Dick Merriwell's Trap

to Fardale, but Chester did not return to the academy. He declined to go to the house where June had been

, as his back had been hurt badly, although the Hudsonville doctors consoled him with the a

Mrs. Arlington was notified of his misfortune, with the result t

ent, and she showed him the telegram that told

there may be trouble. To tell the truth, I am afraid there will be, for Ches

nk a little, bu

ive it up, for I do not wish you

eclined t

ou are to keep it. I want you to promise to kee

rt rose

ure I will do

there was a haze on the distant hills. In spite of the bright sunshine, in spite of the satisfaction in his heart, he felt vaguely the sadness of autumn, as if the world itself were fading and growing old and feeble, like a man that has passed the prime of life and is h

lad with a healthy mind; but it was the change from early autumn to winter days that stirred hi

e a red squirrel was barking, the clear air and favorable wind bringing the chatter of the little creature to the lad's e

n and green, the fields were mottled with brown and green, for there remained a few places where the grass was not

ook out on the open sea, and he heard th

heart. A sudden desire came upon him to stray deep into the woods and hills and seek to renew the old-time friendship and confidence with nature and th

r those I used to know. The birds and squirrels know me n

ing and trudged onwar

with Hudsonville had shown him that injury to one or two players simultaneously might cause Fardale's defeat unless some r

certain they would not get into practice until near the end of the week, a

before Franklin had permitted a Fardale man and a traitor to play with its eleven, and the traitor had dashed red pepper into D

y knocked the pepper-thrower stiff, af

ron again. But the faculty at Franklin took a hand, offered apologies, regrets, and made promises to look after the team in the future. They felt a keen disgrace to

game with Hudsonville, and to Dick's ears came a rumor that Franklin had

t least four "ringers" on the team. Dick was not inclined to believe this at first, for it did not seem poss

ject to "spying," the Texan paid a man to find out the truth. The result was that, one day, he

when Buck had explained how he came by his know

of last year's defeat, and then they won't care a rap whether we play with them any more

likely your man made no mistake. I shall notify their manager at once that I have heard such a re

hey are in it

beat them. After that we can decline to ha

hing I fear is that our team may not be up to its usual f

s to come off. Then the manager answered briefly that all the men on his

w if I had proof that he had 'ringers' on his