“Well,” breathed Brad, in relief, “this sure is some satisfying, partner. Just heard you were last seen hollering for help in the river. You’re supposed to be drowned.”
“That’s right,” laughed Dick, “and I’m willing they should continue to cherish that delusion. It was the only way I could escape. I pretended to sink, but when the current carried me under the bridge I clung to a pier until I could swim ashore without being seen. It was hard work reaching the costumer’s without attracting undesirable attention in my dripping clothes, but I finally got there and made a change for my own garments. I’m here, and I guess I’m all right unless I get cold from that ducking.”
In his room he told them about the two chaps who had brought bundles of clothing with the evident intention of casting those bundles into the river.
“One of the fellows was Ditson,” said Dick. “I think the other was Lynch. Either Ditson or Lynch wore that satanic masquerade outfit. Of course, I have no proof against them, and they could give me the laugh if I accused them; but those chaps were concerned in the game to amuse themselves at your expense, Tucker.”
“I’ve thought so right along,” said Tommy. “They’ll overstep themselves yet and get into a scrape they can’t squirm out of.”
In spite of the exciting events of the evening, Merriwell slept well that night and did not catch cold from his ducking. Shortly before one o’clock the following day Brad Buckhart came hurrying into Dick’s room and found Merriwell on the point of going out.
“Pard,” said the Texan, “I’m in a scrape. Just met Mabel Ditson and Bab Midhurst. Mabel was feeling rather blue and downcast. It seems that Rob Claxton invited her to attend Professor Oblong’s lecture on Japan and then found out he couldn’t get seats. I thought I knew where I could get a couple of seats, and it seemed to me a good chance to get ahead of our friend, the Virginian, and so I asked her if she would go with me. She said she sure would, and I’ve been round to the scalpers’ after those seats. There isn’t one to be had for love or money. Now what do you think of that? She’s going to be a whole lot disgusted when I tell her I fizzled the same as Claxton did.”
“Let’s see, when is this lecture?”
“Thursday evening.”
“And Friday afternoon we leave for Providence. It’s just as well you didn’t get seats, Brad. You’re supposed to turn in at ten o’clock Thursday night.”