I can help you start him." Had Bascomb taken more than a fleeting glance at Rains' face, he must have seen that the latter was regarding him with contempt.
"I suppose you have a scheme of your own ?" Paul finally observed, in a questioning way.
"Sure." "What is it ?" "Well, to begin with, I have pretty good proof that Merriwell was the originator and perpetrator of that crawfish joke on Mulloy and Dunnerwust." "What of that ?" "I think that Lieutenant Gordan would be able to fasten it on Merriwell, if he knew what I know." "That would mean certain expulsion for Merriwell." "Of course.

All three of the professors were so tangled up in that affair that the fellow would surely be fired, if the blame could be fastened upon him." "What do you want of me ?" Bascomb cleared his throat, twisted on, the stool, and hesitated.
Finally, he said: "You may be able to devise some other means to get the best of the fellow; but, if you can't, and you are ready to take hold of this, you may see him fired out of the academy, so he will no longer be in your way." "What do you want of me ?" repeated Rains, coldly and quietly.
"Well, you see--you understand--you know I came near getting into trouble once by trying to help Gage do Merriwell up.

After that Gage was caught cheating at cards, and had to run away.

Everybody knows I hate Merriwell, and they'd all think I blowed if anything came to Lieutenant Gordan's ears.

That's why I don't dare make a move.