The motley crowd accompanying this man were grinning or scowling at Merriwell and his friends, while some of them made half-audible comments of an unflattering sort. They were tall, short, stout, and thin, but one and all they carried the atmosphere of tough characters. “It’s rather odd, Bart,” said Frank, speaking to Hodge, who was surveying the crowd with dark disapproval, “that Gaddis should fail to keep his appointment to meet us here.” “No it ain’t odd,” contradicted the big chap. “He knowed better than to be here. You made some sort of arrangement with him to play a game of baseball in this town, didn’t ye?” “Yes.” “Well, fergit it.” “What do you mean?” “Fergit it. You’ll be wastin’ a whole lot of time if you stop here, an’ you’ll put yourselves to a heap of inconvenience. You won’t play no baseball with Gaddis’ team, so you’d better hop right back onter the train and continue your ride.” Merry now surveyed the speaker from his head to his feet. “I happen to have a contract with Mr. Gaddis,” he said. “How is it that you have so much authority? Who are you?” “I’m Mat Madison, and I happen to know what I’m talkin’ about. Joe Gaddis has changed his mind about playin’ baseball with you. He ain’t goin’ to play baseball no more this season.” “Did he send you here to tell me this?” demanded Frank, his eyes beginning to gleam with an ominous light. “No, he didn’t send me; I come myself.” “Then you haven’t any real authority.” “Is that so! You bet I have! I’m giving it to you on the level when I say you won’t play no baseball game in Cartersville, and the wisest thing you can do is to step right back onter this train and git out. In short, I’m here to see that you _do_ git back onter the train, and I brought my backers. If you don’t git we’ll have to make ye git.” By this time Frank’s friends were gathered at his back, ready for anything that might happen. They scented trouble, although they could not understand the cause of it. “I have no idea of leaving Cartersville until I see Mr. Gaddis,” said Merry, with cool determination. “If he fails to keep his agreement with me, I propose to collect one hundred and fifty dollars forfeit money.” “Oh, haw! haw! You do, do ye? Well, when you collect a hundred and fifty from Joe Gaddis you’ll be bald-headed. There ain’t no time for foolin’. The train will pull out pretty soon, so you want to hop right back onto it and go along. If you don’t, I’ll make you hop. Git that?” “If you bother me I’ll feel it my duty to make you regret your action. Get that?” “Why, you thunderin’ fool, you don’t mean to fight, do ye? I’ll knock the head off your shoulders!” “I don’t think you will.” “Then take this!” As he snarled forth the words, Madison struck viciously at Frank’s face with his right fist.