But just as he reached to pull in the chips his wrist was clutched by a grip of iron.
Frank Merriwell had grasped and checked him.
“Gentlemen,” cried Merry, “you are playing with a crook! You are being cheated!”
Instantly there was a great stir in the room. Men sprang up from their chairs.
Darleton uttered an exclamation of fury.
“What do you mean, you duffer?” he snarled. “Let go!”
Instead of obeying, Merry pinned him fast in his chair, so he could not move.
“Yes, what do you mean?” shouted one of Darleton’s friends, leaping from another table and endeavoring to reach Frank. “Let go, or I’ll——”
Hugh Morton grappled with the fellow.
“I wouldn’t do anything if I were you,” he said. “Take it easy, Higgins. We’ll find out what he means in a minute.”