Frank fancied that he saw the stranger's game, and he felt his anger rising rapidly; but, with a great effort, he held himself in control, and pretended that he did not understand.
The boy looked the man over from head to heels. He was making a study of the unknown. Already he had decided by the man's appearance and language that he was a Westerner, or wished to be considered such. Frank was not absolutely certain that the fellow was not masquerading as a man from the West.
As Merriwell remained silent after the stranger's last statement, he went on:
"If there is any way of knowing as how Harvard will win, I can stake my rocks on her, and pull off a good thing."
Still Frank was silent.
"You can see that plain enough, can't you, youngster?" demanded the man, seeming to grow impatient and restless before the lad's steady, piercing gaze.
"Any one should be able to see that," was the cold answer.
"Then all I've got to do in order to make a stake is to fix it so that Harvard is dead sure of winning."
"How can you fix it?"