"But I—I don't want my curls pulled," pleaded the frightened girl. "Oh, please let go, won't you?"
"I want you——" began the bully, but did not finish, for at that moment he felt Dick's hand on his ear. Then he received a yank that pained him exceedingly.
"Ouch!" he yelled, and dropped his hold of the girl. "Oh, my ear! Dick Rover, what did you do that for?"
"I did it to make you behave yourself," answered Dick, sternly. "Sobber, I didn't really think you could be so mean," he went on.
"I—I wasn't hurting the girl," grumbled the bully. "And it's none of your business anyway," he added, suddenly, in a blaze of passion.
"After this, you leave her alone."
Tad Sobber glared at Dick for an instant. Then he raised his glass of soda and attempted to dash it into Dick's face. But Sam saw the movement, knocked up the bully's arm, and the soda went into Nick Pell's ear.
"Hi, stop!" roared Nick Pell, as the soda trickled down his neck. "What did you do that for?"
"It was Sam Rover's fault," answered Sobber.
"My brand new collar is spoilt!"