“Some Yale men. I’ll cut it out if you wish. Have you anything you’d like to do——” “Oh, no! I wouldn’t have you fail to meet your friends for anything.” “Then I’ll bring you back here after we’ve had dinner. There’ll be plenty of time.” “And you’ll find me here,” said Bart. Suddenly Merry stepped to the portières which separated the parlor from the reading room. With a sweep, he flung them back and stepped between them. “Hello!” he exclaimed. “I thought there was some one behind these curtains.” He had found Fred Fillmore standing there in a threatening attitude. Angered at being thus discovered, Fillmore aimed a swift blow at Merriwell’s face. Like a flash of light Merry caught the fellow’s hand, gave it a twist and locked his other arm round Fred’s. With his free hand Fillmore attempted to strike again, making a sweeping blow at Frank’s head. Merriwell pressed downward sharply and firmly on the hand of the imprisoned arm, and Fillmore’s blow stopped before he had reached Frank, while a cry of pain broke from his lips. “I wouldn’t repeat the trick, Fillmore, if I were in your place,” said Merry quietly. “You’ll simply hurt yourself by it. If you attempt to kick me on the shins I shall use still more pressure on your arm.” The baffled fellow glared sidelong at his master. “Curse you!” he hissed. “Save your curses. You know they have a way, like chickens, of coming home to roost.” “Let go!” “In a moment. I didn’t know you were in the house, but I fancied some one was listening behind these curtains.” “I have a right to do what I please in this house. You are an intruder here! You’d better get out!” “You have a right to do what you please anywhere if you behave yourself. I did not intend to touch you, but you struck at me, and I was compelled to defend myself. The last time you struck at me I was unprepared and could not defend myself. I have a little scar on my head now.” “I wish I had brained you!” “I can’t understand your folly. It doesn’t seem possible that you can hold a silly grudge because you and Hackett failed in your little trick to get me full at Hastings’ road house and have me hammered by a paid ruffian. That can’t be the reason why you hate me so intensely.” “It isn’t.” “I thought not. I’ve never done you harm, and I have no desire to harm you. Miss Burrage and Miss Bellwood have been stopping beneath your sister’s roof——” “Which you seem to forget.” “If they had not been stopping here I might be inclined to handle you without gloves. Let’s not make more of a scene before them. Miss Bellwood is not well. I shall be in Baltimore a day or two. If you wish to see me, call at the——” “No, Frank—no!” cried Inza. “For my sake—and Elsie’s! Fred is unreasonable; he’s out of his senses. Please consider us!” “Of course I will,” said Merry quickly.