takin" me nightcap. Dere was some fellers in dere wot was college chaps, and dey was talkin" about races and t"ings. Pretty soon dey said somet"ing about you. Some of "em was hard on you, an" dat got me mad up.
I jes" waded inter der gang an" offered ter lick anybody wot didn"t t"ink you was der clean stuff."
Frank smiled a bit, realizing that he had, indeed, made a firm friend of this bruiser who had once tried to whip him, but had received a severe drubbing, instead.
"Dey didn"t want ter shove up against me," Kirby went on, "an" dey got out right away. Den a man walks up ter me, and he says I was all right, an" he blows me. He continues ter blow me, an" ask me questions about you. Arter a while, he asks me if I would fight fer you if I had der chance. "Would I!" says I, jes" like dat. "Well, old sport, show me der chance!" Den he says dat you has some enemies wot is plannin" ter do yer, an" he might be able ter give me a chance ter put in a few licks fer yer.
"Well, dis evenin", as I was inter Jackson"s, who should come in an"
call me aside but dis same cove. He says ter me, "Kirby"--he had found out me name--"Kirby," says he, jes" like dat, "I"m goin" ter give yer dat chance ter put in some licks fer Frank Merriwell."
"Den he tells me dat he were in a place an" heard a scheme ter put some toughs onter yer ter-night w"en yer was goin" home from der t"eeter. Dey had heard some feller say dat he was goin" ter invite yer ter be in er box wid him at der t"eeter, an" so dey knew yer was goin".
"Dat"s all, "cept dat me an" der bloke wot was wid me went ter der t"eeter, him payin" all expenses, an" we kept watch of yer. W"en we came out, you started fer him, an" he hooked it. I was s"prised, but I follered. Den I found dere was odders follerin", an der gang run yer in here. Der feller I was wid, as was in a doorway nigh der alley all der time, skipped back fer me, an" we jumped right down inter der alley, takin" some heavy canes, wot we had wid us all der time. You know wot happened arter dat."
Frank was puzzled and mystified. He asked Plug to describe the mysterious man, and Kirby did so. This added to Frank"s wonderment, for the description tallied with that of the stranger who had tried to bribe him to throw a ball game to Harvard; but that it could be the same man, even though everything indicated that it must be, Frank could not believe.
That night, after going to bed, Frank lay awake for hours, thinking of the stranger and the mystery which surrounded him.
CHAPTER XXVII.
AN EMISSARY FROM THE WEST.
Frank was determined to solve the mystery of the unknown man. He did not tell Rattleton everything concerning his adventure of the previous night, although he was forced to explain that he had been in an encounter, and that he did not know who his a.s.sailants were.
The theatre party had wondered greatly at Frank"s sudden disappearance, and Frank confessed that he had followed the mysterious unknown, who had given him the slip.
"That fellow is playing the shadow on you, Frank," cried Harry, indignantly. "He"s up to some sort of crookedness."
"He must bear a charmed life, or he would have been killed the night he jumped from the New London special," said Frank.
"He decided it was best to take chances by jumping rather than to fall into the hands of Old Eli"s sons, and I think he was right."
Creighton came around to inquire how it happened that Merriwell disappeared so suddenly the previous evening.
Since the boat race Creighton had sought Merriwell"s company, although he had scarcely given Frank any attention before that.
Creighton was a prominent society man and had considerable influence at Yale; his friendship was of value to any fellow on whom he saw fit to bestow it.
His father was rich, and Charlie spent money freely, as his whims dictated. Not even those with whom he was not on friendly terms, however, could justly accuse him of being a cad.
"Awfully jolly time last night," yawned Creighton. "It was rather kiddish, but it is a relief to play the boy once in a while. It capped the whole business when the actors themselves finished the fun by giving the manager away in the last act."
Frank smiled, but did not explain his connection with the crowning event of the evening.
"Jove! I"m hungry," Charlie declared. "Come on, Merriwell and Rattleton, we"ll go down to Bob"s, and have a chop."
He would not take no for an answer, and so, a few minutes later, the trio crossed the campus, Creighton in the middle, his arms locked with those of the other lads. All were laughing and joking in a light-hearted manner.
Creighton took them directly to a restaurant that was famous for its chops. They ordered, Charlie and Harry taking ale with their food.
Just as the chops were brought on, a man came in and took a seat at a table nearby. This man was dressed in a new suit of "store clothes," and wore a full beard. He gave his order to the waiter in a low tone, and then began perusing a paper, behind which his face was almost entirely hidden.
Rattleton happened to sit so that he naturally looked toward the man, and, several times, he caught that individual peering over the top of the paper. It did not take Harry long to note that the person with the paper seemed to be watching Frank Merriwell.
Suddenly Frank"s roommate arose, and, with two swift steps, he was at the man"s side. Without a word, Harry caught the gentleman by the beard, which he gave a sharp jerk.
The beard came off in Harry"s hand!
It was false!
"Look, Frank!" cried Rattleton, pointing at the smooth-shaven face exposed; "it is the mysterious man who has been following you about!"
It was in truth the mysterious unknown, and Frank was on his feet in a twinkling, resolved not to let the man escape till he had given a full explanation of his remarkable conduct.
To Merriwell"s surprise, the stranger showed no desire to run away, but sat smiling serenely up at him, calmly observing:
"Do not excite yourself, Mr. Merriwell; there is no reason for it. I have completed my business in a most satisfactory manner, and I am now ready to explain everything to you."
"It is an explanation which I expect and demand," said Frank, coldly.
"It is no more than fair that I should have one, as you have shown yourself my persistent enemy, and that without any just cause that I know of."
"You are mistaken," returned the man; "instead of your enemy, I have been your firm friend from the very first."
"I fail to see how you can make that out."
"I will call at your rooms this evening and give you a full explanation."
"No!" cried Frank, promptly, "you will give me an explanation here and immediately."
"I do not think you will press me to that," was the calm a.s.sertion. "I might speak of affairs of a personal and family nature."
"You--you speak of such affairs--to me? Now it strikes me that you are attempting a bluff, sir; but it will not work."
The stranger reached into his pocket and took out something, which he held up before Frank"s eyes.
"This," he said, with confidence, "will convince you that I speak nothing but the truth."
"My father"s ring!" gasped Frank.
"Yes," bowed the man; "it is the ring that led him to one of the richest mines in the Southwest. He said that it would simply be necessary for me to show it to you, and you would know that he sent me. Shall I call this evening, Mr. Merriwell?"
"If you please, sir," said Frank, bowing respectfully.
The boys were surprised, but Frank said he would explain some time later.
That evening the stranger called, as he had said he would. Frank had taken pains to run Harry out of the room, so they were quite alone. The boy locked the door, as a precaution against unwelcome interruptions.