itter, and the smile about his mouth was most
unpleasant to see.

"Snell," he said, "you have a head on your shoulders! You are a dandy
schemer! But how will this uncle find out that Merriwell has been
gambling?"

"There are several ways for him to find it out. If we can get hold of
a few of Merriwell's IOU's, they might be sent to the uncle for
collection."

"I see; but first we must run him out of ready cash."

"Of course. By the time he has lost all his money, he will be eager to
play to win it back. We must lend him money, and take his IOU's."

"We'll do it!" Gage jumped up, struck Snell a blow on the back, and
then grasped his hand, giving it a shake.

"We'll do it!" he repeated. "Merriwell's goose is beautifully cooked!"

Snell smiled in his crafty way.

"I am glad you take to the scheme, for with your aid, there ought not
to be any trouble in carrying it out."

"Oh, we'll work it! But how did you find out so much about Merriwell?
That's what sticks me. He has been sort of a mystery here, as none of
the fellows knew exactly where he came from, or anything about his
folks."

"Oh, I took a fancy to get posted concerning him. At first I didn't
see how I was going to do so. That was during camp, and Hans
Dunnerwust tented with him then. I cultivated the thick-headed
Dutchman, and succeeded in getting into his good graces. So I often
visited Hans in the tent when Merriwell and Mulloy, that Irish clown,
who thinks Merriwell the finest fellow in the world, were away. I kept
my eyes open, and one day I spotted a letter to Merriwell. I swiped it
instanter, and it helped me out, for it was from his uncle."

"You're an artist in your line, Wat!" exclaimed Leslie, approvingly.

"That letter didn't give me all the information I desired," continued
Snell, "but I found I had a friend living in a town adjoining the one
Merriwell hails from, so I wrote and asked him to find out a few things
for me. He rode over on his wheel, and found out what I have told you."

"Why, you are a regular detective, old man!"

"Merriwell's mother," continued Wat, "has been dead several years. No
one seems to know much about his father, except that he was nearly
always away from home, and he died suddenly in California a little more
than a year ago. I haven't been able to find out that he left any
property, so Merriwell is dependent on the generosity of a rather
crabbed and crusty old uncle, whose head is filled with