"It has been a very enjoyable evening," smiled Frank, as he again deposited himself on the easy-chair. "If I had planned to have sport with Pierson, I could not have worked it better. You should have heard me panting and puffing along behind him on our way out! You should have heard him bidding me good-by
when we started to come back! And then you should have heard me asking him if he was ill when I got ready to leave him!"
Harry laughed in the heartiest manner, as his imagination supplied the picture.
"It is too good!" he cried. "And you will go into the mile run sure! Browning caused Pierson to tackle you."
"It seems that I have done pretty well in athletic matters this spring," said Frank, "and I was rather indifferent concerning the matter of taking any prominent part in the tournament at Madison Square. However, if I can do anything to uphold the standard of Old Eli, I want to do my best."
"Frank, if you run in that race, you will win," came soberly from Harry's lips. "I shall stake every dollar I can rake on you. If you do win, I'll have enough cash to take me through the summer vacation we have planned."
The door had been softly opened, and the most of Rattleton's speech was overheard by a third person, who now exclaimed:
"And I'm going to bank my cash on you, Merri
well! If you win, I'll—I'll—why, hang me! I'll make that trip across the continent with you!"
It was Bruce Browning, who advanced into the room.