im by the
shoulders, and thrust him backward, thus forcing him to look up.

"You have insulted me!" came fiercely from Paul's lips. "I am no sneak
and informer! Did you think I would do the dirty trick you are too
much of a coward to try? Well, you made a big mistake! I dislike
Merriwell, but I am not ready to make myself contemptible in my own
eyes by blowing on him."

Bascomb put up his big hands and thrust Rains off.

"Whom are you calling a coward!" he snarled, as he got upon his feet.

"You!" shot back Paul. "You are a coward and a sneak!"

"Why, I'll thrash you well!"

"No, you won't!" cried Rains, flinging up one hand to stop the advance
of the big plebe. "If you lay a hand on me, I will make known to the
entire school the scheme you just proposed to me. The boys would tar
and feather you."

Bascomb stopped and showed his yellow teeth, while he trembled slightly
with anger.

"So that's your trick!" he said, growlingly.

"Yes, that's my trick; and if you blow on Merriwell, I will play the
card. You made a big mistake in taking me for a sneak just because I
didn't happen to like a fellow who is popular. Get out now, and don't
come round me again! I don't belong to your class, and I don't want to
have anything to do with you. Get!"

Bascomb hesitated, longing to strike Rains, but not daring to do so.
Slowly he moved toward the door, where he paused to growl:

"This is all right! I will get square with you some time. If you blow
on me, I will pound the life out of you!"

Then he went out

Rains had shown his manhood.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE RIVAL PROFESSORS.

Professor Jenks and Professor Scotch were rivals. Each admired and
sought to win the affections of a widow of uncertain years, who lived
in Fardale village.

For some years Professor Gunn's two assistants had been very friendly,
but Nancy Cobb, the widow spoken of, was the rock on which they split.

Their jealousy often caused them to completely forget their dignity,
and they did things that made them utterly ridiculous in the eyes of
all beholders.

As yet, neither had possessed nerve enough to propose to the widow, and
so, wishing to make a sure catch, the elderly lady had clung to both,
ready to jump at the first one who should offer himself.

The cause of the ill-will existing between the under professors was
well known to the cadets at Fardale Academy, and had provided them with
no small amount of sport.

Now it h