“He’s a butcher!” chuckled Brad.
“You have it already,” said Zenas. “Your nose is bleeding, sir.”
“You know what I mean. I demand that you meet me in mortal combat. You escaped me once, but you shall not escape again. I caught you sneaking around the door of Miss Ketchum’s room and——”
“I caught you there, you fabricator!” flung back the professor.
At this point the proprietor of the hotel appeared on the scene and promptly announced that he would not have such things in his house. He threatened to eject them both, whereupon Dick hastened to assure the angry man that he would take care of the professor and see that there was no further disturbance.
Then Dick and Brad lifted Zenas to his feet and started him up the stairs, one on either side.
“You shall hear from me again!” cried the major, in defiance of those who had raised him and were dragging him away.
“Bah, sir!” Zenas flung over his shoulder.
“Boo, suh!” Fitts hurled back.
“Slowly, slowly, boys!” groaned the old pedagogue. “I feel as if all my joints were dislocated and half my bones were broken. It’s a wonder my head is not mashed flat, for that woman—that creature—sat on it! Then she called me an old fool!”