“Whenever I enter any contest I do so with the full determination to win, if such a thing lies within my power. Were I confident an Ashport man would win I would not enter at all.”
“Your generosity is really surprising!” cried the Buffalo man laughingly. “Under any circumstances, I’ll guarantee you’ll enter and do your best to secure the runner of gold. In spite of your past reputation, however, I think you will find it no simple matter to obtain the trophy.”
“Were it a simple matter,” said Frank, “it would not be worth trying for.”
“That is handsomely said, Mr. Merriwell; but I hardly fancy you could be deterred from trying under any conditions.”
Having said this, Huntley again expressed his satisfaction over the meeting with Frank and bowed himself away.
“You touched him, Frank,” said Hodge. “He didn’t like it when you mentioned his friendship for Hollingsworth and the confidence the latter had in him.”
“No, he didn’t like it at all,” agreed Frank. “The fact that it did touch him increases my suspicions.”
“Naturally.”
“There is something going on beneath the surface.”
“I think it.”