The tramp started up as if he had been struck by a whip.
"And stay away," added our hero.
"I'm an abused man," sniffled Brady, trying the pathetic tack again. "You're talking Greek to me about diamonds, and that such. Suppose I was a bad one once, ain't I a reformed man now?"
"No, nor never will be, until you tell what dodge you're up to in getting Ned into your clutches again."
"Boy, you mistake a poor old reformed man," said Brady, drawing a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his screwed-up eyes. As he did this a lose pack of playing cards came out with the handkerchief and scattered all around the ground, much on his confusion and assumed surprise.
"That looks like a reformed man, doesn't it?" said Frank. "You're a real, right bad one, you are. Now you get away from here."
Brady went. He gave Frank an awful look of hatred and menace, but he hurried his steps. Frank stood watching him until the fellow was clear out of sight. Then, very thoughtfully, he walked back to the school.
"Maybe I said too much; maybe I spoiled my own case," he reflected, "but I was thinking of Ned's interests."
Frank had an idea in his mind that he would go
