“You think he would not dare, and I believe that is the very thing he would dare. He would reason that no one would expect him to come back here, and back here he would come. If he has returned here, he knows by this time that he did not kill you, Hodge, and once more he is dangerous, for he will try to get another crack at Frank.” The reasoning of Diamond was beginning to impress Hodge. “Well, I don’t see how you connect this with anything Hattie Hazle said to Frank,” he spoke. “Hattie Hazle asked him to meet somebody, and he has gone to meet that person.” “Well?” “At first he refused. That showed it was no one he regarded as a friend.” “It looks that way,” confessed Bart. “Then he must have gone to meet an enemy. He maybe in danger. Let’s go look for him, Hodge.” “By Jove! I will do it, Diamond. I don’t want him to think I’d spy on him, but it would be enough to make a man daffy to have Flynn come back here and get at Merry. Come on, Jack!” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER IX AN UNPLEASANT DISCOVERY. The house was surrounded by beautiful grounds. There were hedges, shrubbery, arbors and retreats. The boys sought Merriwell there. They walked across the grass, avoiding the gravel walks, and their feet made no noise. Suddenly Jack paused and clutched Bart’s arm. “Listen!” he whispered. They could hear the murmur of voices near at hand. “Come!” Forward they stole. “Merry is there,” whispered Hodge. They could hear him speaking. “If he is in no danger, we’ll get out in a hurry,” said Jack, whose heart was beginning to misgive him. “I don’t want to be nosing into his business.” Then they paused close to a clump of fancifully trimmed cedars. They could hear a voice saying: “I thank you, Mr. Merriwell, for your generosity in promising not to make trouble for me. I know you could do so if you wished, but I give you my word of honor that I had no idea the fellow, Flynn, meant to do anyone serious harm when we attacked you. Wallace got me into it. I’ve got to go home, for they say my mother is nearly crazy over my absence.” “It’s all right, Woodock,” said the voice of Frank Merriwell. “Go home, and be sure I hold no grudge. I think I can satisfy Hodge. Anyhow, we are going to leave Belfast to-morrow, if everything is favorable.” “Well, I wish you good luck.” “Oh, come away!” whispered Diamond, in Bart’s ear, his tone indicating disgust. “I’ve made a fool of myself. It’s only Woodock, and he is harmless.” “’Sh!” warned Hodge. “Keep still. They are going. We have made asses of ourselves, but we don’t want Merry to know it.” “Permit me to thank you, too, Mr. Merriwell,” said another voice. “You are very generous. Mart and I were schoolmates, and when he asked me to see you, I was glad to help him.” It was the voice of Hattie Hazle.