“I don’t suppose I’m any too good,” admitted Dunton. “In fact, I realize I’m not. It was not so long ago that I tried to do you a bad turn, Merriwell. That was when you first joined the company to which I belonged. I was no match for you. You did me up, but then, instead of exposing me and causing my release in disgrace from the company, you kept still and gave me a show. When I understood the full extent of your generosity, I began to compare myself with you, and the comparison was odious. I was disgusted with myself. I said, ‘Frank Merriwell is square, white and generous. What are you?’ Then I came to you, Merriwell, and owned up.” “That’s right,” nodded Frank. “And I do not believe to this day Havener knows anything about it, although he was witness of the whole affair as it originally happened.” “I knew there was some trouble between you and Dunton,” said the stage manager, “and I saw that it came out all right, for both of you dropped all hard feelings, or seemed to.” “But you never knew,” said Dunton, “that I tried to kill Merriwell.” “Kill him?” gasped Havener. “Yes.” “Great gosh!” gurgled Ephraim. “No,” admitted the stage manager, “I never knew that.” “Well, it’s a fact,” admitted the actor. “It was in the time when we were playing in repertoire just after the wind up of poor old ‘Uncle Tom.’ You remember that Merriwell was run into the leading part in a hurry, to fill the place of Leslie Lawrence, who was ill.” “Yes, I remember.” “And I wanted that part.” “I remember that.” “I thought it a shame to run in a rank amateur like Merriwell on a lead.” “You said so.” “Well, I was hot because I could not have the part, and I did not rehearse very well.” Havener nodded. He remembered all this perfectly. “In my heart,” Dunton went on, “was a perfect hell of fury. I don’t think I ever felt that way before. My hatred for Merriwell knew no bounds. I resolved to show him up. I am something of a fencer and there was a sword duel in the play. I was the villain in the piece, and I fought with the hero. It was necessary for Merriwell to do the duel with me. In the piece I should seem to have the best of it at first, and then he should show superior skill and disarm me.” “I remember all about that,” said Havener. “Go on.” “It was in that duel that I determined to make a monkey of him. I would show the audience what a stick he was.” Ephraim Gallup chuckled. “I’ve known other folks to git fooled in a real duel with him,” said the Vermonter. “This turned out a real duel,” said Dunton. “When the time came, I insulted Merriwell by adding venom to the regular lines of the part. I called him a crawling cur. I did my best to make him feel my real contempt for him.” Frank was smiling, but he said nothing.