Dick spoke like one who felt himself entire master of the situation, and that was one thing that infuriated Arlington, although he could not help being impressed by it. It was this air of perfect assurance of his position that marked Dick as one different from most lads and gave him influence and power to a degree. He was also magnetic, and those who learned to admire him as a friend grew soon to swear by him in everything and believe he could not make a mistake. “I am not going to be dictated to by you! Put that in your pipe and smoke it! You can’t order me about. I was elected to the committee to fill the place made vacant by the resignation of Warwick, and on that committee I’ll stay.” “You will not be on that committee to-morrow night. I give you your choice, you may resign or be fired off. But you had better resign, for you may be fired out of the school if you are fired off the committee.” “Bah!” “The charges that will be preferred against you on the committee are certain to leak out, and a call before the faculty must follow.” “What are you talking about, anyhow? What charges will be preferred?” “You will be accused of having dealings with Fred Kennedy, a gambler, of giving him money to bet against Fardale, and of being a gambler yourself. Thus you, one of the athletic committee, therefore deeply interested in the success of the football-team, are plainly a traitor working against your own school.” “That’s fine!” sneered Chester. “It’s easy to make such a charge, but how are you going to prove it?” “I have proof enough.” “What proof?” “You were heard in Murphy’s saloon at The Harbor dealing with Kennedy.” “By whom?” “Myself.” “Ha, ha!” laughed Chester. “And do you think that proof enough? I think my word is as good as yours.” “I was not the only one there. Brad Buckhart was with me outside the window, which was broken, and he heard your talk.” “Anybody knows he would lie for you.” “Joe Savage saw you in that room, where he went to have some dealings with you. He was attacked, struck with a bottle, and seriously injured. He will appear against you.” “He’d better not!” grated Arlington fiercely. “If he does, he’ll go out of Fardale, too!” “He’ll appear, though. You failed to keep your promise to him, and so——” “What promise?” “Your promise to give up his I O U’s, won from him at the poker-table.” “So that’s his story, eh? Ha, ha! Do you fancy he’ll be fool enough to get up before the committee and tell that he gambled with me? Why, he’d be in trouble at once! Gambling is not allowed here. And he doesn’t want his mother to know that he played for money.” “You’re right about that, but you have driven him to the limit. The worm has turned. Arlington, I am holding him in check now. But for me he would have gone to Professor Gunn with the whole story.” “I don’t believe it!” “Believe it or not, as you like.” “Why should you hold him in check—you? You are my enemy, and I am yours. You’d not do such a thing for me.”