"Harris does not love you."

"It will be a long time before Sport Harris will venture to lift a hand
against me again, for the memory of the fate of his comrade, Hartwick,
is too vivid before him. Hartwick brought disgrace and ruin on himself
by trying to injure me. He was forced to leave college, and then, when
he came back to New Haven and put up that race-track job on me, he
finished his own downfall by robbing his father in order that he might
have a sum of money to stake against me, feeling sure I must lose.
Directly after that race he was arrested."

"What was done about that matter? Was he sent to prison?"

"No; his father would not press the case; but I have heard that the old
man's heart is broken by Hartwick's actions. The worthless rascal was
the apple of the old man's eye. His father had expected to see him go
through college and graduate with flying colors. The disgrace has bowed
the father with grief, and it is said he cannot live long."

"Then Hartwick will get all his money."

"No. The old man has made a will that cuts Evan off with a very small
sum. The rest of the money and estate goes to other relatives and to
charity."

"And Evan Hartwick brought all this on himself by his dastardly attempts
to injure you. It should be a warning to others."

"It is an old saying that 'the way of the transgressor is hard,' but it
seems to take human beings a long time to become convinced that it is
absolutely true."

Frank kept his eyes open, and waited for the second warning, which he
felt sure would come.

He was not mistaken, for it came near night.

A boy appeared at Frank's door, and handed over a sealed envelope, which
he explained he had received from a man with a heavy beard. He said he
had been paid a quarter of a dollar to deliver it.

Frank tore it open and read:

"You will be invited to go to the theatre to-night. Do not go. Your
enemies will be on the watch for you."

"Oh. I knew it was coming!" cried Frank, scornfully. "It is a flimsy
trick! It actually disgusts me!"

Harry was out, and Merriwell was alone.

Later Harry came in, accompanied by Diamond, Browning, Griswold and
Creighton.

"I say, old man," cried Charlie Creighton, addressing Frank, "we have
something on for to-night, and we want you to take a hand."

"You may take a few rotten eggs or decayed vegetables with that hand, if
you like," grinned Griswold.

Frank remembered the second warning. Of the party Creighton was