e in the immediate
vicinity.

"Shall we wait for your friend?" asked Merriwell.

"Naw," answered Plug. "He ain't likely ter come back."

A short time later they were seated at a table in a nearby resort, and
Frank was treating Kirby.

Frank had examined his own injuries, and discovered they were not
serious, although it was likely that he would be sore about the head and
shoulders from the bruises he had received.

"Now tell me," urged Frank, "who was with you when you came to my
assistance? I am eager to know."

"I tole yer dat I don't know der cove's name, but I do know dat he is
all right an' on der level."

"Well, how is that you do not know his name?"

"Never asked him."

"How do you happen to know him?"

"Well, yer see, it was dis way: I was inter Jackson's der odder evenin'
takin' me nightcap. Dere was some fellers in dere wot was college chaps,
and dey was talkin' about races and t'ings. Pretty soon dey said
somet'ing about you. Some of 'em was hard on you, an' dat got me mad up.
I jes' waded inter der gang an' offered ter lick anybody wot didn't
t'ink you was der clean stuff."

Frank smiled a bit, realizing that he had, indeed, made a firm friend of
this bruiser who had once tried to whip him, but had received a severe
drubbing, instead.

"Dey didn't want ter shove up against me," Kirby went on, "an' dey got
out right away. Den a man walks up ter me, and he says I was all right,
an' he blows me. He continues ter blow me, an' ask me questions about
you. Arter a while, he asks me if I would fight fer you if I had der
chance. 'Would I!' says I, jes' like dat. 'Well, old sport, show me der
chance!' Den he says dat you has some enemies wot is plannin' ter do
yer, an' he might be able ter give me a chance ter put in a few licks
fer yer.

"Well, dis evenin', as I was inter Jackson's, who should come in an'
call me aside but dis same cove. He says ter me, 'Kirby'--he had found
out me name--'Kirby,' says he, jes' like dat, 'I'm goin' ter give yer
dat chance ter put in some licks fer Frank Merriwell.'

"Den he tells me dat he were in a place an' heard a scheme ter put some
toughs onter yer ter-night w'en yer was goin' home from der t'eeter. Dey
had heard some feller say dat he was goin' ter invite yer ter be in er
box wid him at der t'eeter, an' so dey knew yer was goin'.

"Dat's all, 'cept dat me an' der bloke wot was wid me went ter der
t'eeter, him payin' all expenses, an' we kept watch of yer. W'e