“You will have to stand it from me!” retorted Hal, in the same low tone. “You know it’s the truth, too! You have been lying about Merriwell, and now you play the spy upon him! Why, I thought you had reformed—and that you were going to be honorable and upright! Is this your honor? There is not a particle of decency in your miserable body! You don’t know what it is to be decent! You’re a disgrace to your sister and to your family! You are a disgrace to Fardale! I was a fool to take any stock in you and follow you here! I am ashamed of it! Here and now I quit you, and I want you to keep away from me at all times in the future!” With that Hal turned his back on Chester and started to move away. Shaking with rage, Arlington made two swift, silent steps and leaped on Hal’s back, grasping him by the throat and hurling him to the ground. Hal made a desperate effort to turn on his assailant, and together they rolled over and over in the path until they came to the top of the slope, down which they plunged, crashing into the bushes at one side. Arlington’s hold was broken, but he continued fighting savagely. The girls and Dick had been startled by the sounds, and now Merriwell came running up the path. June and Zona followed. When Dick reached the struggling boys he found Hal holding Chet down, and was in time to see Darrell lifting his clinched fist. With a leap he seized Darrell’s fist and prevented the blow. “Hold on, Hal!” he exclaimed. “Don’t hit him!” June saw her brother and uttered a cry of alarm as she ran forward. “The spy! The sneak!” grated Darrell. “Let me up!” panted Arlington. “Don’t! don’t—don’t strike my brother!” burst from June’s lips. “The girls, Hal—think of the girls!” urged Dick. “He jumped on me!” declared Chester. “He jumped on my back!” “You liar!” hissed Darrell. “Let him up, Hal,” urged Dick. “It’s the best thing you can do. Let him up.” June added her pleading, and Darrell finally rose to his feet. Arlington scrambled up, livid with rage. “You will pay for this!” he palpitated, shaking his fist at Darrell. “I will fix you for this!” He seemed on the point of again attacking the boy he had so treacherously assaulted. June seized his arm. “Stop, Chester—for my sake, stop!” “For your sake!” he snarled, turning on her. “Why should I do anything for you? What do you mean by coming here to meet this duffer, Merriwell? I thought better of you! You’re a fine sister to have! I’m ashamed of you! You’re a disgrace!” “Chester!” she gasped. “I mean it!” he raged. “Now, you come along with me!” Saying which he seized her roughly by the arm, giving it a jerk that made her utter a cry of pain. That was too much for Dick, who suddenly tore him from June and sent him staggering to one side. “Don’t put your hands on her again, Arlington!” he said, in a low tone, his eyes blazing. “You’re crazy, Chester!” exclaimed June.