Frank Merriwell's Catch — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘XP TOP WEEKLY. 33 ‘*But he quit.’ ‘*At college, yes; you induced him to do that. That’s why I came for you now. I might have waded into the whole crowd and taken him out by force. Was tempted to do it, but my reason told me it was not a good plan.” ‘It is strange to me that he shonld play poker with strangers, It’s not like Jack.®? ‘Well, I suppose he thought he might as well have some sport while he was away down here, and I don’t believe he is looking for sharpers in this part of the country. It’s more likely he thinks him- self as sharp as these people. Besides that, they are playing a very small gaime.”’ ‘*How small?” **Five-cent ante, twenty-five limit.’ ‘“Well, I have seen a man lose ten or fifteen dollars at that. He can lose more if he is playing against crooks. But what made you think Diamond is in a gang of sharpers??? ‘Mr. Jim Welch is them. ”? ‘‘And Jack Diamond is playing at the table with Jim Welch? Well, this is a surprise! I can hardly believe it.” “T'll show you.” Hodge was not saying anything now, but he did not miss a word. He was no less astonished than Merriwell to learn that Jack was playing with Welch. ‘“Vait!? gurgled Hans, who was get- ting out of breath. ‘‘You can’d kept oop ‘mit me uf I hurry so, can I?” ‘*You had better keep back anyway,’ said Bruce. ‘They will hear you if you come lumbering up to the cottage they are in.??- ‘“Who toldt you so?’ squawked the Dutch by. ‘‘How vos id I knew so much apout your pusiness? You make me haf dot tired veelings, Misder Prowning!”” **Bruce is right,’? said Frank. ‘‘You had better keep back, Hans. There may be a fight, and you will get in the way.”’ ‘‘A vight!? gasped Hans. ‘‘Oxcuse me! Ivos ned a scrappers! I vill sot down und vait dill you got pack here.” Then he proceeded to sit down at the foot of a tree, leaning against it. The playing with TWO COMPLETE NAVAL ANB MILITARY CADET _ STORIES EACH others hurried on. They left Camp Ben- son and continued up the shore to a small cove. ‘“There is the cottage,’’ said Bruce, pointing out one that stood back by itself amid the trees. ‘It looks deserted,’’ observed Frank. ‘‘That is because they have closed the door and put up the shutters to the win- dows.’ **But how are we to look in?” “‘l know a way. Come.’’ They followed him round behind the cottage, and then approached it with great caution, stepping lightly, so that they would not be heard. As they came near, they could heara humming of voices within. They crept up to the back of the cottage, which was not shingled on that end, and Browning applied his eye to a knot hole. After a moment, he drew back, showing astonish- ment. ‘You can’t guess who is trying te get — into the game now?’ he whispered. Frank shook his head. . ‘*Look and see,”’ said Bruce. Merry did so. Applying his eye to the knot hole, he was able to look into the cottage. He also could hear the talk of the men around the table. : Six of them were seated, Diamond and Welch being two of the party. other man, evidently a late comer, was standing. He it was who was trying to get into the game. It was Bill Bunker! ‘“Why can’t I come in?’ he was de- — manding, in a half drunken manner, **Mr. Welch will speak for me.”’ ‘“Yes,’? said Welch, ‘the is a friend of © mine, and he is all right, gentlemen. -I will speak for him.”’ . ‘It makes too many players at one table,’? said one, who seemed to be some- — thing of a stranger to the others. ‘‘We have enough here now.’ ‘“‘He isn’t one of the gang,’’ thought Frank, immediately. ‘‘He and Jack are the birds they are plucking.”? ‘‘Do the others object?’ demanded Bunker, aggressively. ‘‘Look here; I’ve got money to burn, and I’m looking for an open grate to burn it in.” Then he took outaroll of bills with An- WEEK—THE HALF-HOLIDAY. CconniclooolkS CO