When Collins had departed, Merriwell paced the floor for some time, his face wearing a look of deep thought and anxiety. “If there were any honest way of getting possession of that money!” he muttered. Diamond came back, and found Frank thus. “Well,” Jack cried, “I’ve seen Herrick, and now I know you were right.” “Eh?” said Merry, as if not quite comprehending. “About what?” “That prize-fight business.” “A put-up job?” “Not a question about it.” “What is the new development?” “Herrick advises me to hedge.” “Why?” “He says the Unknown is ill and out of condition.” “Well, how about hedging?” “The thing has leaked, and bets cannot be made at any odds.” “You are in a trap.” “That’s right,” nodded Jack gloomily. “I suspected it,” said Frank. “If the Unknown is not in condition, why not call the fight off?” “Herrick claims that it has been tried, and that McGilvay will not agree.” Again Frank walked the floor. “It’s enough to drive a fellow to drink again!” said the Southerner despairingly. “I hate to be bled in this way.” Frank said nothing, for he did not hear a word. He was walking up and down, his hands in his pockets and his eyes on the carpet. Of a sudden, he uttered an exclamation, stopped short, jerked his hands out of his pockets, and smote his clenched right fist into his open left palm. “It might work!” he cried. “What?” asked Jack, rousing up and showing some interest. Frank strode over, grasped Diamond by the shoulder, jerked him to his feet, and cried: “Take me to that fellow Herrick! Don’t lose any time about it, either!” “What—what are you going to do?” “I’m going to try to save that money for you.” “How can you do that?” “Never mind. If I do save it—if I fix it so you win this bet, will you loan me the amount you win?” “Great Scott! If you fix it so I win, you will save me the money I have wagered. That’s all I ask, Merriwell. You may have every blamed dollar of the winnings to do with as you like.” “Ten thousand!” exclaimed Frank. “Just what I need! Take me to Herrick!” They found Herrick at the Hoffman House, and Herrick was surprised when Merriwell met him with a show of cordiality. “Mr. Herrick,” said Frank, “Diamond tells me that your Unknown is not in condition and may lose the bout to-night.” “That’s right,” nodded Herrick. “He’s as good as licked now. I’ve warned Jack to hedge.” “You don’t want to see Diamond lose that money?” “Well, I guess not!” exclaimed the man with the dark mustache, making a show of sincerity. “Jack is my friend.” “This Unknown is entered simply as an unknown?” “Yes.” “Then why don’t you put another man in his place? Why do you fight him when it is a sure thing that he must be whipped?” “I don’t know of another man who will fill the bill. He must be a middleweight amateur, and I do not know of a man in New York or within reach who can stand a show with Pete McGilvay.” “Perhaps I know of such a man.” “You?” “Yes.” Herrick looked startled.