“I could stop it, but what’s the good? We’ve done enough, I fancy. Gaddis is out of baseball, and the fine crowd that was backing him have taken to cover. I don’t believe they’ll dare butt against us after this. I wanted to show them just what we could do when we wished, and I believe they understand. Half our new players are here now, and the rest will arrive in the morning. The new Cartersville baseball team will take the field the following day. Old Martin, who owns the field, is so well cowed that he has told me to go ahead and use it, although Gaddis holds a receipt for the season’s rent, which he has paid. I have no particular quarrel with the Merriwell crowd.” “Well, I have!” snarled Madison; “and I’m going to get a crack at Merriwell before they pull out of Cartersville!” “Go ahead,” nodded Cameron, as he took a gold cigarette case, decorated with diamonds, from his pocket, and selected a fresh cigarette. “You have my permission; but, according to your own story you’ll have to catch him off his guard and lay him out stiff before he has a chance to recover.” “Leave it to me!” growled the bruiser. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XIII THE HOUSE AMID THE TREES. The gloved hands of the woman quivered as she restored the whip to the driver. She did not look back, although an expression of disappointment came from her hidden lips. “Lucky for him he moved lively,” said Frank, as she sank down at his side. “Some evil charm protects him!” breathed the mysterious woman. “I did not wish to kill him—then. I hoped to drive over him and maim him!” “It is plain that you have no liking for the man.” “Like him? I loathe and detest the sight of his wicked face, his treacherous eyes and his cruel mouth! When I behold him something in my heart struggles and burns until it is only by the utmost restraint that I keep myself from flying at him.” “He has done you a great wrong?” “Yes, me and one dearest to me in all the world.” “He knows you, and that is why you keep yourself veiled?” “He has never seen my face.” By the time the driver had quieted and restrained the frightened horse, and Merry looked back. He saw at a distance his companions making all haste in that direction, and he knew Cameron had not interfered with them, which gave him a feeling of relief. “The boys are coming,” he said. “I thought that man might try to stop them.” The woman directed the driver to pull the horse down to a walk, which he succeeded in doing. “I do not wish to seem inquisitive,” said Merry; “but it is no more than natural that I should be greatly interested in Carey Cameron after what has happened.” “Quite natural,” admitted the woman. “He is a gambler.” “I thought it by his appearance.”