BURT L. STANDISH Ultimate Collection: 24 Action Thrillers in One Volume (Illustrated). Burt L. Standish
the same, Hartwick is back in New Haven and in is chummy with Ditson again," asserted Jones.
Merriwell displayed some interest.
"How do you know he is chummy with Ditson?" he asked.
"I have seen them together!"
"That means something!" cried Rattleton, excitedly. "Those pads are cotting—I mean those cads are plotting! You want to look out for trouble, Merry!"
"I will!" exclaimed Frank. "Ditson is treading on dangerous ground. If he makes a break, I'll descend on him. I have been easy with a chap of his treacherous nature quite long enough."
"Too long!" burst fiercely from Diamond. "If I had been in your place I'd ended Mr. Ditson's career long ago."
"I don't know what the fellows can do to injure me," said Frank.
"They'll find some way to give it to you if you don't watch out," said Rattleton. "Perhaps one of them hired that fellow to lame your horse."
"Perhaps so."
"You think a great deal of that horse," said Jack. "You want to be constantly on your guard or something will happen to it."
"Toots is on the watch, and any one will have hard work getting the best of that darky. He is about as sharp as they make 'em."
"He is a very clever coon," admitted Harry; "and he seems to know his business, still you can't tell what may happen."
"I wouldn't have anything happen to Nemo for worlds. I don't quite understand why I think so much of that horse, but he is a wonderfully intelligent creature."
"Don't tell that you care so much for him. If your enemies were to find it out they would scheme to fix Nemo."
"I'd have no mercy on the person that injured that horse."
"What's the matter with your dog, Jack?" asked Robinson. "He is acting in a very queer manner."
Prince was sniffing at the door, whining and growling, while the hair on his neck bristled in a significant manner.
Diamond got up and quickly approached the door. In a moment he flung it open, and out shot Prince.
There was a sound of swiftly retreating feet, a clatter on the stairs, a scramble, a shout of pain or fear, and a sudden blow.
"Quick, fellows!" cried Jack, excitedly. "Prince has found an eavesdropper!"
They rushed out, they sprang down the stairs, and at the foot they found the dog, apparently in a dazed condition, but with a piece of cloth in his mouth.
"Good dog!" cried Jack. "Where is he?"
Prince growled and chewed away at the piece of cloth.
"He got away," said Frank. "He must have struck Prince with a heavy cane, or a club, for we heard the blow. The dog was stunned, but he held fast to this piece of the fellow's trousers."
"After him!" spluttered Rattleton. "He may not be able to get away! We'll try to capture him!"
But the effort was vain. The eavesdropper had made good his escape.
After a little time the boys all came back to Diamond's room. They found Jack examining the piece of cloth, which he had taken from the bulldog with no small difficulty.
"It is from somebody's trousers," said Jack, seriously. "Whoever the sneak was, he'll have to buy a new pair. He hit Prince a frightful blow behind the ear, but the good old fellow held fast to this trophy."
"If we'd nabbed the fellow, we wouldn't have done a thing to him—not a thing!" cried Griswold.
"See if any of you fellows recognize this piece of cloth as belonging to the clothing of any chap you know," invited Diamond.
They all examined it.
"If I mistake not," said Dismal Jones, "this came from a certain section of a certain individual's trousers, and the section to which I refer is located about eight inches south of the back strap."
"And the fellow," exclaimed Robinson, "the fellow is——"
"Roland Ditson!" finished Rattleton.
"In that case," said Diamond, "Merriwell's enemies have received a good tip concerning his fondness for Nemo. You will have to be doubly careful about that horse after this, Frank."
CHAPTER VII.
THE PLOT.
If Roland Ditson was the person from whose trousers the piece of cloth had been torn he took good care to destroy what he had retained of the breeches without delay, for they were never again seen in his possession.
The figure on the cloth was not pronounced enough to distinguish it in a manner to make it absolute proof that it came from a garment owned by Roland.
Nevertheless Diamond accused Ditson of listening at his door, but Roll vigorously denied that he had done so. Diamond told him he was a natural-born prevaricator, and let it go at that.
But Ditson was watched like a hawk by the boy from Virginia, for Jack felt sure the fellow was up to crookedness.
Frank Merriwell knew that if Ditson had been listening to the conversation that was taking place in that room his enemies must know in what light he regarded Nemo.
This caused Frank to caution both Toots and Grody to redouble their vigilance in watching over and caring for the splendid creature.
"Don' yo' worry about me, Marser Frank," assured the darky lad. "Dat's de fines' hawse dat dis chile ebber seen, an' I'se gwan ter watch ober heem lek he wus de apple ob mah eye."
"I have decided to enter Nemo in the Mystic Park races at Bethany, Toots," Merriwell declared, "and I think I'll let you ride him, my boy."
Toots showed two rows of gleaming ivories and beamed with the greatest delight.
"If yer done dat, Marser Frank, I'se gwan ter win on dat hawse jes ez shore ez yeh bawn, sar!" he cried. "I'se done rid dat critter enough teh know he's a wondah, sar. Dat hawse is wuf a forchune, sar!"
"If you win, Toots, I may give you a chance to ride him in some races later in the season."
"If I don' win dat race, I done hope I nebber dror annodder bref, sar!" cried the darky boy, excitedly. "Dat'll show yo' what yo' kin do at de Coney Islan' races. If yo's gwan ter gamble on dat hawse, yo's a dead sho' winnar, sar!"
"I am not much of a gambler, Toots, but I may back Nemo for a little something."
"Yo'll win, Marser Frank. If dis darky ebber knowed what he wus talking about yo'll win!"
Frank's enemies seemed remarkably quiet, but something told him that every move he made was watched. This was true, and they soon knew exactly what races he intended to enter Nemo for, and that the darky was going to ride the horse.
One night Harris, Hartwick, Harlow, Ditson and Mike Hogan met in the saloon where they had first formed a combine against Merriwell. They were there by appointment, called together by Hartwick, who seemed to have assumed the leadership.
Hartwick was taking no chances on any thin partitions, and so he secured a little back room in the place, where it seemed that nothing could be overheard by any one who might chance to be watching them.
Drinks were ordered, and when they were brought and the waiter had departed Hartwick said:
"Gentlemen, we may as well get down to business at once. I have called you together to make arrangements for striking a blow at our common enemy."
"Well, I think it's erbout time!" growled Mike Hogan. "I've been wantin' ter do something fer a long while, but you have kept holdin' me back."
"You have been too much on the jump, my friend," said Hartwick, scowling.