The student was trying to think of some way to secure the message. He was desperate, and desperate schemes flitted through his brain. He thought of attacking the man on the street and trying to go through his pockets; but New Haven was thronged with visitors, old and young, and Packard found no opportunity, knowing full well that all chances of success were against him. Desperate though he was, he had no relish for arrest on the charge of assault and robbery. But Roland’s eyes were open, and he was on the watch for an opportunity. Still, something told him that the man was going directly to Merriwell, and he felt that his show of accomplishing his purpose was becoming smaller with every step.
Already preparations were being made for a hilarious time in the vicinity of Osborne Hall that night. Packard knew there would be speeches, cheering, red fire, and all that, but he gave it no thought now.
“All New Haven has gone daffy over Merriwell!” he muttered to himself, as he heard Frank’s name spoken many times by passing men. “Anybody would think there was nothing else to talk of! Merriwell eclipses class day, senior prom, graduation, everything. Oh, if I could get a last crack at him right in the height of his glory! And to make five hundred plunks at the same time. I must do it somehow!”
But how?—that was the question. He ground his teeth as he saw his chances diminishing. The campus was reached, and the man in gray made directly for Vanderbilt.
“Going straight to Merriwell’s room!” thought Roland. “Perhaps I’ll have a chance on the stairs.”
No one paid much attention to Packard. Everybody seemed hilariously happy. He was close behind the bearer of the message when that individual entered Vanderbilt; but the opportunity did not come. It seemed that a perfect stream of men was making for Merriwell’s room or coming from it.
“Just pouring congratulations on him,” said the medic. “Oh, he’s the king-pin here!”
He saw the messenger reach the door of Frank’s room, which was standing wide open. Within that room there seemed to be a mass of happy students.
“No use!” grated Packard. “I didn’t get a chance!”
Just then Oliver Packard and Hock Mason came out and descended the stairs. Neither of them observed Roland.