“Not on your life! I know what you want and you don’t get it that way! Frank Merriwell has been good to me, and I will fight for him as long as I can draw a breath!”
“Look out!” exclaimed Merry, suddenly.
“One of the other men—behind you!”
It was too late, for one of the masked men had edged along till he found a favorable opportunity to spring. Now he made a leap at the girl, grasping the bat.
She screamed and struggled, but it was useless then. They seized her, tore the bat from her hands, held her helpless, even though she bit and scratched.
“Take the cat out of here, Joe!” roared Sam Hooker. “Be lively about it! Get her away, and keep her away!”
Joe Hooker lifted the girl in his arms and carried her from the room, for all of her screams and struggles. He was not gone long before he returned, slamming the door and fastening it. He was panting, but seemed more vicious than ever.
“What did ye do with her?” asked Sam.
“She broke away from me,” answered Joe. “Hurry up with the job! I want to put the tar on myself! Oh, I’ll fix him! She called him a man! She is struck on him!”
He glared at Frank, who was now sitting with his back against the wall, having drawn himself into that position.