“He won’t touch you.”
“Yes, he will! I know he will! He’ll kill me, because he thinks I was the one that heard him talking to Walter.”
“Don’t be scared. If he sees you acting in this way, then he may think you had something to do with it. Run along now and don’t act as if you were frightened. He won’t hurt you.”
Carlton obediently departed, and Dan’s heart, as he watched the little fellow, almost smote him. The boy had developed wonderfully during the school year, but he was a slight lad and not able as yet to fight his own battles. Then too, Dan had spoken more confidently than his real feelings had warranted. He was by no means certain that Gus would not wreak his vengeance upon the boy, who was unable to defend himself. And yet Gus had no knowledge that Carlton had been the informer, and the thought relieved his fear.
“How is your arm, Dan?” inquired Hodge as he joined his friend.
“Sore,” replied Dan lightly.
“It’s a wonder it wasn’t broken. What a low-down, sneaking piece of business that was. Don’t you think Gus did it on purpose?”
“No.”
“You’re too easy. All the fellows know that he had made up his mind that you shouldn’t keep him out of the box. And he got the place too—worse luck! He made us lose the game.”