opened the door and walked in.

"H'waryer," he saluted, as the four lads stared at him in amazement. "My
name's Mike Hogan, and I want ter join in with ther push."

"Get out of here, you bum!" cried Hartwick, fiercely. "You are intruding
on a private party."

"Hold hard, young feller!" returned the fellow who had given his name as
Mike Hogan. "Don't call me a bum! I'm onto your curves, and there ain't
no reason why you and me shouldn't be friends."

"Friends!" exclaimed Hartwick--"friends! Well, I prefer to choose my
friends."

"And you didn't make much of a success when you chose a young gent here
what is named Ditson. Keep yer seat!"

"Press the button, Harlow, and we'll have this fellow thrown out!" came
savagely from Hartwick's lips.

"Wait a minute before you press the button," urged Mike Hogan. "Do you
see this face?"

"Yes."

"It's a peach, now, ain't it?"

"You can consider yourself lucky if it isn't worse than that when you
get out of here, my man."

"Don't 'my man' me, young feller! I don't like it! Do yer know who give
me this face and these two beautiful eyes?"

"No, and we----"

"Well, I'll tell yer who it was. It was a feller what goes by the name
of Frank Merriwell."

"Well, he did a first-class job," commented Harris. "That really looks
like some of Merriwell's work."

"He done it," nodded Mike. "Nacherlly I ain't got no love to speak of
for him. Well, I was in the room next to this just now, and as I was
leanin' against the partition I happened to overhear what you chaps was
sayin' in here. From what I heard, I judged you didn't love this
Merriwell none to brag about, and I says to myself, 'Mike, if you want
to get even, them is the boys to hitch fast to.' Then I got right up and
came in here without bein' invited. I hope you'll excuse me, gents, but
I couldn't help it under the circumstances. I had a sort of
feller-feelin' for you chaps, and I thought mebbe we might arrange some
sort of a deal together that would do this Merriwell, and do him for
keeps. I'm not a chap with much education, but I'll bet anything I can
hate just as hard as you fellers, and if there's anybody I hate on the
earth, it's Frank Merriwell.

"There, now, gents, you have heard what I have ter say, and I hope
you'll tumble ter ther fact that I am on the level. This is no case of
stringing. I want ter pay back that feller for these two black eyes and
this mug. Mebbe you can help me to do it, and I can help yo