"I'm not afraid of your biting, Dace Perry," answered Susie with a flirt of the head. "If all I've heard of you is true, you're more given to barking than anything else." Temper flashed an instant in the boy's sloe-black eyes, giving an ugly hint of the darker side of his character. When the anger faded an unpleasant crafty look was left on his face. "You can't believe all you hear, and not more than half you see," he remarked. "Where's Nutmegs? I know him." "There's no such person as 'Nutmegs,'" answered the girl tartly. "If you mean my brother, Mark, he's in his laboratory down by the canal." Perry stared a moment, then gave vent to an amused whistle. "Laboratory, eh? Well, that's a good one, Susie. Where's the reformed road-agent? Is he in the laboratory joint, too?" "No, Welcome has gone into town, but I can call Mark if you----" "No, don't call him, Susie," interrupted Perry. "I've got something to tell you about Matt King. Say, I thought that would make you open your eyes. I reckon you don't think much of Matt King, eh?" Vivid color mantled the girl's cheeks. "Matt is a chum of Mark's, and a good friend of mine," she answered, "and everybody says he's the best all-around athlete in the high school. Major Woolford has picked him to represent the athletic club in the bicycle races with Prescott and----" "King has got to make good at the try-out first," scowled Perry. "He'll do that, all right," averred Susie. "I guess there's no doubt about his being able to beat _you_." "If what I've heard about him is true," continued Perry, "I reckon he won't have anything to do with the try-out, or with the race, either." Sudden interest flashed in Susie's face. "What have you heard?" she demanded curiously. So deeply concerned was she in this information about Matt King which Perry professed to have acquired, that she stepped eagerly to the gate. This was what Perry had been waiting for. Susie McReady had jarred his vanity and his temper several times during their brief interview, and it was his nature to try to "play even." His idea of squaring accounts with the girl was directly in line with his low ideals and his insolent nature. Leaning forward quickly Perry flung one arm about the girl's neck. "I reckon you'll know me after this," cried Perry, and attempted to give the struggling girl a kiss. Unseen by either of the two at the gate, a boy had glided noiselessly toward them on a wheel. He came from the direction of town and, as he crossed the bridge and saw Susie and Dace Perry, an inkling of the situation at the gate darted through his mind, and caused him to put more power into the pedals. Suddenly the captain of the cross-country team was caught from behind and hurled backward with such force that he measured his length on the ground. "Oh, Matt, Matt!" exclaimed Susie. "What's the matter with you?" snarled Perry, quickly regaining his feet. His face was black with rage and he stepped toward Matt with doubled fists.