said, "you have made some talk to 
 me that I do not like. I know I'm nothing but a fresh- 
 man, but we're alone here in this room, man to man, 
 and, were you any one else on earth, I'd not let you 
 go till I had given you a blazing good thrashing. As 
 it is, I shall overlook your words this time, and I do 
 so because I am convinced of your real and undying 
 hatred of Frank Merriwell." 
 
 "You might have been convinced of that long ago," 
 said Roland.
 
 126 The Mysterious Mr. King. 
 
 "Being satisfied," Dade pursued, as if the visitor 
 had not spoken, "I'm willing to make some talk to you. 
 As I told you, I'm not a fool enough to ruin my own 
 chances, now that I'm on the eleven. Frank Merri- 
 well may have taken me on to use me as his tool, but 
 he'll find he has made a big blunder. I shall hold my 
 place if I can. But the very fact that I am on the 
 eleven, of which he is captain, makes it even easier for 
 me to strike him. I don't know at the present time 
 just how I'll work the trick, but my plans will develop 
 later." 
 
 "You might do him up in a scrimmage!" hissed 
 Packard. "It would not be so hard. A knife thrust 
 who could tell who did it?" 
 
 "Would you do a thing like that ?" 
 
 "Give me a chance! That's all I ask!" 
 
 "But I'm known as his enemy, and it would be easy 
 to trace the thing to me to pin it onto me." 
 
 "I'm known as his enemy, too; but give me a 
 \ chance. If I were on the eleven, if I played the posi- 
 tion my Sunday-school brother is filling, I'd find an 
 opportunity in the very first game." 
 
 "But a knife that's too dangerous." 
 
 "Oh, there are other things! I've seen chances in 
 football scrimmages where one man could break the 
 neck of another in the slickest way. All that's neces- 
 sary is to know how to do the trick and to have the 
 nerve."
 
 The Mysterious Mr. King. 127 
 
 "Do you know how?" 
 
 "Do I ? Well, I'm a medical student, and I've made 
 a special study of such tricks. I know just how to 
 get an arm about a man's neck, a hand under his chin, 
 give a twist and a wrench and it's done ! Hundreds 
 of such chances occur in football-games. Who could 
 say it was done intentionally?" 
 
 Dade Morgan's eyes were dancing with a strange 
 light. 
 
 "You are a man who hates after my own heart!" 
 he cried. "No knife business; but this other is all 
 right." 
 
 "It's all right, but I have no chance to work it. You 
 have, Morgan ! Will you do it ?" 
 
 "I don't know how." 
 
 "I'll teach you! Will you do it?" 
 
 "Wait? To-morrow I will give you your answer. 
 Packard, I wish you were on the eleven." 
 
 "But I'm not." 
 
 "I once mistook your brother for you." 
 
 "Many do that." 
 
 "Give me time to think of this matter. Good 
 night." 
 
 It was a dismissal. From another freshman Pack- 
 ard would not have taken such a thing ; but he had felt 
 Morgan's strange power to command, and he rose 
 quietly, moving toward the door. 
 
 "Don't get squeamish thinking of it," he entreated.
 
 128 The Mysterious Mr. King. 
 
 "If I made some rough talk about your being a soft 
 mark, forget it. I was pretty hot when I came in. 
 Won't you come out with me and have a drink?" 
 
 "Not to-night, thank you. Haven't the time to 
 spare. Take one for me. Good night." 
 
 Packard went out, and Dade closed and locked the 
 door behind him. When he turned about, Hector 
 King was sitting beside the table on which burned the 
 student's lamp.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 READY FOR THE DEED. 
 
 "An ally worth having," said King, "yet one who 
 should be directed and governed. His fierce hatred 
 might lead him to make false steps." 
 
 "You heard all?" 
 
 "Every word." 
 
 "What do you think?" 
 
 "Many things. He spoke of a brother who is on 
 the eleven." 
 
 "Yes, his twin brother." 
 
 "They look alike?" 
 
 "So much alike that it is sometimes almost impos- 
 sible to tell one from the other. Besides that, they; 
 have a trick of dressing alike. People who know therri 
 intimately are often deceived." 
 
 "Their names?" 
 
 "This one is Roland, the other is Oliver." 
 
 "Are they alike in other respects besides looks?" 
 
 "Unfortunately not; they are as dissimilar as two 
 persons can be. Oliver is a goodie." 
 
 "Then he could not easily be influenced to strike 
 Merriwell?" 
 
 "No; of his own free will he would not think of 
 doing such a thing. He is one of Merriwell's ad- 
 mirers."
 
 130 Ready for the Deed. 
 
 King was silent for some moments as if buried in 
 thought, and the young freshman watched him closely. 
 When the man looked up, his shifty eyes were con- 
 tracted till they seemed strange and fierce and in- 
 human. 
 
 "I have not planned to kill Merriwell at a single 
 stroke," he said, his voice awakening queer echoes in 
 the room; "but everything seems leading to that." 
 
 Despite himself, Bade paled somewhat. For all that 
 he had seemed so cool about it when Packard was 
 talking of breaking the neck of Frank Merriwell, Mor- 
 gan had not fancied such a thing would be carried out. 
 Now, however, he understood the full seriousness of it. 
 
 "But it was your plan to injure Merriwell to drag 
 him down step by step and little by little," he hurriedly 
 said. 
 
 "I know," nodded the strange visitor; "but he is 
 mounting steadily upward. At orie stroke, in the midst 
 of his glory, he may be left dead on the football-field. 
 Ha ! ha ! That blow would tell that would wring the 
 heart I long to crush !" 
 
 Bade shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 "It can be done without your hand appearing in it," 
 King asserted. "In fact, you need have nothing to 
 do with it." 
 
 The freshman breathed easier. 
 
 "How can you bring it about ?" he asked, curious to
 
 Ready for the Deed. 131 
 
 know the scheming of this strange man to whom he 
 seemed somehow attached. 
 
 "Through the brothers." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 "I know how. I must see this Oliver. I must dis- 
 cover a way of distinguishing one from the other." 
 
 "You'll make a serious mistake if you try to influ- 
 ence him to injure Merriwell." 
 
 King arose, drawing his tall figure erect. 
 
 "I'll make no mistake," he declared. "I have re- 
 solved upon this plan. Many serious accidents happen 
 on the football-field. This will seem to be one of 
 them; but in truth one of the Packards shall kill Frank 
 Merriwell the day that Yale plays Columbia !" 
 
 Little did Frank Merriwell dream of the black plot 
 against his life. His heart was in the work of put- 
 ting the best possible team on the field for Yale, and 
 day after day he trained and worked with the men on 
 the field. 
 
 The coaches were enthusiastic over the remarkable 
 progress Yale was making thus early in the season. 
 Some were inclined to attribute it to Mike Murphy's 
 new policy of pulling the heavy men back from the 
 line; but more declared that the rapid advancement 
 came through the spirit and vim which Merriwell had
 
 132 Ready for the Deed. 
 
 infused into the eleven. Besides, there were still two 
 heavy men in the line, the guards, Beckwith and 
 Browning. 
 
 For once in his life, Browning worked like a slave. 
 He was determined to keep his flesh down, though he 
 feared it might be a hard task now that he was com- 
 pelled to lay aside his pipe. Many a time, having a 
 phenomenal appetite, he left the training-table feeling, 
 as he expressed it, "as empty as a bass drum." Always 
 the possessor of gigantic strength, this severe and per- 
 sistent work seemed to make him stronger and more 
 formidable than ever. In response to Merry's words 
 of encouragement he would say : 
 
 "I wouldn't do it for any other two-legged man on 
 earth, but you're captain of the Yale team, and you 
 must come out on top of the heap." 
 
 Another man of wonderful strength on the team 
 was Starbright, the young Hercules half-back. Star- 
 bright was even lighter on his feet than Browning, 
 could kick better, and had just as much bulldog grit. 
 
 Not a few had prophesied that the young Andover 
 man could not retain the position that had been given 
 him, having such rivals as Deerfield, Hazleton, and 
 Pinkney; but no practise game passed that the fair- 
 haired giant did not make his hold stronger by some 
 piece of work that won the admiration of the old- 
 timers. 
 
 At quarter Oliver Packard demonstrated his fitness
 
 Ready for the Deed. 133 
 
 by handling the ball with cleverness, taking it surely 
 from the center, passing it swiftly and accurately, and 
 being constantly alive to the movements of the work 
 cut out for the team. 
 
 Bingham, the big full-back, could kick and run 
 handsomely and capture a long punt in fine style. It 
 was arranged that he should divide the most of the 
 kicking with Merry. 
 
 The two tackles were Bertrand Defarge and Berlin 
 Carson. Defarge was no friend of Merriwell's, and, 
 to Bart's annoyance, played next to Hodge on the line. 
 He had tried to make the team before, but never till 
 now had he been given a chance on the first eleven. 
 
 Carson, the young Coloradian, surprised even his 
 friends. It had been his object to make the nine, but, 
 encouraged by Frank, he had tried for the eleven, and 
 now he was to have a show thus early in the season. 
 
 In many respects, the ends seemed alike. They were 
 Hodge and Morgan, both dark, compact, supple, and 
 fierce as untamed tigers. And they hated each other 
 with a hatred that was unforgiving and undying. In- 
 deed, Hodge had threatened to withdraw from the 
 team immediately if Morgan was not dropped, and it 
 was only through expostulations and urgings that 
 Merry induced Bart to remain. 
 
 "You'll be sorry for it, Merriwell," Hodge grimly 
 declared. "See if I'm not right. That fellow is a
 
 134 Ready for the Deed. 
 
 scoundrel, and his place is in the penitentiary, instead 
 of on the Yale football-team." 
 
 "But you must acknowledge that he fills the posi- 
 tion handsomely," said Frank. 
 
 "In practise, perhaps; but he's not to be trusted. 
 Mark what I say. He hates you, and he'd do any- 
 thing to injure you." 
 
 "At the same time, I believe he will fight like a fiend 
 to aid the team in winning." 
 
 "Perhaps he may; but I'm not sure of that. The 
 first game will tell. He has plotted against you, and I 
 have no idea he's given up his underhand tricks." 
 
 "He has failed in every move made against me, and 
 he'll fail in the future." 
 
 It was the morning of the day before the Yale game 
 with Columbia. In an hour the 'Varsity eleven would 
 take the train for New York. In his room Oliver 
 Packard was packing a dress-suit case and preparing 
 to start. 
 
 Without warning, the door opened and a tall, dark 
 man entered with noiseless step. 
 
 "I beg your pardon," said the stranger, and his hol- 
 low voice caused Oliver to start and whirl about. 
 
 "Hello!" exclaimed the young medical student. 
 "Who are you? What are you doing here?" 
 
 "I believe your name is Oliver Packard?" said the
 
 Ready for the Deed. 135 
 
 stranger. Somehow, the young medic was seized by 
 a sensation of danger. 
 
 "That's my name, sir," he answered stiffly. 
 
 "Ah, yes ; I have some business with you." 
 
 "Then you'll have to be brief about it, for I can 
 spare but a very few moments. Your name is " 
 
 "It is concerning your mother," the visitor mur- 
 mured. 
 
 Packard stiffened. 
 
 "My mother!" he exclaimed, his cheeks flushing. 
 "Why should you " 
 
 "Softly, softly," said the man. "It is not serious." 
 
 Oliver showed instant alarm. 
 
 "Is mother ill?" he questioned. "Who are you? 
 How does it happen you come to me about her?" 
 
 His suspicions were fully alive. 
 
 "It is possible," said the man, "that your mother 
 may have told you of an uncle who was supposed to 
 have died in India." 
 
 "Yes, I have heard her speak of such a brother. 
 Are you you cannot be that brother my uncle?" 
 
 "Sit down," directed the stranger, with a gentle yet 
 commanding wave of one hand toward a chair beside 
 a table. "It will take but a few moments for me to 
 explain." 
 
 Although he felt like refusing to be seated, some- 
 thing seemed to draw Oliver to that chair, and he 
 sank upon it. The stranger sat down on the opposite
 
 1 36 Ready for the Deed. 
 
 side of the table, fixing his remarkable eyes fairly on 
 those of the student. 
 
 "Ah, yes!" he said, his hollow voice seeming to 
 come from a distance. "You have but a slight re- 
 semblance to your mother." 
 
 "Remember my time is limited," said Oliver im- 
 patiently. "I must catch a train." 
 
 "Look straight at me that I may better study your 
 features," came placidly, almost soothingly from the 
 man. "Your mother is not ill, but she requested me 
 to bring you a message. Don't take your eyes away. 
 She fears you are working too hard. She says that 
 you must have plenty of rest. I can see that you 
 are tired now." 
 
 Oliver Packard felt a strange sensation creeping over 
 him, and now he could not take his eyes from those 
 remarkable orbs even if he so desired. Something 
 held him staring thus, while he felt that a part of him- 
 self was passing from his body. His will was slip- 
 ping from him and being replaced by that of another. 
 
 Then it was that he sought to throw off the spell 
 that was coming upon him, but those eyes held him 
 like bands of iron. He could look into them and 
 see strange shadow-figures like flitting ghosts, and 
 he was fascinated as the bird is fascinated by the 
 eyes of a serpent. Still that hollow, voice, seeming 
 to come from far away, sounded in his ears : 
 
 "You shall have the rest that you greatly need. It
 
 Ready for the Deed. 137 
 
 will do your body and soul good. It will be sweet and 
 soothing. You must fall into gentle slumber, from 
 which you will awaken when I bid you. So close your 
 eyes and sleep sleep sleep." 
 
 The eyes of the student drooped and closed at the 
 command of the mysterious visitor, and the last word 
 sounded faint as the whisper of a summer breeze amid 
 green leaves. 
 
 The stranger leaned across the table and made some 
 mysterious passes before the face of the youth, a low, 
 terrible laugh sounding from his lips. 
 
 He then rose from the chair, lifted Oliver in his 
 arms, bore him into the adjoining bedroom, and placed 
 him on the bed. When this was done, he advanced to 
 the door that opened into the passage, flung it wide, 
 and said : 
 
 "It is done. Come in." 
 
 Roland Packard came in immediately. 
 
 "Where is he?" he asked, looking around. The 
 man motioned toward the other room, and Roland 
 hastened in and stood beside the bed on which his twin 
 brother lay. 
 
 The mysterious stranger came and stood near. Ro- 
 land wheeled about, fiercely snarling: 
 
 "If you have hurt him, I'll have your heart." 
 
 "He is unharmed," assured the man; "but he will 
 sleep there till I awaken him. When you leave this 
 room and lock the door, he will be safe. No one will
 
 138 Ready for the Deed. 
 
 disturb him, for it is supposed that both of you will 
 be in New York during the game. I have given you 
 your opportunity to finish Frank Merriwell. You will 
 find a chance during the game to break his neck, and 
 no one can ever dream it was anything but an accident. 
 Get into your brother's clothes and hasten to the sta- 
 tion. Be on your guard not to betray yourself in any 
 way." 
 
 "Trust me," said Roland. "I have played Oliver 
 before." 
 
 "Are you sure your nerve will not fail you when 
 the time comes?" demanded the stranger. 
 
 "I know it will not," declared Roland. "Frank 
 Merriwell is as good as finished." 
 
 "Then," said the stranger, striding softly to the 
 door, "farewell till the deed is done." 
 
 He was gone, and Roland Packard was left to carry 
 out the dastardly plot.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 "THE DEED is DONE!" 
 
 Yale had sent a great crowd of rooters to New 
 York, for the result of the contest between these two 
 teams the previous year had awakened all the pride of 
 Old Eli. The score must be wiped out, and Yale must 
 regain her lost prestige. 
 
 Up Fifth Avenue rolled a tally-ho coach bearing 
 a merry party of students and girls, all wearing the 
 Yale blue. On the coach were Elsie Bellwood and 
 Inza Burrage, already throbbing with the wild thrill 
 of the occasion, their faces flushed, their eyes bright. 
 Harry Rattleton was with them, for he had turned up 
 in time to take in this game, and, try as he might to 
 talk straight, he seemed to get his sentences twisted 
 worse than usual. 
 
 "It's a glorious eel for Old Dayli," he chattered; "I 
 mean a glorious day for Old Eli ! We'll stug without 
 a wingall no, win without a struggle ! Solumbia will 
 be in the coop rats ! Columbia will be in the soup !" 
 
 "Let it go!" laughed Inza. "Yale will put Columbia 
 in a coop to-day." 
 
 "What if Yale should lose!" breathed Elsie. 
 
 "Lose!" cried the dark-eyed girl. "With Franlc 
 Merriwell captain of the team! Impossible!" 
 
 "But he has enemies on the team."
 
 140 'The Deed is Done!" 
 
 "Morgan and Defarge yes. But Frank says those 
 men will sacrifice their limbs, their very lives, if nec- 
 essary, to win for Yale ; and when Frank says a thing 
 like that, he knows what he's talking about. Yale can't 
 lose to-day!" 
 
 "That's right !" cried the delighted students. "Hur- 
 rah for Inza Burrage and Yale !" 
 
 The coach was able to obtain a splendid position 
 from which the party it bore could witness the game 
 and all the exciting events of the great day. 
 
 The crowd was a picture for the eye. Everywhere 
 were flags and streamers, chrysanthemums and vio- 
 lets, bright neckties and sunshades, flashing the rival 
 colors back in an ever-moving kaleidescope. 
 
 In the midst of the great crowd of spectators, hav- 
 ing obtained a particular vantage-point, was a dark- 
 faced man with powerful, piercing eyes. His hollow- 
 cheeked face was calm and tranquil, but it seemed that 
 there was upon it a look of satisfaction and anticipated 
 triumph. 
 
 Suddenly a great roar of welcome went up from 
 students and spectators. Out o A o the field rushed two 
 squads of shaggy-headed, stocky-looking lads. A mo- 
 ment later they were indulging in warming-up practise, 
 unmindful of the thunders of greeting from the mass 
 of humanity round the field. 
 
 Things moved swiftly now. A little group drew 
 aside, a coin was flipped, and the choice fell to Yale.
 
 The Deed is Done !" 
 
 141 
 
 A sudden lull fell on the crowd as the two teams 
 lined up for the kick-off. This was the line-up of both 
 elevens : 
 
 t-.E. L.T L.C >-. . B.C 
 
 
 
 There was a sudden wild burst of sound, for Co- 
 lumbia's center had driven the pigskin down the field 
 against the wind. The ball wiggled and squirmed 
 along in the teeth of the breeze and fell into the hands 
 of Packard, Yale's quarter-back. Without attempting
 
 142 "The Deed is Done!" 
 
 to return the kick, Packard tried to run, but he was 
 downed by Crosby before he had made five yards. 
 
 Both the Yale and Columbia stands burst into a 
 roar, but the play was not allowed, for Columbia's line 
 had been off-side on the kick-off, so the ball was given 
 to North for another try. 
 
 Again Columbia's big center kicked the yellow egg 
 with the full strength of his powerful leg, but again 
 the wind seemed to catch and destroy the momentum 
 of the ball; for a second time Packard caught it on 
 Yale's twenty-five-yard line, and was downed in his 
 tracks, this time by Delome, the big guard. 
 
 Then the two lines swung into action. Merriwell's 
 very first play was to give the ball to the young fresh- 
 man giant, Starbright, for a plunge against Columbia's 
 right tackle. 
 
 Starbright hit the line like a battering-ram, and 
 fairly plowed through it for seven yards, which set the 
 Yale rooters wild. 
 
 Under ordinary circumstances, a variation of this 
 would have followed the first down ; but Merry seemed 
 satisfied with Starbright's showing, and another mass 
 play was tried, but without gain. 
 
 Then Defarge was called back of the line, appar- 
 ently for some new interference formation. However, 
 a surprise play was attempted, for Defarge tried a 
 short kick.
 
 "The Deed is Done I" 143 
 
 This time Columbia was on her mettle, and it 
 seemed that her entire line was upon Yale's tackle 
 before he could kick. Simpson plunged at Defarge 
 and partly blocked the kick. 
 
 Beckwith was well in the play, and, despite his size, 
 showed remarkable agility, recovering the ball on Co- 
 lumbia's fifty-yard line, thus saving it for Yale. 
 
 It was fancied then that Merriwell would not im- 
 mediately give Defarge another chance. The Chicker- 
 ing crowd declared that Defarge's failure would give 
 Merriwell an excuse to put in a substitute as soon as it 
 could be done. But Frank, realizing that this was only 
 a practise game, decided to try some of the new plays 
 he had invented, and test their usefulness. For this 
 reason he had resorted to the trick kick by Defarge. 
 
 He now signaled for a kick from Bingham, and 
 the big full-back sent the ball sailing down the field. 
 
 Columbia secured the leather on her twenty-yard 
 line, and lined up for her first assault on the Yale de- 
 fense. The rooters for the blue-and-white opened with 
 a wild burst of cheering to give the men courage and 
 vim. 
 
 A moment of hesitation, a sudden snap of the ball, 
 a pass, and then Haverlock was sent crashing against 
 Yale's left guard, which position was thought to be 
 weak. 
 
 Browning met the brunt of this furious assault, and
 
 144 "The Deed is Done !" 
 
 he stood like a firmly rooted tree. Not a foot could 
 the blue-and-white make, and so the ball went down. 
 
 Merriwell's new men were being tried one after an- 
 other, and they were showing up in a manner to please 
 the crowd. 
 
 Columbia's next move was to give the ball to Pen- 
 nington for a try at her opponent's left end. The 
 interference was of a high order. Hodge was pock- 
 eted, and Pennington seemed to go right through De- 
 farge for a gain of twelve yards before he was brought 
 violently to the ground by Merriwell. 
 
 Then cheers for Pennington and Merriwell floated 
 from opposite sides of the field, and the colors of both 
 teams waved wildly. 
 
 Captain Light seemed still to have faith in Haver- 
 lock, for twice in swift succession was he sent against 
 Yale's right tackle, and both times he was hustled back 
 without a gain. Dade Morgan played a prominent 
 part in breaking up the Columbia interference, but 
 thus far he had been given no opportunity to particu- 
 larly distinguish himself. 
 
 With two downs against her, Columbia attempted 
 a mass play against the center, believing that such 
 swift and persistent hammering on one point would 
 have its effect. The ball was passed to Simpson, and 
 he went at Yale's left guard in a crashing tackle play. 
 
 Again Browning met the brunt of this fierce assault, 
 again Dade Morgan dived into Columbia's formation
 
 'The Deed is Done!" 145 
 
 as if he were three or four rushers combined in one, 
 and again the ball went down without advancing. Co- 
 lumbia had failed to make the necessary gain and the 
 ball was given to Yale close to Columbia's thirty-yard 
 line. 
 
 Again Merriwell gave Starbright a chance to see 
 what he could do, and twice he plunged into Colum- 
 bia's left tackle, making slight gains. 
 
 This, however, was not entirely satisfactory, and 
 the wind was too tempting not to take advantage of it, 
 so Bingham was once more called upon for a kick. 
 With the kick, both Hodge and Morgan went leaping 
 down the field under the ball, but the wind was so 
 strong that it was carried beyond them and over Co- 
 lumbia's line. Haverlock dropped on it, and the ball 
 was Columbia's. 
 
 Now the blue-and-white, despite the disadvantage of 
 having a strong wind to go against, attempted a kick. 
 Bowling smashed the leather furiously, and it went 
 twisting and writhing along like a serpent. 
 
 Packard got under it, but the twisting motion de- 
 ceived him, and he fumbled the catch, so that North 
 secured the ball on Yale's forty-yard line. 
 
 Although all the fighting had been in Columbia's 
 territory, Yale was not doing the work expected of 
 her, and Merriwell's enemies found the opportunity 
 for criticism and sneering. 
 
 Pennington charged like a mad bull at Beckwith, but
 
 146 "The Deed is Done!" 
 
 Yale's right guard stood firm as Browning had stood 
 and no gain was made. On a second trial, Pennington 
 hit Yale's center fair and hard, making three yards. 
 Simpson quickly added four yards to this, and then the 
 ball went to Bowling, who was literally hurled through 
 a formation play for four more yards. 
 
 These gains were enough to set the rooters for the 
 blue-and-white wild, and they cheered madly. Dowl- 
 ing's following attempt, however, was blocked and 
 held, and there the gains came to an end. Columbia's 
 fiercest efforts failed to secure the required distance, 
 and the dark blue took the ball again. 
 
 "What's the matter with Merriwell?" was the ques- 
 tion. "He has the wind with him ; why doesn't he do 
 some kicking?" 
 
 "If Columbia can do this kind of work against the 
 wind, what will she do when she has the wind in her 
 favor?" 
 
 Still Frank persisted in his policy of giving the new 
 men trials, and the tide of battle ebbed and flowed 
 without anything sensational happening till, on a doub- 
 le pass, Haverlock got round Yale's right end, dodged 
 Beckwith, escaped Merriwell's hand by an inch, and 
 went tearing toward the Yale goal-line with a clear 
 field ahead of him. 
 
 Frank might have run Haverlock down, but Hil- 
 brook shouldered him at just the right moment, and 
 the great throng of people went wild as Columbia's
 
 'The Deed is Done I" 147 
 
 half-back sped on, both teams stringing out behind 
 him. 
 
 "It's a touch-down for Columbia!" shrieked hun- 
 dreds of voices. 
 
 Then a shaggy-headed, fair-haired giant came out 
 of the midst of a knot of men and cut down on Haver- 
 lock at an angle, covering ground in flying leaps that 
 seemed perfectly marvelous. 
 
 "Starbright !" was the cry. "Starbright! Star- 
 bright!" 
 
 "He can't catch him !" 
 
 "He'll do it ! Look ! he's gaining !" 
 
 Yale's only hope of preventing a touch-down rested 
 on the Andover giant, and, like a bounding lion, Dick 
 Starbright pounced on Haverlock and crushed him 
 to earth exactly five yards from Yale's line. 
 
 Although thus balked, Columbia had the scent of 
 victory in her nostrils, and she was determined to do 
 or die. Pennington was driven at Yale's line like a 
 battering-ram. 
 
 Right there Yale displayed her old-time staying 
 qualities in such an emergency, and Pennington might 
 as well have charged the granite foundations of Van- 
 derbilt Hall. Twice he went hammering against 
 Yale's center, and twice he was held without making 
 an inch. 
 
 The Yale men were singing, and that song floated 
 over the field to the ears of the young gladiators who
 
 148 'The Deed is Done!" 
 
 were battling for her glory. Not a man was there 
 among them all but would have died right there at 
 that moment to hold the enemy in check ! 
 
 Some have wondered that college men displayed 
 such courage in the war with Spain, for many college 
 youths there were who went to the front and covered 
 themselves with glory in battle. A few were with the 
 Rough Riders, some who had put heart and soul into 
 many a football battle, and no desperado from the 
 mountains and plains outdid them in coolness, heroism, 
 and the ability to endure hardships. On the gridiron 
 they had learned their lessons well, such lessons as 
 make men and soldiers of the highest type. 
 
 Furious because of her failures, Columbia again 
 shot Dowling out of a revolving formation; but Yale 
 tore the interference to pieces and scattered it like 
 chaff, holding the enemy for the third time. 
 
 The ball was lost, and with it went Columbia's hope 
 of scoring then. 
 
 Now Frank tried a masked play that fooled Co- 
 lumbia completely. Half the opposing men thought 
 Merriwell had the ball, but he had passed it under 
 cover so skilfully and swiftly that Carson was per- 
 mitted to break through and make twenty yards while 
 Frank was hurled to the ground. Pennington alone 
 discovered the trick in time to tackle Berlin, and pre- 
 vent a run that would have been a record-breaker. 
 
 Back, back, back Yale hammered the enemy, who
 
 'The Deed is Done !" 149 
 
 fought stubbornly for every foot of ground, but could 
 not stop the determined onslaught till the ball was 
 again near the center of the field. 
 
 Then a fumble by Packard permitted Delome to 
 come through and fall on the leather. 
 
 Columbia had it again, but all her great advantage 
 had been lost. Sensations were not at an end, how- 
 ever, for, with the second attempt, Hilbrook came 
 through Beckwith and made a run of nearly twenty 
 yards. 
 
 This time interference could not stop Merriwell, 
 who flung himself like a tiger upon Columbia's right 
 tackle, slapping him to the ground in a twinkling. 
 
 Apparently Packard leaped at the same time, and 
 he came down fairly on Merriwell's back, his arms 
 seeming to twine by accident about Frank's neck. 
 
 Others fell upon them in a writhing heap. There 
 was a pause, and the mound of human beings un- 
 tangled and arose. 
 
 All but one. Stretched motionless on the ground 
 lay Frank Merriwell! 
 
 At a certain point in the great throng of spectators 
 men and women were startled and astonished by the 
 uprising of a tall, dark-faced man with terrible eyes, 
 who exclaimed in a voice of malignant satisfaction and 
 triumph : 
 
 "The deed is done!"
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 MYSTERY OF THE BROTHERS. 
 
 "Merriwell'shurt!" 
 
 The cry came from hundreds of lips. 
 
 For, notwithstanding the peculiar words which fell 
 from the lips of the strange man with the dark face, 
 no one fancied for a moment that he had any connec- 
 tion with the injury which had befallen Frank Merri- 
 well,, which seemed no more than a mere accident of 
 the gridiron. 
 
 But was Merriwell severely injured? He was seen 
 to move as others bent over him. Hands lifted him, 
 and he was placed on his feet. Then he pushed his 
 supporters off and stood erect by himself. 
 
 It seemed that every Yale man within that enclosure 
 went wild, and the mighty throng took up the roar- 
 ing cheer for Merriwell. 
 
 The tall man muttered something beneath his 
 breath, his aspect being that of rage; but no one paid 
 the slightest heed to him, for all were watching Merri- 
 well now. 
 
 "He's all right!" roared the crowd. 
 
 Frank had indicated that he was in condition to 
 continue playing. So the game was resumed, with 
 Merry still in command.
 
 Mystery of the Brothers. 1 5 1 
 
 This event seemed to mark the turn of the tide, 
 for now Yale played football in earnest. Frank had 
 tried his timber and knew what it was worth. He 
 had experimented to his satisfaction, and now he 
 went into the game to win. 
 
 The whistle blew for the end of the first half, just 
 one second before Dade Morgan went over Columbia's 
 line for a touch-down. Thus Morgan was robbed of 
 the credit of making this touch-down for Yale. 
 
 What would happen in the second half? 
 
 Hundreds were asking this question. It must be 
 confessed that the Yale crowd was disappointed by 
 the failure of its team to score in the first half with 
 the wind favorable, though the finish of the half had 
 been sensational enough, the "sons of Old Eli" show- 
 ing their superiority over their opponents. 
 
 And Columbia men were claiming that, having held 
 Yale, such play against the wind, the blue-and-white 
 would make things howl when the wind was favorable. 
 Nevertheless, old-timers, men who knew the game, 
 realized that Yale had been experimenting at the out- 
 set. 
 
 At certain points, there had been great excitement 
 on the coach that had brought Elsie and Inza to the 
 field. Harry Rattleton nearly lost his breath when 
 Haverlock made the sensational run that so nearly re- 
 sulted in a touch-down run for Columbia, and he yelled 
 himself hoarse for Starbright on witnessing the fresh-
 
 152 Mystery of the Brothers. 
 
 man half-back's flying-tackle that brought Haverlock 
 to the ground. 
 
 When Frank lay motionless on the ground after 
 others had risen, Elsie uttered a sobbing cry, pressing 
 her hands together, her face turning white as snow. 
 Inza sat motionless, her lips compressed, her eyes fixed 
 on that prostrate figure. 
 
 "Is he killed ?" gasped Elsie. 
 
 "No!" said Inza. "He was not born to be killed 
 like that!" 
 
 When the men came out upon the field for the sec- 
 ond half, it was seen that Yale had not substituted a 
 man, while Columbia had two new men in place of 
 her guards, Haskell having taken Delome's place, and 
 Duncan filling Simpson's. Just why these changes 
 had been made no one seemed to know, but it was af- 
 terward learned that Simpson had been hurt in his 
 rush against Browning, while Delome was suffering 
 from a peculiar mental trouble known as "scare," 
 which made it difficult for him to remember the 
 signals. 
 
 Merriwell kicked off to Dowling, and the latter 
 returned the ball to Packard, who muffed at Yale's 
 forty-yard line, giving North a chance to fall on the 
 ball, which he improved. 
 
 Columbia seemed to depend a great deal on Pen- 
 nington, but his first plunge against Yale's center did
 
 Mystery of the Brothers. 153 
 
 not give him a foot. Drew, however, made four yards 
 by going against Ready in exactly the same manner as 
 Pennington. 
 
 But four yards was not the needed gain, and Dowl- 
 ing tried a kick, which Packard captured on Yale's 
 twenty-five-yard line. Bingham was given an oppor- 
 tunity to punt, and he sent the ball out to Pennington 
 at the Columbia forty-five-yard line. 
 
 Pennington started with a rush, but was quickly 
 downed by Hodge. 
 
 Columbia was eager to take advantage of the wind, 
 so Dowling punted again. Bingham caught the ball at 
 Yale's thirty-yard line, and made an advance of seven 
 yards before he was stopped by Hollis, who was 
 slightly injured, but pluckily kept in the game. 
 
 Starbright had done such good work in the first half 
 that he was given another chance, but could not make 
 a gain. Then Frank punted and drove the ball out of 
 bounds at the forty-yard line. 
 
 It really seemed that Columbia was going to press 
 Yale hard, and, remembering what had happened the 
 year before, the blue-and-white team played with dash 
 and vim. 
 
 Soon, however, the long-expected event happened. 
 Merriwell got the ball on a fumble and seemed to dash 
 across as if to go round Columbia's right end. As 
 he passed Starbright, he cleverly gave the ball to the
 
 154 Mystery of the Brothers. 
 
 big freshman, but kept straight on without the slight- 
 est pause or hesitation. 
 
 Had this play been attempted from a snap back it 
 might not have succeeded, but two-thirds of the Co- 
 lumbia team were after Merry before they realized 
 that he no longer had possession of the leather. Then, 
 before they could discover where it was, Starbright 
 went through, bowling over Duncan and Drew as if 
 they were children, and away he flew toward the goal. 
 
 There was a clean open road to the line, and the 
 big Andover man covered ground in the most marvel- 
 ous manner. Dowling cut down on him and leaped 
 for a flying-tackle, but miscalculated slightly, so that 
 his fingers barely touched Dick. 
 
 On rushed Starbright, while the great multitude 
 rose once more and roared, roared, roared. Nothing 
 could stop Yale's left half-back, who slackened not a 
 fraction till he could fall prone beyond Columbia's line 
 with the ball hugged fast beneath him. 
 
 The first touch-down had been made, and the cheer- 
 ing did not subside for some moments. The ball was 
 brought out by Ready, and Frank easily kicked a 
 handsome goal. 
 
 Of course, Columbia sympathizers declared the 
 whole play a fluke, but the fact remained that it had 
 been carried out successfully from start to finish, and 
 it was a remarkable piece of quick thinking and quick 
 acting.
 
 Mystery of the Brothers. 155 
 
 As the two teams lined up again, the great crowd 
 of Yale onlookers were singing: 
 
 "Oh, poor Columbi-a! Oh, poor Columbi-a! 
 She picked a gift from off a tree, 
 It swelled her head, as all may see 
 Oh, poor Columbi-a! 
 
 CHORUS : 
 "Oh, hinkey dinkey doodle aye! 
 
 Hinkey dinkey day! 
 We'll have a little practise game 
 With poor Columbi-a! 
 
 "Oh, soft Columbi-a! Oh, soft Columbi-a! 
 This time, you bet, no gift you'll get, 
 So what's the use to fume and fret 
 Oh, soft Columbi-a ! 
 
 "Oh, sad Columbi-a! Oh, sad Columbi-a! 
 It seems a sin to rub it in, 
 But your rush-line is far too thin 
 Oh, sad Columbi-a!" 
 
 From this time on the Yale team did not let up for 
 a moment. Merriwell showed his ability as captain 
 by seeming to be everywhere to coach his men, and his 
 style of tearing to pieces the interference of the oppo- 
 nents was most discouraging to Columbia, who began 
 to realize that she was up against "the real thing." 
 
 The first half had been exciting enough, but the 
 hopes of the New Yorkers died when, less than five 
 minutes after Starbright's great run and the resulting 
 goal, Yale again advanced the ball to such a position 
 that Hodge was projected out of a formation play and 
 literally shot over Columbia's line. 
 
 Again Merriwell kicked a goal.
 
 
 
 156 Mystery of the Brothers. 
 
 Columbia was desperate. She fought like mad for 
 a score of some sort, for she realized that her laurels, 
 so proudly cherished, so loudly boasted of last year, 
 were being torn from her at one fell swoop. Was 
 it possible that she could not score ? The thought was 
 sickening to her loyal adherents. 
 
 That Columbia made a brave fight cannot be de- 
 nied, but when, near the close of the second half, Dade 
 Morgan found his opportunity and broke through for 
 a twenty-yard dash and a touch-down, she was forced 
 to accept the truth that she was not in her class. 
 
 Morgan's touch-down did not result in a goal, as 
 a strong gust of wind carried the ball to one side of 
 the goal posts, but the score was already 17 to o, and 
 the Yale crowd on the stand was singing : 
 
 "Oh, sick Columbi-a! Oh, sick Columbi-a! 
 Though rather tame, you're not to blame; 
 You've lots of time to learn the game 
 Brace up, Columbia !" 
 
 In the last few moments of play Columbia made a 
 rally and forced the ball to within twenty yards of 
 Yale's line. It is probable she might have tried to 
 kick a goal from the field at that distance but for a 
 fumble that lost her the ball and her last opportunity 
 of scoring. So the game ended. 
 
 When Merriwell reached his room at the hotel, Yale 
 men came pouring in to shake his hand and congratu- 
 late him on the splendid manner in which he had han- 
 dled the team.
 
 ? 
 
 Mystery of the Brothers. 157 
 
 "The only thing I have against you, Merry," de- 
 clared Rattleton, who was proud as a peacock, "is that 
 you fooled around in the first half the way you did. 
 Why, it was a segular rinch a regular cinch!" 
 
 "My dear boy," smiled Merry, "you must remember 
 that this was merely a practise game. It was my 
 policy to find out just what the different men on the 
 team could do, and I carried it out. In the first half 
 we experimented; in the last half we got down to 
 business." 
 
 "Oh, poor Columbi-a!" sang the Yale men laugh- 
 ingly. "But the change will do her good." 
 
 Later, Frank found himself alone with Bart Hodge 
 and seized the opportunity to speak of a matter that 
 had troubled him not a little. 
 
 "I'm afraid we can't keep Oliver Packard on the 
 team," he said. "This is a private matter, Bart, and I 
 shall depend on you to keep silent concerning it." 
 
 "What's the matter with Oliver?" questioned 
 Hodge, his curiosity aroused. "I thought he did well 
 to-day." 
 
 "He did. It's not his playing that makes me think 
 we may have to drop him, but it is the influence his dis- 
 reputable brother has over him." 
 
 "Roland Packard is a scoundrel, but I was not aware 
 that he had any influence over Oliver that would inter- 
 fere with Oil's playing." 
 
 "I'm going to tell you something, Bart something
 
 158 Mystery of the Brothers. 
 
 you must never mention till I give you permission. If 
 it had not been for me, Oliver Packard would not have 
 played with us to-day." 
 
 "How was that?" 
 
 "Instead," Merry pursued, "Roland, disguised as 
 Oliver, if appearing in Oliver's clothes may be called 
 a disguise, would have been our quarter-back." 
 
 Bart was startled. 
 
 "How could he work the trick?" he asked. "Surely 
 Oliver would not keep out of sight and let Roland take 
 his place?" 
 
 "Not of his own free will; but there is where Ro- 
 land's power comes in. Yesterday, just as I started 
 for the train, I happened to think of a nose guard 
 which belongs to Oliver, and which I have taken a 
 fancy to. I thought I might want to use it in this 
 game, and, fearing Oliver would not bring it, I ran 
 over to his room. The door was the least bit open, 
 and I entered quickly, without knocking. 
 
 "I found Roland Packard hastily getting into a new 
 brown suit of Oliver's. At first I mistook him for 
 Oliver; but he was startled by my sudden entrance 
 and betrayed himself. I knew in a moment that some- 
 thing was wrong, and I saw Oliver's dress-suit case 
 lying open, which told me that Oliver had not left. 
 When I started to look into the next room, however, 
 Roland sprang before me and ordered me to leave. I 
 decided at once to look into that room. Roland would
 
 Mystery of the Brothers. 159 
 
 not step aside, and we grappled. He put up a stiff 
 fight. When I threw him, his head struck against a 
 piece of furniture, and he was stunned. Then I looked 
 into that room, and what do you fancy I found?" 
 
 "Oliver?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "A prisoner?" 
 
 "Asleep." 
 
 "Asleep?" gasped Bart. 
 
 "In a trance. The fellow was hypnotized, just as 
 true as you are living ! I tried to awaken him but my 
 first efforts failed. Then I hastily made efforts to 
 bring him out of the trance, commanding him to 
 awaken. That succeeded." 
 
 "Great Scott !" panted Hodge. 
 
 "At first," Frank went on, "he was bewildered and 
 could not seem to remember anything. He followed 
 me into the other room, where Roland was just sit- 
 ting up. When Roland saw his brother, he seemed to 
 give in completely, and he was as easy to handle as a 
 whipped cur. I knew there was not time to spare if 
 we would catch the train, and I did not permit Oliver 
 to get out of my sight a moment till I had him well 
 aboard. That's how it happened that he was on the 
 team to-day." 
 
 "Roland Packard ought to be shot!" cried Bart. 
 "What does Oliver say about it?" 
 
 "Not a thing," answered Merry. "I told him how
 
 160 Mystery of the Brothers. 
 
 I had found him, and tried to get the whole truth out 
 of him; but he closed up like a clam and would not 
 talk. You know how he tries to shield his miserable 
 brother in everything." 
 
 "Yes, and that brother will ruin him eventually." 
 
 "I fear so. I've often wondered that Oliver should 
 take such pains to help Roland out of scrapes and to 
 cover up his deviltry, but now I fancy I understand it 
 all. Roland has him under hypnotic influence, and he 
 is not his own master." 
 
 "There is no doubt but you have discovered the 
 truth at last," agreed Bart. 
 
 But little did either of them know, at that moment, 
 how far Frank was from the truth. 
 
 There was a brisk rap at the door. 
 
 "Come in," said Frank, and a messenger boy ap- 
 peared, carrying a little envelope, dainty and perfumed, 
 which he handed to Merry. 
 
 "Answer," said the boy abruptly. 
 
 Frank opened the envelope with thumping heart. It 
 was an invitation to accompany a party of young peo- 
 ple on a yachting trip, Frank to be the "guest of 
 honor." 
 
 Merry hastily wrote an answer accepting the invita- 
 tion and gave it to the boy. 
 
 "Yes, I'll be there," said Frank.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 A MERRY PARTY. 
 
 A bright sky, a rippling sea, a comfortable boat, a 
 gay and happy party of young people. What element 
 could be added to make pleasure perfect? If anything, 
 it was the fact, important to this party at least, that 
 Yale had just won on the gridiron against Columbia. 
 
 As the Belle of the Bay plowed through the shining 
 waters, sending up a towering cloud of smoke from 
 her funnel, a quartet composed of Jack Ready, Bruce 
 Browning, Berlin Carson, and Bert Dashleigh, gave 
 expression to the general joy by singing triumphant 
 college songs. 
 
 The little steamer, chartered for the purpose, was 
 conveying a party of Merri well's friends and acquaint- 
 ances on a half-holiday trip down the harbor. 
 
 Merriwell was the center of interest and admira- 
 tion, as well as the spirit of the company. 
 
 Inza Burrage and Elsie Bellwood were of the party, 
 adding to its life and vivacity. Rosalind Thornton, 
 Dick Starbright's sweetheart, was there, too, witty, 
 smiling, and attractive. 
 
 Starbright was gaily talking to Rosalind and two 
 other girls, Ethel Throckmorton and Lucile Hayden. 
 Mrs. Virgil Throckmorton, Rosalind's aunt, was also 
 aboard, chaperoning the girls. Mrs. Throckmorton
 
 1 62 A Merry Party. 
 
 was a large and comfortable-looking woman with a 
 Grand Duchess air, and Ethel partook somewhat of 
 her mother's stiffness and dignity. As for Lucile Hay- 
 den, she was a languid, nonathletic girl, who was al- 
 ways declaring that everything was "just lovely." 
 
 Bert Dashleigh had appeared to be somewhat smit- 
 ten with Lucile's charms, but Jack Ready chanced to 
 be first at her side when the singing ended. 
 
 "That singing was just lovely!" she gushed, turn- 
 ing on Ready with a smile. 
 
 "Oh, I've got a voice like a martingale at times!" 
 Ready declared, politely lifting his cap. He did not 
 believe she had heard a word of it, for all through 
 the singing he had seen her chattering away like a 
 magpie. 
 
 "I'm so fond of athletics, you know!" Lucile 
 gushed, though, as a matter of fact, the most violent 
 exercise she ever took was a swinging in a hammock. 
 
 "Yes, it was something of an athletic exhibition!" 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "The singing." 
 
 "Oh, how stupid you men are!" she simpered, giv- 
 ing him a little push. "I was thinking of the football- 
 game. I just adore football, you know." 
 
 Ready glanced at Dashleigh, who had gone by in a 
 sulk. 
 
 "I like it!" he said. 
 
 Ready meant that he liked to monopolize a girl in
 
 A Merry Party. 163 
 
 this way and cause that girl's admirers to shoot dag- 
 gers of hate at him. 
 
 "Oh, it's just lovely!" she declared, in a feminine 
 flutter of ecstasy. "If I were a man I know I should 
 be on a football-team ! They go at each other just like 
 bears." 
 
 "And bears are good huggers. I had a bear hug 
 me once, and " 
 
 "Oh, how love I mean how horrid!" 
 
 Lucile actually blushed. 
 
 Starbright and Rosalind seemed to have forgotten 
 that there had ever been a shadow between them. 
 Starbright thought her the most perfect little creature 
 in the world. He watched the smiles come and go in 
 her bright eyes, and listened to her musical laughter 
 mingling with the music of the waters. He forgot that 
 she had ever been jealous and changeable in disposi- 
 tion. The big freshman was but seventeen, and he 
 had not seen much of the world or of women. He 
 was very happy that day, for the sky was bright, his 
 sweetheart was by his side, and he had won honor in 
 Yale's first football battle of the season. Even if a 
 freshman, he was already becoming a prominent man 
 at Yale, and though there never was a fellow of his 
 age less conceited, this success and prominence could 
 but please him. 
 
 Frank Merriwell and Bart Hodge were sitting on 
 the forward deck with Inza and Elsie, and soon their
 
 164 A Merry Party. 
 
 friends gravitated round them as naturally as iron 
 filings round a magnet. 
 
 Browning ensconced himself in a big chair. Bruce 
 could not enjoy even a pleasure party unless he could 
 perch in a chair that was big and comfortable. He 
 wanted to smoke, and frankly confessed it, but that en- 
 joyment was denied him now that he was in training. 
 
 In the party that gathered about Merriwell and his 
 companions were Berlin Carson, Greg Carker, Jim 
 Hooker, with Starbright and Ready and the young 
 lady protegees of Mrs. Virgil Throckmorton. 
 
 In shifting the seats to make room, Jack Ready 
 came by apparent chance next to Elsie Belhvood, with 
 whom he at once tried to set up a desperate flirtation, 
 and Bert Dashleigh, who had been hanging about in 
 an angry and disconsolate way, at once saw his oppor- 
 tunity and sat down by Lucile Hayden. 
 
 The captain of the steamer climbed along the rail 
 behind one of the company and leaped down to the 
 deck. He had a field-glass with him, whose use he 
 meant to offer to the party. 
 
 "A drop like that might hurt you some time!" 
 warned Jim Hooker. 
 
 The captain winked as he handed the glass to Mer- 
 riwell. 
 
 "It takes more than a drop to hurt a seafaring man." 
 
 "It takes a big glass!" laughed Frank, as he tool: 
 the field-glass and passed it to Inza.
 
 A Merry Party. 165 
 
 "I should like to have Dade Morgan look at himself 
 through the big end of this glass !" she declared. 
 
 "What for?" Carson mildly inquired. 
 
 "So he could see how little he is." 
 
 "What's your objection to Mr. Morgan?" Frank 
 asked. "He made a touch-down for Old Eli in his 
 very first game, and he pulled in his school crew last 
 year." 
 
 "I don't care if he did!" she blandly asserted, as she 
 fitted the glass to her eyes. "I heard of a New Lon- 
 don policeman who once pulled in nearly the whole of 
 Yale University." 
 
 Browning exploded. 
 
 "Oh, say, that's rich !" cried Dashleigh, who had for- 
 gotten his misery of a few moments before. 
 
 "Riches are only by comparison," said Carker, who 
 liked to be serious about all things. "And happiness 
 does not come from the possession of great riches. 
 Think of the wealth of Solomon! It didn't bring him 
 happiness." 
 
 "I don't think Solomon was half as rich as they say 
 he was!" Ready positively declared. 
 
 "Well, why not? He was one of the richest men 
 of his time, wasn't he?" 
 
 "I don't believe it. The Bible says of him that 'he 
 slept with his fathers.' Now, if he had been rich he 
 would have had a bed of his own." 
 
 Carker sank back with a sigh of despair. Merriwell
 
 1 66 A Merry Party. 
 
 nodded to Dashleigh, who slipped away, soon return- 
 ing with his mandolin. 
 
 Then there was an adjournment to the main saloon, 
 where Dashleigh "turned up," and played for the flying 
 feet of merry dancers. 
 
 Every one at Yale, however, was not as happy as 
 the merry party on the excursion-steamer. 
 
 A lot of malcontents had gathered that afternoon in 
 the perfumed apartments of Rupert Chickering. 
 Among them, in addition to the Chickering set, were 
 Roland Packard, Donald Pike, Dade Morgan, and Ber- 
 trand Defarge. All were bitter enemies of Frank Mer- 
 riwell, and had enlisted under the banner of the Na- 
 poleonic freshman, Dade Morgan, in his fight against 
 Yale's popular hero and idol. 
 
 "Every time I think of that speech of Jack Dia- 
 mond and of how Merriwell afterward acted, it makes 
 me sick of the fact that I'm a Yale man !" Don Pike 
 sneered. 
 
 "Oh, Merriwell's friends are always blowing about 
 his .fairness and all that!" said Gene Skelding, with 
 bitter emphasis. "Yet a more unfair man doesn't 
 live." 
 
 "Why, out of the eleven men on the team, six were 
 his close and intimate friends," Pike went on. "There 
 was Hodge, Browning, Carson, Ready, Starbright, and 
 himself."
 
 A Merry Party. 167 
 
 "And there were, besides," said Skelding, "Beckwith 
 and Bingham, who are friendly to him." 
 
 "Yes, it's enough to make any one sick, as you 
 say!" growled Morgan, ignoring the fact that, though 
 he was the bitterest foe Merriwell had at Yale, Frank 
 had given him the position of left end. And this 
 Frank had done, for the good of the team, notwith- 
 standing Morgan's enmity. 
 
 "I think you made a mistake, Morgan, in accepting 
 the place he gave you," suggested Defarge. "I made 
 the same mistake." 
 
 Bertrand Defarge was an American youth of French 
 extraction, and a fire-eater who disliked Merriwell 
 with the fierce intensity of his whole nature. 
 
 "Not a bit of it," said Morgan. 
 
 "But he did it that he might bolster his pretense of 
 fairness." 
 
 "I know that, but the refusal of the offer would 
 have availed nothing, for then he would have heralded 
 the fact everywhere that the place had been offered me, 
 and I refused to take it. See? And I gained a big 
 point by making the fellows admit generally that I 
 was ready to stand up and fight for the glory of Old 
 Eli, even under a man I intensely disliked." 
 
 "I thould like to punch Merriwell'th head for him!" 
 lisped Lew Veazie, puffing at a cigarette and assuming 
 a pugilistic air. "He's a horwid cweathure!"
 
 1 68 A Merry Party. 
 
 This outburst made Tilton Hull choke with rage 
 against the enemy, behind his high collar. 
 
 "We fellows will have to try it some day," languidly 
 observed Julian Ives, patting his lovely bang into 
 shape, as he stared at himself in the full-length mir- 
 ror. 
 
 "Don't be bloodthirsty, fellows!" purred Rupert 
 Chickering. "I dislike the creature myself, but I 
 would never think of doing him physical harm." 
 
 Donald Pike scornfully sniffed the air and shrugged 
 his broad shoulders. 
 
 "Well, I would! I'm only waiting for the oppor- 
 tunity." 
 
 There had been good in Donald Pike, but he had 
 permitted his selfishness and narrow hate to drag 
 him downward. 
 
 "By going in and helping the football-team to win, 
 you just added to Merriwell's glory and influence," 
 Gene Skelding snarled, speaking direct to Dade Mor- 
 gan. 
 
 "But the team would have won anyway, and I 
 thought it unwise to show narrowness by a refusal." 
 
 Morgan knew how to explain and conciliate, as 
 every shrewd general must. 
 
 "You saw the game, and you know how it went. 
 We didn't score in the first half, as Merriwell was try- 
 ing all kinds of hinkey-dinks for practise. Then in 
 the second half, when we saw we would have to work
 
 A Merry Party. 169 
 
 to keep from being beaten, we went in and put it all 
 over the other eleven. Columbia was simply out- 
 classed. Now, it was not necessary for me to be on 
 the team to bring about a victory. I felt that, in fact, 
 I knew that Yale would win, whether I was on the 
 team or off of it, and I saw that more was to be 
 gained by going on than by staying off. See?" 
 
 "Well, I shouldn't let Merriwell use me in that 
 way!" Skelding grumbled. "What sort of show did 
 he give you, anyhow?" 
 
 "Don't be stupid, Skelding! He didn't use me; I 
 used him." 
 
 "I don't see that we're getting on much in our op- 
 position. He's carrying everything his own way. Our 
 attempt to keep him from being captain of the eleven 
 was a flat failure!" 
 
 "One of Merriwell's mottoes, as you know, is that 
 'a game is never played out until it is ended.' We'll 
 make that motto ours. If we fail, we'll simply strike 
 again, and again! I'm outlining some plans that will 
 trouble him." 
 
 "What are they?" angrily. 
 
 "See here, Skelding, if you want to be rebellious, 
 you can walk out of this clique !" 
 
 Morgan's dark eyes flashed a sudden fire that made 
 Skelding quail. In fact, Morgan had little liking for 
 any of Chickering's set, but he was willing enough to 
 use them all as tools.
 
 170 A Merry Party. 
 
 "Oh, I didn't mean anything in particular! I'm just 
 impatient for results, that's all. You see, I've been 
 trying to down Merriwell so long myself that it puts 
 me in a hurry." 
 
 "It ought to teach you patience. One of my plans 
 is what we've been talking about. Agitate this matter 
 of Frank Merriwell's unfairness. Say that he is not 
 fit for the position and has proved it. Say that eight 
 of the eleven men are his friends, six of them his most 
 intimate friends. There were a big lot of fellows 
 wild to get on that team. Every one of them undoubt- 
 edly thought himself well qualified. It will be an easy 
 matter to turn those fellows against Merriwell. They 
 are sullen and jealous now, and a jealous man can 
 always be turned against the one whom he thinks has 
 been unfair to him. Tell those fellows that they were 
 shut out through Merriwell's favoritism. Make each 
 one of them believe that he was the one man needed 
 to make the team all right, and that he would surely 
 have been given a place by any other captain than Mer- 
 riwell. What more can you want in the way of a 
 weapon?" 
 
 "It seems to me that Merriwell threw himself open 
 to just that sort of thrust by choosing so many of his 
 friends," said Checkering. 
 
 "Of course he did; and we must take advantage of 
 it. That's one thing that made me accept the place 
 offered me. If I had refused and some others had
 
 A Merry Party. 171 
 
 refused, Merriwell could have claimed that he was 
 forced to put his friends on because some of the best 
 players to whom he had offered places refused to ac- 
 cept them through personal dislike." 
 
 "Oh, he'th a swewd wathcal!" lisped Veazie. 
 "Thome of thethe dayth I'll " 
 
 "What?" Don Pike abruptly interrupted. 
 
 "I'll walk up in fwont of him with my dog-headed 
 cane, and I'll tell him jutht what I think of him! 
 That'th what I'll do!" 
 
 Julian Ives, at a nod from Rupert Chickering, had 
 disappeared for some wine, which he now brought in, 
 arranging it on a table with a number of tiny glasses. 
 
 "Would any of you prefer tea?" asked Ollie Lord, 
 trying to look manly by tiptoeing in his high-heeled 
 shoes. 
 
 Morgan smiled scornfully to himself, for the fel- 
 lows sickened him, but the Chickering set had money 
 and a certain standing which money brings, even if 
 they were not top-heavy with brains. 
 
 "I think tea ith tho thoothing to the nerveth, don't 
 you know!" explained Veazie, teetering forward, 
 swinging his heavy cane, as if he fancied he might 
 see a vision of Merri well's face in the wine-glasses and 
 therefore ought to be prepared to hammer it with that 
 wonderful dog's head. 
 
 "Bert Dashleigh has gone over to Merriwell," 
 Chickering blandly observed.
 
 172 A Merry Party. 
 
 "He'th a wetch !" Veazie fiercely declared. "He'th a 
 mitherable wetch!" 
 
 "I thought there was some manliness in him," said 
 Ollie Lord, again teetering on his toes and thrusting 
 out his chest to increase his apparent height and size. 
 
 "Oh, he'll come back," asserted Morgan. "I neg- 
 lected to flatter him enough. Merriwell is patting him 
 on the back. But I think he doesn't like Merriwell." 
 
 "I don't weally thee how he can, after the thingth we 
 told him!" 
 
 "No, of course not, if he believed them." 
 
 Veazie looked at Morgan, and wondered if his 
 words held any hidden sarcasm. 
 
 "The trouble with Dashleigh is that he is a light- 
 headed, frivolous fellow. I doubt if his friendship 
 will do us much good, after all. He hasn't a dozen 
 ideas in his cranium, beyond having a jolly good time 
 and twanging his mandolin and guitar."
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 "BIG" MEN AND FOOTBALL PRACTISE. 
 
 In spite of the machinations of his enemies and the 
 jealousies of would-be rivals, Frank Merriwell was 
 undeniably the most popular man in Yale. 
 
 In the football season, the captain of the eleven is 
 the biggest man in Yale ; not in the physical sense, but 
 in the popular estimation. Merriwell, without effort 
 on his own part, and opposed by bitter enemies, had 
 been honored with the position of captain of the Yale 
 eleven, simply because he was the man for the place. 
 And it was because the captain of the football-team is 
 the biggest man in Yale, that Dade Morgan had cen- 
 tered his first efforts against Merriwell in an attempt 
 to keep him from being given that position. 
 
 It may be said, in the athletic sense, that any mem- 
 ber of any team at Yale is a big man. The wearer of 
 a "Y" is in almost every instance a big man, for the 
 honor of wearing this symbol is only conferred upon 
 a man who has played on the 'varsity football or base- 
 ball-teams against Harvard or Princeton, has rowed in 
 a 'varsity race against Harvard, or has won at least 
 a point in the athletic meets against the larger uni- 
 versities. 
 
 But at Yale, men who are not athletic are not with- 
 out the sphere of "bigness." The leading literary men
 
 174 "Big" Men and Football Practise. 
 
 in each class are also "big men" ; the editor of the 
 "Lit" coming first, then the editors of the "Record," 
 "News," and "Courant." 
 
 Debaters and men of high standing as students, also 
 have their just rewards, and the men who lead their 
 classes in religious work are not slighted. 
 
 Besides this, general popularity and that delightful 
 character of the upright, unequivocal hail-fellow-well- 
 met are always recognized, and very often the biggest 
 man in the class has nothing more than this to recom- 
 mend him to popular favor. 
 
 That Frank Merriwell had all the qualities which 
 go to make a popular Yale leader and idol, and that 
 he was now recognized as the biggest of all the big 
 men at Yale was as gall and wormwood to Dade Mor- 
 gan and many others. 
 
 But Morgan was a fellow of infinite patience and re- 
 sources, and these things did not daunt him or cause 
 him to pause in the least in his efforts to dethrone, 
 degrade, and humiliate Frank. They only spurred 
 him to new exertions and renewed ingenuity. He had 
 come to Yale, as he often told himself, to down Mer- 
 riwell, and he was resolved to down him. 
 
 Merriwell's excursion party returned in time to en- 
 able Frank to give his football eleven some hard prac- 
 tise work in the afternoon. 
 
 Of course, Dade Morgan and Bertrand Defarge 
 were there, for they were members of the team: and,
 
 "Big" Men and Football Practise. 175 
 
 of course, Dade Morgan's allies in mischief were also 
 there, including the inane Chickering set, for this prac- 
 tise work gave them splendid opportunities to criti- 
 cize whatever Merriwell did, which they used to the 
 utmost. The work of the 'varsity and college squads 
 always drew out a crowd of spectators, who cheered 
 wildly every clever play. 
 
 There was daily practise in the field of kicking, run- 
 ning, falling on the ball, lining up, interference, and 
 signal work. 
 
 Mike Murphy, the famous professional trainer and 
 coach of all teams, was there, talking to Merriwell 
 now and then, and watching the work interestedly. 
 He had seen the work done by Yale in the game against 
 Columbia, and his already high opinion of Merri well's 
 ability as a captain had been greatly increased. It 
 takes brains to be a good football captain, and Mur- 
 phy had seen that Merriwell had as clever and quick 
 a brain as any football captain who ever trod the grid- 
 iron. 
 
 The rush-line of the Yale team held Jack Ready, 
 center; Beckwith, the big sophomore, right guard; 
 Bruce Browning, left guard; Bertrand Defarge, right 
 tackle; Berlin Carson, left tackle; Bart Hodge, right 
 end ; and Dade Morgan, left end. Oliver Packard was 
 quarter-back; Frank Merriwell, right half-back; Dick 
 Starbright, left half-back; and Ralph Bingham, full- 
 back.
 
 176 "Big" Men and Football Practise. 
 
 One of the prettiest plays of the afternoon came out 
 of the practise of a revolving formation, in which a 
 run was made by Merriwell. Against the regular 
 eleven was opposed a clever eleven of the best material 
 obtainable, strengthened by the addition of two men 
 in the rush-line and extra men behind it. 
 
 Ready had snapped the ball back to Packard, who 
 passed it to Merriwell, and, as the Yale interference 
 bored its way into the opposition, fighting fiercely for 
 an advance, Frank squeezed through an opening dex- 
 terously made for him by Browning and Ready and 
 shot away with the ball for the goal-line. 
 
 The opposing rushers were so involved in breaking 
 the interference that they could not get at Frank 
 quickly, but he found himself, nevertheless, opposed by 
 two men. One of these he hurled from his feet, 
 dodged the other, and, though hotly pursued, carried 
 the ball safely past the goal-posts. 
 
 A half -hour of hot work each day was putting the 
 Yale eleven in fair shape to meet Harvard and Prince- 
 ton in the great games which were already scheduled, 
 and which were absorbing, to a large extent, the 
 thoughts and conversation of Yale men in their rooms 
 and at the fence.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 DASHLEIGH'S SERENADERS. 
 
 Few things delighted Jack Ready so well as a prac- 
 tical joke. He had flirted with Lucile Hayden merely 
 for the fun of making Bert Dashleigh jealous. Not 
 that he disliked Dashleigh; but Bert was a freshman, 
 and, therefore, the legitimate prey of a sophomore. 
 
 But Ready was not vicious in his blows at the fresh- 
 men. Though brave enough when there was need, 
 there was nothing of the arrogant bully in his nature. 
 
 "Oh, I just want to tame the fellow down a little," 
 Ready had more than once explained to Merriwell. 
 "No ; I don't forget that one brief twelve month agone 
 your humble servant was also and likewise a fresh- 
 man! I'm not likely to forget that, while you keep 
 whispering it in my shell-like ear. But Dashleigh is 
 getting stuck on himself. Perhaps you'll say that Jack 
 Ready, the freshman, was glued to himself in great 
 large areas, and that he hasn't fully succeeded in 
 tearing himself away from that condition up to the 
 present moment." 
 
 Ready usually put his hand in his breast pocket, 
 if he wore a buttoned coat, while making a speech like 
 this, and assumed a tragic McCready attitude. 
 
 "Whether that is less or more, or more or less, I 
 shall have to go for Mr. Dashleigh, the friend and
 
 178 Dashleigh 's Serenaders. 
 
 roommate of Merriwell's big new protege.- Why, do 
 you know what the fellow is doing? He fancies he 
 is a Paderewski with a mandolin. He is cultivating 
 long hair and a short purse. He inhabits Billie's of 
 \ evenings and comes home from Chickering's in the 
 early hours of the morning boozy on tea and cake. 
 He is even fancying himself an embryo poet, and is 
 writing warm rhymes after the fashion of our dear 
 English friend, the red-headed poet, Algy Swinburne. 
 Oh, I've got to take him down a few!" 
 
 Under the light of a late rising moon, Bert Dash- 
 leigh and a group of sympathetic freshmen spirits 
 whom he had organized into a mandolin club, ap- 
 proached the house he supposed to be inhabited by 
 the object of his new affection, Lucile Hayden. 
 
 Ready had heard Dashleigh inquiring of a friend 
 the street and number of Miss Hayden's residence, 
 which information Ready volunteered to supply him- 
 self, a thing which Dashleigh afterward thought 
 strange, as he believed that Ready was as jealous of 
 him as he had been of the sophomore. 
 
 The serenaders lined up in the moonlight under 
 the supposed windows of the fair Lucy. The house 
 was dark; but then the hour was late, and they had 
 no doubt Lucile had retired. 
 
 They began to thump their mandolins and to fill 
 the air with the words and music of one of the latest 
 sentimental songs. They told Lucik that she was
 
 Dashleigh's Serenaders. 179 
 
 fair and true, with a bonny, bonny face and eyes of 
 azure blue. They also harmoniously and musically in- 
 formed her that if she failed to bestow upon each and 
 all of them her dainty jeweled hand they would go 
 away and treat themselves harshly. 
 
 Dashleigh was an honest and clever fellow, and a 
 youth at Yale may do worse than sing sentimental 
 songs to the beauty of a girl who has struck his fancy. 
 Many fellows who are not in Yale serenade the night 
 sky and their charmers at the same time, and are no 
 worse for it. 
 
 The house was still dark ominously dark. Dash- 
 leigh began to feel that perhaps all this sweetness was 
 being wasted on unappreciative walls. It really began 
 to seem that the place was not inhabited, or that Lucile 
 and all the other inmates were away from home. 
 
 But the serenaders persevered through another 
 verse, this time assuring the upper window that it held 
 the whole of their "conscious thought," not mention- 
 ' ing what held their unconscious thought. 
 
 This was so loudly rendered and was sung with such 
 fervency that a stir was heard in the room above, the 
 window was hoisted, and a figure clad in white be- 
 came dimly visible. They could not doubt that it was 
 Lucile, and Dashleigh's heart grew palpitatingly warm. 
 
 A hand was thrust out, and something fluttered to 
 the ground. It looked to be it was a bouquet, ap- 
 preciative of admiration. Dashleigh dashed to pick
 
 i8o Dashleigh's Serenaders. 
 
 it up, resolved that he would put those delicate flowers 
 in water in his room and keep them a very long time. 
 
 He staggered back as he lifted the bouquet into the 
 light and to his nostrils. It was large and fragrant of 
 strong musk, and was made of cabbage leaves. Dash- 
 leigh stared at it. 
 
 "What the dick " 
 
 The window went up again and a big placard flut- 
 tered down. On it was this legend : 
 
 "Label the cabbage sour krout and eat it !" 
 
 A snicker seemed to come from some shadows on 
 the grass a few yards away a snicker that was echoed 
 by shadows back of the shade-trees. 
 
 Dashleigh and his friends began to feel perspiring 
 and red. Another window went up and another pla- 
 card fluttered down. It read: 
 
 "If you don't want to eat the bouquet, please place 
 it in a vase and water it. The water for the purpose 
 will now be furnished." 
 
 The astonished serenaders had no more than mas- 
 tered this, when, with a whizz and a roar, a hose 
 directed from one of the upper windows treated them 
 to a liberal shower-bath. 
 
 Then the shadows in the trees rose up and whooped, 
 and the shadows behind the trees danced eccentric 
 hornpipes. While this was going on, the white-robed 
 figure cast aside its robe and slipped lightly down a 
 rope, which up to that time had hung unnoticed against
 
 Dashleigh's Serenaders. 181 
 
 the wall; and this figure was followed by others, until 
 the rope itself seemed turned into a line of quickly 
 descending figures. 
 
 Before the dripping serenaders could fairly compre- 
 hend this turn of affairs, they found themselves sur- 
 rounded by a body of sophomores, under the leader- 
 ship of Jack Ready, who marched them away to the 
 nearest restaurant and made them set up an oyster 
 supper for the whole company. 
 
 Ready had given the number of a house which he 
 knew was unoccupied and of which he obtained pos- 
 session for the evening. Thus, with these frolicsome 
 sophomore friends, he gratified his love of practical 
 joking.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 STARBRIGHT THRASHES MORGAN. 
 
 Vying with football as a subject of Yale talk, were 
 the inter-class fall games, which, like all athletic 
 games, included runs, jumps, vaults, and weights, to 
 which had been added a five-mile relay bicycle-race. 
 
 Bert Dashleigh and Dick Starbright found Frank 
 Merriwell in their rooms the next morning for the pur- 
 pose of talking to them about these games. 
 
 It had been suggested by Murphy, Camp, and others 
 that Merriwell should take the freshmen contestants, 
 or such of them as he chose, and train them for these 
 events. This was what brought Merriwell to the 
 rooms occupied by the two freshmen. 
 
 "I have a big undertaking on my hands if I go into 
 this," he explained to Starbright and Bert, "for Mur- 
 phy, who is one of the best professional trainers in 
 America, has at last agreed to train the sophomores. 
 These games are to be between the freshmen and 
 sophomores. I believe that I can select a team from 
 the freshmen that will have a big chance to win. I 
 have been authorized to make the selection, for I 
 would undertake the work in no other way. I must 
 have my own men, without dictation from anybody." 
 
 He stopped and looked at Starbright, who seemed 
 to know what was coming.
 
 Starbright Thrashes Morgan. 183 
 
 "In the relay bicycle-race I should like to have you 
 and Dashleigh. If you consent, I will tell you who 
 the others are to be later, if I can get them. If you 
 do not consent, I want you to make no mention of the 
 fact that I asked you to go in training for the race." 
 
 Dashleigh's face flushed with pleasure. This was 
 an honor he could not have anticipated. He had not 
 been asked to go on the football-team, though he 
 fancied he could play football. And for that reason, 
 combined with the continual chatter against Merriwell 
 of the Chickering set and their friends, he had reached 
 the conclusion that Merriwell did not like him and 
 was not disposed to favor him, or even give him a 
 fair show. He wondered if Frank had heard anything 
 of the ungracious comments l^e had made about him, 
 and he sincerely hoped not. 
 
 "How did you know I could ride?" he asked. 
 
 "Well, I saw you taking a spin on your wheel the 
 other day, and I have taken the trouble to make in- 
 quiries as to your record in that line." 
 
 "Why, of course I'll consent, and jump at the 
 chance." 
 
 "You'll implicitly obey orders, and ride for all you're 
 worth when the time for real riding comes?" 
 
 "I'd ride my heart out, to win that race, Mr. Merri- 
 well!" 
 
 Frank saw that Dashleigh was very much in ear- 
 nest, and he knew that the freshman could be depended
 
 184 Starbright Thrashes Morgan. 
 
 on to do all in his power to win the race from the 
 sophomores. 
 
 "I've got a little grudge against the sophomore class, 
 anyway!" he laughed. 
 
 "And against Jack Ready !" Frank quietly suggested. 
 
 "Heavens! Is that cabbage-bouquet story all over 
 the college so soon. But perhaps Ready told you?" 
 
 "Well, I heard some of the sophomores laughing 
 about it down by the fence a while ago." 
 
 Starbright had stretched himself out to his full 
 length, with his heels, as usual, on the window-ledge. 
 
 "You haven't given an answer yet, Dick?" 
 
 The big freshman's feet came down. 
 
 "Of course I'll do all I can, if I'm chosen. I made 
 something of a record at Andover, but I'm a little 
 out of practise. I'm big and heavy, though !" 
 
 "You'll do. I suppose you ride a heavy wheel ?" 
 
 "Rather. A high frame, with a big sprocket." 
 
 Frank looked at the freshman's brawny limbs. 
 
 "Both of you will do. And I'm glad you've ac- 
 cepted. If the other fellows I have in mind will ac- 
 cept and go right to work, we'll give the sophomores 
 a rub for the honors, even if they are to be trained by 
 Murphy." 
 
 That evening Bart Hodge came into Frank's rooms 
 in Vanderbilt fairly seething. Frank had selected for 
 the relay bicycle-race Starbright, Dashleigh, Morgan, 
 and two light-weight riders. Frank knew Hodge's
 
 Starbright Thrashes Morgan. 185 
 
 ways better than any other man, and he continued his 
 reading, only looking up to nod. 
 
 "Do you know, Merry, the way you're doing this 
 fall makes me wish I'd never come back to Yale with 
 you!" 
 
 "Why, I thought you came back to graduate." 
 
 "I came back as much as anything to be with you, 
 and to whoop things up for you in an athletic way, and 
 you know it. As an old friend, I think I'm entitled 
 to something." 
 
 Frank put down his book. 
 
 "So you are, Hodge. You're entitled to my warm- 
 est friendship, and I'm glad to have yours." 
 
 "Well, you don't act like it a little bit. You pay 
 no attention to any advice I give you, but go right on, 
 making one big blunder after another." 
 
 Hodge's temper was so torrid that cool autumn 
 night that he could not sit down in a chair, but went 
 steaming round the room, with his hands in his pock- 
 ets, muttering his grievances. 
 
 "Be kind enough to tell me what you're talking 
 about." 
 
 "It's about this freshmen team!" Hodge snapped. 
 
 "Who has been telling you the personnel of the 
 team?" 
 
 "Well, Browning has!" 
 
 One of Bart's causes of anger was that he fancied
 
 1 86 Starbright Thrashes Morgan. 
 
 Frank had slighted him by first communicating the 
 information to Browning. 
 
 "It's a good team, Hodge !" 
 
 Hodge turned and faced him, with angry, blazing 
 eyes. 
 
 "Merry, you're the strangest man I ever met!" 
 
 "And you've known me a good while!" 
 
 "Yes, I have. That is, I fancied I knew you. But 
 you grow more puzzling every day. I don't believe 
 you half -know yourself." 
 
 "That's quite likely. The man who thoroughly 
 knows himself must be a rare man." 
 
 Merriwell was smiling, in spite of Hodge's furious 
 outburst, and this seemed to make Hodge more furi- 
 ous. 
 
 "Now, tell me what I've done." 
 
 "Why, you've made a beastly fool of yourself by se- 
 lecting Dade Morgan for that freshmen bicycle-race!" 
 
 "I don't think so!" 
 
 "Why, he has done everything in his power to in- 
 jure you! You weren't more than out of his presence, 
 I'll guarantee, before he was hatching lies about you 
 and planning to down you. He's threatened to your 
 face to 'do' you, and yet you go right on licking the 
 hand that rubs you all over with dirt. It makes me 
 weary !" 
 
 Merriwell was sitting straight up in his chair now.
 
 Starbright Thrashes Morgan. 187 
 
 The smile had gone from his face. Nevertheless, he 
 was struggling hard to keep his temper and handle 
 Hodge with patience. 
 
 "My dear Bart, why do you suppose I took charge 
 of the training of those freshmen?" 
 
 Hodge had walked away, but again faced him. 
 
 "Hanged if I know! I wouldn't have done it." 
 
 "But if you had done such a thing, what would have 
 been your object? Cool down, now, and answer that 
 question." 
 
 "For the good of the freshmen class, I suppose." 
 
 "And to win the race for them?" 
 
 "Yes! But " 
 
 "Just get off the safety-valve a minute!" 
 
 "But you could do all that without favoring Dade 
 Morgan ! There was no sort of sense in that. He's 
 a snake. He'll do some dirt, just as sure as you live." 
 
 Frank was smiling in a way that should have given 
 Hodge warning. 
 
 "Dade Morgan is the fastest bicyclist in the whole 
 freshman class. I know that he has tried to injure 
 me, that he is a low cur in many ways, that he hates 
 me like poison. I know all that, as well as you do. 
 But that doesn't change the fact that he's simply a 
 wizard on a bicycle. If I go on with the training, 
 which I shall, I can't throw away any chance of win- 
 ning. I have picked what I believe to be winning 
 riders, regardless of who they are. And more than
 
 1 88 Starbright Thrashes Morgan. 
 
 that, Hodge, I intend to let Dade Morgan ride the final 
 and crucial mile of the race." 
 
 Hodge again went into the air. 
 
 "The scoundrel!" he panted. "Surely you won't 
 honor him in that way, Merry!" 
 
 "I intend to honor him in just that way, if it's an 
 honor! He can ride that last mile to win, if any one 
 can; and winning is what we want." 
 
 "But think what he did to your father!" 
 
 "Morton Agnew did that." 
 
 "But Morgan was back of him. They're hand-in- 
 glove. Starbright overheard them talking together in 
 the train when he was on his way to New Haven at 
 the opening of college." 
 
 "I'm sure Morgan knew nothing of what Agnew 
 did." 
 
 "Why, it was Morgan who threw that tennis-racket 
 down from the window and tripped you in the chariot- 
 race in the 'Circus Maximus.' ' 
 
 "We think it was." 
 
 "You know that it was !" 
 
 "All of which doesn't alter my decision. I have 
 taken these freshmen to win with them. I can't afford 
 to discard Dade Morgan." 
 
 "You would honor him if he were a devil!" Hodge 
 fiercely exclaimed. 
 
 "That's enough, Hodge ! I haven't asked you to do 
 my thinking for me."
 
 Starbright Thrashes Morgan. 
 
 'Why, Merry, you're a a " 
 
 He hesitated when he saw the look in Frank's eye. 
 
 "We're friends, Hodge. Don't make it impossible 
 for me to be your friend. I know better than you do 
 what I want to do and what I'm capable of doing." 
 
 "But think of what will be said!" 
 
 "By whom?" 
 
 "By all the fellows." 
 
 "I don't care a turn of my hand for that. I've 
 found that the only way to do in this world is to go 
 right along and do what you consider right, and pay 
 no heed to the gossip and slanders of people who dis" 
 like you." 
 
 "Well, it makes me want to say that you're a fool 
 The whole thing simply makes me sick!" 
 
 Whereupon Hodge stalked out of the room and 
 stamped angrily down-stairs. 
 
 That night, as Dick Starbright lounged past the 
 "Hyperion," while the crowd was pouring out at the 
 end of the play, he was surprised and bewildered to 
 see Rosalind Thornton on the arm of Dade Morgan, 
 
 At sight of them he caught his breath with a gasp 
 and leaned for support against the wall, feeling 
 strangely weak and faint. 
 
 Rosalind did not look in his direction; but Dade 
 Morgan turned his eyes that way, as if with the in- 
 stinctive feeling that an enemy was near.
 
 190 Starbright Thrashes Morgan. 
 
 A flush came to Morgan's dark, handsome face, 
 and there was a steely triumphant flash in his dark 
 eyes, which was immediately concealed by the droop- 
 ing of the lids. Then he and Rosalind passed on, leav- 
 ing Dick Starbright white and shaken. 
 
 Dashleigh came sailing by at this moment, and 
 caught Dick's arm in his jaunty, effervescent way. 
 
 "Say, old fellow, Dade's got your girl!" he whis- 
 pered. "Alas! A lass is ofttimes false and fickle." 
 
 Starbright shook him off, with a wrathful exclama- 
 tion. 
 
 "Hot, eh? Well, I don't blame you." 
 
 He made a dive through the crowd for a member 
 of his mandolin club, whom he chanced to spy. 
 
 Starbright turned away and walked down the street. 
 He wanted a chance to think. What did it mean, any- 
 way? Dade was a handsome, dashing fellow! Per- 
 haps Yes, it looked so! Rosalind had taken a 
 
 fancy to Dade, and intended to throw over her old 
 admirer. 
 
 "Let her go!" Dick snarled. "There are just as 
 good fish in the sea as were ever caught out of it !" 
 
 Yet, even while giving mental expression to this old 
 saw, he could not crowd down the feeling that there 
 were not as good fish in the sea of the world as the 
 dark-eyed girl who had so caught his fancy. 
 
 Then a thought came to him, which humiliated while
 
 Starbright Thrashes Morgan. 191 
 
 it staggered him. Dade Morgan had done this to make 
 him jealous, in the belief that jealousy would drive 
 him to drink. 
 
 In his talks with Merriwell he had received the idea, 
 though Frank had not put it into plain words, that 
 Morgan was trying to get the advantage of him and 
 degrade him in some such way. He remembered the 
 two attempts of Roland Packard, which he was now 
 sure were inspired by Morgan. 
 
 Starbright's mind was in a whirl. He was angry at 
 Morgan. He was also angry, though in a different 
 way, at Rosalind Thornton. Still, he tried to think 
 that she did not really understand what sort of fellow 
 Morgan was or she would not have gone to the play 
 with him. 
 
 More than once, Dick was on the point of going to 
 his rooms ; but he remained outside, walking back and 
 forth, trying to come to some conclusion. 
 
 Suddenly, as he turned in his walk, he found him- 
 self face to face with Morgan. He could not avoid 
 a feeling that this meeting was intended. 
 
 "So you and I are of the bicyclists who are to be 
 trained by Merriwell?" said Morgan. 
 
 The words were civilly spoken, but Dick fancied 
 that he detected underneath them a sneer. He was 
 about to turn away without speaking, but changed 
 his mind and walked straight up to Morgan.
 
 192 Starbright Thrashes Morgan. 
 
 "Of course you did that to-night, hoping that you 
 could make me jealous !" 
 
 "Miss Thornton? Bah! You don't suppose I 
 trouble to think about you at all?" 
 
 The big freshman trembled. He did not doubt 
 longer that not only was this meeting of Dade's seek- 
 ing, but that Dade had taken Rosalind to the play for 
 no other purpose than to anger him. 
 
 "I've been wanting to tell you for some time, Star- 
 bright, that you've got an unendurable swelled head," 
 Morgan went on, in a self-contradictory way. "You 
 seem to think that the earth and the fullness thereof 
 was simply made for you. Don't be so conceited as 
 to imagine that people are thinking about you all the 
 time. When I think about anything, it's about some- 
 thing that's worth while." 
 
 He turned as if to pass Starbright. Dick drew 
 himself to his full height and put out his arm as a bar. 
 
 "You will eat those words, Morgan, or I'll choke 
 them down your throat !" 
 
 Morgan's eyes flashed fire. 
 
 "Will I ? Then I don't think you know me !" 
 
 "If any girl chooses you in preference to me, that's 
 all right. I would never trouble you about that. I 
 should simply pity the girl's taste." 
 
 "More case of swelled head!" Morgan sneered. 
 "Starbright, you're an insufferable cad." 
 
 Dick's arm went up as if he intended to strike Mor-
 
 Starbright Thrashes Morgan. 193 
 
 gan in the face. The temptation was almost irresist- 
 ible, but he controlled it. 
 
 "I should never have spoken to you about that girl, 
 or any other girl. That's not my style. But when 
 you use such words to me as you have just used, that's 
 a different thing." 
 
 "Bah!" 
 
 Dick took hold of Morgan's sleeve and jerked him 
 forward. They were standing beneath an electric 
 light, and people were moving up and down the street. 
 
 "Morgan, you're a coward and a pusillanimous cur ! 
 If you'll step with me to the shadows of those trees, 
 where there is no danger of a policeman interfering 
 with us, I'll take pleasure in giving you the soundest 
 thrashing of your life." 
 
 "Bah! I'm not a prize-fighter!" 
 
 In an instant Starbright's hard fist shot out, and 
 Dade Morgan rolled in the gutter. The blow had 
 come so suddenly that Morgan was not prepared for 
 it. But he came of fighting stock, and there was not 
 a cowardly drop of blood in his body. He picked him- 
 self up coolly, brushed the dirt from his clothing with 
 the utmost nonchalance, looked at Starbright, who 
 stood panting and white, and hissed : 
 
 "My dear friend, I'm ready to accommodate you to 
 the limit. We'll adjourn this little meeting to the 
 shadows you suggest." 
 
 A minute later a furious fight was in progress. Dick
 
 194 Starbright Thrashes Morgan. 
 
 was taller and stronger, with a greater reach of arm, 
 while Morgan was sinewy and as quick as a deer. 
 
 Twice Starbright knocked him to the ground, but 
 each time Dade Morgan sprang up with a snarl, com- 
 ing at Starbright with an impetuosity that is indescri- 
 bable. He was a trained and scientific fighter, and Star- 
 bright soon had his hands full, in spite of the fact that 
 he had first got in some heavy and telling blows. 
 
 For the third time Dick stretched Morgan his full 
 length on the grass. He did not rise at once, and Dick 
 stood before him, white-faced and panting, with a 
 feeling of meanness and humiliation. 
 
 He did not like to fight, and he was ashamed now 
 of what he had done. He told himself that he was 
 simply a big brute, and that in considering himself 
 better than Dade Morgan he was really and truly the 
 victim of an enormously swelled head. 
 
 He was beginning to be rather frightened over Mor- 
 gan's condition, when the latter came to his senses and 
 slowly got to his feet. He did not venture another 
 dash, but looked at Dick wth eyes that burned wkh 
 the intensity of deadly hate. 
 
 "This thing isn't settled, Starbright!" he hissed. 
 "Remember that, will you. It will be settled later." 
 
 Then he turned away, leaving Starbright shivering 
 and anathematizing himself for having been a bulldog 
 and a fool, instead of a gentleman. 
 
 The next day he encountered Rosalind Thornton.
 
 Starbright Thrashes Morgan. 195 
 
 She shrugged her shoulders, and seemed about to pass 
 on ; but turned and said, with a frown : 
 
 "I'm sorry that you think I have such poor taste!" 
 
 "That's all right !" Dick declared, for he knew from 
 her words and manner she had seen Morgan and he 
 had told her something of the conversation of the 
 previous evening. 
 
 "You didn't offer to take me to the play, and Mr. 
 Morgan did !" she went on. 
 
 "That's all right, too!" was Dick's amswer. "If you 
 like the company of a chap like Morgan, you surely 
 can't like the company of a fellow like me!" 
 
 She flushed and turned to pass on, thinking he 
 would call her back. 
 
 But she was mistaken. With a pained light in his 
 honest eyes, Dick watched her walk on down the street, 
 then returned to the campus and to his rooms.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 TRAINING AND SENTIMENT. 
 
 Frank Merriwell began without delay his work of 
 training the freshmen he had chosen for the athletic 
 contests. He knew that it would be hard work to put 
 them in condition to successfully meet the sophomores, 
 but he went about his task with enthusiasm and a will. 
 
 One of his requirements of every man selected was 
 implicit obedience. Dick had promised this readily, 
 but he felt like rebelling the very first day, when Mer- 
 riwell changed him from the list of bicyclists and told 
 him to go to work to do the best he could at throwing 
 the hammer and putting the shot. 
 
 Yet Starbright did not openly rebel, for his experi- 
 ence as captain of the football eleven at Andover had 
 shown him how necessary it is for the captain to have 
 supreme and unquestioned command. 
 
 Frank had seen in the first practise races that Star- 
 bright was too heavy for swift bicycle work. He was 
 too tall, also, and it was Merriwell's opinion that a 
 lighter man would do better. 
 
 Besides, Starbright was the largest of the freshmen, 
 towering above all, and with a superb girth of chest 
 and shoulders that made him a promising candidate 
 for honors in the class to which he was now assigned. 
 
 There was an advantage in another sense in this
 
 Training and Sentiment. 197 
 
 change, and Dick wondered if Merriwell had it in 
 mind in making it. The change separated him from 
 Dade Morgan. He did not know how Frank had dis- 
 covered that he and Morgan had come to blows, but 
 he had a feeling that Frank knew it. 
 
 Perhaps that was because both he and Morgan had 
 appeared on the campus with suspicious-looking bits 
 of court-plaster on their faces. Dade had a discolored 
 eye that all the applications of raw beef he made could 
 not immediately remove. 
 
 Mike Murphy was also industriously training his 
 sophomore team, and the practise work of the two 
 teams and the near approach of the athletic events 
 themselves drew so much attention that soon the stu- 
 dents almost forgot to talk about football and the com- 
 ing prophesied successes on the gridiron for this newer 
 and more immediate topic. 
 
 Wherever Yale men met, on the street, in the cam- 
 pus, in their rooms, or in the places which so many 
 of them frequented of evenings, the one subject of dis- 
 cussion was some form of athletics. 
 
 This, with the chances of various men for secret 
 society honors, occupied so much of the time and 
 thought of a certain class that Starbright often won- 
 dered when and how they found opportunity for study. 
 As for himself, in spite of his strenuous training, and 
 in spite of the thoughts that treubled him, he persist- 
 ently ground away at his books.
 
 198 Training and Sentiment. 
 
 He studied as he trained and as he played, with a 
 sublime enthusiasm for the work. He sent no note 
 to Rosalind and sought to make no further calls on 
 her. Now and then he saw her with Morgan, and he 
 heard from Dashleigh whatever of gossip was worth 
 hearing concerning the matter. 
 
 Dashleigh was showering his attentions on the 
 languid Lucile, who thought it "just wonderfully 
 strange" that Starbright and Rosalind were no more 
 to be seen together. 
 
 In these days there was one thing worthy of special 
 note. If Dade Morgan expected Dick Starbright to 
 become a frequenter of Traeger's and Billie's and other 
 places, for the purpose of filling himself with intoxi- 
 cants, he was given a decided disappointment. In the 
 first day or two after that encounter with Morgan, 
 Dick had been forced to fight a great battle against his 
 under nature. But he manfully won the struggle. 
 
 Thus studying and thinking and training, as if his 
 life depended on it, Dick Starbright wore the days 
 quickly away. 
 
 One evening he received a note from Rosalind. She 
 desired to see him at the residence of her aunt, Mrs. 
 Throckmorton. 
 
 Dick debated a while with himself whether or not 
 to go ; but ended by going, as he knew he would from 
 the first. When he came back to his rooms, finding
 
 Training and Sentiment. 199 
 
 Bert Dashleigh there, Bert noticed that his step was 
 lighter. 
 
 Bert did not at once call attention to the fact that 
 he observed any alteration in the demeanor of his 
 friend and roommate. But at last he found oppor- 
 tunity to say : 
 
 "I knew she didn't really care anything for Mor- 
 gan." 
 
 Starbright jumped in his chair. 
 
 "How did you know what I was thinking of?" 
 
 "You haven't been thinking of anything else since 
 you sat down there. Right, am I not?" 
 
 "Well, yes, if you mean Miss Thornton. She 
 doesn't think much of Morgan. She told me so her- 
 self." 
 
 "Oh, I knew it!" said Dashleigh. "You see, I'm a 
 mind-reader."
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 A COWARDLY DEED. 
 
 A great crowd gathered at the Yale field on the 
 afternoon set for the athletic contests between the 
 sophomores and freshmen. Not only did the whole 
 college turn out, but New Haven itself sent a heavy 
 contingent. 
 
 Yale colors were everywhere, and the class cries of 
 the sophomores and freshmen rose almost continu- 
 ously. 
 
 Frank Merriwell had worked hard, and the men se- 
 lected by him to uphold the honor of the freshmen had 
 been no sluggards. 
 
 "You're all right, and your men will win, if there's 
 no treachery on the part of Dade Morgan. I'm look- 
 ing for that. But I've my eye on the fellow, and if he 
 makes any break, I'll simply crack his neck for him !" 
 
 Bart Hodge was speaking to Merriwell. He be- 
 lieved that Morgan was so treacherous that he could 
 not be relied on in any particular. 
 
 Merriwell did not trust Morgan, but he felt that 
 Dade would not wish to hurt his own reputation and 
 lose caste among the students and freshmen by at- 
 tempting in any way to injure the freshmen's chances 
 of winning. He fancied, too, that Dade desired to 
 make a point by doing his best for the honor of his
 
 A Cowardly Deed. 201 
 
 class even under the leadership of Merriwell, whose 
 friend he was known not to be. And Frank's reason- 
 ing seemed correct. 
 
 Bart and Frank were standing near one of the high 
 board fences as they talked, and were surveying the 
 crowd that continued to stream into the grounds. 
 They could see that it was to be an unusually large one. 
 The fact that Frank Merriwell and Mike Murphy were 
 the trainers of the teams that were to compete had 
 done more than anything else to draw out so many 
 people, for it was realized that under such training 
 record-breaking events might be anticipated. 
 
 As Hodge turned to walk away, leaving Frank 
 standing alone by the fence, a shot sounded in the 
 fringe of woods at some distance, something was heard 
 to "spat" sharply against the board wall, and Merri- 
 well was seen to reel and put his hands to his face. 
 
 Bart, who was a dozen feet away, jumped toward 
 his friend, with a cry on his lips and a great fear in 
 his heart. The shot had thrown the field into the 
 utmost excitement. 
 
 "Merriwell's shot! Merriwell's killed!" was heard 
 on every hand; and a number of men ran across to- 
 ward him, followed by a jamming throng of excited 
 Yale men and citizens. 
 
 Frank had not fallen, but was now supported by 
 Bart Hodge. 
 
 Several students on bicycles, and others running on
 
 2O2 A Cowardly Deed. 
 
 foot, were darting away toward the point in the woods 
 from whence the shot had come. Among these was 
 Bert Dashleigh. 
 
 Inza Burrage and Elsie Bellwood had seats together 
 in one of the stands seats secured for them by Frank 
 at a point where they could have the most favorable 
 view of the games. 
 
 Both had leaped to their feet with cries of excite- 
 ment, Inza with a dark, flushed face, and Elsie with 
 cheeks as white as snow, and now began to push their 
 way through the crowd, Inza in the lead, fighting like 
 a tigress for passageway. 
 
 When they gained Frank's side, after what seemed 
 to both of them an interminable time, they found him 
 leaning against the fence, with Oliver Packard apply- 
 ing something to his face and eyes. Bart had his arms 
 round his friend, though Frank seemed well able to 
 support himself. 
 
 Ready and others were there, and big Bruce Brown- 
 ing, with shoulders and strength of a giant, was push- 
 ing back the curious crowd and savagely declaring 
 that Frank did not need help, but simply plenty of air. 
 
 "What's the matter?" Inza asked, while Elsie stood 
 panting and mute by her side, clinging to her arm. "Is 
 he shot?" 
 
 Frank heard the words and took away the handker- 
 chief with which he had just covered his eyes. 
 
 This revealed a face red as fire and eyes that seemed
 
 A Cowardly Deed. 203 
 
 half-burned out of his head. Yet his attempted smile 
 as he turned toward the girls showed that he recog- 
 nized them, and it told them that the sight of his eyes 
 was not injured. 
 
 "No, I wasn't shot," said Frank, "but some miscre- 
 ant fired something from the woods, which struck the 
 fence here and almost put my eyes out." 
 
 Oliver Packard nodded significantly to the fence 
 which showed a brownish round spot. 
 
 "I think it must have been a bomb fired from a 
 gun," Packard explained. "It contained some kind 
 of intensely irritating substance, I don't know just 
 what; and when it exploded on striking the fence, 
 Frank's face and eyes were filled with this substance." 
 
 Packard's applications of some soothing fluid 
 seemed to be giving Merriwell much relief. 
 
 Mike Murphy, the trainer of the sophomores, pushed 
 forward to express his sympathy and denounce the au- 
 thor of the outrage. He was also kind enough to say 
 that if Merriwell wished a postponement of the games, 
 he was perfectly willing that this should be done, 
 
 "No," said Merriwell, in response to this last. "The 
 crowd is here, and we will not disappoint them. The 
 teams can go on with the work without my supervision, 
 if necessary. But I think my eyes will be much better 
 in a little while." 
 
 A shout went up from the direction, of the woods, 
 and the men who had run out that way appeared to
 
 204 A Cowardly Deed. 
 
 be much excited. Soon a dozen pushed themselves out 
 of the seething, shouting mass, and it was seen that 
 they had a man in their midst. 
 
 Bart Hodge had caught sight of Dade Morgan near 
 at hand, and rinding that his presence was not actually 
 needed, he spoke to Frank and vanished. He wanted 
 to watch him, for he believed that the fellow had been 
 concerned in what had occurred. 
 
 "Merry was a fool for trusting that rascal a min- 
 ute!" he growled, as he hastened away. 
 
 As the crowd from the woods came nearer, Dash- 
 leigh was seen in its midst, sitting on his bicycle in a 
 weak and flabby state, supported by two students. 
 
 In the dash for the woods, Bert's bicycle had col- 
 lided with another, and he had been hurled heavily to 
 the ground, suffering bruises and contusions, not the 
 least of which was the laming of an ankle. 
 
 "Knocked out of the race!" was Ready's thought, 
 when his eyes fell on the injured bicyclist. 
 
 There was no joy in his heart, but only regret and 
 sorrow, even though he was on the competing list of 
 sophomore wheelmen. 
 
 The crowd surged rapidly forward, those in the 
 front half -running. When they came up, it was found 
 that they had a trampish fellow, whom they had found 
 lying under a tree, either asleep or shamming. He had 
 roused up in an apparently dazed way when stirred
 
 A Cowardly Deed. 205 
 
 with the toe of a senior boot, and had seemed to be 
 the most surprised man there. 
 
 Two hundred yards or more from where he had 
 been discovered was found a shotgun, from which a 
 load seemed to have been recently discharged. 
 
 There was no other evidence against the man. He 
 stood awkwardly before Frank, pulling at his shabby 
 hat, which he held in his hands, as these explanations 
 were given by his captors. 
 
 "Hold him in a dressing-room until later," was 
 Frank's command. 
 
 Though his eyes were still burning and his face was 
 red and inflamed, he took the shotgun and looked it 
 over. Powder marks showed that one barrel had been 
 recently discharged. 
 
 "We'll go on with the games !" he declared. "Keep 
 the shotgun, too. We may need it as evidence by and 
 by." 
 
 Though men were still making a search through the 
 woods and adjacent fields, preparations for the games 
 went on. 
 
 Bruce Browning had been sent out by Frank to look 
 after the interests of the freshmen, and Frank sat 
 alone in a dressing-room, thinking over what had 
 occurred. 
 
 Only one thing was plain to him : Some one who 
 desired to injure him had fired the bomb from the 
 gun. Possibly it had been meant merely as a blow
 
 206 A Cowardly Deed. 
 
 at the trainer of the freshmen by some one who.wanted 
 the freshmen to lose, but more likely the deed had been 
 done by some one who had personal malice. Bart 
 came in, raging. 
 
 "Morgan may be mixed up in this thing," Frank ad- 
 mitted, "though there is no evidence against him so 
 far." 
 
 "Who else hates you as he does?" 
 
 "Perhaps no one, though I've plenty of enemies 
 here, as you know. But no matter how he hates me, 
 that of itself doesn't constitute proof." 
 
 "It's proof enough for me." 
 
 There was a rap on the post of the door. Bart rose 
 cautiously to ascertain who the visitor was, for he was 
 resolved that, so far as he could help it, there should 
 be no more dastardly attempts to injure Merriwell that 
 day. He saw before him Bert Dashleigh. 
 
 "I've been trying to find you for some time," said 
 Bert, as he was admitted to Merriwell's presence. 
 
 Frank noticed that he limped as he came in. 
 
 "I found this out there in the woods," said Bert. 
 Then he produced a torn scrap from a letter. 
 
 "It was jammed into the soil by a kick from a boot 
 heel. I saw an edge of it and dug it out, thinking it 
 might be of importance." 
 
 Frank was looking with his throbbing eyes at the 
 torn and discolored slip. 
 
 "This is all you could find ?"
 
 A Cowardly Deed. 207 
 
 "Yes, and I looked all about. I couldn't make a very 
 big search, you know, for my ankle pained me, but I 
 asked some of the other fellows to, and they did, but 
 found nothing more." 
 
 Frank passed the torn piece of paper to Bart. This 
 is what he read: 
 
 worth a hundred to you. 
 
 "HECTOR KING/' 
 
 On the first line, which the tear had zigzagged, were 
 two incomplete words, and on the lower lines the in- 
 complete sentence and the signature. 
 
 "There's part of your name here," said Bart, "and 
 that other must mean 'preparation.' I should say it 
 is part of a letter to that tramp, containing instructions 
 as to how to do you, and an offer of a hundred dollars 
 if he succeeded." 
 
 Merriwell took the paper and examined the marks 
 of the boot heel on it. Several nail-prints were visible. 
 
 "We'll keep this, too, and by and by we'll see if it 
 tallies with the nails in the boot heel of the tramp if 
 he is a tramp!" 
 
 Then he turned to Bert. 
 
 "My eyes are getting better, and I'll soon be all right, 
 I hope. If not, the games can go on without me. But 
 you? You've hurt your ankle!" 
 
 Bert explained how it had happened.
 
 208 A Cowardly Deed. 
 
 "I'm afraid I can't ride in that relay race, Merri- 
 well." 
 
 "I shall have to find a substitute. Luckily we've had 
 others in training to take the place of any of the regu- 
 lar men who should happen to get knocked out before 
 the contest." 
 
 "What do you think of this business? Wasn't it 
 Morgan?" Bart asked, when Dashleigh had retired, 
 after receiving Frank's praise for what he had done. 
 
 "I don't know. I shall make it my business to find 
 out. Now I'm going out to see how matters are 
 progressing." 
 
 "But your eyes !" 
 
 Frank was applying the preparation which Oliver 
 Packard, the young medical student, had left for him. 
 
 "Well, they might be better. And again they might 
 be worse. But I can see all right, even if they do 
 smart. And I've an idea that if I can stay on the 
 grounds it will be better for the freshmen." 
 
 "That scoundrel hoped to cause the freshmen to lose 
 the games, knowing that your presence on the field 
 would mean half the battle." 
 
 "I guess you're pretty near the mark." 
 
 Then Merriwell emerged with Bart from the room, 
 to be greeted with a shout of applause and approval. 
 
 Browning was doing all that he could to inspire the 
 freshmen contestants with confidence, and the fresh- 
 man class was whooping things up by constant repeti-
 
 A Cowardly Deed. 209 
 
 tions of their class yell, but Merriwell's presence was 
 needed, which was shown by the immediate increase of 
 confidence as soon as he went forward. 
 
 "Oh, if I just had two sweethearts to put courage 
 into my tender heart by the flutter of their snow-white 
 kerchiefs!" chirped Jack Ready, as he saw Inza and 
 Elsie waving their handkerchiefs. "A half-dozen 
 would be better, but just two would do. The fresh- 
 men have three mascots, and we poor sophomores 
 haven't a single. La! la! Excuse these few tears." 
 
 "There ? What do you mean ?" asked Greg Carker. 
 
 "Inza and Elsie, and that black-eyed beauty, Rosa- 
 lind Thornton. She's waving her handkerchief, too, 
 but I'm hanged if I know whether she's shooing her 
 wishes over to Dick Starbright or to Dade Morgan. In 
 some respects, she's pretty near the whole thing. 
 Many a man would leave his happy home for her." 
 
 Merriwell stopped with Hodge and looked over the 
 field. 
 
 The officials timekeepers, measurers, judges, ref- 
 eree, starter, and others, were moving here and there. 
 A number of the contestants were warming up by 
 racing and sprinting, jumping, hammer-throwing and 
 other things. People were calling to each other, men 
 were shouting, the band was playing, and the crowd 
 was ever swaying and shifting. 
 
 As Murphy walked across to Frank for a short talk, 
 Merry glanced into the stand where Inza and Elsie
 
 210 A Cowardly Deed. 
 
 were, and, seeing the encouraging flutter of their hand- 
 kerchiefs, bowed his acknowledgment. 
 
 Murphy's first inquiries were as to Frank's face and 
 eyes. He could see that Frank's face had a cooked 
 appearance, and that the whites of his eyes were still 
 fiery red. 
 
 "Oh, I'm all right, thank you. But one of my bi- 
 cyclists jammed his ankle in that rush to the woods, 
 and I shall have to put in another man. That is to be 
 regretted, for he was one of my best riders. Next to 
 Bade Morgan, I think he was my very best man." 
 
 A short time afterward, with all the preliminaries 
 settled, with the officials ready and in position, and the 
 great, buzzing throng in anxious expectation, two 
 young fellows in athletic suits and wearing colors to 
 distinguish sophomore from freshman, stepped into 
 the cinder path. 
 
 A roar of applause greeted their appearance, accen- 
 tuated by the sharp, barking cries of the freshmen and 
 sophomore rooters, and when the sprinters lined up for 
 the loo-yards dash the applause became deafening. 
 
 The starter, in position behind the runners, lifted 
 his pistol. The runners were crouching with tense 
 legs for the start. 
 
 Bang! 
 
 And away they went like the wind. The sport had 
 begun.
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 DASHLEIGH PROVES A HERO. 
 
 The ioo-yards dash was quick and exciting. The 
 freshman leaped into the lead at the start and held his 
 lead for a short distance, but was passed by the sopho- 
 more as they drew near the tape. 
 
 Sophomore and freshmen rooters were howling like 
 fiends as the sprinters crossed the line. The contests 
 were for points, and this was the judges' announce- 
 ment: 
 
 "Curran, sophomore, first, n seconds; Trimble, 
 freshman, second, n 1-2 seconds making 706 
 points." 
 
 "Wow!" Ready was screeching. "First blood for 
 the sophomores. Oh, we're going to do you, Merri- 
 well! Hang your harp on the weeping willow." 
 
 It seemed strange to see Jack Ready, Frank's faith- 
 ful friend and adherent, howling against the side in 
 which Frank was interested, but class spirit prevailed, 
 as it always does in such cases. Ready was not less 
 loyal to Merriwell, but as a sophomore he was wildly 
 anxious for the sophomores to win. 
 
 The one-mile run was the next event, and the two 
 men who came out to contest in this had the appear- 
 ance of being speedy and long-winded men. 
 
 They were to run on a circular, four-lap track,
 
 212 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 
 
 which was in the best condition. The sophomore run- 
 ner was Tom Byerly, a long-legged, deep-chested fel- 
 low from Massachusetts, and the freshman was Dun- 
 ham Tarbox, from Asheville, North Carolina. 
 
 The freshmen were confident of the abilities of Tar- 
 box to win from his competitor, for Dunham was a 
 great runner, and he had been carefully coached and 
 trained by Merriwell. 
 
 At the crack of the starter's pistol, Tarbox and 
 Byerly got away together, with the band playing a 
 lively tune -to lift them over the ground. 
 
 Byerly had won the pole, and he soon took the lead 
 of his freshman competitor, running lithely and easily, 
 with head and chest thrown back. Tarbox did not 
 look to be so pretty a runner, and the betting men on 
 the ground who had placed money on the strength of 
 the fact that Merriwell had trained him began to think 
 that they had lost. 
 
 Byerly increased his lead, as the runners neared the 
 end of the quarter-mile lap, and the sophomores stood 
 up, braying out their snappy class yell. 
 
 But Frank Merriwell did not seem to be in the least 
 disturbed. 
 
 "The soph is walking away from your man," 
 grunted Browning. 
 
 "He'll not walk away from him much longer," was 
 Frank's answer. 
 
 At the end of the half-mile the freshman had re-
 
 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 213 
 
 gained much of his lost distance and was coming up on 
 Byerly in handsome style. 
 
 "Byerly has been pushing himself too hard in the 
 start," said Merriwell. "Murphy warned him against 
 that." 
 
 But Byerly was not yet beaten. Though passed at 
 the three-quarter lap, he regained the distance ; and the 
 runners approached the pole, now running in a mighty 
 struggle for the mastery. 
 
 The spectators were yelling, and howling, and wa- 
 ving hats, caps, and handkerchiefs. 
 
 "Come in, Tarbox!" Bruce megaphoned through 
 his hands. "Come in!" 
 
 Merriwell was smiling and still confident. Appar- 
 ently he had forgotten his burned face and smarting 
 eyes. 
 
 Byerly was winded. He had done his best, and, 
 though he now made another effort to regain his posi- 
 tion, he dropped rapidly behind, and Tarbox, coming 
 on with speed like a steam-engine, won out hand- 
 somely. 
 
 There was a great flourish of paper and pencil 
 through the crowd, as the judges announced the re- 
 sult: 
 
 "Tarbox, freshman, first, 5 minutes, 23 seconds ; By- 
 erly, sophomore, second, 5 minutes, 43 seconds. 
 
 Then how the freshmen howled, for the freshmen 
 svere now in the lead !
 
 214 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 
 
 The i2O-yards hurdle followed. 
 
 In this hurdle-race Jack Ready, the sophomore, was 
 pitted against Mason Long, who was also thought by 
 the freshmen to be a winner. So confident were the 
 freshmen that they fairly howled themselves hoarse 
 when the two men came into position for the signal. 
 
 "Howling barred!" chattered Ready, flinging the 
 words at the screaming freshmen. "I'm going to pluck 
 this cabbage bouquet to ornament my own boudoir. 
 Close your faces and keep your eyes on me. You'll 
 miss something if you don't." 
 
 Bang ! went the pistol, and the hurdlers were away. 
 
 Jack Ready was as good as his word. He cleared 
 the hurdles neatly and cleverly, and beat out his com- 
 petitor. 
 
 It was the turn of the sophomores to howl, and 
 scream, and bark out their class cry. 
 
 "Oh, we're way ahead!" yelled a sophomore, who 
 had a stop watch and had been using his pencil while 
 the judges were doing their figuring. 
 
 He was right, for the judges announced: 
 
 "Jack Ready, sophomore, 18 seconds; Mason Long, 
 freshman, 18 1-2 seconds." 
 
 A running high jump followed, with the sophomores 
 represented by Clifton Hull, and the freshmen by 
 George Pendergast. Again the freshmen met defeat, 
 and again the sophomores howled uproariously. This 
 was the announcement:
 
 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 215 
 
 "Clifton Hull, sophomore, 5 feet, 2 3-4 inches; 
 George Pendergast, freshman, 5 feet, 21-4 inches." 
 
 In the running broad jump, which was the next on 
 the schedule of events, Ralph Bingham, the big sopho- 
 more, was pitted against Dick Starbright. Both had 
 done good jumping in their practise work, their rec- 
 ords being nearly together, and this fact quickened the 
 interests of the classmen. The sophomores hoped and 
 believed that Binfirham would put them still farther 
 ahead, and the freshmen were wildly confident that 
 Starbright would redeem the recent defeats. 
 
 Bingham was not so long of limb as Starbright, 
 though the difference was not great, but he had sur- 
 prising activity for a large man. 
 
 Bingham jumped first, clearing 21 feet 4 inches. 
 The sophomores proceeded to go mad with excitement. 
 
 "Oh, you're all right, Bingy, old boy!" they howled 
 at him. 
 
 The freshmen sent back an answering howl, for they 
 were still pinning their faith to Dick Starbright. 
 
 Starbright went farther back for a start. He got 
 under headway slowly, but quickly gathered speed, and 
 when he came to the scratch he was fairly flying. He 
 put every ounce of his great strength into that jump; 
 then sailed through the air. 
 
 It was seen that he had beaten Bingham, though 
 just how much could not be ascertained, for the dis- 
 tance did not seem to be great.
 
 216 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 
 
 The freshmen began to sing: 
 
 "Here's a health to Freshman Dick! drink her down, drink 
 
 her down ! 
 Here's a health to Freshman Dick! drink her down, drink 
 
 her down ! 
 
 Here's a health to Freshman Dick, he is lively and he's quick, 
 Oh, he makes the Sophies sick ! drink her down, down, down !" 
 
 The song stopped and the freshmen again screeched 
 their joy, when they heard the judge's announcement: 
 
 "Ralph Bingham, sophomore, 21 feet 4 inches; Dick 
 Starbright, freshman, 22 feet II inches." 
 
 Then there was a beautiful pole-vaulting contest be- 
 tween Tom Conner, representing the sophomores, and 
 Luke Garland, the freshmen, which was won hand- 
 somely by Conner, who seemed to have the vaulting 
 abilities of a long-legged monkey. 
 
 The spirits of the freshmen went down again, when 
 the result was called out. The highest reached in the 
 three attempts were as follows: 
 
 "Conner, sophomore, n feet 2 inches; Garland, 
 freshman, 10 feet I inch." 
 
 The freshmen began to scream for Starbright. 
 There were but two events to follow, putting the shot 
 and throwing the hammer, and Starbright was in both, 
 pitted against Beckwith, the big 2OO-pound guard of 
 the football-team. 
 
 It was a handicap to force Starbright to enter an- 
 other contest so soon after his big jump, but in ma- 
 king up the schedule for the games this was the best
 
 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 217 
 
 that Merriwell could do. He believed that he could 
 not spare Dick from the broad jump, and the result 
 had shown the correctness of his judgment, for any 
 other man in the freshmen list would have fallen short 
 of the jump of the big sophomore, Bingham. Like- 
 wise, in the shot-putting and hammer-throwing, there 
 was no freshman who seemed able to compete with 
 Beckwith, except Starbright. 
 
 "How are you feeling, Dick?" Frank asked, as 
 preparations were being made for the shot-put. 
 
 Frank's eyes still troubled him and his face was red 
 and inflamed, but he was pluckily going right on with 
 his work. He realized more than any one, perhaps, 
 that, if the bomb-shooter had perfectly succeeded in his 
 purpose, the games would have been lost to the fresh- 
 men, for without his presence to inspire them, they 
 certainly would have failed. 
 
 "We're depending on you to pull us out of the hole," 
 he said, speaking to Starbright. 
 
 Starbright, who had been wrapped in a heavy 
 blanket, cast it aside. The freshmen rooters became 
 frantic when they saw him do this. 
 
 "Starbright! Starbright!" they howled 
 
 The great crowd was buzzing and roaring. 
 
 "I'll do the best I can!" was Dick's answer. "I'll 
 make the effort of my life." 
 
 "I knew I could depend on you for that, Dick! 
 Hear the fellows howling for you ! It puts nerve and
 
 218 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 
 
 heart into a fellow to have his friends shriek at him 
 in that confident way. Of course, there is big work 
 cut out for you. But I know that you can do it." 
 
 Again Dick Starbright felt that strange, confident 
 glow which had first come to him as he sat on Merri- 
 well's knee in the interval of the bouts of the big wres- 
 tling-battle between freshmen and sophomore on the 
 great rush night. 
 
 "I will do it!" he declared. 
 
 "That's the talk. That's the stuff! When a man 
 resolves that he will do a thing, he will do it, if the 
 thing is at all possible. That's what I wanted to hear 
 you say!" 
 
 He took Dick by the hand, and an electric thrill 
 seemed to pass from his warm hands. 
 
 "If I but had your grit and courage, Merriwell! 
 It's a winning courage." 
 
 "You have it, all right. Perhaps you don't fully 
 realize it yet, but you have it. You're going to win 
 these games for the freshmen, and I know it. Now, go 
 in and do it." 
 
 Mike Murphy, cool and long-headed, stood talking 
 to Beckwith. 
 
 Starbright had badly worsted Beckwith in the sopho- 
 more wrestling-match, and this made the big sopho- 
 more almost fiercely anxious to beat the tall freshman 
 now. He was listening attentively to Murphy and nod- 
 ding assent to what was being said.
 
 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 219 
 
 The freshmen and sophomore rooters were rilling 
 the air with their cries, and the freshmen now began 
 again to sing: 
 
 "Here's a health to Freshman Dick! drink her down, drink 
 her down!" 
 
 It had been agreed that in the two events to fol- 
 low but a single throw should be allowed to each con- 
 testant. 
 
 As Beckwith, who came first, stepped into position, 
 the sophomores began to howl an improvised song 
 to the tune of "Marching Through Georgia." 
 
 Beckwith took up the shot with an air of confidence, 
 lifted it on his right hand, and, after a few motions, 
 hurled it with all his might. He made a good throw, 
 and the sophomores ceased singing to howl their grati- 
 fication. 
 
 "It's a good throw, but you can beat it !" Merriwell 
 said quietly to Starbright, as the latter went forward. 
 
 Dick did not waste time in preliminaries. He lifted 
 the shot, poised himself, and, without seeming effort, 
 threw it with all the power of his wonderful muscles. 
 Merriwell knew Dick had won from Beckwith as soon 
 as he saw the heavy sphere leave his hand. The fresh- 
 men saw it, too, before the shot was on the ground, 
 and were screeching. 
 
 "Beckwith, sophomore, 42 feet; Starbright, fresh- 
 man, 45 feet I inch."
 
 220 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 
 
 This was the announcement of the judges. 
 with had won distinction in hammer-throwing, and 
 the sophomores did not believe that in this Starbright 
 could defeat him. 
 
 Merriwell again talked to Dick, as the freshman 
 stood in his blanket, while the spectators were roaring 
 ind the classmen were making a babel of noise. 
 
 "You can win it, Dick." 
 
 He took him by the hand. 
 
 "I will win it!" said Starbright, as he returned the 
 warm pressure. 
 
 "Now I know that you can!" 
 
 Starbright went forward in a perfect storm of en- 
 couraging applause ; and, as he stepped into the seven- 
 foot circle, the freshmen who were not already on their 
 feet rose as one man and gave him an ear-splitting 
 cheer. 
 
 He clasped the hammer handle with an air of confi- 
 dence, swung the heavy hammer round his head three 
 times, then let it go over his shoulder. 
 
 There was another wild cheer from the excited 
 freshmen. They believed their champion had won, for 
 it was clearly to be seen that he had made a fine throw. 
 
 Murphy was coolly talking with Beckwith; who 
 now came forward to duplicate or beat, if he could, 
 the freshman's attempt, wildly cheered by his partisans. 
 This was the testing cast, the throw that decided who 
 the winner of the inter-class games were to be. Ex-
 
 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 221 
 
 pectation was at fever pitch. All over the grounds 
 people were craning their necks and tiptoeing to see 
 the throw. 
 
 Beckwith was cool and unshaken. He took up the 
 hammer, set it whirling round his body and sent it out 
 with his greatest strength. 
 
 For a moment, as the heavy hammer hung in air, 
 there was breathless and anxious silence. This was 
 followed by a great roar from the freshmen. The an- 
 nouncement was : 
 
 "Beckwith, sophomore, 134 feet; Starbright, fresh- 
 man, 143 feet." 
 
 Starbright, the giant freshman, had come near tie- 
 ing the score. Again the jubliant song broke out: 
 
 "Here's a health to Freshman Dick! drink her down, drink 
 
 her down ! 
 Here's a health to Freshman Dick! drink her down, drink 
 
 her down ! 
 
 Here's a health to Freshman Dick, he is lively and he's quick, 
 Oh, he makes the sophies sick! drink her down, down!" 
 
 "We'll have to haze the fellow who got up that song, 
 and all the fellows who are singing it!" a disgusted 
 sophomore growled. 
 
 It was a big contract, for the whole freshmen class 
 were singing it, and nearly every one on the grounds 
 seemed to give a yelling push to the chorus : 
 
 "Balm of Gilead, Gilead, 
 Balm of Gilead, Gilead, 
 Balm of G-i-1-e-a-d ! 
 Way down on the Bingo farm!"
 
 222 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 
 
 Then the band swung in, and the freshmen rooters 
 fairly went mad. 
 
 Merriwell was getting his bicycle riders together 
 for the last and greatest event of the day, the relay 
 bicycle- race of five miles. 
 
 Frank had chosen as the five freshmen for the race 
 Winthrop, Dashleigh, Carver, Brentwood, and Dade 
 Morgan. These he had trained and coached until he 
 was reasonably sure they had more than a fighting 
 chance to win. But Dashleigh, on whom he had 
 greatly depended, was out of the race because of his 
 injured and weakened ankle, and Frank was forced to 
 substitute Cyrus Allison who was a fast rider, but 
 not as good as Dashleigh, whom Frank ranked in 
 ability well up with Dade Morgan, who was a wizard 
 on a wheel. 
 
 Murphy's sophomore team, picked and trained by 
 him for winners, consisted of Greg Carker, Phil Pur- 
 rington, James Stonefield, Jack Ready, and Tom Part- 
 ridge. 
 
 The relay race was to be on the circular four-lap 
 track at the field. Each man was to ride a mile against 
 one of the opposing team, when they were to be "picked 
 up" by the next cyclists in order, and so on, until the 
 five-mile race was finished. 
 
 Dashleigh sat on the ground near the track, with 
 his wheel at his side, looking disconsolate and troub- 
 led. If the freshmen should lose the race, he felt that
 
 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 223 
 
 he would have to hold himself largely to blame, for 
 in the dash to the woods, after the firing of that shot, 
 he had ridden in his usual heedless, reckless way, and 
 so in a measure had brought about the collision. 
 
 Greg Carker, the sophomore, came up against Win- 
 throp, the freshman, for the first mile of the great 
 race. 
 
 They got away together, amid tremendous cheering 
 from the hoarse throats of the spectators. 
 
 Winthrop had won the pole, but at the end of the 
 first lap Carker passed him and went on the inside, 
 which he held for half of the second lap, when some- 
 thing on the track struck his tire and veered his wheel, 
 almost pitching him forward on his head. 
 
 But in the third lap he regained what he had lost, 
 and came toward the end of his mile more than a 
 hundred yards ahead of the freshman, riding like the 
 wind. 
 
 Then came the exciting pick-up, for these two riders 
 were now to drop out, to be succeeded by another 
 sophomore and freshman, who were to go right on with * 
 the race. 
 
 There was tremendous cheering as Carker and Win- 
 throp neared the end of their mile, with Carker ahead, 
 and Purrington and Allison, who were to pick them 
 up, ready for their work. 
 
 Purrington, the sophomore, picked up Carker in a 
 little while and left him, while Allison swung in after
 
 224 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 
 
 Winthrop, also picking him up, and then racing against 
 Purrington. 
 
 He was handicapped by Winthrop's loss of a hun- 
 dred yards or more, but he soon showed that he was 
 a crack rider, for he was pushing Purrington before 
 the end of the first lap. 
 
 At the end of the second lap, the two riders were 
 racing side by side, bending low over their handle-bars, 
 with feet spinning like pin-wheels. 
 
 "If Dashleigh were only in Allison's place he could 
 beat Purrington so badly that the sophomores would 
 feel sick!" was Merriwell's thought, as he stood, for- 
 getful of his irritated eyes, intently watching the 
 riders, while the spectators roared and cheered. 
 
 Allison lost ground in the third lap and was ten 
 yards behind Purrington. Then he began to spurt. 
 
 "Oh, he'll win!" the freshmen were shouting. 
 
 Starbright was anxiously watching him. The other 
 riders, Stonefield, the sophomore, and Carver, the 
 freshman, were ready for the "pick-up." 
 
 Allison spurted desperately, and regained his lost 
 distance; then came down the last stretch in great 
 style, leaving Purrington behind him in a trail of 
 dust. 
 
 As the new sophomore and freshman made their 
 "pick-ups," Merriwell saw to it that Brentwood was in 
 readiness to race against Jack Ready in the next and 
 fourth mile.
 
 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 225 
 
 Frank feared Ready's ability and was longing more 
 and more for Bert Dashleigh. 
 
 "If only you could go into this thing, I'm sure we 
 could win," he said, as he passed Dashleigh. "That 
 accident was too bad!" 
 
 "But we'll win, anyhow?" anxiously. 
 
 "We must. But we could have beat them hand- 
 somely, I'm sure, with you. I'm looking now for 
 Dade Morgan." 
 
 But Frank could not find Morgan. He continued 
 his search, growing anxious as the riders of the third 
 mile neared the end of the fourth lap. 
 
 The people were howling. Stonefield, the sopho- 
 more, was in the lead, and rapidly gaining on his oppo- 
 nent. He was almost certain to beat him. Frank saw 
 that, and he saw Jack Ready the ever ready pre- 
 pared to take Stonefield's place and continue the lead 
 at a killing pace. 
 
 No wonder Merry was anxious, for Jack could ride 
 a wheel almost as swiftly as Dade Morgan. 
 
 But where was Morgan? Frank asked himself that 
 question, as he continued to look for the missing rider. 
 It seemed hopeless to think of winning the relay race 
 without Morgan. 
 
 "If the fellow has played me false!" 
 
 There was an ominous glitter of the eye and a stern 
 compression of the lips. He encountered Hodge, who 
 also seemed to be looking for Dade.
 
 226 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 
 
 "Seen anything of Morgan?" Merry asked. 
 
 "I'm looking for the scoundrel!" Hodge growled. 
 "I'm afraid he's played you a trick and left you in the 
 soup ! I thought I had my eye on him, but I was so in- 
 terested in the riding that he slipped away when I did 
 not see him." 
 
 "Do you think he has slipped away?" 
 
 "Looks so, doesn't it? Talk about the class honor 
 and class feeling of a fellow like that! Why, he has 
 as much honor of any kind as a cur!" 
 
 Stonefield had won over Carver, and Ready was 
 racing away against Brentwood, whom Merriwell was 
 sure he would beat. It looked as if the freshmen were 
 certain to be defeated. 
 
 Frank had from the first expected that Ready would 
 beat Brentwood, but he had prepared to offset and re- 
 cover whatever lead Ready might gain by having Dade 
 Morgan ride the final mile, which he intended should 
 be the winning mile. 
 
 That ominous smile came to his lips as he continued 
 his search for Morgan. 
 
 "Who did you say you are looking for?" a fresh- 
 man asked, as he heard Frank making inquiry. 
 
 "Dade Morgan. It is his turn to ride, and I can't 
 find him." 
 
 The freshman looked surprised and distressed. 
 
 "Say, I saw Morgan walking off in that direction 
 just a while ago. There was a man with him. They
 
 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 227 
 
 were talking and the man had his hand on Dade's 
 shoulder. Say, I'll find him for you! Gee! if we 
 don't have Dade, we're done up!" 
 
 He darted away, and speaking to some other fresh- 
 men, had them assist in the hunt. 
 
 The fourth mile was being swiftly ridden. Two 
 laps of it were done ; Jack Ready was ahead, swinging 
 round the third lap in an airy, triumphant way that 
 promised to leave Brentwood far in the rear. 
 
 The sophomores were yelling encouragingly to 
 Ready, while the freshmen, distressed by the poor 
 work of Brentwood, began to call for Dade Morgan. 
 They, too, were pinning their faith to that final mile 
 to be ridden by Dade. 
 
 The freshman and his assistants were not able to 
 find Morgan. Neither Bart nor Merriwell could find 
 him. He had strangely disappeared. 
 
 Bart Hodge was furious with rage. He wanted the 
 freshmen to win because Merriwell was their trainer, 
 more than for any other reason. He was always ready 
 to back Merriwell in whatever the latter chose to un- 
 dertake, though he retained the high privilege of kick- 
 ing at anything and everything that displeased him. 
 
 "The villain has thrown the race merely to spite 
 Merriwell! What does he care for his own reputa- 
 tion or for the honor of his class? Nothing! He'd 
 knife his best friend, if he thought he could gain a 
 point by it."
 
 228 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 
 
 Jack Ready was coming in on the last quarter in 
 handsome style. 
 
 "Oh, for a rider who could take Morgan's place!" 
 was Merry's thought. 
 
 The excitement of the spectators and students was 
 something terrific, and so was the noise. Ready was 
 riding like a wizard, leaving a great gap between him 
 and his freshman opponent. 
 
 Merriwell felt a tug at his arm. Turning he looked 
 into the red and excited face of Bert Dashleigh. 
 
 "I'm going into the race!" said Dashleigh, with a 
 tremulous voice, shaking with excitement. "I've got 
 to. Morgan isn't here. Everybody is beginning to 
 think he won't come. I don't know why he isn't here ; 
 but if you'll let me, I'll " 
 
 "Let you! But your ankle?" 
 
 Dashleigh was on his wheel, and supported himself 
 now by clinging to Frank's shoulder. 
 
 Down the final stretch Ready was coming, the sun- 
 light of victory and confidence in his face. He had 
 straightened up, for he knew now he could win with a 
 handsome margin, and he seemed to be looking straight 
 at Merriwell. 
 
 "If you think you can ! I was going to order Pen- 
 rose into the race. But you can beat Penrose out of 
 sight, if you can ride!" 
 
 "Ride!" panted Bert. "I will ride! If you say I 
 may go in, I'll ride that race and win it or die!"
 
 Dashleigh Proves a Hero. 229 
 
 Merriwell had never seen such a look on Dashleigh's 
 face. There was unconquerable resolution and iron 
 determination in it. Dashleigh was showing that he 
 had something in him besides a love of music and 
 frivolity. 
 
 "Go in ! I know you can win ! Go in !"
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 A BIT OF MYSTERY. 
 
 Bert Dashleigh went into the last mile of the great 
 relay bicycle-race with an iron determination to win. 
 He knew that he could ride. Few were better among 
 amateurs. He forgot the ankle that had been paining 
 him a short time before. He forgot everything, ex- 
 cept the fact that on him now lay the responsibility of 
 winning the race for the freshmen. 
 
 Partridge, the sophomore, against whom he was to 
 ride, picked up Jack Ready, who had crossed the tape 
 with a whoop, a big winner over Brentwood, and 
 Dashleigh found himself far behind Partridge at the 
 very start. 
 
 Partridge was a cyclist, too, of no mean skill. He 
 was tall and slight of build, of light weight, but with 
 tremendous leg-power and endurance. 
 
 Dashleigh knew that if he rode a winning race he 
 had hot work cut out for him. Frank had whispered 
 encouragingly to him as the start was made, and that 
 whisper seemed to lift him over the track and send him 
 on as if winged. 
 
 The cycling that followed was worth going miles 
 to see. Even the freshmen, bewildered at seeing Dash- 
 leigh instead of Dade Morgan racing Partridge, soon
 
 A Bit of Mystery. 231 
 
 forgot Morgan and their wonder about his absence in 
 watching the splendid work of their rider. 
 
 Hodge stood at Merriwell's side, hot and panting, 
 thinking of Morgan, with fingers that ached to take 
 Dade by the throat. 
 
 Bruce was also at Frank's side now. Just op- 
 posite and a few feet away, Jack Ready was swing- 
 ing his cap and chirping in his airy manner, begging 
 Partridge to "walk away from the other fellow." 
 
 "You're a bird, Partridge!" he shrilled. "You've 
 got wings on your heels! Dashleigh is flying too low 
 to overtake such a flyer as a Partridge. Lie still, my 
 fluttering heart lie still!" 
 
 Others began to howl that Partridge was a "bird," 
 delighted with the splendid work the sophomore was 
 doing. 
 
 "I'm afraid your freshmen are going to get it in the 
 neck, Merriwell!" Bruce droned, as if he cared not 
 which side won, though he was intensely eager to have 
 the freshmen win. 
 
 "It's all on account of Dade Morgan!" Hodge 
 snapped. "I knew the fellow would play Merry false." 
 
 "Don't steam so, Hodge!" Frank laughed. 
 
 "How can I help it?" 
 
 "You'll choke, if you don't cool off!" 
 
 It did seem that Bart was on the point of choking 
 or exploding, so angry was he. 
 
 At the end of the first lap, Dashleigh had regained
 
 232 A Bit of Mystery. 
 
 some of the distance lost to the freshmen by the splen- 
 did riding of Jack Ready. Before the close of the sec- 
 ond lap, he passed Partridge. 
 
 In the third lap, Partridge spurted at tremendous 
 speed, and as the flying wheelmen crossed the line it 
 seemed that Partridge was steadily overhauling his 
 freshman opponent. Dashleigh's lame ankle appeared 
 to be giving out. 
 
 After the turn into the fourth lap, Partridge passed 
 Dashleigh, and the sophomores rose in a body and 
 howled. 
 
 "Oh, you're a bird!" Ready screeched, in a way to 
 cause Merriwell to smile at the enthusiasm of his old 
 friend. "You're all right! Just keep it up! You're 
 hitting the track in high places. What a lovely time 
 we're having!" 
 
 The freshmen were howling at Dashleigh to "break" 
 his back. 
 
 Merriwell saw Dashleigh rouse himself for a new 
 effort as he was passed by Partridge. He bent lower 
 over the handle-bars, thrusting out his head as if to 
 open the air with it. 
 
 Both were going at high speed, their feet and legs 
 fairly flying. Dashleigh's ankle had given a stab of 
 pain as he neared the end of the fourth lap, which 
 caused him to weaken and fall behind, but he forgot 
 that in his fierce determination to win.
 
 A Bit of Mystery. 233 
 
 Never had he ridden as he now rode not even in 
 his greatest efforts. He seemed fairly to fly. Near 
 the middle of the lap he overtook and passed Partridge, 
 who was spurting in a desperate effort to hold the lead. 
 
 Now the freshmen rose tip to whoop and howl. 
 Down toward the end of the stretch came Dashleigh, 
 racing like a wizard. Yard by yard he drew away 
 from Partridge, who, with all his spurting, could not 
 again get near the flying freshman. 
 
 There was a tremendous uproar. The freshman was 
 steadily gaining. Lethargic Browning jumped up and 
 down in his excitement like a young schoolboy, while 
 Bart Hodge swung his cap and screamed. 
 
 Yard by yard, with feet spinning like pin-wheels, 
 down the final stretch came Bert Dashleigh, crossing 
 the line a splendid winner, amid the frantic cheers of 
 the freshmen but as he did so he lurched heavily and 
 pitched headforemost from his wheel into the arms of 
 the bystanders. 
 
 Merriwell saw that Dashleigh had fainted. The 
 plucky fellow had ridden and won the last lap on 
 pure nerve, with his ankle stabbing with excruciating 
 torture, his strength seemingly all gone; and at the 
 finish had fainted from the pain and the tremendous 
 strain. 
 
 But Bert Dashleigh had ridden a splendid race and 
 had won the inter-class games for the freshmen.
 
 234 A Bit of Mystery. 
 
 The tramp who had been found in the woods and 
 been held in a dressing-room for examination was 
 gone! 
 
 The students detailed to watch him had become so 
 much interested in the athletic contests and bicycle-race 
 that they had been negligent in their duty. To render 
 his escape impossible, as they thought, they had tied 
 him ; but the ropes were found cut, and the tramp had 1 
 escaped. 
 
 "Was he a tramp?" asked Bruce. 
 
 "That's what I hoped to discover!" said Frank. 
 
 "Bade Morgan did that !" growled Bart. "He is at 
 the bottom of the whole thing. Of course the fellow; 
 wasn't a tramp, but some one hired by Morgan to do 
 up Merry. Morgan released him, and then cut out, 
 to throw the bicycle-race. A blind man could see 
 through a thing as plain as that!" 
 
 Bart and Merriwell took an electric car, and not 
 long afterward confronted Dade Morgan, whom they 
 found in his own room. 
 
 Morgan was flustered and excited. His face was 
 white and drawn, as if he were suffering pain. Hodge 
 accused him boldly of being in the mischief of the 
 afternoon, of having released the supposed tramp, and 
 of having left the field for the purpose of throwing 
 the relay race to spite Merriwell. 
 
 "Talk about honor, Morgan! You haven't any 
 more honor than a thief!"
 
 A Bit of Mystery. 235 
 
 Morgan's face grew even whiter. . He appeared to 
 cower under Hodge's lashing. Merriwell was watch- 
 ing him closely. 
 
 "I admit that I left the field," said Dade, speaking 
 slowly and with apparent effort. 
 
 "You know you must admit that !" Hodge panted. 
 
 "I admit that; but as for those other things, I am 
 willing to swear that I know nothing about them 
 not a thing !" 
 
 "Why did you leave the field?" Frank asked sternly. 
 "Dashleigh won the race for the freshmen." 
 
 Dade seemed to brighten. 
 
 "I'm glad he did. I'm a freshman, Merriwell, and 
 I assure you that I never intended to do anything to 
 throw that race." 
 
 "Why did you leave, then ? You were seen to walk 
 away with a stranger !" 
 
 "I had to go with that man, Merriwell! I want 
 you to believe that, for it is true. I had to go with 
 him. I couldn't help it." 
 
 "Why?" sternly. 
 
 "I can't tell you why." 
 
 "You mean that you won't?" 
 
 "I mean that I can't." 
 
 "Let me get at him!" begged Hodge. "Just give 
 me a minute with the white-livered whelp, and 
 I'll "
 
 236 A Bit of Mystery. 
 
 Frank put a hand restrainingly on Hodge's arm. 
 Morgan gave Hodge a defiant look of hate. 
 
 "That's all the explanation I can give, Merriwell. I 
 simply had to go with that man." 
 
 "And that's your only answer?" 
 
 "It's the only answer I can give, no matter what 
 comes of it!" 
 
 "Oh, I knew he wouldn't tell anything!" Hodge 
 snarled, as he and Merriwell walked away, after leav- 
 ing the room. 
 
 "He won't tell why he left the field, but I believe 
 that he doesn't know just what to make of the other 
 things the shot from the woods and the escape of the 
 tramp! I could see from his expression that he was 
 speaking the truth about those things. There's a mys- 
 tery here, Hodge, and I shall set myself to work to 
 find out what it is."
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE MAN OF MYSTERY. 
 
 Dade Morgan sat alone in his room that evening, 
 deep in thought. The mystery that was puzzling Frank 
 Merriwell was puzzling him, too, and he was trying 
 to solve it for his own satisfaction. 
 
 Suddenly he made a nervous spring which took him 
 almost out of his chair. A footstep had sounded be- 
 side him, a light, almost noiseless footstep, and he had 
 fancied himself alone, with his door locked. The 
 sound of the footstep was followed by an almost noise- 
 less, mirthless laugh. 
 
 Turning, Morgan found himself face to face with 
 Hector King. 
 
 "You're nervous!" said King, slowly doubling his 
 tall form into a deep chair. 
 
 "No one but you could have slipped in on me that 
 way," declared Morgan, with a shiver which the visitor 
 did not fail to observe. "I had that door locked tight. 
 Did you unlock it?" 
 
 "No; I came in through the keyhole." 
 
 He seemed to be looking into Morgan's very soul 
 with his deep, dark eyes. 
 
 "Don't look at me that way, please." 
 
 There was a repetition of the mirthless laugh. 
 
 "I was thinking how handsome you are."
 
 238 The Man of Mystery. 
 
 There was something about the mysterious man be- 
 fore him that strangely drew Bade Morgan. He ad- 
 mired the man, although at times he feared him, and at 
 other times he almost hated him. 
 
 "Why don't you smile?" the man asked. "You're 
 a killingly handsome boy, if you would only smile. 
 You must smile ! Take a look at that face. It shows 
 that you've had a horrible case of the blues." 
 
 Morgan rose from his chair, walked to the mirror, 
 and, standing in front of it, coaxed the accustomed 
 smile back to his attractive features. He was still 
 pallid when he turned to the man, and the smile had 
 something mechanical in it. It was not a warm smile ; 
 but the smile was there when he again faced Hector 
 King. 
 
 "That's better, though it looks a trifle as if you had 
 plastered it on and it was not a part of you. You must 
 make the smile a part of yourself." 
 
 "Why don't you take your own medicine?" Dade 
 blurted. "That mirthless laugh is enough to make 
 one's flesh creep." 
 
 "That's good! You really look better sometimes 
 when you say right out what you think." 
 
 "What I'm thinking about now is what brought you 
 here?" 
 
 "Not pleased to see me, eh?" 
 
 "Well, I've been in a very bad temper this after- 
 noon."
 
 The Man of Mystery. 239 
 
 The man calling himself Hector King continued 
 to look at Morgan with that peculiar, soul-reading 
 glance. 
 
 "I didn't like what you did, for one thing." 
 
 "No?" 
 
 "You have simply queered me with all the fresh- 
 men and all the students !" Morgan broke out in a pas- 
 sionate way. "Every one is bound to think that I 
 tried to throw the relay bicycle-race this afternoon. 
 Why did you do that? Why did you come to me just 
 before it was my time to ride and make me leave the 
 grounds with you?" 
 
 "You let yourself be troubled by little things." 
 
 "It wasn't a little thing. I was ready to ride the 
 final mile of the race, I had trained for it, I knew; 
 that I could ride that mile to win, and I knew that if 
 I did it would lift me away up in the estimation of 
 the freshmen and in the estimation of the athletic men 
 of Yale. You refused to let me ride it. You made me 
 sneak from the field like a cur. Every one will know, 
 if they do not already, that I flunked at the crucial 
 moment, and that if Bert Dashleigh had not come 
 forward, though his hurt ankle was fairly killing him, 
 and ridden that mile, the freshmen would have lost 
 the race." 
 
 Hector King did not move a muscle. 
 
 "You are anxious that I should down Merriwell," 
 Morgan went on, "yet you gave Dashleigh a chance
 
 240 The Man of Mystery. 
 
 to win the laurels that I should have had, and at the 
 same time you weaken me and strengthen the hands 
 of Merriwell and his friends." 
 
 "I had my reasons, Dade." 
 
 "Well, what were they ? You must have been crazy ! 
 It's made me crazy, anyway. Merriwell and that 
 scoundrel, Bart Hodge, were here in this room this 
 afternoon, after the race was over, and they accused 
 me to my teeth of having played false. And what 
 could I say? Nothing, except that it was not my 
 fault, and that I could not explain." 
 
 "When you get through fuming, we'll talk ! I want 
 you to blow off steam a while, if it makes you feel bet- 
 ter. A fiery-tempered fellow must have a safety- 
 valve, I suppose." 
 
 "And you released the tramp, if the fellow was 
 a tramp, who fired the bomb at Merriwell from the 
 woods. I suppose you had that done, too!" 
 
 Hector King laughed now as he had not laughed 
 before that night, yet there was no mirth in it. He 
 simply doubled up in his chair and shook, silently. 
 
 "So I fooled you, too, did I?" 
 
 Dade opened his eyes. 
 
 "What do you mean? No, you didn't fool me. 
 I am sure that you released that tramp." 
 "I was that tramp!" 
 "What!"
 
 The Man of Mystery. 241 
 
 Dade Morgan fairly leaped in his chair. 
 
 "I was that tramp myself." 
 
 "It was a mighty big risk." 
 
 "Oh, was it? You think so, but I don't" 
 
 "Why, if they had dragged you to jail, or if they 
 had stripped off your disguise?" 
 
 "My dear boy, the smile is fading from your face 
 again! You are beginning to let worry tell on you. 
 Don't worry! That was something that never could 
 have happened." 
 
 "Why couldn't it?" 
 
 "Because I would not have permitted it to happen." 
 
 Almost a look of fear came into Morgan's dark 
 face. A renewed comprehension of the deep power of 
 the man before him weakened and almost unnerved 
 him. 
 
 "You understand !" 
 
 "I understand that you're a devil " 
 
 "Hector King, if you please. That is my name, you 
 will remember. King, without the Hector, or Hector, 
 without the King, just as you please; but always one 
 or the other or both, and nothing else." 
 
 "I forget it sometimes, when I look at you," Mor- 
 gan apologized. 
 
 "Do you know why I am here?" 
 
 Morgan did not answer, and the man, staring at 
 him, seemed to forget the question. 
 
 When King spoke again his voice had a hollow, far-
 
 242 The Man of Mystery. 
 
 away sound, and in volume was scarcely above a whis- 
 per. Yet every word seemed to cut into Morgan's heart 
 as if hurled through a trumpet. 
 
 "Listen! I am here to help you to gratify your 
 hate against Frank Merriwell and to work out my own 
 plans of personal revenge. You are jealous of him, 
 and envious of him. You want to humiliate and dis- 
 grace him, and bring his pride to the dust." 
 
 "And strike at every man who is his friend !" Mor- 
 gan fiercely hissed. 
 
 "Just so! You shall have your heart's desire. I 
 am standing back of you. Our interests are mutual 
 in more ways than one, as you know." 
 
 Morgan remembered only too well how this man 
 had called him from the relay race that day, and in- 
 wardly fumed. The man seemed to read his thoughts. 
 1 "I was thrown into a rage to-day, and as I knew 
 he depended more on you than on any one else to win 
 that bicycle-race for him, I simply took you from 
 the grounds." 
 
 "And let Dashleigh do what I wanted to do!" 
 
 "I failed to count on the grit and ability of that 
 freshman." 
 
 "What are your other plans?" asked Morgan 
 quickly. "I want to get them started. I have sworn 
 to down Merriwell and the fellows that train with him, 
 particularly these fresh freshmen who think they are 
 so much better than I am. You have other plans ?"
 
 The Man of Mystery. 243 
 
 A great rage burned in his heart a rage that made 
 him as vicious as a rat in a corner. 
 
 "First I want to know how it came about that Ro- 
 land Packard failed to carry out what he promised to 
 'do in the football-game against Columbia ? I felt sure 
 ,we could depend on Packard !" 
 
 "Merriwell prevented it!" 
 
 "You mean by that, that Merriwell himself was re- 
 sponsible for the failure of Packard to carry out his 
 promise." 
 
 "Just so. You fixed Oliver, Roland's goody-goody 
 brother, who was on the team as quarter-back, and 
 thought you had sent Roland in his place, and that 
 Roland would find a chance to finish Merriwell in one 
 of the football rushes." 
 
 "I thought he had done it thought he had broken 
 the rascal's neck, as he said he would do, when he fell 
 on Merriwell that way in the game." 
 
 Dade Morgan's smile grew more pronounced. 
 
 "I observe, Hector King, that you can't see through 
 everything. It was not Roland Packard who fell on 
 Merriwell in that way with the intention of snapping 
 his neck, but it was Oliver, who did it through an ac- 
 cident." 
 
 "But he was left here in Yale in his room in a hyp- 
 notic sleep, and that game was played in New York!" 
 
 "You thought so." 
 
 "I know so."
 
 244 The Man of Mystery. 
 
 "You know that you put him to sleep. But you ' 
 don't know that Merriwell chanced to run up to their 
 rooms for the purpose of borrowing a nose guard; 
 that he found Oliver there asleep and Roland getting 
 into Oliver's football clothing ; and that he tied up Ro- 
 land and left him in the room, and awakened Oliver 
 and sent him on to New York with the team to play 
 in the game." 
 
 A deep curse came from the lips of Hector King. 
 
 "And now what?" 
 
 "It simply makes me more determined than ever to 
 assist you in bringing Frank Merriwell to the ground." 
 
 Morgan's smile deepened into satisfaction. 
 
 "Forgive me if I was ready to rebel a while ago 
 Hector King; but I'm with you, body and mind, in 
 whatever you want to undertake. It cut me deep when 
 you made me leave the field, for I like to win races and 
 cover myself with glory and have my class think well 
 of me, just as every other freshman does. But I'm 
 more anxious to do up Merriwell and his friends. Give 
 your orders, and I shall do my best to carry them 
 out."
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 A PAIR OF PLOTTERS. 
 
 "Star-bright!" 
 
 The mysterious man calling himself Hector King 
 had spoken the name, whispering it in his hollow way. 
 
 "You aren't getting along very well in your plans 
 against Starbright?" 
 
 Morgan rose and stood before the mirror, carefully 
 arranging his tie and practising the smile he had as- 
 sumed. 
 
 "I can't get him!" he confessed, with a smile so 
 sweet that it would have deceived Starbright himself. 
 
 "I want to help you in your efforts against him." 
 
 "Yes, goon!" 
 
 "I have taken the trouble to look into his history 
 a bit." 
 
 Dade opened his ears eagerly. 
 
 "Anything black against him? Anything that's 
 dead sure, with which I can strike him?" 
 
 "No, his personal record is straight. If he hadn't 
 more than once confessed his liking for liquor I 
 shouldn't know even that against him. Take a pointer 
 from that, Dade! Never blab about your personal 
 weaknesses and so put a club into the hand of your 
 enemy." 
 
 "He doesn't seem very weak there. He's had
 
 246 A Pair of Plotters. 
 
 enough temptations to down any fellow. For my part, 
 I don't think he is so weak along that line as you say." 
 
 "Let me tell you something." 
 
 The man in black fixed on Morgan those terrible 
 eyes. 
 
 "His father and his grandfather and two uncles 
 died of drink. Old Bob Starbright, the sea captain, 
 Dick's father, went out to China to bring back a ship. 
 The captain and the crew had died of fever, and old 
 Captain Bob, being trusted by the ship's owners, went 
 out to bring the vessel home. He failed to bring it, 
 but brought back a report that the ship had been 
 burned or destroyed by Chinese pirates, or something 
 of that kind; as well as having in his own possession 
 all that the ship and the cargo were worth." 
 
 "What do you mean?" 
 
 "I mean that the story of the ship's destruction was 
 a lie out of whole cloth, manufactured by Captain Bob 
 Starbright, father of your freshman, Dick Starbright. 
 He sold the ship and cargo, or disposed of them in 
 some way, and brought the money received home with 
 him. The cargo was of great value, and the ship was 
 worth a pretty figure, and from that time on Bob Star- 
 bright simply rolled in wealth; and on that wealth, or 
 some of it, this freshman is now going through Yale." 
 
 Dade Morgan tried vainly to keep the smile on his 
 face, but it was fading away. 
 
 "And this means "
 
 A Pair of Plotters. 247 
 
 "It means that the time is coming when it will be 
 an easy matter for you to ruin Dick Starbright. I shall 
 go to the bottom of this thing. The heirs of the men 
 who owned the ship and cargo are living. A few facts 
 placed in their hands would mean that this wealth, this 
 stolen wealth, for that is what it is, could be taken 
 from Dick Starbright, and he would be a pauper !" 
 
 Hector King looked more than ever like a fiend, as 
 he crouched in the depths of the big chair, telling this 
 story and staring at Dade Morgan with eyes which 
 seemed to hold the fires of the infernal regions. He 
 roused himself with an effort. 
 
 "You are too good a hater, Morgan!" 
 
 Morgan was staring and breathing heavily through 
 tightly-closed teeth. 
 
 "For the present, Dade " 
 
 Morgan roused himself. 
 
 "For the present you may strike straight at Dick 
 Starbright himself, if you wish, and straight at Frank 
 Merriwell. You're doing well, and I'll help you. You 
 must get Starbright to drinking." 
 
 "But I can't." 
 
 "You think so?" 
 
 "I know it. I've tried." 
 
 "Yale is to play the Carlisle Indians here at New 
 Haven next Wednesday. Starbright is one of Merri- 
 well's particular friends, as well as one of his crack 
 football men."
 
 248 A Pair of Plotters, 
 
 The smile faded from Morgan's face. 
 
 "Why, what's the matter?" King asked. 
 
 "You want me to do something desperate? To 
 crack Starbright's neck, or Merriwell's?" 
 
 "I was speaking of drink, wasn't I ? But the chances 
 to play some desperate game at that time will be great. 
 Those Indians fight like wild men. It would not be 
 strange if Merriwell's neck, or Starbright's, should be 
 broken." 
 
 "I don't want to try that !" Morgan begged. "That's 
 too desperate for me!" 
 
 "I only suggested getting Starbright to drink." 
 
 "And I told you that I have tried and failed." 
 
 "But it can be done." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 Hector King felt in a pocket of his black coat. 
 
 "I've other plans to help you for that ball-game with 
 the Indians, but this is one. How I shall work the 
 other plans doesn't matter just now. I've more than 
 once formed a plan and then changed it when my fin- 
 gers fell on something better. I may do so again." 
 
 He drew from his pocket a package containing a 
 powder, and displayed it. 
 
 "There is to be a banquet at the Majestic Saturday 
 night?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Bribe one of the colored servants to drop this into 
 something Starbright is to drink. He won't touch
 
 A Pair of Plotters. 249 
 
 wine or spirits, you say, so it will have to be put into 
 something else." 
 
 "But it would be dangerous for me to approach one 
 of the servants!" 
 
 Hector King laughed disdainfully. 
 
 "You show the white feather ! Well, I will arrange 
 it, then. I'll send one of the servants a telegram call- 
 ing him out of town, and I'll have a man ready to sup- 
 ply his place who has the nerve and the willingness to 
 do the work. I know just where to put my finger on 
 such a man. After all, perhaps it will be as well for 
 me to work this little game alone." 
 
 He put the powder back into his pocket. 
 
 "That drug will make the fellow insane for liquor. 
 After he gets that into him, he will feel that he must 
 have liquor or die, and he'll get it. He'll disgrace him- 
 self here at Yale and lose his reputation and influence, 
 and be unable to play against Carlisle. That will stab 
 Merriwell, for Merriwell has been warming to this 
 freshman in a strange way. One way to strike Merri- 
 well is through his friends." 
 
 "I wish you'd strike Bart Hodge, then !" 
 
 "Poof! He isn't worth the trouble. He's just a 
 bully and a braggart." 
 
 "I should like to poison him!" Morgan gasped. 
 
 "Perhaps you may, some time, if you're obedient 
 along the lines I suggest." 
 
 "If Starbright could be ruined through drink and
 
 250 A Pair of Plotters. 
 
 some plan could be found to down Bart Hodge, it 
 would be almost as good as drowning Merriwell him- 
 self !" Morgan murmured. 
 
 "Don't let your hatred master you, Dade." 
 
 "I can hate like a fiend from the lower pits !" Dade 
 declared, remembering himself and trying to coax the 
 smile back to his face. 
 
 "I like you, Dade! You're a man after my own 
 heart." 
 
 "You're a devil!" laughed Morgan. 
 
 "Thank you for the compliment !" 
 
 "Go on with your plans. No one can hear us in 
 here." 
 
 "Oh, I made sure of that before I came in! But 
 I prefer to modulate my musical voice; for it is said, 
 you know, that even walls have ears." 
 
 He settled back in the chair he had been leaning 
 forward in his eagerness and again his black, deep 
 eyes seemed to search Morgan's very heart. 
 
 "I hoped we could use Roland Packard again, and 
 perhaps we can, but that experience in the football- 
 game against Columbia makes me shy of him. We'll 
 see! The first thing, however, is to help you in your 
 plans to strike Starbright. But I didn't come to-night 
 especially to discuss plans, but more to see you, for I 
 knew you'd feel rocky about being taken from the 
 athletic-field. You were displeased with that. You
 
 A Pair of Plotters. 251 
 
 know, though, that I want to help you in your personal 
 revenges!" 
 
 "Let it go," said Morgan. "I will pull back my in- 
 fluence some way. I can claim that I was called away 
 by an imperative telegraphic message, which I showed 
 to Merriwell, and that he gave his consent for me to 
 leave the field; that he then put up a game to injure 
 me by pretending that I had sneaked away without let- 
 ting him know or giving him time to get a substitute 
 rider. I'll fix that up, somehow. Trust me!" 
 
 "I'm trusting you. I've always trusted you. Yet 
 you know that it is not necessary for me to trust you." 
 
 Morgan seemed to shrink within himself. 
 
 "It's all right, King ! You may trust me. Help me 
 to down Dick Starbright, and I shall be happy." 
 
 "I'll not forget it" 
 
 The mysterious man rose to go, making no more 
 noise than a cat slipping through a garret. He stepped 
 to the door, softly fitted a skeleton key to the lock, and 
 was gone. 
 
 Morgan roused himself with an effort and looked 
 toward the door. 
 
 "What awful power that man has! It makes me 
 shudder to think of it. And partly for my sake he is 
 directing it against Frank Merriwell. Well, I'd rather 
 ten thousand times have him as my friend than as 
 foe!"
 
 CHAPTER XXVL 
 
 DICK STARBRIGHT FALLS. 
 
 "I can't get enough of the stuff !" 
 
 It was late Saturday night, or, rather, early Sunday 
 morning. Dick Starbright sat at one of the little 
 tables in the back apartment of the rooms of Rupert 
 Chickering. His eyes were very bright and his face 
 feverishly red. There was a bottle of liquor on the 
 table before him, and with unsteady hand he was half- 
 filling a glass. 
 
 Hector King's drug had done its work. The mem- 
 bers of the Chickering set, with some of their espe- 
 cial friends, filled the apartments. Donald Pike was 
 there, and also Roland Packard and Bertrand Defarge. 
 
 Roland had piloted Dick to these rooms an hour 
 or more before, bringing him there almost direct from 
 the Majestic. And Roland was now chuckling over 
 the success of the plan, which he fancied was of Dade 
 Morgan's own manufacture. It had been a glorious 
 plan, according to his way of thinking, and it had 
 worked beautifully. The drug, and the liquor which 
 Dick had swallowed soon after taking it, had so con- 
 fused Starbright's mind that when he suffered himself 
 to be led away by Roland Packard, he supposed that 
 Roland was Oliver, for whom he had the highest re- 
 gard, and he was not even yet undeceived.
 
 Dick Starbright Falls. 253 
 
 "That's right," said Roland, also turning a quantity 
 of the liquor into a glass. "Here's to your good health 
 and to the downfall of Frank Merriwell!" 
 
 Starbright turned on him with a disapproving look. 
 
 "Merriwell's my friend !" he bluntly declared. "Un- 
 derstand that ! Merriwell's my friend." 
 
 Roland saw that he could not venture too far. 
 
 "Why, what did I say?" 
 
 "Something 'gainst Merriwell!" 
 
 "Well, I didn't mean it. I was just joking. Drink 
 your whisky. It's good for you." 
 
 Roland showed that he did not doubt this, by pre- 
 tending to gulp down the whisky he had turned into 
 his own glass, and Starbright followed by swallowing 
 his. Lew Veazie, Ollie Lord, Tilton Hull, and Julian 
 Ives looked at Starbright in amazement and admira- 
 tion. 
 
 "Did you ever thee the like?" Veazie whispered. 
 "Why, the fellow dwinkth down the thtuff jutht ath if 
 it wath water! If I thould dwink ath much wine ath 
 he hath dwunk whithkey I'd be tho dwunk, don't you 
 know, that I wouldn't know mythelf from the man in 
 the moon !" 
 
 "His head is as hard as iron !" growled Gene Skeld- 
 ing. 
 
 Indeed, though Dick Starbright had been swallow- 
 ing fiery liquor at a terrible rate since taking the drug, 
 secretly administered by the servant substituted for
 
 254 Dick Starbright Falls. 
 
 the regular hotel servant, it seemed to have small ef- 
 fect, for the amount swallowed. Though Starbright's 
 eyes were very bright, glistening bright, in fact, and 
 his hands and face were as hot as fire, he had not lost 
 his head entirely. 
 
 "I'll thuggetht thome wine to him," said Veazie. 
 "Mixed dwinkth, you know, are the kind that doeth 
 the work. I heard a fellow thay that mixed dwinkth 
 \vould thet a fellow up when nothing elthe would." 
 
 He teetered up to Dick Starbright, having in one 
 hand a wine-bottle and in the other a tiny glass. 
 
 "Thereth nothing quite tho good, don't you know, 
 ath weal wine to make a fellow feel lovely. If you'll 
 twy a little of thith wine!" 
 
 Starbright looked at him savagely with those shining 
 eyes; then with a sweep of his brawny arm, he laid 
 iVeazie and the bottle and glass in a crashing mass, 
 smashing the bottle, which poured its ruby contents out 
 on the gorgeous rug which covered the center of the 
 floor. 
 
 Veazie gasped and flounced like a fish, and when 
 he rose, with white cheeks and shaking limbs, it was 
 seen that a quantity of the wine had found its way onto 
 his face and over his spotless shirt front. 
 
 Tilton Hull and the others in the room were gasp- 
 ing and quaking. 
 
 "Gwathiouth !" Veazie sputtered. "Gwathiouth !
 
 Dick Starbright Falls. 255 
 
 Did you ever thee anybody tho wude? Why, hetH 
 a weal wude cweature!" 
 
 "Did you speak to me?" asked Starbright, fixing 
 on him those shining eyes, which seemed to dart a 
 fiery red glow into the shivering little man. 
 
 "No; that ith, I didn't thay anything dithrethpect- 
 ful!" 
 
 "Take care that you don't, then ! Perhaps you think 
 I'm drunk?" 
 
 "Of course he isn't drunk," whispered Skelding, 
 with a wink, for Skelding was not averse to having 
 Veazie humbled in this way; "but he will be drunk, 
 if he keeps on swilling down that whisky." 
 
 "Of course you aren't drunk," said Rupert dicker- 
 ing. "That is the best liquor obtainable in New Haven. 
 You might drink a gallon of it, and it wouldn't affect 
 you." 
 
 "Sure!" agreed Roland Packard. "Try some more 
 of it!" 
 
 "Frank Merriwell's my friend!" Starbright sav- 
 agely declared, jamming his fist heavily against the 
 table. "Understand?" 
 
 He glowered at Roland, for the latter's toast still 
 stuck in his memory. 
 
 "Merriwell's my friend, and I can lick any man 
 that's got anything to say 'gainst him!" 
 
 He brought his fist down again with such force that 
 the table danced.
 
 256 Dick Starbright Falls. 
 
 The palpitating members of the Chickering set be- 
 gan to feel like the man who captured the bear and 
 wished that he hadn't. They had captured the bear, 
 and it began to seem that they would soon be begging 
 for some one to come and lead his bearship away. 
 
 "Of course you say that because he put you on the 
 football-team," suggested Defarge. 
 
 "No such thing ! He put other fellers on the team. 
 He put you there !" 
 
 "Sure!" agreed Packard, in a conciliatory tone. 
 
 "And he put Packard there !" 
 
 He still thought the man before him was Oliver. 
 Packard nodded assent, for he knew not what else 
 to do. 
 
 "And he put Bade Morgan there!" Dick asserted, 
 again jamming his fist down on the table. "Dade Mor- 
 gan hates him, but he put him there all same. Mer- 
 riwell's square man!" 
 
 "Square as a brick!" agreed the conciliatory Pack- 
 ard. 
 
 "Square's a house!" Dick cried, again jamming 
 down his fist. 
 
 "Come houses aren't square, you know!" chirped 
 Ollie Lord, tiptoeing in his high-heeled shoes and feel- 
 ing that he had said something very brilliant. 
 
 "Merr'well's all right an' Yale's goin' tc get the 
 scalp of the C'lisle Indians, too, you bet!"
 
 Dick Starbright Falls. 257 
 
 With shaky hand, Starbright began to pour out an- 
 other glass of the fiery stuff, urged on by Packard. 
 
 "But you must agree that Merriwell is unfair in his 
 methods," Defarge went on, not learning caution by. 
 his previous experience. 
 
 "Merriwell's fair man !" 
 
 "Fair to you, of course, and to his friends. He 
 kicked a goal from your touch-down and from Bart 
 Hodge's, but he failed to kick a goal from Dade Mor- 
 gan's touch-down. He could have done that as easily 
 as from the other touch-downs. He simply didn't 
 want to, because he doesn't like Morgan." 
 
 " 'S lie!" Dick declared, jamming the table again 
 with his fist and facing Defarge with those shining 
 eyes. " 'S lie, and I can whip the man says it!" 
 
 Defarge whitened to the lips. 
 
 "No quarreling!" Rupert Chickering gasped. "No 
 quarreling in these rooms." 
 
 Roland Packard winked at Defarge, as much as to 
 say, "Hold yourself in a while, old man ; we'll get him 
 by and by!" 
 
 Then he urged Starbright to take another drink. 
 But Starbright seemed to be in no hurry this time. He 
 pushed back the bottle which Roland lifted and faced 
 again toward Defarge, half -rising from the table. 
 
 "I'm going to whip Dade Morgan soon's I meet 
 him! And I can whip any man that's friend of his! 
 See?"
 
 258 Dick Starbright Falls. 
 
 Dade Morgan had been wise enough to remain away 
 from this gathering in the rooms of Rupert Chicker- 
 ing, though he was at that moment fairly hugging 
 himself because he believed that Dick Starbright had 
 at last fallen. 
 
 Roland again winked at Defarge to hold himself in, 
 and the French youth succeeded in doing so, though 
 his cheeks remained as white as ashes and his limbs 
 shook. 
 
 Seeing that Defarge intended to make no reply to 
 his virtual challenge, Starbright sank back into his 
 seat, and, under the persuasions of Roland, allowed 
 his glass to be again filled.
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 A FRIEND IN NEED. 
 
 Frank Merriwell and Bart Hodge, seated in Merri- 
 well's rooms in Vanderbilt Hall, were talking ; Hodge, 
 as usual, raging against Dade Morgan. 
 
 "I haven't seen Starbright all day!" said Frank. 
 "He wasn't at chapel this morning, and I haven't seen 
 him anywhere about the campus." 
 
 "Oh, it's Sunday, you know, and probably he's gone 
 away somewhere on a trip ! He'll be back in the morn- 
 ing. I saw Dashleigh." 
 
 "Yes, and he was wandering round as if he had lost 
 something. To tell the truth, some way, I feel uneasy 
 about Starbright." 
 
 But Hodge did not want to talk of Starbright that 
 Sunday evening he wanted to talk of Dade Morgan. 
 
 "The freshmen had a great old supper at the Ma- 
 jestic last night, and I'm told that Dade Morgan was 
 the biggest man there. He airily swelled it over the 
 other freshmen. It's a singular thing, the influence 
 that fellow has. I should think they would throw him 
 over for leaving you in the soup in that way at the 
 relay race." 
 
 "Yes, Morgan has wonderful influence over the 
 freshmen," Frank thoughtfully admitted. "He's a 
 wonderful fellow, to tell the truth."
 
 260 A Friend in Need. 
 
 "Do you mean to praise him?" 
 
 "Only give him his due. He could become a power- 
 ful leader here in Yale, if he wasn't crooked. He 
 wants to be a leader, too; but his crookedness will do 
 him by and by. I've never seen it fail yet." 
 
 "You know the talk he's still making about you over 
 that football-game?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, I know it !" 
 
 "He's harping about your unfairness and your unfit- 
 ness to be captain of the team. He says that 
 you " 
 
 "All of which matters nothing at all to me, Hodge ! 
 There are a lot of fellows here who are determined to 
 think no good of me and believe no good of me. If 
 they want to swallow Morgan's gauzy stuff I shall 
 not trouble to keep them from it. It would be of no 
 use. As fast as I could contradict one lie, he would 
 hatch up another." 
 
 There was a tap on the door. Merriwell rose to 
 see who was there and found a man with a letter. He 
 tore the envelope open and read : 
 
 "Starbright was drugged at the banquet at the 'Ma- 
 jestic' and is now somewhere on a howling drunk from 
 the effects of it DIRK." 
 
 "What is it?" Hodge asked. 
 
 "Just a note from Dirk," Frank answered, putting 
 it in his pocket without further explanation.
 
 A Friend in Need. 261 
 
 Hodge tried to read his friend's face, but found 
 it as calm and unmoved as ever, though he fancied the 
 note must have contained something of importance, 
 and was inwardly raging because Frank had not chosen 
 to take him into his confidence. 
 
 Frank was about to turn to his desk to write an an- 
 swer, when a quick step was heard in the corridor. 
 Turning to the door where Dirk's messenger was wait- 
 ing, Frank saw Bert Dashleigh. The latter's face was 
 troubled and perplexed. 
 
 "I'd like to see you a minute, Merriwell!" 
 
 "Certainly," said Frank, rising from the table and 
 going out into the corridor. 
 
 Dashleigh took him by the arm and drew him along 
 until the two were beyond earshot of Hodge and the 
 messenger. 
 
 "It's about Dick," Bert anxiously whispered. "He's 
 been missing ever since last night. He got to drinking 
 at the banquet last night and disappeared. I've been 
 quietly looking for him all day, and just by chance I 
 stumbled a while ago on information that leads me to 
 believe that he is in Rupert Chickering's rooms. Of 
 course he's intoxicated and they're keeping him there. 
 They hate him, you know !" 
 
 "How did you find out?" 
 
 Bert looked more troubled and a bit ashamed. 
 
 "Well, you see that is, I have been a little chummy 
 with the Chickering set, and I thought I would go up
 
 262 A Friend in Need. 
 
 there to-night a little while. I couldn't get in, for 
 the doors were locked, but I heard Dick's voice. I 
 knew he had been drinking, from the sound of it." 
 
 "I'll go right over there!" Frank promised quietly, 
 with a look of grim determination. Then, while Bert 
 Dashleigh slipped away, filled with uneasiness for his 
 friend, Starbright, and with admiration and thankful- 
 ness toward Merriwell, Frank went back to his rooms. 
 
 Hastily scratching a few lines to Selton Dirk, Frank 
 put them in a sealed envelope, which he gave to Hodge 
 instead of to the messenger. 
 
 "Take those to Dirk for me, please," he said. 
 
 Bart was on his feet in an instant. 
 
 "It's a personal matter, Bart. I can explain it to 
 you by and by." 
 
 Bart had his hat and was ready to go. 
 
 "Any answer?" he questioned. 
 
 "No. And say, Bart, I may be out when you re- 
 turn. If I am, don't wait for me." 
 
 Bart hesitated. 
 
 "And if I should be gone a day or so, don't think 
 anything strange about it," Merry added. 
 
 "Anything about Dade Morgan?" Bart demanded, 
 with flashing eyes." 
 
 "Yes; just one of his plots. But I'm going to block 
 it You can help me more by carrying that to Dirk 
 than in any other way just now."
 
 A Friend in Need. 263 
 
 The faithful fellow was in the corridor, and in an- 
 other moment Frank heard him tramping away. 
 
 "No other answer," Frank said to the messenger, 
 who still respectfully waited, and the man disappeared 
 after Bart. 
 
 When both were gone, Frank hastened toward the 
 rooms of Rupert Chickering. He found the doors 
 locked, and there was no reply to his knock, though 
 he heard whispered voices, and knew that the rooms 
 were occupied. Again his hard knuckles hammered 
 on the panels of the door. 
 
 "Who's there?" came in the voice of Julian Ives. 
 
 Merriwell disguised his voice. 
 
 "Open the door!" 
 
 The command was peremptory. There was a shuf- 
 fling inside; then the door was cautiously unlocked 
 and drawn partly open. 
 
 Frank put his shoulder against it and hurled it wide 
 open. Lew Veazie stood there with his ferocious dog- 
 head cane. Behind Veazie, Frank saw other forms. 
 
 "Why, you wude cweature!" Veazie protested, flour- 
 ishing the cane. 
 
 Frank pushed on without noticing this challenge. 
 Veazie, remembering that he had once said that he 
 would like nothing better than to meet Merriwell face 
 to face armed with that cane, and feeling that the eyes 
 of his friends were on him did not dare to show the 
 svhite feather, and struck viciously at Merriwell.
 
 264 A Friend in Need. 
 
 In an instant the beautiful cane was out of his 
 hand, and he heard it snap in two across Merriwell's 
 knee. 
 
 "Why, you thcoundrel!" he lisped. "How dare 
 you?" 
 
 Frank brushed him aside as if he were a fly, and 
 strode into the room, looking about him with a glance 
 that set the hearts of the Chickering set to palpitating. 
 
 For a moment Gene Skelding appeared about to 
 launch himself at Merriwell's throat, but he thought 
 better of it and retreated with the others. 
 
 "What do you want ?" Chickering asked. 
 
 "I want Dick Starbright!" he demanded. 
 
 "Thish way ! Right side up !" he heard a thick voice 
 mumble from the adjoining room. 
 
 Packard stepped forward as if to oppose Frank, and 
 Defarge fell in behind him. 
 
 "See here," said Merriwell, facing them quietly. 
 "You fellows know why I am here." 
 
 "We know that you're an insolent scoundrel!" 
 panted Packard, who had drunk just enough liquor to 
 make him pugilistic, though he had pretended to Dick 
 Starbright that he was drinking like a fish. 
 
 A blow squarely between the eyes knocked Packard 
 against the wall. He was dazed for a moment; but, 
 thrusting his hand into the side pocket of his coat, he 
 slipped on a set of iron knuckles, and again came at 
 Merriwell, while Defarge also rushed at Frank.
 
 A Friend in Need. 265 
 
 Defarge tumbled backward from a blow that fairly 
 lifted him from the floor, while Merriwell with his left 
 hand gripped Packard's wrist and gave it a wrench 
 that sent the fellow to his knees. 
 
 "Let me out of here, fellowth!" Lew Veazie 
 screeched. "The man'th cwazy ! Let me out of here !" 
 
 Julian Ives, Ollie Lord, and Tilton Hull rushed for 
 the open door at the same time, and, coming together 
 with a butting crash, fell to the floor in a heap. 
 
 Rupert Chickering looked as if he wanted to run, 
 too. Gene Skelding alone of all the inane set held his 
 ground. 
 
 Then a lionlike voice sounded in Merriwell's ear, 
 and he saw the giant form of the young freshman, 
 Dick Starbright, at his side. Starbright was reeling 
 and scarcely able to stand, but there was an awful 
 glitter of fight in his shining eyes. 
 
 "I'll stand by you, Mer'well!" he declared, in his 
 thickened voice. "I'll stand by you, till the seas run 
 dry. You hear me!" 
 
 "What do you want ?" Chickering again demanded. 
 
 Frank flashed a defiant glance at Defarge and Ro- 
 land Packard, who seemed to want to renew their at- 
 tack, having already partly recovered from the effects 
 of the heavy blows given them. 
 
 "I wanted to see Starbright on a little private busi- 
 ness this evening, and I merely called for that pur- 
 pose!" Frank answered, in a voice as smooth as silk.
 
 266 A Friend in Need. 
 
 "That's all. Dick is going with me! Aren't you, 
 Dick?" 
 
 He took Starbright by the arm and steadied him. 
 
 "S-sure!" admitted Starbright. "Go wherever Mer- 
 riwell leads. You hear me! Go wherever Merriwell 
 leads, 'fit's against the bub-biggest football-team on 
 earth. You hear me! Goin' t' lick the stuffin' out of 
 the Indians next week!" 
 
 And Merriwell, with a scornful look at the cold- 
 blooded miscreants around him, walked Dick out of 
 the room, without a hand being lifted to detain him. 
 
 When Bart Hodge returned to Merriwell's rooms 
 from Selton Dirk's, he found the doors locked and the 
 rooms dark. 
 
 But Merriwell was in there, and so was Dick Star- 
 bright, the latter sound asleep on a bed. 
 
 The rooms were locked and silent all the next day 
 and far into the night, as Bart found by repeated calls. 
 Neither Merriwell nor Starbright appeared in their 
 classes that Monday, nor were they seen anywhere 
 about the college grounds or on the New Haven 
 streets. 
 
 Hodge believed and reported that Frank was out of 
 town, and Dashleigh, whom Frank had taken into his 
 confidence, not only reported that Dick Starbright 
 was also out of the city, but cleverly contrived to smug- 
 gle some food into Frank's rooms.
 
 A Friend in Need. 267 
 
 Such absences were not unusual, and they excited 
 scarcely a ripple of comment. The Chickering set had 
 vainly tried to get Starbright down from Rupert's 
 apartments that he might make a public exhibition of 
 himself in an intoxicated condition, and now Frank 
 was resolved that no other persons should see him in 
 that state. 
 
 But the Chickering crowd spread the report of Star- 
 bright's fall, nevertheless, and were aided in it by Dade 
 Morgan, Defarge, Roland Packard, and others, who 
 retailed the story as if it were something delectable. 
 
 But Merriwell stood guard over the drugged and 
 drink-crazed freshman, and that Monday night con- 
 ducted him to his rooms, remaining there with him all 
 night. 
 
 On Tuesday morning, Frank and Dick were back in 
 their classes, Frank as serene and unperturbed as ever, 
 and Dick looking determined and resolute, though his 
 face was noticeably white, and there was a trembling 
 of his hands which he could not entirely overcome. 
 
 Again Merriwell had saved Dick Starbright, and 
 Dade Morgan, in the silence of his room, fumed and 
 raged, and set his wits to work to invent new plans for 
 Dick's overthrow and to supplement and carry out cer- 
 tain instructions pertaining to the Indian football- 
 game which he had that day received in a letter from 
 Hector King.
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 MERRIWELL'S PERIL. 
 
 A great tide of humanity was pouring steadily out 
 of the Yale field to witness the game between Yale's 
 triumphant eleven and the fighting football Indians 
 from Carlisle. The electric cars were crowded, and 
 people on foot and in carriages were moving toward 
 the field long before the time for the beginning of the 
 game. 
 
 Horses and equipages were decked with blue rib- 
 bons. Blue banners fluttered and flaunted in the streets 
 and over awnings and round awning posts. In short, 
 the Yale blue was everywhere, even in the sky which 
 was, that Wednesday afternoon, of a beautiful deep 
 azure. 
 
 In the vicinity of the field a man had set in opera- 
 tion a large captive gas balloon, in which people were 
 making short ascensions to the limit of the length of 
 the cable holding the balloon. This balloon was decked 
 out in blue ribbons, and its basket was wrapped in a 
 mesh of blue. 
 
 Even the New Haven dogs wore the college colors 
 on their collars and round their necks, and had bows 
 of blue ribbons tied to their wagging tails. 
 
 Everywhere the loyal New Haven people were 
 whooping things up for Yale, and the Yale cry boomed
 
 Merriwell's Peril. 269 
 
 out at intervals from marching undergraduates, whose 
 enthusiasm was keyed to such tension that it had to be 
 given audible vent. 
 
 The Indians were there, too. That is, they had ar- 
 rived in New Haven, though they had not yet shown 
 themselves at the field. Some Indian rooters had 
 come over from the Carlisle school with them, but 
 they were silent so far. 
 
 Yet all Yale and New Haven knew that the Indians 
 were no mean antagonists on a football-field that, 
 in fact, Yale had that day before her as hard fighting 
 on the gridiron as she was likely to be forced to do 
 during the football season, for the Indians from Car- 
 lisle had a most reckless way of playing football, break- 
 ing through interference like battering-rams and mow- 
 ing down runners as if the fear of injuries or death 
 itself never entered one of their heads. 
 
 Frank went to the field with Inza and Elsie in a car- 
 riage, accompanied by Charles Conrad Merriwell. 
 
 This was long before the time the game was to be 
 called, for Merry wanted to see the men in practise, 
 and the girls were as anxious to witness this as he. 
 Charles Merriwell had also developed into a football 
 enthusiast, and believed that his son Frank was the 
 greatest football captain that ever trod any gridiron. 
 
 Dick Starbright, still looking white and feeling, 
 weak, but with an unconquerable resolution, went out 
 to the field in a trolley-car, accompanied by Bert Dash-.
 
 270 Merriwell's Peril. 
 
 leigh. As they rode along, they saw Dade Morgan 
 dash by guiding a handsome pair of high-stepping 
 blacks. Rosalind Thornton was at Dade's side, look- 
 ing radiantly beautiful. 
 
 Dick's face whitened still more when he beheld her, 
 but he made no comment, and Dashleigh, observing 
 this look, was too considerate of his friend's feelings 
 to say a word. 
 
 "If Dade Morgan hopes to take away any of my 
 football courage by that," thought Dick, "he is might- 
 ily mistaken!" 
 
 Dick and Be'rt reached the field some time after 
 Merriwell and his party. One of the first things that 
 attracted their attention after getting out of the car 
 was the beribboned and blue-decked balloon, soaring 
 lightly above the heads of the swarming people out- 
 side of the field. 
 
 In the basket of this balloon, as they approached it, 
 they saw Charles Conrad Merriwell and Inza Bur- 
 rage. Though both were some distance above the 
 heads of the two youths, yet Dick and Bert were able 
 to hear Inza's joyous laughter and something of the 
 talk of Merriwell, though not the subject matter of the 
 talk. 
 
 "Charles Merriwell has rented the balloon for the 
 remainder of the afternoon," they heard a student say, 
 "and Inza Burrage is going to sit with him up there 
 and watch the game. That's what I call great! It
 
 Merriwell's Peril. 271 
 
 beats a grand-stand seat all hollow! Frank Merri- 
 well's a lucky dog to have a father with money to burn 
 and not afraid to burn it." 
 
 Then Dick heard Charles Merriwell give some order 
 to the man who stood at the lower end of the cable, 
 which was fastened to a powerful winch. 
 
 "The old man's going to come down !" was the next 
 thing that Starbright heard from the lips of some one 
 on the ground. 
 
 The balloon began to descend slowly. It came 
 down until it was not more than a dozen feet from the 
 ground. 
 
 Then there was a sudden snap of the cable, which 
 strained, while the balloon gave a lurch. Inza uttered 
 a startled cry, and pointed downward, and Charles 
 Merriwell, rising in the basket, seemed about to jump 
 to the ground. 
 
 There was another snap, as a strand of the cable 
 parted, and another lurch of the balloon. 
 
 Up to this moment neither Dick nor Bert had ob- 
 served Frank Merriwell. Now they saw him dive 
 through the crowd as if he were a football-runner bur- 
 rowing through an interference, hurling people right 
 and left. 
 
 Bert gave a gasping cry, when he heard another snap 
 of the rope and saw the balloon shoot upward like a 
 rocket. Frank Merriwell was hanging to the cable at- 
 tached to the balloon, and was also shooting upward!
 
 272 Merriwell's Peril. 
 
 Frank had been only a few yards away when he 
 saw the balloon give that first lurch. He knew that 
 for some reason the rope was parting, and he forth- 
 with dove at reckless speed through the excited crowd 
 toward the basket in which sat Inza and his father. 
 The thought that perhaps this was some of the unex- 
 pected work of the mysterious foe, who had been stri- 
 king at him from the dark, shot through him like a 
 flash. 
 
 He had no time for investigation, however. Push- 
 ing people to the right and left, he crossed the inter- 
 vening distance in a mad rush, and could do no more 
 than lay his hands on the upper part of the severed 
 rope as the basket was jerked violently up. 
 
 As the balloon shot skyward, lifting him with it, he 
 for the first time observed that the wind was setting 
 strongly toward the bay and the Sound, and the seem- 
 ingly wild thought that the whole thing was the work 
 of the miscreant who had caused the bomb to be shot 
 at him from the woods on the afternoon of the athletic 
 games deepened almost into a certainty. 
 
 His dash toward the basket had been in the hope 
 that he could do something to stop the impending peril. 
 Further than that he had not been given time to think. 
 Now he realized that his own peril was even greater 
 than that of those in the basket. 
 
 A great roar was arising from the throats of the ex-
 
 Merriwell's Peril. 273 
 
 cited people below a roar that smote wildly and al- 
 most deafeningly on Frank's ears as he was thus borne 
 upward. 
 
 He could not drop to the ground now. He knew 
 that, and he knew, too, that he had no desire to drop. 
 The balloon was already setting bay ward, and if he 
 could get into the basket, his nerve and experience 
 might enable him to save his father and Inza from the 
 terrible fate of being carried out to sea and drowned. 
 
 This last blow of his foe was the most terrible of 
 all. It was so villainous that it did not seem possible 
 a being in human form could have aimed it. 
 
 The rope was trailing between Frank's legs, and he 
 gave a quick downward glance at it. Though its end 
 was swishing and swaying in the wind, so that he could 
 not see it plainly, he felt sure it had been severed, or 
 partly so, with a knife. 
 
 "If I could only get into the basket!" was his 
 thought. And it was instantly followed by the iron de- 
 termination : 
 
 "I will get into it!" 
 
 Charles Merriwell, with face as white as his hair, 
 was staring down at his son. 
 
 Inza was at his side, and, though her dark cheeks 
 were now pale, there was something in her glance that 
 helped to sink that iron resolution deeper into Frank's 
 soul. 
 
 "You can make it, Frank!" she urged, in a voice
 
 274 Merriwell's Peril. 
 
 that was as calm and steady as if she were merely talk- 
 ing to him on the ground. "I am sure you can make 
 it!" 
 
 Frank had no breath for words, but his look sent 
 back an answering assurance. He did not again glance 
 toward the ground, which seemed dropping away from 
 the balloon with frightful velocity, but began to climb 
 upward toward the car, hand over hand. 
 
 Now all the athletic training of years found its 
 recompense. The muscles of steel, the nerves of iron, 
 the immeasurable calmness, the thinking head, and the 
 cool judgment all the things that had become his by 
 training and perseverance, all the powers that had 
 made him master on the baseball-field, the football and 
 the athletic-field, that had carried him successfully 
 through trials and adventures innumerable, came to his 
 aid in this time of supreme need. 
 
 Hand over hand, with Inza's cool assuring voice 
 calling to him, Frank climbed steadily up the swaying 
 rope mounted as surely and firmly as if he were 
 merely climbing a rope in the Yale gymnasium, as he 
 had climbed them there hundreds of times. 
 
 The people below swarmed to and fro and howled 
 and shouted, in a very paroxysm of excitement, and 
 the din of it came to his ears ; for, though the balloon 
 was so rapidly swinging upward and away, sound rises 
 to a surprising distance. Not for a moment did his 
 iron nerve relax.
 
 Merriwell's Peril. 275 
 
 Then he felt Inza's hands on one of his upthrust 
 wrists, looked squarely into her earnest, courageous 
 dark eyes, and heard her say : 
 
 "Now you're safe, Frank!" 
 
 Another upward swing, and he hooked his fingers 
 over the rim of the basket. 
 
 Charles Merriwell had him by the arms and shoul- 
 ders. Inza was aiding him, too. 
 
 Thus assisted, Frank climbed up and into the basket, 
 where he dropped down almost breathless. 
 
 He heard a great shout, like a shout of triumph, 
 wafted faintly upward from the receding earth. 
 
 "Thank God!" Charles Merriwell gasped. 
 
 "I knew you could do it, Frank!" Inza whispered, 
 putting her arms round him to support him. But he 
 did not need this aid. He was somewhat blown, that 
 was all, and now he straightened up, and, bending over 
 the basket, looked downward. 
 
 The people in and near the ball-field, clustered in ex- 
 cited groups or running about, had dwindled to the 
 size of very small children. They made him think 
 of nothing so much as an excited nest of ants. 
 
 The city of New Haven, the surrounding country, 
 and the bay, stretched out beneath him like a great 
 map. The houses seemed small, and the cars on the 
 electric lines, as well as the vessels in the harbor, looked 
 very diminutive. It was a wonderful panorama which 
 rolled out below.
 
 276 Merriwell's Peril. 
 
 But Frank at once aroused to action. He saw that 
 the balloon was being carried by the breeze straight out 
 over the bay. Already they were over the water-line. 
 
 "The next is to find out how to get down." 
 
 He spoke quite calmly. 
 
 "If we succeed in descending we shall go right into 
 the water," said his father. 
 
 "I'm sure some one cut the rope!" declared Inza. 
 
 Merriwell drew the end of the rope into the basket. 
 It had been half -severed by a knife. 
 
 "Who did it?" 
 
 "I don't know who. I thought I saw a man slash 
 at it with a knife." 
 
 Frank thought again of the mysterious man who 
 had caused the bomb to be fired at him from the fringe 
 of woods.
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 INTO THE WATER. 
 
 Inza could not tell who the man was she fancied 
 she had seen slash at the balloon rope, and, after think- 
 ing over the matter a moment, Frank reached the con- 
 clusion that it had not been the balloonist himself. The 
 knife-stroke, quickly given, had been delivered by some 
 mysterious hand, presumably the hand of some one 
 paid by him to strike at Charles Conrad Merriwell. 
 
 There could be no doubt that this blow had been 
 aimed at the elder Merriwell himself which took no 
 account of the fact that in seeking to doom Charles 
 Merriwell to an awful death in the waters of the bay 
 or Sound, the life of an innocent girl was also to be 
 sacrificed if the plan succeeded. 
 
 Mr. Merriwell sprang for a rope that was trailing 
 downward from the top of the balloon, and began to 
 pull at it, thinking it was the valve-rope for the purpose 
 of releasing the gas. 
 
 Frank caught his hand. 
 
 "No," he said, as he stayed the hand of his father, 
 "that is not the rope. That rope is sewed into the cloth 
 of the balloon. If you should jerk hard on that you 
 would tear out a section of the balloon envelope, which 
 would send us down like a shot." 
 
 Charles Merriwell gasped.
 
 278 Into the Water. 
 
 "Nearly all gas-balloons have such a rope, to be used 
 only in desperate emergencies, when it is better to go 
 down like a shot and take the chances rather than stay 
 up longer," explained Frank. 
 
 He took hold of a second dangling cord. But be- 
 fore pulling it he looked about and down into the 
 basket. 
 
 "If we go up higher we may strike a current that 
 will help us." 
 
 Then he stooped and threw out a heavy bag of sand 
 that rested at his feet. The balloon began to ascend 
 rapidly. Inza uttered a cry of joy. 
 
 "The breeze has changed !" 
 
 "Yes, we've struck another current!" 
 
 Charles Merriwell's eyes took on a look of hope. He 
 was in many respects as courageous as his son, but 
 that sudden flight of the balloon had somewhat un- 
 nerved him, and the drift over the bay was truly alarm- 
 ing. 
 
 "We're setting toward that point of land !" said 
 Inza. 
 
 Frank was studying it and calculating the chances. 
 Glancing toward the wharves, he saw some boats put- 
 ting out, among them a swift tug, and he knew that 
 their peril had been communicated to the wharves by 
 telephone, and that an effort was being made to aid 
 them, if possible.
 
 Into the Water. 279 
 
 Again he studied the point of land toward which 
 the balloon was now drifting. Beyond that point was 
 more water. If the balloon could be shot down quickly 
 it might land on that point, but if the lower seaward- 
 setting current caught it again, it would be borne out 
 beyond the point, and the result would be disastrous. 
 
 The tug was plowing along, getting under good 
 headway, with a cloud of black smoke pouring from 
 her funnel. 
 
 "You won't be able to win that football-game this 
 afternoon, Frank!" said Inza. 
 
 He looked into her eyes, dark and deep as wells. 
 The statement had not been made hysterically. 
 
 "If we can land, there is no telling what may hap- 
 pen. The first thing is to make a landing." 
 
 "Can't you descend there?" pointing to the spur. "I 
 think you can !" 
 
 "We must try it. There is nothing else to do !'* 
 
 The time had come for action. Frank firmly pulled 
 the valve-cord, and the hiss of escaping gas was at 
 once heard. The balloon began to settle. He pulled 
 the valve wider open, and the balloon dropped down- 
 ward with frightful velocity. The current of seaward- 
 setting air caught it and bent the collapsing bag sea- 
 ward; but Frank continued to let the gas escape, and 
 so rapidly that the heavily freighted car shot down, 
 down, through the air current. 
 
 Yet there was enough breeze, pushing against the col-
 
 280 Into the Water. 
 
 lapsing envelope to swing the balloon out to the very 
 tip of the point of land. 
 
 "We're going to drop into the water!" said Charles 
 Merriwell. 
 
 Frank saw that this was so. He released the cord 
 and threw out the other bags of sand. 
 
 But the buoyancy of the bag had been so reduced 
 that the balloon continued to settle in spite of this. 
 
 "Get ready to jump!" he said. "We will have to 
 swim for it!" 
 
 He put his arm round Inza in a protecting way. 
 The tug was still too far off to render assistance. 
 
 With desperate courage, Frank again pulled the 
 valve-cord, hoping the balloon would strike the ex- 
 treme tip of the land ; but, though the car shot fright- 
 fully downward, with the collapsing envelope almost 
 dropping upon the car in a smothering way, the point 
 of land was missed. 
 
 Frank commanded his father to leap, and Charles 
 Merriwell sprang from the basket. 
 
 Before Frank could follow his example, the basket 
 struck the water, the envelope and its meshing cords 
 fell upon him and Inza, and he found himself flounder- 
 ing with her in the water. 
 
 He instantly became aware that Inza had in some 
 manner been rendered unconscious and helpless. She 
 rested in his arms like a lump of lead. The mesh of
 
 Into the Water. 281 
 
 the collapsed balloon bag and the water was choking 
 him. 
 
 He tried to tear the envelope aside with his free 
 hand, and, failing in that, he sank in the water, giving 
 himself a downward push against the basket. He was 
 still clinging to Inza. 
 
 That downward dive freed him from the balloon, 
 and he now began to fight to get to the surface before 
 it was too late, with a horrible fear for Inza's safety 
 tugging at his heart. 
 
 It seemed an age before he reached the surface of 
 the water, where he could breathe and look around. 
 
 His first glance was into Inza's face. It was white 
 and deathly, and a red contusion on the right side of 
 her head in the edge of the hair showed where she had 
 been struck by the shaft of the light balloon anchor, 
 as he afterward was sure. 
 
 He saw his father in the water a few feet away, 
 coming toward him, and he knew that Mr. Merriwell 
 had been swimming round in the hope of being able 
 to render assistance. 
 
 "Swim for the land!" he urged. 
 
 It was but a few yards away, and Charles Merriwell 
 turned toward it, and Frank, alarmed beyond measure 
 for Inza, began to swim in the same direction, holding 
 her head well out of the water and fighting against the 
 tide with his strong, free arm. 
 
 The struggle that followed was a fierce one, for the
 
 282 Into the Water. 
 
 tide was powerful, and Merriwell was heavily weighted 
 and hampered by the girl who lay on his arm like a 
 log. But he succeeded in gaining the shore, and stag- 
 gered up the beach almost exhausted. 
 
 His father was at his side to render aid. Frank 
 placed Inza gently on the sand, stripped off his coat for 
 a pillow for her head, and at once began energetic 
 efforts for her restoration. A horseman, who had seen 
 the balloon drop into the water, came galloping down 
 the little peninsula. 
 
 "She needs the aid of a doctor," suggested Charles 
 Merriwell. 
 
 Frank saw that this was so, and, without delay, he 
 mounted to the proffered saddle, where Inza was 
 handed up to him, and then rode across the point to- 
 ward the oncoming tug, beckoning with his hand. 
 He had lost his hat, and the balloon was drifting out 
 to sea. 
 
 The tug sounded its whistle in answer to his signal 
 and turned toward the shore. He was out of the sad- 
 dle, supporting Inza on the sand, a great dread in his 
 heart, when the tug lay to off shore and sent a boat 
 for him. 
 
 A little later, both were on the tug, dripping wet, 
 and the tug, urged by Frank's desire for haste, was 
 flying back to the New Haven wharves, with Inza still 
 unconscious.
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE COURAGE OF INZA. 
 
 Frank Merriwell was again on the football-field, less 
 than two hours after the startling flight of the bal- 
 loon. Inza had sent him there from her cot in the 
 hospital, where, with shining eyes and indomitable 
 spirit, she had begged him to return to the field and 
 win the game. 
 
 "You can do it, Frank!" she had urged. "I am all 
 right, really. Ask the surgeon. He will tell you that 
 I am all right. I want you to go, and I want you to 
 win that game. You will make a better fight, I know, 
 if you think of me lying here longing for you to win 
 and sure that you can win!" 
 
 Frank talked with the surgeon. 
 
 "I think she is all right," the surgeon said. 
 
 "Then you are not sure of it?" 
 
 "Well, you see, I can't tell just how serious that 
 blow on the head was. She was delirious at first, you 
 know. But her mind is clear now. Yes, I think she is 
 all right, and that it will be safe for you to go." 
 
 "And if there is " 
 
 "If there is any change, I will let you know immedi- 
 ately, and you can leave the field." 
 
 Elsie, who had been summoned, with a loyal, loving 
 devotion, remained with Inza, for the purpose of
 
 284 The Courage of Inza. 
 
 watching at her bedside until she should be able to 
 leave the hospital. Elsie, with a heart as true as her 
 blue eyes! 
 
 And Frank hurried to the field, filled with a deter- 
 mination to lead his football-team to victory, in spite 
 of all that had occurred, and sure, as Inza had said, 
 that the thought of the indomitable heroine on the 
 white cot in the New Haven hospital would stir his 
 resolution and put the fiber of certain victory into his 
 muscles and into his heart. 
 
 The great crowd was streaming back, for already 
 the fact had been widely heralded that Merriwell had 
 been rescued unharmed and would play the game. 
 
 The delay had not been great. The Indians had been 
 generous and had not demanded that the play should 
 go on; but they were ready for the work when they 
 knew that the battle was to be waged. 
 
 Frank rallied his eleven to have a talk with them, 
 followed by a little practise, and while the Carlisle men 
 were getting in trim, he went to the telephone that was 
 on the field and talked with the surgeon concerning 
 Inza's condition. Elsie came to the phone and spoke 
 with him. 
 
 "Inza is doing nicely," she declared. "We know 
 that you can win! Inza says that you can, and you 
 know that when she says a thing of that kind she 
 means it! Good-by! We will see you and your men
 
 The Courage of Inza. 285 
 
 making that fight, in imagination, if no other way, and 
 remember that we are your mascots !" 
 
 Charles Merriwell came upon the field at that mo- 
 ment and hurried up to Frank. 
 
 "Almost as big a crowd as before the accident," he 
 declared. "I am hoping it will be a great game, after 
 all. And that girl both of them, in fact are as 
 brave as they can be!" 
 
 "Was it an accident?" Frank asked. 
 
 "It would seem not. The rope was cut. It couldn't 
 have been an accident." 
 
 "The fellow who manipulated the balloon is gone,'* 
 Frank explained. "It is said that he has taken a boat 
 and gone out into the bay in the hope of recovering 
 his balloon. Perhaps we'll get at the truth of this mat- 
 ter after a while. Just now we must play football." 
 
 The football enthusiasts were roaring. The after- 
 noon had been full of excitement, and the excitement of 
 what was expected to be a great game was yet to come. 
 
 The Indians were still practising, their great shocks 
 of hair above their stern faces bobbing round after 
 the ball. The Indian rooters, imitative of the whites, 
 now and then raised a yell. 
 
 The Yale rooters, and under that term must be 
 grouped all of the Yale undergraduates and most of 
 the citizens of New Haven on the field, were grouped 
 in platoons. Now and then a man bobbed up in front 
 of one of these platoons, swung his arms in fantastic
 
 286 The Courage of Inza. 
 
 fashion, something like a Sousa waving to his band, 
 and then the platoon boomed out in a deafening way 
 that drowned the yells of the Indians. One of the pla- 
 toons was singing, while the others yelled and barked 
 out the Yale cry. 
 
 The tune was, "Hold the Fort." 
 
 "Line up, rushers, line up briskly, 
 
 Line up with a will ; 
 We can beat the famous Red Men, 
 And we know we will. 
 
 CHORUS : 
 
 "Hold the ball, for Merry's coming, 
 
 See, he signals still ; 
 
 Browning goes right through the center, 
 Win we must and will !" 
 
 There was not much poetry in it, but it was roared 
 out in a brave and encouraging way and served to 
 stiffen the nerves and the determination of Yale's 
 eleven. 
 
 "You bet we will !" Bart Hodge declared. "We're 
 going to down them in great shape this afternoon. No 
 man but Merry could general a football-game after 
 what he has been through, but the stuff is in Merry. 
 Why, nearly every man on the eleven would kill him- 
 self to win now. We've got to win !" 
 
 "Sure!" grunted Browning, while his eyes shone and 
 his great chest heaved. 
 
 Then, with Inza's words and Elsie's ringing in his 
 ears, and with a picture in his heart of the dark-eyed
 
 The Courage of Inza. 287 
 
 girl on that white cot in the hospital, Frank Merrivvell 
 gathered his eleven round him and went onto the field. 
 On the toss Yale won the choice of goal and made 
 her selection, though the wind had died down, so that 
 really there was not much advantage to be gained. 
 Then the teams lined up on the gridiron in this forma- 
 tion, Frank Merriwell and Dick Starbright having 
 changed positions as half-backs: 
 
 YALE : CARLISLE ! 
 
 Bingham, f. b. Cloudman, 1. r. 
 
 Starbright, r. h. b. Loup, 1. t. 
 
 Merriwell, 1. h. b. Pierce, 1. g. 
 
 Packard, q. b. Miller, c. 
 
 Hodge, r. e. Archiquette, r. g. 
 
 Defarge, f. t. Redwater, r. t. 
 
 Beckwith, r. g. Wheelock, r. e. 
 
 Ready, c. Hudson, capt, q. b. 
 
 Browning, 1. g. Cayou, 1. h. b. 
 
 Carson, 1. t. Metoxen, r. h. b. 
 
 Morgan, 1. e. Rogers, f. b. 
 
 Merriwell had retained Oliver Packard, for he saw 
 that Oliver was all right that day and could be relied 
 upon. Besides, there was no better man for the posi- 
 tion. He had likewise retained Bade Morgan and Ber- 
 trand Defarge, even though they were his bitter ene- 
 mies. As an end there were few better men than Mor- 
 gan, and Defarge had shown that he could do excellent 
 work as tackle. Frank believed that Morgan was the 
 best man for the place he held, notwithstanding his 
 strange, and still unexplained, flunk in the relay bi- 
 cycle-race. Nevertheless, Frank had plenty of substi-
 
 288 The Courage of Inza. 
 
 tutes ready to take these positions should he see that 
 there was need, or should any of the players be in- 
 jured. 
 
 Frank looked at Starbright. Dick's face was still 
 white, but there was in it a determined glance that 
 pleased the Yale captain. It assured him that he could 
 depend on the giant freshman for good work that day. 
 
 And as for Hodge, Browning, Ready, and Carson, 
 they were always reliable and ever to be depended on 
 to do their best for Yale and for Merriwell. 
 
 The Indians had the kick-off, and the ball was placed 
 in the exact center of the field, the Yale men standing 
 back ten yards in their own territory, holding them- 
 selves in tense readiness, like hounds straining in leash, 
 for the opening play. 
 
 Pierce made the kick-off for Carlisle a magnificent 
 punt, which sent the pigskin hurtling over the field far 
 up to Yale's eight-yard line. 
 
 The friends of the Indian team gave a yell that 
 sounded like a fierce war-whoop. In a splendid dash, 
 Merriwell caught the ball; then started to run with it. 
 
 Both teams were now in Yale's territory. Star- 
 bright and Bingham raced at Frank's side and hurled 
 themselves forward in the fierce obstruction of the In- 
 dians' rush line. Dade Morgan overthrew Pierce, who 
 broke through the Yale line and was dashing on Frank, 
 when Carson and Browning then opened up a path 
 which let Frank out with the ball.
 
 The Courage of Inza. 289 
 
 The Yale rooters sent up an awful roar. Cayou, 
 che half-back, was bowled over by Frank himself, who 
 now ran for the Carlisle goal. 
 
 But he had yet to account with Hudson, the captain, 
 and with Cloudman, the giant left end, who came at 
 him with a mighty rush. 
 
 Merriwell evaded the outstretched hands of Cloud- 
 man, sprawled Hudson at full length, and then, with 
 Cloudman racing wildly at his heels, he tore along for 
 the Carlisle goal. 
 
 Cloudman was a mighty runner, and though baffled 
 in his attempt to stop Merriwell, he did not despair 
 of yet being able to tackle from behind. 
 
 But he was pursuing an even mightier runner. With 
 that picture of Inza on the white cot, and Elsie by her 
 side, and with their words sounding in his ears, Mer- 
 riwell flew across the gridiron in a mighty burst of 
 speed that took him away from Cloudman and set 
 him far ahead of the others who were rushing along 
 in a wild tide. 
 
 The Yale roar boomed forth, followed by the Yale 
 cry, as platoon after platoon burst out in answer to 
 the motions of the men who seemed to rise up from the 
 earth and urge them to crack the blue dome of the sky 
 with the Yale cheer. 
 
 And with the Yale cry seeming to lift him, Merri- 
 well crossed the Carlisle goal-line in safety and made 
 a touch-down.
 
 290 The Courage of Inza. 
 
 A score of five had been made by this touch-down, 
 which would become six if a goal could be kicked. 
 
 Merriwell ordered Browning to make this try for 
 goal, and Jack Ready, lying flat on his stomach, held 
 the ball in his outstretched hands and turned it to get it 
 in just the position that Browning desired. The In- 
 dians were standing behind their goal, straining and 
 tremulous, ready to charge like angry tigers as soon 
 as Ready put the ball on the ground. 
 
 The throng in the benches had ceased to howl and 
 were watching in breathless expectation. 
 
 Then Ready, having sighted and aimed the ball to 
 suit the pleasure of the giant who was to make the 
 place-kick, put it on the ground as Bruce signaled, 
 and the Indians instantly made a wild rush to try to 
 keep a goal from being made. 
 
 Plunk! 
 
 The sound of Browning's toe striking the pigskin 
 was heard all over the field. The ball rose in its swift 
 flight, passed over the cross-bar and between the goal- 
 posts, with the Yale men again howling out their de- 
 light, and the score was 6 to o. 
 
 The ball was now taken again to the center of the 
 field by the Carlisle men, the Yale men falling back 
 ten yards as at the beginning of the game and holding 
 themselves in tense readiness. 
 
 Pierce again made the kick-off for Carlisle, sending
 
 The Courage of Inza. 291 
 
 the ball this time to Yale's thirty-two-yard line, where 
 it was caught by Dade Morgan. 
 
 With the Indians coming at him like unleashed 
 hounds, or like angry waves dashing against the granite 
 barrier of Yale's interference, Dade ran the ball back 
 five yards toward the Carlisle goal, where he was 
 tackled by Cayou, and lost the ball on a fumble. 
 
 Merriwell, who had been closely watching Morgan, 
 saw that the latter was playing honest football. 
 
 Indeed, Dade had reached the conclusion that the 
 only way in which he could reinstate himself in the 
 good graces of those who still questioned his loyalty 
 to Yale in abandoning his mile of the relay bicycle- 
 race was to play football for all he was worth. And 
 this he was doing. He was a superb player, who de- 
 lighted in the game, and Merriwell still believed that he 
 was, in spite of all that might be said, one of the best 
 men on the eleven. 
 
 The Indians had secured the ball and now had it 
 on Yale's forty-yard line, and the sympathizers of the 
 Carlisle men were barking out their joy, sounding like 
 a pack of yelping coyotes. 
 
 Hudson, for the Indians, now tried to kick a goal 
 from the field, dropping back for room and kicking 
 with lightninglike quickness, while the red men tried 
 with arms and shoulders and bodies to hold back and 
 break the Yale rush.
 
 292 The Courage of Inza. 
 
 The spectators were yelling in their excitement. 
 
 Browning broke through the Indian interference, 
 laying Archiquette and Rogers sprawling on their 
 backs, and, though Hudson made his kick, Browning 
 was so close upon him that the pigskin was veered and 
 went wide of the mark. 
 
 It had seemed for a moment that the red men were 
 to have a goal, and secure a score that would leave 
 them only one point behind Yale; but Browning had 
 broken through and deflected the ball. 
 
 The ball was brought out to Yale's twenty-five yard, 
 from which point the play was now to start afresh. 
 
 The excitement was something tremendous, and the 
 Yale platoons were " 'rah, 'rah, 'rahing," under the 
 direction of the men who rose apparently out of the 
 ground at intervals to swing their arms and urge on 
 the yelling. 
 
 Merriwell now decided to buck the Indians' center. 
 The teams lined up for the scrimmage, and Ready 
 snapped back the ball to Oliver Packard, who tossed 
 it to Starbright. 
 
 Starbright whistled through the Carlisle line like a 
 harpoon and carried the ball ten yards, when he was 
 held by Hudson and Rogers, and the ball was down. 
 
 Again there was a line-up for a scrimmage. This 
 time the ball went to Ralph Bingham, Yale's big full- 
 back, who bucked the Indian line for nearly ten yards
 
 The Courage of Inza. 293 
 
 more. It was not easy work, for the Indians fought 
 this advance with a strength that was almost ferocious. 
 
 In the next scrimmage the ball went again to Star- 
 bright, who broke through the Indian line with an im- 
 pact like a ton of dynamite, hurling the red men right 
 and left. But he was stopped, after he had made eight 
 yards, by Cloudman, in a clever tackle, and the ball was 
 again down. 
 
 Again the ball went to Bingham, who made an ad- 
 vance of five yards into Carlisle territory under the 
 protection of a Yale wedge, when he tried to break 
 through and make a run, but was tackled by Metoxen, 
 and in attempting to pass the ball to Hodge lost it 
 to the Indians on a fumble. 
 
 The work had been fast and furious, and character- 
 ized by obstinate fighting on the part of Carlisle.
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 BATTLING FOR THE BLUE. 
 
 Plunk! 
 
 Hudson punted the pigskin from Carlisle's fifty- 
 yard line. It was caught by Starbright near Yale's 
 fifteen-yard line. 
 
 Yale and Carlisle came together in a seemingly in- 
 extricable mix-up, and out of the swaying, struggling 
 mass Starbright flashed like a meteor. 
 
 A Yale roar rose to the sky. 
 
 The Carlisle men in the fray could not get out and 
 away from the men of Yale in quick time, but Cloud- 
 man and Wheelock, the Indian ends, closed in on Star- 
 bright with a rush. 
 
 He evaded both of these and flashed across the grid- 
 iron for a run of fifty-five yards, where he was tack- 
 led by Hudson, the quarter-back, who brought him to 
 the ground with a thundering crash. 
 
 But all Yale was howling mad with joy over the 
 giant freshman's splendid run. 
 
 In the scrimmage that followed, the ball was given 
 to Bade Morgan, on a double pass from Merriwell, and 
 Morgan, dashing round the Indian's right end, carried 
 the ball in a magnificent run that called forth howls 
 of applause from the friends of Yale across Carlisle's 
 goal for Yale's second touch-down.
 
 Battling for the Blue. 295 
 
 Then Browning kicked the goal, and the score be- 
 came 12 for Yale, with the Indians still represented 
 by a humiliating o. 
 
 Once more the ball went to the center of the field, 
 and once more the great kicker, Pierce, was chosen to 
 kick off for the Indians. 
 
 He sent the pigskin whirling to Yale's twenty-eight- 
 yard line, where Merriwell caught it, and was downed 
 by Rogers. 
 
 Merriwell here decided to change his play, and he 
 bucked the Indians' center. He went resistlessly 
 through the center for a gain of nearly ten yards, with 
 the Yale enthusiasts shouting themselves hoarse, and 
 the substitutes in a flutter of delight. 
 
 In the next scrimmage the ball went to Starbright, 
 and he also bucked the Indian center, finding a weak 
 spot in Archiquette, the right guard. He went through 
 Archiquette for a gain of ten yards more before he was 
 pulled down. 
 
 Then Merriwell received the ball, and bucked the 
 center again, with five of the big men in the Yale blue 
 thrown into their line back formation before the spec- 
 tators knew what had happened. 
 
 The Indian line was torn to shreds, and Merriwell 
 leaped through like a lion. But again the Carlisle 
 backs got in their work and Merriwell was down, 
 though not until he had made a gain of nearly fifteen 
 yards.
 
 296 Battling for the Blue 
 
 Things were moving quickly. 
 
 Another line-up for a scrimmage, and the ball went 
 again to Starbright, who, aided by the splendid offen- 
 sive work of the big Yale guards, Browning and Beck- 
 with, assisted as they were by the tackles, bored an- 
 other hole through the Indian line for a gain of still 
 another ten yards. 
 
 The Yale enthusiasts were howling themselves 
 hoarse. This was work worth seeing this splendid 
 series of rushes which steadily advanced the ball in 
 spite of the bulldog blocking of the Carlisle men. 
 
 Again the ball went from the quarter-back to Star- 
 bright. This time Pierce broke through the Yale line 
 for a tackle, but was overthrown. Redwater and 
 Archiquette also went down, followed by Rogers. 
 
 But the Carlisle ends, throwing themselves on Star- 
 bright, aided by Hudson, the captain, pulled the fresh- 
 man down, after another advance of nearly fifteen 
 yards. 
 
 The ball now went to Bingham, the big full-back, 
 who, guarded by the Yale rushers, came in behind, as 
 if to break through, but passed the ball to Packard, 
 who flew round the Indians' right end and made an- 
 other handsome advance of ten yards. 
 
 The battle was now right under the shadow of the 
 Carlisle goal-posts. A continuous roar was going up 
 from the benches. 
 
 This time Merriwell received the ball, and boldly
 
 Battling for the Blue. 297 
 
 bucking the Indian center, tore a hole through it, aided 
 by his interference, and carried the pigskin across the 
 goal-line for the third touch-down. 
 
 Then Browning kicked goal, just before the whistle 
 blew and the first half of the game came to an end. 
 Yale had made three touch-downs and three goals, and 
 the Indians nothing, and the score was 18 to o. 
 
 While the spectators were roaring out their delight, 
 Merriwell hurried to the telephone and called up the 
 hospital, asking for the surgeon who had charge of 
 Inza Burrage. 
 
 "She is much improved," was the answer. "She has 
 insisted on having constant reports from the field of 
 how the game has been progressing, and the work 
 of your men has seemed to revive and encourage her." 
 
 Then Elsie spoke to him. 
 
 "We have been hearing of your splendid work, 
 Frank," she said, "and it has seemed to make Inza 
 strong again. The nurse was afraid the reports might 
 excite her and make her head worse, but the doctor 
 thought differently, and I have given her the reports 
 myself. We knew you would win !" 
 
 "But the game isn't over," he reminded her. 
 
 "But you will win it." 
 
 "Yes, I think so myself. We have made a good 
 start, and I'm sure we can hold down the red men, 
 though, in some respects, they are even stronger than 
 they have ever been before. Good-by."
 
 298 Battling for the Blue. 
 
 Merriwell left the telephone with a light heart. The 
 fact that Inza was so rapidly improving and that the 
 doctor believed her to be out of danger was more to 
 him than the glory of successfully bucking the Carlisle 
 rush-line or making star runs for touch-downs. 
 
 When he again came in touch with his men, as they 
 stood about in blankets waiting for the beginning of 
 the second half, he found the members of the flock 
 gathered round Hodge and Browning, and all wildly 
 enthusiastic not over the work of any of their own 
 number in the first half of the game, but over the 
 splendid performances of Merriwell and the young 
 freshman, Starbright. 
 
 Though Starbright had not recovered from the ef- 
 fects of the drug administered to him and the liquor 
 he had been induced to swallow while under its influ- 
 ence, he had made some gamy plays, bucking the line 
 with all the fearlessness of a fighting gladiator. 
 
 There was football stuff of the highest quality in 
 Dick Starbright, and Merriwell did not hesitate to add 
 his word of praise to what was being said, nor did 
 he hesitate later to personally tell Starbright how much 
 he was pleased with his splendid performances. 
 
 From the first half of the game Merriwell saw that 
 he could score on the Indians almost at will. He had 
 made three touch-downs, followed by goals the last 
 touch-down being gained by a series of mass plays di- 
 rected straight at the Carlisle rush-line mass plays
 
 Battling for the Blue. 299 
 
 that were brilliantly successful, and which fully proved 
 that the pigskin could be carried across the Indian goal- 
 line every time this sort of work was attempted. 
 
 But it was hard and very exhausting work, and 
 there seemed to be no real need of it. Hence, when the 
 line-up came for the beginning of the second half of 
 the game, having substituted several men, Frank de- 
 cided to make his team play entirely on the defensive, 
 giving the Indians the ball as much as possible. 
 
 At the opening of the second half Bingham kicked 
 off into the Indians' territory, and Cayou sent the ball 
 back. This was followed by some livelv volleying, in 
 which the pigskin flew to and fro from the Yale ter- 
 ritory into that of the Indian and back again, and then 
 back. 
 
 Then Metoxen got the ball and tried to make a run 
 by going round Yale's left end. He was stopped by 
 Silver, who had been substituted as a quarter-back in 
 place of Packard. 
 
 A scrimmage followed which took the ball back to- 
 ward the Indian goal-line, and again Metoxen got 
 it and tried to run. He was blocked by Merriwell, the 
 ball flying from his grasp. 
 
 Oscar Haggard, playing tackle in Carson's position, 
 fell on the ball. But Yale simply kicked the ball into 
 Carlisle territory. It was caught by Metoxen, who 
 now made a fine run. 
 
 He had already shown that he was a quick starter,
 
 300 Battling for the Blue. 
 
 and now he tried to go round the left end, protected 
 by the Carlisle interference. The Yale and Carlisle 
 lines came together in a shock, and Metoxen, finding 
 a hole, dove through like a weasel, and, running low, 
 sprinted for a touch-down. 
 
 Ned Silver leaped at him for a tackle, but went down 
 sprawling; and Dick Starbright, who also tried to get 
 the Indian runner, found his way blocked by inter- 
 ferers. Then Merriwell came across the gridiron in 
 mighty bounds, while Bingham, who had struggled out 
 of the swaying mass, also shot in pursuit. 
 
 But it was Merriwell who prevented the touch- 
 down. His diagonal charge after and toward the fly- 
 ing runner was like that of a race-horse. Inch by inch, 
 foot by foot, he steadily overhauled Metoxen, who was 
 running as if for dear life. 
 
 Then Merriwell's hands went out; they caught Me- 
 toxen round the hips, slipped down his legs, and the 
 runner went to the ground like a falling tree. 
 
 Following this, Hudson tried to kick a goal, but Jack 
 Ready broke through the Indian line like a Western 
 cyclone and blocked the attempt. 
 
 Yale then kicked the pigskin back into Indian ter- 
 ritory, where it was caught by Cayou, who now tried 
 for a touch-down. 
 
 The Indian interference was terrific, and by its help 
 Cayou broke through, as Metoxen had, covering the
 
 Battling for the Blue. 301 
 
 ground with sprawling figures clad in Yale blue, and 
 raced away for Yale's goal-line. 
 
 But he found that he had to contend with Bart 
 Hodge, who pitched himself forward in a crouching 
 posture, and getting hold of Cayou's hips brought him 
 to the ground, with the Yale goal-line but fifteen yards 
 away. 
 
 Throughout the game the Indian interference had 
 been almost ferocious. Merriwell now determined to 
 break it up, and in the playing that followed he sent in 
 Hodge and Dade Morgan, the ends, for this purpose, 
 and they ripped the line of interference wide open time 
 and again. 
 
 It was remarkable, for Hodge and Morgan hated 
 each other with the most bitter intensity ; but they were 
 playing for Yale, and Merriwell's mastery over both 
 was for the time complete. 
 
 Frank now permitted the ball to be kept for the most 
 part in Yale's territory. He did not believe that the , 
 Indians could score, unless it would be by some unfore- 
 seen good fortune on their part, and he put in play 
 every method of Yale defense, practising his men on 
 the Indian eleven, and no longer trying to score, but 
 merely working to keep the enemy from scoring, for 
 this was a department of play that Yale must learn 
 as well as aggressive work. 
 
 Bingham did some fine punting toward the close 
 of the game, Yale sending the ball back whenever it
 
 302 
 
 Battling for the Blue. 
 
 came to him and allowing the Indians to attempt to ad- 
 ivance it. 
 
 Time after time they made a mighty effort to get the 
 ball across the Yale goal-line, but found this impos- 
 sible, and when the game ended the score was still Yale 
 1 8, Carlisle o. The following diagram shows how all 
 the plays in the first half were made :
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 MORGAN AND STARBRIGHT. 
 
 In the dressing-room, at the close of the game, Did* 
 Starbright came face to face with Dade Morgan. 
 
 Starbright would have been glad to evade the meet- 
 ing, not because he feared the man, but because he dis- 
 liked him so intensely that he felt that a meeting might 
 lead to trouble. But Morgan came toward him, with 
 that smile on his lips. 
 
 "We trounced the Indians." 
 
 "Yes," said Dick. 
 
 Morgan was still sore over the fact that Starbright 
 had knocked him out in a fight some days before. The 
 telltale marks had disappeared from his face, but the 
 memory of it seemed to burn deeper every day. 
 
 "There are some men I'd rather trounce than the 
 Carlisle Indians," Morgan continued. "You said 
 something like that to me on the field, and I presume 
 you meant it." 
 
 "Yes, I meant it." 
 
 "That you would rather throw me down than an 
 Indian runner?" 
 
 "Word it that way, if you want to I" 
 
 "Then you didn't say that?" 
 
 "I said that there were men I would rather come
 
 304 Morgan and Starbright. 
 
 up against than such a rusher as Redvvater or Cloud- 
 man." 
 
 "And you meant me?" 
 
 "Have it that way, if it pleases you. You must par- 
 don me, though, if I say that I was not troubling my 
 mind to think of you at all just then. I referred to 
 football-players. ' ' 
 
 The smile on Morgan's face became more pro- 
 nounced. It would have pleased some men, but just 
 at that moment it reminded Dick of pictures he had 
 seen of Mephistopheles. 
 
 "You try to evade." 
 
 Dick turned squarely toward Morgan. 
 
 "See here, Morgan," he said, with a sudden flash 
 of fire, "if you want to have trouble with me you can 
 have it at any time and place." 
 
 "You think you will find me dead easy?" sneeringly. 
 
 "I'm not troubling to think about you at all. When 
 I trouble to think of anybody I choose some one of 
 more worth!" 
 
 Morgan's face grew red, though he still retained the 
 smile. 
 
 "Miss Thornton, I presume?" he sweetly purred. 
 
 "You're a contemptible puppy, Morgan, and I feel 
 that I lower myself by paying any attention to you. 
 But you must not think that I'm afraid of you. If 
 you have any grudge against me, meet me to-night and 
 we'll settle it!"
 
 Morgan and Starbright. 305 
 
 "Where?" Morgan panted, his face growing white 
 again. 
 
 "Suit yourself!" 
 
 "You won't meet me?" 
 
 "You fool yourself!" 
 
 "I shall be glad to get a chance to even that score. ' 
 
 "If you want to fight me, Dade Morgan, meet me 
 somewhere to-night where we will not be disturbed, 
 and I'll give'you the best thrashing you ever received." 
 
 Morgan was pale and shaking, but he kept the smile. 
 
 "All right. I'll fight you with fists to-night, or in 
 any old way. I want a chance to get at you, that's all." 
 
 "You can have that chance to-night, and any night, 
 and as many times as you wish. I feel that I'm dirty- 
 ing my hands to fool with you, but I'll meet you, just 
 the same." 
 
 Morgan had tried to conceal his anger, but it was 
 not possible, and he now exploded in a towering rage, 
 and Dick had all he could do to keep from striking 
 him there. 
 
 As soon as he had changed his clothing, Dick left, 
 looking for Bart Hodge, whom he found talking to 
 Merriwell. The crowd was streaming back to the city, 
 pleased with the game that had been played, and wildly 
 excited over the mysterious aerial flight which had pre- 
 ceded it. 
 
 "I'm going straight to the hospital," Dick heard
 
 306 Morgan and Starbright. 
 
 Merriwell say, and heard Hodge declare his intention 
 of accompanying him. 
 
 Dick understood the meaning, for he knew of the 
 'dark-haired girl on the cot, who, with the light-haired 
 girl at her side, had been regarded as the mascots of 
 the team that afternoon. 
 
 "I'd like a few words with you before you leave," 
 he said, speaking to Hodge, and feeling almost guilty 
 because he wanted to keep the matter that was in his 
 mind from Frank's knowledge. 
 
 "Me?" said Hodge. 
 
 Then he left Frank's side, and followed Starbright, 
 who led him beyond sight and ear-shot of the Yale 
 captain. 
 
 "I'm going to fight Dade Morgan to-night." 
 
 "What's that?" 
 
 "Just what I said. I'm going to fight Dade Morgan 
 to-night." 
 
 Bart impulsively grabbed him by the hand. 
 
 'Oh, I want you to just knock the tar out of that fel- 
 low, when you go up against him ! You can do it !" 
 
 "And I've come to ask you to be my second." 
 
 Hodge's face burned with hot delight. 
 
 ''Starbright," and the hand pressure grew still 
 firmer, "I'll be glad of the chance!" 
 
 "But we mustn't say anything to Merriwell about 
 it!" 
 
 "Think not? Oh, say! I can't hold that in! I'll
 
 Morgan and Starbright 307 
 
 have to tell Merry ! He doesn't like Bade Morgan any 
 better than we do." 
 
 "But he will veto it, just the same, and take some 
 means to prevent the fight. You won't say a word 
 to him about it?" x 
 
 "Oh, I'll promise! I want that fight to come off. 
 And, say, Starbright, if you should mind, I don't 
 think you will! but if you should find the scoundrel 
 too much for you, I'd like to go up against him when 
 you're through with him, or when he's through with 
 you. Oh, I'd like to hammer that scamp's face off!" 
 
 After a few further words, Bart hastened to rejoin 
 Merriwell, regarding this as a secret he must keep, 
 yet feeling that he would give a handsome sum to be 
 able to tell Merriwell and have him go along to see the 
 fight. 
 
 Frank noticed that Bart was distressed and given to 
 strange forget fulnesses as they journeyed back to the 
 city, but the dark-faced youth contrived to conceal 
 from his friend the real cause of this. 
 
 Inza was found to be so much improved that the 
 doctor thought she would be able to leave the hospital 
 the next day. She was triumphantly jubilant, also, 
 over Yale's victory. 
 
 "You don't know who cut that rope?" she ques- 
 tioned. 
 
 "Not likely to learn, I'm afraid," Frank answered. 
 "The fellow who went after the balloon hasn't re-
 
 308 Morgan and Starbright. 
 
 turned, I believe, and, at any rate, there will be no 
 chance of fastening it upon him. I really think that 
 some one in the crowd stuck that knife into the cable. 
 Perhaps we shall never know, but I shall do what I 
 can to find out and give the villain the punishment he 
 deserves." 
 
 Nor did Merriwell find out, though he applied him- 
 self for some time to this task, and called into the 
 work Selton Dirk, who was considered one of the finest 
 detectives in the little college city.
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 SETTLING OLD SCORES. 
 
 That night Bart Hodge came early to Dick Star- 
 bright's rooms, and they set out for the appointed ren- 
 dezvous. Dick had not told his roommate, Bert Dash- 
 leigh. In fact, he had communicated the information 
 to no one but Hodge. 
 
 On reaching the place appointed for the fight they 
 found no one there. 
 
 "This looks as if the scoundrel is afraid to meet 
 you!" Hodge growled. "That fellow is a coward, 
 Starbright !" 
 
 "I think he will come. He seemed anxious." 
 
 "You can't trust him. It grinds me to have Merry 
 keep him on the football-team. I've told Merry a 
 hundred times that one of these days Dade Morgan 
 will find an opportunity to do him up on the football- 
 field. It will come by and by. It injures my playing 
 to have him there, for I have to watch the scamp all 
 the time, instead of watching the ball." 
 
 "I haven't observed that it has hurt your playing!" 
 
 Hodge smiled in his grim way. 
 
 "We did do those fellows handsomely this after- 
 noon! Of course, they're not the greatest ball-team 
 in the country, but they're awful fighters in their way." 
 
 "And you and Dade Morgan smashed through their
 
 3io Settling Old Scores. 
 
 famous interference in great style. It was like a 
 Catling gun mowing down the foe. They went down 
 before you in as pretty style as I ever saw!" 
 
 "If it hadn't been Morgan helping me, I could get 
 some satisfaction out of that, but it makes me hotter 
 than a cake of ice to have my name linked with Mor- 
 gan's. A dozen fellows or more have come to me 
 since the game and complimented me on that work, 
 always mentioning Morgan. Confound Morgan!" 
 
 "But you must admit that he can play football !" 
 
 "See here ! Are you going to praise that fellow ? If 
 you go at that, I don't want to be your second in this 
 affair. Of course he can play. A man don't need to 
 have principle and honor, or any of those things, to 
 be a football-player, does he? If he did, Morgan 
 wouldn't be in it !" 
 
 He looked at his watch impatiently. 
 
 "I tell you the villain isn't coming! He thinks to 
 sell you out by having you come away out here to 
 fight him. He'll keep you waiting out here for hours. 
 But if he does!" 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "I'll make him fight me as soon as we get back to 
 the college." 
 
 But Hodge's impatient complaints were not justi- 
 fied. 
 
 Dade Morgan was late, but he had no intention of
 
 Settling Old Scores. 311 
 
 refusing to meet Starbright. He was eager to fight 
 the big freshman, for he was smarting under the mem- 
 ory of the drubbing received from him and could not 
 rest until he had made an effort to settle the score. 
 He had been taking pugilistic lessons of the well-known 
 ex-pugilist, Buster Kelley, who delighted to teach the 
 Yale freshman the manly art of knocking out another 
 college man, provided the said freshman had a good 
 long purse with which to fee him for this service. 
 
 Morgan had been assiduously studying to improve 
 himself under Buster Kelley 's instruction, and he be- 
 lieved that he was more than a match for Dick Star- 
 bright, and that the heavy score he had laid up was 
 now about to be squared. 
 
 On the other hand, Dick Starbright was not averse 
 to meeting Morgan, though the thought of going de- 
 liberately into a fight made him feel unpleasantly small. 
 He believed that Morgan had backed the scheme by 
 which he was drugged at the New Haven House and 
 led into that disgraceful orgie of intoxication. 
 
 He grew unpleasantly warm and perspiring when- 
 ever he thought of that. He felt sure that the story 
 of his intoxication was what had led Rosalind Thorn- 
 ton to give him the snub she did by going to the ball- 
 ground with Morgan. 
 
 "But that's all right!" he always reflected, when his 
 thoughts turned to Rosalind, as they did very fre- 
 quently. "If Morgan is her style, and he seems to.
 
 312 Settling Old Scores. 
 
 be, let her go with Morgan; but she can't go with me 
 at the same time." 
 
 Morgan hurried onto the field, and with him were 
 Donald Pike, Bertrand Defarge, and Roland Packard. 
 Roland was Morgan's second, and Morgan had asked 
 the others to come out and see him thrash the upstart 
 freshman, who had been taken under the protecting 
 wing of the mighty Frank Merriwell. 
 
 Bart's face grew black again when he saw who was 
 with Morgan. 
 
 "I thought there was to be only one second for 
 each!" he growled. 
 
 "A fight of this kind is quick work," smiled Roland 
 Packard, in his disagreeable way, "it only takes two 
 seconds to do it." 
 
 "We're not out here to joke !" Bart snarled, with an 
 almost irresistible impulse to fly at the joker's throat. 
 
 "It will be no joke by the time our man gets through 
 with you!" 
 
 "Who is Morgan's second ?" 
 
 "Right here," said Roland, thumping his broad 
 chest. 
 
 "The rest of us just came out here to see the fun/* 
 said Defarge, with an unpleasant laugh. 
 
 "I wasn't speaking to you," Bart snapped. Then he 
 walked aside with Roland. 
 
 The preliminaries were easily settled. The battle 
 was to be a go-as-you-please one, with no limit until
 
 Settling Old Scores. 313 
 
 one or the other of the combatants was ready to cry 
 enough. 
 
 Nothing could have pleased Hodge better. When he 
 returned with Packard, he found Starbright prepar- 
 ing for the fight. He took off his coat with great 
 deliberation, and then stripped to the waist. The 
 moonlight, sifting down through the tree tops, showed 
 his magnificent muscle, and Roland Packard, looking 
 at him, came to the conclusion that Dade Morgan 
 would not have so easy a job as he had boasted. 
 
 When Morgan stripped it was seen that he was also 
 a mass of supple muscle, with the litheness and quick- 
 ness of a panther. 
 
 "Too bad for you to hammer up and bruise such a 
 beauty," Defarge sneered to Morgan under his breath. 
 "But remember what I told you. The fellow is as 
 strong as an ox. So don't let him get hold of you. 
 Dance out of his way and wear him out, and then go 
 in and knock him to pieces." 
 
 This was also the advice given by Buster Kelley, 
 and it seemed good. 
 
 Dick Starbright stretched out his hand to take that 
 of his opponent, though the motion made Bart growl, 
 and grate his teeth. 
 
 "I didn't come out here to shake hands, but to 
 fight !" said Morgan, refusing to accept the proffered 
 hand.
 
 314 Settling Old Scores. 
 
 "Go !" said Pike, who had been accepted as a sort of 
 referee. 
 
 And the fight began. 
 
 Morgan danced up to Starbright in a tantalizing 
 way, expecting that Dick would try to get hold of him. 
 But Starbright merely put up his arms and stood on 
 the defensive. 
 
 "He's afraid of you!" said Defarge. 
 
 "If you don't cork up your mouth there will be two 
 fights going on here at the same time!" declared 
 Hodge. "You have no business here, and you'll be- 
 have, or I'll try you a round or so." 
 
 Hodge was known to be as quick-tempered as dyna- 
 mite, and a fighter of such skill and courage that De- 
 farge wisely concluded to hold his peace, though he 
 looked at the hot-blooded fellow as if he wished he 
 could run him through with a rapier. 
 
 Again Morgan came at Dick, dancing up as if to 
 draw a blow. But Starbright merely stood on the de- 
 fensive. 
 
 Then like a flash Morgan planted the first blow, get- 
 ting past Dick's guard and landing on his shoulder. 
 It was a heavy blow, but it did not even stagger the 
 big fellow. 
 
 Morgan's confidence in his ability to whip Dick 
 Starbright increased, though he was disappointed by 
 his inabilitv to make Dick chase after him and wear
 
 Settling Old Scores. 315 
 
 himself out. Looking for another opening, he again 
 sought to land, reaching this time for Dick's face. 
 
 Crack ! 
 
 A blow landed, but it was not Morgan's. Star- 
 bright's hard fist had shot out with lightning swiftness, 
 catching Morgan on the cheek. 
 
 The blow seemed to lift him into the air, and he fell 
 backward, striking the ground heavily. He lay half- 
 stunned for a moment, while Packard ran toward him. 
 Then he leaped up, snarling. 
 
 The smile had gone from his face. In its place was 
 black, fierce anger, w^ich he did not try to conceal. 
 
 "Your man is doing up Starbright in double-quick 
 style!" Hodge sneered. 
 
 Morgan was about to make another rush, forgetting 
 the injunctions of Defarge and Kelley, but he recol- 
 lected in time, and began to try to draw Dick after him. 
 
 But Starbright remained as immovable as a post, 
 merely turning to meet any advance that Morgan might 
 make. His face was imperturbable. No one could 
 tell what thoughts were passing in his mind. But he 
 was firmly resolved to teach Morgan the lesson that 
 the latter seemed so much to need. 
 
 "You're a coward !" Morgan hotly declared. "Why 
 don't you fight?" 
 
 Again a blow landed, though this time it fell low 
 and merely bruised Morgan's shoulder. 
 
 "There's your answer!" grunted Hodge, in deep sat-
 
 316 Settling Old Scores. 
 
 isfaction. "It occurs to a man up a tree that my friend 
 Starbright is doing some fighting." 
 
 Morgan gave him a look of hate. 
 
 "And if he can't give you enough to satisfy you, I 
 shall be glad to try my hand when he's through. Or 
 on any of your friends that you may want to nomi- 
 nate!" 
 
 Morgan tried to remain cool; but Starbright's im- 
 perturbability stung him so that he found it impossible. 
 Finding that he would succeed only in tiring himself 
 out, he now made a sinuous lunge, and once more 
 passed Starbright's guard, the blow striking Dick in the 
 region of the heart. 
 
 The giant staggered backward seemingly weakened. 
 Morgan fancied he saw his advantage and rushed in, 
 striking right and left. 
 
 But if he thought that Dick would now be an easy 
 victim, he was doomed to a bitter disappointment, for 
 Starbright roused himself, and his fists played a tattoo 
 on the face and body of Morgan. This was the sort of 
 fighting Hodge liked to see, and he could hardly re- 
 strain a yell of delight. 
 
 At the last blow Morgan staggered into the arms of 
 Roland Packard, who rushed forward to keep him 
 from falling. 
 
 For a moment Morgan lay in his second's arms, 
 panting and gasping. Those last blows had come with 
 the swiftness of lightning, and they had simply
 
 Settling Old Scores. 317 
 
 knocked the breath out of him. One eye was closing 
 and there was a red lump gathering on the side of his 
 head below the hair-line. 
 
 But Morgan was plucky. He felt that he could not 
 endure the disgrace of being knocked out. by Star- 
 bright, after all the coaching and training given him 
 by Kelley. He resolved that he would not be knocked 
 out, and, gathering himself together with fierce deter- 
 mination, he again came at Dick, forcing the fighting. 
 
 Starbright stood as before, immovable as a stone 
 wall. 
 
 "Oh, he hasn't had enough of it !" Hodge called out* 
 "Just touch him up with a few more." 
 
 "You're not one of the fighters!" snapped Packard, 
 who was enraged at the turn of events and by his fear 
 that his principal was going to be beaten. 
 
 "I'm ready to be! Don't fancy for a minute that 
 I'm not! I'm ready to be, and when Starbright is 
 through with Morgan I'll be glad to teach you a few. 
 things you don't know." 
 
 Then he turned to Starbright, who was still acting 
 on the defensive, while Morgan circled round and 
 round with savage dashes like a Bedouin horseman try- 
 ing to strike with a spear. 
 
 "Hammer him!" cried Bart. 
 
 Starbright seemed to feel that the time had come 
 for this. 
 
 Again his fist reached Morgan's face. Once more
 
 3i8 Settling Old Scores. 
 
 He was playing a tattoo on the body and face of his ad- 
 yersary. 
 
 Then with an impact that sounded like the report of 
 a pistol, Dick's fist caught Morgan under the ear, and, 
 lifting him clear of the ground, hurled him down in 
 a senseless heap. 
 
 Roland Packard rushed to his unconscious principal. 
 
 "You've killed him!" he gasped. 
 
 "Merely thumped some sense into his head!'* 
 growled Bart. 
 
 Now that it was over, the big freshman, who had 
 been so ironlike through the fight, trembled in every 
 limb. He found, too, that he was wet with perspira- 
 tion. And he felt meanly criminal. He wanted to get 
 away from the place wanted to go off somewhere and 
 hide himself. He even told himself that he had been 
 a weakling and a fool for meeting Morgan there in that 
 way. 
 
 Then he began to fear that he had hit harder than 
 he intended, and that Morgan might have received 
 serious injury, for Morgan seemed to lie unconscious 
 a long time. 
 
 But his feelings on this point were relieved by see- 
 ing Morgan move. The blow had been a hard one, for 
 in those last seconds Dick had not stopped to measure 
 his strength. 
 
 Morgan staggered up, supported by Packard. His 
 dazed brain began to clear, and then came the thought
 
 Settling Old Scores. 319 
 
 that he had been knocked out. It hurt him terribly. 
 He had not believed the thing possible. Had not Bus- 
 ter Kelley assured him that he was a match now for 
 two such men as Dick Starbright Starbright, who 
 looked to be too big and slow for quick work, and 
 whom he believed to be something of a coward at 
 heart, in spite of the many evidences he had received 
 to the contrary. 
 
 Then a great rage overwhelmed him. 
 
 "This is not the last !" he snarled. 
 
 "You can have more now, if you want it!" Dick 
 declared, again firing up. "It's best to settle this thing 
 now and have it done." 
 
 "Oh, he's no hog," sneered Hodge. 
 
 Starbright walked away and began to put on his 
 clothing. 
 
 He had received scarcely a severe bruise nothing 
 that would be called serious, though the skin was off 
 his cheek in one place, and there was a growing knot 
 near the left end of his collar-bone. 
 
 But Morgan had been given enough. He had hardly 
 sufficient strength left to get into his clothing, and had 
 to be supported as he turned away from the field. 
 
 The next day, however, after skilful treatment at 
 the hands of a surgeon who knew how to handle such 
 cases, Morgan was able to appear on the campus, look- 
 ing very little the worse for the drubbing he had re- 
 ceived.
 
 320 Settling Old Scores. 
 
 But he had learned to respect the prowess and the 
 strength of Dick Starbright. 
 
 A day or two later Starbright received a dainty note 
 from Rosalind Thornton. Once more she wanted him 
 to come up to the residence of Mrs. Virgil Throck- 
 morton, that the breach between them, of her own crea- 
 tion, might be again healed. 
 
 Dick did not reply to that note, nor did he go near 
 Mrs. Throckmorton's. 
 
 "That affair has come to an end!" he grimly de- 
 clared to himself. "She has chosen Dade Morgan, and 
 she may keep him," 
 
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