Now an odd thing happened. Manton stepped forward and spoke to Frank. “You’ve been kept busy shaking hands with the rest of the boys,” he said. “I’m not inclined to rush forward and overwhelm a visitor. I leave that to Grafter.” Fuller was relieved, and he immediately introduced both Manton and Frost. “We’re glad to know you, Mr. Merriwell,” declared the gentleman pugilist. “I heard a great deal about you at college. You surely had all Yale hypnotized. Of course some of the things they tell of you are preposterous. I regard you as very clever in being able to secure such a reputation.” “I don’t think I understand you,” said Merry, disagreeably impressed by the fellow’s words. “Why, you know they seem to think in New Haven that you were a champion at any old thing to which you turned your hand. No man could excel at everything. That’s out of reason. I presume you were fairly clever as a baseball pitcher, or something of that sort; but they seemed to fancy you were possessed of the powers of a god. For instance, although I was the champion bowler and sparrer, I was continually being told what Merriwell did when he was there. I grew sick of it. I longed for an opportunity to demonstrate to them that you were not the only person on earth. Of course I had no such opportunity. Had you drifted along at the proper moment, I’d taken special delight in showing you up on the alleys.” He laughed as he made this statement. “Evidently,” said Frank, “it was a good thing for my reputation that I kept away from New Haven while you were in college.” “As far as bowling or boxing was concerned.” “You’re a fine bowler?” “I am the champion of this club, although one of our members is the champion bowler of the White Elephant, of Paterson.” “I’m hardly in my best form as a bowler just now,” confessed Merry. Frost started to laugh, but checked himself. “I presume not,” smiled Manton. “I have bowled very little during the last two months, having been interested mainly in outdoor sports.” “Don’t be alarmed,” said Manton; “I’m not going to challenge you.” “But I was thinking of challenging you,” said Merry sweetly, his words causing the heart of Bart Hodge to leap with satisfaction. CHAPTER II. IN THE CLUB ALLEY. “Oh, were you?” exclaimed the gentleman pugilist, with a touch of surprise. “Well, that suits me! If you’re not in your best form, however, you had better wait, for I’ll bury you.” “Even if you do that, it will give me pleasure to witness your skill,” nodded Frank. “And I believe I am able to accept defeat gracefully. I’ve been compelled to do so more than once in my day.” “What’s that?” cut in Frost, in his cold voice. “Why, from all reports I should fancy you had never been defeated at anything.” “You know reports are generally exaggerated.” “Well,” said Manton eagerly, “if you’re anxious to be trimmed, we’ll get at it.” Merry calmly removed his coat and vest.