"If you had kept still about me," said Frank, "I should not have known you were in this town, but you tried to hurt me in a mean, contemptible manner, and I found you out." "Never tried to hurt you in any manner." "How about the lies you have been circulating concerning me?" "I don't know what you mean." "Yes, you do." "I swear I do not." "You have been telling that I have signed a contract with Rockland." "Well, haven't you?" "You know I have not! You know I would not do such a thing for any money, as it would disqualify me for the Yale team. But I fancy I see through your crooked game. You thought I might pitch for Rockland because you knew they would offer me more money than Camden possibly could. You judged me by yourself, and you knew you would sell yourself to do anything for money. You sought to turn the college men here against me, so they would carry back the report to their colleges that I had played for money under a signed contract. Then I would be debarred from the Yale team, and your revenge would be complete. Oh, I can read you, Snell--I know the workings of your evil mind! You are wholly crooked and wholly contemptible. What you deserve is a good coat of tar and feathers!" Frank's plain words had drawn a crowd about them, and Drayben saw it would not do not to interfere, as the talk could be heard in the parlors. "This will have to stop," he said, firmly. "I can't have any more of it in my hotel." "He is to blame for it all," whined Snell. The landlord gave him a look of contempt. "I do not blame him for anything," he declared. "I know you have told the stories he claims. My only wonder is that he did not knock you down on sight." "I might have done so," said Frank, "but was ashamed to soil my hands on the fellow." At this, thinking he was not in danger of immediate personal violence, Snell became suddenly bold. "That is well enough to tell," he said; "but no one will believe it. You will find that you can't crowd me, Mr. Merriwell." "I don't want to crowd you, but I want you to keep your mouth closed as far as I am concerned. If you try to circulate any more lies about me, I shall forget that you are a whining cur, without a spark of courage in your whole body, and I shall give you the drubbing you deserve." "Bah!" cried Snell. "As I have discovered the sort of a person you are," said Mr. Drayben, quietly but sternly, "I do not care to keep you in my hotel another hour." "What?" gasped Snell. "What do you mean?" "I mean that you are to pack up and get out at once." "But you can't turn me out in that manner. This is a public house, and you have no right to turn me out like that!" "I have the right to refuse to keep rascals and crooks in my house, sir. It is my duty to protect my guests by turning out such persons when their true character is discovered. You will get out as soon as you can."