ce of another person was heard.

"I slipped on the trick, boss. They caught me, and they didn't do a
thing to me--not a thing! My head was near broke and they made me take a
bite outer ther apple I was tryin' to feed ther horse. It'd killed me if
they'd made me eat ther whole of the apple. I'm sorry, but----"

It was Mike Hogan, his brutal face pale and drawn, if he were, indeed,
ill, and a bloody handkerchief tied about his head.

"Your head was near broken!" snarled Hartwick. "You bungling fool! I'll
finish the job!"

And then he hit Mike in the face with his fist. They grappled and fell,
and, as the other lads were trying to pull them apart, there came a
great shout that announced the race was over. The crowd was heard
cheering.

"Which won?" was the question Harlow paused to ask.

"Nemo came in first by a full length," replied a spectator.

Then Hogan was dragged off Hartwick, who lay pallid and still on his
back, looking as if the end had come for him.

Two nights later a jolly party gathered in Frank Merriwell's room to
offer him congratulations. There were speeches, songs, toasts and jests.

"How much will you take for Nemo now, Merriwell?" asked Jack Diamond.
"I want to buy him and send him South to my father."

"You can't," laughed Frank. "Your father hasn't money enough to buy the
dear old boy."

"But what are you going to do with him?" asked Rattleton. "You must
think of the future."

"Not now," smiled Merriwell. "To-morrow is my queen's birthday, and I am
thinking of the present."

Bruce Browning loafed into the room.

"Heard the news, fellows?" he asked.

"No; what is it?" cried several voices.

"Hartwick's been arrested."

"Arrested? What for?"

"For robbing his own father of seven thousand dollars. He knew how to
get at the old gentleman's dough, and he swiped it several days ago.
He's been burning money since then."

"Was the robbery committed before the Mystic Park races?" asked Frank.

"Sure, my boy."

"Then that explains why the mysterious man in black followed me up and
drove me into so many bets. He had Hartwick's money, and Hartwick was
behind the entire game. Well, all his plots miscarried and he got it in
the neck at last."

"Which served him right," declared Jack Diamond, with satisfaction.

CHAPTER IX.

A STRONG ACCUSATION.

After the great horse race matters moved along smoothly for some time.

Frank worked hard over his studies and made fine progress.