,~I ,

CLEVELAND PUBLIC liBRARY JUN 0 5 2D12

\
 Imvt:l WMk'Y-By 8IdJscriptiun$2.50per~, EJitercd as $ecOnd C!a.9$lIatlArat the N. Yo Po8t Ojfice by 8"TRF.ltl' &8111TH.

Vol. r. No. r. Price Five Cents.

FRANK· J\1ERRIWELL;
OR,

BY BURT L. STANDISH.
. '" .
CHAPTER 1. 'some,cruel face. He was, d~ in a
plaid -sait of avery. .ptou~ .pattern,
MAKES A FOE. •
FRANK
• had pa.tent 'leather Slloe& an
his teet, a.wt
Set out!" .' crushed felt hllfon his helilt, W:O~ ,seve>;all
thump! A shrill howl of pain. rings on hIs lingers, ~""hlui ail~ gola
"Stopitl That's my. dog!" ouble chain strung~hi!l'~, whi!;;
"Oh, is it? Then you ought fo be the pin in his red ~i!> .. lP.lIS: ~: wi~ILa......
kicked, too! Take that for your impu- "sparkler" that tt1iJ.I.1lioii~~ IUitc W
dence l" genuine. -'.
Cuff! A blow from au'open hand sent The other lad ~~Iydressed. in'
the boyish owner of _the whimpering a suit of brown, wo~~pellsI!ea ~.
poodle staggering to the ground, while and a stylish ..traw,.}f~-iiat'madeftO dis-
paper bags of pop-corn flew from his play.of jewelry, His ~~~k, open,
basket and scattered their snowy contents and winning, -but the ~ tight that
around. sually dwelt in his brown .eyl!6 was now
"That was a cowardly. blow I" banished by a look of seem, and the, set
The haughty, over-dressed lad who had of his jaw told that he conld be firm and
knocked the little pop-corn vender down, dauntless.
after kicking the barefooted boy's dog, This was Frank Merriwell, who had
turned sharpl y.as he heard these words, just stepped from the train at Fardale.
and he found himself face to face with a Frank had noticed the other boy on the-
youth of an age not far from his own. train, ~ w~lldef¢d iI.
he, too, were on
.As they. stood thus, eying eac~ other his way.to Fardale, but the haughty, ex- '
steadi!y.,the two boys presented a strong cusive carriage of the stranger had pre-
contrast. The one who-had lately been so vented an} at.t at scraping an ac-
free with foot and hand had a dark, hand- quaintance. '
 IWJlU,.
ow, however, Frank eyes. "That feller looked like he coald
'In tiddressing the fellow eat you, but he couldn't bluff you a little
the pop-corn vender. bit. I'll bet you can do him!"
"Who are you? and "Weil, I don't know abont that,"
tn meddle?" demand laughed the boy in brown. "But I think
,yonth. I should have been able to make it rather
"My name is Merriwelf an4 I ha a inleresting for him."
right to meddle becanse)' j116t str "JIave you come here to attend the
one who is smaller and weakl:!; n your- acac.:.wy?"
self. I may be a little fresh, bnt it's my "Yes.
way, and I can't help it; Ialwaystakethe "I' guess that's ~ .. - .."'c_
side of the under dog. " come for. He's gone to look a~
"Do you mean to call me a dog? Take gage. There's the expressman .mt.l~
care! My name is Bartley Hodge, and my the end of the platform. He will take you-
father--" and your trunk to Snodd's for half a 0/'
"Never mind your family history; I Iar, "
don't care if your father is Grover Cleve- "Who is Snodd?"
~l1d. You kicked that dog out of pure "Why, he lives down at the Cove,
,
viciousness, and you struck the boy be- he always keeps a lot of the fellers who
..
a
eause he dared say "Word in defense of come to git into the academy till after
his own. If he haJ been your size you they are examined and accepted."
wouldn't have hit him quite so quick." "Then to Snodd's I go, bitt I think I'll
'.'1 may take a fancy to hit you." walk. How far is it?"
"You'll tip the beam at fifteen pounds UA good mile. "
more than I, but you are at liberty to hit "Just enough to stretch my legs after the
me if you caa, If you try it, I'll agree to long ride on the train. I'll get the express-
give you such a thrashing as you deserve, man to take over my trunk, and I'll give
or my name's not Frank MerriwelI." you a quarter to show me the way to
Bartley Hodge hesitated. He was angry, Snodd's. "
but there was something about the bear- ;- I
"Done!" cried the barefooted boy. "I'm
ing of the boy in brown that made him
your huckleberry!"
fancy Merriwell wonld be a hard customer
Frank sought the expressman, and gave
to handle.
him the trunk check, together wit;, 11
"Bah I" he cried, snapping his fingers. quarter to pay him for moving the trunk,
"I wonldn't lower myself to fight with paying no heed to Bartley Hodge, who
you: " was regarding him with an insolent sneer.
He turned and walked away, while Then he returned to the young Jlop-corn
~'"
Frank helped the owner of the dog gather vender, who whistled to his poodle, and
up his spilled corn. they started on their tramp from the. sta-
"Say, you're a dandy 1" exclaimed the tion to Snodd's.
urchin, regarding Frank with admiring The station was situated on the outskirts
 ~
~ed1ad.
me'don'lI Be's goon' tQ the
t, and I bet you and him h$
bf a warm \ "It is possible we m~,"
like a very \Frank, quietly. "I ai'll ahvaY$ a~
pretty little Ienemies, and I have stilmid ill lUst-Me'
It had Merriwell's ambition here."
to go to ~ Piltut; bnt Harton Merri-\ Bartley HOdge's eyes glittered as he
wEliI ~ had not been powerful saw the two boys and the dog. He r&.ched
to-<itldnce t1ie Congressman from over and appropriated the yJver'$ WhIp,
dlstrict to recommend Frank, there: and, lIS the exp'tesS wagtpl rollea palit, he
at least a dozen other applicants, leaned ont a!t4gave the'pooiile a C1lt 'that
so, as the next best resort, the boy was sent the nnfortnnati! eteattlm wiling aDd
sent to Fardale. howling into the-editch.
Fardale Military Academy was modeled In an instant the jolly lOok 'hlld YlI11~
as far as possible after the great school at hom Frank Merriwell'it ~ 'liitet be
west Point, and was in nijuty respects a' started'forwaq\ II step, asH he tho1tght of
1l.llJ¢ lI.Uccessfulimitatio.n. The students at mshing after the wagon and dragging the
~ however, were a little wilder and \~iOUS yonngster Gut itt!> the <hiSt of tbe __ ~,.
1JJi'i(h~tomanage than those who went to .road.
~ Point, for the fathers of unruly and "Now~ I e
coward and a ..
:wayward sons often sent them to this pri- bully l" mutter~ Frank.
vate military academy to have th~ The barefooted boy went dowll- on his
"toned down. " knees in the ditch and gIlthered np the
For all of this, not every one could get poodle, caressing and patting the whining
htto Fasdale Academy, as every appli&tit creature.
,..1orced to pass e~ination, and not a I
«ou, if I was big enough, I'd lick that
le>ll of who came to Snodd's as can- fellerl" he cried, his eyes lilting with
"didatl!lf'
worthi~ being l1&ua11yadvised to return I
admission failed from ntter un-I angry tears.
"Never mind," said Frank.' do it
home -and atteJl.dcommon school another f"r you. "
~ Of more. I
"Will yoa, honest?"
1
Frank
tmm~
Merriwell grew jolly
along the road 'irith the boy and
dog ~mpatJions. He seemed to forget
as he
I
"I know'it."
"Well, I'll do my best."
"He's bigger than yon."

his eneona with Bartley Hodge tilll "I'd just like to see the scrap," said the
there ca~ rumble of wheels, and, urchin> "Can't you fix it so I'll be thert",-
ll
lookiug round, he saw the ~ wagon My name's Tad Jones, and I briugmi
coming, with HOdge SQQtedon his trunk· Snodd's ev'ry morning." dining-
hehind the driver. I
"Wel1, Tad, I'll see what cr Frank all
 , FllANK MERlliWELL,

for you. Hello! I suppose that is the "Are you Mr. Snodd?"
academy?" "Wal, yas, I guess I be," replied
"Yes, that's it." Snodd, as if somewhat in doubt himself.
Below them lay a beautiful, sheltered "Be you the feller what owns this trunk?"
cove, with wooded hills beyond. At the "Yes."
western extremity of the cove were the "Goin' to the academy?"
academy and surrounding buildings, the "If I am admitted."
chapel, gymnasium, mess-hall aud riding- "Hum! Wal, you didn't ride over
hall. from the station?"
Frank was most agreeably surprised, "No; I preferred to walk."
for, as Fardale Academy was a private "Yas; saved a quarter that way. Now I
school, he had not looked for anything don't know's we'll be able to keep yon
nearly as pretentious. here. An't but one room left, an' yon
He stood surveying the place for some won't want to pay what I ask."
minutes, questiouing Tad Jones, who was "How do you know?" asked Frank, in
ready with answers for everything, and surprise. "What gave you that impres-
then, having Snodd's pointed out to him, sion?"
a big, old-fashioned house on the nearer
"Wal, I kinder cal'lated so from what
side of the' Cove, he gave the lad the
I've heerd of yeo I never let nobody beat
promised quarter, and started down the
me down."
~--road alone.
"How much do you ask for the room
Little did Frank Merriwell dream of the
and board by the week ?"
struggles, trials, defeats, disgraces, battles,
"Four dollars, and that is cheap as--"
and triumphs that lay before him, and lit-
"I'll take it, and here is the money for
tle reeked he of the new life he was to
one week in advance."
lead at Fardale.
Mr. Snodd gasped, slowly taking the
money Frank promptly handed over.
CHAPTER II. "I kinder guess there's some mistake
somewhere," he said. "Feller that come
FUN AT SNODD'S.
ahead said you'd try to beat me-said you
It was not far from sunset when Frank was so blan~ed mean yon walked over,
reached Snodd 's ; be found his trunk at 'stead of payin' the expressman another
the door, and Snodd himself was there to quarter to fetch ye."
meet him. "So Mr. Hodge has begun thus soon,"
Mr. Snodd was a lanky, farmerish-look. said Frank, grimly. "He was right; I did
ing man, with a nanny-goat wisp of a walk over, instead of paying a quarter to
beard on his chin. His clothes showed he be brought by the expressman, but I
"as in the habit of making an effort to wanted to stretch my legs, and I gave Tad
UFO "dressed up, " but didn't know how. Jones a quarter to show me the way here:"
"~aYl'ted keenly at Frank as the lad I
"Eh! Is that so! Paid a quarter an'
urchin, reci said: walked! Wal, I guess you an't so gol
 FltANK MEIlJlIWELL. 6
derned mean as ye might be. An' you've you are yourself. I WilSafraid it would be
paid a week in advance, which t'other rather dull here, but now I am sure I shan
feller an't done. I guess you're all right find it pleasant and agreeable."
, if
an I you
'IIk h h I
etc 0 t, we
'IIh
ave your
' I th "Hodge is putting up a pretty bluff,"
oug ht F ran.k
trunk up stairs in two shakes." i Belinda blushed and looked down. She
They carried in the trunk, and Mr. had a pitcher of water in her hands, hav-
Snodd sat his end down to introduce a ing been on her way with it to one of the
buxom, smiling girl who appeared in the rooms.
hall, i "We always try to make it pleasant for
"Th"15 is my daug ht er BeI'In da; Be I'In da, all our boarders," she said.
, a new academv feIIer. Wh at'd you I" But
thiIS 15 . I trust you will try to make it ex-
• ceptionally pleasant for me," insinuated
say your name was 1" Bart, drawing ... a bit closer, "A moonhght
Frank gave his name and acknowledged ratable along the shore would be charm-
the introduction, after which the trunk ing-with you."
was carried up stairs aud deposited in a "You are rather bold. "
small , neat room , the one window of "I can't help it. Belinda-what a sweet
which looked out on the academy' brrild- name--how poetic! You have the brown
, eyes of a fawn. The sight of those tempt-
lUgS.
"Th b II '11be f .
lUg I'Ips rnakes me b urn WIt ith a desi
esire to
e e WI rung or supper purty ir d f h . .
. k "'d S dd" ' taste their ewy res ness. Behnda, gIVe
quicx, sal Mr.
" no. Better glt me a kiISS. G'ive me JUS . t one, and I WI'II
read y to come d own. __ " .
Then Snodd left him, and he immedi-
"Get out!"
ately proceeded to wash and make himself
Splash! The contents of the water-
presentable,
pitcher struck him full in the face just as
While thus engaged he heard a familiar
he wasattempting to take the coveted kiss.
voice outside, and he knew Bart Hodge
With a gurgle of astonishment, he sat
was near at hand.
down heavily on the floor, gasping and
Frank's door was open on a crack, and
dazed, while Belinda flitted away, laughing
to this he slipped, peering out.
merrily.
Hodge had met Belinda at the head of
the stairs, and, considering himself some- "Oh,' Belinda!" shouted one of the
thing of a masher, he was straightway do- eavesdroppers. "How could you be so
ing his best to "make a hit" with the girl. cruel!"
From his position Frauk could see them And a roar of laughter came from half a
plainly, and he also saw that the doors of dozen rooms.
several other rooms were slightly ajar, Realizing that he had been seen and
and he could see more than one curious heard, Hodge scrambled to his feet and
boyish eye peering from the cracks. bolted for his own room, dripping with
Hodge was being watched by Snodd's water.
boarders. Langhing at his foe's discomfiture,
"You have a charming place here," said Frank finished making his toilet, and he
Bart, in his most fetching way. had been ready some time when the sup-
"Do you really think so?" smiled Be- per-ben rang.
linda, The boys trooped down to the dining-
"Sure, But it's not half so charming as room, where Snodd introduced Frank all
 l!.\toUlK ID.'RUlWELL.
~ng by presenting him to Mrs. "I'll take a ramble with you, you Irish
aiBrge, jolly.!lS<ik'ingwoman. chump!" cried Bart, now thoroughlye$
:,did uot show up till the lads raged; "and I'll punch your head, tool
~_ted and had begun to eat, Belinda '''Phwat's that?" cried Barney, prompt~
serving. When Hodge appeared, the delay Iy rising to his feet. "Is it me ye are-
was explained, for he had changed his afther addressin' yer remarks to, ye spat-
clothes throughout, and removed all traces .pane? Oi'll break your face!"
of the dncking he had received at the "Boys! boys!" cried Mrs. Snodd, in
hands of Belinda. amazement and alarm. "What's got into
His face, however, was flushed, for he you? You are behaving in a most ungen-
conld not fail to note the sly grins of the tlemanly manner."
boys as they were introduced. Frank was "That's so, by gum l' agreed Snodd,
very grave, bowing slightly to Hodge, "Never knowed no fellers to act like this
althongh be received no more than a cut- at the table before sence we've bin taking
ting stare in return. applicants to board."
Being something of a ventriloqnist, "Ixchuse me," said Barney, as he sat
Frank resolved to have some fun with his down; "but it shtarted me blud a bit to
enemy, so he made one of the other lads, hiv thot crayther call me a chump whin
Winslow by name, seem to observe: Oi Diver spoke a word to him in all me
"It is a very wet day, Mr. Hodge." loife."
This caused the others to grin still more "Never mind him," Frank made Be"
broadly, while Hodge stiffly retnrned: linda appear to say. "He's in love, yo
"I hadn't noticed it, Mr. Winslow." know, and--"
"Wbat are you speaking to: me for?" "I won't stay here to be insulted I" cried
demanded Winslow. "I didn't address Bartley Hodge, as he angrily tore out of
you." the room, slamming the door behind him,
"Yes, you did," returned Bart, sharply. but failing to shnt out the roar of laughter
"You are a-a-mistaken," said Wins- that broke from the boys.
low, who had a peppery temper.
Immediately Fr~nk made another fellow
by the uame of Gray seem to inquire: CHAPTER III.
"Mr. Hodge, don't you think Belinda
A COWARDLY ASSAULT.
is a sweet name-very poetic?"
"I don't know as it's auy of your busi- "Avail th' big shtuffs Oi iver saw, the!
ness what I think!" snapped Bart. felly takes th' cake!" declared Barney
"Who are you talking to?" asked Ned Mulloy.
Gray, as Hodge glared at him. "He didn't seem to like it .. when you
"I am speaking to you, as you had the asked him if he didn't think Belinda a
insolence to speak insultingly to me first." sweet name, Gray," cried Sam Winslow.
"I didn't say a word to you!" "But I didn't ask him anything of the •
"You did I" kind," rather warmly asserted Ned Gray.
Ned Gray looked as if he longed' to "I never opened my mouth to him till he
punch Bart's head; but at this moment spoke to me."
Frank made Barney Mulloy seem to ob-' "Oh, .come, now!" exclaimed several
serve: of the others. "We heard you."
"Whin do yez ixpict to take thotramble "I tell you you're mistaken; but Wins-
along th' shore in the moonloight, Mishter low fired the first shot when he said it was
Hodge?" a very wet day. "
 �~~
"But I never !laid it, you know, >l crie~whetl WI! do not have.company. When ~
Winslow. "I heard somebody say so, but have oom~}', we sit on the floor and let
it wasn't I. " our feet hang down. Be pa~t till I pro-
"If this keeps up, Barney will deny he duce the-baleful uicotian."
said anything about taking a.ramble along He plunged headlong into his trunk,
the shorecin the moonlight," said Ross and soon produced cigarettes, which he
Kent. passed around, observing:
"An' it's th' truth Oi'd be shpakln' av "Life really isn't worth living, fellows;
Oi did say so. It's niver a worrud av th' have a cigarette with me."
sort did Oi say to th' b'y." The cigarettes were of the big, fat,
The boys looked at each other, greatly Turkish variety.
mystified, failing to observe the merry "I seldom smoke," Prank declared,
twinkle in Frank's eyes. As for Frank, "but I will join you now."
he was not going to give away the trick As he reached out his hand, he noticed
just then, as it might afford him some that one of the cigarettes seemed of its
sport in the future. He felt that he had own accord to slip into his fingers, and he
squared with Hodge for trying to prejudice instantly decided that it had been" forced"
Snodd against him; but there was another upon hint by Gray, as a sleight-of-hand
account to settle. He did _not forget that performer forces a card.
h~ had promised ~ad Jones that be would Instantly Merriwell was suspicious, feel-
gt~~Bart ~ th~hIng. ing sure that the boys had gathered to see
I don t thm' one of you spoke to SOmekind of a trick pla ed on him.
Hodge at all," smiled Prank. "I'm sure "Pire away" directeI Ned Gray plac-
I didu't hear anyone of Y011 say a word ing some mat~hes on the stand. "Smoke
to him till after he spoke to you." up, boys!"
Prank spoke the literal truth, but the . . .
others were inclined to regard it as a joke. . He set the example by Itghting hIS own
In order to divert their thoughts and pre- CIgarette.
vent a further discussion of the matter Frank was not backward, oot he took
Prank told a funny story that seemed ap- care not to draw too hard on his. . .
plicable to the occasion, setting the whole Suddenly a dog was heard whining at
bible in a roar of langhter, and causing the door.
Hodge to be forgotten for the time. "Get out!" shouted Gray, flinging a
Being a born diplomat, Frank decided slipper against the door and settling back
that then was the accepted time to make comfortably on the bed.
himself solid at Snodd's, which h.. prQ- The dog barked angrily,
ceeded to do by keeping up a string of "Somebody drive that creature away,
funny stories and witty sayings that con- please," said Frank. "Dogs make me
vulsed the boys and made them decide very nervous, "
that he must be a jolly good fellow. Ned placed his cigarette on the edge of
When suppEr was over and they trooped the stand and went to the door.
from the dining-room, Frank was sur- This was even better than Prank had
ronnded and carried off to Ned Gray's and expected.
Ross Kent's room, where there was a little It had been his intention to attract the
'!gathering. " attention of the boys to the door long
'IMake yourself at home, MerriweU," enough for him to light another cigarette
invited Gray, offering the only chair in with his, which he would fling out of the
the room. "Kent and I take turns at this, open window. Now he proceeded to ex-
8 FRANK MEillmVELL.
change his for Gray's, and no one ob-: cider-will wet onr parched tongues this
served the swap. eve. Are you with us, Merriwel1?"
"There isn't any dog here," said Ned, "Yis," demanded Barney, "are ye wid
in disgnst, as he closed the door and came us, or ag'in us 7"
back. "The creature must be out doors "I trust you will excuse me this time,
somewhere. " as I am going over to the academy this
He picked up his cigarette aud gave a evening to see Lieutenant Gordan. Under
long pnl1 at it. ordinary circumstances, I would be more
Sizz-baug! than delighted to be with you."
The cigarette burst into flame, and, with In vain they urged him, and they dis-
an exclamation of astonishment and dis- covered that Frank was one of the kind
may, Ned flung it to the floor, where it lay of boys who are not easily coaxed or driven
and sizzled, while a long, green snake against their will.
seemed to writhe and crawl out of it. Frank listened a while to the plans of
"Behold!" cried Frank, soberly, rising the boys, and then he begged 40 be ex-
to his feet-"behold this solemn warning! cused, and left them.
That shows what cigarettes lead to-i-delu- He soon left the house and made his
sions, red fire, jim-jams. I swear off on way over to the academy, where he sought
the spot." and found Lieutenant Gordan.
Out of the window he flung his own ci- Arrangements had been made by letter,
garette. so that his coming was '1I'pected, and, in
"Wel1, 1'11swear off myself if I ever a short time, they were seated in a quiet
make another bungle of that sort," de- room, where his preliminary examination
clared Ned, rubbing his eyes and flushing was begun.
as he heard the laughter of the boys. In less than an hour, the lieutenant said:
"You're the first fellow to come here and "I scarcely think there wil1 be any
escape this dose, Merriwell." trouble but you will pass al1 right, Merri-
"Then I have much to be thankful for," wel1; but it is wel1 enough to brush up on
said Frank, smiling, as he saw the green certain points, to make sure."
snake crumble to ashes. Then he told Frank what studies to
"Oi say, b'ys,)) said Barney, "are yez take up, escorted him to the limit of the
in fer a bit av foragin' this noight?" academy grounds, and bade him 'good.
"Foraging?" night and good-luck,
"Vis. " Frank was feeling light-hearted and
"Where? What do you mean?" well-satisfied as he turned his face toward
"It's a roight foine lot av coider Snodd Snodd's. At last he had reached Fardale,
has botthled in the cel1y, an' Oi know a and there seemed no obstacle in the way
way to tache it.II of his admission to the academy.
"Cider!" gurgled Ross Kent, striking True he had made an enemy of Bart
an attitude. "A nectar for the gods!" Hodge, but he was not afraid of Hodge,
"A necktie fer th' gods!" exclaimed and he did not anticipate much treuble
Barney. "Oi niver hearrud it cal1ed thot from the fellow.
before. " He knew little of Hodge's vindictive,
"How can we reach this glorious vengeful nature.
cider?" asked Sam Winslow. Frank whistled a merry tune as he
"By th' roolway dure," replied Barney, walked briskly along.
HOi know a way to open it." Suddenly, without the least warning,
"Then it's cider-good old-fashioned some one leaped npon him from the
 FRANK J4ERIUWELL.
shadow of some bushes at the road-side, lye! [nst you wait till I git myoid
and he received a blow on the head that gnn."
sent him staggering.
Before he conld recover, his unknown
assailant was on him, and they grappled.
The fellow quickly pressed a handker-
chief over Frank's mouth, nose, and eyes,
at the same time bearing him backward to toward the Cove.
the ground.
The handkerchief gave out a strong,
pungent door That seemed piercing to
Frank's brain, and robbed him of what
little strength the blow had left him.
His resistance was feebleand ineffectual,
and he felt his senses beginning to reel.
When he tried to cry out, no more than
a murmuring groan escaped his lips.
Bright liglrts broke like rockets before on the ground at one side of the road.
his eyes, and he heard sweet music,
mingled with the tolling of heavy bells.
Then these sounds drifted away-away
-away--
CHAPTER IV.
llARTLEY HODGE'S LITTLE GAME.
Mr. John Snodd was preparing to retire
for the night when Bartley Hodge put in
an appearance and drew him aside, whisp-
ering in his ear:
"Mr. Snodd, there have been burglars
in your cellar to-night."
"What's that?" shouted the man, in
astonishment. "Buglars! You're fool-
in'!"
"Sh! Easy!" cautioned Bart. "I am
not fooling. I am in earnest. I saw them
slip out by the roll way door. There were
several of them, and all carried some-
thing."
"Wal, I'll investigate this right off.
1'11--"
"If you waste time that way, you may
lose them all," said Bart. "I followed one
of them, and I think I can take you to
him now. H
"Ye do, hey? Then, by gum 1 I'm with
9
In a few seconds Snodd was ready with
the old-fashioned musket. Hodge advised
him to take an unlighted lantern, which
might be needed, and, when this was se-
cured, they.started out, taking the road
Bart moved swiftly and with confidence,
nrging Snodd to hurry, for the man was
inclined to hang back and be cautions.
"I don't care about runnin' up ag'in a
gang of burglars;" he said.
"There's no danger of that," assured
Bart. "Only one of them came this way."
Down near the shore Hodge suddenly
pansed and pointed to a dark figure lying
"What's that?" he whispered.
Snodd's teeth chattered, as he cocked
his gun and pointed it at the object.
"It's one of them buglars!" he said,
excitedly. "If the critter jumps at us, I'll
fix him 1"
"Don't shoot!" cried Bart, catching
the arm of the excited man. "I don't
think he'll hnrt us. He seems quiet
enough."
Theu the boy advanced boldly, yet with
some show of caution, and halted near
the prostrate form.
"Hello you j what's the matter?" he
asked. "Why don't you get up?"
There was no reply j the prostrate fig-
ure did not stir.
"Light your lantern, Mr. Suodd," ad-
vised Bart. "We'll see what's the matter
with this fellow. "
Snodd's fingers were so unsteady that
he was forced to light three matches be-
fore he could light the lantern. After a
while, however, he succeeded.
"Let me have the lantern," said Bart,
as he took it from the man's hands.
"This fellow smells as if he had heen
drinking, and I rather think that is the
matter with him."
Snodd sniffed the air.
 t'B.!NIt }IERBlWELL.
<~ gum 1 you're right, " he agreed. say. Come, come! I an't goin' ret" foe1
'It doe.ssmell that way. Mebbe he an't much with you, by gum! You'U pay fer
QJieof the buglars at all. " this cider, an' then you'U pack your duds
''Well, we'U soon find out. Take a an' git out of my house about as quick as
look at him, Mr. Snodd, and see if you you know how. "
know him." "He's dead to the world," said Bart.
The light was flung full in the face of "He's apt to lay like this for hours. Bet-
the prostrate individual, and both man ter leave him here to sleep off his drunk. "
and boy uttered exclamations. "That's so," said Snodd. "1'U lock up
"Great ginger I" cried Snodd, as- the house, and then he will have to pound
tounded. "It's that last feUer that came around a while before he gits in. Stole
here to go to the academy." my cider, did he 1 Got full on my cider,
"That's so," said Hodge. "Its Merri- did he I Wants ter go to Fardale Academy,
weU. I wonder what the matter with him does he! Wal! wal! wal!"
can be? Is he hurt, or has he been--" "Come," urged Bart, "let's leave him."
"Whew I" sniffedSnodd. "Can't ye smeU The man seemed rather reluctant. Once
it? It's cider, sure as ye live! Why, here's more he bent over Frank, and then he
a bottle-an' here's another I It's my own sniffed the air again, observing:
cider, too-s-some I put up six years ago. "Seems ter me I smeU somethin' else
Here's a bottle that's broke. His clothes besides cider."
is wet with it! He's full of cider clean to "I don't see how that is possible," said
ther nozzle! He's drunk I" Bart, nervously. "He is so saturated with
"Oh, no!" retorted Hodge, as if he cider that I can't smell anything else.
could not believe such a thing possible. Come on, Mr. Snodd."
"He isn't drunk-he can't be I" "Just pick up these bottles of cider. I
"I teU ye he is!" snapped Snodd, who an't goin' to leave it here for him to guz-
was beginning to fume with rage. "He's zle when he comes around ag'in."
stole my cider from the cellar, an' he's So they picked up the bottles :that lay
filled hisself chock-fuU of it. He's drunk about, with the exception of two that were
as a lord!" broken and three that had been emptied,
"I can hardly believe such a thing pos- and moved away, leaving Frank still un-
sible," came from Bart, as if he really conscious by the road-side.
were very reluctant to think it true. Bart Hodge found it difficult to keep
"I wouldn't thought it of him myself," from chuckling aloud, so great was his
acknowledged Snodd. "He appeared like satisfaction. In his mind he pictured
a purty respectable feUer. But here's the Frank being turned from Snodd's, refused
proof, and this will cook :him so he'll admission to the academy, and going back
never git inter Fardale Academy. They borne in disgrace.
don't take no young drunkards in there." "He won't bother me any more,"
It was with the greatest difficnlty that thought the youthful schemer. "I have
Bart Hodge suppressed a chuckle of satis- done for him."
faction. In his treacherous heart he was Mrs. Snodd was anxiously awaiting the
crying: return of her husband, and Belinda had re-
"There, Mr. Frank Merriwell, I rather fused to retire till her father came in.
think I have fixed yon this time!" They both flew at him the moment he ap-
Snood stirred Frank with his heavy peared.
boot, roughly commanding: "Did you find a bnrglar?" they Hut-
"Wake up, yonng feUer-wake up, I, tered.
 FRAl'lK JitEIUIlW.lIlLL. 11
I
"Yas," nodded Mr. Snodd, "We found emv, the blow, the struggle, and the
one of 'em, but I guess he hadn't stole Istrange odor that robbed him of his
northin' more than cider. " I senses. "
"Did you catch him? Did he show "I wonder if that is all it robbed me
light?" I of?" he muttered, as he struggled to a
"He wasn't in any condition to show sitting position and felt in his pockets.
fight, for he'd been monkeyin' with that I "Here is my purse, my watch, my ring is
cider, an' that stuff's got lots of kick to on my finger, and all my property seems
it. He's down here 'side of the road a here. That Was a queer way for a robber
piece, full as a tick. I don't b'lieve you to use a chap."
Cl!11 guess who it is." Not knowing how long he had lain
"Crazy Day?" there, he got upon his feet as soon as he
"Crazy not thin"! It's that new feller was strong enough, and made for Snodd's,
that came here last-Merriwell." staggering and weak. He felt his clothing
Belinda gave a little scream of astonish- wet, and the smell of the cider came to
ment, and Mrs. Snodd showed surprise. his nostrils, but it was so mingled with
"Who'd ever thought it of him?" she that other smell that had overcome him
cried. "Why, he appeared like a perfect that he could not tell what it was.
young gentleman." Snodd's was dark and still; no lights
"He certainly did," agreed Belinda; were to be seen. Frank tried the door, and
"and I can'~ hardly believe it of him found it locked. He did not feel like mak-
now." ing a racket and waking Snood up, so he
"Wal," said Snood, "I saw him with wandered about the house, looking for
my own eyes, an' here's my cider that some means of reaching his room. Ned ~
was layin' all around on the ground beside Gray's curtains were drawn close, but he
.. him. That's proof enongh for me. fancied he saw a gleam of light, so he
We left him right there to sleep off his picked up some small pebbles and tossed
booze, and he can stay out to-night. When them against the glass of the window.
he shows up in the mornin", I shall invite In a few seconds the curtain was run
him to pack his bandbox and git. Then up, the window opened, and Gray's voice
I'll report him at the 'cademy." called down cautiously:
So Snodd locked iip the honse with "Who's there?"
Frank Merriwell outside. "It's MerriweIl," replied Frank.
It was some time later that Frank slowly "Won't you please come down and let me
recovered consciousness. His first sensation in? I'm locked ont."
was one of nausea, while there were dull "Down in a minute," was the assur-
pains in his head. He tired to move, but ance, as Gray's head disappeared.
it was some time before he could summon Frank went around to the door and •
energy to do so, and when he did stir it waited. He was feeling decidedly ill, and :1
brought a groan from his lips. he longed to be in bed.
"I wonder what has happened?" he Pretty soon Gray opened the door cau-
speculated. "My stomach feels as if I had tiously, asking:
been chewing tobacco. My head aches as "Where on earth have you been till this
if it had been hit with a brick. Hit? hour, Merriwell?"
Wasn't it hit? It seems as if I remember "What time is it?"
something of the sort." "Not far from midnight. Where've you
After some time it all came back to him been?"
-the sudden attack of the unknown en- "Oh, over to the academy."
 12 FRA~K MERRIWELL.
"That bluff don't go, for the regula- thing in my life, and I do not know the
tions there don't allow anything of the taste of liquor."
sort. Bnt it's all right; I'll never chirp. "Wal, yon know the taste of cider
Won't you come into my room. We're purty gol dern well, an' it's no use for
having a little game and drinking up some you to deny that you sacked lots of my
of Snodd's cider. It's great stuff. Come bottled cider out of the suller last night,
in." for you was seen carryin' of it off, and I
But Frank begged to be excused, and saw ye arter that a-layin' 'side the road
he lost no time in getting into his own down by the Cove, drunk as a lord, with
room, undressing, and rolling into bed. It the bottles scattered all around yeo 011,
was sometime before he got to sleep, but you're canght! Go right back and pack
when he did so, he slept soundly till morn- your trunk, an' I'll help ye lug it out to
ing. the wagon. It's no use to plarver, fer
Little did he dream of the surprise that when John Snodd sees a thing with his
awaited him. He arose and dressed with own two good eyes, he comes purty blamed
care, changing the soiled suit he had worn near _knowin' of it."
the day before for a light suit from his Frank was nearly overcome with aston-
trunk. His head was a trifle sore where ishment and indignation, but he fully re-
his mysterious foe had struck him, but be- alized what it meant to have such a charge
yond that, he did not seem to feel much proved against him, and that served to
the worse for his night's adventure. calm him somewhat.
When the breakfast bell rang, he went "Mr. Snodd," he said, steadily, "there
- down. is a mistake here, and I trust you will give
Snodd met him in the hall, and said: me a show to prove my innocence."
"I've hitched up a team, an' there's a "You cant do it. Didn't I say I sawye?
boy waitin' at the door to take you an' An' I wasn't the only one. Yon was seen
your trunk away from here. You can git by another, and there he is."
breakfast at the village. " Bart Hodge had appeared at the head of
_ "What does this mean?" asked Frank, the stairs, and halted there. His eyes were
in utter amazement. fixed on Frank, who fancied he saw a
. "It means 1hat I know you for a thief gleam of triumph in their depths.
and a drunkard, an' I don't propose to "I'm sorry for you, Merriwell," mur-
keep you under this roofanother minute!" mured Bart, with mock solicitude and
hotly declared John Snodd. sympathy. "If I'd known it was you, I
wouldn't have said a word; but when I
saw four or five dark forms come out of
CHAPTER V. the cellar and scurry away, I was sure
HOW THE GAME FAILED. they must be burglars, so I told Mr.
Snodd, and we followed down the road
"Thief! Drunkard! Mr. SnOOd,are yon till we found you."
crazy?" A light began to dawn on Frank.
"No, sir." "I've been the butt of a rather tough
"Then what can you mean?" joke, " he said, with a rueful smile.
"Just what I say, by gum!" "That is plain enougb. "
Frank's face was flushed, and he looked "Oh, you can't fool me that way," de-
proudly indignant. clared John Snodd, stubbornly. "You was
"You have no right to call me .. thief drunk, for we smelled the cider on yer
and a drunkard, sir! I never stole any: breath."
 FRANK MERmWELL.

"What time was this?" his being drnnk on your cider. He's a
"'Bout half-past nine." boss feller, and I'll stick by him I"
"What time did you see the burglar "Thank you, Tad," smiled Frank. "I
come out of the cellar, Hodge?" won't forget you when that little picnic
"It was exactly eight-thirty, for I comes off-the one I promised you we
looked at my W<ltch." should have. "
"Well," said Frank, with satisfaction, Tad griuned.
"I fancy I shall be able to prove an alibi, "I kinder guess you feel like having it
for I was with Lieutenant Gordan at the more than ever now, I' he said.
academy till nine o'clock, as he will tes-
"Mr. Snodd," spoke Frank, soberly,
tify. This being' true, you will readily see
"at least, you will give me a chance to
that 1 could not have been one of those
tell my side of the story."
who entered your cellar and stole your "It won't do no good."
cider, Mr. Snodd."
"Perhaps not, but I will tell it. As I
For a single instant Snodd seemed said, I was with Lieutenant Gordan till
slightly taken aback, but he quickly re- nine o'clock, as I can prove by the lieu-
covered. tenant. I left the academy to come. home,
"If you didn't go into the suller, you and I was a little more than half-way here
know who did. You can't deny it." when somebody suddenly jumped out of
"No, I do not know who did." some bushes at the side of the road, and
"But you know something 'bout it; I struck me a terrible blow on the head.
can see that in your face. Now, don't you The bum)' is in evidence now, and it's
know something 'bout it?" pretty near as large as a hen's egg. I
Ul_l __ "
wasn't quite knocked out, but the fellow
"That settles it; you might jest as well grappled with me, and held something
confess. You let somebody else steal the over my nose-a cloth that was saturated
cider, an' then you got drunk on it. The with chloroform, or something of that
partaker is just as bad as ther thief, an', sort. He threw me to the ground, and
in this case, I think· he's wuss, fer he that was the laat I knew till Iawoke hours
didn't have the courage to help git the later and found myself there, with a pain
stuff he wanted. You let somebody else in my head and a sick feeling in my stom-
take all the resk, aud theu you took your ach. My first thought was that I had been
share of the stolen cider. I don't propose robbed, but I found my money and valua-
ter keep no such boy in my house, so you bles nntouched, and I have not been able
can pack up an' git." to understand the meaning of it all till
By this time all the boys in the house the present time. "
were listening, having been attracted by "That's a purty slick yarn, but it's
Snood's high words. They were gathered fishy."
at the dining-room door and at the head of "You do not believe me?"
the stairs. "Hardly. "
Mrs. Snood and Belinda were also listen- "I have told you the truth; I don't
• ing, while at the open front door the face know what more I can do."
of Tad Jones appeared. The urchin was "You can pack up an' git."
loyal, and he cried: "You are still determined to tum me
"If this is the .feller you' waut me to out?"
drive over to the village, Mr. Snodd, I'm "I be. "
goin' to tell you I don't take no stock in Once more F rank glanced at Bartley
 'IlilEImfWELIi
, and again he saw the triumphant Snodd was taken aback. He did not
'It lIlUin the dark eyes of his enemy. fancy the idea of losing all his boarders.
"You seem to be pleased about about it, "But-but how'd Merriwell happen to
-Hodge. " have any of the cider?" he asked.
"On the coutrary," asserted the hypo- "That was a little joke of ours," ex-
~tical young rascal, "I am sorry thaN plained Sam Winslow, readily, to the SUl'-
:had anything' to do with it; but you can't prise of the others and the utter amaze-
expect anybody with sense to believe your ment of Bart Hodge. "He wouldn't drink
story. n any of tbe cider-said it was against his
"Can't I?" principles-so we ambushed him and ether-
"Certainly not." ized him. Then we left the cider all
"Well, I believe it, pop," Belinda de- around by way of a joke. Hey, boys?"
clared, coming to the front. "I know he "That's what we did," agreed the
told the truth, for there wasn't any lie in others, in chorus, Hodge aloue remaining
his face." silent.
"Thank you , Miss Snodd ," said Frank ,. "Wal," said Snodd, slowly, "all I've
bowing gallantly. "1'11 not forget your got ter say is that it was a gol derned poor
confidence in me." joke, an' you fellers will have to pay for
the cider. I guess you needn't pack up,
The girl blushed furiously, and retired
Merriwell. "
in sudden confusion.
"Whoop!" cried Tad Jones. "What's
"Proof is proof," shouted Snodd.
the matter with Merriwell?"
"Pack your trunk, youug feller !"
"He's all right!" shouted the boys.
"All right," said Frank, quietly. "It
"Three cheers for him!" squealed Tad.
is useless to say anything more about it.
"Hip, hip, hurrah! hurrah l hurrah!"
I will pack up and go. "
roared the boys.
"Hold on!" cried Barney Mulloy, forc- "And a groan for Hodge!" cried Tad.
ing his way forward. "It's nivver a bit A most dismal groan souiided through
ye'll do thot soame, Merriwell, me b'y. the rooms.
Av yez pack an' move,. it's th' whole Bart's face grew pale, ana his eyes
gang av us will move wid yez. Eh, b'ys?" blazed with disappointment and rage.
"You bet!" shouted the boys, with the "That's all right, fellows," he said,
exception of Hodge. huskily, his voice far from steady. "If
"It's moighty little we think av a you'd taken me into your confidence, all
snake," continued Barney, giving Bart a this racket would have been saved. 1
meaning look. "And it's mesilf can break didn't know it was Merriwell till we
th' face av th' spalpane thot plays th' found him in the road. "
spoy. " He turned and hurried away to his room.
"And as for stealing the cider," pnt in "Come to breakfast, boys!" called Mrs.
Ned Gray, "we are all of us ready to Snodd.
swear that Merriwell had no hand in that, The boys gathered about Frank, sing-
though he and Hodge were the only ones ing, as they escorted him to the dining-
in the house who did not take a hand. room:
The rest of U', one and all, were in it, so "For he's a jolly good fellow,
you will have to fire the gang if you fire He's. a jolly good fellow,
one; Mr. Snodd. And if you report one of Which nobody cau :deny."
us at the academy, you will have to re-
port us all. "
 li'Il:UK K..1ffiIUW~:u..
that it should be delivered at the firllt
portunity.
CHAPTER VI. A short time later, Frank made his way
with the otbers toward the academy,
THE; FIGHT.
where his studies were to begin, and where
"I'm stu£k on the way you fellert for the next ten days he was to do his best
pulled me through that scrape,"· said to fit himself for examination.
Frank, as the boys gathered in Ned Gray's From a distance they saw a corps of ca-
room after breakfast. "But I'm blessed if dets march straight as a ruler across the
I see just why you knocked me over and grounds and disappear in the big build-
left me with cider bottles scattered all ing, and Frank wondered if all of his pres-
about me last night. " ent companions would be successful in
"We didn't," said Ned. passing muster and getting into the school.
"Didn't 1" Although Lieutenant Gordan had seemed
"No." to believe there would be no tronble abbtrt
"But you said you did." Frank passing, Merriwell himself res~
"And got you out of a bad scrape by not to fail from any fault of his own, and
saying so; all the same, we didn't know he began study in earnest, reviewing old
a thing about it till we heard it from ground and fitting himself for the exami-
Snodd. " nation to come.
Frank whistled. Hodge was so confident that he refused
"I fancied this mystery solved, "he said, to waste his valuable time in brushing up
"and now it is deeper than ever. If you on things he had already studied till he
fellows didn't do the trick, who did?" was quite sick of them all, and he rather
"You tell." openly expressed his contempt of so much
"I can't. " red tape.
"There's a gint Oi'd kape me oie on, "This is different than it is at West
av Oi war in yure place, Merriwell," said Point," he said to one of the applicants,
Barney- Mulloy. "That gint's name is who did not happen to be boarding at
Bart Hodge. Av he an't a snake, Oi Snodd's. "They are not going to refuse
dunno. " any of us here, unless they have to, you
"Oh, I have an old score to settle with may gamble on that."
him," said Frank. "Gray, will yon bear "But we'll have to study after being ad-
a challenge for me 1" mitted, and we may as well get at it now. "
"Sure \" cried Ned, delighted. "Rot!" returned Bart, contemptuously.
"All right. Give me paper and ink. " "If anybody thinks I am going to kill
"A duel!" cried the boys, delightedly. myself with study here, he's a fool."
"He'll have to fight you, Merriwell, or As he happened to be unpopular with 1
he'll never stand much show in the acad- the boys at Snood's, Hodge took care to
emy." work himself into the g<lodgraces of the
"011-,I fancy he will fight all right," fellows who were stopping at the village
smiled Frank. "It strikes me he will be until they 'Were admitted. As he was well
quite ready, if he is sure he will have a provided with cash, and inclined to spend
fair show." it freely, this won him temporary friend-
"That's what he shall have." ships later on.
Frank quickly wrote the challenge, Hodge showed no surprise wheu Ned
which he inclosed in an envelope, and in- Gray soberly presented him with Frank's
trusted to Ned Gray, who assured him challenge that noon. He read it with a
16 FltANK JdERRIWELL.

sneer on hts face, and then tore it up, say- They talked guardedly, for the night
ing: was still, aud souuds would travel a long
"I will find a friend who'll -see you, distance.
Gray, and make arrangements." Tad Jones was on hand, quivering with
"Very well, sir," bowed Ned, stiffly. excitement.
That afternoon Hodge's friend showed "Give it to the duffer!" he had whis-
np. He was a big, bullying fellow from pered to Frank. "Remember how he kicked
Michigan, and his name was Hugh Bas- my dog and then cut it with the whip."
bridge. It was said that he had tried to Tad did not mention the blow he had
get into West Point, had been sent there, received himself.
but failed to pass at the examination. Frank suspected that Bart had somehow
It did not take the boys long to make been at the bottom of the trick played on
terms. It was decided that the fight should him the night before, and he was confi-
take place that very night in Chadwick's dent that his enemy had done his best to
pasture, which was not far from Snodd's, spoil his chance of getting into the acad-
The weapons were to be bare fists, and emy.
the battle was to be to a finish. This was quite enough to make any
When Gray reported to Frank, the lat- spirited young fellow long to punch an-
ter felt something like a pang of shame, other's head.
for he was not a bullying or fighting char- Ned Gray had whispered to Frank just
acter, but then he thought of the debt he before the two boys stood up to face each
owed Hodge, and hardened his heart to other:
his finer feelings. "This is different from a sudden fight,
Bart took supper at the village that Merriwell. In ordinary cases, I believe in
night, and did his best to make himself getting in the first blow, and that is all
"solid" with the boys who were stopping well enough now, if you can do it without
there temporarily. In this he succeeded exposing yourself to a bad- counter. But
very well, as was shown by his backing if you have any skill at boxing, take my
when the boys assembled to witness the advice and feel of him a while."
fight that night. As Frank said nothing to this, Ned
It was ten-thirty when all arrange- went on:
ments had been made, and the two lads "In that way you may be able to find
faced each other in the ,hollow of Chad- his weak points, and then you must sail
wick's pasture. in and do him. Don't let him wind you."
Both had stripped off their coats and "Time!" called the referee, softly but
vests, bound their suspenders ahout their sharply.
waists, and rolled up their sleeves. Their Then the two foes stood face to face in
heads were bare. their white shirts.
Although there' was but the ghost of a "Shake hands!" was the stem order;
moon, it was a fairly light night, so one Both seemed to hesitate, and then Frank
boy could be distinguished from another put out his hand, which Bart barely
at a distance of several yards. touched.-
In some way a number of cadets had Then came the word that put them both
scented the fight and found a way to slip on the defensive, and the fight had be-
aut of the academy grounds and reach the gun.
spot. Hodge launched himself at Frank,
Bits of fire here and there told that the who fell back before the rush, dodging
boys were smoking cigarettes freely. and avoiding his enemy.
 FRANK MERRIWiLL.
It was instantly seen that both lads not give up. He took his "medicine" like
l' .
knew something of the art of boxing, and a man.
the spectators were breathless with in- The boys could not help admiring his
terest. grit. Even Frank confessed to himself
In the dim light all their movements that Hodge had sand to spare.
could not be followed as well as they Bart grew weaker and weaker, till at
might under other circumstances; but both length Frank was able to send him stag-
were seen to feint and cut and lunge and gering at every other blow. He was
parry and dodge. knocked down repeatedly, yet he came up
Then, of a sudden, they came to close and resumed the fight before he could be
quarters. counted out.
Smack-smash-smack! "Will he never cry enough?" thought
Three blows were struck in swift sue- Frank, whose conscience smote him every
cession, and Hodge got in two of them, time he struck his sorely punished enemy.
both of which were light, however, when Suddenly there was a great Burry of ex-
compared with the smash he received on citement, and a cadet broke into the circle,
the cheek. crying softly:
Hodge staggered and then lunged at "Scatter, boys-e-scatter l Old Gunn's
Frank, who avoided him by a nimble leap. got wind of this some way, and he's right
From this moment the fight was fast and here with Colonel Hicks! Dust!"
fierce, but Frank kept his head in a won- There was a wonderful scattering, and
derful manner, while Hodge grew furious Frank found himself left alone, feeling
with rage. rather dazed and bewildered.
"I'll fix you yet!" he grated, as Frank He did not wish to leave any of his
avoided one of his swinging blows. clothing to be captured as evidence against
"You did your best to fix me last him, for he knew discovery meant that he
night," returned MerriwelI. would be refused admission to the acad-
"You and I both can't attend Fardale emy, so he groped around ou the ground •
Academyl" for his coat.
"It looks that way." Suddenly he felt himself grasped by
At each other they went, but Hodge strong hands.
was beginning to breathe heavily, while
Merriwell still held himself in check, wait-
ing the. proper time to force the battle.
Tad Jones could scarcely keep from A PEACE OFFERING SCORNED.
whooping with excitement. He did not
understand why Frank held off, and he A voice hissed in his ear!
longed to.shout to his friend to sail in and "Phwat are yez doin ') MerriweIl, me
win. b'y? Shkip av ye don't want to be
At length, Frank decided to take the caught!"
offensive, and straightway he begau to tap It was Barney Mulloy.
Hodge in a merciless manner. He soon "My coat and vest!" gasped Frank. "I
had Bart's nose bleeding. can't leave them to be found. I must
Twice Bart clinched, bnt Frank threw --"
him heavily and broke away. "Run, ye gossoon! The b'ys hev all
In a short space of time Bart received yer shtuff. Av ye're caught, it's niver a
such punishment as he had never endured bit will ye git into th ' shkool. Here they
before, but he was stuffy, and he would coom !'
 Ii FRANK MElilltWELL.
Several dark forms were hurrying "Not till he was clean knockedouf, and
tl:lward them through the darkness. every time I struck him I felt Iike a cur,
Barney-literally dragged Frank away, for he had worn himself out, and he was
"1ltl.d
as the two lads started to run, a stern easy."
voice called: "Begobs, it's mesilf as thinks he
"Halt I" wouldn't have-felt vehry bad av it had
"Loike an ixpress train we will-Oi been th" other way," said Barney.
don't think," muttered the Irish lad. "Av "That's right," Gray affirmed. "If the
ye catch us, ye'll nade wings on yer fate." tables had been turned, Merriwell, he'd
Frauk was a good ruuner, and, having have used you worse than you did him."
recovered from his dazed condition, he "Perhaps so. "
kept at Barney's side with ease. "Oh, there's no doubt about it. He's
If they were pursued at all, their pur- ugly, I can see that, and he is proud. It
suers soon gave up, seeing the hopelessness was his pride more than anything else that
of trying to overtake them, and they got brought him up to the scratch when he
safely away. was barely able to stagger to his feet in
As they were clambering over the fence time to keep from being counted out. "
at the further extremity of til pasture, a "He may be all roight, Merriwell, me
figure uprose before them, and a voice b'y," put in Barney; "but, av Oi wur
called: you, Oi wouldn't give him a good chance
"Is that you, Merriwell?" to hit me a swoipe in th' back av th' neck
"Sure," returned Frank. whin Oi wasn't lookin' thot way."
"I just found out you weren't with us, "I think I have pretty nearly squared
and turned back to see what had become my account with him," said Frank, who
of you," said Ned Gray. "I was afraid was not inclined to hold a grudge.
yon had fallen into the hands of Old Gunn, "Mebbe he'll think there is a balance
and I knew your cake was dough if you on th' other soide noow."
• had." "Well, that is for him to say."
"I don't know but I should if it hadn't All was quiet in the vicinity of Snodd's
be-enfor Barney," said Frank. "He stood as they approached the house, and they
by me, and got me away." wondered if all the boys were in.
"Ye can count on me, Merriwell, me The door had been left unlocked, and
b'y," assured the Irish lad. "Oi'll shtick they found it still remained so, enabling
to yez loike a porus phlaster, so Oi will." them to slip into the house softly, without
"Come on," urged Gray. "Let's get any tronble or disturbance.
into Snodd's without delay, for we don't ' Who's that?" whispered some one, in
know what Old Gunn may be up to." the darkness of the hall.
Ned had Frank's clothes, and the hero "Merriwell, Mulloy, and Gray," replied
of the late encounter put them on as he Ned, promptly.
ran with his two companions on either "Good stuff I" softly exclaimed the un-
side. They strnck a dog trot, and held known. "All the fellows are in now. I
steadily to it. will lock the door. Hodge is in your room,
"Hodge has some sand, "'observed Gray. Gray, with some of the fellows, who are
"He has lots of it," agreed Frank, fixing him up. Merriwell did give him a
rather enthusiastically. "I took a strong terrible hammering."
dislike to the fellow to begin with, but he The carpeted stairs gave out no sound
bas risen in my esteem fifty per cent. " as they ascended, and they were soon at the
"He wouldn't croak. " door of Ned's room, where a soft, peculiar
knock: -eaused a key to tum iu tbe Hodge tore tbe wet handkerchiefs froin
lock. his face and f1uug them into the wash-
"Come in, Merriwell," invited Gray. bowl, straightening up stiflly, as he fiercely
Frank hesitated. His first fancy was retorted:
that Hodge would thiuk he had come "The fight did not come out a draw!
there to gloat over bis triumph, if it could Look at my face! You have scarcely a
be called a triumph; but be quickly de- mark! You were the best man to-nfght,
cided he would show by his manner that Merriwell, but this matter does-not end
be was ready to bury the batchet and call here!"
tbe matter squared. "What do you mean 1"
So the three lads and the one who had "I mean that I will not shake bands
received.them in tbe hall all slipped quiet- with you, and I will meet you again when
Iyinto Gray's room, which was already well I'll be able to do you worse than you did
filledwith fellows who were smoking cigar- me to-nigbt. I am not the kind of a fel-
ettes and discussing the fig!tt, while they low that forgets or forgives."
watched one of their number apply hand- "All right," said Frank, quietly.
kerchiefs dripping with cold water to Bart "Have it-so, if you will. I am sorry, but
Hodge's cut, bruised, and discolored face. I can't help it."
Frank had not realized how embarrassing "If you had a little more decency, you
the sitnation would be until he was well would not have come bere now," came
into the room, and it was then too late to bitterly from tbe lips of the dark-faced
retreat. There was a moment of silence, boy. "You knew yon had the best of the
while the boys stared and hesitated. fight, and you knew I was in this room;
It was in this emergency that Sam but yon--"
Winslow showed his tact. "I came to see if there was not a show
"Hello, Merriwell!" he greeted, heart- to call the matter quits. "
ily. "We didn't know what had become "And have it flung in my face tbat yon
of you. Glad you came in, for now we licked me in an open fight! But you didn't
can congratulate both you and Hodge. It lick me i"
was a pretty little scrap, and as clean a "I did not say so "
display of sand as I bave seen in a long "And you never will lick me," Hodge
time. You both came off with honors." hotly declared. "If we ever come together
"That's rigbt," agreed the others. again, I'll be ready for you. I know your
I'You are both to be congratulated." tricks now. But you want to remember
"Thank you, fellows," said Frank, that I told you once that both of us could
after another moment of hesitation. not attend Fardale Academy."
But Bart Hodge said nothing, and, "I remember it."
after one glance at his late' antagonist, "Well, I am going to tell you so again.
turned away. That's all I bave to say, and you are wel-
The situation was still awkward, and come to think what you please about it."
then, with the generous impulse that ever Then Hodge returned to the wet hand-
comes to an honorable and victorious en- kerchiefs, and his manner showed that he
emy, he advanced toward Hodge, saying: had said all he meant to say.
"I am glad the fight is over, and I am
glad it came out a draw. I am willing to
let by-gones be by-gones and bnry the
hatchet. Will you shake hands, Hodge 1"
He held out bis hand.
 FRANK MERlllW1tt.L.

For Frank, the night had not been en-

CHAPTER. VIII .• tirely without dreams, but they were far
"..KIMBO. "
pleasanter than those tbat visited his
enemy. He dreamed of home and his .boy-
. It was generally conceded among the ish sweetheart, and then came visions of
boys that Merriwell had done the manly success at Fardale Academ y, and of happy
thing, and Hodge had shown himself a days to follow
sulker and a cad by his refusal to shake Again it happened that Hodge did not
hands. appear at the breakfast-table with the
By his apparent courage, Bart had won others, nor did he show up at the Fardale
a place in the esteem of the fellows at Academy' that day, sending an excuse
Snodd's, and he might have been popular that he was ill in bed. As he was not al-
had he-met Frank in the spirit that Mer- ready a scholar, and it was for his own in-
riwell showed; but it was his thoughtthat terest that he should be there to work for
Frank would be regarded as the victor, admission, no commeuts were made on this
and would be the most popular, which was excuse and no one was questioned.
something that would make friendship It seemed that all the cadets who at-
between them impossible. tended the fight in Chadwick's pasture had
In his heat, Bart had .said something been able to get back to their rooms with-
that he afterward regretted. He had open- out beiug detected, which was a very for-
ly declared that both Merriwell and him- tuuate thing for them.
self could not attend Fa, dale Academy, Frank was intercepted by a corporal
and he afterward realized that should any- who said his name was Miles, and who
thing happen to his rival, he had placed politely invited him to the ban acks, lit
himself in a position that must bring sus- the same time saying some very compli-
picion npon him. mentary things. Frank !lesitated, some-
When he thought of this he was in- thing telling him he had better keep
tensely angry with himself, and he slept away; hut Miles was so polite, pleasant,
very little that night, twisting and tum- and persuasive that it was not easy to reo
ing, moaning through dreams of deadly fuse, so he went along. _
'Conflictswith his enemy, awaking with set On their way to the, to Frank, mys-
teeth and foam-fleckedlips, and longing for terions portion of the academy, Frank ob-
morning to come. Indeed, he suffered all served that Miles seemed tronbled with an
that a proud and haughty spirit which has odd cough, an_at, for some reason, the
been humiliated can suffer and is certaiu three or four cadets on guard seemed
to suffer. strangely attracted by something that
He dreamed of challenging Merriwell caused them to stand rigidly with averted
to deadly conflict, and a dozen times he faces while Miles and his companion
seemed to face his foe with pistols or passed.
rapiers, only to find that he could do him The smile on Miles' face broadened as
no harm, which added to his distress and they reached the door of a room at the
zage. extremity of the corridor. He pushed
Then he would moan: the door open without ceremony, motion.
"I'll kill him! I'll kill him yet I" ing for Frank to enter.
And it was not till the gray light of an- In another moment Frank found himseU
-other day showed faintly in the east that in the presence of more than a dozen
he slept without dreaming, utterly worn cadets, the door closed behind him, and
out by the wretchedness of the night. Corporal Miles was gone.
 Fl\A~K MKRmWELL. 1Il

"What's this-s-what's the meaning of It was a co~mand, and Frank immedi-

this intrnsion, sir?" cried a strapping fel- ately wok alarm. Perhaps, after all, this
low who looked fierce enongh to eat Frank. trick was an attempt to force him into
"Er--er-I beg to be excnsed," stam- giving away the names of the offenders,
mered Frank, "I was invited hete." which might mean something serious ror
"Invited here? By whom, sir?" the offenders themselves, so he promptly":
"By Corporal Miles." returnee:
_ "Corporal Miles! There is no snch per- "No, sir, I will not."
son in this academy. This intrnsion by a "What?" roared the big cadet, as if he
civilian is nnprecedented. How did yon doubted-tbe evidence of his ears, "Do
pass the guard?" you know the penalty of thus defying me,
"They tnrned their backs on me, and Major-General Hardtack, and tbese other
--" members of the grand general court-mar-
"What's that?" roared the strapping tial? It means that you will be immedi-
fellow, apparently greatly incensed. "Do ately condemned to suffer kimbo."
yon accuse the cadets of Fardale Acad- "And what is kimbo?"
emy with neglect of duty? Do yon dare "It is a Greek noun, the name of the
make such a charge? It cannot be yon most terrible and soul-racking punisbment
know the grave import of yonr words!" known to military life.".
"I don't accnse anybody of anything," "Then I suppose I shall have to suffer
langhed Frank, shortly. "I think I have kimbo, "
made a mistake, and I will get out. " "You absolutely refuse to name any of
But it was not so easy to get ont as it the parties concerned in this disgraceful
was to get in, as he quickly discovered, for and brutal affair?"
the door of tbe room had been made se-
"You have guessed right."
cure. Then he realized that he had been
"And that in the face of the most terri-
trapped to provide some amusement fo{
ble punishment known to military life?"
tbe cadets.
"Rigbt again."
"Not so fast, sir," said the big fellow.
"You are mad I"
"For all we know, you may be aspy here,
"Not yet; but I expect to be when I
with intentions hostile to the peace and
get kimbo," smiled Frank. "I'm a trifle
prosperity of this institution; or there
unpleasant when I get mad."
may be a still graver - charge than that
hanging over you. What is your name?" Immediately "Major General Hard-
Realizing that he might as well make tack," as the strapping fellow had called
tbe best of it, the unfortunate "civilian" himself, made a signal to his companions,
replied: and a double circle was formed entirely
"Frank Merriwell." around Frank. Not one of the cadets
"Merriwell, Merriwell? Seem. to me I smiled, but all looked as if they were par-
have heard that name before. Weren't you ticipating in the most serious affair possi-
concerned in SQUlekind of a rowdish affair ble.
-a fight, or something of that sort-last "Gentlemen of the grand general court-
night?" martial," said the big fellow, "you have
"1-1 believe so. " heard the words of this intruder, and I
"Exactly, sir. Now, will you be good leave it to you to state how he shall be
enough to name your opponent in that punished. "
disgraceful affair, and likewise any and all As one person, they all said:
persons present. " "Kimbo!"
 .J'RANK I4ERRIWELL.
"then his doom is sealed. Bring forth ately demanded. "How is it I find you
the implements of j»rture.;' here?"
Immediately a pfug of very black chew- "Because I was fool enough to accept
~ng tobacco and a cigarette were handed to au invitation to corne here," replied the
"Major General Hardtack," who received boy, frankly. .
them, and turned to Frank, saying: "Who gave yon the invitation?"
"You will first be expected to take a "I do not know his name."
dew of tobacco, smoke this cigarette, and "A cadet?"
slag a comic song, all at the same time. "Yes, sir."
"That is the first stage of kimbo."· "Describe him."
"But I never smoked a dozen cigarettes Frank hesitated.
in my life, and it makes me sick to chew "1-1 hardly think I can," he stam-
tobacco," protested Frank. mered, "In fact, sir, I did not observe
"I warned you that kimbo is the most him very closely. 'L
terrible punishment known to military life, "Whom did you meet here?"
and this is but the first degree. The hor- "A number of cadets."
rors that are to follow will -make you re- "You would be able to identify some of
gret that you ever aspired to become a them if you saw them again?"
cadet at Fardale Academy. Open your "I might be able to, but I would not."
a
mouth, sir, and proceed to gnaw off gen- A queer twinkle showed for a moment
erous chew of this tobacco. In the mean- in Lieutenant Gordan's eyes, but his face
time the cigarette will be lighted for you, remained as grave and stern as ever.
and I advise you to be thinking of as ong." "You must be aware that the cadets
Frank'S eyes flashed. He looked around have perpetrated a very serious offense in
and measured the strength of the enemy. thus bringing a person who is not yet a
He .could not and would not chew tobacco, student at this academy to this room,
and it began to look as if he must fight. which happens to be unoccupied at the
At this moment, however, the door was present time. It is quite probable that they
suddenly flung open from the outside, and did net have the friendliest motive toward
the excited face of "Corporal Miles" ap- you, and you would have suffered some
peared. indignity if I had not scented something
"Skip, fellows-lively!" he hissed. wrong. I was just a moment too late to
"There's a pink haze ou the luna!" catch auy of them, but, if you choose, you
Out of the room dusted those cadets iu may be able to aid me iu identifying the
an astonishing brief space or time, leaving offenders."
Frank alone and rather dazed. Then he" "No, sir, I cannot do it. "
heard the quick tramp offeet, and the face "Very well," said Lieutenant Gorda1l,
of Lieutenant Gordan appeared at the and somehow Frauk fancied there 'Was a
door, ring of approval in his voice. "Without
--- your aid, I shall, beyond a doubt, be un-
able to do anything more than seethatthe
CHAPTER IX. sentries are reprimanded. You will do
AN INTERRUPTED PICNIC.
well not to let anything of this sort occur
again. I will now see that you get out of
UMerriwell !" the. barracks without further molestatiou."
The·lieutenant was surprised, Il.nd his Frank followed the lieutenant from the
face showed his displeasure. . . room, and they proceeded down the haJJ
"How does'this happen ?" he immedi- past the rigid sentries, who saluted pune-
 1rUANK MEBBIWELL.
tilionsly, and looked as innocent as lambs.
Mr. Gordan, however, made them all un-
easy by pausing to note down the name of
each one, which told them there was
trouble ahead.
The lieutenant escorted Frank from the
building and clear of the grounds, giving
him some very good advice at parting.
As for Frank, he felt that he was lucky
to get off as well as he had, for he realized
that he had permitted himself to be led
fairly into the jaws of a very nasty trap,
for which he blamed himself alone. He
canght himself wondering what would
have followed the first degree of "kimbo"
if he had been forced to take that degree,
and he shuddered at the thought of trying
to sing a song while chewing tobacco and
smoking a cigarette.
"Those fellows are so fierce to haze
somebody that they couldn't wait for the
plebes to get into the academy," muttered
Frank. "But I wonder why they chose
me1 Have they a particular grudge against
me 1 Have they taken a dislike to me as
soon as this 1"
He did not know it was because they
had really taken a liking for him, lind
wanted to see what kind of stuff he was
made of; and he did not know he had
done a very pr.oper thing in failing to rec-
ognize anyone of them well enough to de-
scribe bim.
Frank decided not to relate to the fel-
lows at Snood's what had occurred. He
felt that the least said about the matter
• the better.
It was a well-known fact that as soon as
a lad became a plebe at Fardale Academy,
he was destined to suffer hazing, and in
this case the students had been unable to
repress their intense longing to "getago"
at one of the new boys. Having become
prominent throngh his fight with HOdge,
Frank was chosen.
Frank did not know what result came
of Lieutenant Gordan's investigations; but
he bore no grudge against his late cap-
tors, and it was his hope that they
get off without severe punishment,
The following day Frank was notified
by Miss Snood that she had invited sev-
era! girls from the village -school to spend
Saturday afternoon with her at the Cove,
where they would have a picnic, with
Suodd's boarders as representatives of the
sterner sex.
• Frank promised to be on hand.
Saturday came, and a dozen laughing,
merry girls came with it. There were in-
troductions all around, and then they
trooped off toward the Cove, the boys car-
rying the lunch-baskets, a tennis and an
archery outfit, with other needed things,
which loaded them well, while the girls
Bocked on in advance, chattering in a
light-hearted way.
Among them all, one dark-haired, red-
lipped jolly girl had instantly attracted
Frank, who saw in her an ideal that had
long haunted his youthful fancy. At first
it almost seemed that he had known her
before, but on hearing her name he real-
ized that this was their first meeting.
For a moment Inza Burrage's dark eyes
had looked straight into his brown orbs,
and Frank had felt his heart leap into a
sort of Buttering tumult that was a new
sensation to him, although he had left a
little sweetheart at home, one for whom
he had fancied he cared a great deal.
Inza was just a jolly, light-hearted, un-
affected girl, and, after that first glance,
she seemed to pay no more attention to
Frank than she did to any of the other
boys in the party.
Down by the Cove was a pretty little
grove close to a field that was level and
grassed like a fine lawn. In the grove was
a long picnic table, with plank sealS
around it, and on the field near by the
archer's target was set, and the tennis
court lined off.
The girls spread the table for the picnic
supper, decorating it with green things
from the woods and the wild Bowers of
11& FRANK MEHRIWELL.
late spring-time to be found in field and
;dell.
The boys were at their best, and Barney
Mnlloy bnbbled with Irish wit till he
was repressed by Sam Winslow, who
feared the girls would think them a lot
of silly fools if they continued to laugh so
much.
Hodge and Merriwell took care to avoid
each other, but both were merry, and i't
happened that both were attracted by the
same loadstone-Inza Burrage. And so it
came about that, unwittingly, they found
themselves thrown much into each other's
company after the first.
Hodge was a handsome fellow, having
a polished manner and a most captivating
smile, so he soon became a great favorite
with the girls, and Frank was not a little
chagrined to see that Inza seemed to enjoy
his company.
Becoming aware of Merriwell's prefer-
ence for the dark-haired girl, Hodge re-
doubled his efforts to win her favor, and
his heart was filled with triumph when
he saw that he was succeeding.
"I'll Show the fellow that he doesn't
cnt any ice in a case like this," thought
Bart.
While some of the party amnsed them-
selves at archery, others played tennis, or
sat about and chatted.
The tennis players were chosen by lot,
and the first four happened to be Merri-
well, Hodge, Miss Burrage and Miss
Snodd. And then, to cap Frank's dismay,
Hodge secured Miss Burrage as 2. partner.
Frank was too gentlemanly to show his
chagrin, and Hodge was far too shrewd
to let more than a gleam of triumph ap-
pear in his eyes.
Inza was as lithe and light of foot as a
fawn, while Belinda was rather buxom
and heavy, and it seemed to Frank that
Hodge was thoroughly triumphant for the
occasion.
The first set began with Iuza serving,
and Belinda made a successful return,
which was promptly volleyed by Bart,
who succeeded in placing a smashing drive
where Frank could not handle it, and his
soft laugh of triumph brought a bit of hot
blood to Merriwell '8 cheeks.
Now it happened that Frank was really
an expert at tennis, and this first "break"
came through his own discomfitnre at the
situation, as much as by Hodge's skillfnl
return. He was instantly put on his met-
tle, and, as the game progressed, he
showed that he was thoroughly capable of
taking care of his division of tbe court.
But Hodge was also a most skillful
player, and the two sides were not fairly
matched, as Inza was much more light
and deft than Belinda, so Frank and his
companion were getting the worst of it.
Frank could feel his cheeks burning as
he heard the watching girls speaking most
complimentary of Bart's beautiful playing,
and it was with the greatest difficulty
that he kept from losing his nerve and in-
vading his partner's territory on occasions
when he felt that he might successfully
return a stroke that she was almost sure to
miss.
Midway in this game came -a startling
interruption.
Tad Jones appeared running toward the
party and waving his hands wildly, while
he screamed something that they did not
catch at first, although a big, fonr-Iegged
creature came into view not far behind the
boy, apparently in hot pursuit.
"Listen!" cried Frank. "What is he
saying?"
They listened, and heard Tad shriek
huskily:
"Run! run! run! Mad dog! Mad
dog!"
CHAPTER X.
A TERRIBLE BATTLE.
"Mad dog!"
Some of the boys took up the cry, and
the girls screamed.
 FRANK llERRIWELL.
It was a moment of great excitement
and confnsion.
Tad Jones was running for his life, and
behind him reeled a red-eyed, foam-drip,
ping creatnre that was terrible to see.
It was in truth a mad dog, and a mon-
ster at that.
"Rnn, girls-run!" shonted the boys.
Some of them did run, and some seemed
paralyzed with terror, qnite unable to get
away.
Inza Burrage started to flee into the
woods, but tripped and fell heavily to the
gronnd.
"Oh, I have sprained my ankle!" she
cried, her face pale with pain and fear.
Bart Hodge flung aside his racket and
started precipitately for the shelter of the
woods.
"Hel p me, Mr. Hoc;1ge!" called Inza,
.getting upon her feet, .but falling again
the moment she tried to bear her weight
on the injured ankle.
Bart did not seem to hear the cry, for
he kept on, unmindful that several girls
were cowering together, seemingly dazed
and helpless.
Belinda Snodd ran. like a deer, and
quickly vanished in the grove.
Seeing this, Frank sprang to the side
of Inza Burrage. Without a word, he
canght her up in his arms and ran with
her to the other girls, where he gently
placed her on the ground.
Then he was seen to reach into his
pocket and produce a stout clasp-knife,
the blade of which he quickly opened.
A desperate light was shining in his eyes
as he faced toward the oncoming boy and
dog.
"What are you going to do?" panted
Inza, "You are not going to fight the
dog?"
"Yes I"
"He will kill you I" she screamed.
"Remember that one scratch from his
teeth means sure death I"
"I know that!"
"Then run-run !»
"And leave you snd these girls to be
bitten by that beast! Not much I Better
that he should bite one than a dozen."
If ever a boy looked like a born hero,
Frank Merriwell did at that moment.
Inza Burrage felt herself thrill with ad-
miration, for all of the terrible peril.
"Run!" shrieked Tad Jones, once more.
"Mad dog! mad dog!"
Frank caught up several coats which
the boys had discarded, wrapping them
swiftly around bis left forearm to the el-
bow, covering his hand and wrist with
many thicknesses.
Tad Jones plunged past, and the terri-
ble dog was close upon them.
It was a moment of such peril as Frank
Merriwell had never known before, and it
was not strange that his face was pale as
marble; but h~ did not tremble, and his
nerves were steady as though made of steel.
His eyes were fixed on the snarling,
frothing, fiery-eyed dog, and he placed
himself fairly in the creature's path.
At that moment he murmured some-
thing. Perhaps it was a prayer for
strength.
The dog's long teeth gleamed throngh
the bloody froth that flew from its lips
and covered its breast. It saw Frank, and,
with a snapping howl, leaped through the
air straight for the boy's throat.
Frank put up his muffled left arm, and
the creature's powerful jaws closed upon
it, seeming to crush the bone.
It was with no little difficulty that
Frank kept from going down before the
shock of the beast's assault, although he
had braced himself to withstand the force
of the spring.
However, he kept on his feet, and, with
all his strength, he drove the blade of the
knife into the dog's left side, hoping to
reach the creature's heart.
The force of that stab caused the dog to
release its hold, but then it seemed to have
made the beast fiercer than before.
 F.RANK MEBRIWELL.
Again it hurled itself at the boy's throat,
and again its jaws closed on that muffled
arm.
The girls were screaming now, horrified
beyond measure at the spectacle of the
mad hattie going on before their eyes.
Inza Burrage alone seemed silent. She
Wasnot conscious of any pain in her in
jnred ankle, hut her hands were clasped
and her eyes were fastened on Frank Mer-
riwell,
"What a brave, noble fellow he is!"
her wbite lips whispered. "How terrible
tbat be should give his life for us! How
grand!"
Frank's jaws were set, and his face was
working with emotions that controlled
him, but over all could be seen the deter-
mination to keep the mad dog from the
defenseless girls-to kill the creature.
Once-twice the dog sent him stagger-
ing; once be dropped to bis knees, and it
seemed that he would fall prostrate and be
tom by tbose deadly teetb. With· tbe en-
ergy of an iron machine, he rose to his
feet, still slashing and cutting witb his
gory knife.
The dog was covered with blood, which
was streaming from a dozen wounds, and
still the strength of the beast appeared to
increase, if anything, which was easily
explained, as Frank's strength was dimin-
ishing.
The muffling coats about the boy's arm
were rent and hanging in rags, and his arm
felt as if the dog's teetli had already torn
the flesh to the bone.
How much longer could he hold out?
Was he to fail after all? Would the dog
leave him mangled and toru to mangle and
tear the helpless girls?
Where were the other fellows? Why
didn't they corne out with clubs and stones
and beat the dog to death?
He was beginning to stagger, and a
mist drifted before his eyes, while a feel-
ing of unutterable despair came over him.
The end was near!
Again the dog leaped at his throat, aa
he scarcely had energy enough to pro.
teet himself with his muffled arm.
Once more he struck with the knife,
and then he felt it slip from his fingers.
He was weaponless!
This seemed to arouse him a bit, and,
with all his strength, he fastened his hand
upon the dog's throat, clinging there, for
all of the beast's efforts to close upon his
unmuffled arm.
Everything was swimming about him,
and he felt that be was on the verge of
falling unconscious. His white lips parted,
and he faintly gasped:
"Run, girls! I can't-I can't--"
Then something seemed to explode in
his brain witb a terrific crash, and he
dropped senseless to the ground, still
clinging to the throat of the dog.
CHAPTER XI.
IN 1< VAULT.
The great crash which Frank heard was
the report of a gun, and the muzzle of the
weapon had touched the dog's side when
it was discharged.
Boy and dog dropped to the ground, and
neither made an effort to rise, although
the bloody beast qnivered and kicked a
few times.
"By tbunder!" gasped John Snodd, as
he 'wiped the sweat from his forehead with
his coat-sleeve. "By thunder! I ruther
think I've fixed that critter I"
He held the smoking gun in his hand;
he had come up during the last few
moments of the battle between the boy and
dog.
"Tad came to warn us," Mr. Snodd
explained, "an' I sent him down here,
while I went to git my gun. While I was
gittin' the gun, the darned dog skivered
past; but I follered as soon as I could,
an' I got here jest in time."
 FllANK MERIllWELL. t'T

"Is he dead?" asked Inza Burrage. Snodd was examining Frank, and he
"Guess he is, b'gosh I" nodded Snood. now said:
I had the end of the gun right up ag'inst "I don't seem to find no place where
'm when I fired. " the dog has bit this feller. The stuff he
"I mean Mr. Merriwell," explained the had wrapped around his arm kept the
~1. "Oh, he fought so nobly to save us! critter from sockin' its teeth in there. "
And to think he must die from hydropho- "He has fainted from exhaustion," said
bia! It is frightful I" Ned Grav. "Let's make a stretcher and
She covered her face with her hands carry hi~ to the house. "
jIlld shuddered. "In the meantime," directed Sam Wins.
Snood kicked the dog to make sure the low, "somebody scnd over to the academy
animal was dead, and then he tried to for Doctor Brown .."
take Frank's fingers from the creature's It was found necessary to make a
throat, which proved a most difficult thing stretcher for Inza Burrage, or for some of
to do. the boys to carry her between them, and
"Reg'ler death grip," commented the the latter course was decided on. Bart
man. promptly offered his services, hut he was
Some of the boys carne hurrying ont of utterly discomfited when the injured girl
the woods armed with rocks and clubs, selected Ned Gray and Ross Kent, giving
and all looking rather shamefaced. hi111a look that plainly expressed her utter
Bartley Hodge was nearly the last one contempt for him.
to appear, and even he did not look pleased In the midst of these preparations,
when he saw Frank stretched on the Frank stirred, drew a long, deep sigh, and
ground, white and motionless. i opened his eyes. -

- "Has the dog killed Merriwell?" he

asked. i
In a moment Inza managed to reach
him, crying, sharply:
_"If he hasn't, Merriwell has nothing to I "Water-somebody bring some water
thank you for I" carne scornfully from Inza from the spring in the woods." ~
Burrage's lips. "You all ran and left him I The water was quickly brought, and,
to fight the dog alone. " ,with her handkerchief, she bathed Frank's
o "I ran to find a club," muttered Bart. face, still holding his head in her lap. He
"It was folly to stay and let the dog chew 'looked up at her, their eyes met, and he
one np withont any weapon to show fight smiled faintly, as he said:
with, "
"You did not think of us-you simply
I "I didn't let the dog bite you, did I?"
"You saved us all," was her feeling
thought of yourself. But for Frank Merri- reply. "It was so brave and noble to do
well, we might all of us have been eaten such a thing for us!"
up. He is a brave, noble fellow, and, the "For you!" he whispered, and the wann
rest of you are--" color came back in a flood to her face and
She stopped short, but Barney Mulloy neck.
was ready to finish. Bart Hodge saw ,,11this. His hands were
"--as foine a set av firrust-c1ass cow- clinched, and he ground his teeth with
ards as Oi iver set me oies on, an' it's me. rage and jealousy.
silf thot's wan av th' soame l Av any reo "It's Merriwell's luck!" he muttered.
spectable person iver spakes to me again, "Anybody s.ould do what he did if they
Oi'll be so ashamed aff thim thot Oi'll had thought of it."
cut thim dead, so Oi will." It is the thinking of the right thing to
 FLUNK
no that nine times ont -of ten makes the
hero.
Hodge set offfor the house, iutensely
disgusted with everybody and everything,
From-the window of his room, some
time later, he saw the picnickers approach-
ing. Gray aud Kent were carrying Inza
Burrage while Frank was walking behind,
surrounded by an admiring throng of boys
and girls.
"And I don't believe the fellow was so
much as scratched by that dog!" grated
Bart, whose intense hatred of Frank had
returned with redoubled force.
He was right. Doctor Brown, from the
academy, had already examined Frauk,
and had failed to find the slightest abrasion
to indicate there was danger that the
brave boy would suffer hydrophobia. The
escape was certainly most marvelous.
Miss Burrage was taken home in a car-
riage, and Frank had so far recovered as
to drive.
Bart literally guashed his teeth as he
saw them depart, and he renewed his vows
of vengeance on 1\1erriwell.
For all of these vows, Hodge seemed to
shun Frank during the days that followed
closely. He was away at the village much
of the time, and he did not mingle with
the other boys at Snodd's, for he could uot
bear to see Merriwell lionized.
Frank began to think that.' he would
have no further trouble with Hodge.
He was to discover his mistake.
It was the day before the examination
of the applicants for admission to the acad-
emy. Frank was returning to Snodd's in
the dusk of early evening, having been to
the village for the mail, and, incidentally
to get a glimpse of Inza Burrage at the
window of her home as he passed.
Between the Cove and the village was
the cemetery, and Frank was passing this
when he saw a figure skip over the fence
and disappear amid the tombstones.
Frank did not believe in ghosts, and his
MERltlwELL.
first thought was that somebody must be
up to mischief.
"I'll try to follow that fellow," he mut-
tered, and over the fence he went.
He soon saw a dark form hurrying for-
ward a;'id the tombstones, and, with great
caution, he followed.
Nat far from the centre of the cemetery
was a large family vault of stone, and near
this the person Frank was following
was joined by so!"e one else. Here they
stood, and he could hear them talking in
low tones, but could not distinguish their
words.
"I'll get nearer," was his resolve.
Making a half-circle, he came up behind
the vault and crept close upon the uncou-
scious pair.
Reachiug a point where he could hear
them plainly, he was surprised to recog-
nize the voice of Bartley Hodge.
"I'll pay you well to help me do the
job, Bascomb," Bart was saying.
"First pay me as yon agreed for show-
ing you a place to put him in, n said
Hodge's companion, and Frank recognized
the voice of Hugh Bascomb, one of the
village applicants for admission to the
academy.
"All right, " agreed Bart. "Here's the
dough."
"Now," spoke Bascomb, after a pause.
"You've got the key, and have seen the
place. What do you want me to do?"
"Help me, as I said. !tackled him once
alone, to say nothing of our fight. I heard
the fellows at Snodd's planning to steal
cider from the cellar, and I swiped a lot
after they had carried off a load. 'Then I
laid for Merriwell on the road, jumped on
him when he came along, gave him a
crack on the head, and chloroformed him.
When I left him, he was stretched beside
the road with cider spilled over his clothes,
and bottles of cider scattered all around.
Then I told Snodd I had seen a burglar
sneak out of the cellar, and I got the old
man to take a gun and a lantern and fol-
 FRANK MERRIWELL. 2&

low me.' Of courser I led him to Merri-I the bolt slid back, and the door was slowly
well, and Snodd thought the fellow was forced open.
dead drunk. That would have fixed Merri-I Frank realized what was taking place,
well if the blooming idiots al." Snodd's and he tried to sit up, but Hodge forced
hadn't stood in for him and sworn they him back, pinning him to the ground
would all leave if he was fired or reported. with one knee, as he hissed:
, Snodd gave in, and Merriwell staid; but "Now give me a hand here, and in he
he doesn't know now who it was that put goes!"
up the job on him, though I suppose he The dazed boy was lifted and dragged
suspects. " _ along the ground over the single step and
"You are mistaken, Hodge," said a cool into the darkness of the chilly vault,
voice. "I know all about it now." where he was unceremoniously dropped to
Bart gave a cry of astonishment and the ground.
alarm as a dark figure stepped aronnd the Then he' heard retreating footsteps,
vault and confronted him. heard the heavy door grate on its unused
"Merriwell!N hinges, heard the bolt shoot into the lock,
"Yes," said Frank. "And I must and knew he was a prisoner.
thank you for explaining things so beauti- A prisoner in a cemetery vault I .
fully. I now know beyond a doubt just
how much of a scoundrel you are."
Hodge seemed to recover swiftly.
"How did you come here?" he asked.
"I walked." CHAPTER XII.
"You followed me-you played the spy!
Perhaps you'll wish you hadn't!" ON HAND.
Like a cat, he leaped forward and
clutched Frank, cryiug to Bascomb: Frank strnggled to his feet and stag-
"Now's our time! I'll make it fifty! gered to the door, which he vainly tried
Give it to him!" to open. Then, in sudden frenzy, he beat
Frank made one sharp effort to fling upon it with his bare hands, shonting for
Hodge off, and then he dropped to the 'lid.
ground, stunr ed by a blow delivered by The sound of his voice seemed to stun
Bascomb.
him, and he finally became silent, ex-
~'Quick i" panted Hodge, as he bent hausted.
over the fallen youth. "Here's the key! It was some time before he could con-
Open the door!"
sider the matter calmly, and then he began
Bascomb hesitated; but Hodge fluttered: to see that Hodge had played a trump
"I'll make it fifty, and our word is as card.
good as his when he gets out, which won't "He has taken the trick, and won the
be till it is too late to pass examination. game," muttered the unfortunate captive.
Open the door, I say!"
But the fellow was a greater villain
The huge key grated in the rusty lock, than Merriwell had thought possible.
<ll6 FRANK" MEIlRIWlcLL.
"'He m"eaj1sto keep me here till after \ Selecting one of Snedd's boarders, he
~mination to_morrow-probably till the asked:
next day,., Who will believe my story? It "Where is Merriwell? He isn't here. '
will be thought that I did not have the It happened that Bartley Hodge was me
courage to appear at examination-that lone addressed, and he calmly replied:
'hoped to get into the academy without "I do not know anything about Merri-
being eJPlmined. Both Hodge and Bas- well, sir; have not seen him in the last
comb will deny having seen me at all, two days."
and, in such a case, their word is as good Barney Mnlloy heard this and looked at
as mine. tbe lieutenant as if he had something to
Oh, I am done for!" say, which led Gordan to- ask him if he
Something stirred in the darkness, send- knew anything of Merriwell.
ing the blood rushing icily to his heart. "Av ye plaze, sor," replie.d Barney,
It was an uncanny place. and he could "he wur not in his room larst noight, an'
but think of corpses and ghosts. not wan av us has se.en anything av him
Again something stirred, and he pressed this doay."
himself back against the door, a choking "And you won't be likely to see any,
in his throat, listening with intense hor- thing of him this day," thought Hodge.
ror. exnltantly. "Merriwell's goose is cooked. '
Sqeak! sqneak! squeak! And then a gasp that was almost a ~
Rats I A new horror was added to his of amazement and horror came from hi
situation. He knew not how many nor lips.
how bold the repulsive little creatnres The door had opened, and Frank Merri
might be. Were they fierce enongh to at- well, escorted by a cadet officer, entere
tack him? the room.
Surely the situation was one to appall Merriwell was neatly and tastefnll
the 0' ),!test heart. dressed, appearing none the worse for h
'r' * * * * confinement in the cemetery vault.
The day for the examination of appli- Hodge tnrned pale as death, and shoe
cants for admission to Fardale Academy like a leaf in a strong breeze, while Hug
arrived, and the candidates presented Bascomb was literally paralyzed wi
themselves at the academy. amazement and dismay.
Under the eye of Professor Gnnn, a Merriwell had escaped from the vault
number of cadet officers assigned the ap- time to present himself at the examinati:
plicants to seats and set them at their -but how?
tasks. Both Hodge and Bascomb expected
Lieutenant Gordan was present, and, be denounced without delay, but, inste
looking the candidates over, he failed to of that, Frank did not seem to notice the
see the face of Frank Merriwell. \at all, and he went at once about his tasl
"What is the meaning of this?" It was aiong time before Bait could
thought the lieutenant. "Why isn't Mer- cover sufficiently to set to work in earn
riwell on hand?" on the problems, and when he finally
 sO his mind would stray now and then to dirty, and 1 am ashamed of it.
speculation 0'11 tile manner of his foe's es- now to forgive me."
cape. "Same here," said Bascomb, although
The applicants were given two hours the words plainly cost him a great effort.
aad a half to work out the tasks. Some Frank was not maliciously revengeful>
5!d>mittedtheir answers long before the and so he said:
expiration of that time, and some were "You both deserve a square licking, and
-still studying over them perplexedly or it would please me to give you what you
sitting in blank despair when the time ex- deserve; but I'll agree not to spoil your
pired. chances by blowing-that is, not for the
Hodge and Bascomb left the room some present. We'll see how you handle your-
time ahead of Frank, and when he ap- selves iu the future. "
peared they were waiting for him. Hodge aud Bascomb both thanked him,
"Well, Merriwell," said Bart, with an and he left them.
attempt at bravado, "1 see you got out in "That fellow is dangerous," said Bas-
time to show up, and 1 confess that you comb.
have beaten me. But what are you going "You are right," nodded Hodge. "He
to do about it?" knows too much for our peace of mind.
But what are we going to do about it 1"
"1 haven't decided yet," was the quiet
"We may be able to do something in
Rply; "hut 1 can break you both at this
t the future," was the significant reply.
school if 1choose. "
s
"I don't see how.' Our word is as good "There will be hot times in this academy
as yeurs, and you have no proof beyond if all three of us get in. "
l-
"You bet!"
,.ur ownstatement--"
d
"That's where you make a mistake, for * * • * *
The following day the alphabetical list-
lltave proof. It happens that you were
Y of the admitted applicants was read, and
is seen to drag me into the vault and lock
in tum came Bascomb, Hodge, and~i-
me in there. The person who saw you do
well. A few had failed to pass the oxami-
this was the one who released me, and, if
nation, bnt Barney Mulloy, Ned Gray,
Ibring him forward to testify against you,
Sam Winslow, and Ross Kent were on the
th your chance of getting into the academy
list.
will be slim."
Tad Iones was on hand to congratnlate
in Hodge and Bascomb exchanged glances. Frank at the first opportunity, but he de-
They realized that Merriwellhad them at clared :
his mercy, and both weakened. "You was just dead slow to let' Hodge
"I say, old man," said Bart, appealing- and Bascomb in. I knew Bart Hodge was
ly, "let's drop it--:-let's call by-gones by- up to something, and I'd been follering
gones, as the saying is. If you blow on me him for two days when I heard him and
and I am stopped from getting into the Bascomb agree to meet at the vault. I
academy, it will be a dreadful blow to my don't like grave-yards much, but I thought
mother, I confess that I have used you I'd be there, and I was, which was a
 FlIANKMERRlIVELL
.
•SO r thing for you, else you'd never I rather serious, but perhaps they
I ·q,!/wedup at examination." me alone after this."
"That's right, Tad," admitted Frank. Perhaps!
"lowe you a big debt. But I couldn 't [THE END.]
quite bring myself to expose those fellows, "FRANK MERRIWELL'sFOE; OR,PLEBK
for it might have beeu the very thing LIFE IN BARRACKS,"by Burt L. Standish,
that would have given them a bad turn will be published in the next number ~a)
in life. I like a joke myself. This was, of the TIP Top LIBRARY.

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