Gage took advantage of the excitement to make a break for liberty, and he, too, got away.
"What a howling shame!" said Harvey Dare, in disgust. "We'd tar and feather them both. Anyway, they'll have to get out of the academy."
The boys who had put money into the game were given what they had invested. The rest was turned over to Hodge. It made his losing nearly square.
"This settles me," he said, grimly. "I am done playing. No more of this business for me."
"Stick to that, and you will be all right," said Frank Merriwell, in a low tone.
Leslie Gage knew what must follow. The story was bound to spread among the cadets, and he would find himself scorned and shunned. He immediately ran away, and it was reported that he had gone to sea.
Wat Snell had not the nerve to run away, but he found himself the most unpopular fellow at the academy, shunned by the cadets generally, and regarded with contempt.
The exposure of Gage's crookedness broke up the poker parties for that season, at least; and Frank was happy, for he had saved himself and rescued Hodge and Hans Dunnerwust.
But he was happiest in receiving the approbation of Inza Burrage, who learned, through her brother, what Frank had done.