"It's a peach, now, ain't it?"
"You can consider yourself lucky if it isn't worse than that when you get out of here, my man."
"Don't 'my man' me, young feller! I don't like it! Do yer know who give me this face and these two beautiful eyes?"
"No, and we——"
"Well, I'll tell yer who it was. It was a feller what goes by the name of Frank Merriwell."
"Well, he did a first-class job," commented Harris. "That really looks like some of Merriwell's work."
"He done it," nodded Mike. "Nacherlly I ain't got no love to speak of for him. Well, I was in the room next to this just now, and as I was leanin' against the partition I happened to overhear what you chaps was sayin' in here. From what I heard, I judged you
didn't love this Merriwell none to brag about, and I says to myself, 'Mike, if you want to get even, them is the boys to hitch fast to.' Then I got right up and came in here without bein' invited. I hope you'll excuse me, gents, but I couldn't help it under the circumstances. I had a sort of feller-feelin' for you chaps, and I thought mebbe we might arrange some sort of a deal together that would do this Merriwell, and do him for keeps. I'm not a chap with much education, but I'll bet anything I can hate just as hard as you fellers, and if there's anybody I hate on the earth, it's Frank Merriwell.
"There, now, gents, you have heard what I have ter say, and I hope you'll tumble ter ther fact that I am on the level. This is no case of stringing. I want ter pay back that feller for these two black eyes and this mug. Mebbe you can help me to do it, and I can help you to square yerselves with him at the same time. If that is right, why shouldn't we kinder go into partnerships for a short period? I put the question to yer, and you can do as ye please."
The quartet at the table looked at one another inquiringly and doubtingly. They seemed to hesitate.