elf at full length on a tiger-skin rug, he puffed out a
great whiff of smoke, and murmured:

"Now I have something to blow about, as the cyclone said when it lifted
a house and barn into the next State."

"Speaking about clothes," said Browning, languidly, "did you see
Goldstein, the tailor, to-day, Rattleton?"

"Yes, I saw him," nodded Harry.

"And did you tell him I said I would settle that little bill?"

"Sure."

"That's kind of you. Did he seem convinced?"

"He said he was."

"Was what?"

"Convinced that you lied."

This provoked a laugh. When the laughing had ceased, Griswold sagely
observed:

"It is remarkable that man is the only animal that can lie standing up."

"Say, you chaps," called Frank, "drop this sort of chatter, and answer
my question. How many of you are in for spending the summer vacation in
a bicycle trip across the continent?"

"You'll have to excuse me," said Griswold, as he followed Stubbs'
example and lighted a cigarette. "I'm going down to Bar Harbor, and play
tennis on my vacation."

"I can't endure tennis," drawled Browning.

"I should say not. Too much exertion for you."

"It is not that. I don't like to be around where others are playing it."

"Don't? Why not?"

"Because it is so noisy."

"Noisy? Christmas! How do you make that out?"

"Why, you can't play it without a racket," said Browning.

Griswold staggered and clutched at his heart.

"What papers have you been reading?" he gasped.

Diamond spoke up for the first time:

"I'll tell you what I'll do, Merriwell--I'll go on this bicycle trip
across the continent, if I can secure my mother's consent?"

"Will you?" cried Frank, eagerly. "Then see her as soon as possible. I
couldn't ask for a better fellow than you. Harry thinks he can go, and
that makes three of us. We'll do the trick, even if we can't get another
fellow. Is it agreed?"

"It is agreed if I can get my mother to agree to it," assured Jack.

"Well, let's talk about another matter," said Bruce. "The tournament at
Madison Square Garden is right upon us. Are you on for anything,
Merriwell?"

"Yes," answered Frank, "I shall take part in several contests."

"How about the mile run?" questioned Diamond.

"I believe Yates is in for that," said Merriwell.

"That's something I want to speak to you about," drawled Bruce.

Frank was rather surprised, as Browning had taken very little interest
in athletics of late. During his early days at Yale, Bru