“Harry Watson!” chorused Elmer and Pud.
“That’s not true!” cried Harry, in a quavering voice.
“It is! My mother received a paper from Lawrenceburgh this morning, and it says that Amos Watson is going to prison for five years for forgery!” announced the bully, gloatingly.
“And Amos Watson is your father, isn’t he?” demanded Elmer of Harry.
“Yes. But there has been some dirty work somewhere. My father is as innocent of the charge as you are, Elmer Craven!”
“Evidently the judge didn’t think so—or he wouldn’t have refused his appeal,” sneered the rich tormentor. “Before you get chummy with any more fellows, I advise you to make sure who they are, Paul. And you remember it was you who introduced this son of a prison-bird to Viola.”
At the mention of the girl’s name, Harry seemed suddenly to galvanize into action.
“You leave Miss Darrow’s name out of this, Elmer Craven!” he cried, hotly.
“Oh, is that so? Well, I reckon it will take more than a forger’s son to tell me what I shall do and what I shall not. Paul, you’ve either got to apologize to Viola for introducing this chap to her—or——”
“Or what?” demanded Harry, fairly leaping on his skates toward the boy who had been baiting him until he had goaded him beyond endurance.