The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-01-28
CHAPTER TX

himself. For quite the opposite
reason, he suddenly understood,
fully and completely, how Bart
Hodge had felt when he went to
Inza and told her he was going
away because he couldn't face the
school. For Merry was no bound
er, no show-off, who reveled in no.
toriety; and even though he was at
the same time not a shrinking vlo-
let, he had always found it easier
10 face criticism and blame than
mealy-mouthed flattery.
Therefore anybody who looked for
Rim to go on parade and do a little
ytrutting was making bad guess.
He merely forced himself to go
through the usual moves as If moth
ing unusual had happened. No
swank, no posing.
It was disappointing to his enc
mics. Particularly so to Bascomb.
The fellow simply refused to be-
have the way Bascomb expected
and wanted-him to. Very annoy
ing.
BY noon on Monday somebody had
brought in a newspaper containing
an account of the runaway and res
cue. It passed from hand to hand.
Pete Smith had done no kidding
this time. He had written straight
forward, honest story, giving Frank
credit for nerve, fast-thinking and
modesty. Bascomb and his bunch
didn't like that much, either.
Nor did they like it when Merry.
caught crossing the campus and
questioned by some upperclassmen,
failed to get smart and make fresh
answers. What they understood
even less was the way he gave
credit to Bart Hodge. That, as they
saw it, was foxy stuff. He was
pulling thin trick.
swell, anyhow" said Hugh,
'we'n have the pleasure of not see
ing him try to become football
hero"
And then, when Bascomb galloped
into the gym to dress for field prac-
tice Tuesday afternoon, Merriwell
was there. Wearing Bloomfield
high rig from sweater to cleated
shoes, he was talking to Dick
Springall, the quarterback and cap
tain.
There was frightful convulsion
in the depths of the Grand Canyon.
This, Bascomb told himself, was the
limit and then some.
WELL" he said, when he could
speak, ''is it possible you've got
over being afraid to play football,
Merriwell?"
''I've never been afraid to play
football, SIR" said Frank.
ooh, yeah?" Hugh's m outh
threatened to lop off all the upper
part of his head with it's expanding
grin. "Then how come you laid
down on your team last year and
watched it from the stand while it
took a licking by Terrence acade-
my?"
Ibid it ever occur to you," Mer-
ry asked, shat that might be my
business?"
'tOh, so you've got a nasty come
back, have your" said Bascomb,
his grin changing to something
hard and cruel. ''Well, that just
makes the account heavier to set
tie"
Springall interposed at this point.
"Drop it, both of you," he said.
s'That stuff is out, around here. The
next one to start it will be reported
to the coach, and what he'll do
about it will be enough"
''I'm sorry, Mr.. Springall," apollo
gized Frank, "but Bascomb ought
to get it through his head before
long that I'm more than fed up
with his funny business. But I'll
wipe the slate when he's ready to
call it quitting time"
"That's real nice Of you," said
Bascomb sourly. "And I'll tell you
when, but everything will be all
squared up them"
It was a threat Merriwell did not
miss, though he appeared to ignore
it. AS an enemy Bascomb would be
far more tenacious and vindictive
than q person with the unstable
ness Of Hodge.
Bart arrived presently and was
no less surprised to see Frank there.
But he said nothing.
The coach, when he appeared,
was the only person who did not
show surprise. Practically every
body noticed that.
On the field Kane turned the new
man over to Hanscomb, the assist
ant coach, a Fardale grad whose
special duty was to instruct in kick
ing and passing. Two minutes later
Hanscomb was putting Merriwell
through series of drop-kicks, place
kicks and punts of every variety.
All the other men on the field
were busy also, but many of them
stole glances at Frank whenever
they found an opportunity to do so.
They were, naturally, very curious
about him. They suspected that
pressure had been brought to bear
to get him out there, and it seemed
strange that Kane would bother a
moment with a fellow reputed to
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