rning to Frank, "I think we had better go.
Our business was with you, and Mr. Rattleton seems determined to raise a
quarrel with us. As you know, we did not come here to quarrel, and,
regarding Mr. Rattleton as your friend, we will endeavor to overlook his
behavior and insulting language."

"But we cannot forget it," added Thornton, giving Harry a fierce look.
"It will be remembered."

"I am sure I don't want you to forget it," flung back Rattleton.

"Come, Tom," urged Flemming, "we will go. Good-day, Mr. Merriwell."

Frank released Thornton, who followed Flemming from the room, simply
pausing at the door to say:

"Good-by, Mr. Merriwell."

"Good-by," smiled Frank.

And then, when the door had closed behind them, Frank dropped into a
chair and laughed softly but heartily.

"Well, I fail to fee anything sunny about it--I mean I fail to see
anything funny about it," growled Rattleton, prancing fiercely up and
down the room. "If you'll tell me where the laugh comes in, I'll
snicker, just to keep you company."

"The whole thing is very funny," laughed Merriwell. "Why, you were eager
to hammer Thornton, and the fellow was afraid you would, for all the
bluff he put up."

"It would have given me great satisfaction to thump him," confessed
Harry; "for I know it is exactly what he deserves. What were they up to,
anyway? That's what puzzles me. I expected to find that they had done
you up."

"Oh, nothing of the sort!"

"But they were up to some crooked game--I know it. I thought they had
fastened the door, so that they could do the job without being
interrupted."

"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Frank. "That explains why you looked as if you
were literally thirsting for gore when you lunged into the room and
grappled with Thornton."

"Did I hit him?"

"You had your fist clinched, and you may have given him a slight rap in
your excitement."

"Well, I did not give him that rap intentionally; if I had, he'd found
something entirely different. By jingoes! I may get the chance to show
him the difference some time!"

"You'd better drop it, old man."

"Eh? Drop it?"

"That's what I said, Harry, and that is what I meant, my boy."

"But why? I don't think I understand you. Those fellows are your
enemies, and that makes them mine."

"They have been my enemies, but we have had a peace conference."

"The dickens!"

"And we buried the hatchet."

"Well, I didn't suppose you could be fooled so easy! I knew they were up