out of New Haven as quick as you can. I shall give this to the
faculty in the morning. Good-by!"

He unlocked the door, with his face turned toward Agnew, let himself
into the hall, and was gone.

Forbearance and mercy had ceased to be a virtue, and Frank Merriwell's
hand was lifted to strike and crush a dastardly foe.

CHAPTER XIII.

COWARDICE OF THE CHICKERING SET.

Merriwell encountered Hodge in the campus, informed him of what he had
done, and together they started down-town. By and by they took a
street-car, and, getting out at a familiar corner, found themselves in
front of a group of Merriwell's friends.

"Excuse me if I walk on!" said Bart.

"No, you are going with me!"

"My room is preferred to my company with those fellows!"

They had not yet been seen by Merry's friends, who were grouped on the
sidewalk about Jack Ready, who was talking and gesticulating in his
inimitable way.

"Now don't get sulky, Bart!" Frank commanded. "Those fellows are my
friends."

"They don't like me. I've seen it, Merry. When I think of some things
they have said, it makes me hot even against you."

"Do you want to turn me against you, Bart? That is a good way to do it."

"I don't care! I shall never snivel round those fellows!" Bart snarled.
"I'm your friend, Merry! That's enough, isn't it?"

"You take a poor way to show your friendship, Hodge! You vex me
sometimes. Now, look here! The 'flock' can be together but a little
while longer. The last of June is approaching fast, and that brings
commencement. Diamond, Rattleton, Browning, Gamp, Dismal, Danny, Bink,
and a lot more will leave Yale forever in June."

The reflection touched Bart's fiery heart.

"All right," he said. "Go ahead!" and walked after Merriwell.

Willis Paulding, the Anglomaniac, passed them, going in the direction of
the large hotel across the way.

"Mud on the bloon--I mean blood on the moon!" exclaimed Rattleton, as
Bart and Merry came up.

"What's up?" Frank asked.

"Paulding and the Chickering set are up--there!" said Danny, pointing to
some upper windows of the hotel. "They are having a big feed to-night."

"Drinking tea and smoking cigarettes," explained Bruce.

"I've invited every fellow here to attend that banquet with me," Ready
jovially declared. "But not a soul will accept the invitation. They
fancy their heads aren't hard enough for that kind of drinking!"

"Bub-bub-better get an invitation yourself fuf-first!" Gamp s