Arnold, to tell the truth, felt glad to escape thus easily. One thing he dreaded was exposure and disgrace, and he had feared that was to follow Merriwell’s discovery. Snodgrass seemed to understand the relief of his companion, and he snarled:
“Well, you can pay up now, and pay up in a hurry! I want my money, and you’ll have to fork over.”
“But I can’t, and you know it!”
“I’ve got your paper, and your grandmother will have to pay.”
Arnold was frightened.
“Don’t force me to the wall, Snodgrass!” he implored. “She’ll take me out of college! I don’t believe she’ll pay you, anyhow. Give me time, and I’ll find a way to pay you. You must give me time, old man!”
“Time! time! time! You can’t pay if I do give you time, and you know it! I know it! I’ve known it all along!”
“You’ve known it?”
“Of course I have!”
“Yet you let me have the money! You did it to get me in a trap!”