“What has happened? Tell me, Jack.” “Not now. Good Lord! it drives me to drink! I’ve got to take this stuff, Merry! I’m afraid I’m getting sober.” “Here we go!” chirped Madison. “Everybody drink. Here’s happy days.” Diamond’s hand shook as he lifted his glass. His flushed face showed lines of care and dissipation. Merriwell’s heart was filled with pity and sorrow at the spectacle. “I’ll save him from his own folly!” Frank vowed. “But I must seem to play into the hands of these fellows, in order to find out just what they are doing with him.” Then he dashed off the contents of one of the glasses, which contained nothing but water, pretended to drink as a “chaser” from the other, but did not swallow a drop, and so deceived them all. “Too bad!” Diamond almost sobbed, thinking Frank had taken the gin. “Suppose it’s all my fault. Been better for you, Merry, if you’d never known me.” “Oh, say! don’t talk that stuff! It’s all right! Why, a fellow’s got to have a time once in his life!” “That’s the talk!” nodded Herrick, evidently well pleased. But Diamond shook his head sadly, at the same time pulling from his pocket a huge roll of bills, stripping off a twenty and flinging it on the bar. “This is on me, Jack,” said Madison mildly. “I’m paying the bills to-night, gentlemen,” asserted the Virginian, with dignity. “I insist.” Merry decided that they were perfectly willing that Jack should pay. He could not help wondering at the amount of money in Diamond’s possession, but the sight of it gave him a conviction. “They have seen his roll, and they are looking to bleed him. Now I stick by him for sure.” “Come, gentlemen,” urged Herrick; “that cab is still waiting outside.” “Let it wait, sah,” returned Diamond. “We’re going to have another drink.” And have another they did. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER II THE GAMBLER’S VICTIM. “Now,” said Madison, “let’s away to the lair of the tiger.” To the surprise of all, Herrick showed reluctance. He held back and made a show of embarrassment. “What is the matter, Charley?” asked Diamond, in surprise. “I thought you were in a hurry.” “But we’ve added another to our party,” said the man with the dark mustache, in a guarded tone, looking slantwise at Merry. “Well, he’s all right,” declared Jack indignantly, his face flushed and his breath heavy with the fumes of liquor. “You know Dick is mighty particular.” “What is it, gentlemen?” demanded Frank, stepping forward. “If I am in anybody’s way——” “Not at all,” Herrick hastened to say; “but we were going to a certain place where the proprietor is very particular about his guests. Every man who enters there must be vouched for.” “Well, I can vouch for Merriwell,” asserted the Virginian. “Yes, but you are not very well known there. You’ve visited the place only once, you know.” Jack was indignant.