“We must get you to a doctor who can sew up your scalp where it was cut by that bottle. You’re bleeding pretty freely, and that must be stopped. Take hold, Buckhart. We’ll get him out of this quarter if we have to carry him.” Between them they got Joe out of the saloon and started for the respectable portion of the village. “We didn’t get a crack at those galoots!” said Brad regretfully. “I opined we’d have a lively time when you smashed the window and went jumping in there.” Savage grew stronger after getting out into the open air. “That devil!” he muttered. “Dick, I know you must think me a pretty cheap fellow. I can’t help it. I believe I am pretty cheap. But Arlington is slick. He got me into a bad scrape. I had an idea no one could beat me playing poker, but he’s the slickest thing in the business, and he skinned me clean to my eye-teeth. He had my I O U’s, and he was going to use them against me. That’s how he forced me to withdraw and permit him to get on the committee. He has no right there!” “Don’t worry about that,” said Dick. “He’ll not stay on that committee. He will resign Monday, and you’ll get your I O U’s on the same day.” CHAPTER XVII—DICK CONQUERS HIS ENEMY Dick rapped sharply on the door of Chester Arlington’s room. There was a stir within, a pause, and then—— “Come in,” called a voice. Dick entered. Chester had risen and was standing at attention. When he saw Dick he looked surprised and disgusted. “I thought it an inspector,” he growled sullenly, a frown coming to his haughty face, then he flung himself loungingly upon a comfortable chair, drew forth a cigarette-case, took out a paper-covered cigarette, and rolled it between his fingers. There was smoke in the room. “If I were an inspector,” thought Dick, who had closed the door behind him, “I see where you would get pulled over the coals.” “What in thunder do you want here?” asked Arlington sneeringly, as he struck a match and lighted his cigarette. He was not a little surprised by Dick’s boldness in entering that room, and yet he suspected what had brought his unwelcome visitor. “I have a little business to transact with you, Arlington,” said Merriwell, with a quiet, determined manner that irritated Chester still further. “Well, I don’t care to have dealings of any sort with you,” declared Arlington, “and I will inform you at once that you are not wanted here. This is my room, and you had better get out.” Dick did not show any inclination to mind this indirect command. “You may be sure, Arlington,” he returned, “that I am not dealing with you from choice. Circumstances have made it necessary.” “Well, I refuse to have anything at all to do with you, so get out!” Instead of obeying, Dick came a little nearer. “You’ll not refuse,” he asserted. “Oh, yes, I will!” “Oh, no, you won’t!” “I’d like to know why not?” “Because you dare not.” “Dare not?”