freaks and
fancies. He seems to be just the kind of a man who would be easily
turned against a nephew who had, as he would consider it, gone astray."

"That settles Merriwell! If we cannot get the old uncle down on him,
we are pretty poor schemers."

They looked at each other and smiled again. A precious pair of
youthful plotters they were!

"We must be slick about this business," warned Snell. "We mustn't let
anybody but ourselves get the least wind of it."

"Certainly not."

"And we must do our prettiest to pull the wool over Merriwell's eyes,
for you know he is rather discerning in some things, and he may be
inclined to be wary. We must seem to think he is the finest fellow in
the world."

"That will be pretty hard," said Leslie, with a wry face, "but I have
been doing something in that line of late, and I will keep it up. That
business doesn't come so easy for me as it does for you."

"You can do it, if you try. And I shall depend on you to skin him with
the papers."

"That won't be hard, if he plays square."

"I don't think there is any doubt about that. He is one of the kind of
fellows who doesn't know enough to play any other way."

"Then Frank Merriwell's name is mud--with a capital M."

CHAPTER VII.

SPREADING THE SNARE.

The plot was laid, the snare was set, but the game seemed wary. For
some time Frank Merriwell remained away from those midnight gatherings
in the room of the student who had committed suicide.

"Hang the luck!" exclaimed Gage. "Is he going to keep away right
along?"

"He must not be allowed to do so," said Leslie. "He must be shamed
into coming."

"That may not be easy."

"It should not be difficult with a fellow like Merriwell. He must give
me a chance to get even."

"Hodge doesn't try to get Merriwell out again."

"No. He says he will not influence him to attend the gatherings."

"What's the matter with Hodge?"

"I don't know. He is ready enough to come himself."

It was true that Bart had positively refused to use his influence to
induce Merriwell to attend again one of the secret parties. He had
been greatly moved by Frank's revelation, and he had resolved not to
lead Frank into the path that was so fascinating and so dangerous for
him. He did not know that the evil was already done--the fever was
burning in Merriwell's veins.

Frank had been waiting an opportunity to speak with Snell in private,
and it came one day when he met the fel