"And this one has no particular reason for it?"
"No; no real reason."
Still Dick thought of his first meeting with Doris Templeton in Farmer Snodd’s beech-grove, and of the evident jealousy he had awakened in the breast of Darrell by his attentions to the blue-eyed girl, and he knew why Hal disliked him.
"Look here, Dick," said Merry, "when I first came to Fardale I made many enemies here. One of my most bitter enemies was Bart Hodge. He fought me tooth and nail every time he could, and I confess that he was a fighter. But he was not satisfied in those days to fight on the square. In order to get the best of me he resorted to every expedient, some of them decidedly shady. But I fought him openly, and I never sought to take an underhand advantage of him. I might have exposed him and made it pretty hot for him here, but I didn’t do that.
"I didn’t like him then, but there came a time when he got into a bad scrape, being accused of something of which he was entirely innocent. It looked dark for him, but I discovered the truth and saved him. Was he grateful? Perhaps so, but his pride did not let him show it. Chance made him my roommate. I can’t say just how it came round, but in time that fellow changed and became my friend. You know him, Dick, and you know how much I think of him now. He is a true friend—one to be proud of. He has told me a hundred times that he owes it to me that he is not a bad fellow to-day. He says I made him ashamed of himself at last, and then he quit trying to hurt me.
"But that was not all. He had made himself unpopular, but he started to do what was right, and be just to those who disliked him. It was a hard thing for him to do, and often he failed in his efforts, but he kept on fighting until to-day there is not a finer fellow anywhere than Bart Hodge. He is square, manly, straightforward. I believe he will make a successful man. Dick, you must know that I feel satisfaction when I hear him tell me that I—my example and influence—have made him what he is. You must understand that I am glad I did not push him down when I had a chance, and when I might have done so with apparent justice. Think this over, Dick. If you have an enemy play fair with him, no matter what he does. He may become ashamed in time. I do not advise you not to stand up for your rights, but I do advise not to mind petty things, and, when possible, to give a fellow another show. I do not believe Darrell is so very bad, and some time he may become your friend."
"Never!" exclaimed Dick. "Never! I’m not like you, Frank. I can’t forget so easy. Under no circumstances will I ever accept Darrell as my friend."
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A RASCAL AND HIS TOOLS.
Jabez Lynch had been boiling with passion when he challenged Hal Darrell to fight him in Chadwick’s pasture. In that condition Jabez would have put up a hot fight, but afterward his blood cooled and he regretted that he had made the challenge.
"I was a fool!" he told himself. "The fellow can scrap some, and he may mark me in the dark. I should have found some other way to get even for his blow."