u to square
yerselves with him at the same time. If that is right, why shouldn't we
kinder go into partnerships for a short period? I put the question to
yer, and you can do as ye please."

The quartet at the table looked at one another inquiringly and
doubtingly. They seemed to hesitate.

"If this man tells the truth, and I should judge that he does, he may be
of service to us and we to him," said Sport Harris.

"That's right," nodded Harlow. "If Merriwell gave him that mug and those
beautiful eyes, I don't wonder that he wants to get square."

Hartwick was silent. He was looking Mike Hogan over, and he was
thinking:

"Is it possible I have fallen to the point where I have to take such a
fellow as a comrade? No! It will not be as a comrade. We can use him as
a tool, perhaps, and that is what we will do, if we use him at all."

"Sit down," invited Hartwick, suddenly rising and offering Mike his
chair. "I'll get another. I want to hear just how you came by those
eyes."

Hogan sat down at the table and Hartwick brought a chair from a corner.

"We are all anxious to hear how you came by those eyes," declared
Harlow.

"Some gent order drinks, and I will tell ye. Never mind," he cried, as
he saw them look at each other knowingly, as if they thought he was
trying to work them for liquor, "I'll order, myself! Don't you think
for a second that I'm broke!"

Then he flung a small roll of bills on the table before them, reached
past Harlow, and pressed the button. When the waiter appeared, he said:

"Give these gents anything they want, Pete."

"Wot if they orders champagne?" grinned Pete, winking at the boys.

"Then bring it, dern ye!" snarled Hogan, as he grabbed up the roll of
money and thrust it at the waiter. "Take the pay out of that and gimme
the change."

Drinks were ordered and quickly brought. Hogan paid for them and gave
the waiter a quarter as a tip.

"How about it, Pete?" he asked. "Am I all right?"

"Ye're all right, Mike," declared the waiter, promptly; "and the young
gents will find that anything you says sticks."

Then he went out.

"Now," said Hogan, "before I begin I want to tell you chaps this: I'm on
the make. That is how I happened to get up against this chap Merriwell.
I heard that he paid a cool thousand for that horse of his, and I kinder
admitted that a boy who could pay that sum for a horse must be in
circumstances that would permit him to burn money in an open grate. Such
a chap