“I am,” was the reply, “and while he’s in your bailiwick, Merriwell, I want you to do one thing.”
“What is that?”
“Watch the fellow. You’re a friend of my nephew, Ellis, aren’t you?”
“Right from the top of the hat,” said Frank, with spirit.
“Well, keep a keen eye on Guffey. By doing that, you may help Darrel more than you can realize now. You’re very much concerned, I suppose, because I have treated Jode, since that affair in the gulch, with the same consideration that I did before. You don’t understand why I have left him on the football team, or why I have anything further to do with him. Is that correct?”
“Well, yes,” admitted Frank.
“And neither can you understand why I tolerate such a scoundrel as Guffey.”
“No, colonel, I can’t.”
“I am manipulating things, Merriwell. I may be wrong, but I don’t think so. If you will coöperate with me, I’m pretty sure this whole affair is going to come around in fine shape.”
“Just what do you expect me to do?” Frank queried. “How will keeping an eye on Guffey enable me to coöperate with you?”