Frank Merriwell's Races

They were talking earnestly, for all that two of the three showe

ou, Sport," one of t

and you, too, Hartwick, although we were nev

I didn't know enough to pick out the right sort of

y. "I know Ditson has no nerve, but he hates the same fellow we hate,

thing about him,"

oker, and so you did not get acqua

hat Ditson blowed everything to Merriwell, and that is why I was forced to skip.

tson to blow? He sa

cad a little

k of that," declared Harris.

was trying to squeeze me too ha

to squee

es

ow

at protected his face while we were engaged in a fencing bout. I had prepared my foil for that in advance by fixing

as expressed in Hartwick's

he promised to a hundred times. He used it to aid in blackmailing me. When he asked me for money, I did not feel like

ntinually. I kicked and refused to give up. Then he had the insolence to threaten me with exposure. I lost my head and choked him. Directly after tha

re sore on him; but he did not

ng! Why, he forced

e main thing he

what

, and he fancied Merriwell would t

el

he more, although he did nothing to injure Ditson. He does not recognize Dits

, Ditson can'

m to blow. Then he is caught. As I said in the first place, he

u may get a chance to even up with Ditson by thro

ainst a bad man in Frank Merriwell," warned S

," said Hartwi

to look out for. You can do th

were out for a drive, and we came upon Merriwell. He was on his n

d struck him there'd been a general smashup. I was driving, and we were m

en badly rattled,

, harshly. "We've been up against it

artwick is a hard man to follow. He can

. I took a chance on it, for I thought we could get rid of him easily

ed at a han

. "He ought to be around so

e'd you get that

ve to soak it if I don't strike some sort of g

questioned Harris. "You can call on you

ut of the old duffer since I left college. He is icy towa

have you been doing t

do it on, you see. If there is suspicion aroused, the poor suckers take to watching me, and they are unable to catch me at anything crooked. Our only trouble is to find the rig

"I wish the gang here was not onto Ha

d Harlow. "But for that fellow we'd be right in it now

im, too!" growled Hartwick. "Le

d. Drinks were ordered. When they were

came along. Mr. Ditson, Mr. Harlow. I

pale when he saw Hartwick,

!" said Evan, significantly. "W

etting out in a hurry, but Harr

," he assured.

asked Ditson, keeping his eyes on Hartwick.

g of th

d do you good," confessed Hartw

nited by our hatred for a common foe, and w

e me, Ditson," growled Evan, who seemed to

nto it," declare

ced

es

was t

choked me to death in your room if you hadn't been seized with one of your attacks

was a brave trick. But I understand Merriwell

tson. "Sometimes I think I'd like to kick th

f him," said Harris. "Sit down, old man, and we

er," ordered Ditson, seeing t

in a chair offe

it to you straight that I am sick of trying to do him and having him com

ccupied by the four plotters sat a man who had a cu

e of whiskey and a glass sat on the little

was leaning against the board partition with his ear close to a cra

d that was the first thing to attract his attention

he one what gave me these beautiful peepers and pretty m

decided

s friends? I'll jest see wh

isfy him that the lads in the next room were anything but fri

t much of the conversation that followed. Then Dit

ee if they don't want to take me inter the gang. Them college ducks w

nd to the door of the other room. Without stop

ared at him in amazement. "My name's Mike H

ed Hartwick, fiercely. "You are

name as Mike Hogan. "Don't call me a bum! I'm onto your curves,

wick-"friends! Well, I pr

ss when you chose a young gent here

ll have this fellow thrown out!" c

ess the button," urged Mike

es

ach, now,

y if it isn't worse than that w

n't like it! Do yer know who give me t

and

s. It was a feller what goes b

commented Harris. "That really loo

one to brag about, and I says to myself, 'Mike, if you want to get even, them is the boys to hitch fast to.' Then I got right up and came in here without bein' invited. I hope you'll excuse me, gents, but I couldn't help it under the circumstances. I had a sort of feller-feelin' for you

ant ter pay back that feller for these two black eyes and this mug. Mebbe you can help me to do it, and I can help you to square yerselves with him at t

t one another inquiringly and dou

d judge that he does, he may be of servic

gave him that mug and those beautiful eyes,

was looking Mike Hogan o

fellow as a comrade? No! It will not be as a comrade. We can use him

nd offering Mike his chair. "I'll get another.

able and Hartwick broug

ear how you came by thos

hem look at each other knowingly, as if they thought he was trying to work them

e before them, reached past Harlow, and pressed

nts anything t

ampagne?" grinned Pete

bed up the roll of money and thrust it at the waite

rought. Hogan paid for them and g

ete?" he asked.

aiter, promptly; "and the young gents w

he we

se of his, and I kinder admitted that a boy who could pay that sum for a horse must be in circumstances that would permit him to burn money in an open grate. Such a chap was worth my attention.

the horse. Then I went round to the stable where he keeps the critter, after I had first learned the name of one of Merriwell's friends. I wanted to get at the horse, and I knew it w

me back to the stable I was there, but I had changed my clothes and I wore a beard. I introduced myself as a horse doctor, and offered to cure his horse, or not to ch

he kind of a fellow you were

away he suddenly took a notion to stop me. The first thing I knew he had snatched off my hat and

t is, I thought I knew something about it. I'm not sure about that now. I told him to get out of the way, or I would

in my way, and then we had it. When we got through I found that I had it, and I had it bad. There ain't no need to

ll make him sorry that he ever gave Mike Hogan a pair of black eyes!

hat we might pull together to do him dirt. Tha

ach other, and then

s. "You may prove a ver