CHAPTER XI.
FRANK PREVENTS TROUBLE.
Badger's belief that Hodge had juggled the shell which exploded in the gun was not very strong when he left the grounds of the gun club, but his hatred of Hodge was not in any degree lessened thereby.

Only by a supreme exercise of will-power had he been able to keep himself from rushing upon Bart when the latter made his bitter comments to Merry.
"Merriwell is all right, but Hodge isn't even a piece of a man!" he growled, as he made his way home, his thoughts in a chaotic state.

"I shall have to punch his head for him.

Merry wouldn't have beat me shooting if I had taken my own gun along! I reckon I was a fool for going into the thing.

Hodge isn't any too good to slip that shell in on Merry! And if he didn't do it, who did?
And I'd like to know what was in it?
That's whatever!" Bart's feelings against the Westerner were quite as bitter.