k makes me sick!" cried Hodge, fiercely. "I'd like to get
another chance at him! Why, he's the biggest sneak in this school!"

"That's right."

"Gage couldn't hold a candle to Snell."

"Gage was bolder; Snell is a bigger sneak."

"That's about the size of it. What are you going to do with the
fellow?"

"I think it would be well to catch him in company with the man in black
when they meet to-morrow night."

Bart slapped his thigh.

"Just the scheme! But who's going to do the catching?"

"It would be a good plan to have an officer from the village on hand
for that job."

"Good! You can swear out a warrant for the man for felonious assault,
attempted highway robbery, or something of the sort, and have him sent
where he won't trouble you again for some little time."

"That's what I thought."

"It seems the only way to get rid of him, and he is mighty dangerous."

"He is desperate."

"Yes; he means to have that ring anyway. I'll find a way to-morrow to
draw those lines on paper. I don't care if that man does say the ring
is of no particular value, I know better. If the lines are taken off,
you will stand a show of finding out what they mean."

Frank was eager to have an enlarged copy of the lines made, for he felt
that he could never be sure that he would not lose the ring, even
though the mysterious man in black should be disposed of effectually.

"Snell is determined to get himself into serious trouble," said Frank.

"Oh, money will hire him to do any mean, sneaking thing!" came
scornfully from Bart's lips.

"If he is caught with this scoundrel in black to-morrow night, he will
be under a cloud here."

"He is under a cloud now. Twenty fellows saw me knock him down, and
they'll never give him any rest till he sends me a challenge."

"Well, I don't fancy he will send you a challenge."

"Then his life will be made wretched while he remains at Fardale
Academy."

"He has brought it on himself."

"Of course. A fellow can't be a sneak and have the respect of anybody
who is decent. I found that out long ago."

The following forenoon Bart obtained permission to use the microscope
long enough to make a drawing of the lines on the stone set in the
mysterious ring.

Before going to recitation, Frank surrendered the ring to Bart, who
hesitated about taking it.

"What if I should lose it?" he said.

"You can't," smiled Frank. "There is no danger of that."

"Still, I rather wish you were co