“The pleasure is mutual,” assured Huntley. “Even before coming to America I heard a great deal of you. Your career attracted the attention of Oxford and Cambridge men. I believe you are the only all-round athlete who has also excelled in competing with the champions who have made a specialty of many different sports. Usually an all-round man is in truth a jack of all trades and master of none. So you have entered for the magnificent Ashley trophy?” “Not yet; but I have announced my intention of entering.” “Before the trophy was displayed?” Something in this question gave Merry a slight flush of annoyance, but he concealed it perfectly. “As Proctor can affirm, my intention was announced before the trophy was shown. Your friend, Hollingsworth, who seems to have great confidence in you, bantered me into it.” A slight cloud fell on Huntley’s face. “Mr. Hollingsworth is a mere acquaintance,” he hastened to explain. “I was not aware that he had so much confidence in me.” Back of this Frank seemed to read the speaker’s thoughts, and he was satisfied that Huntley was inwardly cursing Hollingsworth. “I was led to believe him a friend and to think he had great confidence in you through some talk he made.” “Well, whatever Mr. Hollingsworth’s opinion of me, I am certain he would rejoice to see me defeated by one or more of the youngsters he has developed here. It would be a feather in his cap to bring out a champion, you know.” “It would, indeed; and I should be pleased to see a member of this club secure the trophy.” “What, and you in the race?” “Yes.” “Oh, then, were you to find yourself matched against an Ashport man toward the finish, with it settled that one of you two must come in first, you would give the other fellow the race?” “I have not said so, nor would I do anything of the sort.” “I thought not!” said Huntley, with the slightest curl to his lips. “Whenever I enter any contest I do so with the full determination to win, if such a thing lies within my power. Were I confident an Ashport man would win I would not enter at all.” “Your generosity is really surprising!” cried the Buffalo man laughingly. “Under any circumstances, I’ll guarantee you’ll enter and do your best to secure the runner of gold. In spite of your past reputation, however, I think you will find it no simple matter to obtain the trophy.” “Were it a simple matter,” said Frank, “it would not be worth trying for.” “That is handsomely said, Mr. Merriwell; but I hardly fancy you could be deterred from trying under any conditions.” Having said this, Huntley again expressed his satisfaction over the meeting with Frank and bowed himself away. “You touched him, Frank,” said Hodge. “He didn’t like it when you mentioned his friendship for Hollingsworth and the confidence the latter had in him.” “No, he didn’t like it at all,” agreed Frank. “The fact that it did touch him increases my suspicions.” “Naturally.” “There is something going on beneath the surface.”