SNELL TALKS.
Frank was not the only one who had observed the man in black as that
mysterious individual was departing. Bart Hodge saw the sinister
stranger, and instantly recognized him from Frank's description.
"Great Scott!" thought Bart. "What can that imp of Satan be up to
here?"
The man was hurrying from the grounds, and Hodge followed. The man
passed the sentry, but Bart was challenged.
"See that man?" said the lad, hurriedly. "I am satisfied that he has
been up to some mischief. I want to follow him, and see where he goes."
"You cannot leave the grounds without a pass," said the sentinel,
firmly.
"Oh, hang your pass!" cried Bart, warmly, as he saw there was danger
that the man in black would escape. "This is an exceptional case."
"A sentry knows no exceptions. If you leave the grounds, you will have
to obtain a pass from the office."
"But that man is a robber--a highwayman! If you stand on the rules of
the academy now, he will escape, and you may be reprimanded."
"I shall do my duty as sentinel, sir, reprimand or no reprimand."
The man in black was walking swiftly up the road toward the village,
his cape flapping behind him in the wind like the wings of a bat. In a
few moments he would disappear from view.
"Hang the luck!" grated Hodge, as he turned away in disappointment.
"I'd given something to follow him up."
He was inclined to be angry at the sentinel at first, but his
friendship with Merriwell had taught him that he should have
forbearance when in the right, and should never hold a grudge when in
the wrong. Sober reason told him the sentinel had done no more than
his plain duty, so the feeling of anger was swiftly banished from
Bart's breast.
"I will find Frank and tell him what is up," he thought.
As he walked swiftly toward the barracks, he was met by Wat Snell, who
said:
"Hello, Hodge. I want to have a talk with you."
"With me?" asked Bart, in surprise.
Snell had not been friendly for some time, and, of late, he had ceased
to speak to Hodge. This had not troubled Bart at all, but he was
greatly surprised by this advance on the part of his enemy.
"Yes, with you," assured Snell. "There was a time when you were ready
enough to talk with me. I have even known you to follow me up to get a
chance to have a word in private with me."
The face of the dark-haired boy flushed.
"That time is past," he said. "What do you want of me?"
"It is my turn now. I want to have a word in private with you."
Bart did not fancy this much. He knew Snell for exactly what the
fellow was--a sneaking, revengeful rascal. The thought that he had
ever had dealings with such a scamp made Bart's cheeks burn and caused
him to regard himself with no little contempt.
He did not care to be seen talking privately with Snell, and he glanced
hastily around, to see if any one was watching them.
Snell noted the look, and an angry light came into his eyes, which were
somewhat too small and set so near together that they seemed crowding
his nose between them.
"Oh, you hesitate over it, do you!" he sneered. "That's like some
fellows to go back on their old friends! You won't make anything by it
in the end."
"If you have anything to say to me, say it," commanded Hodge, sharply.
"Come over here where the fellows can't see us from the windows,"
invited Snell, beckoning Bart to follow.
But Hodge did not stir.
"No, sir," he said, firmly. "If you have anything you want to say to
me, say it right here."
Snell did not like this. He came back slowly, casting a hasty,
doubtful look up to the dormitory windows. After some hesitation,
during which he kicked the gravel of the walk with his toe, he began:
"There was a time when you didn't like Merriwell any better than the
rest of us, and you have done things that would put you in a pretty bad
corner, if they were known."
Hodge's brows lowered in a scowl, and his nostrils dilated, like those
of a wild creature that scents danger. He said nothing, but his
steady, piercing gaze made Snell keep his eyes on the ground.
"Of course I am not the kind of a fellow to blow anything of the sort,"
Wat went on, hurriedly. "I simply mentioned it by chance. You seem
friendly with Merriwell now, and I thought you might have forgotten."
"I wonder what the rascal is coming at?" thought Bart; but not a word
did he speak aloud.
"For the sake of old times, I thought--perhaps--you might do something
for some of your old friends--I didn't know but you might. It can't
harm Merriwell any in particular--he'll never miss it. It will be a
lift for me, and I can make it an object for you."
Snell was floundering, and the look on his face seemed to indicate that
he was growing frightened and felt like taking to his heels.
Of a sudden, Hodge became curious to know what the fellow had to say,
and so he decided to try diplomacy.
"I do not forget my friends," he said. "What is it you want of me,
Snell?"
That gave Wat a little courage.
"Before I tell you, Hodge, I want to say that you will be well paid if
you help out a little in this matter, and Merriwell can never know that
you were in it. He'll never suspect you. You didn't have any scruples
about doing something of the sort once on a time."
"Well, what is it?" demanded Bart, impatiently. "Don't beat round the
bush so much."
"Oh, don't be in such a hurry!" fluttered Snell, nervously, far from
feeling fully confident of Hodge. "There's money in this. It will be
twenty-five dollars in your pocket if you do what I want you to. Are
you with me?"
"That depends on what you want me to do. Name it."
"Well, Merriwell has something that doesn't rightfully belong to him.
Understand that--it is not his by right. It belongs to a friend of
mine, who wants me to recover his property."
"Well?"
"You can aid me, as you room with Merriwell."
"Jupiter!" thought Bart. "I wonder if the mysterious ring is the piece
of property Snell means?"
It was with no little difficulty that Hodge held himself in check; but
he did not wish Snell to become alarmed, and so he quietly asked:
"What is this piece of property?"
"It is something Merriwell wears every day. I suppose he takes it off
occasionally. That would give you your chance. Mind you, it is not
rightfully his, but it belongs to my friend, so there is no harm in
taking it to restore it to its proper owner. In fact, that is a simple
act of justice."
"Why doesn't the rightful owner recover his property in the regular
manner?"
"That might prove difficult, or even impossible, as he would have
trouble in establishing his claim, and Merriwell might conceal the
property. It is not the value of this property that the owner cares so
much for; he wants the property itself."
There was no longer any doubt in Bart's mind; Snell was speaking of the
ring. The man in black had resorted to another scheme to obtain
possession of that ugly ornament.
With the greatest difficulty, Hodge kept cool and placid, as he asked:
"And you want me to steal this property?"
"No, no, no! It would not be stealing it; it would be returning it to
its proper owner. Can't you see?"
"Well, if I am going to do this job, I must know what the property is."
"It is the ring Merriwell wears when he is not in ranks--the twisted
band, with a black stone set in it."
"And you want me to obtain that ring and give it to you?"
"Yes."
"For which I am to receive twenty-five dollars?"
"Yes. What is your answer?"
"This is my answer!"
Like a flash, Hodge struck out straight from the shoulder, and his fist
caught Snell between the eyes.