Frank felt like hitting the sneering fellow. He was tempted to shove back the stuff onto the bar, and inform Herrick that he had made a mistake. Then he told himself that by so doing he might throw away his chance of learning the real meaning of Diamond’s actions and condition, and he simply pretended that he did not hear the man’s words. “You’re a nice fellow to talk to me, Jack!” laughed Frank. “That’s all right, Merry,” asserted Diamond unsteadily, his fine face flushed and his eyes gleaming redly. “It’s different with me.” “I fail to see it. You are a gentleman, and the son of a gentleman.” “Thank you, Merriwell; I hope, sah, that I am. But my father could take his medicine, and he always remained a gentleman. It doesn’t make so much difference about me. The fact is, it doesn’t make any difference what becomes of me now. I am up against it, and I’m going to play this streak through to the end.” More than ever was Frank alarmed, for now he saw that Diamond was in a desperate mood, and, being in such a condition, the hot-blooded Virginian would not easily listen to reason. Merry knew it would do little good to argue with Jack just then, for argument with a man under the influence of drink is generally a waste of words and the height of folly. “I’d like to know why it doesn’t make any difference what happens to you,” Frank smiled. “It makes a difference to me. You are my friend.” “True, true!” said Jack, with deep feeling. “And you are mine. That’s why I do not want to see you take that drink. If you ever get started fooling with the cursed stuff, Merriwell, you can’t tell where you’ll stop. I know you’ve got a stiff backbone, but drink has drowned many a fine man. It would be the first thing to overthrow you, so you hadn’t better fool with it. Come, now, old chum, make it something soft, and let it go at that.” Herrick laughed harshly. “We’re a long time getting round to that little drink, Jack,” he put in. “I’m getting awfully dry.” “Dry!” croaked Madison. “Why, my throat is parched. Come on, Jack, break away and let’s irrigate.” “Go ahead, gentlemen, and drink,” said the Southerner. “You annoy me.” “Drink!” squawked Madison. “Without you? Not if I crack open with thirst! I’ll never be guilty of it!” Frank had a hope that he could shame Diamond so that he would stop then and there. “Come on!” he cried, taking up a glass in each hand. “We’re with them, Jack, and I’m with you till morning! Just you go ahead, and see if I don’t chase you.” “One last appeal,” insisted Diamond earnestly. “You don’t know where you’ll stop if you begin it, Merry.” “No more did you.” “Well, you see the shape I’m in. Been this way for a week. Just take me as a horrible example, old man.” “You seem to be having a good time.” “All on the surface, my boy.” “What makes you keep it up?” “Have to.” “Why?” “So I won’t stop to think. I don’t want to think, Merriwell, and I won’t do anything else the minute I get sober.”