“Hey? A scrap? Who——”
“Hodge and Mason.”
Merriwell grasped Ready by the arm, demanded to know all about it, and Jack told him what had happened.
“It must be stopped!” exclaimed Frank, who fancied he saw no end of trouble on the nine arising from such an encounter. “We must find out which way they have gone.”
But though they tried to do so, they did not learn until it was almost dark that the two young men had been seen walking swiftly toward Edgewood Park.
Neither of the enemies was found. When they returned to college Hodge was not in his room. Some time later he had arrived, but his door was locked and no one gained admittance.
All the following day Hodge and Mason kept to their rooms. Of course, Frank gained admission, although both fellows were reported “ill.”
Mason was wearing a beefsteak poultice over both eyes, while Hodge was making liberal applications of witch-hazel and arnica and soap liniment.
Mason would not say a word about the fight. Nor would Hodge.
When Merry tried to draw Mason out he closed up like a clam. Hodge did the same. Neither man would speak of the other.