THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES IN MEMORY OF EDWIN CORLE PRESENTED BY JEAN CORLE 'Over the line Merriwell went and dropped on the ball." See page 90. FRANK MERRIWEITS SPORTS AFIELD BURT L. STANDISH AUTHOR OF "Frank Merriwell's Schooldays," "Frank Merriwell's Trip West," "Frank MerriwelPs Chums," "Frank Merriwell's Foes," "Frank Merriwell at Yale," etc. Copyright, 1903 By STREET & SMITH Prank Merriwcll's Sports Afield FRANK MERRIWELL'S SPORTS AFIELD. CHAPTER I. A PEACE CONFERENCE. The first year at Yale was past and the second had begun. Frank Merriwell was a sophomore at last The year had brought many changes. The men of 'Umpty-seven, the foes of a year ago, were juniors now, with a few exceptions. Punch Swallows, red-headed, big-hearted, noble fellow, had been drowned during va- cation in a brave attempt to rescue a total stranger. The stranger had fastened his hands on Swallows' neck with a death clutch, and both had gone down. They were found locked in each other's clasp, and all efforts at resuscitation had been fruitless. The death of Swallows cast a profound gloom over 'Umpty-seven. His former comrades and friends spoke of him with deep feeling. It was remembered that he had always been loyal, and no man could say that "good old Punch" had ever been known to do a mean thing. 2035351 8 A Peace Conference. Hod Chadwick had broken down and was said to be in a state of complete nervous prostration. When his physician was asked the cause he gave his answer in one word "Cigarettes." But most astonishing, most wonderful, most incom- prehensible of all things, Bruce Browning, the "great and only," the "King of the Sophomores," had been dropped. To the men of 'Umpty-eight such a thing seemed utterly beyond the bounds of possibility. The boldness of the faculty, the remarkable "nerve" of it, was enough to make them gasp with unspeakable wonder. True, Browning had never paid much attention to his studies and he had flunked times without number; but he had been the leader of his class in every wild project. He had been recognized and honored as king ; it was said that he was away up in He Boule and was sure of making Psi Upsilon or Delta Kappa Ep- silon in his junior year. Now he was dropped. He would have to go all over that second year again or abandon all hope of getting through Yale. 'Umpty-eight wondered what he would do. It did not seem possible that he, who had been Frank Merriwell's most aggressive antagonist, could bring himself to take up with 'Umpty-eight and recog- nize Merriwell's supremacy. A Peace Conference. 9 'Umpty-eight had not been broken. Every man re- turned, and all seemed to come back in the best of spirits. Even Roland Ditson was there, although he was still shunned to a great extent by the men who could not forget his treachery of other days. Merriwell had thought of securing apartments in Welch Hall, but he found many of his friends going over into South Middle, and he had a desire to cling to the gang. Harry Rattleton, Frank's close chum and roommate, hung by Merriwell, but he said South Middle was good enough for him, and so to South Middle they went. They did not mind if the floor did slant away from the windows and toward the room in which they slept. "I am going to get casters put on my chair," said Harry, "and then I can bate to sked I mean skate to bed without getting up at all. All I'll have to do is give a push, and away I'll scoot down the toboggan slide." For all that he had chosen South Middle, Merriwell set about decorating the rooms in a manner that elicited no small amount of surprise. On the floors he spread rugs made from the skins of tigers, grizzly bears, and other wild animals. On the walls he hung peculiar weapons of savage tribes, war clubs, bows, arrows, a wooden spear with a crude iron head, a heavy ax, the io A Peace Conference. blade of which was rusty and stained with blood, curved swords, queer old pistols, and other things of curious interest to all who saw them. Away up near the ceiling, safely out of reach, was hung a strange knife, the blade of which was tipped with green. This knife was in a case with a glass front, and on the case was a slip of paper, upon which were printed these words : "THE SNAKE KNIFE OF THE PAMPAS. "POISON!" On the mantel and on cabinet stands were scores of queer objects, such as stone idols, crude images of iron and brass, strange and beautiful shells, minerals and crystals, and objects which were interesting but name- less. There were pictures of scenes in many lands, and it seemed that it must have taken no small time to make such a collection from various parts of the world. Without delay Frank warned Harry not to open the case and take out "the snake knife." He told him the warning on the case was no joke, for one prick from the point of that knife meant sure death. "Well, I'd like to know where you got hold of all these things!" cried Rattleton. "You must have A Peace Conference. IE bought them in a lump from some crazy crank of a collector." Frank smiled and shook his head. "I gathered them one by one' myself," he declared, "and there is not an object in the lot that has not its own little story, some of the stories being rather inter- esting." Took here, Merriwell !" spluttered Rattleton. "Here you and I have been together a year, and I don't know much of anything about you save what I have seen. I have told you all about myself, but you never tell me much of yourself. I don't think it is fair. What's the use of bottling up that way ? I have heard something said about you being a traveler and going around the world, but I never could get anything out of you. Is that giving me a square deal ?" "What's the use to talk about what one has done? It's not that which counts here. It is what a man can do. You know as well as I that every man here is sized up for his ability, and not by what he says he has been." "That's all right. You have shown what you can do, and now there is no reason why you should not let your friends know what you have done." "Oh, well, sometime when I am in the mood I don't mind telling you some of the stories connected with 12 A Peace Conference. these relics I have picked up. Wait till I feel in the spirit." Harry knew it was useless to urge his friend, so he waited, grumbling somewhat, and feeling his curiosity spurred and aroused whenever he looked at the strange objects scattered about the room. Frank and Harry notified their former friends that their rooms must still be considered "Liberty Hall," and so the fellows used to drop in often, just as they had in those days already described in "Frank Mem- well at Yale." At least twice a week there was a jolly gathering there. "Fellows," said Frank one day, "I want you all to come around to-night. You know Browning, poor fellow, has been pegging away by himself. I have in- vited him around and he is coming. We will have a general powwow." Browning came, and he was welcomed heartily by his former foes. He loafed in with his old lazy air and quietly asked: "Gentlemen of 'Umpty-eight, have I been invited to the slaughter, or is it to be a peace conference?" "We hope to bury the hatchet and smoke the pipe of peace/' said Frank. 'That is good," said Browning, beaming serenely around him, "and it reminds me of a conundrum. A Peace Conference. 13 What is the difference between an Indian and an Irish- man? Give it up? Well, one smokes the pipe of peace and the other smokes a piece of a pipe. If you don't take my scalp now I shall begin to believe you do not mean me any harm." They gathered about him and all shook his hand. He was given the most comfortable chair in the room, and when he had lighted a cigarette and placed his feet on the window sill he murmured : "Is it all a dream? And are these my foes of yore? Why, I expected to drop with a thud, and I have fallen so lightly and alighted here in the midst of 'Umpty- eight that it has taken away all the sting. Hooray for good old 'Umpty-eight ! I am with you, gentlemen, and I propose to get square by wreaking deadly venge- ance on 'Umpty-nine." "Speaking of stings," chuckled Danny Griswold, "re- minds me of a little rhyme I heard the other day. It runs like this : " 'When you see the bumblebee Bumming o'er the lea, M you have good sense, You'll let that bumblebee.' " "As a rule, we are too curious," laughed Halliday, "We want to touch him, just to see if he will bite." 14 A Peace Conference. "As long as Browning has sprung a conundrum on us," said Merriwell, "I will venture to give you one." "Go on, gasped Rattleton. "It may kill two or three of us, but, then, never mind. That's a small matter." "Well, then, how would you make a rooster lay?" "I would eggs plain to him how it was done," said Robinson, promptly. "That would be eggscellent," smiled Frank, "but he might not eggsactly understand." "Then I'll give it up. How would you make a roos- ter lay?" "Hit him on the head with a club. That's the only way I know of." There was a deathly silence, and every fellow looked at Frank in the blankest manner possible. Not one of them cracked a smile. At last Griswold gasped : "Air water whiskey! Any old thing will do! If you haven't any whiskey give me some strychnine! Anything for relief after that !" "That's pretty bad," said Silas Blossom, "but I know where you will find worse." "Where?" "In the dictionary." "Look here," drawled Browning, with a lazy wave A Peace Conference. 15 of his hand. "If I had dreamed of this I don't think I'd come back to college." "That's another reminder," said Halliday. "I've got a friend at Harvard who has a little brother. One day a visitor asked the little fellow if his brother was back at college. 'No, sir/ was the prompt answer. 'He is half-back.' " "And that is a reminder that the football season is upon us," observed Robinson. "Does any one have an idea how the team will be made up this year ?" That was a question of universal interest, as was immediately shown by the dropping of persiflage. Every man in Yale, regardless of whether he was on the team or not, or had any friends on the team, was interested in the 'Varsity eleven. Yale had a proud record at the great game, and that record must be sus- tained. But there was no telling what the season might bring forth. In former days Harvard had been Yale's most formidable rival, but now there were others. Pennsyl- vania was not in the field for the sake of giving other teams practice. She was out for business, first, last and all the time. But Princeton was Yale's great rival. There were still those who professed to sneer at "Old Nassau," but the wise ones were doing no sneering. It was no acci- 1 6 A Peace Conference. dent that Princeton had already beaten Yale hand- somely, although some cranks persisted in regarding it as such. Beyond a doubt Princeton was putting almost all her energy into football, and it was plainly her intention to beat Yale in the final contest on Manhattan field, in New York. "Of course no one can tell anything about how the eleven will be made up," said Blossom. "As yet we scarcely know who all the candidates are." "I understand you are making a try for the eleven, Merriwell?" said Griswold. "This has not been long?" "Not long," answered Frank. "I have been invited out to practice, that is all." "And Halliday," said Jones. "He is practicing, too. Where do you expect to play, Rally ?" "I don't know as I shall play at all. Like Merriwell, I have been asked to practice, that is all." "Well, you can bet Old Man Hickson did not ask you to practice for fun," observed Burn Putnam. "He's got his eye on both you and Merriwell." "Here's Browning," cried Griswold. "He knows more about these matters than we do. We haven't con- sulted him." Bruce blew out a cloud of smoke and slowly fanned it away with his hand. A Peace Conference. 17 "Don't put me to any unnecessary exertion, I beg of you," he murmured. "I do not care even to think, un- less it is absolutely necessary." "Behold the champion lazy man!" cried Rattleton. "He takes the first prize without a struggle." "Without a struggle is good," yawned Bruce. "If I had to struggle for it I'd never get it." "You know more about football than the rest of us," said Frank. "What can you tell us of the team ?" "Well, there is no doubt Flemming, Thornton, Van Tassle and Costigan will be on the eleven. They are the good men left over from last year. Flemming is one of the best end men I ever saw, and Van Tassle can kick like an old-fashioned muzzle-loading gun. He was full-back last year, but I have heard that he may be placed in another position this season. There are lots of new men trying for the team, and it will be some time before any man will be able to tell who will get there. It is a fact that we stand in desperate need of new blood Yale must beat Princeton this year any- how." "Princeton! Who said Princeton?" cried Blossom, derisively. "Where is Princeton, anyhow?" "Now, don't you go to making a mistake about Princeton," warned Browning, arousing a bit. "She will show you where she is before the season is over. 1 8 A Peace Conference. The Tigers are the toughest boys our men will go against this year." "Oh, Princeton's got the swelled head and she thinks she is going out to do the earth. When she gets against Old Eli she'll not be in it for a little minute." "All right," murmured Bruce, dreamily ; "think that way if you like, but you'll find you are fooling your- self." He smiled a trifle wearily over the wonderful wis- dom of the new sophs. He had begun to realize there is no one on earth who knows so much in his own mind as a sophomore unless it is a freshman. "I think Browning is right," said Frank. "I have heard that Princeton already knows very nearly who will be on her eleven, and they are hammering away now like the tigers they are to get themselves into shape. Crackingham is the principal coach, and ev- erybody knows what he can do with decent material." "You talk as if you acknowledged Princeton's su- periority already, Merriwell," put in Halliday in a manner that was somewhat cutting. "That's not the right spirit." "You mistake me entirely, Halliday. I do not ac- knowledge Princeton's superiority, but I believe the Tigers will be our strongest opponents. I think over- A Peace Conference. 19 confidence is even worse than healthy respect for an enemy's ability." Frank was touched a trifle by Halliday's words and manner. He realized that Ben was a bit jealous, and it was that which led him to speak in such a manner. "What's this yarn about Princeton having a new and improved tackling machine?" asked Putnam. "It is straight," said Browning. "Well, what are the improvements on the old ar- rangement ?" "That I do not know, but I have heard that a man is forced to tackle it in a proper manner, or he is sure to get his head injured. That makes them get down in practice." "Oh, this tackling machine business is all rot !" cried Robinson. "It is better to tackle a man who is run- ning." "That is all right enough," admitted Browning, "but every time you tackle a man there is a good chance for one or the other to be severely hurt, and it doesn't pay to use up your men in practice. Over training and over practice are great evils. With the machine a man is taught to tackle exactly as he should, and the chances of his being injured are lessened. I favor the ma- chine." "Well, I suppose you know," grinned Robinson, "but so A Peace Conference. it seems foolish to me to practice tackling a hard-stuffed bag swung by ropes and pulleys." 'Don't you ever tackle old Crackingham for a fool, and he recommends the machine. He will keep every Princeton man at it till they are perfect in the art of tackling." "Well, we'll do them, anyway!" shouted Griswold. "They may have all their machines and everything else, but we'll get there just the same." "If you should happen to make such a record at foot- ball as you did at baseball you'd get your name up, Merriwell," said Blossom. "Don't you think it is trying too much to play both games ?" asked Jones, with a queer look at both Merri- well and Halliday. "Oh, I don't know," answered Frank. "Athletics are my very life, I keep alive by the work I do in that line." "I do not believe a man who is a baseball pitcher should take chances of being injured in football," said Browning. "I may not get an opportunity to take any chances," said Frank, with a smile. Outside the door of the room, which was slightly open, a youth had paused to listen. He knew he would not be welcome in Merriwell's room, and so he did not A Peace Conference. 21 enter, but he stood there, his lips curling in a sneer whenever he heard Frank speak. As Merriwell ut- tered the final words the listener hoarsely whispered to himself : "You'll not get an opportunity if I can help it! I have kept quiet a long time, and they are watching me no longer. Now I will make one more effort to strike a blow that will reach you. I'll take care that I am not found out in it this time, whether I fail or not. But I will not fail! I hate Frank Merriwell I hate him, hate him ! It is hard to keep my hatred in check, but the past has taught me to be careful. But I will find a way to ruin Merriwell's prospects and drag him in the mire of disgrace, as he has dragged me, or my name is not Roland Ditson!" Then he tiptoed gently away from the door. CHAPTER II. FOOTBALL PRACTICE. Both Merriwell and Halliday went to practice regu- larly. Old Man Hickson pretended not to pay much attention to either of them, letting the other coaches take them in hand, but he had his eyes on them all the time, and one day Halliday overheard him say : "Those fellows both show up pretty well. I haven't decided between them yet." "If Merriwell were out of the way I'd get on the team," thought Ben, dolefully. Halliday soon found an opportunity to speak to Frank. "Merry, old boy," he said, "if we both keep at this one of us will have to be a substitute. We can't both get on the team." "How do you know ?" "I have it straight. Now, don't you think you have won glory enough at baseball ? Why shouldn't you let up on this and give me a show ?" "By Jove ! that is a cheeky proposal, Halliday !" ex- claimed Frank. "I really admire your nerve!" Ben flushed. Football Practice. 23 "Well, I don't know !" he said, rather warmly. "I didn't suppose you were looking for all the glory there is to be gathered in." "Is that a crime ? But I will tell you frankly that it is not so much the glory I am looking for as the sport. Besides that, if I can do anything to put Old Eli on top I feel it my duty to do all I can. Why, man, you don't know what will happen! Here are more than thirty of us going out day after day and working like slaves. We get bruised and bunged and we are jawed, but we keep at it, willing to take anything for the sake of Old Eli. Already eight or ten fellows have been told to get their hair cut and show themselves on the campus, which is notification that they are not wanted and are out of the game for this year at least. If we do not continue to improve one of us may be notified next who knows ?" This did not satisfy Halliday. Somehow he felt sure that if it came to a matter of choosing between them Merriwell was certain to be the one selected. At two o'clock in the afternoon on practice days Yale field would be deserted. The baseball diamond showed neglect and the grand stand was covered with dust. Farther on, the white goal posts of the football field loomed up like lighthouses. The grass was green and the chalk lines of the gridiron new and fresh. 24 Football Practice. Shortly after two o'clock Captain Hickson, wearing a blue sweater on which was a large white Y, would come through the gate at a dog trot. Behind him would follow between thirty and forty young men, from whom the eleven must eventually be chosen. Ev- ery third man carried a new football. Straight to the gridiron Hickson led the men, and then sweaters were quickly shed, and in a few seconds the boys began to pass the ball. The captain of the previous year was there, and he was consulted by Old Man Hickson. Other coaches were at hand, but as this was still so early in the season there were but two of them. Later on there would be more, until a week before the annual game it was prob- able there would be nearly as many coaches as players. Captain Hickson selected a dozen men and took them off into a corner of the field,, where he lined them up and then made them go through the motions of ad- vancing the ball, using some very simple signals. The ball was snapped back, the line broke into interference, and the men moved forward a short distance, where they stopped and formed again. The rest of the squad were taken in hand by the two coaches, who used anything but language that was mild and gentle in addressing them. "Line up in front of these goal posts !" yelled one. Football Practice. 25 "And get a move on, too !" shouted the other. "You are not out here for your health." The lads made a lively scramble for positions, and then two of them were called on to stand out and catch some punts. Boom! Away sailed the ball into the air, with a twisting motion. "I'll take it," cried one young fellow as he got into position. But he muffed and the coach instantly cried : "What's your name?" The unfortunate muffer humbly gave his name. "Well, what do you know, anyway ? Ever try for a position before ?" The one questioned confessed that it was his third trial. "And you don't know how to catch a football yet. This isn't baseball. Here, take 'em down here like this. Ready for another now. Look out for those double twisters! Run in run in on it! Don't stand there like a gawk !" The candidate attempted to obey, but he made an- other muff. Eight balls came over before he succeeded in holding one. "One out of eight !" sneered the coach. "That is 26 Football Practice. great work ! You're a whole eleven ! Get back, now, and give somebody else a show." And so it went on, the perspiring candidates mak- ing numerous muffs and being railed at by the energetic coaches, who got red in the face shouting criticisms and comments. It was not play. It was genuine work, and the as- piring candidates never murmured, no matter how se- vere the language of the coaches. They were made to run after balls they muffed and fall on them ; they were told the fine points of punt catching ; they were kept on the jump every moment of the time. At last one of the disgusted coaches shouted : "I presume you are all aware that this is a roaring farce?" There were ten minutes of this kind of work, and then two elevens were made up and a short game was played. The coaches took their positions behind the teams and kept the men at it like slave drivers. They yelled their comments and criticisms so loudly that the signals of the quarter-backs could scarcely be heard. After five minutes of this the teams were given a short rest, and then they were driven to work again, and they were kept at it till time for practice was over. Football Practice. 27 Neither of the coaches used profanity, but on sev- eral occasions they looked as if they longed to do so. When it was all over the men drew on their sweaters and left the field, climbing on board two trolley cars which were waiting for them near the entrance. It happened that Merriwell and Halliday sat side by side on the way back from the field, and Frank noticed that Ben was downcast and glum. "What's the matter?" asked Frank. "I don't know," was the answer, "but T never made such a mess of practice before. I'm afraid I have hurt my chances." "Nonsense! A man whom Hickson has looked on with favor isn't going to ruin his chances so easily. You were out of condition didn't feel well, that's all. You will be all right next time." "Well, it isn't any school picnic." "Not any! But you've got stamina and you will make the team. Just keep at it for all you are worth." Halliday did not say anything more, but he thought : "If you weren't a white man, Merriwell, I could hate you ; but you don't seem to know what it is to be jealous of another fellow." Among those trying for the eleven was Evan Hart- wick, who had formerly been the roommate and friend of Bruce Browning. Hartwick was a tall, well-built 28 Football Practice. lad, who held a very high opinion of himself and his own abilities. While Browning had secretly admired Merriwell, even when they were open enemies, Hartwick had ever professed the utmost scorn for Frank. As he was not popular himself, he could not understand how another lad could become so well known and well liked during his freshman year. Hartwick had made a desperate try for the eleven the year before, and nothing could convince him that he had failed to succeed through his own lack of ability. He firmly believed that there had been favoritism in the selection of the team and that was why he had not got on. "Next year," he thought "next year I will get there." When Hartwick saw Merriwell among the candi- dates he felt like choking him. "It will be his luck to win and keep somebody else out !" thought Evan. "I never saw a fellow have such luck. He never tries for anything that he doesn't make a go of it, and there are lots of fellows just as smart as he is." Hartwick never could see how it was possible for any fellow to be smarter than himself. If they beai him at anything it must be from sheer luck. Football Practice. 29 Until Browning was dropped Merriwell scarcely knew there was such a fellow as Hartwick at Yale. Then when he heard that Browning's former room- mate and chum had cut him dead he felt that such a man must be a thoroughbred cad, and he looked Hart- wick over. But Frank soon had cause to remember Evan Hart- wick. One afternoon as Merriwell and a friend had paused to chat a moment on a corner, two very pretty girls came along. The face of one of them in particular was attractive to Frank, and he looked at her, without giving her a rude stare. As the girls passed the one that had attracted Frank's notice dropped a letter she was carrying. He lost no time in picking it up and hastening to restore it to her. The letter was plainly one that had lately been re- ceived through the mail, and as Frank lifted it from the pavement he observed the name upon it. That name was Miss Winifred Lee. "A pretty name, and a remarkably pretty girl," thought Frank as he hurried after the girls. Lifting his hat he said : "I beg your pardon, but I think one of you young ladies dropped this letter." "Why, yes, it is mine," said the girl Frank had no- 30 Football Practice. ticed, receiving it from his hand. "How careless of me ! Thank you, sir." Their eyes met, and the glance that she gave him was both coquettish and modest. It sent a singular feeling straight to Merriwell's heart, and the look in his own eyes was enough to bring a bit of additional color to her cheeks. "You are entirely welcome," murmured Frank. "It was a pleasure." Then the girls went on and left Frank, in a rather bewildered condition, staring after them, although he was quite unaware that he was doing so. "By Jove !" he muttered ; "she's a queen, and that is on the level ! Those eyes those lips ! Good gracious ! but I would like to know her !" Then he observed a young man who was hurrying to overtake the girls, and to his surprise he saw it was Hartwick. "Can it be that fellow knows them?" murmured Frank. The point was soon decided, for Hartwick overtook them, lifted his hat gracefully, and walked along at their side. Both girls recognized him. "Well, he is dead lucky!" said Merriwell. "He is a year ahead of me, and so he has had a chance to meet Football Practice. 31 good people. A freshman never gets a show. Next year comes the junior prom." He wandered back toward South Middle, and all the way a pair of beautiful eyes seemed looking into his. When the campus was reached he shook himself, fo; cing a laugh. "One would think you had never seen a girl before, old man!" he murmured. "You act lovesick! Get a brace on!" He came upon a little party that was discussing foot- ball matters and stopped to listen. He did not take much part in the conversation, answering when ad- dressed, but advancing no ideas. Perhaps twenty minutes were parsed in this manner, and then he went on again. He had not walked far before he heard a quick step behind him and felt a heavy hand fall on his shoulder. CHAPTER III. ANOTHER FOE. The touch was not friendly and Frank whirled in- stantly. He found himself confronted by Evan Hart- wick, whose face wore anything but a pleasant expres- sion. "Look here, Merriwell," said Hartwick, savagely. "I've a bone to pick with you !" Frank was surprised, but he remained cool and un- ruffled. "Well, sir," he said, looking Hartwick straight in the eye, "what is it?" "I want you to apologize for the manner in which you addressed Miss Lee and Miss Darley, sir." Frank fell back a step and his brow darkened. "You want me to apologize?" "Yes, sir." "Why should I apologize?" "Because you insulted them, sir." Merriwell's eyes seemed to look straight through Hartwick, and his voice was hard and even as he de- liberately said: "If you say I insulted those young la dies you lie, sir." Another Foe. 33 There could be no mistaking Merriwell's meaning. Certainly his words were plain enough. He showed that he was ready to back them up if necessary. Hartwick's hands clinched, and he drew his breath through his teeth sharply. His face showed all the hatred for Merriwell that he had kept subdued so long. "If it wasn't for the disgrace of having a row with you I would strangle you on the spot !" he grated. Frank snapped his fingers. "Anybody could say that," he returned. "You might find doing it quite a different thing, Hartwick." "You refuse to apologize?" "I have nothing for which to apologize, sir." "I saw you speak to them." "What if you did ? One of the young ladies dropped a letter and I simply returned it to her." "They both say you were insulting in your words and actions." "They say that?" "Yes." "I do not believe you, sir." Hartwick started forward a bit, his white, clinched teeth showing between his slightly parted lips. "You insolent dog!" he panted. "I have half a mind to " 34 Another Foe. "Better make it a whole mind and try it on. You can't tell what will happen to you till you do." Frank was watching Hartwick's every move, ready to promptly meet anything he might attempt. He did not fancy Evan would carry the matter very far there and then, but he realized well enough that he had sud- denly and unexpectedly aroused another enemy. "Not now," said Hartwick after a moment. "I may see you again. If you ever dare address either of those young ladies again I'll choke the life out of your body !" Then he whirled and strode away. Frank stood watching Hartwick till he disappeared, then he muttered : "I believe the whole thing is a severe case of jeal- ousy on his part. If I am not mistaken he is stuck on one of those girls, and that's what ails him. They must have said something about me that put him in such a mood. I wonder what it could have been?" He knew well enough that the matter was not ended. In fact, he did not intend to let it drop there. He had been accused of insulting a young lady, and he must exonerate himself. Straightway Frank went to his room, sat down, and after much trouble and the destroying of several sheets of paper, he wrote the following brief note : Another Foe. 35 "NEW HAVEN, CONN., Sept. 18. "My DEAR Miss LEE : I trust you will pardon me for addressing you, but I have been accused by Mr. Evan Hartwick of insulting you upon the street to-day. You will remember that I simply returned to you a letter you had dropped, doing so in a manner that I believed perfectly courteous and gentlemanly ; yet Mr. Hartwick has told me to my face that you said I was insolent in my language and manner. If it is not asking too much I hope you will exonerate me in this, as I do not relish the odium of having insulted a lady. "Most respectfully yours, "FRANK MBRRIWELL. "To Miss Winifred Lee, "City." Frank lost no time in mailing this note. That evening he told Harry about the affair. Rat- tleton grew excited immediately. "Confound the blooming cad!" he cried. "Why didn't you jack him in the smaw I mean smack him in the jaw? That's what he needed! Why, I know of this Miss Lee. She is a star ! Her old man's got government bonds to use for kindling. Hartwick has been trying to get in there for some time. Don't know how successful he has been, but he keeps hanging around. Said you insulted her? Poly hoker! That makes me hotter than a cake of ice!" 36 Another Foe. "Keep cool, old man, and we will see if Miss Lee is gracious enough to answer my note. If she does " "And she says Hartwick lied " "Hartwick swallows his words or he and I will dis- turb the peace." "That's the talk, Merry! I hope you'll knock the everlasting stuffing out of him !" The next day Frank received an answer from Wini- fred Lee. He tore open the envelope with some haste and read the following brief but highly satisfactory communication : "DEAR MR. MERRIWELL : I think there must be some misunderstanding concerning the matter of which you wrote, and I assure you that I regard your conduct and words in returning to me the letter I dropped as courte- ous and gentlemanly in every way. I did not tell Mr. Hartwick that you were insolent, but both Miss Darley and myself spoke of you as having been very gracious and polite. I am sure there is a misunderstanding. "Sincerely yours, "WINIFRED LEE. "To Mr. Frank Merriweli, "City." "That settles it!" muttered Frank. "I did not think Hartwick could have any grounds for such an out- rageous charge." Another Foe. 37 He showed the answer to Rattleton, who, having read it, grimly said : "That explains the whole business. The girls spoke of you in a complimentary manner, and Hartwick was insanely jealous." "Well, I propose to make him take water or fight! This is more than I can endure! There is no other way to settle the matter, for it must be settled without bringing Miss Lee's name into the affair. Be careful, old fellow, and not mention her as in any way con- nected with any trouble that may arise between Hart- wick and myself." "Don't worry about that. I rather think I have good sense enough not to do a thing like that." All that day Frank looked for a good opportunity to get Hartwick aside, where what passed between them would not be heard by others. In this he was not suc- cessful. Hartwick pretended to be utterly unaware of Merriwell's presence on the earth. "He can't work that racket," thought Frank. "I am going to call him to account, and that without delay." After supper Frank and Harry set out to look for Hartwick. It was near ten o'clock when they found him in Morey's, a popular resort for students. Evan was drinking with several of his particular friends, but Frank did not hesitate about addressing him. 38 Another Foe. Walking up to the table at which his enemy sat, Frank calmly said : "Mr. Hartwick, I would like to speak in private with you." Evan slowly put down his glass of ale, deliberately turned, and surveyed Merriwell from head to feet in the most aggravating and insolent manner. "What have you to say to me?" he asked, as if Frank were a cur. Merriwell held his temper. "I told you, sir, that I wished to speak with you in private." "I do not care to have anything to say to you in private." "But it is a matter which we cannot publicly discuss." "Then I do not care to discuss it" "That will not go. It concerns a certain person whose name neither of us should mention here. You have charged me with insulting that person." "Well?" "Well, sir, I have in my possession a letter that is positive proof that you lied." Hartwick leaped to his feet. "What!" he cried. "Do you dare tell me this? Why, I w iH Another Foe. 39 "Steady, old man," warned one of his friends, while others crowded around. "Consider where you are," "But this this creature has called me a liar !" fumed Evan. "Stand aside ! Let me get at him !" One of the party spoke earnestly and guardedly to Hartwick, who seemed to cool down in a remarkable manner while he listened. When his friend had fin- ished Hartwick said : "You are right, Walker, I cannot afford to get into a saloon row with such a person. I don r t think I can afford to fight him, anyway, and so all I can do is ig- nore him." "But you have lied about me, and if you have any blood in your body you must fight," declared Frank. Hartwick sat down, as if quite unaware that Merri- well was near. "A man can't afford to dirty his hands on some crea- tures," he said, loftily. "I see that you do not have the courage to fight," said Frank as he drew off his left glove. "You are ready to grasp at anything to avoid the encounter. Well, sir, there is such a thing as fixing matters so you can only refuse to fight by publicly acknowledging yourself a coward." And then, like a flash, he slapped Hartwick on the cheek with the glove he had just removed. 40 Another Foe. Evan shot up like a rocket, but he was instantly grasped, while several placed themselves between the two. Frank Merriwell remained as cool as ice, serenely drawing off his other glove. One of Hartwick's friends made some threatening talk, to which Merri- well calmly returned : "After I have done with Mr. Hartwick, if he leaves me in condition, I will do my best to give you satisfac- tion. At present my quarrel is with Hartwick, not you, sir." Rattleton said not a word, but he was at Frank's right hand, ready to take part if necessary. But fighting was one of the things that was not al- lowed in Morey's, and both lads were warned against it. "I don't care about fighting him here," said Frank, "but I will meet him at any time and place he may name." "You shall regret this!" grated Hartwick. "You'll wish you'd never met me ! I'll fix you !" Frank simply smiled. That was the end of the affair in Morey's. Frank expected to hear from Hartwick immediately, but three days passed and Evan showed no inclination to bring about the encounter. "Well," said Merriwell, "if he lets it drop now, I am Another Foe. 41 satisfied. It seemed like playing the bully, but I was forced to do what I did." "That's so," nodded Rattleton. "If you hadn't you would have shown the white feather." Frank chanced to come face to face with Winifred Lee on the street. He wondered if she would recog- nize him, but he was not prepared for the flashing look of disdain which she gave him. It almost took away his breath and filled him with consternation and wonder. "What can it mean?" he thought. "What have I done now that she should look at me in that way?" He was bewildered, and he grew more so the longer he thought the matter over. It became plain to him that the girl had given him a genuine look of con- tempt, but what he had done to merit it was more than he could understand. So Frank kept about his training for the football team, working hard all the time, and having hopes of being chosen for some position. Frank was a great sprinter, a fact which Old Man Hickson had found out to his satisfaction. Hickson had seen Merriwell play baseball, and he had seen him make two bags out of a single and three bags out of a two-bag hit simply by his wonderful speed in going 42 Another Foe. around the bases. Frank had a wonderful way of leaping off at a high speed from a standstill. The crowd of aspirants kept thinning down, but still Merriwell, Halliday and Hartwick were retained. In- deed, in making up the teams for practice play Old Man Hickson fell to giving Merriwell the position of half-back with promising regularity. Frank allowed nothing to interfere with his practice and his studies, but it happened that both he and Harry were invited to a swell german that was to be the be- ginning of the season in New Haven society, and they felt it a duty to show themselves, if they didjiot stay. They went, immaculate in evening dress and chokers, and it happened that almost the first person Frank saw on arriving was Winifred Lee. She saw him, too, and she gave him a queer look that was half an invitation, and Frank instantly resolved to remain. He lost little time in seeking for an introduction to Winifred, and he was successful in obtaining what he desired. Her card showed the lancers had not been taken, and Frank begged the privilege of dancing that set with her. "Well, I don't know," she said, looking at him se- verely. "I think I ought not to give it to you." "Indeed, and why not?" exclaimed Frank.