ment!" thought Brimmer. "Oh,
it will be great to see that sneak, Darrin--"

Just at that moment Brimmer stopped short, with something like
a gasp.

For he did see Darrin, standing before him, towering in his wrath.

CHAPTER XVIII

IN THE DAYS OF "OLD TWO-FIVE"

Before Brimmer could utter a word Darrin pounced upon him, seizing
him by the collar and fairly dragging him into the alleyway.

Then, still gripping his astounded, dismayed foe, Darrin demanded:

"Tony, is this the fellow who paid you to drug my friend?

"The treacherous Greek has betrayed me!" was the thought that
flashed instantly through Brimmer's startled mind.

"Let go of my collar, Darrin!" he commanded loudly. "If this
lying Greek has dared to say that I--"

"Shut up!" ordered Dave tersely.

Ever since coming to Annapolis he had tried to keep his temper
in the background. But now, quivering in his righteous wrath,
Darrin was once more the hot-headed, impulsive, generous Dave
of old--a doer of deeds, and a thrasher of scoundrels.

"No, no, no!" protested Tony, shrilly and cunningly. "Mr. Brimmer,
he no tell me--he no hire me--"

"Be silent, fellow!" commanded Dave Darrin hotly. "You've told
the truth once. Don't spoil it with a dozen lies! Brimmer, you
dastard, you disgrace to the noble old uniform--"

By a quick, forceful twist Brimmer had freed himself from Dave's
frantic clutch.

It availed the plotter but little, however.

Quick as a flash Dave let drive with his right fist, landing a
blow on the chest that sent Mr. Brimmer flat to the pavement of
the alley.

"You coward! You--" screamed Brimmer, as he rose.

But no sooner was he on his feet than Dave planted a terrific
blow over his left eye.

Down went Brimmer again, his eyes closed "until further notice."

"Don't try to get up!" warned Darrin, crouching over his enemy.
"If you make a move upward, until I'm through talking, I'll kick
you clean over the town of Annapolis and far out into Chesapeake
Bay. Brimmer, if you send me a challenge when we get back to
Bancroft Hall, I won't pay any attention to it until after the
class has passed on the merits of the case. If you want to fight
here and now I'll let you up and we'll settle it right off. But
no formal fight, under decent auspices. You hear me? You
understand?"

Brimmer made no reply.

"All right, then," nodded Dave. "I understand that you don't
want to fight here. Don't try to provoke me into