“Occasionally he can,” denied Frank.
“Oh, I suppose you might, you ’ave a way of haccomplishing such wonders! Better get hup your courage and henter. I don’t think it would be so ’ard for one or two of our members to defeat you.”
“You tempt me—really you do,” smiled Merriwell.
“You ’aven’t the nerve.”
“Haven’t I?”
“’Ardly. If you did, as sure as my name is ’Erbert ’Ollingsworth, I’d wager you wouldn’t finish better than third.”
“Just to show you I can finish second, at least,” Frank laughed, “I may reconsider my determination and enter for the run. In fact, I think I will.”
“I ’ope you don’t back hout,” sneered Hollingsworth; “but, considering who is hentered already, I fear you will.”
Frank had settled his mind.
“Put your fears at rest,” he advised.