Frank Merriwells Chums | Page 9

intended, I assure you."
Snell was shrewd enough to know he would stand little chance of
getting into another game of poker with that company if he accepted
the money, and so he made a desperate effort to control his rage and
play the hypocrite.

"I don't suppose you did mean the offer as an insult, Merriwell; and I
presume I was too hasty. I am rather quick at times, and, as Dare says, I
was beaten at my own game, which made me hot. You had nerve,
Merriwell; take the money--keep it."
The words almost choked him, but he pretended to be quite sincere,
although his heart was full of bitterness and a longing to "get even."
It was some time before Frank could be persuaded to accept his
winnings, and, when he did finally take it, he was resolved to return it
quietly and secretly to Snell, at such a time that no one else could know
anything of it.
This matter was scarcely settled when there came a peculiar rap on the
door.
"Who's that?" asked Frank, in some alarm.
"It's our sentinel," assured Harris. "His time on post is up."
The door opened, and Leslie Gage entered the room. Gage had been
Merriwell's bitter enemy at one time during the summer encampment,
having made two dastardly attacks on Frank, who had been generous
enough to rescue him from death after that, and had saved him from
expulsion by refusing to give any testimony against him.
For all of this generosity on Merriwell's part, Gage still bore deep down
in his heart a hatred for the plebe who had become so popular at the
academy. This he tried to keep concealed, pretending that he had
changed into a friend and admirer.
"Hello, Merriwell," he saluted. "Been having a little whirl with the
boys?"
"I should say he has!" replied Snell. "He has whirled me wrong end up,
and I feel as if I am still twisted."
Then the whole play was explained to Gage, who chuckled over it, and

complimented Frank on his nerve.
For all of this apparent restoration of good feeling, Frank was
discerning enough to detect the insincerity of both Snell and Gage.
Gage had done his duty as guard, and there was no one on the watch
now. None of the boys felt like taking the place, so it was decided to
call the "session" over for that night.
"You must come again, Merriwell," said Dare. "You have given us the
sensation of the evening, and you must let Snell have a chance to get
square."
"Yes," said Snell, "all I ask is a fair chance to get square. If I fail, I
won't say a word, and I'll acknowledge you are the best fellow. Let's
shake hands, Merriwell, and call it quits for the time being."
"That's the stuff!" came from Sam Winslow. "Now everything is quiet
on the Potomac again."
Frank shook hands with Snell, and a few moments later the boys began
to slip from the room and skurry along the corridors to their rooms,
which all reached without being challenged by the sentries.
Bart was filled with satisfaction and delight, and before getting into bed
he whispered to Frank, not daring to speak aloud in that room:
"That was the prettiest trick I ever saw! And I was delighted to see you
rub that fellow. He hasn't done a thing to me but win every time I have
held up a hand against him of late."
Frank said nothing, and had there been a light in the room, Bart would
have seen that his face bore an expression that was anything but one of
satisfaction.
Merriwell did not sleep well during the few hours before reveille. His
slumber was filled with dreams, and he muttered and moaned very
often, awaking Hodge once or twice.

"I guess he is still playing," thought Bart.
At reveille Frank was, as a rule, very prompt about springing out of bed
and hurrying into his clothes and through his toilet. On the morning
after the game, however, he continued to sleep till Hodge awakened
him by a fierce shaking.
"Come, come, man!" said Bart; "turn out. Are you going to let a little
thing like last night break you up?"
Frank got up wearily and stiffly.
"I didn't sleep well," he said.
He was quite unlike his usual spirited self.
"Get a brace on," urged Bart. "You want to be on hand at roll-call."
Finding it was necessary to "get a brace on," Frank did so, and was able
to leave the room in time to go rushing down the stairway and spring
into ranks at the last second.
After breakfast, as Bart was sprucing up the room, and Frank was
vainly trying to prepare himself for