not sounded a
warning to him. Instead, it really seemed that Frank was frightened,
and he had laughed to conceal the fact.

"It is my conviction," he cried, "that you are not only a sneak, but you
are also a coward! If that is not enough, I will make it still more
forcible."

Quick as a flash, he struck Frank in the face with his clinched fist.

A gasp came from those who witnessed this act. There was no time given
for further words.

Like a leaping panther, Frank Merriwell shot up and alighted on Duncan
Yates. He clutched Yates in his strong grasp, snapped him off his feet,
swung him into the air.

The spectators had fallen back in a wild sort of scramble to get out of
the way. Thus enough room was made for Merriwell to act.

It was a warm day, and the car door was open. Almost before any one
could tell what Frank thought of doing, he leaped out through the
doorway, and, with the lad who had delivered the blow still poised above
his head, seemed on the verge of hurling Yates from the flying train!

"Stop, Frank!"

Diamond shouted the words.

Cries of horror broke from the lips of the other spectators of the
scene, but, strangely enough, none of them made a move to prevent
Merriwell from carrying out his apparent purpose.

If Merriwell flung Yates from the train the unfortunate lad who had
aroused Frank's wrath must be instantly killed.

At first, when he had felt himself clutched, Yates had struggled, but,
to his amazement, he seemed like a child in the grasp of the infuriated
athlete.

As Frank reached the platform and poised Yates aloft, the latter seemed
to realize his peril, and fear robbed him of nerve and strength. He was
limp and helpless in Merriwell's grasp.

And then, almost as quickly as Frank had caught the lad up, he lowered
him to his feet.

Again Merriwell laughed, but this time there really seemed to be
something of amusement in the sound.

"If I had dropped you off, Mr. Yates, you must have been injured," he
said, and his voice was soft and gentle.

Yates gasped.

"Jee!" chattered Bink Stubbs. "That was a regular hair-raiser, as the
fellow said when he finished the blood-and-thunder story."

Yates swayed and caught at the iron rail. The flush had gone out of his
face, which was ashen-gray.

"Better go into the car," said Merriwell. "You seem rather unsteady, and
you might fall off here."

Without a word, Yates steadied himself by taking hold of the side of the
door, and ent