Early the following morning, as the lobstermen were rowing off to their traps, a little naphtha launch came down the channel, rounded Crown Point, and entered Fairhaven harbor. The boat contained two persons. One seemed to be a passenger, and he was recognized by Brick McLane, who was rowing out of the harbor in his big dory.
“Now I wonder what’s up?” muttered McLane. “That chap setting all quiet in the bo’t is one of them Maplewood fellers. He’s the one who was captain of the Maplewood team before old Hammerswell got his new bunch together. Lemme see, what’s his name? Oh, yes, it’s Arlington—Chester Arlington. Seems ter me I heerd that he came down this way with Merriwell and the boys over here on the island. Yes, I did hear so. He came with them to Maplewood, and, arter old Hammerswell refused to accept the team, he deserted and stayed right here in Maplewood. He’s a kind of a traitor, and Dick and t’other fellers over here don’t think but precious little of him. What is he a-coming over here for at this hour? Must be something in the wind. Old Hammerswell is hot to win the games to-day, and he’s as full of tricks as an egg is full of meat. Mebbe he sent this chap here to play some sort of a trick. Perhaps I ought to let my traps go to-day and turn back. Somehow I kinder think Dick ought ter know this Arlington feller is on the island.”
The more McLane thought about this matter the more troubled he became. He visited some of his traps and took out a few lobsters, but wonderment over the surprising appearance of Arlington finally led him to give up making the entire round, and he rowed back to Fairhaven, sending the dory along with lusty strokes.
Arriving at the wharf, Brick covered his lobsters with some wet sacking and left them in his boat while he hurried through town and up to the Central Hotel.
In front of the hotel was a large oak tree, and as he approached McLane was surprised to see Dick Merriwell and Chester Arlington standing beneath that tree engaged in conversation.
“He don’t need no warning from me,” muttered the lobsterman as he turned back. “He knows all about it now. I might have pulled all my traps and saved myself some trouble.”
Dick had been not a little surprised on walking into the office of the hotel after breakfast to find himself face to face with Arlington, who was smoking a cigarette and lounging near the desk.
Instantly on seeing Merriwell, Chester turned and stepped toward him.
“Hello, Dick,” he said. “I was waiting for you to finish breakfast.”
“Waiting for me?” exclaimed Dick, without seeking to repress his surprise. “What are you doing over here, Arlington?”
Chet glanced around.
“Can’t talk here very well,” he said. “I wish you’d come outside. I want to tell you something.”
Dick hesitated, for the thought of having anything to do with this chap, who had treated him in such a contemptible manner, was far from agreeable.
“Better come,” urged Chester. “You’ll be glad to know what I’m going to tell you. It’ll be a good thing for you.”
“What sort of a trick are you up to now?” demanded Merriwell, piercing the other lad with his keen eyes.
“No trick at all,” protested Chester. “Why should you suppose that I’m always up to some sort of a trick?”
“Why shouldn’t I suppose so? Your record is enough to make anybody suppose such a thing.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I presume there are fellows who have worse records.”
“In reform schools and penitentiaries,” said Dick grimly.
Arlington’s face flushed, and he seemed on the verge of a burst of anger, but this he succeeded in repressing.
“You’re pretty hard on me,” he muttered.
“No harder than you deserve. You must acknowledge that I have been easy with you in the past—far easier than any other fellow would have been. Patience and forbearance ceased to be a virtue when you betrayed me in such a contemptible manner after coming down here with us.”
“But you don’t understand about that, Merriwell. I came down here to play ball, as I have told you before. When you fellows got no chance in Maplewood, I stayed there to get onto the Maplewood team, not having an idea that you would come over here and get into the league.”
“After we had been treated in a most contemptible manner at Maplewood, you took up with the man who treated us thus. You have played on his team, knowing all the time that he was up to every sort of crooked game and underhand trick to down your schoolmates. No, Arlington, as long as I remember your behavior this summer, I can never again have the slightest confidence in you—I can’t even hope for your reformation.”
“Well, won’t you come outside where I can tell you why I’m here this morning? I’m not going to beg you to come, but I think you’d better do so.”
“Go ahead,” said Dick. “I’ll hear what you have to say.”
He followed Chester from the hotel, and they paused beneath the oak tree, where they were seen a few moments later by McLane.
“I have quit Hammerswell,” said Chester. “I have been through with him for some time, but I remained in Maplewood for a particular reason. A few minutes ago you accused me of sticking by the Maplewood team when I knew Hammerswell was plotting and scheming to down Fairhaven. He never told me much of anything about his plots. I was captain of the team. As long as he kept me in that position I stuck by him. After a while I began to find out some things about his plans and plots, and I was anxious to learn still more. That led me to stay there. I thought if I could get onto his secrets I could make him cough up some good money, and I’ll need money this fall if I return to Fardale. Mother used to furnish me with the cash, but she’s in a sanitarium now, and I’ll not be liable to get too much dough from the old man. That’s why I stuck in Maplewood and did my best to find out things about Hammerswell. I thought I might squeeze him a little while I had a chance.”
“In other words,” said Dick, “you contemplated blackmailing him.”
“I don’t like the way you put it!” exclaimed Chester shortly. “I’ve found out all the things I want to know, but little good they’ll do me. Hammerswell is busted. If he should be defeated in both games here on the island to............