“More? How?”
“I cannot explain just now, but I am not through with Mr. Hegner. Yesterday I struck him with a boxing glove. The next time I strike it will be a far more severe blow, and I shall not use my hands.”
“That sounds queer from you, Merriwell. At college you have been considered altogether too kind to your enemies.”
“I am ready to be easy with an enemy who shows any redeeming features, and I am aware that a fellow may dislike me and still be a good fellow at heart. Such things happen. I have my own failings, and I believe in doing by others as I would that they should do by me. But a fellow like this Hegner—well, I doubt if he has a single redeeming trait, and I consider it my duty to expose him as far as possible. That’s all.”
Mabel was regarding Frank admiringly, and she was thinking that he could be stern and unrelenting if the occasion demanded, although he was naturally generous and forgiving.
After a little, Merriwell told of his street encounter of the previous evening, and his hearers listened with breathless interest.
“Great Scott!” cried Charlie. “You must have had a close call! And you think the object was not robbery?”
“I am sure it was not.”
“Then the gang must have attacked you with the sole object of doing you up.”
“That’s right.”