“But Harlow has seemed to work for our interest thus far,” said another. “Surely we have improved under his coaching.” “If you hadn’t you would not have confidence in him as a coach, would you?” asked Jack. “No, of course not.” “Well, that’s just where he has been playing his card shrewdly. He wanted you to have enough confidence so you would make up your crew at the last minute just as he directed. That would settle it.” Harlow saw the case had gone against him. “Settle it to suit yourselves!” he cried. “This is the first time ever I was treated like this! I fancied they raised gentlemen down here in Virginia!” “And so they do!” came sternly from Kent Spencer; “but we have found they are not always all gentlemen who come down here from the North. Mr. Harlow, you shall be given a fair show. A meeting of the Blue Cove Academy Athletic Club shall be called, and the charges against you shall be impartially investigated. If they are proven, we shall publicly proclaim you a scoundrel. But you will be given a good opportunity to disprove them. You can ask for nothing more.” Rolf braced up. “I do not ask for anything more,” he declared. “I will be on hand at the meeting, and I will prove that I have been defamed and lied about by these fellows. I did think Frank Merriwell was my friend; but he is never a friend to a rival in athletics and sports, so he has turned against me, and is trying to down me.” This came near being too much for Jack Diamond to stand. Knowing Frank as he did, and thinking how generous Merriwell always was in dealing with a rival, Jack felt like slapping Rolf across the mouth. Frank seemed to divine the feelings and thoughts of his comrade, for he caught Jack’s arm, saying, swiftly but quietly: “Never mind that, my boy. If it’s a lie, these fellows will find it out in time, and it will harm nobody but the one who told it.” Jack growled a bit, but he always obeyed Frank, so Rolf escaped. “Here, Mr. Harlow,” said Merriwell, reversing the revolver and handing it to its owner, “here is the gun you pulled on me. I have no further use for it.” Sourly, the exposed rascal accepted the weapon, and put it in his pocket. Then he said: “I am going now, and I leave you fellows to listen to the lies these chaps may tell about me. I don’t care! They don’t cut any ice. I’ll be on hand at the investigation, and I’ll show you what monumental liars they both are.” Then he walked away, not a hand being lifted to stop him. “Mr. Merriwell,” said Kent Spencer, when Rolf had vanished, “I am pleased to meet you, but sorry that the meeting should be under such unpleasant circumstances.” “Don’t mention it,” smiled Frank. “I am glad to be of service to you in helping expose a rascal like Harlow.” “If the charges against Harlow stand, we’ll need a new coach,” quickly put in Fred Dobbs. “That’s right,” nodded Spencer; “and I don’t know where we will get one, unless we can induce Mr. Merriwell to serve us.”