ank. "We'll have money to start a
conflagration with when we return to New Haven."

"I think so," agreed Jack; "but there are slips."

"Now, Toots," said Frank, "we are going to leave Nemo in your care for a
short time. You know what I expect of you."

"Yes, sar, an' you may 'pend on me, sar."

"All right, my boy. Come on, fellows."

Away the three went, arm in arm, laughing and joking, like the
light-hearted fellows they were.

Ten minutes after they left Toots decided to give Nemo some water. He
stepped out of the stall for a bucket. As he picked it up he fancied he
heard a suspicious sound inside the stall, and he hurried back.

When the colored boy stepped into the stall he saw a tough-looking young
man in a plaid suit offering Nemo an apple. It was Mike Hogan.

"G'wan frum dat hawse, man!" shouted Toots, as he flung the bucket
straight at Mike's head.

The bucket struck Hogan, knocked him down, and he lay stunned almost
beneath the feet of Frank Merriwell's racer.

An hour later the starter's flag had fallen and the "free for all" at
Mystic Park had begun.

Among the spectators were three lads who were excitedly watching the
beginning of the race.

They were Hartwick, Harlow and Harris.

"If that horse is doctored I'm a fool!" declared Harlow, his eyes
fastened on Frank Merriwell's Nemo.

"He must be--he must be!" palpitated Hartwick, whose eyes were bloodshot
and whose face was flushed so that it betrayed he had been drinking
heavily.

"Nemo starts all right," said Harris, in an agitated voice. "I should
not wonder if Harlow were right, Hartwick, my boy."

"Then Hogan has betrayed me!" came gratingly from Hartwick. "If he has
I'll have his life!"

"Where is the fellow?" asked Harlow. "He should be on hand."

"That's right, where is he?" echoed Harris. "He has not reported."

"But he was sure he would not fail," said Hartwick. "He had everything
fixed with one of the stablemen, and he said he knew he could get into
Nemo's stall."

"All the same I'll wager that Frank Merriwell will come out on top
again," fluttered Harris. "It is just his luck. Perhaps he has outwitted
us in some way."

"No! no!" exclaimed Hartwick, with sudden satisfaction. "See--see there!
Already Nemo is dropping behind Black Boy. Pawnee is in the lead, Fanny
D. is second, Lightfoot is third, and now Black Boy has pushed ahead of
Nemo! Ha! ha! ha! Everything is all right! Hogan has done his work, and
the stuff is begin