believed, was trying to deceive him.

But at this juncture there was a sound in the hallway outside the door.
It was a hurried rush of feet, and some one turned the handle of the
door.

"Hey, Bulldog! If you're in there let me in before I bust in the
door!" exclaimed a voice.

The bully paused, much surprised.

"Git on away from dere!" he cried.

"Let me in!" insisted the voice.

"Yah! Let us in or ve comes in anyvays," added another.

"It's Dutchy!" said Bulldog, in a whisper.

There came a kick on the rickety old door that made it shake.

"Come on! Open this door. I know you've got Dick in there!" was the
demand.

"Git away from dere. Dere's nobody here but me, an' I'll punch yer
head if youse don't stop bodderin' me," threatened the bully.

"Jimmy! Jimmy! Here I am! I'm in here!" shouted Dick, rising to his
feet and running toward the door.

"Git back dere!" ordered Bulldog, making a grab for Dick as the boy
passed him.

But before Dick could reach the door it was burst open from outside,
and, tumbling into the room, came Jimmy and Sam, all out of breath from
running. Bulldog started back and doubled up his fists. Jimmy made
straight for Dick.

"Are you all right? Are you hurt?" he asked anxiously.

"Not--not much. I'm all right."

"He hit you!" exclaimed Jimmy, as he saw a red mark on Dick's face.

"Yes, twice."

"The brute! I'll make him pay for that!"

Jimmy was mad enough now to tackle Bulldog single-handed. But there
was no need for this. Sam Schmidt's fighting blood was up. He
regarded Jimmy and Dick as his best friends, and the thought that one
of them had suffered at the hands of Bulldog made him angry. Sam was a
big lad--taller, stronger, and heavier than the bully--but he had no
training in fist-fights.

Still he did not hesitate. Straight at Bulldog he leaped, clasping him
in his big arms before the bully could strike out, and an instant later
the two went down, Bulldog underneath, while Sam rained blow after blow
on him.

"So! Dot's de vay I do him," he explained between the thumps. "Next
times you vos took somebodies yer own sizes, maybe so. Eh? Dere,
dot's fer goot luck," and, with a parting blow, he allowed Bulldog to
get up. The bully lost no time in beating a hasty retreat.

Then, for fear he might get some of his cronies and renew the fight,
Jimmy advised that they leave, which they did, soon arriving at the
lodging-house.

Dick told his story,