"Well, I dunno his name, youngster, and that's on der level."
Frank was eager to ask more questions, but Plug said:
"We'd best push outer dis. Dunno wot'll happen if we stays here too long. Der gang might come back."
So they hurried out of the alley, Frank receiving some assistance from Kirby, as he was rather dizzy when he tried to walk.
When the street was reached no one seemed to be in the immediate vicinity.
"Shall we wait for your friend?" asked Merriwell.
"Naw," answered Plug. "He ain't likely ter come back."
A short time later they were seated at a table in a nearby resort, and Frank was treating Kirby.
Frank had examined his own injuries, and discovered they were not serious, although it was likely that he would be sore about the head and shoulders from the bruises he had received.
"Now tell me," urged Frank, "who was with you when you came to my assistance? I am eager to know."
"I tole yer dat I don't know der cove's name, but I do know dat he is all right an' on der level."
"Well, how is that you do not know his name?"
"Well, yer see, it was dis way: I was inter Jackson's der odder evenin' takin' me nightcap. Dere was some fellers in dere wot was college chaps, and dey was talkin' about races and t'ings. Pretty soon dey said somet'ing about you. Some of 'em was hard on you, an' dat got me mad up. I jes' waded inter der gang an' offered ter lick anybody wot didn't t'ink you was der clean stuff."
Frank smiled a bit, realizing that he had, indeed, made a firm friend of this bruiser who had once tried to whip him, but had received a severe drubbing, instead.
"Dey didn't want ter shove up against me," Kirby went on, "an' dey got out right away. Den a man walks up ter me, and he says I was all right, an' he blows me. He continues ter blow me, an' ask me questions about you. Arter a while, he asks me if I would fight fer you if I had der chance. 'Would I!' says I, jes' like dat. 'Well, old sport, show me der chance!' Den he says dat you has some enemies wot is plannin' ter do yer, an' he might be able ter give me a chance ter put in a few licks fer yer.
"Well, dis evenin', as I was inter Jackson's, who should come in an' call me aside but dis same cove. He says ter me, 'Kirby'--he had found out me name--'Kirby,' says he, jes' like dat, 'I'm goin' ter give yer dat chance ter put in some licks fer Frank Merriwell.'