In less than ten seconds a general fight was taking place in that end of the car. Jack Diamond, who had a grudge against Tom Thornton, collared Tom as he was trying to slip away.
"Hold on!" cried the Virginian. "You can't play the sneak in that way! I saw you talking with that scoundrel! Did you and Flemming set him on to bribe Merriwell?"
"I don't know anything about it!" protested Tom, struggling. "Let go, Diamond!"
"Well, not in a hurry!" returned Jack. "I don't know where the money came from, but I believe you
and Flemming tried to ruin Merriwell by bribing him to throw a game and then exposing him. If that was the trick, you fooled yourselves. Frank Merriwell is not that kind of a fellow!"
With a fierce exclamation, Thornton struck savagely at Jack's face, but Diamond dodged the blow.
"Oh, you will, will you!" he cried, and then he gave Thornton a terrible thump between the eyes.
In another moment they were at it fiercely.
Although Flemming was a big fellow with a reputation as a bully, Harry Rattleton had not hesitated to lay hands on him.
"You're a chine fap—I mean a fine chap!" shouted Harry. "So you are concerned in this attempted bribery!"