s
of the two men as they rolled and tumbled about on the ground. Then
some one pulled them apart and administered a resounding cuff upon
their ears.

"Stop fightin', ye fools," was the peremptory order. "De'ye want to
spoil the whole show to-night?"

"Who's spoilin' the show?"

"You are."

"I ain't. I want to go home. I'm sick of this business."

"Ye'r not goin' till the guy comes, I tell ye."

"When's he comin'?"

"I don't know."

"He'll stay there till midnight. They always do. I never got home
till mornin' when I was courtin', an' Sal wasn't half as sweet as the
'fessor's daughter. Gad, she's a peach!"

"Ye'r no judge of beauty, Tom Fleet," was the retort. "You'd kiss a
cow when ye'r drunk, thinkin' she's beautiful."

"I ain't drunk, I tell ye."

"Ye are."

"I ain't; I'm only sleepy an' want to go home."

"Well, ye ain't goin' till the guy comes."

"Then I'm goin' to fetch him."

"Now, ye'r talkin'. That's the stuff, Tom. We'll take him from his
lady love. Come on."

"Wait a minute," one of the bunch ordered. "How'll we do it?"

What their plan was Douglas could not tell, for their voices suddenly
became low as they made their plans. But it did not matter. He knew
that they were after him, and most likely would go to the house and do
considerable harm. He must have assistance, and he at once thought of
Jake. With him at his side, he felt that the men before him could be
mastered, especially in their present condition.

Creeping through the bushes as quietly as possible, he reached the open
field and across this he bounded like a greyhound. He knew that every
minute was precious, and the thought of Nell facing those drunken men
caused his feet fairly to spurn the grass. Reaching the main road, he
tore through the dust, sprang over a ditch, leaped a fence, raced
through the orchard and ran plumb into Jake and Empty standing at the
back door.

"Great punkins!" Jake exclaimed, recovering from the impact. "What's
wrong?"

"Quick, quick!" Douglas panted. "Come at once. Ben's men are after
me. They think I'm at the professor's, and they are going to break
into the house. Hurry."

"G-g-good Lord," Jake stuttered in amazement. "Let me git me gun!"

"No, no, never mind that; your fists will do. Come."

Without waiting for further parley, Douglas darted away, with Jake and
Empty close at his heels. He did not go to the spot where he had left
the men but kept off into th