In the hallway on the second floor they met Ballard. He was fully dressed and was hurrying down to find out what was going on.
“I saw that squabble in the back yard,” he remarked, “and I thought Chip was back of that voice under the box. When the black-haired chap showed himself, it almost took me off my feet.”
“Same here,” chuckled Clancy. “Chip did throw his voice so that it seemed to come from the box.”
“Then he knew there was some one there?”
“Not so you could notice it, Pink,” Merry returned, with a puzzled laugh. “I hadn’t an idea there was a fellow under the box when I threw my voice in that direction and tried to stop the row. You could have knocked me down with a feather when that box began to lift.”
“Funny stunt,” put in Clancy, “and don’t you forget it. What do you suppose the fellow was doing there?”
“You’re liable to find a dope fiend almost any place. They’re half crazy all the time. But I happen to know who this particular fellow is.”
“You do?” cried Clancy and Ballard, together. “Who is he?”
“Come in and shut the door,” Frank answered.
After the tub had been twice filled by Woo Sing and Merry and Clancy had had their plunge, while they were dressing Merry told his chums about the new coach that had been doing such wonders with the Gold Hill football team. In his talk he did not mention Bleeker in any way, but referred principally to his conversation with Mr. Bradlaugh the preceding afternoon.