He did not dare race Nemo again, for the college authorities would not
permit it, in the face of what had been said about betting.

Frank had gotten rid of some of his enemies for the time being, but
there were others, those who could not stand it to see him become such a
general hero.

One evening a crowd of these gathered in a resort known as Jackson's.
All had been drinking freely, and it was not long before every tongue
was loosened.

In the crowd were several students that my old readers have met before.
They included a hot-headed lad named Tom Thornton, a fussy fellow called
Puss Parker, and Fred Flemming, Willis Paulding, Andy Emery and Tad
Horner.

Earlier in the evening they had met at Morey's, but found they could not
talk privately there, as the place was filled with students.

Then Thornton had given them the tip to go down to Jackson's, a place
sometimes patronized by the students, although it did not exclude the
general public.

Jackson's was known as a "joint," and very few of the college lads cared
to have it known that they ever went there; but it was a place where a
private room could be obtained in which to drink, gamble, or carouse,
and for this reason it appealed to a certain class of students.

It was in this place that Frank had exposed the gambler, Rolf Harlow,
and broken up the game by which Harlow and Harris were bleeding a
certain number of "lambs."

In getting together his party, Thornton had chosen the ones who seemed
to have sympathy with himself and Fred Flemming, or held a grudge
against Frank Merriwell.

Merriwell's name had not been mentioned until all had indulged very
freely in wine, Thornton being the most generous in "blowing off."

Then came a discussion about college sports, over which all had grown
more or less heated. At length Merriwell's name was mentioned, and then
Thornton declared Frank a cad.

"By Jawve!" drawled Willis Paulding, allowing cigarette smoke to escape
from his mouth as he spoke, "I agree with you, Thornton, don't yer 'now.
I nevah could bear that fellaw Merriwell."

Tad Horner gave a sniff.

"Merriwell would feel bad if he knew it," observed Tad, sarcastically.
"It would break him all up."

"That would not make the least difference to me, my dear fellaw,"
declared Willis, who was too dense to catch the sarcasm. "I have nevah
twaveled awound with him."

"I have noticed that," grinned Tad. "You have permitted him to avoid you
in a most as