FRANK HAS A VISITOR.
After the affair with Miller matters went along quietly for some time
with Frank.
He turned to his studies with a will, paying particular attention to
mathematics, so that no complaint might be made against him by Prof.
Babbitt.
One day he was deep in a problem in geometry when there came a loud rap
on the door.
"Come in."
The door opened, and in walked Ben Halliday. Frank looked up in
surprise.
"Hello! Hally," he called.
"Hello! Merriwell," said the other, a trifle stiffly.
"What's the matter, old man? You are not usually in the habit of
knocking in that manner. Usually you walk in without being invited."
"Perhaps I have been a little too free in that respect," said Ben,
significantly.
"Free! Not at all. You know any of my friends are welcome here at any
time. This is Liberty Hall."
"That sounds all right, Merriwell," said Ben, remaining standing; "but,
if you mean it, why should you say I am too fresh and take too many
liberties?"
"I say so? Why, I never said anything of the sort Has any fellow
reported me as saying that?"
"I heard it."
Frank came to his feet instantly.
"Heard me say so?" he cried. "Is that what you mean, Hally?"
"No; I mean that I have heard you did say so."
Merriwell advanced and placed his hands on the shoulders of his visitor,
looking straight into Ben's eyes.
"Halliday," he said, slowly, "have I ever been anything but a friend to
you?"
Ben moved uneasily, and then answered:
"I do not know that you have."
"Did you ever know me to say anything behind the back of either friend
or foe that I did not dare say to his face?"
"No."
"Did you ever know me to lie?"
"No."
"Then you will believe me, I think, when I tell you I did not say you
were too fresh and took too many liberties. Some chap has been trying to
make you my enemy. I have seen of late that you acted strangely but did
not know why. Now I understand it. But I am surprised that you could
believe such a thing of me."
Halliday was confused.
"Well," he falteringly said, "you see it's this way: I knew you hated to
throw up your grip on the football team and drop out entirely, and
somebody said you were jealous of me because I did such good work
against the Indians. You know my run in that game was compared with your
famous run in the Princeton game last season. And you have not been just
like yourself lately. Sometimes you have not looked at me when we met."
"Is that so?" asked Frank, in surprise. "I didn't know it. Must be my
mind is on my studies too much. And still I made a dead flunk the day
after the Carlisle game. There had been so many reports that the Indians
had a new trick that was sure to enable them to win, and, knowing as I
did what bulldogs they are to play, I was all nerved up with anxiety.
Couldn't seem to keep my mind on my studies for a week before the game,
and it grew worse and worse the nearer the time came. After it was over,
I found I might as well have taken part in the game."
"That's just it!" cried Halliday, quickly. "That's why I dropped around
to see you."
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"Why don't you get back on the team?"
"Get back? What are you driving at? You're doing good work.
"I don't want to crowd you out."
"You wouldn't. They need you as full-back."
"You played that position in the game with the Indians."
"But I am not to play it again. I am quarter-back now."
"Is that right?" cried Frank, in surprise. "Your position has been
changed? How did that happen?"
"Quigg is out of it for the season. You know he was hurt in the last
game. Doctor says he must not play any more this year. I have been
shoved into his place in a hurry."
"What's that for?"
"Forrest did it. A new man is going to be tried at full-back--Rob
Marline. Forrest is desperate. He says the team is broken all to pieces,
and stands a poor show with either Harvard or Princeton. This will be a
dismal season for Old Yale."
Frank turned pale and seemed to stagger a bit, as if he had been struck.
It was a shock for him to know that Yale was in danger. He had supposed
she was all right and everything was running well.
"We did not make the showing against the Indians that we should have
made, although we beat them," Halliday went on. "But for my lucky run,
we might have been beaten."
"I didn't know----" began Frank, falteringly.
Ben made a fierce gesture.
"What's the matter with you Merriwell?" he savagely cried. "Didn't know?
You should know! You are the fellow of us all who should know. You have
changed, and it has not been for the better. I tell you we stand a slim
show with Harvard and Princeton, and you are needed just as you were
needed at the tug of war. That being the case, you have no right to shut
yourself up here in your room and plug away, seeming to take no interest
in anything but your studies and recitations. You have been the most
popular man in college, but your popularity is on the wane. I'll tell
you why, if you want to know."
Frank was still whiter, if possible. Was this Halliday talking to him in
such a manner--Halliday, who had ever seemed to stand in awe of him? It
was plain enough that Ben was giving him a "call down," but what shook
Merry the most was the fact that he began to feel that it was merited.
"I should like to know," he said, slowly.
Ben could not tell what effect his words might have on Frank, but he was
reckless, and he did not care.
"You can punch my head, if you want to," he said, "but I am going to
talk plain. Don't seem to be anybody else who dares to talk to you. They
kick and growl and say things behind your back, but they don't come
right at you with what they want to say. They are saying that you are
afraid to play on the eleven this year."
Frank stiffened up.
"Afraid?" he said, hoarsely.
"Yes."
"How can they say that? Have I ever shown fear?"
"They do say it," came doggedly from Halliday. "They say you made a
lucky run in the Princeton game last year, and you know it was a case of
dead cold luck. It gave you a great rep., and you are afraid of taking a
fall down if you play this season. That's exactly what they are saying,
and," added Ben, for himself, "I'll be hanged if it doesn't look that
way from the road!"
Frank bit his lip and stood staring at Halliday. He showed no anger, but
it was plain that he was astonished. Up to that moment he had not
realized he stood in a position where he could not withdraw from
football, baseball, or anything else in that line of his own desire
without being regarded as cowardly. Now he saw it plainly enough.
Halliday had been doubtful as to the manner in which Frank would take
his plain talk, but he was determined to tell Merry what was being said,
and he would not have hesitated had he felt certain it would produce a
fight.
But Frank saw Ben was speaking the truth, and, instead of being angry,
he experienced a sensation of gratitude. Still he was determined to know
all about it.
"How long have they been making this kind of talk, old fellow?" he
asked.
"Ever since it was known for sure that you had decided not to try out
for the eleven this fall."
"And this is the first I have heard of it!"
"They didn't talk so much at first," explained Ben. "It wasn't known
then but your place could be filled easily."
"You were put in my place."
"Yes, but I should have been placed elsewhere if you had come on."
"And they think that would have strengthened the team?"
"Of course it would! I tell you the fellows have a reason to growl when
they see Yale putting out a weak eleven while the best man in college
refuses to get into gear and give a lift."
"What sort of man is this Marline?"
"A good runner and a pretty punter."
"Sand?"
"Guess so."
"Then what's his weak point?"
"Temper."
"Quick tempered?"
"Like a flash of powder. Loses his head. Forrest says he may lose any of
the big games for us by getting mad at a critical point, but still he is
the best man we have."
Frank walked over to his window and looked out, his back toward
Halliday. Ben stood watching him with no small anxiety.
Now it was over, and he had relieved his feelings by speaking out
plainly, Ben wondered at his own boldness. He had been flushed with
excitement, but he felt himself growing pale and cold.
"Lord, what a crust!" he thought.
Three minutes passed this way, and then Frank whirled around with
startling suddenness.
"Do you practice to-day?" he asked.
"Yes."
"I'll come out to the park."
"What for?"
"Don't know yet. I'll look on, anyway."
"Shall I tell Forrest?"
"No, you needn't say anything about it."
"All right."
Halliday was well pleased with the result, for he felt sure Merry was
aroused.
"How do I know I am wanted on the eleven?" Frank asked. "It's all made
up now, and----"
"Heard Forrest say he'd rather have you for full-back than Marline."
"Well, I'll come out and see you practice."
So Ben left. At one time he had been envious of Merriwell, but now, like
others, he realized that Merry was too good timber to be lost from the
eleven. Halliday overcame his selfishness, and, for the interest of Old
Yale, desired to see Merry back on the team.
Besides that, Ben was not pleased to be changed from full-back to
quarter-back and have a fellow like Marline given the position he had
played very well thus far that season. He felt that he had much rather
be put off the eleven entirely to give room for Frank.
After Ben left, Frank attempted to return to his studies, but he could
not fix his mind upon them. He went down to recitation in a dazed
condition, and made a flunk, much to the surprise of those who knew he
had turned into a "greasy grind" of late.
Frank's mind was uneasy, and it wandered constantly. The knowledge that
he had been regarded as cowardly in declining to go on the eleven was
gall and wormwood to him.
He was glad Halliday had come to him and let him know how matters stood,
and surely no one could have closer at heart the welfare of Yale in all
directions.
He began to understand that he had won a position in athletics from
which he could not voluntarily withdraw without being misunderstood and
maligned.
That afternoon Halliday came around for Frank, and found him with his
sweater and rough clothes on, ready to leave his room.
"I was afraid you would forget," said Ben, in a confused way.
"Little danger of that!" muttered Frank. "I haven't been able to
remember anything else but what you said to me this forenoon."
"Hope you didn't lay it up against me, Merry."
"Don't take me for a fool, old fellow!" came rather sharply from Frank.
They left the college grounds and took a trolley car out to the park.
Forrest and the team were there ahead of them. A hundred spectators were
watching the men catch punts.
Bob Cook was there. He was not coaching; he was standing at one side by
himself, watching the men, something like a disconsolate look on his
face. This was not like him; it was significant.
As they entered the gate, Halliday touched Merriwell's arm, quickly
saying:
"There he goes!"
"Who?" asked Frank.
"Marline. He's getting out to take some punts."
Frank knew Marline by sight, but he had never given the fellow much
attention. Now he deliberately sized him up. He saw a well-built,
healthy-looking lad, who carried himself gracefully, almost arrogantly.
There was more than a suggestion of conscious superiority in Marline's
manner.
Punk!--a strong leg sent a twisting ball sailing toward Marline. He ran
under it with an air of confidence, and caught it easily, gracefully.
"I take it he is one of the fellows who show up well in practice, at
least," said Frank.