Frank Merriwell's Champions Part 44

"Just as I thought!" he cried. "The shoes are set the wrong end forward on the creature, and I might have been fooled if I had not seen Wade riding into the timber. It was a clever trick, but it failed."

Then he turned and looked down at the man once more.

"In at the death!" he grimly said.

CHAPTER XXVIII-A CHANGE OF SCENE

With the death of Wade, the paid tool of Stephen Fenton, the latter took alarm and disappeared from Springbrook Farm, leaving a clear field to Harry Harden.

Before leaving Springbrook, Frank was forced to repeat the story of the hunt so many times that he became heartily tired of it. He was also tired of being regarded as a hero, and hearing compliments from all sides. A less level-headed lad might have become inflated with his own importance, but "swelled head" was a disease that never secured a hold on Frank Merriwell.

But the boys all voted that they had enjoyed themselves hugely at Springbrook, and each and every one of them was forced to promise that it would not be the last visit to the place.

They might have remained longer, as it was, but the fall term of college was at hand, and several of them were impatient to return to dear Old Yale.

"I want to get back and take a rest," said Browning. "A big, long rest.

I think I need it."

"Did you ever see the time you didn't rest a need-I mean, need a rest?"

cried Harry.

"Are we to go right straight through to New York?" questioned Jack.

"I thought so at first," answered Frank. "But I have received a letter which may change our plans-if you agree."

"What letter?" asked several.

"A letter from Charlie Creighton, of Philadelphia. He urges us to stop off and pay him a visit."

"Creighton, eh?" said Jack. "I remember him. He was a good chap at Yale."

"Can we have some sport in Philadelphia?" questioned Harry.

"I think so. But not such sport as we have had here or in the mountains."

"Dot vos all right alretty," put in Hans. "I peen villing to take it easy for you, you bet mine life! No more vild adventures py me alretty!"

"By gum, it's time we quieted deown," snorted Ephraim. "Ef we don't we'll be as wild ez hawks when we git ter hum!"

The matter was talked over for quite a while, after which a vote was taken by which it was unanimously resolved to move on to Philadelphia, pay a short visit to the college youth mentioned, and see "how the land lay," as Harry expressed it.

Two days later found them on the way. They picked out the best bicycle road, and took their time, so that even Bruce did no growling.

A telegram was sent ahead to Charlie Creighton, and he met them at the Continental Hotel, at which place they decided to put up for the time being, for they knew Creighton could not very well accommodate the whole crowd, and they were unwilling to separate.

"You must stay over, at least a few days," said Charlie Creighton. "And some of you must stay up to our house too. It's up on Chestnut Hill, and I know you will like it. My sister has a number of girl friends up there, and all of us will do what we can to make you comfortable." And so it was settled.

Frank found the Creightons very nice people, and soon felt at home with them. Mabel Creighton was a girl who reminded him slightly of Elsie Bellwood, although he did not think her quite so pretty as his old-time sweetheart.

Mabel had several girl chums, and soon Frank and the other boys were on good terms all around.

The girls loved to play tennis, and it was not long before they induced Frank and the others to play.

What one of these games led to will be told in the chapter to follow.

CHAPTER XXIX-FRANK MEETS DEFEAT

"Look out, Merriwell!" called Bart Hodge, from his comfortable seat in the shade of the vine-covered arbor. "This game decides the set."

"I know that," smiled Frank, as he took his position back of the base line of the right court, poised his racket, and prepared to serve. "Miss Creighton is a wonder at tennis."

The pretty girl on the opposite side of the net laughed merrily.

"Oh, what a jolly thing it will be to defeat Frank Merriwell, the great Yale athlete, of whom my brother is forever telling some improbable yarn!" she cried.

Three other girls, two of whom were swinging in a hammock, clapped their hands and laughed.

"Do it, Mabel-do it!" eagerly urged Bessie Blossom. "My brother is forever talking about Frank Merriwell, too! Sile seems to think Mr.

Merriwell is the only fellow in college."

"Oh, he's not the only pebble on the beach!" sang f.a.n.n.y Darling, who, for half an hour, had been trying to tease Jack about Frank, and had succeeded in making the loyal fellow decidedly sour and sarcastic. "He may be able to cut some ice with men, but he'll have to sharpen his wits when he encounters the opposite s.e.x."

f.a.n.n.y was freckled and given to slang, but she was independent, could take care of herself, and was popular.

The third girl, Lucy Lake, said nothing at all, but seemed to enjoy it all very much.

Frank was not at all disturbed by the chaffing of the girls. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it thoroughly, and he laughingly said:

"If I am to fall, I could choose no fairer conqueror."

Mabel Creighton laughed, but added color came to her flushed face, and she could not entirely conceal her happy confusion. She betrayed in a moment that already she had learned to regard her brother's guest with unusual favor.

At tennis Mabel Creighton was a wonder. Never had Frank seen a girl who was so light on her feet and so deft with a racket. She had actually driven him to the base line game, while she played a net game and volleyed with such bewildering skill and rapidity that it made Frank gasp for breath.

To himself Frank confessed that he had never before seen a girl who could serve so perfectly, or who ran up on her service so quickly. It seemed impossible to take her off her guard.

Frank had started out with a half-formed fancy to let her win, but it was not long before he discovered she was an opponent worthy of his best efforts.

And now, as he prepared to serve, the score stood "games all," with one "advantage game" to Mabel's credit. If she could win again, Frank would be defeated.

If possible, Frank resolved to keep her from winning that time, just to make it interesting.