“Great Scott! If you fix it so I win, you will save me the money I have wagered. That’s all I ask, Merriwell. You may have every blamed dollar of the winnings to do with as you like.”
“Ten thousand!” exclaimed Frank. “Just what I need! Take me to Herrick!”
They found Herrick at the Hoffman House, and Herrick was surprised when Merriwell met him with a show of cordiality.
“Mr. Herrick,” said Frank, “Diamond tells me that your Unknown is not in condition and may lose the bout to-night.”
“That’s right,” nodded Herrick. “He’s as good as licked now. I’ve warned Jack to hedge.”
“You don’t want to see Diamond lose that money?”
“Well, I guess not!” exclaimed the man with the dark mustache, making a show of sincerity. “Jack is my friend.”
“This Unknown is entered simply as an unknown?”
“Yes.”
“Then why don’t you put another man in his place? Why do you fight him when it is a sure thing that he must be whipped?”