Hodge entered without knocking, and Merry knew in a moment, on looking up, that something was wrong.
“Look here, Merriwell!” he flared.
“What’s the matter, old man?”
“I’ve stood enough of this! It’s the limit!”
“What are you talking about, Bart? What’s the limit?”
“Havener is the limit.”
“I don’t think I understand you, my dear fellow.”
“Don’t ‘dear fellow’ me! I am in no mood to take it now.”
Plainly enough something serious had happened, for Bart was not in the habit of talking that way. Frank straightened up and looked at him steadily without speaking. Bart’s eyes dropped before that gaze, but the sullen look did not leave his face, and he stared at the floor as if glaring at a deadly enemy.
“What is this, anyway?” Merry asked, after some moments. “What has gone wrong between you and Havener?”