Frank was not long deciding. He realized that he could not prosecute Frosty Ike’s gang without having all the facts come out concerning the manner in which Hodge obtained the money, and he concluded to give the man the desired pledge. He was led to a low quarter of the city near the river. Down among a lot of storehouses they went, and entered one of the old buildings. “He’s in here somewhere,” said Merry’s companion. “We’ll have to hunt for him.” Frank was on guard for a trap, for it seemed quite possible he had been led into a snare. The search began. From room to room they went. At last they came to a wretched room, filled with old boxes and barrels. Frank was in advance. He entered the room, and there lay Hodge on the floor, drugged or—drunk! It was hours later that Bart came to himself in a respectable room of a hotel. He opened his eyes, and they rested on Frank Merriwell, who was sitting there, watching and waiting. Bart did not speak. He lay there, wondering where he was and if he had been dreaming. After a little, Frank moved nearer the bed, smiling in his old, pleasant way, and said: “Well, old man, I expect you feel pretty rocky?” Still Hodge did not speak. “The doctor said he thought you’d come round all right in a short time,” observed Merry. “He hasn’t been gone long.” “Frank!” “What is it, old man?” “Have I been ill?” “Well, you were about as ill as knockout drops could make you without doing you serious damage.” “Knockout drops! Then it was no dream! Then I did talk like a fool to you in Atchison and run away! Then I did resolve to go straight to the devil in a hurry and try to make a start on the road! Then I really saw you at the prize fight just as the police broke in! Then I really did get in with a gang after that and drink with them! I have betrayed you, Frank! I ran away from you, like a miserable sneak! I felt I was doing a mean thing after I had started, but it was too late then!” “It is never too late to mend, you know.” “A fool said that! In my case, it is too late!” Still he had said nothing of taking the money. Frank wondered at that. “What made you follow me, Frank?” said Bart. “Why didn’t you let me go? You have bothered with me enough. There is no reason why you should do so any more. You must despise me now. Why did you follow me?” “I thought I might overtake you in time to save you, but you fell into the hands of those toughs, and they stripped you. You did not have coat, hat, watch or money when I found you.” “They didn’t get much money,” said Bart, “for I didn’t have much. My watch was valuable, of course, but——” “What became of the money you had?” asked Frank. “Why, I didn’t have much,” said Bart, “though I put up a bluff with the sports that I did. I took only twenty dollars, you know, and I left the note telling you I had taken that. I thought that was not too much for my work.”