“If he recognized us, we’d be spotted as his enemies, and you know it isn’t healthy to be the enemy of Merriwell. The Chickering set are his enemies, and they are ostracized.”
“Oh, I don’t know. They have rich parents; and money counts.”
“Money counts less at Yale than at any other college in the world.”
“I know it’s claimed so, but I believe it counts here just the same as elsewhere. Still, I will admit that I do not care to become openly rated as the enemy of Merriwell.”
Arnold inhaled the poisonous fumes of the cigarette with great relish, taking it deep into his lungs and breathing it out in a thin blue cloud, sometimes letting a little escape with each word.
“Well, you haven’t told me what you were going to tell, old man,” said Snodgrass. “What has Merriwell been doing to-night?”
“Well, what is it? You have me anxious now.”
“You know he ordered us out for a pull to-night.”
“Well, how do you suppose he did the coaching?”
“Yes; he took Knight’s place and was coxswain!”
“Well, I must say that’s a new idea!” he exclaimed. “What did Knight do?”
“This is news!” nodded the sophomore. “I wonder if that is just the proper thing? It strikes me as being rather queer, to say the least. I don’t think he’d want it to be known.”
“Of course not! We are to say nothing about it.”
“By Cæsar!” exclaimed Snodgrass, smiting the table. “It will be a double victory to defeat the freshmen! It will be defeating Merriwell! How that will cut him! We must do it without fail! I depend on you, Ors.”
“And I am in such a predicament that I cannot refuse. If I could, you may be sure, Snodgrass, I’d not be here with you to-night, telling you all this stuff. My conscience will never cease pricking me. But what can a man in my place do!”
“Oh, drop it! You make me tired with that holler!”
“I can’t help speaking of it. I have sold myself for a few paltry dollars! No, no—not that! I sold myself to keep myself from disgrace! There was no other way! I had to do it! It’s the first dishonest act of my life.”
“You’ve told me that before, I think,” remarked the sophomore dryly.
“Perhaps so. But I’m broke again, old man. Let me have another tenner. I must have it.”
“You’re getting too frequent. Ors, I can’t do it.”
“Can’t?” Arnold dropped his feet from the table and flung aside the cigarette.