Frank Merriwells Chums | Page 6

do so," declared Merriwell.
"They do it for fun."
"I fail to see where the fun comes in. There are enough improper things that I would like to do for me not to care about those things that are repugnant to me. Some time ago I made up my mind never to do a thing I did not want to do, or did not give me pleasure, unless it was absolutely necessary, or was required as a courtesy to somebody else. I am trying to stick by that rule."
"Oh, don't talk about rules!" cut in Dare. "It makes me weary! We have enough of rules here at this academy, without making any for ourselves."
"Come, fellows," broke in Hodge; "let's get down to business."
"Business?" said Frank, questioningly. "I thought this was a case of sport?"
"It is. You mustn't be so quick to catch up a word."
The table was cleared, and the boys gathered round it, Hodge producing a pack of cards, the seal of which had not been broken.
"You'll notice that those papers are all right," he said, significantly. "Nobody's had a chance to tamper with them."
"What do you play?" asked Frank, to whose face a strange look had come on sight of the cards.
"Oh, we play most anything--euchre, seven up, poker----"
"Poker?"
"Yes; just a light game--penny ante--to make it interesting. You know there's no interest in poker unless there's some risk."
The strange look grew on Frank Merriwell's face. He seemed in doubt, as if hesitating over something.
"I--I think I will go back to the room," he said.
"What's that?" exclaimed several, in amazement. "Why, you have just got here."
"But I am not feeling--exactly right. What I have eaten may give me a headache, and I have a hard day before me to-morrow."
"Oh, but we can't let you go now, old man," said Harris, decidedly. "You must stop a while. If your head begins to ache and gets real bad, of course you can go, but I don't see how you can get out now."
Frank did not see either. He had accepted Harris' hospitality, had eaten freely of the good things Harris had provided, and the boys would vote him a prig if he left them for his bed as soon as the feast was finished. It would seem that he was afraid of being discovered absent from his room--as if he did not dare to share the danger with them.
Frank was generally very decided in what he did, and it was quite unusual for him to hesitate over anything.
There is an old saying that "He who hesitates is lost."
In this case it proved true.
"Oh, all right, fellows," said Frank, lightly. "I'll stop a while and watch you play."
"But you must take a hand--you really must, you know," urged Harvey Dare. "Our game is small. We'll put on a limit to suit you--anything you say."
"I do not play poker, if that is your game."
"Don't you know how?"
"Well, yes, I know a little something about it, but I swore off more than a year ago."
"Nobody ever swears off on anything for more than a year. Sit in and take a hand."
Still he refused, and they finally found it useless to urge him, so the game was begun without him, and he looked on.
The limit was set at ten cents, and it was to be a regular penny ante game.
There was some hesitation over the limit, which Bart named, winking meaningly at one or two of the fellows who seemingly started to protest.
Surely there could not be much harm in such a light game! No one could lose a great deal.
The first deal fell to Bart, and he shuffled the cards and tossed them round in a way that betokened considerable dexterity and practice.
The boys were inclined to be jolly, but they were forced to restrain their feelings as far as possible, for, although the rooms near them were unoccupied, there was danger that they might be heard by some one who would investigate, and their sentinel might not be able to give the warning in time.
As Frank Merriwell watched the game, a peculiar light stole into his eyes, and he was swayed by ill-repressed excitement. He was tempted to get up and go away for all that anybody might say, but he did not go; he lingered, and he was overcome by an irresistible longing--a desire he could not govern. Finally, he exclaimed:
"What's the use for me to sit humped up here! Give me a hand, and let me in."
CHAPTER IV.
A GAME OF BLUFF.
"That's the talk, old man!" exclaimed Harvey Dare, with satisfaction. "Now you are beginning to appear natural."
The other boys were only too glad to get Frank into the game, and room was quickly made for him, while he was given a hand.
The moment he decided to play, he seemed to throw off the