“Bah! How did Derring know what his signs meant?”

“I have heard it said that Derring has been bought before.”

“Don’t believe that rot!”

“Well, I know that he made some terrible decisions, and he would have been mobbed if Merriwell hadn’t protected him.”

“He’s stubborn, and he would not give in—that’s all. I don’t think he really meant to rob the other team.”

“The crowd thought so.”

“Oh, well, I doubt if Merriwell would dare play us again, even if we offered him a game.”

“That is where you make a mistake, Mr. Wilson.”

Frank Merriwell was the speaker, and he stepped forward, having crushed in his hand the letter he had been reading.

“Merriwell!” exclaimed Wilson.