many friends and of what kind-hearted Doctor Clay had said, and grit his teeth and declare to himself that he would fight the battle to the end, no matter what the cost.
If the story of the encounter came to the ears of the master of the school or the teachers, nothing was said about it, and, in the multitude of other events coming up, the incident was forgotten by the majority. But Dave did not forget, and neither did Plum and Poole.
"Oh, how I detest that chap!" grumbled Poole to Plum, one night when they were alone. "Gus, we must get square."
"That's right," returned the bully. "But not now. Wait till he is off his guard, then we can fix him, and do it for keeps, too!"
On the following Saturday evening Chip Macklin called Dave to one side. The young student was evidently excited over something.
"What is it, Chip?" asked Dave. "Hurry up, I can't wait long, for I want to join the fellows in the gym."
"I want to tell you something about Gus Plum," was the answer. "I think I've discovered some thing, but I am not sure."
"Well, out with it."
"This afternoon I got permission to ride over to Rockville on my bicycle, to get some shirts at the furnishing store there. Well, when I came out of
