“I’ll hit you, Joe Hooker, just as quick as anybody else!” she declared. “And I reckon I can lay you out with this bat!” “Daisy, you don’t mean it!” “Yes, I do!” “But—but——” “You shan’t touch him, I tell ye!” she screamed. “He was my friend. He talked to me better than anybody ever did before. I won’t see him hurt.” A greenish light came into Joe Hooker’s eyes. “Are you in love with him?” he sneered. “Are you struck on him, Daisy?” “If I was,” she answered, defiantly, “I’d be struck on a man!” “By blazes! I believe ye are!” “I won’t see you do your mean work!” she panted. “You were to blame in the first place, and you know it! He met you like a man, and, because he was your master, now you have plotted to disgrace him this way. Shame!” “You’re a fool, Daisy!” hissed Joe Hooker. “I’ve been a fool to have anything to do with you!” she flung back. “I am done. From this night I’ll never speak to you again!” “Oh, ye won’t!” “No! I have seen the difference between a real man and a common fellow who swaggers and blusters. Frank Merriwell is a man.” “Now I wouldn’t let him off to save my life!” snarled Joe, all the jealousy of his nature aroused. “You are struck on him! He shall have a double coat!” “Never!” “Oh, but he shall! What can you do?” “I can fight to protect him.” “Little good that will do! You are nothing but a girl, and we are five men.” “No, you are not men! You are cowards—all of you!” Frank admired the girl then. He strained at his bonds trying to free his hands, but in vain. “Jump her, Joe!” snarled Sam Hooker. “She won’t hit you.” “I will!” she cried—“I swear I will! Don’t try to put a hand on me, Joe Hooker! If you do, I’ll stretch you on the floor!” Of a sudden Joe attempted another tack. “Oh, come, Daisy,” he said, coaxingly, “don’t be foolish! You can’t save him! Put down that bat and we will talk it over.” “Not on your life! I know what you want and you don’t get it that way! Frank Merriwell has been good to me, and I will fight for him as long as I can draw a breath!” “Look out!” exclaimed Merry, suddenly. “One of the other men—behind you!” It was too late, for one of the masked men had edged along till he found a favorable opportunity to spring. Now he made a leap at the girl, grasping the bat. She screamed and struggled, but it was useless then. They seized her, tore the bat from her hands, held her helpless, even though she bit and scratched. “Take the cat out of here, Joe!” roared Sam Hooker. “Be lively about it! Get her away, and keep her away!” Joe Hooker lifted the girl in his arms and carried her from the room, for all of her screams and struggles. He was not gone long before he returned, slamming the door and fastening it. He was panting, but seemed more vicious than ever. “What did ye do with her?” asked Sam. “She broke away from me,” answered Joe. “Hurry up with the job! I want to put the tar on myself! Oh, I’ll fix him! She called him a man! She is struck on him!”