The boys laughed at Walter’s retort and as they looked at Gus it was plain that their sympathies were not with him. Several glanced slyly at Dan, but to all appearances he was the least-moved boy in the group. “There isn’t a mucker in the Tait School,” said Gus savagely, “or at least there hasn’t been up to to-day. Every fellow pays his way like a man and he has something behind him too!” “What do you mean?” asked Walter tauntingly, aroused still more by the manifest sympathy of his companions. “How far back does a fellow have to go not to be a mucker? Now, would you think that a fellow whose father stuck pigs――――” “Say that again,” broke in Gus, his face livid and his fist drawn back, “and I’ll show you.” “Yes,” taunted Walter, “that is the way some fellows take to show that they are not muckers.” It was common report in the school that the father of Gus Kiggins, who now was a prosperous pork-packer, had begun his successful career as one of the men employed by the establishment in which he now was a partner. It was a well-known fact that he had been one of the “hands” whose sole occupation was slaughtering hogs. “I’ll leave it to the fellows――no, I’ll leave it to this fellow himself,” shouted Gus, as he stopped and faced Dan, his companions also stopping at the same time. “Leave what to him?” demanded Ned. “Whether what I say is true or not.” “That you’re a mucker?” asked Walter with a sneer. “No, sir. I’ll just ask him one or two questions, and if he answers them, then I’ll never say another word if they’re not my way. If they prove what I claim, then I’ll leave it with you fellows.” “Oh, take a rest, Gus. Calm down,” said Hodge. “You talk too much.” “Let him ask his questions,” said Dan quietly. “He hasn’t any right to question you,” declared Smith. “He hasn’t any more right than Hodge has or I have. No, nor than you have to ask him questions.” “Don’t stop him. I’ll answer two questions for him if he’ll let me ask him two after he’s done with me,” said Dan. “That’s fair. Go ahead, Gus,” said Hodge. “All right,” said Gus, promptly turning to Dan. “My first question is, Do you pay for your term-bills in the Tait School or does someone else pay for them? I know it’s none of my business in one sense of the word――――” “Of course it’s none of your business!” broke in Walter. “No one but a mucker would ever ask a question like that anyway!” For a moment Gus glared at the speaker, but as Hodge and Smith instantly stepped in front of him, no damage, at least physically, was done. “You don’t have to answer such a fool question as that,” said Hodge, turning to Dan. “I don’t mind answering it,” said Dan, apparently unmoved. “I don’t mind telling you that I don’t pay my bills here.” “There! That’s just what I thought!” shouted Gus and he was quick to mark the effect of Dan’s acknowledgment. It was manifest that the reply of Dan had somewhat dampened the ardor of the boys. “Now, I’ve got just one question more.”