Part 42 (1/2)

”Merriwell, is that you?”

No answer.

”I know you,” declared the pursuer, and now Frank perceived that that voice did not sound like Professor Grant. ”You are a crackajack runner.

I wanted to give you a try to see what you could do. I'll see you to-morrow. Good-night.”

The pursuer gave up the chase.

”As I live, I believe it was Pierson, manager of the ball team!”

muttered Frank when he was sure it was no trick and he was no longer followed. ”He looks something like Professor Grant, and he is a great mimic. That's just who it was.”

A short time later he was in his room, where a jovial party of freshmen was gathered.

CHAPTER XXI

ROAST TURKEY.

Frank's appearance, with the turkey still in his possession, was hailed with shouts of delight.

”We didn't know as you would get in,” said Jones. ”I invited some more of the fellows up here, as you see, and we found out that some of the sophs seemed to know something unusual was going on.”

”That's right,” nodded Rattleton. ”They were laying for us. Two of them stopped me when I reached York Street. They told me to give up what I had, but I didn't have anything to give up, so they let me go.”

Then Frank told of his adventure with a person who looked like Professor Grant.

”That's it!” cried Little. ”That was their game! They were after our turkey.”

”But how did they know we were after turkey?” asked Robinson.

”They must have been told by somebody,” said Street.

”And that means we have a tattler among us,” declared Burnham Putnam--Old Put--looking keenly around.

The boys looked at each other suspiciously, wondering if there was one of the number who would carry to the sophs.

To Frank's surprise he saw that Walter Gordon was there. Jack Diamond was also present.

Frank found an opportunity to get close to Dismal and whisper in his ear:

”Great Caesar, old man! why did you invite Gordon here?”

”I did not.”

”Then how does he happen to be here? He didn't come without an invitation, I am sure of that.”

”He was in Billy's when I asked Put to come up. I knew you would like to have Put here.”

”That's all right.”