Frank shot the question at Vance.
“Oh, he—I—I heard him say so on the train.”
“Did you?”
“Yes. Where do you suppose he got his money?”
“Perhaps I let him have it.”
Vance was disappointed and puzzled. He could not understand why Merriwell did not denounce Hodge, for he was certain Frank had discovered the money was gone. Was it possible Merry intended to keep silent and not charge Hodge with the robbery? Vance could hardly believe such a thing possible. He could not fathom the depths of such fidelity to a treacherous friend.
“What’s this?” said Garland, stooping and picking up the crumpled sheet of paper. “There’s writing upon it.”
“Yes,” said Frank, as he quickly took it from the man’s hand. “I threw it down there.”
Again Vance was disappointed.
“Merriwell is too proud to let us know,” he thought. “He doesn’t want us to think he was fooled by Hodge.”