“You must be examined by an expert in mental disorders. If he says your mind is in such a condition that you should quit college for a time, you must accept his decision.”
“Very well.”
“You agree, do you?”
“Yes, I’m ready to agree to anything that will give me a fair chance. I don’t want to leave college. I believe I am all right now. Perhaps I need a little medicine to tone me up, but that’s all. I appreciate this, Merriwell. I can’t say much about it now, but I think I’ll prove to you that I’m not ungrateful. I know what would have happened to me had you been almost any one else. I confess I was depending on your generosity. You have been generous with all your enemies—almost too generous. In the end you overcome their enmity and win their respect. If you were afraid of them, such would not be the case. At first I thought you were afraid, but now I know my mistake. I doubt if you fear any one in the world. Tell me the truth, Merriwell. Were you really ever afraid of anything?”
“Yes, indeed,” was the prompt answer. “No credit for courage may be given a person who has never known fear. It is the one who has experienced fear and overcome it who is really brave. I’m going to take this pistol, Lynch. I shall also keep these bullets. I did not pick up this weapon after you dropped it. Another person did that. In case I find you’re not sincere in your seeming repentance, I’ll have evidence enough against you to put you out of college in a hurry.”
Mike made no objection as Dick took the pistol and thrust it into an inner pocket.
“I’ll prove to you that I’m sincere,” he suddenly exclaimed, once more rising to his feet. “You wait; I’ll place the proof in your hands this very night. I’ll fix it so that you won’t need that pistol as evidence.”
“What are you going to do?” asked Dick wonderingly.
“Never mind,” said Lynch. “You’ll find out soon. I would offer to shake hands with you, but——”
“Prove to me beyond doubt that you’re genuinely repentant and ready to do what’s right in future, and you’ll find my hand open to you,” said Dick, as he turned toward the door.