Morgan began a protest.
“Ever since I’ve known that you and Santenel were connected, I’ve been in a dilemma,” Frank went on. “You understand what I mean.”
“I’ve cut loose from all that, Merriwell. I don’t expect you to believe me until you’ve had the proof. But I’ve cut loose from work of the kind you complain against.”
“If you had any hand in helping Santenel to escape, I shall discover it by and by. I’m talking plain to you, Morgan. It’s not my style to beat around the bush in a matter like this. You have tried your best to injure me here at Yale. I haven’t forgotten it, and I’m not likely to. I have, as I told you, proofs enough to force you out of Yale. Perhaps I shall use them. If I find that you had a hand in that escape, I shall certainly use them.”
“Just give me time to show you that I’m all right,” Dade begged. “I’m going to play fair hereafter. By that I don’t mean that I’ve any notion of joining your flock.”
“No one joins that who isn’t invited.”
Dade flushed.
“What I meant was that I can’t expect to become your warm friend and supporter right off. I shall retain the privilege of kicking against things you do, and of working against you in an honorable manner. But I have cut loose from everything else. I’ll prove it in time; and as for that game this afternoon, I’ll promise you that you won’t have a man on your team who will fight harder to win.”
“You’re a star in athletics, Morgan. For that reason alone I have put you on various teams. But I have never trusted you, and I do not trust you now. So you may look out, for I shall be watching you.”
Dade was rather pale as he went down from Vanderbilt. He realized that he had never been in quite so close and ticklish a place. One false step might hurl him out of Yale in disgrace.