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Harry came with a rush, and the other freshmen followed at his heels, the party having been abandoned by the sophs who had been placed on guard over them. "Hold on! hold on!" commanded Harry, forcing his way toward the fighters. "I am Merriwell's second, and I'm going to see fair play, you bet!" "And I am Diamond's second," said Roland Ditson. "Just give me a chance in the ring there."
Ditson had fawned around Browning a great deal since entering college, with the result that the king of the sophomores came to entertain a feeling of absolute disgust for the fellow. The very sight of Ditson made the "king" feel as if he would enjoy giving him a good "polishing off." But Bruce was no bully, although he was a leader of the sophomores.
"There are fools who know other people's business a great deal better than their own," said Dismal stiffly. "That's right," nodded Ditson, who made a great effort to be rakish in his appearance, but always appeared rather foxy instead. "But I tell you this matter of burning the midnight oil and grinding is not what it's cracked up to be.
Then it was that Ditson conceived a plot to bring Merriwell into ridicule and at the same time to get in with the enemies of the freshmen the sophomores himself. At last he had learned that at Yale a man is not judged so much by the money he spends and the wealth of his parents as by his own manly qualities. But Ditson was a sneak by nature, and he could not get over it.
"You were going to name him when Ditson came in." "I was, but I will not call any names now. I propose to look into this matter somewhat. Likely it's too late to prevent the traitor from completing the damage, but he can be exposed. It will be some satisfaction to see him held up to public scorn." "That is true, Dismal, and I want you to do your best to find out who the man is.
"Much erbliged don't but no whiskey. Money talks, me boy." Ditson reached into his pocket and produced some money. "I will give you five dollars to tell me of a man who will do the job for me," he said, pulling a five-dollar bill from the roll. "Make it ten an' I goes yer," said Kelley, promptly. "Done. Here is your money." Ditson handed it over.
Billy's was reached, and one of the sophs went in with Ditson, while the others kept out of sight nearby. After a little the soph came out and reported that Merriwell and Rattleton were in there. He had treated the house, but Merriwell had absolutely declined to take anything. "Oh, yes," nodded Browning. "They say he never drinks. That's how he keeps himself in such fine condition all the time.
You were simply an unconscious and unwilling tool, and it did me good to see you resent it when you found out what Ditson had been doing." Walter tried to say something, but he choked and stammered. Then he muttered something about having a drink all around, but Frank assured him that he had taken quite enough.
"Rattleton ought to be able to guess who I mean," craftily said Ditson as he arose. "I'm not calling names, for I don't know anything certain. If I had proof but I haven't. Never mind. You ought to know enough to watch a certain fellow who thinks his place is filled by a person not his equal. He says there is favoritism in the matter. I rather think I have spoken plainly enough.
"It is Harrison and his crowd," said Parker, "and I'm blowed if they haven't got Roll Ditson with them! That cad of a freshman has succeeded in getting in here again." "Ditson hates Merriwell, don't yer know," said Paulding. "He pretends to be friendly with Merry, but he's ready to do him any time."
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