The head and shoulders of the man struck the floor before any other part of his body. Barely had he dropped when the young actor was on him, grasping him by the collar and slack of his trousers. With a jerk, Frank brought the man up, ran him to the door, and gave him a thrust. Then, at the very head of the flight of stairs, Merry lifted Sam Hooker with a terrible kick. The man actually seemed to turn over and over in the air, and he struck at the bottom of the stairs with a thud that shook the building. Joe Hooker gave a shout of rage, and he was on Frank just as Merry delivered that kick. It was too late for him to aid his brother, but he knocked Frank against the wall, and then tried to clutch him by the throat. Right there Ephraim Gallup “got into gear.” “Hold on, ye crooked critter!” he shouted. “Yeou can’t do that when I’m araound, by thutteration!” He caught hold of Joe Hooker and gave him a yank backward. In a moment Merriwell had recovered from the surprise of the sudden attack, and he also had hold of the cowboy’s younger brother. “Let me have him, Ephraim!” he grimly commanded. “I don’t want him,” confessed Gallup, as he relaxed his hold on Frank’s assailant. Merry whirled Joe toward the door, and, a moment later, the fellow went sailing downstairs after his brother, on top of whom he landed. Sam Hooker, stunned and bewildered, was just crawling to his feet when Joe came flying through the air, striking on his shoulders. The cowboy was hurled to the floor again by the crushing weight of his brother. Joe was not seriously hurt, as his fall had been broken, but Sam lay still and groaned. Joe sat up and looked at his brother, whom he had regarded as mighty and invincible. Sam opened his eyes after a little and looked at Joe. It was several moments before either of them spoke. “Are ye hurt much?” asked Joe. “I dunno,” grunted Sam. “Feel any pain?” asked Joe. “I dunno,” grunted Sam. Then they were silent several moments, still staring at each other. At last, Sam ventured to speak again. “What done it?” he inquired. “Was there an earthquake?” “You went up to lick a dude for me,” explained Joe. “Did I?” murmured the cowboy. “I’m ruther muddled. Where’s the dude?” “Up there.” “An’ we’re down here?” “Yes.” “Sing’lar!” Again they were silent, while the cowboy seemed trying to collect his thoughts, plainly no easy matter. “What did I do to the dude?” he finally asked. “Nothing,” answered Joe, dolefully. “He did it to you. He kicked you clean down the stairs, and then threw me after ye.” Sam made a frantic struggle and sat up. “Look hyar, Joe!” he growled; “don’t tell me a lie, fer I’ll wallop yer ef yer do!” “That ain’t no lie,” declared Joe. “He done it, Sam.” “How?” “Don’t ask me! I reckoned you’d chew him up, but he seemed to handle you easier than he did me.” “Why, thar ain’t no galoot in this yar town kin handle me!” growled the cowboy, making a desperate struggle to rise.