Merriwell took such care of himself that he was in perfect condition. He had not given up physical exercise, although he had thought of keeping out of football that season. Every day he spent a certain amount of time in the gym, and not a minute of that time was wasted. Under no circumstances did Merriwell believe in radical dieting. At the same time he believed in common sense, and he knew a fellow could do himself no more harm than by overloading his stomach. The gourmand makes himself heavy of body, and dull of brain. Frank had quite forgotten the unpleasant occurrence of the previous afternoon, and he dipped into his studies after the earnest manner that had marked him of late. On returning from recitation in the middle of the forenoon, he found visitors in his room. They had been admitted by "Honest John," the colored porter. "Lor' bress yeh!" grinned the white-headed old darky, showing his teeth in a broad grin--"Lor' bress yeh, Mistah Merriwell! Nebber see no purtier gal in all mah bawn days!" "Girl!" cried Frank, astonished. "Lor' bress yeh, yes! Purty's a picter, Mistah Merriwell." "Girl in my room?" "Yes, sah." "You let her in, John?" "Yes, sah; but dar's a lady wif her, sah." "Oh, ha!" "Yes, sah--got a face dat'll stop a trolley car, sah. Looks like it war cut out of wood, sah, an' mighty hard wood at dat. De gal smile, but de ole woman nebber smile at all." Frank looked puzzled, and Honest John began to look troubled. "Hope Ah ain't done no harm, sah?" he faltered. "De ladies said dey knowed yeh, sah, an' dey war yeh friends." "But I do not know of any friends in New Haven who would come to my room." John showed alarm. "Lor', sah! hope dis ain't no scrape, sah! Mebbe yeh don't want teh see 'em? I'll jes' go an' 'splain yeh ain' heah--I'll say yeh been called away sudden by de deff ob yeh grandmam." "Never mind, John. My grandmothers died years ago, and my visitors may be aware of the fact. I'll see them myself, although I don't care to be bothered by visitors at this time of the day." "Hope it's all right, sah," said John. "Yo' boys hab to be careful, sah. If yo' git too wild----" But Frank was hurrying to his room, regardless of the darky's words. Honest John followed. He listened outside the door after Frank entered. He heard a girlish cry of delight, and an exclamation of pleasure from Merriwell. "Lor' sakes!" he chuckled, holding one crooked hand over his mouth, as he stood crouching at the door. "Suah dat don' soun' lek trubble! Yo' am all right, John. Jes' yo' watch fo' Mistah Merriwell when he come out, an' yeh'll get a tip fer lettin' de ladies in. Hey--what am dat?" He held his ear close to the door and listened again. Then the crooked black hand was pressed still closer over his mouth, and his whole body shook with emotion as he tiptoed away.