”Elsie."
Frank was not looking for a trick, and his hasty glance over the letter gave him no warning of anything wrong. Ditson had performed a very clever job in imitating Elsie Bellwood’s handwriting.
Merry was aware that Elsie had returned from Florida and was stopping in Charlottesville, a fact which Roland had somehow learned, so the note gave him no surprise. He had anticipated seeing her while in the place. Hodge also anticipated that pleasure—or pain. She had taken care to let the knowledge reach him that she was in Charlottesville.
For a moment Merry seemed to hesitate. In the distance Ditson held his breath.
“Will the fool refuse?” he inwardly cried. “Why, no! for he is in love with the girl!”
Frank turned to Cunningham again.
“Mr. Muldoon?” he said.
“Yes, suh,” declared the ruffian, though he feared some one might hear and expose him. But Jack Cunningham was known and feared in Charlottesville. And King Jimmy was proudly displaying to his admiring subjects the decoration of honor conferred upon him by Merriwell the Great, therefore he did not get at what was going on.
“You have a carriage here?” asked Frank.
“Yes, suh; right over yander.”