“Hodge didn’t have much money yesterday,” said Vance, staring at the open grip. “I wonder how he happened to have enough to-day to settle his hotel bill and purchase a ticket?” “How do you know he didn’t have money yesterday?” Frank shot the question at Vance. “Oh, he—I—I heard him say so on the train.” “Did you?” “Yes. Where do you suppose he got his money?” “Perhaps I let him have it.” Vance was disappointed and puzzled. He could not understand why Merriwell did not denounce Hodge, for he was certain Frank had discovered the money was gone. Was it possible Merry intended to keep silent and not charge Hodge with the robbery? Vance could hardly believe such a thing possible. He could not fathom the depths of such fidelity to a treacherous friend. “What’s this?” said Garland, stooping and picking up the crumpled sheet of paper. “There’s writing upon it.” “Yes,” said Frank, as he quickly took it from the man’s hand. “I threw it down there.” Again Vance was disappointed. “Merriwell is too proud to let us know,” he thought. “He doesn’t want us to think he was fooled by Hodge.” “Well, I, for one, shall not feel very good toward Hodge if he does come back,” admitted Dunton. “What are we going to do, Mr. Merriwell? The town is billed for the play, the day has arrived for the performance, and there is a big advance sale.” “We’ll have to lay off to-night,” answered Frank, as if that settled it without further talk. “I will attend to that. Don’t let it worry you.” “How can you get a man to fill Hodge’s place?” asked Garland. “That I do not know yet.” “I wonder what he was after in this room,” came from Vance, in a last desperate effort to force Frank to speak out. “He sneaked out of here as if he had committed a crime. You haven’t lost anything, have you, Mr. Merriwell? He didn’t take anything from you, did he?” “I haven’t looked around yet,” was the cool answer. “As for coming into this room, he had a right to do that at any time. It was a privilege I gave him, and it was always so understood by hotel clerks wherever we stopped. I know you do not like Hodge, but take my advice, don’t try to make him appear worse than he is. I don’t like it, and I won’t have it!” Frank walked to the door and opened it. “Gentlemen,” he said, “I beg you to excuse me. I have business to look after, and time is valuable now.” They took the hint and filed out. The door closed after them. Vance wheeled about and looked toward the door, his lips curling in scorn. “Merriwell is a fool!” he declared. CHAPTER IV. “TRUE AS STEEL.” Shortly after the three actors departed, Ephraim Gallup came bursting into Frank’s room, looking excited and agitated. “Gol-darn my pertaturs!” he spluttered. “Whut’s this I hear abaout Hodge?” “I don’t know,” said Frank. “What do you hear?” “He’s gone!” “Yes.” “Skipped?” “Yes.” “’Thout notifyin’ yeou?” “Yes.” “Jee-roo-sa-lum!”