“That’s a fact!” exclaimed Harrow. “I’d forgotten about that.”
“They had a little trouble shortly after we arrived in the city this afternoon. Mark what I say, that fellow has engaged Hashi to make a holy show of Merry. He thinks it will be an easy thing to do.”
“Well, I didn’t see through the thing!” confessed Spaulding. “I thought it was purely accidental. If I’d thought it was a put-up job I’d surely had something to say to Mr. Fillmore. How did you happen to agree to it under such circumstances, Merriwell?”
“What was the difference?” said Frank. “If I’d spoken up and declared it a scheme more than one present would have fancied me a squealer.”
“I suppose that is so.”
“Besides, I must confess that I was not a little annoyed, and I felt a desire to teach that Jap a lesson. I hope I may be able to succeed. I’ll wager that Fillmore has promised him money if he makes an exhibition of me.”
“Frank,” said Bart, “behind this there is something more than the mere desire to show you up.”
“What do you mean?”
“Take my advice and be on your guard every moment. You know what things may be done with these bone-breaking Japanese tricks.”
“I know very well.”