o try the schemes I have in my head. I will meet you
here to-morrow night at about this time, and I'll do my best to have
the ring. Only, if I haven't got it, I want you to promise not to jump
on me and grab me the way you did to-night."

"Don't be afraid. I won't harm you."

"Well, you can scare a fellow out of his boots, and I don't like to be
scared."

"I am afraid you are something of a coward," said the man, a trace of
contempt in his tone.

But little more passed between them before the man in black turned away
toward Fardale village, and Wat descended the road in the direction of
the academy.

Frank hugged the ground at one side of the road, and he was not seen by
Snell.

But, by the time Wat had gone so far that there was little danger of
discovery if Frank moved from the locality, the man in black had
vanished in the night.

Still, Frank sprang up and went scurrying lightly up the hill, keeping
to the grass at the side of the road, so his feet made scarcely a sound.

He hurried along the road till Fardale village was almost reached, but
he saw nothing more of the man in black. The mysterious stranger had
vanished as completely as if swallowed up by the earth.

Frank had hoped to trace the man to the place where he was stopping,
but he was forced to give this up and hurry back to the academy.

Still he had not wasted his time.

"They will meet there to-morrow night, eh?" he muttered. "Well, it
would not be a very difficult thing to have an officer on hand with a
warrant for this stranger."

He went straight to his room, hoping to find Hodge there.

He did. Bart was seated in his favorite attitude, with his feet on the
table, and a cigarette in his mouth!

CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE RING DISAPPEARS.

"Bart!"

The exclamation of mingled surprise and reproach came from Frank's lips.

Hodge had made a move to conceal the cigarette, but discovered he was
too late.

His face turned crimson, and he hung his head with shame.

Frank closed the door, and came to the side of his roommate, on whose
shoulder he gently placed a hand, as he asked:

"How does it happen, Bart?"

Bart started to say something, choked a little, and then forced an
unpleasant laugh.

"Oh, I'm a liar!" he burst out, hotly. "I have broken my pledge at the
first temptation!"

"Why did you do it? You know you said you could leave off smoking
cigarettes easily."

"I thought I could."

"And you found out the hab