Madison pulled out his card-case at once, took a card and wrote upon it. “Here is my address,” he said. “Anything you wish to know about me I will answer. You may find out by inquiry if I tell you the truth.” Frank waved a hand lightly. “I do not wish to ask questions. Had I intended to do so, I should have begun in the first place. But look out for Herrick. Remember my warning. When you meet him, you do not know him.” “Never again!” vowed Madison. Then he shook hands with Frank and Jack and left them. “I believe you’ll receive that money back, Merriwell,” said the Virginian; “but you are taking a risk that few fellows would dare run.” “And I could not have rested for a week if I hadn’t taken it,” declared Frank. “Well,” said Diamond, “now that you have fixed him all right, perhaps you will go with me to look for the money I have lost.” “No,” spoke Frank, “there is no need of it.” The Southerner stared at him in amazement. “No need of it?” he cried. “Why not? It’s the last ready money I have in my possession—or the last I had, for it’s gone now. Am I of less consequence than Billy Madison?” “Not at all, my dear boy; but there is no need to search for your lost money.” “No need?” repeated Jack. “Why not?” “Because I have it here,” asserted Frank quietly, drawing a big roll of bills from his pocket and extending them to Jack. “Am I dreaming?” gasped the Virginian, as he took the roll of bills and dropped limply on a chair, staring at it in a wondering, bewildered way. Frank sat down, smiling. “If you will run the money over,” he said, “I think you’ll find it’s all there.” “But—but—how did it come here?” gurgled Jack. “I—I thought——” “That it was lost.” “Yes; and you—you——” “Had it all the time,” finished Merry, still smiling quietly. “But why—when——” “I took it because I did not wish you to blow it in to-night at Dick Canfield’s.” “You—you took it—when?” “As we rolled up Fifth Avenue in the cab.” “How did you take it, man?” “You sat beside me. I had noted the roll, and observed the pocket in which you placed it.” A light was beginning to break on Diamond. “You confounded pickpocket!” he exploded, in mingled indignation, amusement, and relief. “That was a fine trick to play on a friend, sah! Now, wasn’t it, sah?” “Yes,” nodded Merry, “under the circumstances, I regard it as a very clever piece of business.” “How did you dare, sah?” fumed Jack, uncertain whether to be angry or delighted. “Why did you do it, Mr. Merriwell?” “To save you from being robbed.” “Robbed?” “Yes.” “When? Where?” “In that gambling-den. The chances were against you, and you were bound to lose there if you played long enough. It is always so, for men do not run such places for charity.” The Virginian sat quite still and looked at Frank in silence for some time. At last he rose, stepped over, and stretched out his hand. “You are the same generous, far-seeing Merry as of old!” he exclaimed, the flush in his cheeks.