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DICK MERRIWELL'S TRAP
OR,
THE CHAP WHO BUNGLED
BY
BURT L. STANDISH
Author of the famous _Merriwell Stories._
STREET & SMITH CORPORATION
PUBLISHERS
79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York
Copyright, 1902
By STREET & SMITH
Dick Merriwell's Trap
(Printed in the United States of America)
All rights reserved, including that of translation
into foreign languages, including the Scandinavian.
Contents
CHAPTER I--A FARDALE VICTORY
CHAPTER II--DICK STOPS A RUNAWAY
CHAPTER III--HAPPINESS AND MISERY
CHAPTER IV--JUNE'S PROMISE
CHAPTER V--DICK KEEPS THE LOCKET
CHAPTER VI--A DOUBTFUL MATTER
CHAPTER VII--SOMETHING WRONG
CHAPTER VIII--FARDALE'S WAY
CHAPTER IX--DICK WINS AGAIN
CHAPTER X--A MASTER OF HIMSELF
CHAPTER XI--BOUND BY A PROMISE
CHAPTER XII--A WARM MEETING
CHAPTER XIII--THE PROMPTINGS OF CONSCIENCE
CHAPTER XIV--ARLINGTON SHOWS HIS HAND
CHAPTER XV--DETERMINED DICK
CHAPTER XVI--A FINE PAIR
CHAPTER XVII--DICK CONQUERS HIS ENEMY
CHAPTER XVIII--BUNOL HOLDS HIS GRIP
CHAPTER XIX--A CRY IN THE NIGHT
CHAPTER XX--DONE IN THE DARK
CHAPTER XXI--ON THE ACADEMY STEPS
CHAPTER XXII--ANOTHER VICTORY FOR FARDALE
CHAPTER XXIII--CHESTER FINDS A MASTER
CHAPTER XXIV--A LONG WORD
CHAPTER XXV--THE SPOOK APPEARS
CHAPTER XXVI--THINGS ARE MISSING
CHAPTER XXVII--DICK MAKES A DISCOVERY
CHAPTER XXVIII--A SLIPPERY TRICK
CHAPTER XXIX--THE MAGIC POWDER
CHAPTER XXX--THE TRAP SPRUNG
CHAPTER I--A FARDALE VICTORY
For a moment as he lay on the ground holding the ball for Dick Merriwell
to kick the goal that must win the game with Hudsonville for Fardale
Military Academy, Hal Darrell, the left half-back, was seized by a
strong temptation to do wrong. How easy it would be to spoil that kick!
A slight shifting of the ball just as the captain of the Fardale eleven
kicked, and the attempt for a goal would be ruined.
There was bitterness in Hal's heart, for he realized that Dick was
covering himself with glory, while up in the grand stand sat June
Arlington, a thrilled witness to everything that had occurred during
that most thrilling game.
At first Hal Darrell had refused to play on the team during this game,
but because June had urged him to reconsider his determination not to
play, Hal had humbled his proud spirit and offered to take part in it.
But even then, to his chagrin, he was left among the substitutes until
Earl Gardner, who had been given his position when he withdrew from the
team, was injured so badly that he could not continue in the game. Then
Dick Merriwell thought of Hal Darrell's desertion of the team and at
first wanted to punish him for it by leaving him on the substitutes'
bench, but his better nature conquered and the spirit of forgiveness
reigned triumphant.
Hal knew nothing of Dick's temptation to call out another player to take
Gardner's place, which would have humiliated and infuriated Darrell to
an unspeakable degree. Hal was not aware that Dick fought the temptation
down, crushed it, conquered it, and did what he believed was best for
Fardale, regardless of his own inclination and feelings.
So Hal had been given his old position as half-back and had played a
steady game, contributing greatly to Fardale's success, although he made
no individual play of brilliancy that distinguished him above the
others.
At the same time he had seen Dick make a great run down the field, had
seen him leap clean over one tackler, and had witnessed a touch-down
that tied the score between Hudsonville and Fardale. If Dick kicked the
goal the game would be won.
If he failed it would most certainly remain a tie, as there was not
enough more playing time to enable either side to score again, unless
some amazing fluke should take place.
So as Hal lay on the ground, holding the ball, he was tempted. Under any
circumstances Fardale would come out of the game with flying colors.
During the first half she had been outplayed by the big Hudsonville
chaps, who had secured two touch-downs and a goal. Her line had been
weak, and she had seemed to have very little chance of making a point.
It looked like a hopeless battle against overpowering odds.
But Dick had never given up for a moment. He had kept up the courage of
his men. And all through the first half Obediah Tubbs, the fat boy who
played center on Fardale, had continued to hammer at Glennon, the big
center of the opposing team, until finally all the fight and sand had
been taken out of the fellow, and the strongest point in Hudsonville's
line became the weakest.
The cadets took advantage of that weakness in the second half. The most
of their gains were made through center. Glennon, limp as a rag, asked
to go out of the game; but King, the captain, angrily told him to stand
up to his work, knowing it would discourage the others to lose the big
fellow, who had never yet failed to play through any game he had
entered.
And when Dick Merriwell had been hurt and it seemed he must leave the
field, Hal had seen June Arlington--forgetting appearances, remembering
only that Dick was stretched on the ground and might not rise again--run
out from the grand stand and kneel to lift his head.
Standing apart, his heart beating hotly, Darrell saw her give back to
Dick a locket containing her picture--a locket she had given to him once
before when he had risked his life to save her from some savage dogs
which attacked her on a lonely road on the outskirts of Fardale, and
then demanded again after her brother had told her some untrue tales
about Dick.
"She would not let me have it when I asked her for it after she got it
back," thought Hal. "But now she gives it to him again! And she does not
mind who sees her!"
It seemed very strange for a proud, high-bred girl like June Arlington
to do such a thing before the assembled spectators. She had been
governed by her heart, not her head. Had she paused to consider, she
would have been dismayed; but she scarcely knew how she reached Dick,
and she seemed to come to a realization of her position first as she
knelt and held his head. Then she had courage not to lose her nerve, and
she gave him the locket as a "charm" to restore his good luck.
It was after this that Dick made the run that set thirty "faithful"
Fardale rooters howling mad with joy. He did it even though he reeled
and could scarcely stand when he rose to his feet. He did it by casting
off his physical weakness and calling to his command all the astonishing
reserve force of a perfectly trained young athlete. But for his training
and his splendid physical condition, he would have been carried from the
field, done up.
In the moment of his temptation Hal realized that Dick had trusted him
perfectly in calling him to hold the ball.
"But he's made me help him win glory in her eyes!" was the stinging
thought that followed.
However, he conquered the temptation. As Dick balanced himself, Darrell
carefully lowered the ball toward the ground. The seam was uppermost and
everything was ready for the kick that would decide whether the game
should end a tie or Fardale should leave the field victorious.
Darrell's hand was perfectly steady as Dick advanced quickly and kicked.
Fairly over the middle of the bar sailed the ball, and the "faithful"
shrieked and howled and thumped one another on the back and had fits.
But they were not the only ones who had fits. Apart at one side of the
field Chester Arlington, June's brother, and a student at Fardale,
walked round and round in a circle, muttering and almost frothing at the
mouth. Then he started for the grand stand.
"I'll tell her what I think!" he grated.
But he stopped and stared at the field, where Hudsonville was making a
listless pretense of playing during the few moments that remained. He
seemed to go into a trance and stand there until the whistle blew and
the game was over. He saw the "faithful" go tearing on to the gridiron
and surround Dick, and he could bear to see no more.
"I believe I'll have to kill him yet!" he snarled, as he turned away.
He walked blindly into the rail beyond which the spectators were slowly
filing out from the enclosure. Some of them stared at him wonderingly,
noting his wildly glaring eyes and hearing his incoherent mutterings.
"What ails that chap?" said a man.
"Gone bughouse," intimated another. "Who is he?"
"Don't know. Saw him with that pretty girl who ran out on the field when
Merriwell was hurt."
"He's a Fardale boy?"
"Yes."
"Must be crazy with joy. Can't blame him after seeing his team win in
that way."
Chester crawled under the rail and bumped against a man.
"Get out of the way, you old fool!" he snarled.
"Who are you talking to?" demanded the man, in astonishment and anger.
"Who are you calling an old fool?"
"You! you! you! You ran into me--me, son of D. Roscoe Arlington! Do you
hear?"
"You're a crazy ass!" said the man, and walked on.
Somehow those words seemed to bring Chester to his senses in a measure.
"Brace up, old man!" he muttered huskily. "Why, I wouldn't have
Merriwell see you like this for a fortune!"
He passed out through the gate with others and started away. Then he
bethought himself and turned back to where a carriage, containing a
driver, waited. He got into the carriage.
"Go on," he growled.
"But the young lady, sir," said the driver; "your sister."
"Oh, yes!" mumbled Chester. "I had forgotten her. We'll wait for her.
Darrell is a thundering fool!"
"I beg your pardon, sir?" said the driver.
"Nothing that concerns you," growled Arlington, and he sat like a graven
image, waiting for June.