CHAPTER VIII
A FIGHT AND A CHALLENGE
Jack Rover could see that Brassy Bangs was laboring under great excitement. The youth who loved to dress in such a showy manner was red of face and his eyes glittered in a manner calculated to make any one quail before him.
But the young captain of Company C was not going to quail, and he stood his ground and looked the other youth squarely in the face.
“You want a few words, eh?” he said coldly. “Well, what is it?”
“You know well enough what brought me here!” cried Brassy. “I’ve a good mind to wipe up the floor with you!”
“I’m not fighting just now, Bangs. But don’t forget that I can defend myself if it’s necessary,” answered the young captain quickly. And then he added: “Now say what you’ve got to say or get out.”
“I’ll stay as long as I please,” blustered the showy youth. “It’s a fine piece of business you’ve been in—trying to belittle me and my chums in the eyes of the girls at Clearwater Hall.”
“If you came here to talk about the young ladies from Clearwater the sooner you get out the better,” answered Jack, his face flushing.
“Thought you were pulling off a fine stunt, didn’t you, when you talked to Ruth Stevenson about me?” sneered Brassy.