And then, when Cunningham failed to obey, Merry struck the man a blow that sent him up against the partition with a terrible thud that seemed to shake the whole house.
CHAPTER XIV.
CUNNINGHAM MEETS HIS MASTER.
But Jack Cunningham had a hard head, and he was not a man to be knocked out by the first blow. Somehow he continued to cling to Frank’s collar.
Recovering quickly from the shock of Merry’s blow, he uttered a snarl and swung back. Frank ducked, and the huge fist of the giant went over his shoulder.
The two men who had been playing cards came running out.
“Hey, Jack, what’s the matter?” they cried. “Want some help?”
“No, I don’t want any help!” roared Cunningham. “Just yo’ keep back an’ watch me knock some of the conceit out of this college chap.”
Then he gave Frank a thrust away and spat on his hands.
“I’m goin’ to everlastingly knock the corners off yo’, youngster!” he declared. “Yo’ thumped me, an’ no man ever does that without gittin’ licked, and licked good!”
Frank saw that he was in for a hand-to-hand encounter with the big ruffian.