Barney Breslin had just completed his walk on his hands around the
track of the gymnasium, and the applause with which he had been
greeted had ceased, when Scott Clemmons asked Mark Merrill if he could
accomplish a like feat.
When the gold coin fell from Mark’s pocket and the loud murmur of
amazement was heard, Barney Breslin had sprang forward, and seizing the
piece of gold cried:
“It is your luck coin, Clemmons, as I live!”
“It certainly is, but surely there must be some mistake, for Merrill
could not be guilty of----”
“I tell you now that he is the man I saw leaving our room,” said
Breslin, interrupting Clemmons.
And all this time, unheeding the dropping of the coin from his
pocket, Mark Merrill had continued his hand-walk around the track,
accomplishing the feat with an ease far greater than Barney Breslin had
done.
As he approached the group now, his face flushed from his peculiar
exercise, every eye was upon him, and a death-like silence was upon all.
“You must speak, Clemmons, for this cannot be allowed to go by,” said
Breslin, breaking the silence.
“Merrill, it seems that you accomplished Breslin’s feat, but you have
also done something that he could not and would not do,” said Scott
Clemmons.
“What is that, may I ask, Mr. Clemmons?”
“You dropped something from your pocket awhile since?”
“Yes, I heard it drop, but as I had no claim to it I paid no attention
to it.”
“You know what it was?”
“Ah! yes; an octagonal coin which Breslin stole from you and placed in
my pocket, hoping to prove me the thief,” was the cool response.
“Ha! you dare accuse me of being a thief?” and, like a mad bull, Barney
Breslin rushed upon Mark Merrill.
Some would have interfered had they had time, and all expected to see
Barney Breslin seize and crush Mark Merrill in his iron grasp.
But instead, they saw the huge bully fly backward with terrific force
and measure his length upon the track of the gymnasium.
He had been dealt a blow by Mark that half-stunned him, and amazed all,
for the young sailor had never before shown what he could do with his
fists, and his latent strength was never once suspected, unless it was
by Scott Clemmons.
With a howl of rage Barney Breslin arose and rushed again upon Mark,
who cried out:
“Back, Breslin, or you will regret it!”
A cry of defiance was Breslin’s only answer, and as the cadet struck up
Mark’s guard, he was enabled to seize him in his long, powerful arms.
But only for a moment did he retain his hold, for he was raised bodily
from his feet and dashed to the floor with a force that shook the
building, and he lay limp and dazed from the fall.
Though astonished at Mark’s grand exhibition of strength, and glad as
many were to see Barney Breslin punished, the cadets could not let the
charge about the gold coin go by, and several called out:
“Prove that you know nothing about that coin, Merrill, or it will go
hard with you.”
Mark was not in the least disturbed, as he faced those who demanded an
inquiry into the cruel charge against him, and said in his quiet way,
as he stood over the fallen Breslin:
“I have nothing to say for myself, but shall ask Mr. Dillingham to
speak for me, after which Mr. Nazro can speak.”
“Out with it, Dillingham, if you can say anything to clear Merrill of
this very nasty charge,” said Cadet Captain Byrd Bascomb.
“I will only say that since we came into the gymnasium here Merrill
came up to me and said that he had seen Clemmons’ lost gold piece in
Breslin’s hand, and that he appeared to be trying to slip it into his,
Merrill’s pocket, and asked me to watch him. I did so, and I did see
Breslin pass very near Merrill and appear to drop something into his
pocket, but what it was I could not see.”
This testimony from Winslow Dillingham created a sensation, which was
added to when Herbert Nazro said:
“And Merrill whispered to me:
“‘Watch Breslin and see what he is up to, for he has haunted me ever
since I came in.’
“I did watch him, and I distinctly saw him slip something yellow into
Merrill’s pocket, which now I will swear was the gold piece which
Clemmons lost. Now, Clemmons, who is the one you accuse?” and Herbert
Nazro turned upon Scott Clemmons, who responded:
“I make no accusation, and yet I cannot doubt the evidence of yourself
and Dillingham.”
“And I ask you, Breslin, do you dare accuse me?”
The words were uttered in a low tone, yet all heard them, and Mark
Merrill faced Barney Breslin, who now stood before him, his face white
and bruised from the blow he had received.
“Speak, sir!”
There was a very dangerous light in the eyes of Mark Merrill now, and
there followed his command a chorus of voices, saying:
“Yes, speak!”
But Barney Breslin uttered no word, and his face grew livid as his eyes
roved over to where Scott Clemmons stood.
He met only a cold stare from the man who had been his friend, and
placing his hand to his head in a dazed sort of way, he walked slowly
out of the gymnasium.
“He shall speak!” cried Mark, starting after him, but a dozen hands
held him back, while Byrd Bascomb said:
“No need of it, Merrill; for he is the thief.”
“And worse, he well-nigh ruined you, Merrill,” added Herbert Nazro.
“Forgive me, Merrill, but he accused you to me, and it was his plot
to have you walk on your hands that the money might roll out of your
pocket,” and Scott Clemmons held out his hand.
But sharp and decisive came the response:
“No, Clemmons, I will not take your hand, for you are no more my friend
than Breslin has been--I pity him, but despise you,” and Mark walked
away with Dillingham, Nazro and Byrd Bascomb.