to determine if the lad could be
led astray by evil influence, or in any other manner. The agent had
carried out his instructions to his complete satisfaction, and he
complimented the blushing boy on his integrity of character and sterling
manhood.

Scott explained how he had pretended to ally himself with Frank's foes,
and thus had heard the plots against the boy. He had sent Frank the
warnings, and he had secured the aid of Plug Kirby to aid him in beating
off Merriwell's ruffianly assailants.

"I scarcely think you will be troubled any more by your enemies,"
declared Scott. "I had a session with them last night, after the failure
of their attempt on you, and I sent the varmints scurrying for tall
timber in a hurry. I told them that I was your friend, and not your
enemy, and that I would come up as a witness against them if you saw fit
to prosecute them. Then they begged me to keep still, and agreed to let
up on you for good and all if I wouldn't chirp. I made the galoots no
promises."

For hours Frank and Scott sat and talked of Charles Merriwell, his
health, his mine and his plans. And when the man departed, it was with a
letter from Frank Merriwell to Charles Merriwell in his possession.

The next evening Frank received a call which surprised him greatly. What
it was the next chapter will tell.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

FRIENDS OR FOES.

Thump--bang! thump--bang!

"Open this door!"

Thumpety--thump--bang! bang; bang!

"Open this door, or I will dake it brown--I mean I will break it down!"

Harry was excited.

"Hold on a moment, can't you?" cried the laughing voice of Frank from
within the room.

Harry was pressing against the door with one hand, having rained the
heavy blows upon it with the other hand, which was clinched in a most
threatening manner.

The door flew open with a suddenness that precipitated Rattleton into
the room with a headlong rush and plunged him plump into the stomach of
a young man who happened to be in the way.

"Ugh!"

"Wow!"

Bump! bump!--both went down, clasped in each other's arms.

Two other lads stood staring at the fallen ones. They were Frank
Merriwell and Fred Flemming.

Tom Thornton was the unfortunate who stood in the way of Rattleton's
headlong rush.

And Harry, quite unintentionally, had struck Thornton a smart blow with
his clinched fist.

At that moment it did look as if the excited lad had rushed into the
room with the premeditated purpose of hi