“I’ll tell you how,” came quietly from Frank. “If you blow on him, I am going to blow on you.” “What do you mean by that?” “I mean that I will tell what I know--what I overheard. I will tell how you tried to frighten Hodge into giving up the attempt to make the nine. How you threatened to blow on him about the affair with the cop if he didn’t withdraw, and how he booted you out of Farnham Hall, as you deserved. How do you like that?” “It won’t save Hodge,” muttered Noon, sullenly. “Perhaps not; but it will cook you. How much show do you think you will stand when it is known that you resorted to such an expedient to get a rival out of the way? You will be branded as a sneak, and your friends will avoid you.” Noon was whiter than ever. “I don’t know,” he said; “perhaps my word is as good as yours.” “Perhaps so. If you think so, go right ahead and see where you land. I’ll go you ten even that you strike on the back of your neck. I know you will not make the nine. You will defeat yourself by your own meanness.” Frank was talking plain. He believed it was necessary to talk thus to a fellow like Ned Noon. He felt that Noon could not be shamed into abandoning his plot against Hodge, but he might be brought to do so through fear. Ned ground his teeth, for he began to realize that Merriwell was right in saying he could do so much. Frank had influence, and he would be believed. “I am giving it to you straight, Noon,” said Merry. “Have a little reason. Do you want to knock yourself out just to down a rival? You say Hodge does not stand much of a show getting on the nine. Then, if this is the case, you are liable to beat him in a fair and square manner. It strikes me that such a thing would be far better revenge than beating him in a sneaking manner. It would be far better to beat him in an honest struggle than it would to have him withdraw and thus give you a better chance of getting on the nine. Isn’t that plain? If you won over him fairly, you would have a chance to crow.” Frank was talking in his smoothest manner, and he was making his words count. “Perhaps you are right,” admitted Noon, after a time. “I had not thought of it in that light. But, if I agree to let Hodge alone, you must promise not to tell what you overheard. Will you promise?” “Sure.” “Then it’s a bargain.” Soon after they separated. Frank sought the officer who had been hurt, and found him in the hospital. The little Irishman did not recognize Frank as one of the students. “Mr. O’Farrel,” said Frank, “I wish to speak with you concerning a matter of importance.” O’Farrel gave Merry a close scrutiny. “Pwhat’s thot ye want to spake about?” he asked, suspiciously. “It’s yersilf Oi dunno at all, at all.” “My name is Merriwell,” said Frank, “and I am a student.” A look of anger came into the face of the injured cop.