“If he can’t pay, I can,” repeated Lynch. “We have been friendly, and I’m going to get him out of your greedy clutches, Dagett.”
“Oh, you needn’t pay the whole of it,” said Mel quickly. “I only want what’s due this week.”
“You only want to keep him indebted to you, so you can continue to squeeze him. If he can’t pay what’s due next week, then you’ll threaten to sell his stuff. I know your game, Dagett, and it’s a mighty dirty one.”
“Now, don’t you start to preach to me,” sneered Mel. “I guess you’ve been in some dirty jobs yourself.”
“I have,” acknowledged Lynch instantly. “I’ve been in a number of them, but that’s past now, and I’m done with it. Understand, I say I’m done with it. I’ve turned over a new leaf, and in future I’m going to conduct myself differently. Don’t grin, Dagett; I mean business. Your warped and distorted mind may not be able to comprehend me, but I mean just what I say. Heretofore I’ve carried around a grouch that has made me ugly and disagreeable even toward my own friends. I haven’t enjoyed life. I’ve been getting little satisfaction out of it. From now on I’m going to follow a different plan. I begin here and now by helping one chap to get out of your clutches, Dagett, even though it leaves me practically broke. Now get those things and bring them here just as quick as you can.”
Ditson and Wolfe exchanged wondering glances. When Mel had left the room, Duncan started to express his thanks, but Mike cut him short.
“Why shouldn’t I do it?” he said. “Haven’t we been on friendly terms? What’s a friend good for if he won’t help another out in a time of need?”
“Gee! is this Mike Lynch?” muttered Wolfe. “Say, Dunc, what do you think I caught him doing? You can’t guess, so don’t try. I caught him writing a letter to Dick Merriwell, and he induced me to hitch on my name as a witness to his signature.”
“What were you doing, Lynch?” grinned Ditson. “Telling Merriwell to go to the dickens?”
“No,” was the answer. “I was telling him something entirely different. You heard me inform Dagett that I have turned over a new leaf. I wasn’t talking to hear the sound of my own voice. Did you ever hear me admit that I consider Merriwell the whitest man in college? You never did, but I admit it now. I’m through trying to throw him down.”