“Liar!” panted the Virginian. “We both saw you! We saw you throw the bomb!”
The strange man turned his dark eyes on the hot-blooded Virginian, and he spoke in a calm tone:
“It makes no difference what you may think you saw. I deny taking any part in it.”
“Do you deny that you hurled a bomb at me?” asked Frank, astonished.
“Yes.”
“Deny it as much as you like!” cried Diamond; “you did it! But for Merriwell’s quick wit, we should have been blown to pieces! You tried to kill us!”
“What folly! Why should I try to kill you?”
“Answer that question yourself.”
“I answer it by swearing that I know nothing about it. Of you, Mr. Merriwell, I ask to know the full story. As I have saved you from danger and death many times, I appeal to you now.”
“And this is the creature who professed to be your guardian angel!” sneered Jack. “This is the creature who said he’d always be near to protect you!”