k beer or whiskey, according to
their fancy.

Ten minutes later, Merriwell, Diamond and Kirby were let out of
Jackson's by the back door.

When they were at some distance from the saloon, Frank turned to the
bruiser and said:

"Diamond tells me that you got into this trouble by attempting to defend
me, Kirby. I am sure I appreciate it, but I had rather you would drop
calling me your friend. You can do me more harm that way than any
other."

"All right," nodded Plug, gloomily. "Dat goes. I know I ain't in your
class, an' I don't want ter do yer no hurt. All der same, if I git a
chance ter fight fer yer any time, I'll do dat."

Frank appreciated the kindness of the big bruiser, whose admiration he
had won by giving him a severe thrashing.

"All right, Kirby," he laughed. "I certainly can't object if you want to
fight for me. There have been times when I could have found you quite
useful in pitting you against ruffians who had tried to injure me. Are
you down on your luck nowadays?"

"Well, rudder!"

"Well, here's a V. Go play you are a millionaire."

Kirby eagerly grasped the five-dollar bill which Frank passed him,
earnestly exclaiming:

"If youse ain't der whites' young cove what I ever seen, I'm a liar! If
yer wants me ter do up der whole gang as was ag'inst yer ter-night, jest
you say so! I'd like der job."

"If I need you, I'll let you know," assured Frank. "Good-night."

Plug doffed his battered hat.

"Good-night, young gent. May ye alwus prosper, an' may Old Nick take yer
enemies."

As Frank and Jack walked toward their rooms in South Middle, the
Virginian observed:

"You are the strangest fellow I ever saw, Merriwell. When you do make a
friend he is ready to go through fire for you, and you make friends of
all sorts and conditions of persons. Your friends are as firm and
unwavering as your enemies are virulent and dangerous."

"And still I seldom seek the friendship of any one," declared Merriwell.
"If they wish to be my friends, I accept them for what they show
themselves to be. If they choose to be my enemies, well and good; let
them look out for themselves. To-night I have found that a new combine
of enemies has risen against me. I know them all, and I shall treat them
as they deserve."

CHAPTER XI.

A MATTER OF SPECULATION.

Frank spent an hour every afternoon in the gymnasium, where he took such
exercise as he considered best, always spending at least a few minutes
of the t