“Sure I do! Only, what’s their reason? Do you think they tried to get Merry where they could beat him up?” “From what I saw of the colonel,” said Clancy thoughtfully, “he wouldn’t go into anything so raw as that, old man. Bully tried it and got all that was coming to him last night. Granted that Chip was lured away, there are some folks who would have a decidedly good reason to keep him out of sight for a day or two.” “Who?” “Some of the Franklin Academy crowd. I may be doing him an injustice, but I’d be more apt to blame Bob Randall than the Carsons, Billy.” Billy Mac stared in open disbelief. “Randall? But why should he try to keep Chip away from Fardale?” “Because he wants to pitch in Monday’s game against Franklin. It looks to me as if Randall was trying for the place Ted Crockett will leave vacant. If he won the Franklin game he’d be a popular hero----” “Cut out this foolishness, Clan!” Billy Mac leaned forward earnestly. He was a staunch friend of Merriwell’s, but he had seen Bob Randall at his best, and both liked and admired the fiery, handsome Southerner. “You’re away off. Bob Randall isn’t that sort, not by a good deal. He doesn’t like Chip particularly, but it’s an honorable, open-faced dislike, and it won’t last. If he knew anything like this was going on, he would be the first one to warn Chip. No, if there’s any one to blame, Clancy, it’s the Carsons.” The red-haired chap nodded. He was quick to recognize that his words might have been an injustice to Randall, whom he did not know at all well. Moreover, if anything was wrong it was no doubt inspired by Bully Carson or his father. “Yes, Billy, I got a bit out of perspective there, I reckon. Randall or the Franklin crowd wouldn’t be down here. Well, our best plan will be to hit for Orton and see if Merry’s car got disabled.” By dint of inquiries they soon found that there was but one road to Orton, and that if they took it there was no chance that they could miss Merry. Clancy was for going to call on Colonel Carson and putting it up to him straight, but Billy Mac persuaded him to adopt the more sensible course of taking the road to Orton and tracing up Merriwell. “Let’s go up to your house, then,” said Clancy, “and load up with some rations. Chip may be pretty hungry when we find him, and there’s no knowing how long we’ll be gone. Besides, we’d better tell your mother nothing of what we suspect. No use worrying her, Billy.” This was sound argument, and when they arrived at the McQuade home they said nothing of their uneasiness. Clancy stated that Chip had been called over to Orton very unexpectedly, and that they were going over to meet him, and might possibly proceed on to Fardale without returning. So, loading the _Hornet_ with their belongings and a generous amount of Mrs. McQuade’s toothsome edibles, the two started out on the trail of Frank Merriwell, junior. Once outside of town, Clancy opened up the _Hornet_ and showed what she could do.