Dan would have been less than human if the words of praise and sympathy had not found a warm response in his heart. He had endured the taunts and flings of Gus Kiggins, aware in part that the boy was jealous of him. Seldom had anyone crossed the path of the school bully; those who were not afraid of him preferring to leave him to himself, while those who were afraid seldom disputed his claims. Even Dan, inexperienced as he was, had found that there was a measure of satisfaction in the thought that Gus had vented his anger upon him because he was jealous of the skill that had been shown. Dan knew that if he had displayed no ability in the pitcher’s box, Gus would have ignored him. Among the few words Mr. Borden had spoken to Dan was one warning which had not been forgotten. “Don’t forget,” Mr. Borden had said, “that no man ever does well without somebody being envious of him. The true man understands that and does not let the petty jealousy of others trouble him.” Dan recalled the words now and the recollection helped him. He was in deep trouble as he thought of Walter. The boy, somehow, had come under the influence of Gus, until his life was poisoned. What would Walter say now? How would he bear the feeling of the school, for there could be no doubt he would share with Gus the indignation all felt. These questions were in Dan’s mind when he went up and found Walter alone in their room. CHAPTER XXX DAN’S STRUGGLE The two boys stood a moment looking at each other in silence. Walter was the first to speak and his voice trembled as he said: “Dan, do you believe it?” “I don’t want to,” replied Dan quietly. “But do you?” “Yes; at least, I believe a part.” “Which part?” “That about the ipecac.” “What don’t you believe?” “That Gus Kiggins intended to hit me with the ball.” “Surely you don’t think I had anything to do with that!” “Of course I don’t, Walter.” “Do you think I had anything to do with the ipecac?” “You know better than I do about that.” “Do you?” said Walter persistently. “I hate to believe it, Walter.” “That means you think I did.” As Dan was silent the troubled boy looked at his roommate in a manner that increased the uneasiness of both. As Dan glanced out the window a moment he saw Carlton Hall running across the campus toward the dormitory, but he gave the little fellow no thought. He was troubled now by more serious matters than the trials of a boy in the fourth form. “Dan,” said Walter at last, “I’m the most miserable fellow in the Tait School.” “I’m sorry.” “It seems as if everything and everybody was against me. I don’t know why it is that Gus got me into such things.” “Don’t you?” “No, I don’t,” said Walter irritably. “Walter,” said Dan quietly, “didn’t you know what kind of a fellow Gus was when you began to run with him?” “I thought all the fellows were down on him. He isn’t as bad as some of them say he is.” “That’s very likely so.”