“That sounds better, but it isn’t enough. Just step out of the room, all of you, and leave him to me. While you’re outside, you had better call an ambulance for him.” “I warn you not to offer me personal violence,” said Darleton, his lips quivering and his voice unsteady. “You warn us, you cur!” snarled one, shaking his fist under the rascal’s nose. “Why, do you know what you deserve and what you would get in some places? You deserve to be lynched! There was a time in this town when you would have been shot.” Frank stood back and let matters take their course. He had done his part, and he felt that he had done well in exposing the scoundrel. It was not for him to say how the man should be dealt with by the club. Darleton drew forth a pocketbook and flung it on the table. “There’s my money,” he said. “Go ahead and take it.” “You bet we will!” was the instant response. The money was taken and divided before his eyes. Then the men of cooler judgment prevailed over their more excitable companions, whom they persuaded to let Darleton depart in disgrace. The fellow was only too glad to get off in that manner, and he hastily slunk to the door. There he paused and looked around. His eyes met those of Frank Merriwell, and the look he gave was pregnant with malignant hatred of the most murderous nature. The Midwestern lost little time in calling a meeting for the purpose of considering Darleton’s case. In short order the fellow was declared expelled in disgrace from the organization. Following this, it was agreed that Frank Merriwell should be tendered a vote of thanks for his service to the club. The outcome of the affair gave all of Merry’s friends a feeling of satisfaction, for they believed that the scoundrel had received his just deserts. Bart Hodge expressed a feeling of intense regret because he had not been present to witness Darleton’s humiliation. “I sized him up at the start,” declared Bart. “I knew he was a crook, and I knew no crook could defeat Merry.” That afternoon Frank came face to face with Darleton in front of the post office. The fellow stopped short, the glare of a panther that has been wounded leaping into his eyes. “You—you—you meddling dog!” he panted huskily. Frank would have passed on without speaking, but the rascal stepped before him. “Kindly stand aside,” said Merry. “I don’t wish to soil my hands on you.” “Oh, you’re very fine and lofty! You think you have done a grand thing in putting this disgrace on me, I suppose.” “I’m not at all proud of it; but I did my duty.” “Your duty! Bah!” “It is the duty of any man to expose a rascal when he can do so.” “Bah! You did not do that from a sense of duty, but to win applause and lead people to think you very cunning and clever. You’re a notoriety seeker.” “I don’t care to waste words with you.” “You have ruined my good name!” “You ruined it yourself by your crookedness. Don’t try to put the blame on me.”