These he handed over to Thad for safe-keeping.

Nick saw his actions with keen delight.

Apparently, the hope he had entertained of forcing Hugh Morgan into meeting him in a clean-cut issue, to see which would prove the better man, was about to be realized.
"It's just got to be done, I see," Hugh was saying, as he faced the leering victor in the unequal affair just concluded.

"You big coward, I'm going to teach you that there's danger in picking on a boy smaller than yourself.

In other words, you're due for a thrashing you'll never forget.