“I have to return to college in the morning, old man,” he said persuasively. “We haven’t seen each other for a long time. Come round to my room in the Fifth Avenue and let’s have a talk.”
“Excuse me,” Herrick spoke up. “Mr. Diamond has an important engagement.”
“That’s right, Merry,” agreed Jack, at once. “Just come along with me. I’ll show you the town to-night.”
“Yes, we can take Mr. Merriwell along,” said Herrick.
“Of course we can,” cried Madison. “The more the merrier. But it won’t be our fault if he gets scratched with the tiger’s claws.”
“No danger of that,” asserted Diamond. “He never fools with the tiger.”
Herrick seemed disappointed. “Is that so? Then I’m afraid he won’t find it very interesting to come along.”
“Yes, he will,” declared Jack. “Besides, he has always been a mascot to me, and I need one just now.”
Frank’s ears were wide open, and he fancied he understood the meaning of this talk, in which case he was more than ever alarmed for Diamond.
“If I could get him away and have a talk with him,” thought Frank, “I’d soon be able to learn the truth.”