“And he’ll succeed if you don’t appear and answer to the charges preferred against you,” said Manton. “I was kicked out, even when I did try to defend myself.” “Say,” broke forth Necker, “did you pay that bunch of sluggers?” “What bunch?” “The ones you engaged to help us hammer Merriwell and Hodge.” “Pay them? Why should I? They didn’t do anything, did they?” “No; but you agreed to give them something, anyhow.” “Well, they’ve got all they will get.” “One of them got something,” said Frost. “Hug Murphy was given a year for flat robbery.” “Next to Pink Cassidy,” said Manton, “he was the ugliest man in the bunch. Pink was the leader.” “Speak of the devil,” hissed Frost, “and you’ll see the print of his hoof! There’s Cassidy now.” “Where?” anxiously asked the other two. Frost pointed out a chap with bright red hair. “Yes, that’s him,” nodded Manton; “and he’s spotted us. I’m sorry, for he’ll come around.” He was right. “Pink” Cassidy, a sullen, stocky young thug, had seen them, and it was not long before he came forcing his way up over the bleachers and reached them. “Set over, you!” he growled at a man who was beside Manton. “I wanter set wid me frien’s.” “Go on!” retorted the man. “There’s no room here, Mr. Buttinsky.” “Den I’ll make some room,” said Pink, as he grasped the man by the collar and gave him a jerk that flung him over the line of spectators below and onto the heads of the next row. “Allus move when a gent asks ye to.” Saying which, he calmly took the seat thus made vacant. This action caused considerable commotion and enraged both the fellow who had been thus handled and those upon which he had landed; but Cassidy minded it not in the least, laughing and retorting to their angry words. “If any of youse is lookin’ for trouble,” he said, “you can have all yer want. Better set still an’ enjoy der game. Der gent wid the smashed dicer can git him a new one for der price. He needs it. Dat lid is all outer date.” “What do you mean by coming here and making all this row?” growled Manton. “You have half the bunch on this side rubbering at us.” “Oh, be calm, be calm,” advised Cassidy serenely. “Let ’em rubber. Dey won’t bite er northin’. I seen youse here, an’ I took a fancy to set wid youse. You owe me money.” “What do you mean?” “Dere, dere, don’t gimme any o’ dat! It don’t go wid me. You know wot I mean. Dere’s somet’n’ comin’ ter me, an’ dis is me day fer collectin’.” “You can’t get anything out of me. I’m broke.” “Nay, nay; I’m too wise ter swaller dat. A gent like youse never goes busted. Come down wid der long green.” “Shut up that talk!” grated the gentleman pugilist. “There’s nothing due you.” “Den dere’s somet’n’ due youse, me boy! If youse don’t settle I’m goin’ ter tie you in a double hard knot.” Manton was enraged. He was not afraid of Cassidy as a fighter, but he feared the fellow would succeed in attracting the attention of Merriwell and thus get them all into trouble.