Frank Merriwell's Champions Part 50

"I know when you try a foul!" he grated. "Two can play at the same trick!"

Then he tried to smash Merriwell in the face with his bare fist.

Frank was not in the least excited, and he did not attempt to get the gloves off. He met Hegner, parried his first blow, gave him a jolt that drove him back two steps, followed him up and came in with a swinging smash that landed on the fellow's jaw.

Hegner was literally lifted off his feet and sent flying through the air. His head struck against the hard wall with a resounding crack, and then he dropped to the floor, where he lay in a limp and motionless heap.

CHAPTER x.x.xII-A SURPRISE PARTY

"I am sorry it was necessary to strike him such a blow," said Frank, as he deliberately removed the gloves from his hands; "but I call on you all to bear witness that he came at me with his bare fists, and I was forced to defend myself."

"That's right," said Charlie Creighton, quickly. "Hegner had no right to do such a thing. You would not have been to blame if you had got off your glove and struck him."

To this a number of the club members agreed, while some were silent.

Hank Burk and two others bent over Hegner and tried to arouse him, but the fellow had been severely stunned when his head cracked against the wall and it was some time before he seemed to realize what had happened.

When he did understand, however, he was furious.

"Let me get at him!" he madly cried, struggling to his feet. "I'll hammer the life out of him! I'll have revenge!"

"Steady, Hegner!" warned Burk. "You're in no condition to go against him now. You slipped when he struck you the last time, and--"

Hegner caught at this eagerly.

"Yes, yes, I slipped!" he snarled. "If it hadn't been for that, he'd never have got the best of it. And I fell and struck against the wall. I can do him any time."

"Of course you can, old fellow. But you know a fight will not be allowed in this club. You'll have to wait for your opportunity. It will come all right."

Hegner cooled down.

"Take your hands off me," he said. "I won't touch him again, but I want to tell him something."

"Sure you won't get excited and jump him?"

"Sure."

"All right."

They fell back and let him go. He advanced toward Frank, and shook a clinched fist in his face, harshly grating:

"This is all right, Merriwell! I'll not forget you! You can bet your life I'll more than get even!"

"I simply defended myself from an attack on your part, and I kept the gloves on all the time, Hegner."

Frank stood with his hands on his hips, looking the raging fellow straight in the eye.

"You struck me foul before that. Oh, I'll not forget your blow! I'll have another whirl with you!"

"Well, let me warn you to look out for my next blow. It may be much more severe than the last one."

"Bah! You are a blowhard! I'll not waste my breath on you!"

Then Hegner turned and walked away, accompanied by Burk and two or three others.

Frank turned to Charlie Creighton, saying:

"Old man, I trust you will believe me when I tell you I am very sorry this affair occurred. It was not of my seeking, even though I had no liking for Hegner."

"You are not to blame in the least, Merriwell, and I believe the majority of the fellows who saw it will say so. Eh, boys?"

"Not in the least," chorused nearly all those present.

"Still I am sorry it occurred here," a.s.serted Frank. "I am a visitor here, and--"

"That is a reason why we should express our regrets, not you," said a member. "Hegner lost his head when he saw you were getting the best of him. He owes you an apology for that and for his insulting words just now."

"Well," smiled Frank, "I scarcely expect an apology from him, for I believe he is a fellow who will nurse his discomfiture and brood over it, thinking he is the one wronged. I am glad, gentlemen, you do not think I was at all to blame."

Then Frank, Charlie, Jack and Bart went away to the dressing-room, where Merry stripped off and was rubbed down with a coa.r.s.e towel before resuming street clothes.

"Merriwell," said Creighton, as he admired the magnificent figure of the handsome young Yale athlete, whose entire body was glowing from the rub-down, "I want to say right here that I underestimated you previous to this. I knew you were a good man, but did not think you could make a monkey of a fellow like Hegner, who is a semi-professional prize fighter. I was afraid he would be too much for you, and you know I have had considerable to say about you to the fellows."

"I didn't know but he might be too much for me when I put on the gloves with him," confessed Frank; "but that would not have killed me. I do not consider myself invincible."

"Well, Hegner was a mark for you, and we have considered him as good as anything going in his cla.s.s. It made him furious when he saw he was no match for you."

"In my estimation that fellow is a fake," declared Hodge. "He puts up a big bluff, but--"

"He may be a good trainer," said Frank. "Many a first-cla.s.s trainer is unable to put up much of a mill when it comes right down to business."

"Oh, you want to be too easy with the fellow!" broke out Diamond. "I don't believe he is any good, and I am sure he is crooked."

"You have taken a dislike to him, and that's why you think that," said Creighton. "He is all right in his way."

"But that is a very poor way."

"I confess that he lost his head and made a fool of himself, and I hope he will realize it when he cools down."

"If he should apologize I presume you would meet him halfway, Merriwell?"

"You may be sure of that," nodded Frank, getting into his clothes. "I'd be a churl if I didn't."

"If he ever apologizes I am a fool," grunted Hodge.