“Oh, you’re such a wonderfully upright and honest fellow!” sneered Arlington. “You make me sick!” “I shall not waste further words with you. I want your promise before I leave this room to resign from the committee, or I shall expose you.” Arlington felt that he was cornered, but he hated to give in to the lad he detested. “All right!” he finally exclaimed. “I’ll resign.” “Then that point is settled.” “But don’t think for a minute that you are done with me! I am still your enemy, and you will find Chester Arlington relentless! I have power, too. The Arlingtons refuse to be beaten, and you can’t beat me.” “That’s all right. If you resign, you’ll be wise. But I have one thing more to demand.” Chester gasped. “Something else? Confound you! that’s too much! You have driven me just as fast as you can!” “I want the I O U’s you hold against Savage,” said Dick, in the same self-possessed, confident manner. “You want them? Ha, ha!” “Yes; you will give them to me.” “If I do——” “Don’t be too hasty. What do you expect to do with them?” “I won them. He owes me almost fifty dollars.” “Which he cannot pay.” “That’s not my fault. He’ll have to pay, or——” “You wish revenge against Savage. It won’t work. I am satisfied that you won from him crookedly.” “He thinks he’s pretty slick with cards,” said Chester; “but he got bitten, that’s all.” Dick knew Joe Savage had not been above winning money in questionable ways at one time, but Savage had reformed, and he seemed sincere, so that Merriwell was satisfied that he had been led into gambling again, not that he had chosen it of his own inclination. Arlington’s words were a practical confession that he had “skinned” Savage, and Dick had no further hesitation about carrying out his original plan. “You agreed to give up those I O U’s if Savage would withdraw as a candidate for the athletic committee and ask that all votes cast for him be thrown for you on the next balloting.” “Well?” said Chester defiantly, “what of it?” “You failed to keep your agreement with him.” “Well, you’re taking a lot of interest in this fellow who went against what he knew was your desire in that meeting! What are you after? Are you working to get him in your power? That’s it! You have no right to demand those I O U’s, and I shall not give them up to you.” “Then you will be summoned before the faculty to-morrow.” Arlington was desperate. It was difficult for him to control the rage he felt. “So you’ll ruin Savage here just to get a blow at me!” he cried harshly. “That shows how much of a friend you are to him!” “I am doing this with the full knowledge and consent of Joe Savage.” “Then he’s a fool!” “Call him that to his face when he recovers from the treacherous blow he received.” “Oh, I’d willingly do it! I have no fear of him—nor of you!” But Chester was beginning to fear Merriwell, as well as hate him. Why was it Dick always accomplished anything he set about doing? Dick turned toward the door.