Dade Morgan sat still, but waited a moment before replying.
“If I tell you, Merriwell, you will not believe me!”
“If you tell me the truth, I will believe you. When I hear your story I shall know whether it is the truth or not. You won’t be able to deceive me in the matter.”
“Why, you have a multitude of enemies in Yale!” Dade evaded.
“But not one who was my enemy before he knew me or saw me; not one who came to the college and was my deadly enemy with no seeming cause whatever. It has not been jealousy on your part, for there can be no real ground for jealousy between a senior and a freshman. Most of my enemies dislike me merely because of jealousy. It hasn’t been so with you.”
Again Morgan began to evade and shuffle. Frank took his watch from his pocket and consulted it.
“I’ve a good many things to attend to this evening. I have asked my question. Suit yourself about answering it. I will not say that any answer you can give will keep me from putting my proofs in the hands of the faculty. Perhaps it will. I haven’t yet made up my mind.”
“There isn’t much to tell, but if I tell you all, will you keep mum?”
“I haven’t any promises to make. I hoped that you would be able to say something in defense of yourself which would incline me to let the matter drop. Your sins have been largely against me, Morgan. In other respects you have been a capable, even an admirable college man. You have, I’m told, made good progress in your classes. You have, for a freshman, won wonderful distinction in the field of athletics. You have gathered round you many friends—not of a class I admire—yet a numerous following. You are recognized as a freshman leader. This shows that you have uncommon abilities. If you should use your undoubted abilities in a proper way, a great future may lie before you. It might be a great wrong for me to set anything in your pathway. I have asked you a question. You may be able to show that you are not so black as appearances indicate!”
Morgan saw that “confession and avoidance,” as the lawyers phrase it, was the only safe course left open to him.
“Well, it isn’t much, Merriwell,” he said, assuming a show of frankness.
“I did come to Yale as your enemy—your enemy before I ever saw you! That sounds strange and even mysterious, but you’ll see that there is no mystery about it; for the man you have put in prison is my uncle!”