They were walking down Fifth Avenue. Frank called a cab before answering Madison. “To the Fifth Avenue Hotel,” he said, as they got in. “No; the Hoffman House,” said Diamond. “We are going to look for my money there.” “We’ll go to the Fifth Avenue first,” said Frank quietly. Both Madison and Diamond were feeling quite different from a short time before as they rolled up that splendid street. Madison was anxious, and he could not wait for Merriwell to explain. “What promise do you require?” he asked huskily. “I know absolutely nothing about you, Mr. Madison,” said Merry; “and I do not mean to ask embarrassing questions. I do not know your occupation, or anything of that sort. You may hold a position of trust where you are permitted to handle large sums of money.” Madison choked, but did not speak. “Never mind that,” Merry went on. “You have squandered a sum of money that puts you in a bad place, and you feel that you must get that money back. Something tells me that you are a square man—that you are a man of your word.” “Thank you,” gasped Madison huskily. “I have a small bank-account on which I can draw. I will let you have any sum up to a thousand on your agreement to pay as much as possible monthly. But you must make the promise I ask.” “I can pay you twenty-five dollars a month—yes, I might pay fifty by squeezing. I’ll do it—I’ll pay fifty.” “Twenty-five is sufficient. I shall ask no interest. All I want is my money back.” “You shall have it—every penny!” “But you must make the promise and keep it.” “What is the promise?” “Never to gamble again as long as you live!” came impressively from Frank’s lips. “Do you give me that promise?” “Yes;” cried Madison, without hesitation. “And, by Heaven! I’ll keep it!” Frank grasped his hand. “Good boy!” he said, in a tone of earnest satisfaction that impressed the yellow-haired youth strangely. “You will have to cut your friend Charley Herrick in order to keep that promise.” “I shall cut all my friends of that set, Mr. Merriwell—I swear it! I have learned my lesson this night. That poor fellow who wanted to blow his brains out—ah! that turned my blood to water! It showed me the road I was traveling. I felt that I might stand in his place before the night was over!” “And so you might had you stayed there to gamble. Had you won to-night, you would have come back. Some night you would have lost everything. That would have been the end.” Madison shuddered. “I know you have saved me, Frank Merriwell!” he said. “But who are you? Are you some good angel who goes round saving foolish fellows from the results of their folly?” “Not exactly!” “And how can you he sure you’ll ever get back one dollar of the money you have offered to loan me? “I am sure because I believe in you.” “But you may be deceived. You know that. You may not get the money back. How dare you take the other risk?” “I dare not take the other risk!” “Why—what do you mean?”