Bart Hodge had shaken hands with Frank during the rush and crush of the students to reach Merriwell, but he did so silently and withdrew at once. He had been ready enough to defend Merry from his defamers a short time before, but he was not among those who made the greatest hurrah over Frank’s return to college.
After a while Merry looked round for Hodge and saw him standing quite by himself on the outskirts of the throng. The expression on Bart’s face was not one of happiness; indeed, he seemed sad and depressed.
It is possible that an inkling of the thoughts passing through Bart’s mind came to Merry then.
The dark-eyed lad knew nothing of what had taken place while Frank was away from college. He knew only that he cared for Elsie Bellwood with all the intensity of his passionate nature and that she had repeatedly told him she would never marry at all.
Why had she made that assertion? Was it not because she still loved Frank Merriwell? Bart believed so, and it was his conviction that in the end Frank must win her, for had not he a way of winning anything he greatly desired!
Still, he would not give up. He had told Frank squarely and honestly that he would never cease his efforts to obtain Elsie till he knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that there was no hope for him.
Then, what? Who could tell? For Bart had a peculiar disposition, and a disappointment of this sort might wreak havoc with his sensitive organization.
Merriwell’s hand had lifted him from the path of temptation and ruin in the past and set his feet upon the highway leading to splendid achievements, but this disappointment might undo all the good that had been done and turn him back along the downward course.
Frank thought of this, and he was eager to let his friend know what had happened, revealing to him that the road to Elsie’s heart was open and undisputed.
“Hodge!”