A cold chill ran over him.
"Of course it's possible," he said, "but I don't 'low it's probable. Even Frank Merriwell can be beat sometimes. My jinks! wouldn't it be awful if things should go wrong! Whew!"
He fished out his handkerchief and mopped his face with it.
At last Gallup was beginning faintly to realize the extent of his folly.
Although he continued strolling around the town, he found no further pleasure in the sights of Wellsburg. In vain he sought to turn his mind from the thoughts of the coming contest between the Merries and the Rovers and the possibility of defeat for Frank's team. Never before had he been troubled by such doubts, and fears. Finally he sought the Franklin Square Hotel, in the lobby of which he was sitting in moody meditation when Frank and Barney appeared.
"Is it a trance you're in, Oi dunno?" cried Mulloy, as he gave Gallup a sharp nudge. "Wake up, me bhoy!"
"Eh?" grunted Gallup, looking up and starting to his feet. "Why, hanged if I noticed yer when yeou come in!"
"Your mind seemed to be far away," observed Merry. "You actually looked troubled and careworn. What's the matter, Eph?"
"Not a thing—not a blamed thing," declared Gallup, forcing a sickly smile to his face.
"What were you thinking about so glumly?"