n we came
out, you started fer him, an' he hooked it. I was s'prised, but I
follered. Den I found dere was odders follerin', an der gang run yer in
here. Der feller I was wid, as was in a doorway nigh der alley all der
time, skipped back fer me, an' we jumped right down inter der alley,
takin' some heavy canes, wot we had wid us all der time. You know wot
happened arter dat."

Frank was puzzled and mystified. He asked Plug to describe the
mysterious man, and Kirby did so. This added to Frank's wonderment, for
the description tallied with that of the stranger who had tried to bribe
him to throw a ball game to Harvard; but that it could be the same man,
even though everything indicated that it must be, Frank could not
believe.

That night, after going to bed, Frank lay awake for hours, thinking of
the stranger and the mystery which surrounded him.

CHAPTER XXVII.

AN EMISSARY FROM THE WEST.

Frank was determined to solve the mystery of the unknown man. He did not
tell Rattleton everything concerning his adventure of the previous
night, although he was forced to explain that he had been in an
encounter, and that he did not know who his assailants were.

The theatre party had wondered greatly at Frank's sudden disappearance,
and Frank confessed that he had followed the mysterious unknown, who had
given him the slip.

"That fellow is playing the shadow on you, Frank," cried Harry,
indignantly. "He's up to some sort of crookedness."

"He must bear a charmed life, or he would have been killed the night he
jumped from the New London special," said Frank.

"He decided it was best to take chances by jumping rather than to fall
into the hands of Old Eli's sons, and I think he was right."

Creighton came around to inquire how it happened that Merriwell
disappeared so suddenly the previous evening.

Since the boat race Creighton had sought Merriwell's company, although
he had scarcely given Frank any attention before that.

Creighton was a prominent society man and had considerable influence at
Yale; his friendship was of value to any fellow on whom he saw fit to
bestow it.

His father was rich, and Charlie spent money freely, as his whims
dictated. Not even those with whom he was not on friendly terms,
however, could justly accuse him of being a cad.

"Awfully jolly time last night," yawned Creighton. "It was rather
kiddish, but it is a relief to play the boy once in a while. It capped
the whole business