stormed Dick Ferris. "I don't want to
hear a word more. He's a tramp and a thief and you'll be sorry you took
him in before a great while."

With this speech on his lips, Dick Ferris walked across the parlor,
threw open the door--and confronted Hal.

CHAPTER VIII.

FELIX HARDWICK IS ASTONISHED.

Dick Ferris started back on catching sight of Hal, who stood on the
bottom step of the stairs.

"You!"

"Yes, Dick Ferris," returned Hal, coolly. "And let me say that I
overheard your conversation with Mrs. Ricket, your aunt."

Ferris changed color.

"Been playing the spy, eh?" he sneered.

"No; I just came in and overheard you speaking about me, and stopped to
learn what you would have to say."

"It's the same thing----"

"I hope you will excuse me, Mr. Carson," broke in Mrs. Ricket, who was
blushing furiously. "I--I don't approve of what Dick said."

"I know you do not, Mrs. Ricket. If I thought you did I would pack up
and leave at once."

"It would be a good job done," put in Ferris.

"Stop, Dick. I will not have you insult one of my boarders," cried the
woman, sharply.

"All right, have your own way," returned Ferris, insolently. "If you
want to take in any tramp that comes along, why, go ahead and do it."

He had on his hat and coat, and now he started for the door.

Hal caught him by the arm.

"Stop!" he cried. "I am not a tramp, and I won't be called one by you or
anybody else!"

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"If you insist in indulging in such language in the future I will give
you even a worse whipping than I gave you this noon."

"What, did you fight?" cried Mrs. Ricket.

"He attacked me and I defended myself," replied Hal. "He is down on me
for taking the situation from which he was discharged."

"I know that."

"If I had known he was boarding here I would not have applied to
you----"

"You bet he wouldn't," put in Ferris.

"Not that I am afraid of your nephew," went on Hal. "But I do not wish
to cause any trouble."

"You have caused no trouble, Mr. Carson," returned Mrs. Ricket.

"That's what I call cool," exclaimed her nephew.

"It is Dick is the cause of it all. You know you are, and you ought to
be ashamed of yourself," she added, turning to the boy.

"That's right, go right against me; you always do," howled Dick Ferris,
"There ain't no use for me to stay here any longer."

And he marched out of the front door, and down the s