We'll look for you." Snell hurried away, knowing full well that he had said things which must worry Merriwell, if they did not drive him into coming to the midnight card parties.
Wat was right.

Frank was worried not a little, for he could not bear to fancy that some of the boys thought him mean in staying away.

Hodge saw Merriwell was troubled, but the dark-haired boy remained silent.
In the meantime, finding Hodge would do nothing to bring Merriwell round.

Gage and Snell tried their best to make friends with Hans Dunnerwust and Barney Mulloy, as these boys were particular friends of Merriwell's, and might be induced to use some influence over him.
Barney, however, was wary.

He did not fancy either Gage or Snell, and he repulsed their advances.
To Hans, the temptation of a midnight supper on cakes and pies was too much to resist, and he was added to the circle that gathered in the room of the suicide.
Hans could play poker, and the game being made small enough to suit him, he came in and won about two dollars, which made him swell up like a toad, and declared: "Uf you poys know some games vot I can play petter as dot boker, shust you name him, und I vill do you at dot.