“You know why,” replied Phil calmly. “Because you’re a coward.”
“Hold on!” cried the bully, taking a step forward. “I’ve stood about all I’m going to from you.”
He looked around at Gerhart. The freshman stood passive, and Langridge showed some surprise.
“Aren’t you going to stand by me?” asked the sophomore of his ally.
“Of course,” muttered Gerhart, but there was no heart in his tones. He remembered what his crony had said regarding Phil’s prowess.
“Certainly,” put in Tom with gentle voice. “We’ll make a quartet of it, if you like.”
“What are you interfering with my affairs for?” went on Langridge, taking no notice of Tom.
“Because it’s the affair of any decent college man to interfere when he catches a dirty coward beating a fellow smaller than he is!” and Phil fairly bit off the words.
“Take care!” cried Langridge. “You’re going too far. I’ll make a class matter of it if you call me a coward again!”