Dick Merriwell’s Trap

he c

ching the academy. In front of the academy was a great gat

um to their room, Dick Merriw

e Texan, in surprise. "Wh

" cried some on

he approaching team and the

is up," he said, a pe

e," urged hi

, and his class is out to give him a reception

in yonder carriage. But who would have thought he could pull such a stroke, even with his own cla

ith a nod. "Arlington has made hi

"They must be a lot of snobs! Just because he happe

le has spent half the money Chest

'll allow I don't care for that kind of friendship. It's all off when the

ngton is t

d his s

ne is wi

lean over the

almost entire

ghty quick, i

much sooner th

asn't hurt half as

d not seem to have much of any strength in

om! She pretends to think all creation of him, and she should have gone down on her knees to you; b

nks from her," s

ief? Well, if I'd been in your boots, pard, I'd seen that she ate a large piec

s it swung round the drive and stopped, the plebes thro

and waved his hand at them. He

here. Now you can see how it w

. "It is plain enough!

y girl to set the plebes to making "goo-goo" eyes. However, she paid no attention to them. Her eyes had discovere

ington?" shouted a plebe, w

ght!" bellow

?" questioned th

from the gathering

wed with all the gr

school in this manner. At one time I feared I could not return so soon, but, fortunately,

ere all right," remind

nfessed that he was not entirely lacking in personal magnetism. True, he regarded himself as quite a sup

have nothing but enemies, even in his own class. But he had found, not a little to his surprise, that he was not gazed on in awe as a superior person, that

ught of permitting Chester to order him about or even to accept advice that was not to his liking. Dick had declined to take Chester on to the football-t

llowers as possible, and he began on his own class. The plebes wanted a leader,

is money with a lavish hand. He was more like the general run of boys, and from his behavior no o

ss on his friends and companions the fact that his

applause, and the boys pressed around him to sh

on of two lads who stood beyond the crowd. She adju

ng Merriwell

. "You said you were going t

n unpleasant duty she had to perform, but that she would try to go through it bravely and with the dignity becoming a wo

t young man, Merriwell, yonder. Will you have one of you

bes heard her and hurri

ester, in a low tone. "He mustn

ace hardened somewhat as she saw Dick M

s cap and bowed with grace and politeness to both Mr

then she began, with that same haughty, chilli

cape from the burning hotel. Without doubt Chester would have been able to descend the la

act from her mother. Now, Dick Merriwell was not always cool and restrained, but on this occasion he was master of h

id, "I am glad I was able to do so, for the sake of

helped him from the hotel because of a feeling of regard or liking for him, and

oncerned in any way. In such an emergency Dick would not have hesitated to go to the aid of any u

ught Chester. "He can't dece

was a most ungrateful fello

en you and my son. It seems that at last you must be aware of the fact that Chester is a young gent

!" said Dick, who could not entir

edingly popular my son is here at the school, and it must be plain that it will be

from informing Mrs. Arlington that where her son had

d I opine Dick won't thank me for mixing in

for him to speak the words he longed

gh his superior abilities have not been properly recognized here. I understand that you are in a class ahead of him, and, having been here longer, yo

assure you that, in the future, as in the past,

will be readily attained, I am sure, if your

o injury, I shall let him quite

tball, of course Chester will be unable to play this season. In fact, I do not wish

ad spoiled her son, althou

ere, I am sure that, by that time, his superiority will be so a

ck was jealous of her son, and th

ever gets on the football-team

hown you that he had played on

to do here. Mr. Arlington could have come out with the other candidates and tried for a plac

re I do not understand why Chester should be requ

rise he rises, and no power can hold him down. Birth or wealth cannot place

nuate that my son hasn't brains

ng remarks. If I have anythi

f cringing or fawning. Her wealth or social position did not awe or overcome him in the slightest degr

angry, too,

hat is necessary. Good-by, mother. Good-by, June. Wait till you come back to

look toward Dick, who seemed q

age, "I hope you will accept my sincere thanks for

his hand

, please!" he exclaimed. "It pl

ne to seek praise and thanks. We may not meet

out her g

quickly, "I wish to

en in a low tone, and Mrs. Arlington immediately directed the driver to start. So the carriage rolled away, and all Dic

and turned to his classmates, w

art came s

ar, "let me soak him for you, if you can't do it! I'l

mself, and he took Brad's arm, turni

," he said, in an unr