CHAPTER XXXII.
DITSON IS TRAPPED.
"It don't make a dit of bifference, Frank!" spluttered Harry Rattleton."I don't care if you have got his card! That thug lied like blazes!Putnam may be selfish--he may have other faults, but he never hiredanybody to break your arm."
"I cannot think he would do such a thing myself," said Frank; "but thisPlug Kirby, as he is called, seemed honest and in earnest. He standsready to identify the fellow at any time."
"Then why not settle it by bringing him before Putnam this veryafternoon? That's the way to mix the fatter--I mean fix the matter."
"It is a good idea, Harry, and we will have to carry it out. I'll needyour assistance."
"You shall have it, old man."
So Frank and Harry arranged to bring Putnam and his accuser togetherthat afternoon, it being the day after the assault on Merriwell. Frankwas to look out for Kirby while Harry brought Putnam along to the saloonover which Buster Kelley had rooms.
Frank and Kirby were there in advance, and they sat down in a corner,where they were not likely to be observed by anybody who entered.
Kirby's face was cut and scarred where he had felt Frank's hard fists,and the tough looked on the cool lad with genuine respect andadmiration.
"I wants yer ter understan' dat I'd never gone inter dat game if Ihadn't been hard up an' in a bad way," he said, trying to apologize forhimself. "T'ings have been runnin' agin' me, an' I've been on de rocksfer a long time, an' I didn't know how I was ter make a haul any easierdan by breakin' a kid's arm. It warn't no killin' matter nohow, an' so Itook der job. I never s'pected I was ter run up agin' anyt'ing like wotyou are. If I had, why, wild hosses wouldn't get me ter tried it."
"My enemy knew enough not to meet me himself."
"Dat's right, an' now I want ter git square wid him fer steerin' me upagin' anyt'ing of der sort. Wot yer goin' ter do wid him--break hisneck?"
"I have not decided what I shall do, but I shall not lay a hand on him."
"Yer won't?"
"No."
"Well, I would if I was in your place. I'd t'ump der everlastin'stuffin' outer der bloke--dat's wot!"
"If it is the man whose name is on the card that was given you I shallbe sorry for him, for I have always believed him to be a white man."
"An' yer'll be sorry?"
"I will."
"Well, ye're der funniest cove wot I ever saw. Arter ye hed knocked derwind outer me, ye stayed eround ter see dat I wasn't hurt too bad, w'enanybody else would 'a' kicked me inter der gutter an' left me. An' nowyouse say dat you'll be sorry fer der feller wot hired me ter do yer!I'd like ter know jes' how ye're put up."
"I can't help being sorry to know that a fellow I have considered whiteand a friend is crooked and an enemy, if it is to prove that way."
"Say, young feller, I likes you, durn me ef I don't! If you ever hasanyt'ing ye wants done, jes' come ter me, an' I'll do it if I kin, an' Iwon't charge yer nottin'."
"Thank you," smiled Frank; "but I do not fancy I shall have anything inyour line. While we are talking, though, let me give you some advice.Turn over a new leaf and try to be on the level. You will find it thebest policy in the long run."
"I t'ink ye're right, an' I'm goin' ter try ter do it. I allus did hateter work, but if I kin git any kind of a job I'm goin' ter try it oncemore. I don't know w'y it is, but jes' bein' wid youse makes me want terdo der square t'ing."
Frank might well have felt pleased that he exercised such an influenceover a man like Plug Kirby.
The door opened and Rattleton came into the saloon, followed by Old Putand Dismal Jones.
"Come on, Kirby," said Frank, quietly. "Here is the man we are waitingfor."
Putnam had halted near the bar, a puzzled look on his face, and Frankheard him say to Harry:
"What in the world did you drag me in here for, old man? You know I amnot drinking anything now, and--"
"As I told you," interrupted Harry, grimly, "I brought you in to see aman. Here he is."
Frank and the rough had come up behind Putnam, who now turned, and, withstill greater astonishment, cried:
"What--Merriwell? What in the world are you doing in this place?"
"Permit me to introduce you to Mr. Plug Kirby--Mr. Burnham Putnam. Haveyou ever met the man before."
Old Put drew back, staring at the ruffian in astonishment.
"What in blazes is this?" he gasped. "Is it a joke?"
"No joke," returned Frank, sternly. "It is a matter of business. Mr.Kirby, have you ever met Mr. Putnam before?"
"Naw!" cried the man. "Dis ain't der cove wot come ter me ter do derjob. Dis is anodder feller."
"You are sure?" demanded Frank, with an expression of positive relief."His name was on the card you gave me."
"I don't care if it was, dis ain't der feller wot give der card ter me,not by a great big lot."
"Well, I am glad of that!" cried Frank, and he grasped Putnam's hand."It is a great relief."
"Didn't I tell you!" almost shouted Harry.
"Well, now, I want to know what all this is about," said Old Put, whowas greatly puzzled. "I am all at sea."
Without hesitation Frank explained how a person had hired Plug Kirby tobreak his arm and what the result had been; how the person who made thebargain had given a card on which Putnam's name was engraved. Frank tookthe card from his pocket and Putnam said it was one of his regularvisiting cards.
"Some fellow has been working on my name in order to hide his ownidentity!" cried Put, who was greatly angered. "Oh, I'd like to get holdof the skunk!"
At this moment the door which led to the back room opened, and RolandDitson, who had again visited Buster Kelley, came into the saloon. Hestarted back when he saw the little group of students, but Plug Kirbysaw his face and hoarsely exclaimed:
"Dere's der mug now! Dat's der feller wot hired me an' give me der card!I'll swear ter dat!"
Seeing there was no way out of it, Roll came forward. He was ratherpale, but he succeeded in putting on a front.
"Hello, fellows!" he cried. "What are you doing in here?"
Merriwell had him by the collar in a twinkling.
"Looking for you," he said, "and we have found you! So you are the chapwho hired this man to break my arm in order to fix me so I couldn'tpitch any more! Well, I declare I didn't think anything quite as low asthat even of you!"
Ditson protested his innocence. He even called Kirby a liar, and Frankwas forced to keep the ruffian from hammering him. He swore it was somekind of a plot to injure him, and he called on the boys to know if theywould take the word of a wretch like Kirby in preference to his.
"Oh, get out!" exclaimed Putnam in disgust. "Take my advice and leaveYale at once. If you do not, I'll publish the whole story, and you willfind yourself run out. Go!"
Ditson sneaked away.