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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Frank Merriwell's Pursuit, by Burt L. Standish
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Frank Merriwell's Pursuit
+       How to Win
+
+Author: Burt L. Standish
+
+Release Date: October 3, 2007 [EBook #22874]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S PURSUIT ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MERRIWELL SERIES No. 117
+
+Frank Merriwell's Pursuit
+
+By Burt L. Standish
+
+[Illustration: Cover, showing Frank outrunning a landslide while
+carrying Inza]
+
+
+
+
+Frank Merriwell's Pursuit
+
+OR,
+
+HOW TO WIN
+
+BY
+
+BURT L. STANDISH
+
+Author of the famous Merriwell Stories.
+
+[Illustration: Publisher's logo]
+
+
+STREET & SMITH CORPORATION PUBLISHERS 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York
+
+
+Copyright, 1904 By STREET & SMITH Frank Merriwell's Pursuit
+
+(Printed in the United States of America)
+
+All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign
+languages, including the Scandinavian.
+
+
+
+
+[Transcriber's Note: No Table of Contents was present in the original
+edition. The following Table of Contents has been prepared for this
+electronic edition.]
+
+TABLE OF CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER I.        THE OATH OF DEL NORTE.             5
+CHAPTER II.       THE TERROR OF O'TOOLE.            12
+CHAPTER III.      NEW ARRIVALS AT THE LAKE.         21
+CHAPTER IV.       TWO GHOSTS.                       28
+CHAPTER V.        THE WOLVES.                       32
+CHAPTER VI.       IN THE GRASP OF DEL NORTE.        46
+CHAPTER VII.      THE SENTINEL.                     56
+CHAPTER VIII.     AT THE FOOT OF THE PRECIPICE.     67
+CHAPTER IX.       THE KNIFE DUEL.                   73
+CHAPTER X.        THE LANDSLIDE.                    82
+CHAPTER XI.       BURIED ALIVE!                     90
+CHAPTER XII.      IN THE CAVE OF DEATH.             98
+CHAPTER XIII.     HOW RAILROADS ARE BUILT.         109
+CHAPTER XIV.      ANOTHER OBSTACLE.                122
+CHAPTER XV.       HAGAN SECURES A PARTNER.         137
+CHAPTER XVI.      ARTHUR HATCH.                    144
+CHAPTER XVII.     EVIL INFLUENCE.                  169
+CHAPTER XVIII.    THE POLICE RAID.                 182
+CHAPTER XIX.      ALVAREZ LAZARO.                  192
+CHAPTER XX.       THE AVENGER.                     200
+CHAPTER XXI.      THE FIRST STROKE.                208
+CHAPTER XXII.     THE SECOND STROKE.               217
+CHAPTER XXIII.    OLD SPOONER.                     226
+CHAPTER XXIV.     THE FLAMES DO THEIR WORK.        239
+CHAPTER XXV.      THE PATIENT AND THE VISITOR.     246
+CHAPTER XXVI.     A SURPRISE FOR FIVE THUGS.       258
+CHAPTER XXVII.    A DUEL OF EYES.                  269
+CHAPTER XXVIII.   AT NIAGARA FALLS.                284
+CHAPTER XXIX.     IN CONSTANT PERIL.               300
+CHAPTER XXX.      THE END OF PORFIAS DEL NORTE.    306
+
+
+
+
+FRANK MERRIWELL'S PURSUIT.
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+THE OATH OF DEL NORTE.
+
+
+Rain had ceased to fall, but the night was intensely dark, with a raw,
+cold wind that penetrated to one's very bones.
+
+Shortly after nightfall three men crossed the east branch of the Ausable
+River and entered the little settlement of Keene.
+
+Of the three only one was mounted, and he sat swaying in the saddle,
+seeming to retain his position with great difficulty.
+
+The two men on foot walked on either side of the horse, helping to
+support the mounted man. At intervals they encouraged him with words.
+
+A few lights gleamed from the windows of Keene. Before a cottage door
+the trio halted, and one of the men on foot knocked on the door.
+
+A few moments later a man appeared with a lighted lamp in his right
+hand, shading his eyes with his left as he peered out into the darkness.
+
+"Who are you?" he gruffly asked, "and what do you want?"
+
+"We want a surgeon or a doctor as soon as we can find one," answered the
+man at the door. "One of our party has been wounded by accident, and we
+wish to have his wound dressed."
+
+"Another city sportsman shot for a deer, eh?" said the man in the
+doorway, with a touch of scorn in his voice. "It's the same old story."
+
+"Yes, the same old story," acknowledged the man at the door. "He may die
+from the wound if we do not find a doctor very soon."
+
+"There's no doctor nearer than Elizabethtown."
+
+"Is there none in this place?"
+
+"No."
+
+"How far is Elizabethtown?"
+
+"Twenty-five miles."
+
+"How is the road?"
+
+"It might be worse--or it might be better. You can't follow it
+to-night."
+
+"We must. This is a case of life or death. See here, my friend, if you
+will help us out we will make it worth your while. We will pay you well.
+Have you any whisky in the house?"
+
+"Mebbe so."
+
+"It's worth five dollars a quart to us, and we will take a quart or
+more."
+
+"I reckon I can find a quart for you," was the instant answer.
+
+"If you will secure two horses and a guide to take us over the road to
+Elizabethtown to-night we will pay you a hundred dollars."
+
+This offer interested the man with the lamp.
+
+"Bring your friend in here," he said, "and I will see what I can do for
+you. Perhaps I can get the horses, and if I can----"
+
+"Do you know the road?"
+
+"I have been over it enough to know it, but it will be no easy traveling
+to-night. Better take my advice and stay here until morning."
+
+The man outside, however, would not listen to this, but insisted that
+the journey to Elizabethtown must be made that night. He returned to his
+companions, and the mounted man was assisted to descend from the saddle.
+One of them held his arm while he walked into the house, and the other
+took care of the horse.
+
+The lamp showed that the injured one had bloody bandages wrapped about
+his head. He was pale and haggard, and there was an expression of
+anxiety in his dark eyes. At times he pulled nervously at his small,
+dark mustache.
+
+"Bring that whisky at once," said the wounded man's companion, as he
+assisted the other to a chair. "He needs a nip of it, and needs it bad."
+
+The whisky was brought, and the injured man drank from the bottle. As he
+lifted it to his lips, he murmured:
+
+"May the fiends take the dog who fired that bullet! May he burn forever
+in the fires below!"
+
+The liquor seemed to revive him somewhat, and he straightened up a
+little, joining his companion in urging the man who had procured the
+whisky to secure horses and guide them, over the road to Elizabethtown.
+
+"We have money enough," he said, fumbling weakly in his pockets and
+producing a roll of bills. "We will pay you every cent agreed upon. Why
+don't you hasten? Do you wish to see me die here in your wretched hut?"
+
+The man addressed promised to lose no time, and soon hurried out into
+the night. He was not gone more than thirty minutes. Those waiting his
+return heard hoofbeats, and the light shining from the open door of the
+cabin fell on three horses as they stepped outside.
+
+"It's fifty in advance and fifty when we reach Elizabethtown," he said,
+as he sprang off. "I will not start till the first fifty is paid."
+
+"Pay him the whole of it," said the wounded man, "and shoot him full of
+lead if he fails to keep his part of the bargain."
+
+Stimulated by the whisky, this man had revived wonderfully, and soon the
+four rode out of Keene on the road that followed the river southward.
+
+Through the long hours of that black night the guide led them on their
+journey. The road was indeed a wretched one, winding through deep
+forests, over rocky hills and traversing gloomy valleys. As the night
+advanced it grew colder until their teeth chattered and their blood
+seemed stagnating in their veins. Many times they paused to give the
+wounded one a drink from the bottle. Often this man was heard cursing in
+Spanish and declaring that the distance was nearer a hundred miles than
+twenty-five.
+
+Morning was at hand when, exhausted and wretched, they entered
+Elizabethtown. Soon they were clamoring at the door of a physician, into
+whose home the wounded man was assisted as soon as the door was opened.
+
+"Examine my head at once, doctor," he faintly urged, as he sat back in a
+big armchair. "Find out where that infernal bullet is. Tell me if it's
+somewhere inside my skull, and if I have a chance of recovery."
+
+In a short time the bandages were removed and the doctor began his
+examination.
+
+"Well! well!" he exclaimed, as he saw where the bullet had entered. "How
+long ago did this happen? Yesterday afternoon? Forty miles from here?
+And you came all this distance? Well, you have sand! At first glance one
+would suppose the ball had gone straight through your head. It struck
+the frontal bone and was deflected, following over the coronal suture,
+and here it is lodged in your scalp at the back of your head. I will
+have it out in a moment."
+
+He worked swiftly, clipping away the hair with a pair of scissors, and
+then with a lance he made an incision and straightened up a moment
+later, having a flattened piece of lead in his hand.
+
+"My friend," he said, "you have grit, and I don't think you'll be laid
+up very long with that wound. You're not at all seriously injured. It
+must have been fired from some one below you. Was he shooting at a
+deer?"
+
+"Yes, senor," was the answer.
+
+"Very strange," said the physician. "This is a thirty-two-calibre
+bullet, and it's not like the kind used to shoot deer. Most remarkable."
+
+He hastened to cleanse and dress the wound, again bandaging the man's
+head.
+
+"You are certain, senor, that this injury is not serious?" questioned
+the wounded man, when everything had been done.
+
+"I see no reason why it should be," was the answer. "It is not liable to
+give serious trouble to a man of your stamina, endurance, and nerve."
+
+The doctor's bill was paid, and then they sought a hotel, where they
+found accommodations, and the wounded one was put into bed. Ere getting
+into bed he shook hands with his two companions and said:
+
+"It's not easy, senors, to kill one in whose veins runs the blood of
+old Guerrero. They thought me dead, but the dog that fired the shot
+shall pay the penalty of his treachery, and I swear I will yet crush
+Frank Merriwell as the panther crushes the doe. That's the oath of
+Porfias del Norte!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+THE TERROR OF O'TOOLE.
+
+
+Watson Scott, familiarly known as Old Gripper, was a man of great
+hardihood and endurance, and, therefore, for all of his recent
+experience with Frank Merriwell's enemies, for all that he had been
+imprisoned by his captors in a natural well and had stood for hours in
+water up to his hips, he rapidly recovered after arriving once more at
+the cottage of his friend and business associate, Warren Hatch, on Lake
+Placid.
+
+But Old Gripper had been aroused, and he was determined to make it hot
+for his recent captors, who, led by Porfias del Norte, had gone to
+desperate lengths to obtain valuable papers which were the basis of a
+business combination that threatened the interests of Del Norte and his
+associates.
+
+"Unless they move on the jump I'll have the bunch of them nipped before
+long," Old Gripper declared.
+
+To his vexation he found it was impossible to properly swear out a
+warrant for the arrest of Del Norte's companions without making the
+journey to Saranac Lake.
+
+"I'll do that the first thing in the morning," he said.
+
+In the morning, however, he found himself stiff and lame, and he was
+induced to delay until noon.
+
+During the forenoon he decided to return without further delay to New
+York. Having settled on this, he sent a message to Saranac Lake, stating
+his charges against Porfias del Norte's band of desperadoes, and asking
+that the warrant be drawn up and brought to him at the station as he was
+passing through. He also gave instructions that officers should be on
+hand to immediately take up the work of running the gang down.
+
+Before noon Belmont Bland, Old Gripper's private secretary, was
+apparently taken ill, and when the time came for Scott to depart Bland
+seemed unable to travel. He asserted that it was one of his usual
+nervous attacks, and declared he would be all right by the next day.
+Therefore it was arranged that he should remain at Lake Placid.
+
+Frank Merriwell had given in to the urging of Warren Hatch, who almost
+begged him to stay over another day and fish again in the morning.
+
+"It's not often I strike a fisherman after my own heart," said Hatch.
+"When I do I don't like to let him slip through my fingers. Stay over
+until to-morrow at least, Merriwell. There is no reason why you should
+tear away in such a hurry."
+
+"You can stay, Merriwell," declared Scott. "We have settled the railroad
+deal right here. Bragg and I will get things to moving in the city.
+Leave that to us."
+
+"I'm very willing to leave it to you," laughed Frank. "I'll stay one
+more day, Mr. Hatch."
+
+"If we can have another good morning to fish--ah, we won't do a thing!"
+chuckled Hatch, ending with a cough.
+
+"You ought to stay up here for the next month," declared Old Gripper.
+"That cough of yours----"
+
+"Oh, it's nothing! I've had it for a year, and it's not serious in any
+way--only annoying."
+
+At Saranac Lake Scott saw that the warrant for Del Norte was placed in
+the proper hands and the machinery of the law set in motion.
+
+When Frank and Warren Hatch returned to the cottage of the latter they
+were surprised to find the place locked, the shutters closed, and an air
+of desertion hanging over everything.
+
+But it was not deserted.
+
+While Hatch was fumbling on the door they heard a stir within and a
+voice shouted:
+
+"Be afther getting away from there, ye divvils, ur Oi'll blow yez full
+av lead! It's arrmed Oi am to th' tathe!"
+
+It was the voice of Pat O'Toole, an Irishman who had been one of Del
+Norte's gang, but out of gratitude, had saved Frank's life and had been
+actively concerned in the rescue of Old Gripper.
+
+"O'Toole!" cried Frank; "why the dickens have you locked yourself up
+this way?"
+
+"Is it you, Misther Merriwell?" cried O'Toole, joyously. "It's a great
+relafe to hear your foine, musical voice wance more! Wait a minute
+unthil Oi open th' dure."
+
+The door was unlocked and thrown open. O'Toole stood with a rifle in his
+hands, looking pale and agitated. Around his waist was a belt holding a
+pair, of pistols and a knife.
+
+"What's the matter, man?" asked Hatch. "You look like a walking
+arsenal?"
+
+"It's me loife Oi'm ready to defind to th' larrust gasp," declared the
+Irishman.
+
+"Your life? Why, what----"
+
+"Oi'm in danger of bein' murthered."
+
+"In danger?"
+
+"Ivery minute av me ixistence."
+
+"What makes you think that?"
+
+"Oi don't think it; Oi know it. Afther ye wint away to th' shtation Oi
+sat on th' verandy shmokin' me poipe an' thinkin'. The longer Oi thought
+th' more froightened Oi became. It wur Porrfeeus dil Noort thot paid me
+well to assist him in a litthle schame to trap a certain young gintleman
+named Frank Merriwell. Oi took his money and promised to rinder me best
+assistance. Oi know this parrut av th' counthry well, an' so Oi was
+valuable to Dil Noort. Oi towld him about th' owld hut in th' valley
+an' th' natural well. Oi towld him a man dhropped inther thot well
+moight shtay there an' rot widout ivver bein' found. That wur pwhere he
+meant to dispose av you, Misther Merriwell. Afther that it was yersilf
+thot saved me loife at Sarrynack Lake. Thin Oi says, says Oi, 'O'Toole,
+ye miserable divvil, av ye don't git aven wid thot foine young gint, ye
+ought to be hanged fer a shnake.' Oi knew ye would be thrapped thot same
+noight, Misther Merriwell, an' Oi rode loike th' ould bhoy to cut yez
+off an' get me finger in the poie. You remimber pwhat happened."
+
+"I remember that you aided me to escape from the hands of Del Norte and
+his paid desperadoes," nodded Frank.
+
+"An' got mesilf disloiked fer it. Oi knew Dil Noort would be ready to
+cut me throat on soight. Oi thought th' safest thing wur to hilp capture
+Dil Noort, an' thot's pwhat took me here, pwhere Oi arrived just in
+toime to hilp in the search fer Misther Shcott."
+
+"And help us you certainly did," nodded Merry. "Aided by you, we lost no
+time in finding the valley and the well in which Mr. Scott was
+imprisoned."
+
+"But it's th' divvil's own doin's there was before thot," said O'Toole.
+"Oi wur in a bad shcrape whin Oi run inther th' hands av Bantry Hagan
+an' he marruched me to thot old hut, where Oi was bound hand an' foot.
+Nivver a bit did Oi drame th' drunk aslape on th' flure av th' hut an'
+shnorin' away wur yersilf, Misther Merriwell. Aven whin Oi lay chlose to
+yez an' ye began to untoie me bonds Oi couldn't suspict it was yersilf.
+Whin Dil Noort showed up Oi knew it meant throuble, an' sure it wur a
+relafe to feel in me hand th' pistol ye put there. Th' divvil bent over
+me wid a knoife in his hands, an' Oi saw murther in his oies. Thin Oi
+didn't wait, but Oi shot him through th' head."
+
+"But I don't understand what all this has to do with the fear you
+profess to feel," said Hatch. "I didn't fancy you were a coward,
+O'Toole."
+
+"No more Oi am; but Porrfeeus dil Noort is a moighty dangerous mon, and
+he----"
+
+"Is dead. You're not afraid of dead men?"
+
+"It's dead Oi saw him before me," nodded the Irishman; "but Oi wish Oi
+had seen him buried, so Oi do. Whin we returned afther pulling Misther
+Shcott out av th' well Dil Noort's body wur gone."
+
+"His companions carried it away," said Merry.
+
+"Mebbe thot's roight," said O'Toole; "but afther ye left me here, wid
+Joe gone an' mesilf all alone, it's nervous Oi became. Oi took to
+thinkin' it all over, an' in th' air Oi hearrud a voice whisper,
+'O'Toole, yure goose is cooked, fer, dead ur aloive. Porrfeeus dil
+Noort will get aven wid ye!' It made me have cowld chills down me back,
+an' out in th' grove yonder Oi saw shadows movin' an' crapin'. Oi began
+to ixpect a bullet through me body, an' afther a whoile Oi joomped up
+an' run inther th' cabin, jist shakin' loike Oi had a chill an' me tathe
+knockin' togither. Oi fashtened th' dures an' closed th' shutters av
+ivery windy. Thin Oi arrmed mesilf, an' nivver in all me loife did Oi
+hear swater music than whin ye shpoke outside, Misther Merriwell."
+
+Merriwell laughed.
+
+"I declare, O'Toole, I'd never expect a man of your courage and wit to
+be frightened in such a manner. Del Norte is dead, and it's almost
+certain his companions have taken to their legs to get away as fast and
+as far as possible. Mr. Scott will have officers searching high and low
+for them. They are fugitives from justice. Even though they were not
+under the ban of the law, with Del Norte gone, there is not one chance
+in a hundred that any of them would ever lift a hand to annoy or molest
+you or me. The fall of their leader put an end to their work, and they
+will scatter and keep under cover until the storm blows over."
+
+"That's right, O'Toole," declared Warren Hatch. "You rendered Mr.
+Merriwell and the rest of us a great service when you fired the shot
+that brought Del Norte down. They won't dare have you arrested for that
+shooting, as no one would venture to appear against you. If they escape
+from the officers, I expect we'll hear in a few days how Del Norte's
+body was carried out of the mountains and expressed to friends
+somewhere."
+
+"They may not dare do that," said Frank. "They may bury him here in the
+mountains, rather than take any chances of being captured themselves. At
+any rate, it's foolish for you to worry, O'Toole. Of course it's not a
+pleasant thing to think you have shot a man, but you did it in
+self-defense, and were justified."
+
+"It's roight ye are on thot point, me bhoy; but it's a long toime before
+Oi'll rist aisy from thinkin' av it an' belavin' me own loife in danger.
+Oi'll be afeared av me own shadder in th' darruk. Porrfeeus dil Noort
+wur th' firrust man Oi ivver saw that made me fale as if bullets
+wouldn't kill him an' kape him dead. Wur he to roize before me this
+minute nivver a bit surphrised would Oi be."
+
+Although Merry jollied the Irishman, it was no easy matter to relieve
+O'Toole's nervousness.
+
+Later Belmont Bland appeared at the cottage, having sought the advice of
+a physician who was spending an outing at the little settlement on the
+southern shore.
+
+"I'm feeling better already," said Bland. "The doctor gave me some
+medicine to quiet my nerves. I'll be all right to leave for the city
+to-morrow, I hope, although I feel that I need several days of rest."
+
+Frank wondered why Bland had lingered at the lake.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+NEW ARRIVALS AT THE LAKE.
+
+
+Late that afternoon Warren Hatch and Frank went out to fish and remained
+until after nightfall.
+
+Lights were gleaming from the cottage windows as they rowed slowly back.
+
+Away at the southern end of the lake were other lights, indicating the
+location of the little settlement of cottagers. Lake Placid was a
+popular resort at this season of the year.
+
+Joe, the man of all work, came down to the shore and took care of the
+boat.
+
+"Take care of the fish, Joe," called Hatch, as he hastened after Merry,
+who was striding toward the cottage.
+
+The shades were drawn and the place seemed silent enough until Frank
+opened the door and stepped inside. Then he was surprised and startled
+to find himself seized by four pairs of hands, which hustled him about
+amid bursts of laughter and shouts of welcome.
+
+"Hold on! hold on!" he gasped, in the greatest astonishment, for he
+recognized his four assailants as his friends, Bart Hodge, Bruce
+Browning, Inza Burrage, and Elsie Bellwood. "Where in the world did you
+all drop from?"
+
+"We have run you down at last," said Hodge; "but you gave us a merry old
+chase."
+
+"It's been the greatest game of hide and seek I ever played," grunted
+Browning, ceasing from his attack on Frank and dropping lazily on a
+chair, which creaked beneath his weight. "Just when we would think we
+were going to put our hands on you sure you would disappear like a
+wizard."
+
+"Aren't you glad to see us?" demanded Inza.
+
+"If you're not, we'll go right away," said Elsie.
+
+"Glad!" cried Frank. "I'm speechless with delight. But I don't
+understand it yet."
+
+Then they explained how they had followed him to Boston and from that
+city to New York, and how in the latter place, after no end of trouble
+and detective work, they learned that he was off for Lake Placid, in the
+Adirondacks. Arriving at Newman late that afternoon, they had driven
+over to the cottage of Mr. Hatch, which they reached while Frank and his
+host were still out fishing.
+
+"Here is Mrs. Medford, Frank," said Inza, calling his attention to a
+smiling, middle-aged lady who sat near the open fireplace.
+
+Mrs. Medford was a relative of Inza's who often accompanied her as
+companion and chaperon.
+
+"Mrs. Medford," said Merry, hastening to clasp the smiling woman's hand,
+"I am delighted to see you again. I'm quite overcome with surprise and
+pleasure. It's evident I am, for I have forgotten Mr. Hatch."
+
+No wonder Mr. Hatch had been overlooked, for he had stepped back and
+remained quiet during all the chatter and laughter of the meeting
+between Frank and his friends.
+
+"I am greatly pleased to meet your friends, Mr. Merriwell," he declared,
+as Frank introduced one after another. "If the accommodations at my poor
+cottage----"
+
+"Oh, we wouldn't think of putting you to the slightest inconvenience!"
+declared Inza. "We can find accommodations in Newman, Mr. Hatch, and we
+wouldn't think of----"
+
+"Unless it is too uncomfortable here," Hatch hastened to say, "I shall
+consider it a favor to entertain you as the friends of the cleverest
+fisherman and finest young man it has been my good fortune to meet in
+twenty years. Anything and everything here is yours as long as you
+choose to remain, and you can't remain too long for me."
+
+That was quite enough, for they saw he was in earnest. He could thaw out
+and be genial and pleasant when he chose, and this was an occasion when
+he had no difficulty in thawing. He called Joe and gave orders about
+supper, and soon the delightful odor of cooking fish came faintly to
+their nostrils.
+
+While supper was being prepared Frank related the story of the many
+adventures which had befallen him since he hastily left Maine in pursuit
+of the Mexican who had stolen one of his valuable papers.
+
+As she listened Inza flushed and paled by turns. She was elated by his
+success, and she found it difficult to check a tremor as she realized
+how many times he had been in deadly danger.
+
+"Where is O'Toole?" cried Hodge, as Frank finished. "I want to
+congratulate him on his job in ending the career of that snake, Del
+Norte."
+
+O'Toole was aiding Joe in the cook house, and he was finally induced,
+under protest, to appear in the cottage. He stood before Frank's
+friends, grinning bashfully and bowing awkwardly.
+
+"O'Toole," said Bart, shaking the Irishman's hand, "you never did a
+better bit of work in all your life than when you shot Porfias del
+Norte."
+
+"It's not so sure Oi am av that," declared the man. "It's nivver a bit
+will Oi shlape till Oi know fer sure th' baste is dead an' burried six
+fate under ground."
+
+"Why, Frank said you shot him through the head."
+
+"Oi did thot, but whin we returned to th' hut pwhere he was it's up an'
+gone he had."
+
+"Frank says the body was carried off by his friends."
+
+"Mebbe it wur, Oi dunno; but whoy th' ould scratch they wur afther
+takin' all thot throuble an' risk is pwhat bates me. Somehow Oi'm
+thinkin' th' mon up an' walked away all by hissilf, an' it's cowld
+chills Oi git from thinkin' he may be lookin' fer me to sittle our
+account."
+
+"You'll get over that feeling after a while," said Hodge. "Frank knows
+when a man is dead, and you heard him pronounce Del Norte dead."
+
+In Browning's ear Frank whispered:
+
+"I confess I'd feel better satisfied if I had seen him buried; but I
+don't intend to tell O'Toole that."
+
+In due time supper was cooked and served in the plain but comfortable
+dining room. The death of Del Norte was forgotten, and it was a jolly
+crowd that gathered about the large table.
+
+"Hold me!" cried Browning, as he drank in the odor of baked potatoes,
+cooked fish and steaming coffee. "If you don't look out I'll wade in
+here and create a famine. I feel as if I might eat everything on this
+table without half trying."
+
+"There is plenty of everything," said Warren Hatch. "Joe tells me there
+is more fish. Here he comes with some of his hot biscuits right out of
+the oven."
+
+Joe appeared with a heaping plate of biscuits, and soon all were
+enjoying the meal.
+
+Inza was unusually vivacious, her cheeks being flushed and her dark eyes
+sparkling. The pleasure of being with Frank again was enough to put her
+at her best, and indeed she was a most beautiful girl.
+
+Elsie was quieter, but there was no mistaking the expression of deep
+satisfaction which hovered on her sweet face. The fact that Inza was
+happy was enough to give her pleasure.
+
+In the midst of the meal there came a rapping at the door. Mr. Hatch
+answered the summons and was gone some time. When he returned he
+explained that there was to be a masquerade dance at a pavilion used for
+dances and picnics down at the cottage village, and, having learned of
+the presence of guests at his cottage, invitations had been extended to
+them all.
+
+"Perfectly jolly!" cried Inza. "But we have no costumes."
+
+"Never mind that," said Mr. Hatch. "Without doubt there will be others
+in the same predicament. You can easily manufacture some masks, and,
+being strangers here, no one outside your own party will recognize you.
+I'm sorry I can't assist you in the matter of dress, but I can help the
+male members of the party. I have a full Indian rig and a cowboy outfit,
+which will do for two. The third can dress in old clothes, like a hunter
+or guide. The whole thing can be arranged somehow if you care to go.
+Where there's a will there's a way, you know."
+
+"Oh, say," grunted Browning, "count me out. I'm no dancer. Besides that,
+I'm tired."
+
+"The same old complaint," laughed Frank. "What do you think about it,
+Elsie?"
+
+"If Inza wishes to go, I'm ready," answered Elsie. "We might have a good
+time."
+
+Hodge expressed a willingness to go along, and then Frank cried:
+
+"It's a go, my children! Let's enter into this thing in earnest and have
+a high old time. Bruce, you ought to be ashamed of your laziness."
+
+"Don't begin that old song!" said the big fellow. "There's not enough
+laziness in this world. Everybody howls about strenuousness and hustle,
+and people wear themselves out and die before they should. I'm setting a
+good example, and I'll continue to set."
+
+"Or sit," nodded Merry. "All right, Lazybones, stay here by your
+lonesome and content yourself thinking what a fine time we're having."
+
+"Thanks," grunted Bruce.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+TWO GHOSTS.
+
+
+The colony on the south shore of Lake Placid was about to break up. Cold
+weather was setting in. Already many of those who had spent much of the
+summer there were gone. Others were going. Soon that region would be
+left entirely to the hunters and the fishermen.
+
+Before returning to the city the cottagers had planned a last grand time
+in the form of a masquerade dance. They did not call it a "ball." There
+was to be nothing formal about it.
+
+Thus it happened that the party at Warren Hatch's cottage received an
+invitation.
+
+Mrs. Medford was tired; she would not attend the dance; but she offered
+to assist the girls in getting up their costumes.
+
+"Costumes!" cried Inza. "Where will we find them? We'll have to go
+without special preparation in that line. Frank and Bart are the lucky
+ones."
+
+"Come with me," smiled Mrs. Medford, after consulting in a low tone with
+Mr. Hatch, who smiled and nodded. "Perhaps we can find something."
+
+The girls followed her to the upper part of the cottage, leaving Frank
+and Bart to make up below.
+
+Merry gave Bart his choice of the two rigs, and Hodge took the Indian
+outfit, leaving the cowboy costume for Frank.
+
+At intervals the sound of laughter came from above, indicating that the
+girls were making progress.
+
+Mrs. Medford came down first and announced that the girls would follow
+in two or three minutes.
+
+"They are putting on the finishing touches," she said.
+
+She professed to be alarmed by the fierce appearance of Merriwell, who
+swaggered toward her in "chaps," woolen shirt, and wide-brimmed hat, a
+loose belt about his waist, with a pistol peeping from the holster,
+while his face was hidden by a mask in keeping with the rest of his
+outfit.
+
+"It's a whole lot tired we're getting of waiting for them yere gals,
+madam," said Frank. "I opine they'd better hurry some, for we'll have to
+hike right lively if we shake a hoof at this dance to-night."
+
+Then Hodge danced forward in his Indian rig, flourishing a tomahawk and
+uttering a war whoop.
+
+"Heap right," he cried. "White woman bring gals."
+
+"Mercy!" gasped Mrs. Medford, retreating toward the table and suddenly
+turning the lamp very low.
+
+Then came a rustling sound on the stairs, followed by a low moaning, and
+into view glided two ghostly figures in flowing robes of white. These
+figures paused in a corner of the room where the shadows were deepest,
+and the surprised witnesses seemed to see through their white draperies
+the gleaming outlines of the upper portions of two skeletons. The ribs,
+the waving, bony arms, and the horrible, shining skulls were plainly
+beheld. After a moment the two apparitions advanced.
+
+"Heap spook!" cried Hodge, while Frank pretended to be greatly alarmed.
+
+Browning sat bolt upright, uttering a grunt of surprise.
+
+As the forms came forward into the dim light the skeleton figures faded
+and disappeared.
+
+"I reckon these are the real things, Injun," said Frank.
+
+"Much so," nodded Bart.
+
+Then the girls broke into laughter and Mrs. Medford turned up the lamp.
+
+With the aid of two sheets, a needle and thread and a few pins, Mrs.
+Medford had made some very ghostly garments for the girls, fitting them
+with a skill which partly revealed and partly concealed the graceful
+outlines of the wearers. Eyelets had been cut, and the general effect
+was indeed striking.
+
+"But the skeletons we saw?" questioned Frank.
+
+"A little phosphorus produced them," explained Mrs. Medford. "I drew the
+skeleton outlines on the sheets with phosphorus. Of course they'll be
+visible only in the dark."
+
+"Mrs. Medford, you're a wonder!" declared Hodge. "Now we're all right.
+There'll be ghosts abroad in the Adirondacks to-night."
+
+After a general inspection of their costumes, the party prepared to
+start.
+
+"Almost wish I had decided to go," confessed Browning. "But I'll stay
+here and take care of Mrs. Medford."
+
+"If you wish to go, I can take care of her," assured Warren Hatch.
+
+"It's too late now," said Bruce quickly. "Besides that, it's quite a
+walk over there, and I'd get tired of dancing in short order. I'll stay
+here and rest."
+
+They paused a moment on the veranda. The night was very still, and the
+moon was just rising above the treetops, silvering the mirror-like
+surface of the lake.
+
+From far away on the southern shore came the sound of music and they
+could see the gleaming lights.
+
+"Take care of those girls, boys," called Mrs. Medford. "If anything
+happens to them I'll never forgive myself for letting them out of my
+sight."
+
+"Don't worry," advised Frank. "You may rest assured that they are quite
+safe in our care. We'll guard them with our lives, but there is no
+possibility of danger to-night."
+
+Little he knew what would happen before the night passed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+THE WOLVES.
+
+
+The pavilion was brilliantly lighted. Hundreds of Chinese lanterns were
+suspended from the beams and cross timbers. The musicians were hidden by
+an arbor of green at one end of the floor. The floor itself swarmed with
+dancers wearing all sorts of grotesque and beautiful costumes.
+
+Amid the whirling throng two ghosts were waltzing, the partner of one
+being a cowboy, while the right arm of a redskin encircled the waist of
+the other.
+
+The waltzing of these couples was the poetry of grace and motion. They
+seemed to glide over the floor without effort of any sort. The ease of
+their movements was admired by many.
+
+"Isn't it delightful, Frank?" enthusiastically whispered one of the
+ghosts; and her cowboy partner answered:
+
+"It's all the more delightful being unexpected and unplanned, Inza. I
+feel to-night as if I hadn't a care in the world."
+
+"Why have you any great cares to worry you now?" she asked. "All your
+great business projects are coming out right, and the man who could make
+you trouble has paid the penalty of his villainy. He'll never interfere
+with you again."
+
+"That's right. With him out of the way, his railroad plan and mining and
+development company will never mature."
+
+"I see no reason why you should hurry back to Mexico now. Can't you
+remain in the East longer?"
+
+"I'll know better about that after consulting with Watson Scott. If
+possible to linger, I'll be in no hurry to go."
+
+They swept past a solitary man who stood watching the dancers. His mask
+was the head of a wolf. Through the twin holes of the mask his eyes
+gleamed strangely as they followed Merry and Inza.
+
+Another wolf approached and touched the first on the shoulder.
+
+"Have you found him yet?"
+
+"Look!" exclaimed the first. "See the girl in flowing white?"
+
+"With the Indian?"
+
+"No; with the cowboy."
+
+"I have noticed both."
+
+"Well, it is the cowboy I want you to watch. Listen near him. Hear him
+speak. I think it is our man. If so--well, to-night I strike the blow
+that makes me the master!"
+
+"Your head----"
+
+"Never mind. I have taken pains to hide well anything that might betray
+me. The dead seldom rise, and I am dead, you know."
+
+"It's the greatest wonder in the world that you are not."
+
+The music stopped. Frank escorted Inza to one of the great, open
+windows, through which came a grateful breath of the cool, still night.
+Through the trees outside they could see the lake, with the silver
+moonlight shimmering on its bosom.
+
+"It's a beautiful spot here," said the girl. "See how peaceful
+everything is out there, Frank."
+
+After a few moments they strolled out together beneath the trees, where
+the shadows were heavy. Arm in arm, they walked up and down, pausing at
+intervals to listen to the music which came from the pavilion, where the
+dancers were again whirling over the polished floor.
+
+Suddenly they came face to face with a silent figure beneath the trees.
+This figure started back, uttering a low exclamation, turned suddenly,
+and almost fled round a corner of the building.
+
+Frank laughed.
+
+"You gave him a start, Inza. The phosphorus skeleton shows plainly here,
+you know."
+
+"Somehow I didn't fancy that was why he fled so quickly," she said.
+
+"What other reason could there have been?"
+
+"I don't know, but there seemed something familiar in his movements. It
+was fancy, I suppose."
+
+"It must have been. We know no one here, save Hodge and Elsie."
+
+"Let's go in. Somehow a feeling of apprehension is on me. I'm not often
+nervous, you know; but something is the matter with my nerves now."
+
+He laughed at her, but they returned to the floor and danced out the
+latter part of the two-step.
+
+When this dance was over Merry left Inza, departing to find and bring
+her a glass of water.
+
+Barely was he gone when she was surprised to hear a harsh voice at her
+elbow saying:
+
+"I'll not believe your ghostly garments hide nothing save the hideous
+skeleton I saw a few moments ago. I must confess you gave me a shock."
+
+One of the wolves had paused close at hand.
+
+Knowing the dance was informal, as masquerade affairs must be, she was
+not surprised to be addressed in this manner.
+
+"Then it was you who fled before me?" she laughed. "It seems that even a
+wolf may be frightened by a ghost."
+
+"Quite true, fair wraith; but you are not the only ghost at this dance
+to-night."
+
+"I have a sister ghost with me."
+
+"It was not your sister I spoke of," growled the wolf. "There is still a
+third ghost present."
+
+"Indeed? I have not seen----"
+
+"I think you will later. For all of your awesome aspect I would entreat
+you to favor me with one dance were it not that something I cannot
+explain denies me the pleasure of dancing to-night."
+
+"Why do you growl in that manner? Are you trying to disguise your voice?
+It is not necessary, for I know only my own friends at this dance."
+
+"It is natural for wolves to growl," he retorted. "Although you know few
+here, it is possible you are known. I think I can describe you."
+
+"I doubt it."
+
+"You are dark, with black hair and eyes."
+
+"Wonderful guessing."
+
+"Your lips are like the reddest rose, and your teeth are so many
+pearls."
+
+"Flattering, at least."
+
+"Of your sex you are the fairest ever beheld by the eyes of wolf."
+
+"You forget you have not seen me."
+
+"If that is true, I'll convince you that the sagacity of some wolves
+passes human understanding. Your name is--Inza!"
+
+She fell back in amazement, betraying her surprise by the movement.
+
+From behind the wolf mask came a low, growling chuckle.
+
+"It is enough!" he declared. "To deny it now would be useless. The
+cowboy returns, and cowboys do not like wolves, so I will slink away."
+
+Filled with amazement, Inza watched him as he walked swiftly away. Frank
+came up and she clutched his arm, pointing at the retreating figure and
+almost panting:
+
+"Who is that man?"
+
+"I don't know, Inza. Has he bothered or insulted you? If so, I will----"
+
+"Frank, he knows me!"
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"He spoke my name! He called me Inza. His words were strange and
+somewhat faltering. He spoke with a growl that I am certain he assumed
+to disguise his voice. There is something familiar about him--something
+familiar in his movements and his walk. Frank, I know him! Is there no
+way to find out who he is?"
+
+Merry was aroused.
+
+"Drink, Inza," he said, "and I'll find a way to discover who he is.
+Perhaps Warren Hatch has put up a joke on us. If so, we must turn the
+joke."
+
+Bart and Elsie came up. Frank left Inza with them as he returned with
+the empty glass.
+
+Leaving the glass, he set out to find the wolf. As he was passing one of
+the wide windows he saw two wolves standing outside. Immediately he
+stepped through the window and joined them.
+
+"Howdy, pards," he said, with an assumption of the cowboy manner. "I
+opine one of you two was chinning with my friend, the ghost, a few
+moments ago. Now, even a wolf won't take advantage of a lady, and so, as
+you happened to call her name, I reckon it's up to you in natural
+politeness to give her yours in return."
+
+They appeared somewhat startled, but one of them said:
+
+"You're mistaken, sir; neither of us has spoken to a lady since arriving
+here to-night. We have not danced yet, and therefore have not had
+occasion to speak to any of the fair sex."
+
+Frank rested his hands on his hips and eyed them searchingly.
+
+"I have the word of the lady herself," he said. "I don't opine you're
+going to dispute a lady?"
+
+"You are at liberty to opine what you like," sneered the second wolf;
+"and I advise you to go about your business, unless you are looking for
+trouble. If it's trouble you are after, you may get more than you want."
+
+"I never hunt trouble; but I thought it possible that, out of
+politeness, the one who spoke to the lady would give his name."
+
+"Get about your own business and leave us alone," advised the pugnacious
+chap. "If you don't you'll get your make-up ruffled."
+
+Now, Frank had not confronted them with the idea of pressing a quarrel.
+His first thought had been to draw them into conversation that he might
+hear their voices, thinking it possible he would recognize one or both
+of them. There was nothing familiar about their voices, however, and now
+their offensive atmosphere aroused him and caused his blood to stir
+warmly in his body.
+
+"Although there are two of you," he said, "I would advise you some not
+to try any ruffling business with me. It might work unpleasantly for
+you."
+
+This angered them, and suddenly they both attacked Frank.
+
+Instantly there was a stir within the pavilion, for men uttered
+exclamations, and women gave cries of alarm.
+
+Hodge had remained with Inza and Elsie, but at the first alarm, thinking
+Frank might be in trouble, he left the girls and dashed across the
+floor. Elsie called to him, starting to follow. Suddenly she stopped,
+turning back to Inza, whom she had left by the open window.
+
+Inza was gone.
+
+"Where is she?" gasped Elsie, looking around. "I am sure----"
+
+She paused in bewilderment, a sudden feeling of terror seizing her.
+
+From somewhere in the grove outside the pavilion came a smothered cry of
+distress.
+
+Elsie Bellwood had left Inza standing close to the huge, open window.
+Barely was Elsie's back turned when the heavy folds of a blanket were
+thrown over Inza's head and she felt herself lifted bodily and snatched
+through the window.
+
+Remarkable though it was, no one within the pavilion saw this happen.
+The attention of all was turned toward the opposite side of the
+building, where the encounter was taking place between Frank and the two
+wolves.
+
+At first Inza was stunned and bewildered. Her hands and arms were
+enfolded in the blanket, and she was unable to make anything like
+effective resistance. The blanket was twisted about her until she could
+not cast it off, and she felt herself lifted and carried away in a pair
+of arms that held her tightly.
+
+Had she been of a nervous or timid nature she might have fainted at
+once. But she was brave and nervy and she struggled hard for her
+freedom, seeking to cast off the blanket which was smothering her and
+giving her a sensation of agony.
+
+The man had not carried her far when she nearly succeeded in getting her
+head clear of the blanket. She uttered a cry that was broken and
+smothered, for, with an exclamation of dismay, her captor again twisted
+the blanket tightly about her head and neck.
+
+It was this cry which reached the ears of Elsie, who had just missed her
+friend.
+
+Inza continued to struggle, kicking and uttering muffled cries beneath
+the blanket; but she was helpless, and, holding her thus, the man, who
+wore a wolf mask, almost ran through the grove to the shore of the lake.
+
+By the time the shore was reached the girl's struggles had become very
+weak, and the only sounds issuing from the smothering folds of the
+blanket were choking moans.
+
+As Inza's captor approached the water he uttered a low, peculiar
+whistle.
+
+It was answered by a similar whistle.
+
+The answer served to guide the man with the wolf mask to the spot where
+a canoe lay floating with its prow touching the shore, guarded by a man
+who stood straight and silent on the bank.
+
+"Ben!" excitedly yet softly called the man with the girl.
+
+"Here," was the answer.
+
+"Ready with the canoe! Back there you hear them shouting. Thank the
+saints the senorita no longer struggles! She has fainted."
+
+"What got?" asked the man on the shore, who was a full-blooded Indian
+guide, known as Red Ben. "Big bundle."
+
+"Never mind what I have here. I paid you to wait and be ready to take me
+away in a hurry, and now it is in a hurry I must go. Swing the canoe so
+I may put her in it."
+
+The shouts of men and excited voices of women came to their ears from
+the pavilion.
+
+"Let them bark!" muttered Inza's captor. "I'll soon be far away, and the
+water will leave no trail for Merriwell, the gringo, to follow. Once he
+trailed me, but I have taken precautions this time."
+
+Unhesitatingly he stepped into the water beside the canoe, in the bottom
+of which he placed Inza, with the blanket still wrapped about her. A
+moment later he was seated in the canoe, which Red Ben pushed off from
+shore, springing in himself and seizing a paddle.
+
+"Keep in the shadows near the shore," directed the wearer of the wolf
+mask. "Paddle hard, for much trouble it might make us both should we be
+seen."
+
+"You steal gal?" questioned the curious Indian.
+
+"She belongs to me," was the answer. "My enemy claims her, but she is
+mine. Don't talk, Ben--paddle for your life. Were we to be seen now----"
+
+"Point out there," said the redskin. "We go by him, nobody back there
+see us."
+
+"Then get past the point at your finest speed, and it is doubly well you
+shall be paid for this night's work."
+
+The Indian made the canoe fly over the surface of the water. He kept
+close to the shore of a little cove and then swept out in the shadow of
+the trees along the rim of the lake, soon reaching the point.
+
+As Ben sent the canoe shooting past that point it came near colliding
+with another canoe that contained a single occupant, who was smoking a
+pipe and paddling along leisurely.
+
+"Look out, you lubbers!" grunted the man with the pipe. "What are you
+trying to do?"
+
+It was Bruce Browning, who, after all, had found it impossible to remain
+at the cottage. In Joe's canoe Bruce was leisurely paddling over to the
+south shore, thinking he would look in on the dancers. He had not heard
+the approach of the other canoe and knew nothing of its presence until
+it shot past the point and nearly struck him.
+
+Neither Red Ben nor his companion made any retort. The Indian swerved
+the canoe aside and continued to ply the paddle, flashing past Bruce.
+
+Browning stared in surprise, for the moonlight fell full and fair on the
+redskin's companion, showing the wolf mask.
+
+"One of the dancers, I judge," he mumbled. "Nice, sociable fellow! Never
+said a word when they came so near cutting me in two. What's he doing
+now?"
+
+Bruce swung his canoe so he could watch the other without cramping his
+neck, for he saw that something like a struggle was taking place, the
+masked man seemingly holding some object helpless in the bottom of the
+frail craft.
+
+"Queer doings," growled the big fellow. "I'd like to know what it
+means. There seems to be some sort of excitement going on yonder."
+
+He turned from the canoe to listen to the sounds on shore.
+
+"Guess I'll poke along and find out what all the racket is," he decided,
+as he resumed his lazy paddling, giving no further attention to the
+other canoe.
+
+Arriving at the landing, Bruce made his way to the pavilion. Ere he
+reached it he was certain something of an unusual nature had taken
+place. Persons were searching with lights in the grove, and he
+encountered a party of four, who surveyed him searchingly and passed on.
+
+He had reached the pavilion when he encountered Hodge, who was doing his
+best to quiet Elsie, the latter apparently being on the verge of
+hysterics.
+
+"What's the matter, Bart?" asked Bruce, wonderingly. "What's happened
+here, anyhow?"
+
+Hodge clutched him by the shoulder.
+
+"Inza!" he exclaimed. "She has disappeared mysteriously."
+
+The big fellow immediately threw off his apathy. His careless, lazy air
+vanished in a twinkling and he asked some questions that brought a brief
+but complete explanation from Bart.
+
+"Where is Frank?" demanded Browning.
+
+"He is with the searchers."
+
+Bruce lost no time in looking for Merriwell, soon coming face to face
+with him in the grove. Frank's face was pale and stern, and there was a
+dangerous, desperate gleam in his eyes.
+
+"You're wasting your time here, Merry," declared Bruce. "Hodge has just
+told me of the men who wore the wolf masks. There must have been three
+of them. While you were having that set-to with two of them the third
+carried Inza off."
+
+"But where is she?" asked Frank hoarsely. "Where did he take her?"
+
+"You won't find her on shore. Look on the lake."
+
+"The lake?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why----"
+
+Immediately Browning told how he had seen one of the men wearing a wolf
+mask in the canoe which so nearly collided with the one he occupied.
+
+"There was something in the bottom of that canoe. I fancied a struggle
+was taking place. I thought it mighty singular."
+
+"By Heaven!" cried Frank, "if a hair of Inza's head is harmed the guilty
+wretch shall pay the penalty with his life!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+IN THE GRASP OF DEL NORTE.
+
+
+There are two large, heavily wooded islands in Lake Placid. Into a
+little cove of the northern island Red Ben ran his canoe. His companion,
+still wearing the wolf mask, stepped out and lifted the helpless girl,
+bearing her along a path that led to a little opening where the
+moonlight fell brightly. He placed her on the ground and stood gazing
+down at her, his arms folded. He had removed the stifling blanket from
+her head and shoulders.
+
+"By my soul she is beautiful!" he murmured, and the words were spoken in
+Spanish. His voice was soft and musical, quite unlike the growling
+hoarseness of the wolf with whom Inza had conversed at the pavilion.
+
+A silent shadow slipped into the opening and stood near. It was the
+Indian.
+
+"Much dangerous business," he said. "You tell Ben you want to square old
+score with Merriwell man. Tell me be ready to take you quick away in
+canoe. No tell me you carry off gal."
+
+"I did not know she would be there," explained the wolf. "When I found
+her there my plans I changed. It can make no difference with you. You
+have been paid, but I will pay you doubly if you stick by me to the
+end. You know every mile of these mountains and forests. You can help me
+get away, and by it you shall lose nothing."
+
+The Indian shook his head.
+
+"Much bad! much bad!" he declared. "What you do with gal?"
+
+"I shall keep her."
+
+"How you do it. Mebbe she no want to stay. She have many friend. They
+hunt you same like a real wolf."
+
+"Then they shall find that the wolf has teeth. I expect her gringo lover
+will hunt. Ha! ha! ha! It is the joy of my soul to wring his heart and
+make it bleed! I hate him! Between him and me it is a struggle to the
+death, and in my body runs the blood of old Guerrero, who feared no
+peril and never paused to count the cost when he struck at a foe. Could
+I leave him dead, even as he thought me dead, my path would be clear.
+The prize is worth the peril, for it is a double prize, the fairest
+senorita and a great fortune. Listen, Ben: if by me you stay fast and I
+slay my enemy, five hundred dollars shall be yours. Think of that. Five
+hundred is as much as you can obtain as guide in a season."
+
+"But the white man's law," said the Indian. "I know him. Once I steal a
+hoss. White man officer arrest me, take me to court, where white man
+judge say go to jail one year. I go. No want some more like that. Once
+I 'most kill man down at Long Lake. White man officer hunt me long time.
+I remember jail. No want some more. I hide. Send word no let um officer
+take me alive. Bimeby they no hunt me some more. 'Nother time I git
+drunk, burn house. Have to hide again long, long while till snow come,
+an' nobody look for me some more. If I help you do some bad things now,
+mebbe git officer after me 'gain."
+
+"You will not be to blame for anything I do, and the money will pay you
+so you can afford to hide until the trouble is past. My friends will
+join us here, as we planned. After that we can get away into the woods.
+With you to guide, we can baffle all pursuit. But I pray the senorita's
+gringo lover seeks to follow, so that we may meet. I'll leave him for
+the wild beasts, with my knife in his heart!"
+
+"But gal she hate you then."
+
+"I'll teach her to love me. I have sworn she shall be mine, and the oath
+of a Del Norte is never broken. Leave everything to me. Go back and
+watch for our friends. They will come as soon as they can get away and
+reach us without being seen."
+
+Silently the redskin turned away and disappeared into the path.
+
+Then the wolf once more turned to the girl. He was somewhat startled to
+discover her eyes were wide open and fastened upon him. Quickly he bent
+over her, speaking softly and with an effort to reassure her.
+
+"Fear not, senorita; you are not injured, and in my hands you are safe,
+for I will guard you with my life. A thousand pardons I ask if I have
+caused your heart to beat with alarm."
+
+With an effort she rose on one hand, holding up the other as if to ward
+him off.
+
+"Don't touch me, you monster!" she gasped. "I shall scream!"
+
+"Spare yourself the effort, fair one," he said, "for though you were to
+shriek with all your strength no one could hear you. You were
+unconscious, and while thus I brought you here."'
+
+"Where am I?"
+
+"Many miles from the spot where I found you, senorita."
+
+"That voice!" she whispered, shrinking in terror. "It cannot be that you
+are---- I am dreaming!"
+
+"It is no dream, sweet one. Could you see into my heart you would fear
+me no longer. Trust me and all will be well."
+
+"Trust you! Trust a monster who has done what you have done! I fear you
+as I would fear a venomous reptile!"
+
+"Ah! how little you understand, senorita!"
+
+He knelt on one knee before her, holding out his open hands.
+
+"If you would only believe in me and trust me, my beautiful gringo
+flower! You will learn in time to do so, for I shall teach you. Some day
+you shall bless your guardian angel that to-night I found you and
+snatched you from your boastful lover."
+
+To his surprise, she leaned toward him, as if to permit him to clasp her
+in his arms. A moment later, with a swift movement, she caught at the
+wolf mask and tore it from his head.
+
+"Porfias del Norte!" she cried, falling back and staring at him as he
+knelt with the moonlight shining on his face and his bandaged head.
+
+He smiled in that remarkable manner that ever made his face seem
+handsome to a wonderful degree.
+
+"Yes, senorita," he murmured, with that strange sweetness in his voice,
+"I am Porfias del Norte."
+
+"Not dead!"
+
+"Far from it, fair one."
+
+"But Frank said----"
+
+"He thought he had left me dead in the old hut where I was shot down by
+a treacherous dog who shall pay the penalty with his life. The bullet
+struck me here, but Heaven changed its course and spared my life. My
+time had not come, Senorita Inza."
+
+"Heaven had no hand in it!" cried the girl. "Some evil spirit protected
+you!"
+
+"Some time you will think differently."
+
+"Never! You monster, how dared you do what you have done to-night?"
+
+"Dare!" he laughed. "Have you yet to learn that a Del Norte dares
+anything? Have you yet to learn a Del Norte will risk anything to secure
+the woman he loves?"
+
+She fought against the great terror that threatened to overcome her and
+rob her of consciousness once more.
+
+"You must be deranged!" she said. "You cannot realize what your act will
+bring about. It is plain you do not yet know Frank Merriwell. If you did
+you would not fancy you could do this thing and escape the punishment he
+will surely bring upon you. Why, he will find you and make you suffer,
+even though he had to employ a hundred men and rake over every inch of
+these mountains. Once arouse him, as he must now be aroused, and he will
+follow like a Nemesis on your trail. There is but one escape for you."
+
+"Only one?" questioned the man, with a touch of mockery in his voice.
+
+"Only one."
+
+"And that is--tell me what, senorita?"
+
+"You must permit me to return to him without delay. You must see that I
+return unharmed. If you do that, I give you my promise to keep him still
+long enough for you to get far away. If you are wise you will make all
+haste back to your own country."
+
+Del Norte laughed softly.
+
+"You have yet much to learn of me. In this game I hold the winning
+cards. In my employ is an Indian who knows where in these mountains we
+may hide so securely that a thousand men cannot find us. In one of these
+hiding places I shall keep you secure. If your gringo lover comes, I'll
+meet him. I'll fight him to the death. One of us will conquer, and no
+man ever triumphed over one in whose blood was the spirit of old
+Guerrero. If we meet in fair battle and I am his master, then you will
+realize how much superior I am to the boasting Americano you thought you
+cared for. In time you will learn to love me a thousand times more
+deeply than you ever loved him."
+
+"It's plain you reckon all women on the standard of such women as you
+have known. Only women of savage races transfer their affection from
+dead lovers to their slayers. But you do not yet comprehend the fearful
+task before you. Your conceit is colossal. In single combat with Frank
+Merriwell you would not have one chance in a thousand."
+
+He could not help feeling the scorn and contempt in her face and words,
+but still he laughed.
+
+"Time will show you your mistake, senorita; words cannot. Do not fear
+me. I have sworn that you shall love me, and to win your love I'll be as
+tender and considerate as possible."
+
+"Tender and considerate!" panted the trembling girl. "After this night
+I shall fear and loathe you a thousand times more than ever before. Keep
+away! Don't touch me!"
+
+"It saddens me to see that you fear me so," he sighed, rising to his
+feet and standing with folded arms. "I have ventured everything on this
+move, and I shall carry it through. You American women love wealth and
+power. Senorita, all the vast wealth that is coming to me will I place
+at your feet. Yours shall be all the power it can command. As my wife
+you shall some day be admired and envied by all women."
+
+"Now I know you are deranged!" she declared, also rising. "Any man in
+his right mind could not think to win the love of a woman after such a
+fashion. Porfias del Norte, that wound has made you a madman!"
+
+"It is love that has made me mad, my Northern flower. Since parting from
+you on the crown of Mount Battie, up in Maine, I have thought of you,
+and dreamed of you, until you took possession of my whole being. I felt
+that I must have you for my own to keep always until death came between
+us. I have felt that to have you thus I would face a thousand deadly
+perils. To-night I saw you at the dance. Even though your face was
+hidden, my heart gave a leap the moment my eyes rested on you. By your
+grace I recognized you, yet I was not certain until I found an
+opportunity to speak with you. I watched my opening and grasped it the
+moment Merriwell left you. Even though I felt that you might discover
+my identity and betray me, I ventured to speak with you."
+
+"I believed you dead; otherwise I should have recognized you, even
+though you disguised your voice."
+
+"No doubt, senorita. I feared then that you might tell him, and he would
+make a move that should baffle me. I spoke to my comrades. Fortune aided
+me in the wild plan I quickly formed. He saw them and engaged in
+altercation with them, which gave me the opening I sought. You were
+again left alone, and in a moment I acted. I carried you away, but in
+the struggle your garment of white was torn from you, and it lies in the
+canoe that brought us to this spot. I have no doubt that my comrades
+will join me soon, and then we shall move again. By daybreak we will be
+safely hidden in one of the many safe places known to the Indian who is
+with me."
+
+Inza was desperate. She did not know they were on an island, and now her
+terror led her, having somewhat recovered her strength, to wheel
+suddenly and flee as fast as her feet would carry her. By chance she
+struck into the path and came quickly to the shore where lay the canoe,
+with Red Ben standing near it.
+
+"Help!" she cried, appealing to him. "Save me! You shall be
+paid--anything, anything you ask!"
+
+In her excitement she clutched his arm. He turned toward her a grim,
+immovable face. Not a word did he speak in reply.
+
+Del Norte issued from the path and deliberately approached.
+
+"It is useless, senorita," he declared. "Flee whither you will, there is
+no escape. You are on an island. This is my Indian comrade."
+
+"Others come," said Red Ben.
+
+"Where?" asked the Mexican anxiously.
+
+"There."
+
+The redskin lifted his arm and pointed away over the surface of the
+silent lake.
+
+"My friends!" gasped the girl. "They are coming to rescue me."
+
+In the distance a black spot lay on the water. The faint clanking of
+oars was heard.
+
+Del Norte whistled a sharp signal.
+
+In return there was a similar answer.
+
+"Senorita," he laughed, "you are wrong; those who come are my friends."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE SENTINEL.
+
+
+With the sun slipping down toward the western peaks, another day was
+passing.
+
+Hidden on the side of a wooded mountain, yet having a position that
+commanded a wide expanse of country, with a view of the lower hills and
+valleys, Red Ben lay prone on his stomach. At his side lay a loaded
+rifle.
+
+In front of the Indian was a precipice, over which he peered at
+intervals, his keen eyes searching the valley below.
+
+Finally he stirred quickly, sat up and turned with the rifle in his
+hands.
+
+A man was approaching, but the moment this man appeared plainly in view
+Red Ben put down the rifle.
+
+Del Norte came hurriedly forward.
+
+"Have you seen anything of pursuers?" he anxiously questioned.
+
+The redskin nodded.
+
+"They near," he answered.
+
+"You have seen them?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"Down there," with a motion of one brown hand toward the valley beneath
+them.
+
+"When?"
+
+"Hour ago."
+
+"How many?"
+
+"Five."
+
+"Whither did they go?"
+
+"So," with another gesture up the valley.
+
+"Then they are not on the trail. Your trick in covering our tracks in
+case they found and followed the trail was successful. Are you sure they
+were pursuers? Perhaps they were hunters looking for deer."
+
+"No," asserted the Indian decidedly. "Ben he know. Make no mistake. They
+hunt for lost gal."
+
+"They'll never find her. In that cave she is as safe as if buried a
+thousand feet underground. Even if they passed within ten feet of the
+entrance they could not discover it. Was Merriwell with them?"
+
+Ben shook his head.
+
+"No can tell. Ben not know him. Two young men; others older."
+
+From a pocket the Mexican drew a pistol, which he examined, making sure
+it was in perfect working order. His usually handsome face wore a look
+that transformed it, while there was a deadly glitter in his black eyes.
+
+"Listen, Ben," he said; "I will describe the hated gringo to you. If he
+is near, I wish to find the opportunity to meet him again face to face.
+Twice he has nearly destroyed me, but my escapes have told me my life is
+charmed, and I know it is next his turn. When again we meet I'll leave
+him food for the wolves, with this in his heart!"
+
+He suddenly produced and flourished a keen dagger. His description of
+Frank was accurate and flattering, for he confessed that the young
+American was handsome and manly in appearance, with a resolute face and
+a fearless eye. He declared that the redskin could not mistake
+Merriwell, as the very appearance of the latter proclaimed him a leader
+among his companions.
+
+"Of course," he added, "I wish no chance to face him in company with
+many of his friends, but I pray the Virgin he may give me the
+opportunity alone."
+
+"Not much chance," grunted Red Ben. "How gal?"
+
+"She is wonderful in her courage and defiance. Never did I see her
+equal, and it is this spirit that makes me love her all the more. How
+long do you think we'll have to hide here in the cave, Ben?"
+
+"Can't stay long. Little grub."
+
+"If necessary you could bring food at night."
+
+"Mebbe so. Much dangerous to stay long. First chance we best go quick.
+Your friend they watch her?"
+
+"Yes, they are guarding her now."
+
+"She run quick she git chance."
+
+"She'll have no chance."
+
+The redskin surveyed Del Norte curiously.
+
+"You want marry gal?" he asked.
+
+"I have sworn to make her my wife."
+
+"No good! She no do it. You waste time. You fix um your enemy, better
+leave her, git out fast. Canada up there. You reach Canada, have chance
+to git 'way."
+
+"Even with the gringo dead, my triumph would not be complete if she
+escaped me. I will take her to Mexico."
+
+"Where Mexico?" asked the Indian. "No hear of it any before."
+
+"It is far from here, my own fair land!"
+
+"Gal make heap trouble 'fore you git um there. Ben him know. Him see in
+her eye how she hate you. Gals no good. Alwus make bad trouble for
+anybody. Men big fools over gals. Ben know. Once him git foolish over
+'nother man's squaw. Heap fight over her. Prit' near git um head shot
+off. Let squaws 'lone sence that."
+
+"You cannot understand," declared Del Norte, with a gesture. "This thing
+I have set myself to do I will do, and all the powers of earth shall not
+thwart me."
+
+Ben grunted and shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"When white man gits that way him go it lickety split till him finish up
+done for. All right. Ben he got nothin' to say. No waste talk. You pay
+him, he do all he can for you."
+
+"That's all I ask and all I want. Keep your eyes open. If the hunters
+come near, give me warning. If Merriwell strays alone, let me know and I
+will hasten to meet him."
+
+A few moments later the redskin was again left as a sentinel on the
+mountain side, while Del Norte retraced his steps to the cave where he
+had sought concealment with his fair captive.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The sun was touching the tip of a rocky western peak. For a long time
+Red Ben had been watching a solitary man who was making his way slowly
+and cautiously up the mountain. The eyes of the Indian glittered and his
+fingers closed firmly on his rifle, which was ready for use.
+
+Nearer and nearer came the unsuspecting man. At times he disappeared
+from view amid the timber, only to reappear at some point anticipated by
+the watcher.
+
+Finally he drew near the spot where the Indian lay. Slowly Red Ben
+pushed forward his rifle, bringing the butt against his shoulder. The
+muzzle covered the heart of the unsuspecting man, who also carried a
+rifle.
+
+At that moment the man dropped like a flash and rolled over twice until
+he lay behind a sheltering bowlder.
+
+Red Ben was astonished, for he realized that the other had scented
+danger, yet how this had happened was more than the redskin could
+comprehend.
+
+"Howld on there, ye spalpane!" cried a voice. "Don't be afther shootin'
+yer bist friend. Oi know ye're there, fer Oi saw th' bushes wiggle a wee
+bit. If it's Red Ben ye are, ye ought to know Pat O'Toole, so ye had."
+
+The astonishment of the Indian increased, but for some moments he
+neither spoke nor made a sound.
+
+"Nivver a bit av good will it do to kape so shtill," declared he of the
+rich Irish brogue. "Oi know ye're there. It's not often Pat O'Toole
+makes a mishtake."
+
+The Indian sat up, exposing the upper part of his body.
+
+"Come," he invited. "Ben no shoot."
+
+O'Toole rose from his place of concealment, grinning triumphantly.
+
+"Begorra, Oi think Oi saved mesilf a foine hole in me shkin," he
+chuckled, as he advanced. "Whin Misther Browning towld me about th'
+Injun in th' boat wid the wolf, sez Oi to mesilf, sez Oi, 'Oi'll bet me
+loife Oi know th' mon, an' it's Red Ben.' Misther Merriwell wur sure th'
+spalpane he's afther must be somewhere here, an' it's the counthry all
+over they are searchin'. Oi took it on mesilf to invistigate this soide
+av th' mountain, but Oi had me oies open all th' toime. Something towld
+me ye'd be on th' watch if ye wur with them; an' it's sudint Oi
+dhropped whin Oi saw th' bushes move."
+
+"How," said Red Ben, accepting O'Toole's extended hand.
+
+"Howdy yersilf. Long toime no see, eh?"
+
+"What you do here?"
+
+"Pwhat th' divvil are you doin', Ben? It's a bad shcrape ye're afther
+gettin' yersilf in through this girrul business. Arter Oi saved ye from
+bein' shot full av lead fer foolin' round Bill Curran's woife Oi thought
+ye'd know betther than to iver monkey wid a female again."
+
+"Ben he no monkey. White man him gal crazy."
+
+"But ye're afther hilpin' him, ye lunatick, an' it's a schrape ye'll
+foind yersilf in. Oi've known ye tin year now. We've worruked togither
+guidin' more than wance, and nivver a bit av a quarrel did we have. Oi'd
+not tell ye a loie, an' Oi want ye to know thot Frank Merriwell will
+rake these mountains down an' lay them level av he don't foind thot
+girrul. It's a big oath he has taken to make anny wan shmart thot has
+caused her wan minute av distress."
+
+"How you know so much 'bout him?" asked Red Ben, a heavy frown on his
+face.
+
+"It's a long shtory, an' Oi'll not tell ye the whole av it. Oi wur paid
+to hilp do him a bad turn, an' Oi troied to bate th' head off him. It's
+a foine lickin' Oi got. Afther thot he saved me loife whin a mad buck
+had me down an' wur about cuttin' me to pieces wid his hoofs. Sure Oi
+found him a foine young gintleman, an' it's his friend Oi became. Wid me
+own hand Oi put a bullet through the head av thot shnale Porrfeeus dil
+Noort; an' now it's some av Dil Noort's gang that's seekin' to git
+square by carryin' off Merriwell's girrul. As yer friend, Ben, Oi ax ye
+to give th' spalpanes th' double-cross an' hilp Frank Merriwell git back
+th' girrul. Av ye do thot Oi promise ye Oi'll see that nivver a bit av
+throuble do ye get into. Av ye refuse it's more than wan year ye'll be
+afther spindin' in jail fer your foolishness."
+
+The Indian had listened with the frown growing deeper.
+
+"Mebbe you go back on me?" he questioned. "Mebbe you tell um Merriwell
+Red Ben help carry off gal?"
+
+"Oi didn't have to tell him. His bist friend saw ye in your canoe afther
+ye shtarted wid th' girrul. Ye're in fer it, Ben, me bhoy, onliss ye
+turrun roight-about-face an' do pwhat ye can fer th' girrul an' to have
+the indacint rascals pwhat shtole her poonished."
+
+"Sit down," invited the redskin, motioning toward the ground at his
+side. "We talk it over."
+
+O'Toole accepted the invitation and squatted on the ground.
+
+"Ben he must think," said the Indian. "He must have time to make up him
+mind."
+
+"Take yer toime, me bhoy," nodded O'Toole, in his pleasantest manner;
+"but don't yez fergit Oi'm yer friend, an' it's fer your good Oi'm
+advisin' ye. Th' divvils pwhat shtole th' girrul can't git away, fer
+Merriwell has tilegraphed it all over this parrut av th' counthry, an'
+it's big rewards he has offered fer th' apprehinsion av th' rascals.
+Whin th' shtorm comes, Ben, ye want to git out from under. There'll be a
+terrible crash, moind pwhat Oi say."
+
+"Ben him git big money for what him do."
+
+"It's litthle good money will do yez wid yer neck shtretched, an' th'
+bhoys are carryin' ropes fer th' gints pwhat run off wid th' girrul.
+Oi'd not fool yez fer th' worruld," O'Toole continued, in his most
+convincing manner. "Says Oi to mesilf whin Oi made up me moind ye wur
+wid the gints pwhat done ut, said Oi, 'Pat, me bhoy, Ben is yer friend,
+an' ye are his friend, an' it's up to ye to go along an' foind him an'
+give him a tip to git under cover before it rains.' Oi'm here. It's
+roight foine luck Oi found yez. A foine broth av a bhoy is Frank
+Merriwell, an' whin he knows ye hilped save th' girrul, Oi'll shtake me
+loife he pays ye well fer it."
+
+The Irishman was doing his level best to win the Indian over, and his
+words were not without effect. After a while Red Ben said:
+
+"You go to um Merriwell, ask how much he give Ben to bring gal. Ask if
+him swear Ben no git hurt. Ask if him dare meet Ben an' swear he no git
+hurt to bring gal. Come soon, tell what him say."
+
+"It's darruk it will be, fer th' sun is down now."
+
+"Ben stay here. Men who steal gal leave him to watch. He stay. You know
+owl hoot. When you come back make owl hoot so Ben no think it somebody
+else an' shoot um. Must know what Merriwell him say. Must have him
+promise."
+
+Evidently the Indian was determined to drive the best bargain possible,
+and at the same time he was resolved to take every precaution to insure
+his own safety in case he betrayed Inza's captors.
+
+O'Toole knew the redskin well enough to comprehend quickly that further
+argument and pleading would be a waste of words. Once Red Ben had set
+his mind on anything he was stubborn as a mule.
+
+"All roight me bhoy," said the Irishman, rising. "Oi'll do jist pwhat ye
+say; but don't yez be afther lettin' thim carry off th' girrul whoile
+Oi'm spinding toime this way. It's a bit nervous Oi am about thrampin'
+round through th' woods afther darruk since Oi shot thot divvil Dil
+Noort, but it's no more he'll bother any wan at all, at all, an' soon Oi
+think some of his foine friends will be in th' same box wid him."
+
+"You shoot um Del Norte?" asked Red Ben, with a show of interest. "Him
+say Irishman do it, but Ben no think it him friend."
+
+"He said so?" cried O'Toole. "Begorra, thot's th' firrust toime Oi
+ivver knew av anny wan thot had hearrud a dead mon talk!"
+
+"You think you kill um Del Norte?" asked the Indian.
+
+"Oi know Oi did onless a man can live wid a bullet clean through his
+head," declared the Irishman.
+
+Out of the shadows suddenly appeared a man, who exultantly cried, as he
+pointed a finger at O'Toole:
+
+"Diablo! I have you! Traitor, this is my time of vengeance!"
+
+As O'Toole saw before him Del Norte, with a white bandage about his
+head, the face of the Irishman turned ashen gray and his knees smote
+together.
+
+"Howly saints!" he groaned. "It is the dead aloive!"
+
+A moment later, uttering a wild shriek of terror, he turned and ran
+blindly toward the precipice close at hand, over which he rushed, being
+unable to check himself when he reached the brink.
+
+As the poor fellow fell he uttered another shriek, which was followed by
+the silence of death.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+AT THE FOOT OF THE PRECIPICE.
+
+
+The strange disappearance of O'Toole, who was unaccountably missing,
+caused much wonderment among the searchers for Inza Burrage and her
+captors.
+
+There were at least thirty of these searchers in that vicinity, Frank
+Merriwell being their leader.
+
+Some hunters camped on the northeastern shore of Lake Placid had seen
+Del Norte and his companions, having the girl a captive, land at a
+certain point after leaving the island, conceal the boat and canoe
+there, and then strike into the wilderness.
+
+These hunters had aided the party of searchers led by Frank to pick up
+the trail early on the morning following the kidnapping of the girl.
+
+Merriwell's skill as a trailer had enabled him to follow the villains to
+a point in the vicinity of the mountain where, at the suggestion of Red
+Ben, Del Norte had sought concealment in a cave, the mouth of which was
+hidden by thick shrubbery.
+
+The craft of Red Ben in covering the trail had bothered and baffled the
+pursuers for some time. They had broken up into smaller parties for the
+purpose of scouring the woods thereabouts. Belmont Bland had insisted on
+accompanying them, and he clung to Merriwell with a persistence that
+annoyed Frank, who could not help suspecting the man of treachery.
+
+It was Merry's belief that Bland had been well paid by Del Norte while
+in New York to betray Old Gripper's plans and keep the Mexican posted on
+Frank's movements. He had no proof of this, but all Bland's actions had
+seemed suspicious down to his seeming illness that had prevented him
+from returning to New York with Watson Scott.
+
+Merriwell communicated his suspicions to Hodge, whom he urged to keep a
+close watch on Bland. He then divided the searchers into five parties,
+leaving Bart in charge of the one including Bland, while he took O'Toole
+with him.
+
+The Irishman had disappeared, and, having appointed a definite spot at
+which to meet, Frank's party scattered to look for O'Toole and continue
+the search at the same time.
+
+Was it chance or fate that led Merry to the vicinity of the foot of the
+precipice over which O'Toole plunged in his unreasoning terror? At any
+rate, Frank was down there in the gloom of the valley. He heard the last
+cry that came from the doomed man's lips as he fell, and a few moments
+later, a short distance away, there came a crashing amid the trees,
+followed by a sodden thud and silence.
+
+Merry shuddered, for he knew the cry had been that of a human being,
+and he felt that he would find the unfortunate wretch at the spot where
+the crash and thud had sounded. With his rifle ready for use, he tried
+to obtain a position which would command a clear view of the brink of
+the precipice far, far above him, but this was not easy, and up there on
+the mountain no living thing seemed stirring.
+
+Darkness was gathering in the silent valley. Through the trees the
+western sky glowed redly, but this glow was fading and dying behind the
+black peaks.
+
+That a terrible tragedy had occurred Merry was certain, but whether a
+human being had fallen from the mountain by some misstep or had been
+hurled to his doom he could not say.
+
+He did not hesitate long.
+
+Advancing swiftly, alert and ready for anything, he sought the one who
+had fallen. His keen eyes soon discovered a dark form sprawled on the
+ground.
+
+"I was not mistaken," he muttered, as he knelt beside the form. "It is a
+man. Here is where he crashed down through the branches of this tree.
+Poor devil! Who can it be? I wonder if he still lives."
+
+He turned the man upon his back, discovering signs of life as he did so.
+Hastily lighting a match, he held the blaze protected by his curved
+hands and threw the light upon the man's face.
+
+"O'Toole!" he gasped.
+
+The Irishman was breathing faintly, and instantly Frank did what he
+could to restore him. In a few moments the poor fellow moaned a bit.
+
+Striking another match, Merry found O'Toole's eyes were wide open, but
+he was bleeding from the mouth and presented a ghastly appearance. He
+was conscious, however.
+
+"O'Toole, where are you hurt?" asked Merry.
+
+"Me back is broke," was the faint answer. "Oi'm a dead mon."
+
+"What happened? How did you fall? Tell me, for, at least, I may be able
+to avenge you."
+
+"It's the dead returned to loife!" gasped the dying man. "Oi saw him up
+there, me bhoy!"
+
+"Who did you see?"
+
+"Thot human divvil Porrfeeus dil Noort."
+
+"Impossible! Del Norte is dead."
+
+"Thin it wur his ghost, fer Oi saw him, with his--face pale--an' a
+whoite bandage about his head. This is me punishmint--fer havin'--fer
+havin' anything to do wid th' loikes av him!"
+
+O'Toole labored through this speech with failing strength, and Frank saw
+he was sinking rapidly.
+
+"Tell me quickly, man," urged Merry, "just where you saw him."
+
+"Up yonder, me bhoy. Red Ben is there. Oi found him, an' Oi wur--talkin'
+wid him. Oi know Ben, an' Oi saved his loife wance by--by stroikin' up
+the hand av a mon who wur--goin' to shoot him."
+
+It was with the greatest difficulty that O'Toole labored to draw his
+breath. Frank was deeply moved by the dying agonies of the unfortunate
+fellow, for Merry's experience convinced him that the Irishman was
+indeed dying.
+
+However, Frank felt it his duty to learn everything possible while
+O'Toole could speak, and so he urged him to go on.
+
+"It's me best Oi--did fer ye, Misther Merriwell--an' fer th' girrul. Oi
+had Red Ben ready to--ready to turrn on th' villains--pwhat carried her
+off. It's your promise av protiction he asked fer if he--done thot. Oi
+wur comin'--to foind ye. Jist thin th'--the divvil--dead ur
+aloive--walked out, pointin' av--his finger at me. Oi shtarted to run
+away, an' thin--an' thin Oi fell. Thot's all, me bhoy."
+
+Remarkable and unaccountable though it seemed, Frank came to believe,
+while O'Toole talked, that Del Norte still lived. That explained the
+kidnapping of Inza. Merry had wondered that Del Norte's late companions
+should make such a move; but now, knowing the Mexican's passion for her,
+the motive of her capture was clear.
+
+The thought of Inza in the hands of that villain fired Frank's blood.
+
+"If Del Norte lives, O'Toole," said Merry, "I swear to you now that you
+shall be avenged, for never will I know a moment of rest until Inza is
+rescued and he is dead beyond the shadow of a doubt."
+
+A gurgling groan came from the Irishman. Striking another match, Frank
+saw the man was dead.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+THE KNIFE DUEL.
+
+
+The moon came up in due time and flooded the wooded mountain wilds with
+its mellow light.
+
+With the caution of a creeping panther Frank Merriwell had climbed the
+mountain side. He had waited patiently for the moon to rise, believing
+it would aid him on that unfamiliar ground. He was now in the vicinity
+of the top of the precipice over which the Irishman had plunged to his
+death.
+
+Suddenly a sound reached his ears, causing him to crouch on the alert,
+with his rifle ready for use.
+
+He quickly decided that some one was approaching the precipice, and in
+this he made no mistake. Twice he caught a glimpse of the man before the
+latter appeared in the full moonlight. When this man did appear, Frank's
+heart gave a mighty bound of exultation, and the butt of the rifle
+leaped to his shoulder.
+
+"Halt, Del Norte!" he commanded, in a low, distinct voice. "Stand in
+your tracks! If you try to run I'll shoot you dead!"
+
+Del Norte it was, and he stopped like a man turned to stone.
+
+"Up with your hands!" ordered Merriwell. "Your heart is covered by my
+rifle!"
+
+For a single instant it seemed that the villain would make an effort to
+reach cover. Had he attempted it Frank would have shot him down. This
+Merry did not wish to do, as he intended forcing the scoundrel to give
+Inza up.
+
+The Mexican's courage to attempt escape by a plunge into the shadows
+failed him, and reluctantly he lifted his empty hands, snarling an oath.
+
+"Keep them up!" ordered Merry, as he slowly advanced.
+
+But when he was fairly in the moonlight another voice issuing from the
+shadows near at hand brought him to a halt.
+
+"Drop um gun! Ben him ready to shoot!"
+
+It was the redskin sentinel.
+
+Frank glanced round without turning his head, but he could see nothing
+of Red Ben.
+
+"Shoot, Ben--shoot him down!" panted Del Norte.
+
+"Ben got him foul," was the assurance. "Him shoot you, Ben shoot him."
+
+"Shoot first, you fool!" snarled the Mexican.
+
+"No shoot 'less have to," was the retort. "Ben he no want hang for
+murder."
+
+Frank realized that he was in a trap. Were he to fire at Del Norte it
+was almost certain the hidden redskin would shoot from cover. In his
+eagerness he had stepped into a bad snare. His wits worked swiftly to
+discover a manner in which he might extricate himself.
+
+"Del Norte," he quickly said, "listen to me. We have met here face to
+face, and we are deadly enemies. The end of our enmity must be
+destruction for one of us. There can be no other end."
+
+"You are the one, Senor Merriwell," declared Del Norte. "Had you shot me
+from cover you might have escaped. But now----"
+
+"I never strike a foe from cover. We are face to face, and I propose
+that we settle our trouble man to man in combat. I challenge you to
+fight me."
+
+"Heap fair," said Red Ben, from the shadows, satisfaction in his voice.
+
+"Why should I agree?" cried Del Norte. "I have the best of you now. A
+friend of mine has you covered, gringo dog, and he can shoot you down."
+
+"Ben him no do it 'less forced," declared the hidden Indian. "Him make
+fair offer. Let best man win. You kill him, you have gal. He kill you,
+he git gal. Heap fair."
+
+Plainly the redskin was delighted with the proposition, and Frank saw
+this was the only way out of the trap.
+
+"Select the weapons, Del Norte," he said. "I accept Red Ben as the
+referee. It's plain he believes in fair play."
+
+The Mexican realized there was no method of avoiding the encounter, so
+he cried:
+
+"It shall be knives, and I'll drive mine through your heart, cur of a
+gringo! With pistols you would be my equal, but I know the art of
+fighting with the knife, and I'll cut you to pieces!"
+
+"Knives it shall be," agreed Frank, still holding the man covered. "If
+you have a pistol, cast it aside. Should you try to shoot as you pretend
+to drop the pistol, I'll drop you where you are."
+
+Uttering a sneering laugh, Del Norte removed and flung aside his coat,
+saying his pistol was in it. He produced a knife, the blade of which
+glittered in the moonlight.
+
+"I have no weapon of that sort," said Merry. "Have you another?"
+
+"Here," called Red Ben.
+
+Something whizzed through the air and fell at Frank's feet.
+
+It was the Indian's hunting knife.
+
+Del Norte was advancing, the moonlight showing a deadly look of hatred
+on his face.
+
+Merry dropped his rifle and flung off his coat in a twinkling. Stooping,
+he caught up Red Ben's knife just as his foe rushed upon him.
+
+With a quick, sidestepping movement, Merry flung up his hand and deftly
+parried the blow of Del Norte's blade, steel clashing against steel.
+
+"Ha!" panted Del Norte, as he was flung back by a surge of Merry's
+powerful arm. "Next time, gringo--next time!"
+
+He was at Frank again in a twinkling, but once more the young American
+met and baffled him.
+
+Out of the shadows stalked Red Ben, holding his rifle in both hands and
+standing near as if ready to use it in a twinkling. The moonlight fell
+full on his dusky face, showing there an expression of savage
+satisfaction in the battle he was witnessing.
+
+"Best man shall have gal," he muttered. "Ben he see fair play. Merriwell
+him best man, Ben stand by him."
+
+The ground was somewhat rough. Over its broken surface the men dashed,
+and leaped, and turned, and circled. Once Del Norte uttered an
+exclamation of satisfaction as he struck, but Merry leaped away and the
+keen blade of Del Norte's knife simply cut a long slit in his shirt
+front.
+
+"Near it that time, gringo dog!" panted the Mexican.
+
+"A miss is as good as a mile," retorted Frank.
+
+As the blades clashed together again Frank's knuckles were slightly cut
+and the blood flowed freely.
+
+"First blood!" exulted Del Norte.
+
+"A scratch," was the retort.
+
+But soon that scratch began to prove troublesome, for the flowing blood
+covered the haft of the knife and made it slippery. This came near
+proving fatal for the American youth. Again the blades clashed, and,
+with a twisting movement, the Mexican wrenched Merry's knife from his
+grasp.
+
+The weapon rattled on the rocks ten feet away.
+
+"Now you die, gringo!" snarled Frank's enemy, with a wolfish laugh.
+
+He launched himself at the defenseless youth with frightful fury, but
+Frank managed to clutch the wrist of his foe and check the stroke that
+would have been fatal. With a surge he flung the Mexican aside, at the
+same time springing toward the spot where Red Ben's hunting knife lay.
+The moonlight revealed it plainly, and Merry had it in a twinkling.
+
+Del Norte had followed him up, and was at him with a madness that was
+almost irresistible. He sent Frank staggering from the shock, and Merry
+tripped over a stone, nearly falling.
+
+Seeing this, the Mexican uttered another cry of exultation, which turned
+into a curse as he saw the youth regain his footing like a cat.
+
+"Much good fight!" muttered Red Ben.
+
+"I'll get you yet, gringo!" panted the Mexican. "I have sworn to leave
+you dead, with my knife in your heart. Then the beautiful Senorita Inza
+will be mine--all mine! With you dead and gone, I'll have your mine and
+your sweetheart."
+
+In this manner he sought to infuriate Frank and lead him to some act of
+rashness.
+
+Although Frank's blood was burning like lava in his veins, outwardly he
+was wonderfully cool. As always happened in a time of great danger, he
+laughed outright.
+
+"You boaster!" he exclaimed.
+
+Del Norte was beginning to breathe heavily from his exertions. Again and
+again he struck at Frank, but each time the strokes were parried,
+blocked, or avoided. At last he began to realize that the American was a
+wonderful fighter with a knife, and, to his dismay, he saw Merriwell
+appeared almost as fresh and vigorous as when the fight began.
+
+"Must end it quick," thought Del Norte.
+
+But when he lunged again Frank leaped aside and struck him in the
+shoulder, from which the blood flowed swiftly, staining the Mexican's
+white shirt.
+
+"The fiends must protect you, gringo!" hissed the wounded man.
+
+"Fair fight!" muttered Red Ben. "Merriwell him win, he git gal."
+
+For a few moments Del Norte's injury seemed to make him fiercer and more
+dangerous. A little while he kept Frank on the defensive, and then he
+was slashed in the forearm.
+
+Clapping his free hand to the wound, he leaped backward, Spanish oaths
+flowing from his lips.
+
+"Him beaten!" whispered the watching Indian. "Merriwell kill him soon
+now."
+
+Frank followed Del Norte up.
+
+"Stand up to it, greaser," he urged. "The fight has just begun. You have
+threatened to leave your knife in my heart. I could have split yours a
+dozen times, but I have spared you. When you are well cut up, I'll wring
+from your lips the secret of Inza's hiding place."
+
+"Never!" vowed the Mexican. "If die I do, I'll tell nothing. But I'll
+not die! I'll yet kill you!"
+
+Fancying he saw an opening, as Frank's hands were both hanging by his
+sides, Del Norte leaped in. He was sent reeling back with another wound,
+this time in the ribs.
+
+Frank followed up his failing foe, forcing him to the edge of the
+cleared space. He kept close, fearing Del Norte might attempt to flee.
+Instead, the man danced round Merry till his back was toward the centre
+of the cleared space, while the dark shadows of the scraggy timber was
+behind Frank.
+
+Again Del Norte rushed, but this time his wrist was seized and given a
+wrench that brought him, with a gasping groan of pain, to his knees.
+
+"Fight done now!" muttered Red Ben, as he saw Merriwell lift his
+blood-stained blade.
+
+"You're at my mercy, Del Norte," said Merry. "I can kill you with a
+single stroke. I'll spare you if you speak the truth. Where is Inza
+Bur----"
+
+Out of the shadows behind Merriwell darted a figure. A heavy club
+crashed on Frank's head.
+
+Thus treacherously struck down, the brave youth dropped his knife and
+fell senseless to the ground.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+THE LANDSLIDE.
+
+
+When Frank regained consciousness and opened his eyes he found he was
+lying on the rocky floor of a cave, his arms being bound at his sides.
+The place was lighted by two flaring torches thrust in crevices of the
+rocks.
+
+Near at hand were three men. One was Del Norte, pale from loss of blood,
+yet with a murderous light gleaming in his eyes. Another man was Red
+Ben, who stood with folded arms, silently watching. The third man was
+unknown to Merry.
+
+The Mexican uttered an exclamation of satisfaction as he saw Frank's
+eyes unclose.
+
+"At last he is conscious," said Del Norte. "I wished him to have his
+reason when he died. Look you, dog of a gringo, your time has come. I
+bear many wounds on my body and limbs made by the knife in your hand.
+You have only one scratch on your knuckles. But soon you will have this
+knife of mine in your heart!"
+
+He displayed the weapon, stooping to sweep it flashing in the torchlight
+before the eyes of the helpless youth.
+
+Frank did not shrink in the least.
+
+"Oh, you're defiant, I see, Senor Gringo!" snarled Merry's enemy. "Soon
+I will make you groan with agony. Your sweet senorita is near in this
+very cave, but you shall not see her. She is guarded by one of my
+faithful ones. When I take her from here we'll leave your lifeless
+carcass behind. Have you still a grain of hope in your soul? Cast it
+away. Even though thousands of your friends were near they could not
+find you in this place. You are doomed."
+
+He took savage pleasure in taunting Frank thus. Again he swept the knife
+before the eyes of the helpless youth, repeating his threats.
+
+"Beg, gringo dog!" he exclaimed--"beg for your worthless life!"
+
+"A thousand greasers could not make me do that!" declared the defiant
+captive.
+
+"Do you think so? We'll see! Remember that once I vowed to cut from your
+mouth your stinging tongue? That was when we stood face to face in New
+York. You thought my opportunity to keep that oath would never come, did
+you? It has come at last! Before I kill you I shall cut out your tongue!
+Ha! ha! ha! How like you the prospect, brave gringo?"
+
+Again Frank looked around. Surely he could expect no assistance from
+either of the mad Mexican's companions. The white man stood looking on
+with an air of indifference. Red Ben was motionless, his rifle leaning
+against the wall at his side.
+
+"You see there is no escape," laughed Del Norte. "At last you begin to
+understand. You have triumphed over others, but in me you meet your
+master."
+
+"My master--no! I had you at my mercy when I was treacherously struck
+down from behind. This Indian knows it, for he saw it all. Porfias del
+Norte, of all vile things in human form you are the vilest! The mongrel
+dog that bites the hand that feeds it is your superior. You are----"
+
+With a furious oath, the taunted man flung himself on the speaker,
+clutching him by the throat.
+
+"Out with your tongue!" he cried. "I'll choke you till it protrudes from
+your mouth, and then I'll cut it off!"
+
+A feminine shriek rang through the cave, and out of the darkness into
+the light of the flaring torches rushed Inza Burrage, followed by the
+man who had been guarding her. She sprang at Del Norte with both hands
+outthrust and flung him from the prostrate form of her lover, sending
+him rolling over and over on the rocky floor of the cave, snarling forth
+profanity in Spanish.
+
+He dropped the knife, and she caught it up, ready to stand over Frank
+and defend him to the last.
+
+But to the aid of the frenzied girl came most unexpectedly another. Red
+Ben grasped his rifle and with the butt of the weapon struck down the
+man who had pursued Inza. Quickly reversing the weapon, he held it ready
+to shoot, at the same time saying:
+
+"Red Ben him say he see fair play an' best man git gal. Merriwell him
+best man, but he no have fair play. Now Ben see him git it! I shoot
+first man who touch him or touch gal!"
+
+They knew he meant it. Del Norte sat up, his pale face contorted with
+fury.
+
+"Um better stay still," said the redskin, turning the muzzle of the
+rifle on the Mexican.
+
+"Quick, Inza!" urged Frank--"cut these ropes! Set me free! It's our
+opportunity!"
+
+Immediately she stooped and obeyed. Frank rose as quick as possible.
+
+"Red Ben," he declared, "you'll not lose by this act of manhood! I'll
+remember you."
+
+"Take gal that way," urged the Indian, with a jerk of his head. "Git out
+of cave that way! Quick! Ben him foller."
+
+Merry did not delay. Grasping Inza, he hurried her into the darkness.
+The cave narrowed, the walls closed in, and the roof came down.
+Crouching and feeling their way, they pressed on. Almost on hands and
+knees they crept out into the open air amid a thick screen of brush and
+shrubbery that concealed the mouth of the cave.
+
+"Thank Heaven!" murmured Inza, on the verge of collapsing.
+
+"Where is that Indian?" cried Frank. "I cannot leave him alone to face
+those men."
+
+"No leave him," said a voice, as Red Ben came leaping out from the cave.
+"Him here. Back up, keep um odders front of gun all time. They come now
+prit' quick. Go, Merriwell, with gal. Ben stop um here."
+
+He sought cover near the mouth of the cave, urging Merry to get Inza
+away. Then came one of the baffled villains hurrying from the cave. A
+spout of flame leaped from Red Ben's rifle and the report awoke the
+mountain echoes and started a few loose pebbles rolling on the steep
+slope above them.
+
+The pursuer dropped just outside the mouth of the cave. If others were
+close behind him, they halted instantly, not caring to show themselves
+and share his fate.
+
+Frank had lifted Inza and carried her through the brush and shrubbery.
+As he emerged he found himself face to face with several men, and his
+heart bounded when the voice of Hodge joyously shouted his name. With
+Hodge was Bruce Browning, Belmont Bland, and others.
+
+"Merry, you've found her--you've rescued her!" burst delightedly from
+Hodge.
+
+"Listen!" gasped Belmont Bland. "What is that sound?"
+
+On the steeps above there was a murmuring movement, and, looking upward,
+they seemed to see the mountain stirring slightly in the moonlight. The
+rushing murmur grew louder, and pebbles began to rattle amid the
+bowlders and ledges near at hand.
+
+"A landslide!" shouted Frank, horrified. "Flee for your lives!"
+
+As he uttered the words he saw Red Ben come leaping like a deer from the
+shrubbery.
+
+"Follow!" cried the Indian as he passed them, and fled along the side of
+the mountain.
+
+What ensued was like a terrible nightmare to Merriwell. He remembered
+lifting Inza bodily and running for their lives with her in his arms.
+Pebbles and small stones rained about him, while the rushing murmur grew
+louder and louder. Beneath his feet at one time the whole mountain side
+seemed sliding into the valley. A great bowlder, weighing many tons,
+went bounding and crashing past them like a living thing seeking escape
+from the awful peril. Small trees were slipping and moving toward the
+valley.
+
+On and on Frank raced, straining every nerve. Not one of his companions
+was burdened like him, yet not one of them made greater speed in the
+effort to escape. His exertions were almost superhuman. It seemed that
+the knowledge of Inza's awful peril actually lifted him over every
+obstacle.
+
+Finally some one clutched and stopped him. He found it was Red Ben, who
+said:
+
+"All right now. Mountain him no run down hill here."
+
+It was true Frank had escaped from the track of the landslide and had
+brought his sweetheart to safety. Behind them the avalanche of earth,
+and stones, and timber was heaping itself on the tiny plateau and
+pouring over the brink of the cliff in a cascade that thundered into the
+valley below. All around the rocky slopes and wooded steeps were roaring
+back the sounds like monsters awakened from peaceful slumber and enraged
+at being thus disturbed.
+
+All this had been brought about by the shot fired by Red Ben. That small
+concussion had started rolling a single pebble that was the keystone.
+Recent rains had loosened that pebble. Others followed it, and a bit of
+earth began to slip downward. This dislodged larger stones, and soon the
+landslide was under way.
+
+It ceased almost as quickly as it began. The grumbling, roaring
+mountains continued raging for a few moments, and then they, too, became
+silent. The bright moonlight revealed the change wrought by the
+landslide, and it told those who had escaped that the mouth of the cave
+that had been the hiding place of Del Norte and his companions was
+closed forever by tons of earth, burying the wretches in a living tomb.
+
+Slowly Frank's friends gathered around him. They were all there; all had
+escaped. Of the entire party Belmont Bland was the only one missing. One
+remembered having seen Bland running blindly toward the brink of the
+precipice, apparently having forgotten its existence. No human eye ever
+beheld him afterward. If he did not rush blindly over the precipice, it
+is likely he halted on the brink and turned to escape in another
+direction when it was too late, being swept over by the rushing
+landslide.
+
+At the foot of that precipice the body of Pat O'Toole was also buried
+where Frank had left it when he lost no time in climbing the mountain
+side.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+BURIED ALIVE!
+
+
+As Frank and his party left the mountain side there remained two men
+buried alive in the cave whose mouth was closed by the landslide!
+
+"Where are you, Del Norte?" cried one of the imprisoned men, in a
+gasping, frightened voice when the roar and rumble of the landslide had
+ceased, and they began to realize their terrible position.
+
+"I am here," answered the other. "What can we do, Ridgeway?"
+
+"Do? Why, we can die like dogs! There is nothing else for it. You're
+sure there is no other way out of this cave?"
+
+"No other way. Perhaps we can dig out."
+
+"Not in a thousand years! What have we to dig with--our bare hands?"
+
+"I have my knife--the knife with which I was going to cut out the tongue
+of that cursed gringo, Merriwell! Why didn't I do it?"
+
+"You know why. Red Ben went back on us, may the fiends take the redskin
+cur! He helped Merriwell get away with the girl. When Sears tried to
+follow the Indian shot him, and he's buried out there somewhere beneath
+that landslide. But he's better off than we are, for he is dead, and we
+must die! I can't die, Del Norte! I'm not ready to die! I'm not fit to
+die!"
+
+Then the poor wretch began to weep and pray in the utmost anguish of
+soul.
+
+Del Norte seemed cowed. He had burned many matches in order that by
+their faint glow he might examine the great mass of earth and stone that
+was piled on and crushed into the place that had once been the entrance
+to the cave. He had seen that a mighty bowlder was blocking the greater
+part of the former entrance. That stone alone would be enough to
+imprison them hopelessly, but the sounds of the landslide which had made
+the mountain roar and shake had satisfied him that the bowlder was held
+in place by a mass of earth and timber through which, with the best
+implements, it would be impossible to dig in a week.
+
+"Merriwell has triumphed!" muttered the Mexican. "He will have no more
+trouble from me."
+
+"Fiends take you!" snarled Ridgeway. "Why did you ever cross my path,
+and tempt me to such a death with your money? For the love of Heaven,
+light another match!"
+
+"I have but three more."
+
+"Can't you find a brand from the fire? Let's have some light! We had
+torches. Where are they?"
+
+"They were extinguished by the rush of air when the slide took place.
+I've tried to find them, but failed. I'll try again."
+
+"I'm going mad--mad!" groaned Ridgeway.
+
+Del Norte began to search for the extinguished torches. After a time,
+during which his companion wept, prayed, and cursed by turns, he
+discovered one of them.
+
+Then he carefully struck one of his matches. The extinguished torch was
+a piece of resinous pine, and it burned up quickly, giving a flaring
+light and sending up a wavering stream of black smoke.
+
+By the light the two men gazed into each other's ghastly faces. Their
+eyes were distended with horror. Their mouths were dry and their lips
+drawn back from their gleaming teeth. They looked like beasts.
+
+"Curse you, Porfias del Norte!" snarled Ridgeway. "It was you who
+brought me to this!"
+
+"Bah! It was your greed for the money I paid you that brought you here."
+
+"Had I not met you----"
+
+"You might have been hanged for some crime. Dying this way will save you
+from hanging."
+
+"Don't talk of hanging!" panted Ridgeway. "If ever a man deserved it you
+are that man!"
+
+"But I was not born to be hanged."
+
+"Better that than this kind of a death! At least, you would be out in
+the open air, with a chance to breathe. I am stifling! I feel these
+walls crowding in upon me! They are going to crush me! Keep them off!
+keep them off!"
+
+The wretch flung himself on the ground and writhed with agony and fear.
+
+With the torch in his shaking hands, Del Norte stepped forward and
+kicked his abject and fear-tortured companion.
+
+"Get up, here!" he snarled. "We will take one more look. We will see
+once more if there is any chance of escape."
+
+Although Ridgeway declared there was no hope, he got up. With the
+Mexican leading, they passed back into the cave, being forced several
+times to bend low in a crouching position to avoid striking their heads
+against the rocky roof.
+
+There were three chambers and only one straight passage from chamber to
+chamber. It was a simple matter to explore the entire cave. When they
+came at last into the third chamber they soon found themselves at the
+end of it, with the dank wall of stone before them.
+
+For some moments they stood quite still, staring helplessly at this
+wall.
+
+Suddenly a shriek burst from the lips of Ridgeway.
+
+"Doomed!" he cried. "No escape! I feel the mountain collapsing! The
+walls are crowding in upon us! It's the end! Oh, for just one more
+breath of free air! For just one more sight of the world outside!"
+
+With that cry, he dropped flat on his face and lay still, as if death
+had come to claim him, also.
+
+"Get up!" harshly ordered Del Norte, again kicking the man. "Get up, or
+I'll leave you here alone. I am going back."
+
+Why he desired to return to what had once been the mouth of the cave he
+could not tell, for there he would be no nearer liberty than in his
+present position.
+
+The smoke from the torch was filling the place and making the air foul.
+
+"We'll smother in a little while!" thought the Mexican. "It's a wonder
+we have not smothered already."
+
+Again he kicked his companion and called for him to rise.
+
+Ridgeway lifted his head and stared with terrible eyes at his comrade in
+misery.
+
+"Did you have a mother?" he asked.
+
+"Of course I did!"
+
+"Did you promise her you would be good?"
+
+Del Norte swore in Spanish.
+
+"I'll not stay here a minute longer!" he declared. "If you stay, you'll
+remain in the dark."
+
+"Hold on!" commanded Ridgeway, lifting himself on one hand and
+stretching the other out to the Mexican. "Don't you dare leave me!
+You're the man who brought this on me! Some one fired a bullet through
+your head, but it did not kill you. I wish it had! You thought you bore
+a charmed life; you thought nothing could kill you. Lead failed to do
+it, but God sent the landslide, and you are as good as dead. Ha! ha!
+ha!"
+
+Del Norte started away.
+
+"Stand where you are!" yelled Ridgeway, leaping up with amazing
+quickness. "You were not killed by the bullet, and now, for all of the
+landslide, you still live. You're a fiend, and you ought to die! I am
+commanded to kill you! I must do it!"
+
+The Mexican did not dare turn his back on the raving man. Again he
+started away, but this time he moved backward, keeping his eyes on
+Ridgeway, who came creeping after him, crouching a little and seeming
+ready to spring.
+
+Suddenly Ridgeway leaped. His arms shot out and his fingers closed on
+Del Norte's neck.
+
+"I must kill you!" he yelled. "I am the one chosen to do it! Your time
+has come!"
+
+The torch fell to the floor and lay there, spluttering and flaring. By
+this dim and flickering light a fearful struggle took place.
+
+Ridgeway had obtained a powerful clasp on Del Norte's throat, and the
+Mexican could not hurl him off. They staggered against the wall, which
+seemed to fling them off. They swayed from side to side, once staggering
+over the spot where the torch lay.
+
+Then the Mexican succeeded at last in drawing something from his bosom.
+It flashed brightly in the dim torchlight as he struck with it. There
+was the impact of a muffled blow, and Ridgeway gave a great start,
+seeming to grow suddenly straight and tall.
+
+Again the Mexican struck, but now, instead of growing straighter, the
+other man seemed suddenly to collapse. His breath escaped from his lips
+in a husky groan, and he dropped in a sprawling heap on the ground at
+Del Norte's feet.
+
+The man who remained erect backed off a little, staring at the other.
+
+"I had to do it!" whispered Del Norte. "The fool drove me to it! He was
+mad! He had me by the throat, and he would have killed me! I had to do
+it!"
+
+Over and over he kept repeating those words:
+
+"I had to do it!"
+
+He felt himself shaking from his head to his feet. On his forehead were
+great, cold beads of perspiration. His heart seemed choking him.
+
+The man on the ground moved and groaned.
+
+"I had to do it!" whispered Del Norte.
+
+The torch was going out. The man on the ground lay stretched squarely
+across the floor of the cave, which was not more than eight feet wide at
+that point. In order to reach the torch it would be absolutely necessary
+to step over him.
+
+Del Norte started and then stopped. His teeth were chattering, and his
+cheeks were fully as pale as those of the poor wretch at his feet.
+
+The torch burned dimmer.
+
+At last the Mexican summoned all his courage and stepped over the body,
+catching up the torch. He swung it until it blazed up brightly.
+
+"I'm sorry," he muttered. "I'm sorry, Ridgeway; but you forced me!"
+
+He stepped back over the body and turned with the torch in his hand to
+take a last look. The eyes of the stricken man were staring straight up
+at the rocky ceiling, and there was on his face a strangely altered
+expression, at which Del Norte wondered. In truth, his look was one of
+peace and happiness, and he smiled a little. His lips moved, and faintly
+he whispered:
+
+"Mother--it is--your boy--Jack!"
+
+Then those lips were hushed forever.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+IN THE CAVE OF DEATH.
+
+
+With the smoking torch gripped in one shaking hand and the knife that
+had done the terrible work in the other, Porfias del Norte hurried from
+the scene of that frightful underground tragedy.
+
+"I'm the only one left," he muttered thickly. "I can't last long in this
+infernal hole."
+
+He stopped in the central chamber.
+
+"Where does all the smoke go to?" he exclaimed. "By this time the torch
+should have filled the place to suffocation."
+
+There was smoke enough in the chamber, but, as he stood there, he could
+see it creeping across the roof above his head, striking the lower arch
+of the passage, and passing on in a slow, gentle current.
+
+"It finds an outlet somewhere!" he whispered, feeling his heart giving a
+sudden leap in his breast. "What sort of an outlet?"
+
+The faintest ray of hope had shot into his soul. Still he realized that
+smoke might go where a human being could not pass. Nevertheless, with a
+burning sensation of eagerness creeping over his hitherto chilled body,
+he bent low and hastened onward into that low passage.
+
+All the time he kept staring upward at the smoke.
+
+Suddenly he stopped.
+
+He had found the place where the smoke escaped!
+
+It was directly over his head, a long crack across the roof, scarcely
+wider than a man's hand. Into this the smoke was pouring in the same
+slow, deliberate manner.
+
+He stared at that crack in bitter, heart-crushed disappointment.
+
+Smoke might escape through that narrow fissure, but a human
+being--never!
+
+The agony of disappointment that he felt nearly robbed him of his
+strength and caused him to collapse. He fell back against the wall, a
+groan coming from his parched throat.
+
+"No chance!" he said hoarsely. "Ridgeway was right! We were both doomed
+when the landslide came! But he is the better off, for his agony is
+over!"
+
+Then he thought of his pistol. As a last resort he could blow out his
+brains and have it ended.
+
+He thrust the deadly knife back into the bosom of his shirt,
+straightened up, and thrust his fingers into the crack. He tried to
+force his hand through, to reach up appealingly to the free world far
+above.
+
+A few pebbles and a little dirt came rattling down and rained over him,
+bounding from his head and shoulders. Some of the tiny particles of
+stone struck him on the face.
+
+Then suddenly he began clawing like a madman at the crack, as if he
+would pull the whole mountain down upon him.
+
+His efforts brought down more stones and earth.
+
+He found a niche into which he set the torch, and then he fell on his
+knees, calling on the saints.
+
+When he rose again to his feet he bethought himself of the knife and
+once more took it from the place where it was hidden. With that knife he
+began digging at the crack. He was compelled to stand in a cramped,
+crouching position, but he worked fiercely, furiously.
+
+More and more the earth rattled over him and the tiny pebbles rained
+upon him. His eyes were filled and half blinded, his mouth and nostrils
+inhaled the dust and caused him to cough. The smoke of the torch choked
+him.
+
+Still he worked on. It seemed a mad, hopeless task, for he knew that
+above his head the slope of the mountain extended far upward. Should he
+make an opening large enough for his body as far as he could reach, what
+then could he do?
+
+Even though he knew that the chances were a million to one against him,
+he continued to labor at the roof of the cave, digging out the rocks and
+earth with his knife. The stuff thus set free began to heap itself in a
+little circular rim about his feet.
+
+Once he stopped. The torch was dying down, and a glance showed him that
+it was almost burned out.
+
+The thought of being again left in that frightful darkness made him
+quickly catch up the bit of burning wood that remained and hasten back
+to seek for more of the extinguished torches. With its aid he found two
+of them. He lighted one and returned to the spot where he had been at
+work.
+
+It seemed that already he had spent many days in that cave of death. He
+wondered that he was not overcome with hunger, and he felt an awful
+longing for water. Oh, for a drink, for a swallow, for a drop!
+
+"There's plenty of water outside," he snarled. "There are streams, and
+rivers, and lakes! I'd give my everlasting soul to drink from one of
+them now!"
+
+Dig! dig! dig! He was working in the same frantic manner as before. His
+strength still held out, and he was glad of that. Even if he could not
+escape, this was something to occupy his mind for the time and prevent
+him from going mad.
+
+Suddenly a considerable mass of earth, set free by his efforts, fell
+into the cave. A stone, the size of a man's fist, struck him on the
+shoulder, but he did not mind the pain.
+
+"I'm dragging the mountain down upon me!" he grated. "I don't care! I am
+glad! Let it come! Let it fall!"
+
+He stood with one shoulder against the roof, reaching up into the hole
+he had made, still cutting away with this once keen knife, which was now
+dulled and blunted.
+
+Suddenly something snapped--something fell on the heap of stones and
+earth at his feet.
+
+It was the blade of the knife, which had been broken in the middle!
+
+As he stood staring at the broken blade he found the light again growing
+dimmer, and then he saw that the second torch had burned to the point of
+expiring.
+
+He lighted the last torch.
+
+When that was burned out he could not escape the dreadful darkness that
+would close over him.
+
+But the broken knife--the only tool with which he could work was
+useless!
+
+He dropped in a sitting posture on the ground and covered his distorted,
+terror-drawn face with his hands. For some time he sat thus, without
+moving, without making a sound.
+
+The silence was broken by a pattering sound like hail. He lowered his
+hands and saw that earth was still falling from the hole he had made. It
+came in little starts and spurts.
+
+The captive of the cave sprang up once more. He thrust both arms up into
+that hole and tore with his fingers. This he continued until the nails
+were worn away to the quick and his hands were cut and sticky with blood
+and dirt.
+
+Finally he stopped from sheer exhaustion. Even his frantic energy was
+beginning to fail.
+
+Then he heard something like a soft movement above him. He rolled his
+eyes upward and beheld the roof of the cave directly above him moving
+the least bit. At first he thought this movement was not actually taking
+place, but that he imagined it.
+
+Only an instant; then he saw that a part of the roof was settling and
+seemed about to fall.
+
+He leaped backward to escape from beneath it.
+
+Barely in time.
+
+It fell, and a portion of it hurled him down and caught his feet and
+legs, pinning him fast.
+
+The torch was extinguished.
+
+At first Del Norte thought the end had come. As he lay with the weight
+of earth holding his legs fast, he fully expected another mass to follow
+the first and end his life without delay.
+
+A sudden feeling of indifference came over him, and calmly he waited for
+the end.
+
+"Come, death!" he urged. "Get it over quickly!"
+
+But no more of the roof fell.
+
+After a little he found himself looking upward into the opening, and
+far, far away, seemingly miles distant, he imagined he could detect a
+ray of light.
+
+Lifting the upper part of his body, he began dragging away, with his
+hands, the earth and stones which had fallen on his legs. It did not
+take him long to clear his feet.
+
+Next he sought for the torch, but it was buried and lost beneath the
+fallen mass.
+
+This mass had made a great mound almost as high as the roof of the
+passage.
+
+He crawled upon it and finally succeeded in straightening up in the
+opening left when it fell. This opening was plenty large enough for his
+body; he could move his arms freely; and with his outstretched elbows he
+was able to touch either side.
+
+Standing there, he tipped back his head and looked upward.
+
+His heart gave a fearful throb as if bursting, and through it shot a
+sharp pain.
+
+It was no fancy, no hallucination of his deranged brain; away up there
+he could see light!
+
+"If I could climb up there I might escape!" he whispered. "But how can I
+do it--how?"
+
+With his hands he felt of the rocky sides of the place where he stood.
+The walls were rough, with many niches and protrusions.
+
+He resolved at once to make the attempt, well knowing it might cause
+another fall of earth and rocks, which would crush him to death.
+
+He found a niche on one side for one foot and a protruding bit of ledge
+on the other side for the other foot. He fastened his fingers in a cleft
+and slowly succeeded in dragging himself up into the crack, which was
+now quite wide enough for him to accomplish this.
+
+He felt about and found other cracks and protrusions. Little by little
+he climbed higher.
+
+Once his foothold gave way and he came near falling. By bracing across
+the cleft he succeeded in preventing such a calamity.
+
+Then he found the cleft was growing narrower and narrower. It closed in
+until it threatened to stop him.
+
+He choked as he thought of the possibility. It was the most fearful
+thing thus almost to get a taste of liberty and then have it denied him.
+
+At last he was checked. For the time being he could force his way no
+higher.
+
+He felt his strength leaving him. A dizziness came upon him, and he knew
+he was on the verge of falling. But he maintained his hold and began to
+feel about. By working his way cautiously some distance along the cleft,
+he finally came to a point where the walls were wide enough apart for
+him to slowly drag his body through. Above that point was a narrow
+ledge, on which he paused to rest.
+
+Still that rift of light was far above his head. Could he ever reach it?
+
+For some time he rested on the ledge, seeking to summon back all the
+natural strength he possessed. Finally he resumed his almost superhuman
+efforts.
+
+Occasionally he paused to look up at the cleft of light. At first it had
+seemed very narrow, but now it was growing wider. Each time he looked it
+appeared wider than before.
+
+"I'll reach it!" he told himself, with absolute confidence. "Porfias del
+Norte still lives, Senor Merriwell, as you shall have good cause to
+know!"
+
+Now the air seemed sweeter and purer. He realized how stagnant and
+stifling it had been away down there in the cave of death. He turned his
+face up to it and drew in deep breaths.
+
+Finally he came to a place where the cleft widened on either hand until
+it was impossible to mount higher by clinging to opposite sides.
+
+At that point he seemed baffled.
+
+Was it possible he could fail and perish with life and liberty almost in
+his very grasp?
+
+There was but one course for him to pursue. He would have to abandon the
+attempt to climb with the assistance of both walls; he must take to one
+wall and make his way up that in some manner.
+
+A little light came down to him from the opening, enabling him to choose
+the holds for his feet and hands.
+
+At last he came to another ledge, where he lay at full length and
+rested, although the fear of slipping from it and falling back through
+that fissure into the heart of the mountain caused him to suffer
+intense torture. His fancy led him to imagine himself slipping, sliding,
+falling, seeking to grasp the walls with his torn hands, but failing
+utterly and dropping at last into the cave, where he found the dead man
+laughing at him.
+
+Above the ledge at that point he could creep no farther. He aroused
+himself and crawled slowly along it. It led him out to a place where the
+light shone in and the cleft was wide above his head.
+
+"Almost free!" he panted.
+
+Had it not been for his life that he was struggling he could never have
+made that last ascent. In some mysterious manner he accomplished it,
+dragging himself at last by the aid of some bushes on the brink over the
+edge and dropping unconscious on the rocky mountain side.
+
+In a little time the air revived him. He lifted his head and looked
+around. A cry of joy burst from his lips, and he managed to stagger to
+his feet. Around him on every side lay the beautiful world, the
+mountains, the autumn-tinted woods and the blue lakes. Above him was the
+sapphire sky and the gloriously golden sun, for the night had passed and
+another day was well advanced. He drew in deep breaths of the clear,
+sweet air, and his blood leaped in his veins.
+
+Yet a marvelous change had taken place. At the time when he entered that
+cave his hair was as black as a raven's wing; now his face was like
+that of an old man, and his hair was snowy white!
+
+"Free!" he cried. "I have escaped! But how I have suffered! That dog of
+a gringo, Frank Merriwell, caused it all! He thinks me dead and out of
+his path forever. I am alive, and I swear to make Merriwell suffer even
+as I have suffered! I'll not kill him at one blow, but I'll rob him of
+all he holds dear, his sweetheart, his beauty, his strength, his wealth,
+and then I will find a way to destroy him at last!
+
+"This is the oath of Porfias del Norte!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+HOW RAILROADS ARE BUILT.
+
+
+Four men of great power and influence in the financial world had
+gathered in the offices of Scott & Rand, brokers, New York City.
+
+Of course, old Gripper Scott himself was one of the four. Two more were
+Sudbury Bragg and Warren Hatch.
+
+The fourth was a slender, smooth-faced, cold-eyed, thin-lipped man of
+uncertain age, whose name was Basil Jerome. The latter had just
+appeared, and had been greeted by the others assembled.
+
+It was several days after the landslide that had brought the stirring
+events in the Adirondack Mountains to a close--events that were directly
+traceable to the great business consolidation that these capitalists
+were now discussing.
+
+"Mr. Jerome, gentlemen," said Watson Scott, "has expressed his
+willingness to come into our railroad project in case he is satisfied
+that it will be carried through in a manner that will insure success and
+profit to us all. You have expressed your willingness to take him in if
+he will enter on the same terms as the rest of us. Mr. Merriwell should
+be here now, and----"
+
+"He is," said a voice, and Frank Merriwell, himself, entered the
+office. "I hope I have not kept you waiting, gentlemen. My cab got into
+a jam on Broadway, and I was delayed full fifteen minutes."
+
+"You are in good season, Merriwell," said Old Gripper. "Let me introduce
+to you Mr. Basil Jerome, the gentleman I spoke to you about last
+evening. Jerome has been concerned in the organization of many a big
+project, and he stands ready to take a corner in the Central Sonora
+Railroad deal."
+
+"Providing," said Jerome, "that I become satisfied that the deal is to
+be carried through properly and there are no serious obstructions in its
+way."
+
+Frank did not like the man's look, nor the cold voice that corresponded
+so well with his frigid eyes and face.
+
+"Just what do you mean, sir," he questioned, "when you state you are
+ready to come in if the deal is carried through properly?"
+
+Jerome sat down, and Frank followed his example. They faced each other,
+and something told Merriwell there was to be a clash between them.
+
+Jerome surveyed Merry from head to feet, taking him all in. Without at
+once answering the question, he observed:
+
+"You are a very young man to be the promoter of a project of such
+magnitude."
+
+Frank flushed, for there was something most annoying in the manner and
+words of the fellow.
+
+"I fail to see what my age has to do with it."
+
+"Youth lacks experience and judgment. It is liable to be flighty and
+build great projects on moonshine."
+
+"I think you will admit, sir, that Watson Scott is not a man to be
+dazzled or deceived by moonshine. He is actively concerned in this
+business."
+
+"Mr. Scott seldom makes mistakes," admitted Jerome.
+
+"Besides," added the youth, "I object to the word 'promoter' as you
+applied it to me. I am not a promoter. I propose to put a good, round
+sum of hard cash into the combined fund of the syndicate."
+
+"Oh, you do?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Which goes to prove that what I have just said is correct--youth lacks
+experience and judgment."
+
+Frank was surprised.
+
+"I fail to see how you make that out. If the plan is a promising one,
+and I am satisfied that the railroad will be a paying venture, why
+should I not invest my money in it? If I were not confident that it
+would pay, I'd not be advocating it."
+
+Jerome made a slight gesture.
+
+"No such project can be absolutely assured of success at the outset," he
+asserted. "It is a great venture, and the men who get in on the ground
+floor are certain to protect themselves from loss in any case."
+
+Merriwell frowned, a puzzled expression on his face.
+
+"How is that possible?" he asked. "If we are assembled here to organize
+and build that railroad, how is it possible for us to be protected
+against loss if the railroad does not prove a paying piece of property?"
+
+A cold smile flitted across the face of Jerome.
+
+"I knew you were inexperienced. Young man, there are several ways of
+doing it; but undoubtedly the simplest way is to organize a stock
+company and sell stock to the public. Let the public in general build
+the railroad, while we reap the profits, if there are any."
+
+"But if the public owns the stock, I fail to see how we can reap the
+profits if the railroad is a financial success."
+
+Jerome looked with something like pity at the questioning youth.
+
+"It is a simple matter. I will explain it in a few words. To begin with,
+it is not necessary for us to invest one dollar of our own money in the
+scheme."
+
+"What? And still we may hold an interest in it?"
+
+"The controlling interest, Mr. Merriwell."
+
+"Go on, sir."
+
+"We will suppose at the start that we organize the Central Sonora
+Railroad Company and capitalize it for--well, just as an example, let's
+say ten millions of dollars. Before deciding on this we will have made
+surveys and estimates that have convinced us beyond question that the
+road may be built and placed in operation for four millions of
+dollars."
+
+"Then why should it not be capitalized for four millions?"
+
+"Because that is not business--safe, conservative business. Because that
+would make it impossible to raise the money needed without ourselves
+taking chances of great loss. Let me proceed. Having organized in a
+legal manner, and having issued certificates of stock to the extent of
+ten millions of dollars, we can next proceed to raise the money required
+to begin active building operations."
+
+"By placing the stock on the market?"
+
+"Not yet. Every man here, with the possible exception of yourself, Mr.
+Merriwell, is known to every great banking institution in the country,
+and his credit is unlimited. At the outset we will take four million
+dollars' worth of our stock to some institution and secure from it on
+that stock the full sum required to build the railroad. Thus, you can
+see, we will not have to put up a dollar of our own money; but we will
+build the railroad with the money of the general public, which has been
+deposited at the bank from which we secure it."
+
+"I see," nodded Frank, his eyes shining queerly. "It's a fine little
+scheme you have, Mr. Jerome!"
+
+"I am letting you into the secret methods of capitalists who build
+railroads and organize great business projects without using a dollar of
+their own money," said Jerome. "Having secured our money, we will
+proceed to put our railroad through."
+
+"We'll build it, and the general public will pay the bills?"
+
+"Exactly. Having it constructed, by successful manipulation--the easiest
+thing in the world for those who know the trick--we'll unload four
+million dollars' worth of stock on the public and square ourselves with
+the bank. At this stage of the game the public will have paid for the
+railroad, which was built with the public's own money; but we shall
+still hold six million dollars' worth of stock in that road, or the
+controlling interest."
+
+Frank felt his blood growing hot within his veins.
+
+"In short," added Jerome, "we take no chances whatever, for at the start
+we know the road will cost a million less than half the amount for which
+it is capitalized, we have borrowed the public's money to build it, we
+are certain we can sell stock enough to pay back every dollar, and still
+hold control of the railroad, and we are in a position to come out ahead
+whether the railroad proves to be a paying piece of property or not."
+
+"And this is the way railroads are built?" muttered Merriwell. "But what
+if we find, after the railroad is put in operation, that it is a losing
+venture--that it will not pay a dividend on the amount at which it is
+capitalized, and is running behind?"
+
+"Then it becomes a simple matter for us to step out from under, and as
+we step out we can take with us in our own pockets a few millions in
+profits. If we become satisfied that the railroad is a loser, we'll
+again work the stock market, and, by certain manipulations, boost the
+price of Central Sonora to the highest possible point. When we are
+satisfied that we have it up to the top notch, we'll dump every dollar's
+worth of stock in our possession, pocket our profits, and smile as we
+see Central Sonora slump and go to the dogs."
+
+"In short," said Frank, "after we have built the railroad with the money
+of the general public, overcapitalized it in a criminal manner, and
+discovered that it will not pay a dividend on its watered stock, you
+propose that we perpetrate another outrage on unsuspecting investors by
+selling back to the public our holdings of stock that actually belongs
+to the public anyhow!"
+
+"Your inexperience is again shown by the manner in which you apply the
+term 'watered' to that stock. Watered stock is new stock issued by a
+railroad or other corporation that already has a certain amount of stock
+in existence, but claims that it does not fairly represent, through
+increase of the value of a property and franchises, the increase of
+actual capital. We capitalize at the start for more than double the
+actual cost of building and putting in operation, and therefore our
+stock may not justly be called watered. In case this railroad should
+thrive wonderfully, and should pay wonderful dividends on our ten
+million dollars' worth of stock, we might then water it by issuing more
+stock. I hope I have made the whole thing clear to you, Mr. Merriwell."
+
+"You have!" cried Frank. "You have made it clear that what you propose
+is criminally dishonest, is a gigantic swindle, and that parties
+concerned in such an outrageous fraud should be amenable to the law and
+sent to the penitentiary!"
+
+Frank had risen to his feet, his eyes flashing and his whole aspect one
+of righteous indignation.
+
+Although he had thus pretended, he had not been entirely ignorant of the
+dishonorable methods of stock jobbers, but he had feigned ignorance in
+order to draw Basil Jerome out and lead him to fully expose the true
+inwardness of his reprehensible plan of operation.
+
+Jerome gazed at the indignant youth with a mingling of surprise and
+pity.
+
+"My dear boy," he said, "you are excited. Don't permit yourself to
+become so wrought up and to use such violent language. I have simply
+explained to you the usual method of building railroads, as Mr. Scott
+and the other gentlemen will attest."
+
+"Then the usual method of building railroads is a rotten and dishonest
+method!" exclaimed Merry. "Mr. Scott, do you approve of such a scheme?"
+
+"What if I should tell you that I do?" asked Old Gripper, his stolid
+face calm and unreadable.
+
+"Then here and now I would lose no time in announcing my withdrawal from
+the project," retorted Merriwell. "I am not a poor man, but did I not
+possess a dollar in the world, and you were to show me beyond question
+that I could make five millions as my own share by entering into such a
+dastardly operation, I would refuse to have anything to do with it."
+
+"Very well," said Jerome, with one of his cold smiles, "it will be a
+simple matter to leave you out of it. If I have been correctly informed,
+your principal reason for wishing this railroad constructed is to give
+you better facilities for handling the production of a mine of yours,
+located in Eastern Sonora, near the line of the proposed road. Am I
+right?"
+
+"If you are--what then?"
+
+"We may build the road, and you need have nothing to do with it. The
+desired result will be obtained, for your mine will have an outlet by
+rail to the rest of the world, and you will no longer find it necessary
+to pack ore or bullion hundreds of miles to the nearest railroad
+shipping point."
+
+"Then you are ready to carry this thing through without me?" asked
+Frank, holding himself in check.
+
+"If these other gentlemen are ready to take hold of it in the proper
+manner, they will find me ready to stand with them."
+
+"And the proper manner is the dishonest manner you have just explained
+to us! Not only do I decline to take a part in such an operation, but I
+refuse to permit it to be carried out!"
+
+"What?" cried Jerome, surprised out of his icy reserve for once. "I
+don't think I understand you. You refuse to permit us to carry it out?"
+
+"That is what I said, sir. Evidently you understood me perfectly."
+
+"You refuse?" repeated Jerome.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+The man smiled.
+
+"I fail to see what effect that can have on us. To begin with, you are
+crazy to make such ridiculous talk. Don't you want that railroad?
+Wouldn't it be of benefit to you?"
+
+"I want the road, and it would be of great benefit to me," confessed
+Merriwell; "but not even to obtain that benefit and advantage will I
+permit the road to be constructed in a manner that I regard as criminal
+from start to finish."
+
+"You talk about not permitting it, young man. In case we decide to
+build, I don't see how your permission or your refusal will have the
+slightest effect on us. Will you explain how it can?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How? What will you do?"
+
+"I will expose the whole rotten scheme to the public! I will let the
+public know just how its money is being used for the purpose of
+defrauding it. I will publish the story from one end of the country to
+the other. You may borrow four million dollars and give as security the
+stock of the Central Sonora, but I promise you I'll let daylight into
+that thing so that the gullible public will decline to buy your stock,
+and in the end you'll have to make that four millions good out of your
+own pockets."
+
+Again Jerome surveyed Frank Merriwell from his head to his feet, unable
+to keep from his cold face a slight expression of wonderment. What sort
+of a young man was this who not only refused to share in the profits of
+such a deal, but threatened to stop the whole thing by exposure, even
+though the construction of the railroad was greatly desired by him and
+would be of incalculable value to him?
+
+"I confess that you are beyond my comprehension," he said. "It is
+possible, however, that Mr. Scott may be able to do something with you."
+
+There was a queer look in the eyes of Old Gripper.
+
+"I have found," he said, "that Mr. Merriwell is not easily turned aside
+once he has determined on any course."
+
+"But you," said Jerome--"you and the other gentlemen present know that
+the plan I have proposed is the only safe and conservative way of
+building this railroad. Here is Mr. Hatch--he has been concerned in
+similar deals."
+
+"But I have never had as an associate a man like Mr. Merriwell,"
+confessed Warren Hatch, stroking his full beard with his thin hand. "In
+fact, I think it wholly improbable that the whole of us could turn
+Merriwell a whit, even if we set about the task in unison."
+
+"Do you mean to admit," asked Jerome, "that you are willing to be
+governed by this fellow, who is scarcely more than a boy? I can't think
+it of you!"
+
+"Perhaps we have good reasons," grunted Sudbury Bragg.
+
+Jerome gazed at them each in turn, his show of wonderment increasing.
+
+"And do you mean to say," he questioned, "that you propose to invest
+your good money in this railroad project of his? Is it possible that men
+like you, who are familiar with all the methods of pushing through such
+a project without risk, will let this young fellow inveigle you into
+jeopardizing yourselves?"
+
+"We have become satisfied," said Scott, "that the scheme promises well,
+and we are willing to take the risk. Unless you wish to come in and join
+your money with ours in backing the deal, I think we'll have to get
+along without you."
+
+"We'll get along without him under any circumstances," said Frank
+grimly.
+
+"Why----"
+
+"Nothing in this world could induce me to become concerned in any
+business venture with Mr. Jerome as a partner, for I would be in
+constant expectation that in some underhand method he would undermine
+and defraud me."
+
+"You have heard Mr. Merriwell's decision, Jerome," said Watson Scott.
+"That lets you out."
+
+Jerome's pale face was unusually so as he rose to his feet. His thin
+lips were pressed together, and his mouth drooped a little at the
+corners. After a moment of silence, he said:
+
+"Very well, gentlemen; I will depart and leave you to organize. I wish
+you all the success you deserve to obtain through a wildcat scheme of a
+simple boy, who knows just about as much about business and business
+methods as a yellow dog knows about algebra. Good day, gentlemen!"
+
+With a contemptuous movement, he walked out of the office.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+ANOTHER OBSTACLE.
+
+
+As Basil Jerome left the office of Scott & Rand he came face to face
+with a thickset, florid-faced man and a slender, dark-eyed youth, who
+had just stepped from the elevator.
+
+"Howdy do, Mr. Jerome! Is it yourself?" said the man, with just the
+slightest hint of an Irish brogue. "It's a bit glum you're looking.
+Anything wrong?"
+
+"How do you do, Mr. Hagan," responded Jerome. "Didn't know you were in
+town. Haven't seen you for months."
+
+"I've been moving around a bit, but I'm back again, large as life and
+just as natural. Saw you coming out of Old Gripper's den. I'm bound
+there myself, for I understand there's a little matter going on in which
+I'm a trifle interested."
+
+"You don't mean that Mexican railroad affair, do you?"
+
+"Why, yes, me boy, that's it; but how did you guess so quick?"
+
+"I was invited to take a hand in that myself, but I prefer to keep out.
+In the manner they propose to do it, I want none in mine. If you're
+thinking of butting in, take my advice and stay out."
+
+"As a friend, would you mind telling me why? You have aroused me
+curiosity."
+
+"If you investigate closely I fancy you'll find out why, Hagan. This
+youngster, Merriwell, who is promoting the scheme, is altogether too
+finicky about the manner in which the deal shall be financiered. He's
+old-fashioned in his ideas of honesty and business methods. How Old
+Gripper can swallow him is more than I can understand, and Gripper has
+inveigled Warren Hatch and Sudbury Bragg into it. Keep out, Hagan--keep
+out."
+
+Hagan laughed.
+
+"Thank ye for the advice," he said; "but I have a little trick of my own
+to turn with those gentlemen. I'm glad to know I'll find them all ready
+for me. Don't worry about Bantry Hagan. He seldom gets left. So-long,
+Jerome."
+
+Hagan passed on, with the dark-eyed youth at his heels, and entered the
+office of Scott & Rand.
+
+The four men left in the private room were settling down to business
+when the office boy appeared and announced that Mr. Bantry Hagan wished
+to speak with Mr. Scott at once on very important business.
+
+Old Gripper seldom betrayed astonishment, but he could not conceal it
+now. There was likewise indignation in his face and voice as he
+exclaimed:
+
+"Hagan? That man here? Why, confound his cast-iron cheek! how dare he
+show his face in my office! What do you think of him, Merriwell?"
+
+"It's just what I should expect of him," declared Merry. "He has gall
+enough for a regiment."
+
+"Many thanks for your fine opinion of me," said the voice of Hagan
+himself, who had boldly followed the boy. "It's you, Mr. Merriwell, I'm
+wishing to chat with, too, and I'm lucky to find ye here with Mr. Scott.
+And here are Mr. Bragg and Mr. Hatch! Come right in, Felipe."
+
+The somewhat shy-appearing youth of the dark eyes followed him into the
+room as he pushed the office boy aside.
+
+By this time Watson Scott was on his feet, his face dark as a storm
+cloud.
+
+"Bantry Hagan, you scoundrel," he cried, "how dare you show yourself to
+us!"
+
+"Now, Mr. Scott; don't excite yourself," said the intruder. "You are
+said to be a man with iron nerves, but your behavior this moment belies
+your reputation. Why shouldn't I show myself to you?"
+
+"You know well enough, you villain! You know there is a warrant for your
+arrest now in the hands of the sheriff of Essex County."
+
+"And I also know the sheriff of Essex County is not here to serve it. I
+further know he never will serve it."
+
+The cool assurance of Hagan was almost staggering.
+
+"It's an easy matter to swear out another warrant here in this city, and
+Mr. Merriwell is just the man to do it."
+
+"Mr. Merriwell is just the man not to do it. Were he to take so much
+trouble, what would he prove against me?"
+
+"He could prove that you were concerned in a dastardly attack upon him
+up in the Adirondacks, being at that time the worthy associate of
+Porfias del Norte, who came to a well-merited death, together with two
+other ruffians, by being buried by a landslide."
+
+Hagan grinned.
+
+"It would be easy enough to make such a charge, but quite another matter
+to prove it. Who could appear as witnesses against me? Could you swear,
+Mr. Scott, that I had anything whatever to do with this matter of which
+you speak? No? Well, certain it is that your trusted private secretary,
+Belmont Bland, will never appear to furnish evidence for any one, nor
+will O'Toole. It is easy enough to have any man arrested, but proving
+him guilty is quite another matter."
+
+"It's a shame, Hagan," said Frank, "that you were not in the cave with
+Del Norte when that landslide occurred."
+
+"That's the way you look at it, me boy," nodded the Irishman; "but I
+have a different feeling about it, and I thank the saints that I was
+spared. I fancy you thought yourself well rid of all your troubles when
+Del Norte met with that little misfortune, and you're now ready to go
+ahead with your great railroad scheme. But before you lead these
+gentlemen into it I have a little revelation to make that may interest
+them and you a bit."
+
+"Say the word, Merriwell, and I'll have the man kicked out," growled
+Watson Scott.
+
+"Let's hear his revelation," suggested Frank, "and then he may have the
+decency to take himself off of his own accord."
+
+"Now you are coming to your senses," chuckled Hagan. "When you have
+heard what I'm going to tell ye it's in no hurry you'll be to have me go
+without a little understanding and agreement between us. Porfias del
+Norte had a plan of his own that bothered you some, for he convinced you
+that he was the rightful heir of Guerrero del Norte, who years ago had
+obtained an extensive land grant in Eastern Sonora, and on this land
+claimed by him your San Pablo Mine is located. Del Norte had parties
+working in Mexico to obtain a reaffirmation of that old concession. With
+Del Norte dead and gone I fancy you thought your troubles ended. Me boy,
+you were wrong. Although you did not know it, old Guerrero was not the
+only one who obtained concessions in Eastern Sonora."
+
+"What's the man driving at?" growled Scott. "Is he here with another
+cock-and-bull story about land grants?"
+
+"It's no cock-and-bull story you'll find it," asserted the Irishman.
+"The grant to old Guerrero, Porfias del Norte's grandfather, was made by
+President Pedraza in 1832. Am I not right?"
+
+"What if you are?"
+
+"It means a great deal to Mr. Merriwell, as I will demonstrate. I have
+lately learned that there was an earlier claimant to that same
+territory. The first Mexican republic was organized in October, 1824,
+with General Don Felix Fernando Victoria as president. You are quite
+familiar with Mexican history, Merriwell, me boy. Am I correct in this
+statement?"
+
+"You are."
+
+"Very well. Now I'm coming to me point. One of General Victoria's chief
+assistants, and a gallant officer in his army, was Colonel Sebastian
+Jalisco. As a reward for this man's services, when Victoria became
+president he granted him a great tract of land in Eastern Sonora,
+covering practically the same territory as that afterward conceded to
+Guerrero by Pedraza. This grant of Victoria's was never revoked or
+annulled, and therefore Jalisco was the rightful claimant to it all the
+while. Jalisco was ill for many years of a mental derangement, and
+neither he nor his heirs ever disputed Guerrero's right to the
+territory. Later, however, as you know, President Santa Anna revoked
+the Guerrero grant. The one made to Jalisco has never been revoked, and
+it holds good to-day. It happens that chance has thrown me in with
+Colonel Jalisco's only surviving heir, his great grandson, and this,
+gentlemen, is the boy."
+
+Hagan waved one of his square hands toward his dark-eyed companion.
+
+He had thrown a bomb into the meeting, and he smiled to see the havoc it
+created.
+
+Warren Hatch was on his feet, while Sudbury Bragg had leaned forward on
+the square table, resting on his elbows, his jaw drooping. Watson Scott
+grasped both arms of his chair and leaned forward as if to rise, but did
+not get up.
+
+Of them all Frank Merriwell was the only one who did not seem
+thunderstruck.
+
+"Who is this boy, Hagan?" he asked.
+
+"The great grandson of Colonel Jalisco, I have told you. His name is
+Felipe Jalisco, with a whole lot of fancy middle names thrown in."
+
+"We have your word for it, but it takes something more than the mere
+word of Bantry Hagan to cut any ice."
+
+"Does it, indeed, me lad?"
+
+"It does."
+
+"Then you shall have something more. In fact, Mr. Merriwell, I fancy I
+can give you all you require. What do you want?"
+
+"Proof."
+
+"Felipe can establish his relationship beyond the doubt of the most
+skeptical."
+
+"But the old land grant to Felipe's great grandfather----"
+
+"Is in me possession!" cried Bantry Hagan, as he dramatically produced a
+yellow parchment-like document and waved it triumphantly above his head.
+
+He laughed aloud as he surveyed the men before him, but never a smile
+came to the dusky face of Felipe Jalisco, his companion.
+
+"Gentlemen," he said, "before you set about building any railroads
+through that part of Sonora I advise you to transact a little business
+with me. It will save you lots of trouble later on."
+
+"Will you permit us to examine that document?" asked Frank, still with
+perfect self-possession.
+
+"On your word of honor as a gentleman--which I know ye are--to return it
+as soon as you have made the examination."
+
+"You have the pledge," said Merry, stepping forward.
+
+Hagan unhesitatingly handed the document over to Frank, who immediately
+spread it out upon the table.
+
+The others pressed about Merry to obtain a look at the paper.
+
+"The dashed thing is in Spanish!" gurgled Sudbury Bragg, in disgust.
+
+"Of course it is," nodded Hagan.
+
+"I can't read it," admitted Bragg.
+
+"But I can," said Frank.
+
+He hurriedly yet keenly scanned it through, inspecting the signature and
+seal, and finally straightened up with it in his hand.
+
+"Gentlemen," he said quietly, "the document seems to be genuine."
+
+"Seems to be?" said Old Gripper. "Then you think there may be a doubt
+about it?"
+
+"There may be."
+
+"But there isn't!" cried Hagan. "It's all right. Now, Merriwell, me boy,
+perhaps you'll not disdain to do a bit of business with Bantry Hagan."
+
+Frank refolded the paper and returned it to the Irishman.
+
+"What are you after?" he asked.
+
+"Money, me lad--money. Of course Felipe Jalisco might raise a fuss and
+make you no end of trouble; but I have talked the matter over with him,
+and he is willing to surrender his claim to the concession made to his
+great grandfather in case he is well paid. You are rich, Merriwell; you
+have been making a fat thing out of your mines, and you can afford to
+pay. We have settled on a price, and we'll take not a dollar less.
+Either you'll come to our terms, or we'll cut the ground from under yer
+and leave you nothing but empty air to stand on."
+
+"What is your price?"
+
+"Five hundred thousand dollars!"
+
+"Quite modest!" said Merry sarcastically.
+
+"Will you pay it?"
+
+"Not a dollar of it!"
+
+Hagan was set back, for he had fancied the youth weakening.
+
+"Not a dollar?" he repeated, in astonishment. "Do ye mean it?"
+
+"I always mean what I say."
+
+"But--but you're crazy!"
+
+"I think not."
+
+"It's the devil's own broil ye'll find yourself in if you refuse."
+
+"Then I'm certain to have a lively time, for I utterly and absolutely
+refuse to give up a dollar."
+
+"You just said the document was genuine."
+
+"I beg your pardon; you misunderstood me."
+
+"I heard you say so!"
+
+"I repeat, you misunderstood me."
+
+"Then what did you say?"
+
+"I said it seemed to be genuine."
+
+"But you doubt if it is?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"How can ye?"
+
+"There are various things which lead me to doubt."
+
+"Will you name them?"
+
+"I don't mind naming some of them."
+
+"Do so."
+
+"In the first place, before investing heavily in the San Pablo Mine, I
+took the trouble to investigate thoroughly the solidness of my title to
+the property, knowing how insecure most titles are in Mexico. I
+overhauled old records and probed into history. I found out all about
+the grant of President Pedraza to Guerrero del Norte. I found the
+concession had been reaffirmed by Santa Anna when he first received the
+presidency, and I afterward found that, later on, because old Guerrero
+preferred to remain a bandit and a plunderer, Santa Anna had revoked and
+annulled the grant."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"Well, that left me no doubt whatever in regard to the legality of my
+title. In all my investigating I found no record of any grant to Colonel
+Sebastian Jalisco. In all my probing into the history of Mexico and her
+struggles to rid herself of the Spanish yoke I am certain I found no
+mention whatever of any such person as Sebastian Jalisco, who held in
+the patriot army the commission of colonel. In short, Bantry Hagan, I do
+not believe any such person as Colonel Sebastian Jalisco ever existed!"
+
+As far as Frank Merriwell was concerned, the bomb hurled by Hagan had
+missed the mark completely.
+
+In spite of himself, Hagan was staggered by the bold stand of the youth
+that nothing could daunt. Not only was he staggered, he was enraged.
+
+"It is a wonderful knowledge of Mexican history you have, me boy!" he
+cried. "But you're due to find out that you don't know near as much as
+you think you do. This poor boy has a claim to property you are holding
+and working, and as true as me name is Bantry Hagan, I'll see that he
+gets his rights!"
+
+"Go ahead," said Frank quietly. "It's not the boy you are looking after;
+it's Hagan, and I can give you my opinion of Hagan in a very few words.
+From his toes to the hair on his head he is a thoroughbred rascal."
+
+"Your talk is very bold, but you'll come down before we are done with
+you," snarled the Irishman, in exasperation. "I'll bring you to your
+knees and have you begging."
+
+"I have no fear of that. You have taken up altogether too much of our
+time. Will you have the decency to retire and let us go on with our
+business!"
+
+It was not a request; it was a command.
+
+Hagan's belligerent nature was aroused, and it seemed that he was
+inclined to remain and create further annoyance. From Frank he turned to
+the others.
+
+"Gentlemen," he cried, "you have heard our claim and you have seen the
+document by which we propose to back it up. If you know anything of
+Bantry Hagan, you know he enjoys a good fight and he sticks to a thing
+to the bitter end. I propose to stick to this thing. In the end this boy
+will secure his rights, and Merriwell will not hold one inch of property
+in Mexico. But let me give you warning that if you attempt to build that
+railroad you will find yourselves involved in a matter that will cost
+you more money than you can count in a week. In the end you will meet
+disaster. Before you go any further, either you or Merriwell must settle
+with Felipe Jalisco."
+
+Then he stepped toward the Mexican lad, on whose shoulder he placed a
+hand, observing:
+
+"You have heard, Felipe; the man who is usurping your rights refuses to
+do you justice, and proposes to continue robbing you."
+
+The black eyes of the boy flashed.
+
+"I will have my rights!" he exclaimed, in good English. "Either he shall
+pay me or he shall die! I will kill him!"
+
+"Softly, my lad! Don't make such threats before witnesses, for it is bad
+business."
+
+"It is what I mean!" shouted the boy, who had suddenly grown greatly
+excited.
+
+He flung off Hagan's hand, and sprang out before Frank.
+
+"You rob me!" he panted. "Pay me--pay me, or I kill you!"
+
+"Better take him away, Hagan," said Merriwell, "or I'll turn him over
+to the police, which I do not care to do."
+
+"He's dangerous, if he is young," said the Irishman. "I'm afraid you'll
+be sorry you did not listen to his demand for justice."
+
+"If there were a grain of justice in his demand I would be ready enough
+to listen," returned Merriwell. "You are behind this business. Having
+failed in your other project, through the death of Del Norte, your
+fertile brain has originated this daring, yet foolish, scheme. Do you
+think you are dealing with children? Did you fancy you could frighten or
+browbeat me into paying you money before I had thoroughly investigated
+this Jalisco business and sifted it to the bottom? Why, you know that
+were you in my place you would not give up a dollar on such a demand.
+Take him away, Hagan, and be quick about it, or I swear I'll telephone
+the police and have you both arrested for attempted fraud!"
+
+That Frank was in earnest now there could be no doubt.
+
+"We'll go," nodded Hagan. "Not because we are afraid of the result
+should you have us arrested; but we know your power--you and the men
+behind you--and we care not to suffer the humiliation and inconvenience
+of temporary confinement. The Jaliscos are hot-blooded and revengeful,
+and you now have one for your bitterest enemy. Take my advice, me boy,
+and watch yourself day and night, for you can't tell when Felipe will
+strike at you."
+
+Then the Irishman grasped his companion by the arm and urged him toward
+the door.
+
+At the door, ere leaving the office, Felipe turned to glare over his
+shoulder at Frank, hissing:
+
+"You rob me! I will kill you!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+HAGAN SECURES A PARTNER.
+
+
+"The fight has begun, Felipe, me boy," said Hagan, as the two left the
+brokers' office and stood waiting for the elevator to carry them down to
+the ground floor. "I knew it would be no easy thing, but it was worth
+trying."
+
+"I will kill him!" repeated the Mexican lad, in a savage whisper.
+
+"No, no; better not."
+
+"He robs me!"
+
+"But it is not safe to kill in this country."
+
+"Always the Jaliscos kill their enemies."
+
+"If you were to do that in this State it would be the electric chair for
+yours."
+
+"If they prove not that by me it was done----"
+
+"You were foolish, me lad; you threatened. Besides that, to kill him
+would be to kill the goose that must lay the golden egg. You can see the
+folly in that. If you were to kill him, how could you force him to pay
+you the money you demand?"
+
+"But what is it I am to do? I hate him! He is bold and he does not take
+the fright."
+
+"Sure he's a hard boy to frighten," nodded the Irishman.
+
+"But I will drive fear into his heart!" hissed Felipe. "He shall soon
+know that death is near him everywhere. Ah! that is what I will do! I
+will frighten him until he is glad to pay to escape the death that may
+strike him any time. I have friends who will stand by me. They are here
+in this city, and soon I can find them. They will help me to frighten
+the bold American. We will find a way."
+
+"Perhaps you may, but I have me doubts. Here is the car."
+
+The car stopped, the sliding door rattled, and they stepped in, being
+swiftly carried to the ground floor, from which they emerged upon lower
+Broadway.
+
+"A little while ago," said Hagan, "I was in a scheme with Porfias del
+Norte to bring this Merriwell to his knees and denude him of his Mexican
+property. He defied us all, but I believe we might have succeeded had
+Del Norte lived. It was his game to frighten or destroy Merriwell. We
+followed the fellow up into the Adirondacks, but when I found that Del
+Norte actually meant to murder Merriwell I declined to remain and be
+concerned. It was carrying the thing too far for Bantry Hagan. I left
+and returned to New York. Well for me that I did. As near as I can get
+at it, Del Norte did capture Merriwell, aided by two other men, and got
+him into a mountain cave. But just as Del Norte was on the point of
+putting an end to Merriwell his Indian guide turned on him and helped
+the prisoner to escape from the cave. Then came a landslide that
+covered the mouth of that cave with tons of earth and bowlders and
+buried Del Norte and his comrades in a living tomb. The death they
+experienced there must have been a horrible one."
+
+He shrugged his thick shoulders at the thought of it.
+
+"Evidently," he went on, "Merriwell congratulated himself on the death
+of Del Norte, for he fancied that would put an end to all his troubles
+and he would be able to carry through his great schemes without
+opposition. He must be a bit disgusted now. He'll find Hagan a stayer.
+But he has strong backers behind him, and we need some men equally good,
+Felipe. There's Jerome--Basil Jerome! Just the man! He'll go into
+anything that promises big, and he knows how to carry any scheme
+through. He can make dollars grow on elder bushes, that man! His office
+is round here on Nassau Street. Come along, Felipe, and we'll see if we
+can find him."
+
+They walked through Wall Street to Nassau, passing the Stock Exchange on
+their way. Turning up Nassau, they soon came to the building in which
+Basil Jerome had his office.
+
+Jerome was in, and, on receiving Hagan's name, he agreed to see his
+visitors at once.
+
+"Sit down," he invited, motioning them to chairs in the private office
+to which they were admitted. "Didn't expect to see you again, Hagan, in
+such a hurry. You must have rushed through your business with Old
+Gripper and his crowd. How did you come out?"
+
+"By the door," answered the Irishman; "and it's little good it did us to
+go in."
+
+"Did you take my advice as a tip in regard to that railroad deal?"
+
+"It's no advice I needed, for I wasn't thinking of pushing into that."
+
+"There might be money in it if they put her through in the proper
+manner; but it's Merriwell's idea, I reckon, to capitalize her at her
+proper value; and that will make it necessary for the men who build to
+take just as much risk as the general public who buys the stock. It
+doesn't seem possible that a shrewd old fox like Watson Scott can be
+dragged into such a dangerous affair. Now, if you and I were doing it,
+Hagan, we'd do it in a way that would leave us practically without risk,
+and I think we'd clean up a good thing out of it."
+
+"Why can't we do it?" exclaimed Hagan, as if struck by a sudden thought.
+
+"Why can't we?" questioned Jerome, in some surprise. "Why, that other
+gang is in it."
+
+"We'll block 'em, me boy! We'll hold their scheme up, and reap the
+harvest ourselves!"
+
+"How can it be done? Oh, no; I'm not looking for trouble with that
+bunch. It isn't necessary to build railroads in order to make money.
+There are plenty of roads in existence that can be manipulated and
+squeezed dry. There is no need to go searching round for new roads to
+build."
+
+"But there is something more to squeeze in this than a railroad. What if
+I show you how we can get an interest in a vast tract of land in Eastern
+Sonora--a tract that is rich in minerals in one section and may be
+opened up for ranches and plantations in another?"
+
+"Ranches and plantations? I've heard that all of Northern Mexico is
+barren and arid and practically worthless."
+
+"Much of it is."
+
+"How would you get hold of this land and obtain a railroad land grant
+from the Mexican government?"
+
+"The grant is already in existence."
+
+Hagan then explained to Jerome as clearly as possible Felipe Jalisco's
+claim to a great area of land in Sonora.
+
+"The boy is without influence with the government," confessed Hagan,
+"else he would make application for his rights. Unfortunately, the
+politics of his family have run in the wrong direction, and he knows he
+would be turned down if he should try to secure his rights. But he
+actually owns the very land possessed by Merriwell--the land on which
+Merriwell's mine is located. And that mine is said to be fabulously
+rich. He will accept a fair sum as his share of the spoils; the rest we
+can divide between us."
+
+"There's something in it," nodded Jerome.
+
+"Here is the document," said Hagan, displaying Felipe's paper. "Can you
+read Spanish?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Well, even Merriwell, who can read Spanish, confessed that it seemed
+genuine. You see the opportunity, man; come in with us and make a good
+thing for yourself."
+
+Jerome considered.
+
+"There is no reason why we should attempt to build that road, Hagan," he
+said. "If you want me as your partner, I believe we can make a big thing
+out of it without ever constructing a rod of railroad."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Dead easy. We'll form a company, with the avowed purpose of putting the
+road through. We'll buck the Merriwell crowd just as if we meant
+business. If we do it in the proper manner, we can jar them some. But
+it's best to wait a bit until they get started, for it wouldn't do to
+frighten Scott and the others out before they were fairly under way. We
+will come down on them like a ton of bricks at the right time. If we
+scare them so they are on the verge of abandoning the whole deal, it's
+likely Merriwell will cough up a fancy sum just to have us drop our game
+and let them go on. There you are. It's money made on pure bluff."
+
+"Fine enough!" chuckled Hagan, in satisfaction. "I knew I was coming to
+the right man when I came to you, me boy!"
+
+"What am I to receive?" asked the Mexican lad, who had been listening
+with deep interest.
+
+"Your share," answered Hagan.
+
+The boy sprang up.
+
+"I have another way!" he exclaimed. "I have the way of my own. Senor
+Merriwell shall find death creeping at his heels day and night. He shall
+know it is I, Felipe Jalisco, who threatens him with destruction; but I
+will take care to keep beyond his reach. He shall know that the only way
+to escape the peril that follows him is to pay me all I ask."
+
+"We'll have to hold him down, Hagan," whispered Jerome. "The little fool
+is liable to murder Merriwell and ruin everything."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+ARTHUR HATCH.
+
+
+That afternoon Frank Merriwell accompanied Warren Hatch when the latter
+left the city to return to his home on the Hudson. They took a train at
+the Grand Central Station.
+
+When they were comfortably seated on the train, Mr. Hatch observed:
+
+"Well, Frank, the thing is settled at last, and now it will be pushed
+through as fast as possible. We'll have that railroad built in a hurry,
+and you don't have to lift a hand. You have business enough to look
+after, and so----"
+
+"I was not particularly anxious to become actively concerned in the
+construction of our railroad," said Merry; "but, of course, I stood
+ready and willing to do my share."
+
+"Which you did by pledging yourself to take a good big lot of the stock
+when issued. As this road is to be capitalized at its actual value, it
+ought to become a rich thing for every stockholder. Leave it to us to
+take care of everything, Frank. There will be no delays."
+
+"Unless Bantry Hagan and Felipe Jalisco cause them."
+
+"But you were absolutely confident that Jalisco's document was a
+forgery."
+
+"Absolutely confident, Mr. Hatch. I can't say whether Bantry Hagan
+worked up this scheme or not, with the idea of squeezing something out
+of us; but if he did he must have worked swiftly after the death of Del
+Norte. I'm more inclined to believe that by some chance he ran across
+Jalisco and was himself convinced that the document was genuine. The
+fact that I have so thoroughly investigated everything that might have
+the slightest bearing on the legality of my title to the San Pablo makes
+me absolutely confident that the Jalisco grant is a forgery."
+
+"Well, you have settled Watson Scott's mind on that point, and Scott is
+not a man to make mistakes. The rest of us are ready to follow his
+lead."
+
+"It's something of a relief to me," confessed Merry. "Of course, I was
+confident of coming out ahead of Del Norte, but the man kept me moving.
+As it has turned out, I don't feel it necessary to make a rush to
+Mexico, and I'll take my time about going West. If things pan out all
+right, I'll have some of my friends along, and we'll stop on the way at
+St. Louis and other places. I'm almost tempted to seek recreation in
+athletics and sports."
+
+"You can choose your own course about that, Frank. If your business
+admits of it, I don't blame you for enjoying life through those sports
+in which you seem to take such a great interest. But you must stop with
+me a day or two. I want you to meet my boy, Arthur. He's a fine chap,
+but just a little inclined to be wild. I have to watch him closely to
+hold him down, and I'm afraid I don't hold him down all the time. I
+believe you'll like Art."
+
+They chatted in this manner until Irvington was reached, where they left
+the train and entered Mr. Hatch's private carriage, which was waiting.
+
+They were driven from the beautiful village to the splendid home of Mr.
+Hatch, which overlooked the Hudson.
+
+A boy of seventeen or eighteen, with his head bare and his hands in his
+pockets, was standing on the veranda as they approached.
+
+"There's Art now!" exclaimed Mr. Hatch. "Hello, Art!"
+
+"Hello, dad," coolly responded the boy, without stirring.
+
+"Here, Art, is Mr. Merriwell," said the banker, when they had left the
+carriage. "Mr. Merriwell, my son."
+
+"How are you, Mr. Merriwell," said Arthur, with a touch of cordiality,
+as he shook hands with the visitor. "Father has been telling me about
+you. Says you're a corking fisherman. That was what put you right with
+him. He's the biggest crank on fishing that I ever saw."
+
+Arthur Hatch was a chap it was not easy to fathom at first sight. He
+resembled his father slightly, but he was larger and better built,
+although somewhat too flat across the chest. He seemed to affect a
+drawl, and the grasp of his hand was not exactly hearty.
+
+They entered the house.
+
+"I'll take care of Merriwell now, father, if you don't mind," said the
+son. "Perhaps I can entertain him until dinner time."
+
+"You'll find I don't need entertaining," laughed Frank. "I particularly
+dislike to have any one put himself out to entertain me. I feel easier
+when no effort is made."
+
+"Come up to my room," invited the boy.
+
+They ascended to Art's room, which was on the second floor, and proved
+to be almost luxurious.
+
+"Now, make yourself at home, Merriwell," drawled the boy, with an air of
+familiarity. "There is the bathroom."
+
+Frank removed his coat, pulled back his cuffs, and washed his face and
+hands, which gave him a feeling of freshness.
+
+In the meantime, on returning to Art's room, he found the boy had
+produced a flask and glasses.
+
+"Here's some fine old rye," he said. "We have lots of time to touch it
+up a little before dinner."
+
+"Excuse me," said Merry, shaking his head.
+
+"Don't you care for rye? Well, I have some bourbon here. Perhaps that
+will----"
+
+"I'll have to be excused from taking anything."
+
+"Really? It will do you good. You've been having a session with the
+governor and those Wall Street sharks, and it seems to me you need
+something after that."
+
+"I don't think I need anything, thank you."
+
+"Well, later on we can have a cocktail before dinner. Which do you
+prefer, a Manhattan, or a----"
+
+Frank was now brought to the point where it was necessary for him to
+state that he did not drink Manhattans or cocktails of any sort.
+
+Young Hatch eyed him with an expression of doubt.
+
+"You don't seem to be stringing me," he said. "Don't you drink at all?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Never?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"I can't understand it," said Arthur. "Everybody drinks nowadays."
+
+"Not everybody. You are mistaken about that."
+
+"Well, there are precious few who don't. Young men who are up to date
+all take something."
+
+"Then I'll have to confess that I'm not up to date."
+
+"Strange," muttered the youth. "Have a cigarette?"
+
+"I do not smoke them."
+
+"Well, I keep a box of cigars for my friends who do not care for
+cigarettes. They are----"
+
+"I do not smoke at all."
+
+Arthur sat down, slowly rolling a cigarette between his fingers, eying
+Merry all the while.
+
+"I didn't believe it," he finally muttered.
+
+"Didn't believe what?"
+
+"I've heard of you, you know, and what I've heard led me to think you a
+corking chap, one of the boys, you understand."
+
+"I think those who know me well have always considered me 'one of the
+boys,'" smiled Merry.
+
+"But really a fellow who never drinks nor smokes--why, he can't have any
+fun!"
+
+"I beg to differ with you on that point. I do not believe any chap ever
+got more fun out of life than I have."
+
+"Then you used to drink and smoke?"
+
+"Never."
+
+Arthur lighted his cigarette, took several whiffs, staring at Frank all
+the while, and finally observed:
+
+"When the governor came home and told me about you, he said you didn't
+touch liquor and didn't smoke; but I sort of fancied you had been
+playing it clever with him for reasons of your own."
+
+Merry flushed a little.
+
+"In short," he said, "you thought I was fooling him?"
+
+"Well, I thought it rather clever of you, for you were trying to get dad
+and a lot of those men of dough into some sort of a railroad scheme,
+and I reckoned you were playing it fine with them."
+
+"That's not my way of doing things."
+
+"Beg pardon; no offense. Everybody is slick in these times, you know.
+You'll find the men you are dealing with are all sharp as steel. They
+never play any game frank and open."
+
+Frank looked doubtful.
+
+"Of course you do not mean to place your father in that class?"
+
+"Well, I fancy the old boy knows all the tricks," laughed the lad
+softly. "He's been able to hold his own with the rest of them. How did
+you get through college without drinking?"
+
+"That was easy. When the other fellows found I was sincere in letting
+the stuff alone they respected my principles, and I had no trouble at
+all."
+
+"You were a great athlete?"
+
+"I made a fair record."
+
+"Well, didn't you ever see the time when you felt that, just as you were
+about to take part in some contest, a drink might give you vim and
+energy?"
+
+"Never. By letting the stuff alone and keeping constantly in the best
+possible condition, I had vim and energy enough. Had I drunk, it must
+have robbed me of some of my vim and energy."
+
+"Oh, come, now! Not if you had drunk moderately and discreetly. Not if
+you had used liquor with good judgment."
+
+"Liquor never gave a thoroughly healthy man any strength that was not
+false strength. It makes men feel stronger, but in truth it weakens
+them. I don't care to preach you a temperance lecture, Arthur, but you
+sort of forced this out of me."
+
+"I'm glad to hear what you think about it. I can't agree with you, you
+know; but you interest me. You don't mean to say that drinking has ever
+hurt me, do you?"
+
+"It has never done you a particle of good, and the chances are that it
+has hurt you."
+
+"I can't believe it. Look at me, and then look at my father. I'm better
+built, healthier and stronger in every way than he ever was. I've taken
+an interest in athletics always, and he has encouraged me, saying he
+made a mistake when he was in college by not doing so."
+
+"Well, you owe much of your good condition, it is likely, to your
+inclination toward athletics and physical culture; but I believe you
+would be in better condition if you let liquor alone, and did not smoke
+cigarettes. Your father has weak lungs, and you are not properly
+developed across the chest. Still you injure the delicate tissues of
+your lungs by inhaling the smoke of cigarettes. At the same time you are
+weakening your brain power and your force of character. I am absolutely
+certain of this, for no fellow who indulges in those things escapes
+injury."
+
+There was something in Merry's manner that impressed the boy. Frank had
+a way of convincing listeners when he spoke.
+
+"If I thought so----" muttered Art.
+
+"Would you give up cigarettes and liquor?"
+
+"Well, I don't know. It would be pretty hard."
+
+"Do you mean that your habits have such a hold on you already?"
+
+"If I could go somewhere away from here where there was no whisky and no
+cigarettes, and I could see none of my chums who drink and smoke, I
+suppose I might break off."
+
+"Why not here? Are you at your age a slave to cigarettes?"
+
+"Well, you see it's this way: all the fellows know I drink and smoke,
+and they would laugh at me if I should say I'd stopped. They wouldn't
+believe it. They would keep at me until they shamed me into keeping on."
+
+"Then you confess that you have not the will power to refuse and stick
+to it. Can't you see that your will power is weakened?"
+
+"It's not that; it's because I don't wish to be laughed at and jollied."
+
+"Which is a confession of weakness. Let them laugh; in the end, if you
+stick to your good resolutions, they will stop laughing and learn to
+respect you."
+
+"Perhaps that's right; but I've seen some mighty mean, narrow,
+contracted men who never drank, never smoked, and never swore. I've seen
+some rascals who had none of the small vices, and usually they are the
+meanest sort of rascals."
+
+"I don't doubt it; but does that prove that all men, or even the
+majority of men, who have none of the small vices are mean or rascally?
+I don't fancy you believe that. You know it's natural to suppose that a
+bad man should be a drinker, a smoker, and a swearer. When you see a bad
+man who does none of these things, it is so unusual that you immediately
+look on him as a representative of his kind."
+
+Art nodded.
+
+"Perhaps that's so," he acknowledged. "Of course, I do know men who have
+no vices, and who are good fellows. I swear, Merriwell, you've almost
+converted me."
+
+Frank smiled.
+
+"Would that I might wholly convert you!" he exclaimed. "Does your father
+know you drink?"
+
+"Lord, no! I wouldn't have the governor know it for anything! He takes a
+little himself, but he thinks I'm on the water wagon yet--thinks I'm not
+old enough to get out with the boys and whoop her up."
+
+After a moment he dropped the half-smoked cigarette on an ash tray.
+
+"I believe I'll quit!" he exclaimed. "I've been working for chest
+development, and it's coming slower than any other part of me. Perhaps
+smoking is holding me back. I believe I'll let tobacco alone for a few
+months and see if I improve."
+
+"Good!" cried Merry. "But you should knock off drinking at the same
+time."
+
+"I will! It's going to be a hard thing to do, but I'll try it."
+
+"Give me your hand on it, Arthur! Don't merely try, but make up your
+mind that nothing shall cause you to break your resolution. Show that
+your will power and determination have not been weakened."
+
+They shook hands.
+
+Frank was well pleased over the resolution of Arthur Hatch. He was
+beginning to like the boy.
+
+They were talking in the most friendly fashion by this time, and Arthur
+began questioning Merry about college days and his life at Yale.
+
+"I'd like to go to Yale," he said; "but the governor has made up his
+mind on Harvard, and it's Harvard for me."
+
+"A fine college," said Frank.
+
+"Somehow it seems to me that the fellows at Yale have better times."
+
+"In a way, I believe they do. Harvard is more given to cliques. You
+know it has been called the rich man's college. Yale is more democratic.
+I have a brother not far from your age who is fitting for Yale."
+
+"Where is he fitting?"
+
+"He has been at Fardale Military Academy; but just now he is traveling
+abroad in company with his tutor, Professor Gunn, of Fardale."
+
+"Traveling abroad! That must be fine. You have traveled a great deal,
+haven't you, Merriwell?"
+
+"I have seen a part of the world. I went abroad myself when I was quite
+young with Professor Scotch, of Fardale, who was my guardian, as well as
+my tutor. We saw a great many countries."
+
+"But none equal to this country, I'll wager?"
+
+"None equal to this country for an American."
+
+"Seems to me I heard the governor say something about a mine or mines of
+yours down in Mexico."
+
+"I have a mine in the State of Sonora, Mexico. This projected Central
+Sonora Railroad will assist me greatly in handling the products of that
+mine."
+
+"I see. Have you been in Mexico much?"
+
+"Quite a lot."
+
+"How do you like the people down there?"
+
+"Well, you know that about two-thirds of the country's population
+consists of Indians. They are the descendants of the once mighty Aztecs,
+but there is nothing very warlike about the most of them. They seem
+crushed, poverty-stricken, and sad. They labor like slaves for a mere
+pittance when they work at all, and their condition is truly pitiful."
+
+"But the progressive citizens, the ruling class--what do you think of
+them?"
+
+"I have met some very pleasant people among them."
+
+"I know a fellow from the City of Mexico."
+
+"Do you?"
+
+"Yes; he's here in New York now. His father sent him here to learn
+something about our ways of doing business. He seems like a pretty fine
+fellow, too. I invited him out for dinner to-day, but I'm not sure he
+will come. He knows he's welcome to drop in any time."
+
+"What's his name?"
+
+"Carlos Mendoza. His father is a great gun down in Mexico."
+
+"The Mendozas form an important family."
+
+"I hope he comes out, for I'd like lo have you meet him."
+
+Less than ten minutes later Carlos Mendoza himself knocked at the door
+of that room.
+
+"I came right up, Arthur, my dear friend," he laughed, showing his
+handsome teeth as he entered.
+
+"That was right," said Hatch. "Let me introduce you to Mr. Merriwell,
+Carlos. Mr. Merriwell, the friend I mentioned, Mr. Mendoza."
+
+The young Mexican straightened up, and looked at Merry with an
+expression of the keenest interest.
+
+"Mr. Merriwell," he said, "I am happy to know you. I believe I have
+heard of you before."
+
+There was nothing of genuine American heartiness in the handshake he
+gave Frank.
+
+Mendoza had the atmosphere of his race, easy and languid. He dropped
+gracefully on a chair and reached out for the cigarettes, the open case
+of Arthur Hatch being near.
+
+"Forgot my papers," he smiled, "so I can't roll one of my own. I won't
+rob you, Arthur?"
+
+"You'll not rob me if you take them all."
+
+"You're always generous."
+
+"Nothing generous about that, old man."
+
+"Oh, I know cigarettes are inexpensive, especially to the son of an
+American money king; but----"
+
+"I shall not want those things any more," said Art, as if determined to
+let his new visitor know without delay of his resolutions. "I have quit
+smoking, Carlos."
+
+The Mexican lad lifted his eyebrows in surprise.
+
+"Quit?" he questioned. "Are you joking?"
+
+"No; I'm in earnest. I've knocked off for good."
+
+"How foolish!" laughed Carlos. "Why, how can you bear to deprive
+yourself of such a comfort and luxury? Oh, the enjoyment of a good
+cigarette! Nothing can take its place. A fellow loses a great deal if
+he doesn't smoke. Next thing you'll tell me that you have stopped
+drinking."
+
+"I have."
+
+Mendoza almost dropped his cigarette.
+
+"What?"
+
+"I don't wonder that you stare, but it is true. I have sworn off."
+
+"Pardon me for smiling!" exclaimed the young Mexican, lifting his
+slender hand to his mouth. "I fear it is not good breeding, but I can't
+help it."
+
+Young Hatch flushed.
+
+"That's all right, Carlos!" he exclaimed. "I have a right to knock off
+any of my bad habits if I wish to, I suppose."
+
+"Oh, why do you call them bad habits? I see no sense in that, Arthur.
+Every one smokes and drinks, you know. Down in my country----"
+
+"Not every one," interrupted Arthur. "Merriwell does not."
+
+Mendoza shrugged his shoulders like a Frenchman.
+
+"Then he doesn't know what he's missing. Oh, stop if you wish, Arthur;
+you'll be at it again within a week."
+
+"I'll bet you ten dollars on that!" cried Hatch warmly.
+
+"You'd lose. But be careful; perhaps Senor Merriwell is so very
+scrupulous that he does not believe in betting. Perhaps he never bets.
+Ha, ha, ha!"
+
+The laughter of Mendoza was most irritating.
+
+By this time Frank's dislike for the fellow was most pronounced. In
+Mendoza he saw one of the companions of Arthur Hatch who was bringing to
+bear a most evil influence on the boy. It was the laughter and ridicule
+of such fellows as this that Arthur dreaded.
+
+"I do not believe in betting," admitted Merry, at once. "By that I mean
+that I do not believe in betting for the purpose of making profit, and
+particularly am I opposed to betting on games of chance."
+
+"I am afraid," said Carlos, with sarcasm, "that you're a trifle too
+good, Senor Merriwell, for association with the rest of us. Did you
+never bet?"
+
+"Yes," admitted Frank, "I have done such a thing."
+
+"Ah! Then you have reformed? You've had your fun, and now you think
+others should not have theirs. Did you never play cards?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"For money?"
+
+Frank admitted that he had played for money.
+
+"Then you have not always been a saint," observed Mendoza, in that same
+irritating manner. "You have really lived--a little."
+
+The insolence of the fellow in talking to Frank in such a manner was
+felt by Hatch, who hastened to check him.
+
+"Mr. Merriwell is no softie!" he exclaimed, seeming to feel that Frank
+needed defending. "He was a famous athlete at Yale College. He made a
+great reputation as a baseball and football player."
+
+"Baseball--paugh!" cried Carlos. "I have seen the senseless sport you
+call baseball. Sport! There is no sport in it. It is tame. Football is
+better, but that is not much. For real sport, Senor Merriwell, you
+should see a Mexican bullfight."
+
+"That is what you consider real sport, is it?" asked Frank.
+
+"It is--it is grand sport! It is fine to see the bullfighters in the
+ring, to see the bull charging one after another, to see them fleeing on
+their horses, to see the horses gored and brought down, while the riders
+barely escape by a hair, and at last to see the chief bullfighter meet
+the charge of the bull and slay the creature. You should witness a
+bullfight, Mr. Merriwell."
+
+Frank smiled into the face of the callow Mexican lad. No wonder he
+smiled, for, years before, in Spain, as a mere boy, while traveling with
+Professor Scotch, Frank had leaped into the ring at a bullfight in order
+to save the life of Zuera, the lady bullfighter of Madrid, and with a
+sword dropped by a frightened espada had himself slain the bull.
+
+"Mendoza," he said, "I have seen your Mexican bullfights, and I once
+witnessed such a spectacle in Madrid. A Spanish bullfight is bad enough,
+but a Mexican bullfight is the most disgusting and brutal thing
+imaginable. Usually your bull is frightened and runs around seeking some
+avenue of escape from the torturers who pursue him, assailing him with
+their banderillos. At last he may be goaded and driven to a sort of
+desperate resistance. When he turns on his tormentors they permit him to
+gore the wretched old horses which have been provided as a sacrifice to
+glut the thirst of the populace for the sight of blood.
+
+"I have seen three or four of those poor beasts dying in a Mexican bull
+ring at the same time, some lying on the ground, and feebly trying to
+rise, or staggering weakly around with their bodies ripped open. I have
+seen the bull at last stand exhausted and cowed while the one chosen to
+dispatch him walked up and did the job. I have heard the crowd roar with
+delight as the sword was plunged into the neck of the bull and the
+creature's blood gushed forth. Don't talk to me about such sport!"
+
+Frank's words and manner seemed to scorch the Mexican for a moment, but
+he quickly recovered, snapping his fingers.
+
+"Like most Americans, you quail and grow sick at the sight of a little
+blood," he sneered. "We hear about the courage of Americans, and, of
+course, some of them are brave; but I doubt the courage of any man who
+gets sick over the sight of a little good, red blood."
+
+"Gentlemen," cried Hatch, in dismay, "I hope you are not going to----"
+
+"Don't worry, Arthur," interrupted Frank. "It is plain that Mendoza and
+I hold quite different views. It is the difference between two races.
+There will be no further discussion."
+
+Mendoza sprang up.
+
+"You are right," he admitted; "it is the difference between my people
+and your people. We do not understand each other. If I have been hasty
+in anything, forget it. I presume Senor Merriwell is right--from his
+standpoint. Let it pass."
+
+Hatch was relieved.
+
+"Let's go out for a little air," he suggested. "I wish to show Merriwell
+round the place."
+
+"A lovely place," nodded the Mexican lad. "The home of my good friend
+Arthur Hatch, who, although an American, is a man I do not believe would
+turn squeamish at sight of a little blood."
+
+Frank was quite willing and ready to go out.
+
+The sun was hanging low in the west, its last rays shimmering upon the
+surface of the broad Hudson. The air was chilly and rapidly growing
+colder.
+
+"It's fine here in the summer," said Arthur, as they strolled about;
+"but I prefer the city just now. Later, when there is ice boating, we
+have some great sport up here. Yes, that is real sport! Making a mile a
+minute on an ice boat is enough to satisfy any one. I'd like to have
+you up here for some of that, Merriwell."
+
+"I know I would enjoy it," smiled Frank. "I've done a little ice
+boating; but not on the scale that it's done up here."
+
+As they walked about, Mendoza gradually fell behind.
+
+"I'm afraid your friend is sulking," said Merry.
+
+"Let him sulk!" exclaimed Arthur, in a low tone. "He had deuced bad
+taste in making the talk he did, and I'm rather sore on him. Don't pay
+any attention to him."
+
+Thus it happened that Carlos was left behind and dropped out of sight.
+
+He was passing a thick hedge, when suddenly from the opposite side rose
+the head and shoulders of a boy nearly his own age, and somewhat
+resembling him in general appearance. This boy whistled a soft signal
+and called the name of Carlos, who turned in surprise and saw him.
+
+For a moment Mendoza stood staring in a surprised and bewildered way.
+Then his eyes gleamed, and he exclaimed:
+
+"As I live, it is Felipe Jalisco!"
+
+The boy beyond the hedge spoke in Spanish.
+
+"I have been watching for you, Carlos, for I saw you enter that house.
+Join me quickly."
+
+There was an opening in the hedge, and through this Mendoza hastened,
+the two boys falling into each other's arms like long-lost brothers.
+
+"How comes it that you are here?" questioned Carlos, still betraying his
+amazement.
+
+"Come away into the wooded hollow down yonder," invited Felipe. "I will
+then tell you. I do not wish to be seen by any one but you."
+
+Together they descended into the little hollow through which ran a
+stream that was spanned by a rustic bridge. They sat down on the bridge
+staring at each other with a strange expression of delight and affection
+in their eyes.
+
+"I knew it would surprise you to see me," said Felipe.
+
+"Is that strange? When last we met it was thousands of miles away in our
+own country. I told you then that my father had promised to send me here
+to learn some of the business ways of these miserable gringoes."
+
+"I remember; and I told you that I had found an old document that would
+make me very rich."
+
+"Yes, Felipe. Are you rich now?"
+
+"Not yet; but I shall be soon."
+
+"I am glad, for you are my dearest friend. Did your search for riches
+bring you so far?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"But you told me the old document would give you much land in Mexico."
+
+"So it should, Carlos; but the document was never recorded. It was made
+when Mexico first came to be a republic, and then there was much
+confusion and little method. It gives me a great strip of land in
+Sonora, and on that land, as I have learned, is one mine alone rich
+enough to provide me all the money I could ever desire. But that mine is
+held and is being worked by a cursed gringo. It was to find him that I
+came so far."
+
+"And have you found him?"
+
+"Yes, and demanded what is rightfully mine."
+
+"His answer----"
+
+"Was to laugh at me! All I wished was that he should pay me well. Why
+should he not, when he is getting richer and richer from property that
+is mine? Had he given me my right, I could have everything I need. I
+meant to let him go on working the mine if he gave me one-half it
+produces; but first I sought to frighten him by demanding a great sum. I
+asked for five hundred thousand dollars. I showed the document. He told
+me not one dollar would he ever pay me. Carlos, this gringo even told me
+the document was a forgery!"
+
+"It is like them all! I hate them, Felipe! Not one have I found that I
+can really care for. Still I take pains not to let them know what I
+really think of them. It is to learn their business ways and tricks I am
+here, and I will succeed. This day I am visiting Arthur Hatch, who
+thinks me his friend. Ha, ha! I took pains to make his acquaintance
+because his father is one of the great business men I wish to watch. I
+want to find out how it is he succeeds so wonderfully. But there are
+other reasons why I stick close by Hatch. He spends much money, and he
+knows many gringoes it is good for me to meet. Sometimes I feel like
+telling him what a great fool I think he is; but it would not be wise."
+
+"When I came up here to-day," said Felipe, "I did not once dream that I
+should find you. I have some friends in New York, but none like you,
+Carlos--not one. I came here because of the American who has my mine. He
+has sworn never to give me a dollar of what is rightfully mine, but to
+his face I told him he must pay or I would kill him."
+
+"That was right. Did he turn pale?"
+
+"Not at all; he laughed."
+
+"It will do you no good to kill him."
+
+"It would give me the greatest pleasure, but then I could not frighten
+him into paying me what I will have. It is to begin to frighten him I am
+here. I wish him to know his life is in danger all the time. I will
+follow him night and day, and make him understand in time. I saw him
+shortly before you came along by the hedge."
+
+"Did you, Felipe?"
+
+"Yes; he was with the boy whose father lives in that house."
+
+Carlos was surprised.
+
+"Do you mean Frank Merriwell?"
+
+"He is the one! It is he who is robbing me of what is mine. He laughed
+at me when I demanded money. I hate him!"
+
+"Felipe, I love you more because you hate him! I have seen and talked
+with him, and my pleasure would be to put a knife between his ribs!"
+
+Again those boys embraced.
+
+"Carlos, you can help me," said Felipe.
+
+"How?"
+
+"If we could meet him together in the dark and fall upon him. Together
+we could beat him down and nearly kill him. Then I would tell him that
+next time Felipe Jalisco would finish the job unless he paid to me that
+money. The gringoes are cowards. They laugh and pretend they are not
+afraid; but when real danger comes they have no courage at all."
+
+"It would do me good to help you," said Carlos. "Have you a plan?"
+
+"Could you not induce him to walk down here after dark? I would be
+waiting here, and would spring on him from behind."
+
+"He does not like me. I fear he would not walk with me at all. I don't
+think it can be done."
+
+"I must find a way to strike at him my first blow to-night."
+
+"Wait," said Mendoza. "He will stay here overnight."
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"So will I."
+
+"What of it?"
+
+"I think I know the room he will have. I can point it out to you. If you
+could attack him in that room and give him a great fright----"
+
+"How is it possible?"
+
+"It will be cold to-night, but you are wearing your heavy coat. If you
+could wait until all had gone to bed, then I might let you into the
+house. I might show you his room. But, Felipe, you would not kill him
+to-night?"
+
+"Not to-night."
+
+"Then, if you wish, I will dare it. I will let you into that house, but
+you know what it means if you should be caught there. Will you take the
+chance?"
+
+"Can it be arranged so that I may get out quickly and easily?"
+
+"I believe it can."
+
+"Then I will dare anything that I may let him know Felipe Jalisco means
+to keep the oath he has taken."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+EVIL INFLUENCE.
+
+
+It was a pleasant dinner hour at the home of Warren Hatch when Frank met
+Mrs. Hatch, who proved to be a strangely modest, motherly sort of woman.
+Merry decided that she had been a country girl, and that the change in
+fortune that had lifted her from humbleness to her present position as
+the wife of a very wealthy man had not changed her character in the
+least.
+
+Mendoza was exceedingly agreeable at table. He was not forward, but
+seemed to take just the proper interest and proper part in the flow of
+conversation, and not once during the meal was he offensive in the
+slightest degree. But for his first unpleasant impression of the fellow,
+Merry might have fancied him quite a decent chap.
+
+The Mexican was very frank in stating his desire to learn everything
+possible about American methods of business while he remained in New
+York, and he asked a few questions of Mr. Hatch, but never pressed a
+point when the gentleman seemed reticent over it.
+
+"I don't presume you are looking for a business opening here?"
+questioned Hatch. "Why, Americans have their eyes on Mexico, which they
+say is very rich and offers innumerable opportunities for the man of
+brains, business, and capital. You have fine plantations, splendid
+ranches, and some of the richest mines in the world. Are you going to
+let Americans open up all your mines and work them?"
+
+"Oh, no," laughed Carlos. "Americans have not all our mines, by any
+means. Many Americans have obtained mines in my country to which they
+have no legal right. For instance, there were the great Santa Maria
+Mines, which were secured and operated by a syndicate of Americans. They
+thought they had a claim to those mines that could not be disputed, and
+they laughed at any one that suggested the possibility of trouble over
+them. One day a man by the name of Casaria came along and told them that
+the property was his, and that they must either pay him well for the
+privilege of working them, or get out. They told him to go away. He
+went. Then he began proceedings against them, and in less than a year
+they were ousted and compelled to abandon every building they had
+constructed, every piece of machinery they had put in, and all that.
+Casaria had beaten them, and he turned round and leased his property to
+another company that pays him well for the privilege of working it. The
+same thing is likely to happen to other Americans in Mexico."
+
+Frank surveyed Mendoza keenly, wondering if the boy had told this for
+his benefit; but apparently the lad was wholly innocent that it might
+apply to any one present.
+
+After dinner Merry spent the evening with Mr. and Mrs. Hatch, while
+Arthur and Carlos retired soon to Art's room.
+
+Finally Mr. Hatch asked Frank if he wished to retire, and Merry
+expressed a desire to do so.
+
+It happened that Frank's room was not far from that of Arthur Hatch. As
+he followed Mr. Hatch past Art's open door, Mendoza called to him.
+
+"Going to bed so soon, Mr. Merriwell?" he inquired. "Come in for a
+moment before you retire."
+
+Having been shown to his room, Frank decided to accept Mendoza's
+invitation. It was a queer feeling that impelled him to do so, for
+Arthur had said nothing.
+
+As he entered Art's room, he detected a quick movement on the part of
+young Hatch, who hastily rose to his feet, asking Frank to sit down. His
+face was unnaturally flushed, and there was a peculiar expression in his
+eyes.
+
+Carlos was smoking a cigarette, and the air of the room was heavy with
+smoke. About him there was a certain air of suppressed satisfaction.
+
+There seemed no particular reason why the boys should wish Frank to drop
+in before going to bed. Indeed, Arthur seemed ill at ease and talked
+little. He seemed to be making an effort to appear natural.
+
+It was not long before Merry divined Mendoza's object in calling him.
+
+The Mexican had induced Arthur to break the pledge recently made to
+Frank.
+
+Although Carlos was smoking, on a little ash receiver beneath the table
+near which Hatch had been sitting lay a freshly lighted cigarette, from
+which a vapory bit of blue smoke was rising.
+
+Arthur had been smoking and drinking with Carlos.
+
+The young Mexican had wished Frank to see that his power over the boy
+was strong enough to make him break his pledge.
+
+Having decided on this, Frank felt like seizing Mendoza and giving him a
+thorough shaking up. Inwardly he was angry with the fellow, but
+outwardly he was undisturbed.
+
+Carlos took special delight in trying to induce his host to talk,
+apparently hoping Hatch would make some sort of a break.
+
+Frank knew it would do no good to talk to Arthur Hatch then. Instead, it
+would almost surely anger and shame him to such an extent that he would
+become resentful, announce himself as his own master, and declare his
+perfect ability to look out for himself, without the advice or
+assistance of any one.
+
+"The smoke is somewhat too thick for me here, boys," said Merry. "I
+think I'll turn in."
+
+"Sorry you can't sit up with us a while longer," said Arthur, but he
+could not hide his relief and satisfaction.
+
+He was glad Frank was going, and Merry knew it.
+
+"As in other things," smiled Carlos, "you seem to have some
+old-fashioned ways about sleeping. I don't believe any man half lives
+who sleeps too much at night. Ah! New York and upper Broadway is the
+place! There something is doing nearly all the night."
+
+"If the occasion demands," said Merriwell, "I can stay up with any of
+them; but just now I feel like bottling up a little sleep, as the
+expression goes."
+
+"I hope you may enjoy your rest," said Carlos. "I hope nothing may
+disturb you. Good night, senor."
+
+"Good night," said Frank. "Good night, Arthur."
+
+In his room Merry fell to thinking of the two boys as he undressed.
+
+"Carlos Mendoza is Arthur's evil genius," he decided. "The influence of
+the fellow on Hatch is wholly bad. What is the best course for me to
+pursue? Had I better warn his father? Is there not some other way to
+open Arthur's eyes? If I go to Warren Hatch, the man may become angry,
+and give his son a raking down that will do more harm than good."
+
+After getting into bed, Merry continued to meditate on the matter,
+finding it was not easy to decide on a course.
+
+He thought of many other things. The memory of his recent encounters
+with Porfias del Norte haunted him. He thought of the manner in which
+he had been trapped by Del Norte up in the Adirondacks, and thanked his
+lucky stars that O'Toole, the Irishman, out of gratitude, had aided him
+to escape from the murderous Mexican.
+
+"Poor O'Toole!" he murmured. "When he became my friend he was faithful
+unto death."
+
+The memory of his own desperation and distress on learning that Inza
+Burrage had fallen into the power of Del Norte caused him to twist and
+turn on the bed. Only for O'Toole, he might have been baffled in
+following Inza's captors. Through the acquaintance and friendship of
+O'Toole with Red Ben, Del Norte's Indian guide, had come the rescue of
+Inza.
+
+Once more Frank seemed to be standing in the depths of the Adirondack
+wilderness at the foot of the mountain, and again he seemed to hear the
+shriek of terror which escaped the lips of the Irishman as he fell from
+the precipice, and came crashing through the treetops to strike the
+ground a short distance away. Then Merry lived over once more his knife
+duel with Del Norte on the cliff, the escape from the cave, and the
+struggle to get away from the landslide, when, with superhuman efforts,
+he had carried Inza in his arms to a place of safety.
+
+"Del Norte is dead," he muttered; "but he seems to be reincarnated in
+Felipe Jalisco. I have not seen the last of Jalisco. That man Hagan is
+dangerous, too. Without the backing Hagan will try to give, Jalisco
+would give me little trouble in regard to the mine. His claim is a
+forgery beyond doubt; but he seems to think it genuine. Were it not for
+Hagan, I might do something for the boy, if his demands were anywhere
+near reasonable. Hagan is determined to get his finger into the pie, and
+he'll want a large slice. He'll get nothing."
+
+Finally Frank slept; but he was awakened by something that pressed
+sudden and hard across his throat. He tried to start up, but that thing
+across his throat held him helpless.
+
+Besides that, there was a sudden weight on his breast, as of a hand that
+thrust him back.
+
+Through the window of his room came a dim light, by which he discerned a
+dark figure that seemed crouching on the edge of the bed.
+
+He knew instantly that some person was there. Through the gloom a pair
+of gleaming eyes, like those of an animal, seemed to look into his.
+
+"Be still!" came a hissing whisper. "Make a sound and you shall die!"
+
+By this time Frank was wide-awake, with every sense aroused.
+
+He wondered if it was a burglar.
+
+"Don't cry out!" again commanded his assailant. "One little cry from you
+will be your last! Do you feel this?"
+
+Something keen pricked Merriwell's throat.
+
+"It is my knife," declared the unknown. "With a single stroke I can open
+the vein in your throat, and nothing in all the world can save you."
+
+The situation was one to send a thrill through the strongest nerves.
+
+"What do you want?" asked Merry, in a low tone.
+
+"Softer than that!" hissed the fellow with the knife. "Don't speak
+louder than a whisper if your life to you has any value."
+
+"What do you want?" whispered Merry.
+
+"Ha! That is right! Now let me warn you further. There is a stout cord
+across your neck, and you cannot lift your head if you attempt it so
+much as your strength will admit. The cord is made fast to both sides of
+the bed beneath you. You are perfectly helpless. First it is that I want
+you to know. Even if the cord should not be there, with my knife I could
+kill you when you tried to struggle. Now should you with your hands
+grasp me you would be like a child to destroy."
+
+"Having made all this plain, go ahead and tell me what you are after,"
+urged Merriwell.
+
+"Are you not afraid? I expected to hear your teeth chattering together
+like castanets. I expected to feel your body shaking, as if with a great
+chill."
+
+There was disappointment in these whispered words.
+
+"What good would it do me to be afraid?"
+
+"Can you reason like that in a moment when your life is in the most
+terrible danger? Have you ice in your veins?"
+
+"Why should you do me an injury? If you are here to rob me----"
+
+"I am not! I am here to make you stop from robbing me. I told you I
+would have my right or kill you. You laughed at me. Now you do not
+laugh!"
+
+"Felipe Jalisco!"
+
+"It is my name," was the bold confession.
+
+Frank was amazed.
+
+"How did you get into this house?"
+
+"I find the way. When I told you that, night or day, asleep or awake,
+there would never be one moment that you would not be free from the
+peril of death at my hand, you laughed. You do not laugh now!"
+
+"This isn't my time to laugh," confessed Frank. "Only fools laugh at the
+wrong moment."
+
+"You were a fool when you defied me. You did not know me. You did not
+know the blood of the Jaliscos in me. To-night you thought yourself safe
+from harm. You did not dream it possible that Felipe Jalisco might
+strike his knife into your heart while you slept. When I told you that
+not one moment would you be safe, you thought it the foolish talk of a
+boy. Now you see."
+
+"It is too dark for me to see very well."
+
+"I am here to make you swear to give me what is mine. If you do it not,
+then you die!"
+
+"And you will go to the electric chair at Sing Sing. Should you kill me
+to-night, Jalisco, you would be executed for murder."
+
+"Paugh! I fear it not."
+
+"Do you fancy you could escape?"
+
+"I could."
+
+"How little you reckon on the power of the law in this country. For you
+there would be no escape. You threatened my life, and that threat was
+heard before many witnesses. Those witnesses are all rich and powerful
+men. Should I be killed here and now, the first thing those men would do
+would be to bring all their combined influence to bear on having you
+arrested immediately, and convicted of that murder. Even if you were not
+guilty, and by some chance an unknown party should murder me, you would
+find it almost impossible to escape punishment for the crime. All those
+men would believe you did it, and they would bend every energy and the
+influence of their great wealth to carry you to the death chair. Did you
+attempt to prove an alibi, with all their influence and their wealth
+they would overthrow the proof, and show your witnesses were liars and
+perjurers. You cannot harm me without bringing destruction on yourself."
+
+In this manner Frank forced the belief that he spoke the truth upon
+Felipe. Although he could not see the dark face of the Mexican, he felt
+that Jalisco had received his check.
+
+"I have not come to kill you now," confessed the boy. "I want you to
+know I can do it. I want you to feel the constant danger. I want you to
+understand that when I am ready to strike I can do so, and strike to
+destroy. Perhaps not in New York or any great city like this shall I do
+it. I will follow you like a shadow. Where you go, there I will be.
+Unless you give me what I demand, I will some day kill you, having
+chosen the spot and time. Then I will escape, and no power may stop me.
+Fool of a gringo, you must give me my own! I will leave you in
+possession of the mine, but you must pay me one-half of all the money
+you make from it. It is the only thing that will save you. Senor Hagan
+asked for a big sum all at once, as he thought thus to get his share
+right away. I would have had him accept half the profit. Swear now that
+I shall have it! Swear you will pay----"
+
+"Not a cent!" answered Merry grimly. "You have taken the wrong method of
+getting anything from a Merriwell. Not a cent shall you ever have!"
+
+Felipe swore in Spanish.
+
+"Then you are doomed!" he panted.
+
+Suddenly he paused and lifted his head. A sound had reached his ears
+from some distant part of the house. It seemed that some one was
+stirring.
+
+"Lie still!" he hissed. "If you try to follow, at the door you shall
+die!"
+
+He sprang away with the soft step of a cat, and darted out at the door.
+
+In a twinkling Merry slipped from beneath the cord, leaped from the bed,
+and made the house echo with the shout he uttered.
+
+Unmindful of Jalisco's threat, he was out of that room and after the
+fellow in an amazing hurry. It must have been amazing for Jalisco, for
+the fellow was overtaken by Merry at the head of the stairs. He whirled
+and struck at Frank's breast, but the strong arm of the young American
+swept the blow aside.
+
+Merry seized his foe, and together they went bounding and rolling the
+full length of the stairs.
+
+When they landed at the bottom, Frank was on top, and the Mexican was
+pinned to the floor.
+
+By this time the whole house was in commotion. Voices were calling, and
+lights were beginning to gleam.
+
+"This way!" cried Frank. "I have him!"
+
+He heard a sound on the stairs behind him, and supposed some one was
+rushing to his assistance. There was a patter of feet, and then the
+smothering folds of a blanket were flung over his head, and he was
+dragged backward to the floor, his hold on Felipe Jalisco being broken.
+
+When Merry succeeded in flinging off the blanket, he found some one had
+turned on all the lights of the house. He saw Mr. Hatch, Arthur, Carlos
+Mendoza, and one or two servants near at hand. The front door stood wide
+open.
+
+"A thousand pardons!" cried Mendoza, in apparent consternation and
+distress. "It was a sad mistake I made!"
+
+"You flung that blanket over my head and dragged me off the fellow!"
+said Merry. "You permitted him to escape!"
+
+"A thousand pardons! I thought you were the other. I thought he had you
+down. It was dark. I could not see."
+
+"You deliberately aided him to escape."
+
+"No, no; I swear I made a sad mistake--I swear it!"
+
+"And lie when you take the oath!" retorted Frank, unable longer to
+restrain his feelings toward the fellow. "Mr. Hatch, you have a snake in
+your house, and there he is!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+THE POLICE RAID.
+
+
+Felipe Jalisco made good his escape that night, thanks to the assistance
+of his friend, Carlos Mendoza.
+
+The following morning Frank swore out a warrant for the arrest of
+Jalisco, and this he took with him in order to have it ready when the
+proper time came.
+
+He was determined to get back at the fellow without delay.
+
+Believing Jalisco was stopping in New York, Frank gave a description of
+him to the police, and set them on the lookout for the fellow. He
+likewise told them that Jalisco might be found in company with Bantry
+Hagan sooner or later.
+
+Two days passed without the apprehension of the Mexican lad being made
+or any trace of him discovered. On the forenoon of the third day Frank
+suddenly came face to face with Bantry Hagan in front of the Vendome
+Hotel, on Broadway.
+
+The moment he saw Merry, the Irishman stopped, planting himself fairly
+in Frank's path.
+
+"Sure it's a word I'd like to have with you, young man," he growled,
+frowning blackly.
+
+"Well, I have little time to waste on you," retorted Merry.
+
+"I want to know what you mean by it!" said the Irishman.
+
+"By what?"
+
+"By giving me the devil's own annoyance with the police. For two days
+I've had some of them following me round in plain clothes, and I'm tired
+of it. Call them off, me boy--I warn ye to call them off!"
+
+"When they find Felipe Jalisco I think they'll not bother you further."
+
+"So you're going to have the boy arrested? It's a bad mistake you're
+making by putting the coppers after him, for he has a nasty temper, and
+next time he gets you under his knife he's certain to cut your throat.
+I've warned him against it, but when you get through talking to one of
+those Mexicans they're worse than when you began. If it's sensible you
+are, you'll listen a bit to the boy's just demand. It may save your life
+if you listen."
+
+"If there was a particle of justice in his demand, I would not refuse to
+listen. If anything happens to me it's pretty certain you'll find
+yourself arrested as the accomplice of Jalisco."
+
+Then Frank passed on.
+
+That night, after leaving a theatre which he had attended, Merry
+encountered, at Herald Square, a plain-clothes man, whom he knew, an
+officer by the name of Bronson. He had paused to speak with this man
+when he noticed on the opposite side of the street several youngsters
+who seemed to be having something of a hilarious time.
+
+"They're pretty well started," observed Bronson, noting Merry's glance;
+"but they're still able to keep out of trouble. One chap is pretty
+full."
+
+"I know him," said Frank. "I know the fellow who has him by the arm."
+
+He had recognized Arthur Hatch and Carlos Mendoza. Arthur was unsteady
+on his feet and rather boisterous.
+
+Frank's first inclination was to cross the street immediately and to get
+Arthur away from his companion; but something caused him to decide on a
+different course.
+
+"See here, Bronson," he said, "have you any particular duty on hand just
+now?"
+
+"No, sir; not just at present. I'm on the lookout for crooks and sharks
+along here. You know we have orders to keep this part of Broadway clean
+of them."
+
+"Can you come with me? I wish to follow those chaps. The one who appears
+to be in the worst condition is the son of Warren Hatch, the banker, and
+his associates are helping him go to the dogs as fast as possible. I'd
+like to find a way to break up his friendship with that crowd."
+
+Bronson was willing to accompany Merry, and they followed the boisterous
+young men down Sixth Avenue some distance. Finally the boys disappeared
+into a cigar store.
+
+"Hanged if they haven't gone into Spice Worden's!" said Bronson.
+
+"Who is Spice Worden?"
+
+"The proprietor of a gambling house. I know him, but I've been tipped to
+let him alone. There's graft in it for somebody, and I fancy I know who
+gets the rake-off, though I wouldn't like to say."
+
+When they looked into the cigar store Hatch and his companions had
+disappeared.
+
+"The entrance to the gambling house is through the store," explained
+Bronson. "Do you wish to go in?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Come on."
+
+They entered the store. A young man behind the counter looked startled
+when he saw Bronson, and made a motion that the plain-clothes man
+checked.
+
+"Don't bother with the buzzer, Tommy," said the officer. "There's
+nothing doing to my knowledge. This friend of mine wants to reach a chap
+who's inside. Call Worden, will you?"
+
+A moment later Spice Worden himself appeared, and Bronson quickly
+convinced him that it was "all right." Worden seemed fearful that they
+were getting evidence, but the officer assured him to the contrary, upon
+which they were conducted behind the rear partition, through a dark
+passage, up a flight of stairs, and finally admitted to Worden's
+gambling joint.
+
+The place was not luxurious, although it was comfortably fitted and
+furnished. The air was heavy with tobacco smoke, and a great crowd of
+men were playing roulette, faro, and other games.
+
+Frank quickly discovered Arthur Hatch, who was "bucking the tiger," his
+recent companions around him.
+
+But what was more interesting was the discovery of both Felipe Jalisco
+and Bantry Hagan in the group.
+
+In a moment Merry had pointed Jalisco out to Bronson, and placed the
+warrant in the hands of the officer. Then he strode forward, pushed into
+the group, placed his hand on the shoulder of young Hatch, and said:
+
+"Come, Arthur; you're going to come out of this place with me."
+
+Bantry Hagan gave a cry of surprise and anger.
+
+"It's Merriwell!" he shouted. "Jump him, boys! Do him up!"
+
+Felipe Jalisco drew a knife, but suddenly found his wrist seized, the
+knife taken from him, and a pair of handcuffs snapped on his wrists,
+while Bronson said:
+
+"I'll have to take you with me, young fellow. Better not make a row
+unless----"
+
+"Don't let him arrest Felipe!" cried Carlos Mendoza. "Take him away from
+the cop! Come on!"
+
+At this moment, however, there came to the ears of all a sudden
+hammering and crashing, together with the whirring sound of a buzzer.
+Instantly the entire place was in confusion.
+
+"A raid!" was the cry, and the men started on a rush to get out.
+
+There came further crashing at the door of that room, which fell before
+the blows, and a squad of officers with drawn clubs poured in.
+
+"Oh, goodness!" gasped Arthur Hatch, horrified and sobered. "We'll all
+be pinched and locked up. The governor will hear of it! If my mother
+finds out---- What shall I do?"
+
+He was on the verge of collapsing.
+
+"I'll try to get you out," said Merry. "But you must swear to cut your
+bad companions and to forever quit drinking and smoking."
+
+"I swear it!" panted the boy. "Anything to get out of here. I'll keep
+the oath, too!"
+
+In the meantime, the gamblers had rushed, and shouted, and struggled,
+and fought to escape; but all their efforts were useless. They were
+captured to the last man of them.
+
+Spice Worden was arrested in his own gambling den. In the grasp of an
+officer he came face to face with Bronson, who had Jalisco.
+
+"I didn't think it of you, Bronson!" he said, his face pale. "I thought
+you a square man."
+
+"I swear I knew nothing of this raid," said Bronson. "I have my game
+here. I never lied to any man yet."
+
+Frank and Arthur were close at hand, and Merry appealed to Bronson.
+
+"How are we going to get clear of this trap?" he asked. "I don't fancy
+going to jail with a lot of gamblers."
+
+"I'll take care of you," promised Bronson.
+
+"And my friend here, too?"
+
+"Your friend, too."
+
+He turned Jalisco over to another policeman, and told Frank and Art to
+follow him. There was a back door that was guarded. When this door was
+reached, Bronson held a short, low-spoken conversation with the officer
+in charge there, after which he motioned to his companions, and the
+three descended the stairs and finally came out upon a street that ran
+from Sixth Avenue to Broadway.
+
+"Here you are, Mr. Merriwell," said Bronson. "Sorry that raid happened
+just then, but I reckon there's no harm done. I suppose you'll be on
+hand to appear against Jalisco in the morning?"
+
+"Without fail," said Merry. "Good night, Bronson. This has been a
+fortunate night for me."
+
+"And for me!" exclaimed Arthur Hatch, as Bronson departed. "Good Lord!
+but I was frightened when those officers came! I saw myself scorned by
+my father! I saw my mother broken-hearted! In one moment I realized what
+my bad habits had brought me to. I broke my first pledge to you, Frank
+Merriwell; but, with the help of God, I'll keep my second one!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Frank Merriwell had just taken his cold plunge the next morning, when
+the telephone in his apartments rang.
+
+Immediately Merry answered the summons.
+
+"Hello!" he called into the phone.
+
+"Hello!" was the answer. "Is this Frank Merriwell?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, I'm Sam Bronson."
+
+"Oh, good morning, Mr. Bronson."
+
+"I'm afraid you'll not be so good-natured, Mr. Merriwell, when I tell
+you what has happened."
+
+"Eh? What's the matter? Anything gone wrong?"
+
+"I should say so! You know that Mexican that I arrested on the warrant
+you gave me?"
+
+"Of course."
+
+"Well, I turned him over to the rest of the boys who had the whole crowd
+rounded up, while I helped you get your friend, Hatch, out of the place,
+you know."
+
+"Yes. I am to appear against Jalisco in court this morning."
+
+"You don't have to appear."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"He wasn't with the bunch locked up last night."
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"It's true, unfortunately."
+
+"How could that be? I don't understand it."
+
+"Nor I. I'm doing my best to get at the bottom of it. Neither he nor
+Bantry Hagan were locked up. Both got away somehow."
+
+Frank was more than vexed over this information.
+
+"There's something crooked about this, Bronson!" he exclaimed. "Why, you
+put the irons on Jalisco."
+
+"I know I did, and I'm shy a good pair of bracelets."
+
+"He could not have escaped from the handcuffs unless they were removed
+by an officer. I should say this thing needs investigating, Bronson! And
+Hagan was not locked up either?"
+
+"No. Neither Jalisco nor Hagan was with the bunch when it was rounded up
+at the station house last night. Both got away somewhere between
+Worden's and the station house. You know this man, Hagan, is pretty well
+known to the police, and he has influence. I'm going to make a roar over
+the business, and somebody's head will come off if I can fix the blame
+anywhere. It's the best I can do. I'm sorry, but I know you can't blame
+me."
+
+"I'm sure you were not to blame, Bronson. This is bad business. I
+wanted to teach Jalisco a lesson. He's a dangerous young thug, and he's
+taken an oath to kill me unless I cough up a lot of cash to him. Do your
+best to get at the bottom of the matter and to get track of Jalisco at
+the same time. If you set eyes on him again, pinch him at once."
+
+"Leave that to me," said Bronson. "I'm pretty sore over it. I'll call
+round to see you in an hour or so. Thought I'd phone you and let you
+know what had happened."
+
+"Thank you, Bronson. Good-by."
+
+"Good-by."
+
+Frank hung up the receiver.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+ALVAREZ LAZARO.
+
+
+That morning Watson Scott had a visitor who gave his name as Alvarez
+Lazaro.
+
+Lazaro was a slender man of medium height, with snow-white hair and face
+that seemed to indicate he had passed through great suffering of some
+sort, for it was strangely drawn and deeply lined. His age seemed
+uncertain, but Scott, who was an excellent judge, would have placed him
+well along in the fifties, although his step and carriage was like that
+of a much younger man.
+
+He was expensively dressed, wore a big sable overcoat, and had on his
+fingers a number of rings set with precious stones.
+
+Old Gripper surveyed the visitor with unusual interest. There was
+something about the man that fascinated him--something that attracted,
+yet repelled.
+
+"I'll not take up much of your time, Senor Scott," said Lazaro, in a
+soft, musical voice. "I know you are a very busy man. I have called to
+make inquiries about this railroad they say is soon to be built in my
+country. I hear you are president of the company."
+
+Scott knitted his heavy brows. "Where had he heard that voice before?"
+he asked himself.
+
+"You are from Mexico, Mr. Lazaro?" was his question.
+
+"I am, senor."
+
+"What do you wish to know about the Central Sonora Railroad?"
+
+"It is settled that the road will be constructed?"
+
+"Yes. Every preparation is being made to begin work upon it."
+
+"The company is formed and the stock issued?"
+
+"The stock is not yet issued."
+
+Lazaro had taken a seat on a chair toward which Scott had motioned him.
+
+"But it will be----"
+
+"As soon as we think proper."
+
+"You are confident that the road will pay?"
+
+"If I did not think so, I'd not be so deeply interested in it."
+
+"Naturally not, for I understand you are a very shrewd man of affairs,
+senor."
+
+The complimentary words of the Mexican were wasted on Scott, who
+believed a man usually dealt in compliments when he was seeking
+something to his own advantage.
+
+"Who are your intimate associates in this great project, if I am not
+presuming too far by asking, Senor Scott?"
+
+"Mr. Warren Hatch, Mr. Sudbury Bragg, and Mr. Frank Merriwell are in the
+company."
+
+"It seems that I have heard of Senor Merriwell. Has he not a rich mine
+down there somewhere in Sonora?"
+
+"He has."
+
+"Then it is likely he will be the one most benefited by the building of
+this road?"
+
+"It certainly will be a great thing for him."
+
+Lazaro nodded slowly. He knew Watson Scott was surveying him in a
+puzzled manner, but he seemed wholly unconscious of the fact.
+
+"The stock of this company you think will be a profitable investment for
+those who may purchase it, senor?"
+
+"I believe so."
+
+"Of course your company intends to retain a controlling interest in the
+road?"
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"Does Senor Merriwell intend to hold a large amount of the stock?"
+
+"I believe he has pledged himself to take a certain amount of it."
+
+"I have heard that he has other valuable mines besides the one in
+Mexico."
+
+"You seem very much interested in him?"
+
+"Not particularly, although to my ears there has come a rumor at some
+time that his claim to the mine in Mexico is a very flimsy one and that
+he may lose it."
+
+"Wind, sir--nothing more. The rumor was founded on the claims of a
+countryman of yours, Senor Porfias del Norte, who held an old and
+worthless land grant to the territory in which Merriwell's mine is
+located. The grant had been revoked, and Del Norte could have done
+nothing had he lived."
+
+"Then he is dead?"
+
+"Dead and buried so deeply that nothing but the horn of old Gabriel can
+ever bring him up."
+
+"Then it is likely that Senor Merriwell may escape some annoyance, at
+least. I think he will be glad of that."
+
+"I'm not sure about it," said Old Gripper, with a flitting smile.
+"Merriwell is a fighter, and he seems to enjoy trouble. But we are not
+progressing. You have asked me a lot of questions, but have not yet
+stated your business."
+
+"I am contemplating investing in Central Sonora when it is placed on the
+market."
+
+"Ah!"
+
+"Yes, senor. I have some money I wish to invest in something solid and
+promising. I presume you will be ready enough to put out much of that
+stock, and it may start a little slow. On your assurance that you
+believe it a good thing, I will take some shares."
+
+"How much do you contemplate investing?"
+
+"What will be the par value of the stock?"
+
+"One hundred dollars a share."
+
+"Then," said Alvarez Lazaro, with perfect nonchalance, "you may put me
+down, if you are willing, for one thousand shares."
+
+Old Gripper blinked.
+
+"That is one hundred thousand dollars," he said.
+
+The Mexican bowed.
+
+"Which will be as much as I care to invest in a single enterprise."
+
+The interest of Watson Scott was at a high pitch now.
+
+"It happens that I know nothing whatever about you, Mr. Lazaro," he
+said. "I have had other men come here and make similar propositions; but
+have found, on investigation, that they had not a dollar behind them. If
+you can produce credentials or letters from----"
+
+"I can produce plenty of letters, senor. I have them from many notable
+men of my country, including President Diaz. I do not carry them with
+me, you understand; but I can produce them whenever I choose. If you
+wish, I will make an appointment with you, at which I'll satisfy you
+beyond a doubt that I am exactly what I represent myself to be. If it is
+possible, I should like to have you dine with me to-night at the
+Waldorf. I hope you may find it convenient to accept my most urgent
+invitation, senor."
+
+Now, under ordinary circumstances Watson Scott would not have
+contemplated such a thing. Lazaro had appeared unheralded and
+unannounced, and Scott knew absolutely nothing of the man. Yet all
+through that interview Scott had experienced an almost mastering desire
+to know something about him. He could not understand why he should take
+such unusual interest in the stranger, but from the moment the man had
+entered the office Old Gripper was beset by a conviction that this was
+not their first meeting.
+
+"I don't know," he said, in a hesitating manner that was wholly
+unnatural with him who was generally so settled and decisive. "I
+suppose----"
+
+"You will accept," nodded Lazaro, as if it were decided. "At what time
+will it be most convenient for you to come."
+
+"Why--er--when do you dine?"
+
+"Whenever Senor Scott chooses," bowed the man with the snowy hair. "Any
+hour from six to nine will please me."
+
+"Well, I'll be along between six and half-past," said Scott, and then
+wondered why he had said it.
+
+"It is well," bowed Lazaro, rising. "I will now intrude no more on your
+precious time."
+
+Scott stood up.
+
+"Hang it all!" he exclaimed. "I'd swear I know you! Isn't it possible we
+have met before. I can't seem to remember your face, but your eyes and
+your voice seem to stir some forgotten memory within me."
+
+The Mexican slowly shook his head.
+
+"I have traveled much," he said, "and have met many people; but I am
+certain it has never been my good fortune to be presented to you, Senor
+Scott. Of course it is possible that you may have seen me somewhere and
+some time in the past; but I would swear that never until I entered this
+office did I place my eyes on you. Your face is one not easily
+forgotten."
+
+"And yours is one no man should forget, sir. I presume I am mistaken."
+
+Lazaro paused at the door.
+
+"If you found it convenient to bring along one of your associates in
+this railroad deal, say Senor Hatch or Senor Bragg, I should be glad."
+
+"Not likely I can. It is barely possible I might bring Merriwell."
+
+"As I understand, he is too young, Senor Scott. I had rather meet men
+older and wiser. I cannot tell why, but the youth of Senor Merriwell has
+somehow prejudiced me against him."
+
+"When you meet him, if you do, you'll find him wise far beyond his years
+and as keen as a rapier."
+
+"No doubt you are right, senor; but I do not care to make an effort
+before him to establish my responsibility. I should feel that the
+situation ought to be reversed and that he should be seeking to satisfy
+me."
+
+"I believe I understand your feeling on that point, Mr. Lazaro; but you
+feel that way because you do not know him. However, we'll leave him out
+to-night. Good day. Look for me at the time set."
+
+"Thank you, senor. Good day."
+
+Alvarez Lazaro bowed himself out of the office with the grace of a
+Frenchman.
+
+Old Gripper stood quite still a number of moments, frowning deeply.
+
+"Confound it!" he cried. "The impression that I have met that man grows
+stronger and stronger. But where--where?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+THE AVENGER.
+
+
+A man in a heavy overcoat and a slouch hat was walking rapidly through
+one of the streets of New York leading into a squalid quarter of the
+East Side. Twice he stepped past a corner and stood there some time,
+observing the persons who passed in the direction he had been walking.
+Once he stepped quickly into a doorway and stood there peering back
+along the street until he seemed satisfied and concluded to resume his
+walk.
+
+Plainly this man feared he might be followed.
+
+Finally on a block not far from the river, where everything looked
+wretched and poverty-stricken, he ascended the low steps of a house and
+quickly entered a doorway. The uncarpeted hall was dirty and dark. The
+stairs were worn and sagged a little.
+
+Two flights of stairs did the man climb, and then, in a significant
+manner, he rapped on a door at the back of the house. There was a stir
+within the room. The door was flung open by a slender, dark-faced,
+dark-eyed boy, who joyously exclaimed:
+
+"Welcome, Senor Hagan! You were a great time coming."
+
+The man stepped into the little room, and the door was closed behind
+him.
+
+"Lock it, Felipe!" he exclaimed. "Take no chances of having some one
+walk in on us without warning, me boy."
+
+The key was turned in the lock.
+
+There was a bed, a chair, and a washstand in the room. The floor was
+uncarpeted and the walls unpapered.
+
+"It's a poor sort of a hole you're cooped in, Felipe," observed the
+visitor, flinging off his hat and unbuttoning his overcoat.
+
+"Paugh! It is vile!" exclaimed the boy, with an expression of disgust.
+"But here you say they will not look to find me. It was here you brought
+me, and here I have remained, only sneaking out at night to buy food.
+Tell me the truth, Senor Hagan, are the police still looking for me?"
+
+"It's your life you can bet on it, me lad. Frank Merriwell has them
+rubbering for you, and it's myself who has been watched and shadowed all
+the time since the night we were pinched. If he had anything good and
+sufficient against me, Merriwell would have me nabbed in a jiffy."
+
+"You're sure the officers did not follow you here?"
+
+"Trust Bantry Hagan," laughed the Irishman. "I took good care of that. I
+fooled the plain-clothes chap who was following me round, gave him the
+slip, and then came to see ye. Lucky for us I had a pull with one of the
+bluecoats the night of the raid at Worden's. It would have been easy
+for me to get assistance in ducking that night; but I wouldn't go
+without ye, and you had the irons on. It looked bad."
+
+"The handcuffs are yet to be made that will hold those hands, Senor
+Hagan," said Felipe, with a laugh.
+
+"Sure you made me wink when you slipped your hands out of them slick and
+easy. Then it was not so hard to bribe the police to let us both slip
+away in the darkness as they marched the prisoners downstairs and out
+through the passage. At that we could not have done it only for my pull
+with Riley. It's surprised Mr. Merriwell must have been in the morning
+when he learned that neither of us had been locked up."
+
+"Fiends destroy him!" cried the boy. "How I hate him! I would love to
+kill him!"
+
+"It's that thing ye'd better not do, unless you want to ruin your
+prospect of ever handling any of the money he is making from that mine."
+
+"I failed to frighten him that night when I had him with my knife at his
+throat. He told me I would not kill him, and I am sure he believed it."
+
+"Oh, he's a nervy lad, all right," nodded Hagan. "Del Norte found that
+out. If he had lived----"
+
+There was a step outside; a sharp knock on the door.
+
+Felipe leaped back toward the window, outside of which was the fire
+escape. In a moment he had the window open.
+
+Hagan stepped quickly to the door, against which he placed his solid
+body, at the same time calling:
+
+"Who is it that knocks? and what do you want here?"
+
+"It is I, Senor Hagan," answered a voice that made the Irishman gasp and
+caused his eyes to bulge. "Have no fear. Open the door!"
+
+"It's the voice of the dead!" gasped Hagan, his usually florid face gone
+pale.
+
+"Who is it?" questioned Jalisco.
+
+Instead of answering, with fingers that were not quite steady, Hagan
+turned the key in the lock and opened the door.
+
+Into the room boldly walked a man who wore a sable overcoat, had hair of
+snowy white, and eyes of deepest midnight.
+
+Hagan stared at this man in amazement.
+
+"Who are you?" he asked.
+
+"I am Alvarez Lazaro, of Mexico," was the answer, in that same soft,
+musical voice that had so startled the Irishman.
+
+"But that voice--that voice!" muttered Hagan. "And those eyes! Man, ye
+gave me a start! Why do you come here? What do you want?"
+
+"I have come to meet the enemies of Frank Merriwell."
+
+"The divvil ye say!" cried Hagan, his excitement flinging him into the
+brogue he so nearly avoided in quieter moments. "Why do ye come here for
+that?"
+
+"Because I know you both are his enemies."
+
+"And you--if I didn't know Porfias del Norte to be dead and buried----
+But even then you'd not be the man. You're thirty years older; but you
+have a little of his looks and his voice in perfection."
+
+"Do you think so? Then perhaps it came through my long acquaintance with
+him. Dear friends sometimes acquire each other's mode of speech and
+little mannerisms, it is said."
+
+"Were you Del Norte's friend?"
+
+"His nearest and dearest friend in all the world. This may seem strange
+to you, considering the difference in our ages, but it is the truth.
+From me he never had a secret. I knew all his plans, his hopes, his
+ambitions--everything--everything that he knew and felt."
+
+"Strange he never spoke to me of you," muttered Hagan.
+
+"Not strange, for he was not given to talking freely to any one but me.
+And now he is dead! But I am here to avenge him. I have learned that he
+was buried alive in a cave, and the thought of his frightful sufferings
+before he died has torn my soul with anguish. They say the real cause of
+his death was the gringo, Merriwell. I am the avenger of Porfias del
+Norte, and I have sworn to make him suffer even as Porfias suffered,
+and then to destroy him at last. It is an oath I shall keep."
+
+"My, but you Mexicans are fierce at revenge and that sort of a thing!"
+said Hagan, with a look on his face that was almost laughable. "Here's
+Felipe--I've been cautioning the boy and holding him in check to keep
+him from slicing up Merriwell."
+
+Lazaro turned to Felipe.
+
+"What great wrong has Merriwell done you?" he questioned.
+
+Then Felipe hurriedly told how Frank was working a rich mine on land
+that had been granted to Sebastian Jalisco by the first president of
+Mexico, General Victoria, and how the American had declared the grant a
+forgery and had refused to pay a dollar of tribute to Felipe.
+
+"Dear boy," said Lazaro, with an air of gentleness, "I do not blame you
+if you can compel the gringo to give you anything; but Porfias had the
+only real title to that property that was worthy of consideration. Had
+he lived, he would have wrested everything from Merriwell. Now that he
+is dead, I shall take his place and do the work as he would have done
+it."
+
+"Of course, you think Senor del Norte's claim the only rightful one,"
+said Felipe; "but the grant to Guerrero del Norte was made eight years
+after that of President Victoria to Sebastian Jalisco. Besides, senor,
+President Pedraza's grant was revoked by President Santa Anna, and
+therefore is now wholly worthless."
+
+"There is no need to discuss it," said Lazaro, "You have my sympathy;
+but I must urge you, for your own sake and for mine, to attempt no harm
+to Merriwell. Leave him to me, and you shall have the pleasure of seeing
+all his plans go wrong, his fortune dwindle, his friends drop away, his
+sweetheart taken from him, his strength sapped, his beauty destroyed,
+and, at last, his life crushed out of his broken body."
+
+"It's a big job ye've contracted," said Bantry Hagan. "I'm afraid, me
+man, you don't realize what you're up against."
+
+"You think I cannot accomplish it?"
+
+"I have me doubts, and big ones they are."
+
+"Time will convince you. I learned of the existence of Felipe Jalisco,
+learned he was in this city, wished to see him, but knew not where to
+find him. I found you, and I said you should lead me to the boy. You did
+so."
+
+"You don't mean to tell me ye followed me here?"
+
+"I followed you, even though you fooled the officer who was watching
+you. I followed you, even though you stopped at corners and watched all
+who passed, seeking to make sure you were not followed. I saw you stand
+in the doorway and gaze back along the street; but you did not observe
+me. Thus you led me to Felipe Jalisco. To-night I strike my first blow
+at Frank Merriwell."
+
+"How?"
+
+"In my own way. First I will ruin his scheme to build a railroad in
+Sonora. For that purpose the first blow shall be made this night."
+
+"You're like Porfias del Norte turned into his own father!" declared
+Hagan. "When you talk you are him to the life, only that you are an old
+man with a furrowed face and snow-white hair. He was in the very flush
+of vigorous youth."
+
+A sigh escaped Lazaro's lips, and that sigh was precisely like many a
+one Hagan had heard Del Norte heave.
+
+"Ah, yes," said the man, with pathetic sadness; "I have looked in a
+mirror, and I know I am an old, old man. But Frank Merriwell shall not
+find me too old to wreak vengeance upon him!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+THE FIRST STROKE.
+
+
+The main dining room of the Waldorf-Astoria was well filled, almost
+every table being taken. The place was brilliantly lighted, the guests
+fashionably dressed, and the scene one to impress the unaccustomed
+visitor. The hidden orchestra was discoursing music to suit the taste of
+the most critical.
+
+Seated at a table on the Fifth Avenue side were two men who attracted
+more or less attention. Old Gripper Scott was known by sight to many of
+those present, and, being one of the great American money kings,
+naturally received more than cursory notice.
+
+But it seemed that the remarkable-appearing white-haired man, who sat
+opposite Old Gripper, was surveyed with even more interest than that
+accorded the great financier. His deeply furrowed face, his snowy hair,
+and his black, piercing eyes gave him a remarkable look that was certain
+to attract the second glance of any one who chanced to observe him.
+
+"Who is he?" was the question asked by scores of diners.
+
+"He's a fabulously wealthy Mexican who has come on to take a hand in
+some of Old Gripper's deals," explained one man, who seemed to know
+something about it.
+
+Watson Scott found Alvarez Lazaro the soul of polished politeness. The
+musical talk of the Mexican was very entertaining, yet strangely
+soothing.
+
+"After we have our coffee," said Lazaro, "I will convince you beyond
+doubt, senor, that my pledge to take one thousand shares of Central
+Sonora at par may be considered by you the same as the actual deposit of
+the money for the stock. I never like to talk business while dining. I
+know you Americans have your downtown luncheon clubs, where you go to
+discuss business affairs while you eat; but I do not think I could ever
+bring myself to adopt the habit."
+
+"It has been found necessary in order to save time," said Scott. "With
+the New Yorker of affairs time is money."
+
+"I understand that, senor; but still my prejudice against it persists.
+It will not take me long after dinner. You can spare a little more time.
+I shall regret to part from you even then."
+
+"Are all your countrymen so free with complimentary speeches?"
+
+"Unlike you men of the North," retorted Lazaro, "we do not hide our
+feelings, but speak them freely. Perhaps it is a failing, for I find
+that Americans often become suspicious when praised or complimented; but
+still, what my heart feels my tongue persists in revealing before I can
+check it."
+
+"All right," nodded Scott, with something like a touch of gruffness;
+"but don't lay it on too thick."
+
+"One question perhaps I may ask while we are waiting for the dessert,
+even if it seems too much of business."
+
+"Fire away."
+
+"I would like to know that this scheme is assured."
+
+"The construction of the railroad?"
+
+"Yes, senor."
+
+"Of course it----"
+
+"If anything serious were to happen to important members of your
+company--to you, Senor Scott, we will say?"
+
+"Why, I suppose the others would push her through."
+
+"But if something happened to Senor Hatch and Senor Bragg?"
+
+"Well, now you're supposing a wholesale calamity! I don't know what
+would happen if we were all knocked out before construction
+began--before the stock was placed on the market."
+
+"It might put an end to the project?"
+
+"It might," admitted Old Gripper.
+
+"That would be most unfortunate for Senor Merriwell," said the Mexican,
+as if he almost feared something of the sort was going to take place.
+
+Coffee was finally brought.
+
+"Senor," said Lazaro, "I know it is impolite to turn to look behind
+one, but sitting at the third table back of you is a tall, thin man with
+a prominent nose, and I am certain I have met him somewhere, but I
+cannot recall his name. If you could get a look at him without too much
+trouble----"
+
+Watson Scott was not given to great stiffness anywhere. He drew his feet
+from beneath the table, placed them at one side of his chair and half
+turned on the seat, looking round at the man indicated by Lazaro.
+
+As Old Gripper did this the Mexican leaned far over the table and
+reached out his hand as if to touch his companion on the elbow. Instead
+of doing this, he seemed to change his mind; but his hand swept over the
+small cup of black coffee that stood in front of the other man, and
+something fell into that cup.
+
+"That is Henry Babcock, of the Cuban Plantation Supply Company,"
+explained Scott, turning back.
+
+"Then I was mistaken," said the Mexican. "I have never met the
+gentleman."
+
+They sipped their coffee, Lazaro continuing talking.
+
+Scott emptied his cup.
+
+"I've had a hard day, but that will keep me awake for the next four
+hours," he remarked. "I'm going to the theatre with a party of friends
+to-night, and I don't want to nod over the old play."
+
+After a brief time a vexed look came to his rugged face, and he swept
+his hand across his eyes.
+
+"Is anything wrong, senor?" questioned Lazaro.
+
+"I'm afraid my eyes are going back on me. They're blurry now. I swear I
+hate to take up wearing spectacles!"
+
+Directly he leaned his head on his hand, with his elbow on the table.
+
+"I fear you are not feeling well, Senor Scott," said the man of the
+snowy hair and coal-black eyes.
+
+"I'm not," confessed Old Gripper thickly. "Can't understand it. Never
+felt this way before. I'm afraid I'm going to be ill. Let's get out of
+here."
+
+Already Lazaro had paid the check and tipped the waiter. They arose and
+started to leave the dining room. With his second step Watson Scott
+staggered.
+
+In a moment his companion had him by the arm, expressing in a low tone
+the greatest regret and anxiety.
+
+"I want air!" muttered Scott. "I--I'm going home. Please get my topcoat
+and hat for me. My check is somewhere in my pocket. Get a hansom, for
+that will give me a chance to breathe."
+
+Lazaro felt in Scott's pocket and found the check, for which he obtained
+the man's overcoat and hat. He expressed his sorrow that this thing
+should happen, and, with the aid of an attendant, assisted the tottering
+man outside and lifted him into a hansom. Scott's wits seemed wholly
+muddled, for he could not give his home address; but this was not
+necessary, for the driver happened to know it.
+
+The hansom turned away, and Alvarez Lazaro wheeled to reenter the hotel.
+
+He found himself face to face with Frank Merriwell.
+
+Lazaro halted.
+
+Frank had stopped in his tracks, his eyes fastened on the man.
+
+A moment they stood thus, and then the Mexican bowed, saying with cold
+politeness:
+
+"Your pardon, senor. You are in my way."
+
+That voice gave Merry a greater thrill than had the sight of the man's
+face. It was like one speaking from the grave, for the low, gentle voice
+had all the soft music of one Frank believed forever stilled by death.
+
+And those eyes--they were the same. But that snow-white hair and the
+deeply furrowed face--how different!
+
+Yet about the man's face there was something that strongly reminded the
+youth of Porfias del Norte.
+
+"I beg your pardon," said Merry, in turn. "But the sight of you gave me
+a start. For a moment I fancied I knew you--that we had met before."
+
+"But now you realize your mistake, senor; now you know we have never met
+until this moment."
+
+"It is not likely that we have; but still you remind me powerfully of a
+man by the name of Porfias del Norte."
+
+"I knew him."
+
+"You knew him?"
+
+"I did, senor. He was my bosom friend. Who are you that knew my friend?"
+
+"My name is Merriwell."
+
+Alvarez Lazaro seemed to straighten and become rigid, while into his
+dark eyes crept an expression of hatred which he no longer tried to
+hide.
+
+"At last, Senor Merriwell," he said, the music having left his voice;
+"at last we meet! On the morrow I should have sought you."
+
+"For what purpose?"
+
+"To let you know that I have come."
+
+"How could that interest me?"
+
+"You will be interested before you see the last of me."
+
+Frank recognized the threat in the voice of the man.
+
+"What are you driving at? I don't understand you."
+
+"Possibly not. I have said that Porfias del Norte was my bosom friend."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"He is dead."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"It was through you that he came to his death."
+
+"He brought it on himself, and richly he merited it!" declared
+Merriwell hotly. "If ever a wretch got just what was coming to him it
+was Del Norte!"
+
+The eyes of Lazaro were gleaming with a smoldering fire.
+
+"Why did he deserve it? Was it because he found you usurping his
+privileges, enriching yourself from his property, while you refused to
+acknowledge his rights?"
+
+"He had no legal rights. He was a villain, every inch of him. He proved
+it by his dastardly conduct. Yes, he richly merited all that came to
+him."
+
+"Have you thought what a terrible death he died? Have you thought of him
+entombed alive, beating with his bare hands the stone walls within which
+he knew he must die, suffering the most frightful tortures that a human
+being may know? Have you thought of him smothering for want of air, his
+throat parched, his head bursting, his mind deranged? Have you thought
+of him praying to the saints, shrieking, moaning, sobbing, and dying at
+last in that horrible darkness? And yet you say he received no more than
+he merited!"
+
+"Poor devil!" muttered Merry. "It was a fearful thing. Even though he
+once tried to cut my tongue out, even though he meant to torture me and
+then kill me, I would not have had him endure such suffering."
+
+"You are so kind--so tender of heart!" sneered Lazaro. "Paugh!"
+
+He made a gesture of anger that was precisely the same as Del Norte
+might have done. Strange there was something about this old man that so
+powerfully resembled the youthful Del Norte!
+
+"You have his manner, his voice, his eyes! You might be his father."
+
+"I am simply his friend, Alvarez Lazaro--his friend and his avenger!"
+
+"Then you----"
+
+"I have sworn to avenge him!"
+
+The Mexican leaned toward Frank, swiftly hissing:
+
+"I have sworn to ruin you, to wreck your ambitions and your life, to
+make you suffer even as Porfias suffered in his last moments! Now you
+understand me! Now you know what to expect from me!"
+
+"You're insane! I see madness in your eyes! Be careful that you do not
+bring on yourself the fate that befell Del Norte."
+
+"No danger of that. I know how to accomplish what I have set myself to
+do. All your great plans shall go amiss. When you see things going
+wrong, when you find your fortune melting away, when the very earth
+seems crumbling beneath your feet, think of me and know my hand is
+behind it all. This night I have struck the first blow!"
+
+Then Lazaro stepped swiftly to one side, passed Merry, and entered the
+splendid hotel.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+THE SECOND STROKE.
+
+
+Frank Merriwell and Inza Burrage were driving in Central Park the
+following forenoon. At this early hour there was not the great number of
+turnouts in the park that would be seen later when languid society came
+out for its airing.
+
+"Inza," said Frank, "I no longer feel it absolutely necessary to make
+all haste back to Mexico. I shall take my time about it. The reports
+from the mine are favorable, and everything is progressing well. Hodge
+and Browning will return to the city to-morrow. They both expect that
+I'll be ready to start straight for Mexico. They'll be surprised to find
+I have it fixed so there is no need of haste."
+
+"The railroad project----"
+
+"Is settled."
+
+"The railroad will be built without your taking an active part in its
+actual construction?"
+
+"Yes; the newly organized company will look after that. Leave it to
+Watson Scott. I saw an item in a morning paper saying that Mr. Scott was
+suddenly taken ill at the Waldorf last night; but that he was resting
+comfortably this morning, and his physician did not apprehend any
+serious result. If anything serious did happen to Old Gripper, it might
+retard the railroad project for a time."
+
+"Now that Del Norte is gone, it seems that you should not have any great
+trouble, Frank?"
+
+Immediately Merry thought of the man with the snowy hair whom he had
+encountered in front of the Waldorf; but he decided to say nothing to
+Inza of that meeting. He did not wish to alarm her.
+
+"Yes," he laughed; "I feel like celebrating, and I have a little
+scheme."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Why can't we make up a party to visit Niagara and St. Louis."
+
+"Oh, splendid!" cried Inza eagerly.
+
+"Then you like the idea, sweetheart?"
+
+"I think it grand!"
+
+"And Elsie----"
+
+"I'm sure she'll be in for it. Although she has not said much, I know
+she dislikes to have Bart go away."
+
+"Then we'll carry out my plan. You may accompany us as far as St.
+Louis--perhaps farther."
+
+Inza bubbled with pleasure over this plan, beginning at once to talk of
+the fine times they would have.
+
+A closed carriage was passing them, going somewhat faster, in the same
+direction.
+
+Happening to glance toward the window of this carriage, Inza suddenly
+uttered a low cry and grasped Merry's coat sleeve.
+
+"Look look!" she exclaimed.
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"That man!"
+
+"Where?"
+
+"In that carriage. He was looking from the window, but he has leaned
+back now. I looked straight into his eyes, and it gave me a fearful
+shock, for they seemed to be the eyes of Porfias del Norte!"
+
+"How did the man look?"
+
+"He had a strange face that was deeply lined, and his hair was very
+white."
+
+"Alvarez Lazaro!" thought Merry. "The self-styled avenger is seeking his
+opportunity."
+
+Having driven in the park for some time, they finally halted at a little
+restaurant, a man appearing to take charge of their horses.
+
+Near at hand a man was stretched on the ground beneath an automobile,
+engaged in tinkering at it.
+
+Merry was about to enter the building with Inza when another man
+appeared, approached the one who was working at the automobile, and
+impatiently questioned him in regard to the progress he was making.
+
+"There is Mr. Hatch," said Frank. "I'll speak to him. I'll join you
+inside in a few moments, Inza."
+
+He turned back and approached Warren Hatch, who was standing and
+frowningly watching the efforts of the one who was tinkering at the
+automobile.
+
+"Good morning, Mr. Hatch," said Merry.
+
+The face of Hatch cleared a little, and he shook hands with Frank.
+
+"Glad to see you, Merriwell. Did you just drive up? Should have been
+away from here thirty minutes ago, but something happened to this old
+machine, and Casimer is having a dickens of a time fixing it. I've been
+to see Scott."
+
+"How is he?"
+
+"A sick man--a mighty sick man."
+
+"What is the matter?"
+
+"That's the queer thing about it. Doctor hasn't told. Don't believe he
+knows."
+
+"It is rather queer."
+
+"First the doctor fancied it might be something like paralysis or
+apoplexy; but it's not. You know Scott was taken while dining at the
+Waldorf with a man who claims to be interested in the Central Sonora
+project and expresses a desire to take on one thousand shares of the
+stock."
+
+"I didn't know about that."
+
+"Yes. I talked with Scott. He's weak and almost helpless. Can barely
+wiggle a finger, but he can talk, and his mind is not affected."
+
+"Why, the paper said he was very comfortable this morning."
+
+"He may be; but I'd rather see him more frisky."
+
+"You do not apprehend a serious termination?"
+
+"I hope not. Scott has a constitution like iron, and he won't die
+easily. Still, I shall be worried if he shows no signs of improvement
+to-day. Do you know, he told me that the man he dined with last night
+was a Mexican. I haven't much use for them. Found one here talking to
+Casimer a short time ago--a fellow with the whitest hair I've ever
+seen."
+
+Frank started.
+
+"I believe I've seen that man," he said. "He passed us in the park."
+
+"He was parley vooing with Casimer and bothering him," said Hatch. "I
+politely informed him that I was in a hurry, and asked him not to bother
+my chauffeur. Say, he turned and looked at me with a pair of black eyes
+that seemed as dangerous as loaded pistols. 'I beg your pardon, senor,'
+he purred. 'If I have bothered your chauffeur or delayed you in the
+least, I am very sorry. I trust you may get started soon and meet with
+no more serious accident to-day than this little breakdown.' I swear
+there was something in his manner so offensive that I felt like hitting
+him, and yet he was the very soul of politeness."
+
+Frank nodded, and Hatch noted a singular expression on the face of the
+youth.
+
+"What are you thinking of?" he inquired. "Something is running through
+your head."
+
+"It is. Did you ask Mr. Scott the name of the man with whom he dined
+last evening."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"It was----"
+
+"Alvarez Lazaro."
+
+"I thought it!"
+
+"Why, how did you know any----"
+
+"The white-haired man you met here is Alvarez Lazaro."
+
+"No?"
+
+"And this Lazaro has boldly informed me that he was once the bosom
+friend of Porfias del Norte and is now his avenger."
+
+"What's that?" gasped Hatch. "Why, what does he propose to do?"
+
+"He has threatened all sorts of things. Look out for him, Mr. Hatch. So
+he dined with Mr. Scott, did he? And Mr. Scott was taken ill at the
+Waldorf! Mr. Hatch, when I leave here I shall call on Mr. Scott's
+physician and have a talk with him. My suspicions are thoroughly
+aroused."
+
+"You don't suspect foul play, do you?"
+
+"As I have said, my suspicions are thoroughly aroused. This whole affair
+is queer."
+
+At this moment the chauffeur uttered an exclamation of satisfaction,
+backed from beneath the machine, wrench in hand, and announced that the
+breakdown was remedied at last.
+
+Frank remained until the machine was ready to start and Warren Hatch had
+stepped into it. Mr. Hatch waved his hand and was soon lost to view down
+the splendid park road.
+
+Just as Merry was on the verge of entering the restaurant, Inza, pale
+and agitated, came hurrying to him.
+
+"That man is here!" she said, her voice shaking. "I don't know why he
+frightens me so. I was seated inside, glancing at a magazine, when I
+happened to look up, and there he stood not more than five feet away. I
+had not heard a sound, but he was there, and those eyes were fastened on
+me in a manner that made my blood turn cold. I gave a cry and sprang up.
+Then he spoke, and, if possible, his voice terrified me even more than
+his eyes, for it was the voice of your bitterest enemy, Porfias del
+Norte. Of course, I know Del Norte is dead, Frank; but this man alarms
+me all the more because of that."
+
+"What did he say to you?"
+
+"He begged my pardon and said he had not meant to alarm me. He was very
+courteous, just the same as Del Norte. Can he be a relative of your
+enemy?"
+
+"I don't think so, Inza. Where is he now?"
+
+"He left at once by the door on the opposite side."
+
+"I'd like to see him a moment," said Merriwell grimly.
+
+"Keep away from him, Frank!" implored Inza, grasping his arm. "I don't
+understand it, but I have a feeling that he will bring some trouble to
+us."
+
+It was not an easy matter to fully reassure her, but Merry laughed at
+her and declared she was getting superstitious and whimsical.
+
+At the first opportunity he went in search of Lazaro, but was just in
+time to see the closed carriage he believed occupied by the Mexican
+disappearing in the direction of Fifth Avenue.
+
+Central Park is crossed by four sunken transverse roads, running east
+and west. These roads are mostly used by heavy trucks and wagons
+carrying merchandise. The park roads cross above them on massive
+foundations of arched masonry. Almost everywhere the pleasure roads of
+the park are guarded on either side by protecting walls at such places
+as might be productive of accident by permitting a frightened horse to
+plunge over into one of the sunken roads.
+
+On the return drive Frank and Inza came upon a gathering of curious
+persons at the end of one of these walls. They were gazing down toward
+the road below.
+
+On reaching the spot, Frank saw a wrecked automobile lying down there.
+Evidently the machine had veered from the road, shot past the end of the
+wall, plunged down the bank, and leaped off into the road, in its final
+plunge turning completely over.
+
+Something caused Merry to pull up and inquire if any one had been hurt.
+
+"Yes, sir," answered one of the bystanders. "An officer told me that the
+owner of the machine was badly--perhaps fatally--injured. The chauffeur
+jumped right here as the machine left the road, and he escaped with a
+few slight bruises."
+
+"Seems to me that was strange behavior for the chauffeur. As a rule,
+drivers stick to their machines to the last. Who was the owner?"
+
+"Why, it was Mr. Warren Hatch, the----"
+
+"Mr. Hatch?" gasped Frank.
+
+"Do you know him, sir?"
+
+"Yes. Where have they taken him?"
+
+"To some hospital. The officer yonder will tell you, I think."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+On arriving at his hotel, Frank found a letter addressed to him. He tore
+it open and read as follows:
+
+     "The first and second blows have been struck!
+
+                                    "THE AVENGER."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+OLD SPOONER.
+
+
+Felipe Jalisco always leaped to his feet like a cat when a knock sounded
+on his door. He could tell in a twinkling if it was Hagan who knocked.
+This time he knew it was not. The rap had been faltering and feeble.
+
+Jalisco's hand sought the knife he always carried.
+
+"Who is it?" he demanded.
+
+The reply to this question was a repetition of the hesitating knocking.
+
+"Who are you? and what do you want?" sharply cried the Mexican lad.
+
+"I am very sorry to disturb you," said a cracked, unsteady voice. "I
+have the next room. You can do me a favor."
+
+Now Felipe was lonesome. Staying hidden in that squalid room had made
+him wretched and homesick. He longed to talk to some one, and he
+cautiously opened the door.
+
+Outside stood a man bent as if with age, leaning heavily on a crooked
+cane. He was the picture of poverty. His threadbare clothes had been
+mended in many places. His dirty, gray hair was long and uncombed. The
+soles of his shoes were almost wholly worn away, and the uppers were
+broken in two or three places. He brushed his hair back from his eyes
+with a trembling hand that seemed unfamiliar with soap and water.
+
+"I hope I have not disturbed you," he said meekly. "I have torn the
+sleeve of my coat on a nail. I would like to borrow a needle and thread
+to mend it. I must keep myself looking as well as I possibly can, for my
+lawyer may call any moment to inform me that I have won my suit and am a
+very wealthy man."
+
+"I am sorry, senor," said Felipe; "but it is not my fortune to possess a
+needle and thread."
+
+The old man lifted one trembling, curved hand to the back of his ear,
+which he turned toward the speaker.
+
+"I didn't quite get your answer," he said. "I am a trifle deaf--only a
+trifle."
+
+Felipe raised his voice.
+
+"I have not a needle and thread. I would willingly assist you if I had.
+I am sorry."
+
+"I am sorry, too," sighed the old man, looking regretfully at the rent
+in his sleeve. "I should be greatly mortified if my lawyer came and
+found me in this condition."
+
+The boy felt that this wretched old man would be better company than
+none at all.
+
+"Won't you come in and sit down?" he asked.
+
+"Eh?"
+
+"I would be pleased to have you come in, senor."
+
+"Oh, I don't know. I'm not dressed for calling. But then, as we room
+near each other, I presume you'll see me often in my working clothes."
+
+He entered the room and lowered himself upon the chair that Felipe
+placed. The boy sat on the bed.
+
+"Did I understand you to say, senor, that you have the next room?"
+
+"Eh? A little louder, please."
+
+Jalisco repeated the question.
+
+"Yes, yes," answered the old man. "I have just taken it. Had to pay a
+week in advance, and it happens that it took all my money, therefore I'm
+unable to purchase a needle and thread. But," he quickly added, "in a
+very few days, when the law gives me my rights, I shall have money
+enough to purchase all the needles and all the thread in this city
+without realizing that I have spent anything at all."
+
+"Then you expect to come into an inheritance, senor?" questioned the boy
+loudly.
+
+"Not just that," was the answer. "I shall obtain my rights. I shall be
+given a just reward for the invention that was stolen from me and has
+made other men rich."
+
+Between the old man and the boy there seemed to be a bond of sympathy
+which the latter felt.
+
+"So you, too, have been robbed?" he cried.
+
+"Basely robbed!" declared the visitor nodding his trembling head. "My
+name is Roscoe Spooner. I invented what is known as the Guilford Air
+Brake. The product of my brain was stolen from me by Henry Guilford, who
+has made so much money from it that he is now a very rich man. But
+everything he possesses, his splendid home, his carriages, horses, and
+his yacht, are rightfully mine. He has enjoyed his stolen wealth a long
+time, but it will not be his much longer. My suit against him must be
+decided in my favor, and then I shall come into my own."
+
+Felipe was interested.
+
+"How long ago did you perfect this invention?"
+
+"How long? It seems almost a hundred years; but it really was not
+fifteen."
+
+"How was it stolen by this Guilford, senor?"
+
+"I trusted him. He told me he would furnish the capital and would place
+my invention on the market. I believed him an honest man. I permitted
+him to have my model. He patented it, calling it the Guilford Air Brake.
+When I demanded my just share of the profits, he laughed in my face and
+called me a crazy old fool. He even had me arrested for annoying him.
+And my invention has filled his pockets with hundreds of thousands of
+dollars."
+
+"That was in truth a most dishonest thing, old gentleman. What then did
+you do?"
+
+"I found a lawyer to take the case and brought suit against him."
+
+"I would have killed him!"
+
+"I have thought of that. Once I did borrow a pistol and go in search of
+him; but when we met I could not bear to think of the terrible thing I
+had contemplated, and he never knew how near to death he was."
+
+"It is not my way. At least, had you tried, you might have frightened
+him into giving you something."
+
+"Had I tried that, it would have cost me my liberty. I am sure he would
+have lodged me in prison."
+
+"Perhaps so," muttered Felipe. "You're a simple old fool, and you
+wouldn't know how to work it."
+
+"What did you say?" asked the old man, who had seen the boy's lips move,
+but apparently had not understood his words.
+
+"This Guilford must be a very wicked man. Your suit against him was
+useless?"
+
+"The verdict favored him, but I appealed. In the end I shall win. My
+lawyer has told me so. He may appear to-day, or to-morrow, or the next
+day, and inform me that I have won. I am looking for him any time."
+
+"And he'll never come," muttered the boy.
+
+"I shall not stay here long," asserted the old inventor. "My room is
+very poor, but when I think that it is only for a short time that I must
+occupy it, then I am contented. I had a room in another place, where it
+cost a great deal more: but I decided to move and economize while
+waiting for my rights."
+
+Felipe wondered how the old man existed, deciding at once that he must
+pick up a meagre living by begging.
+
+"I, too, am waiting here until I come into my rights," said the boy.
+"Like you, I have been robbed. Unlike you, I'll not wait so long. Either
+I'll have what is mine, or I'll kill the man who has robbed me."
+
+"'Thou shalt not kill.' To have the stain of blood on one's hands must
+be terrible."
+
+"The Jaliscos belong to a family that kills."
+
+At this juncture there came another knock at the door, but this time
+Felipe knew who it was.
+
+He had the door open in a moment, and Bantry Hagan walked in.
+
+"Oh, it's company you have, me boy!" exclaimed the Irishman, looking
+wonderingly at old Spooner.
+
+"A gentleman who has the next room. He dropped in to borrow a needle and
+thread."
+
+"It's careful you'd better be, Felipe."
+
+"Never fear; it is all right."
+
+The old man dragged himself up from the chair.
+
+"I'll go back to my room," he said. "I hope I have not taken up too much
+of your time."
+
+"Not at all, senor. I shall be pleased to have you come again."
+
+When old Spooner was gone and the door closed, Hagan observed:
+
+"What cemetery did you dig him from, Felipe? Who is he, me boy?"
+
+"A deranged old man, who thinks he has invented something and that it
+was stolen from him. He expects to recover his rights and become very
+rich. He has the next room."
+
+"Then it's careful we'd better talk, for he may hear."
+
+"No danger, Senor Hagan, for he is extremely deaf. I am glad you came,
+for I was tired shouting to make him understand me. What is the good
+news you bring?"
+
+"Things are moving, Felipe. By my soul, I believe this vengeful being is
+really keeping his oath to make it warm for Frank Merriwell. When I was
+here last night I told you that old Gripper Scott had been taken ill and
+that Warren Hatch was in the hospital from a smash-up that had broken
+several of his ribs."
+
+"_Si, senor._"
+
+"Felipe, my eyes have been opened since last night. Alvarez Lazaro dined
+with Watson Scott the night the latter was taken ill. He talked
+confidentially with the chauffeur of Warren Hatch a short time before
+Hatch was smashed up in his automobile."
+
+"You think, Senor Hagan, you think--what?"
+
+"Whist! Don't be after breathing that I told you; but it's a fancy I
+have that Senor Lazaro could tell us the cause of the mysterious illness
+of Watson Scott, and could explain just why the automobile of Warren
+Hatch plunged down an embankment and smashed him up, while his chauffeur
+leaped and escaped. Lazaro is striking first at the railroad builders."
+
+"And I am cooped here!" cried the boy. "I'll stay no longer! Why should
+I? I'm going out! I'm going to have a part in this!"
+
+"And it's pinched you'll be in a minute."
+
+"The police----"
+
+"Are looking for ye now, just the same. Besides that, this Merriwell is
+doing his best to get track of ye. I didn't wish to worry you, so I
+didn't tell how he tried to follow me last night when I came here."
+
+"Did he? Did he?"
+
+"Sure he did. I don't know just where he ran across me, but first I knew
+he was tracking me through the streets."
+
+"You came just the same."
+
+"When I had neatly given him the slip. Oh, I fooled him, Felipe. I left
+him to wonder where I had gone."
+
+"Lazaro followed you here."
+
+"Because I did not get my eye on Lazaro, as I did on Frank Merriwell.
+Don't worry, boy; he'll never find ye through me."
+
+"If he came here, he'd not get away alive!" hissed Felipe.
+
+"Make no mistake about him, me lad; he can fight with the best of them.
+Some friends of his have arrived in town, and I think they're taking up
+the most of his attention now. It's planning some sort of a trip they
+are."
+
+"I can't stay here in this place much longer, Senor Hagan. I shall go
+mad!"
+
+"Wait a little. I met Lazaro this morning on Broadway. Says he, 'If you
+see Felipe to-day, tell him I will come and cheer his heart with good
+news this night.' I'll drop round myself, so it's not lonesome you'll
+be."
+
+"Well, I will wait a little longer," said Felipe.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Had it been possible for Hagan and Felipe to look into the next room
+just then they would have been greatly surprised by the singular conduct
+of old Spooner.
+
+Between the two rooms there was a door, one panel of which was cracked.
+No longer bent and shaking, the man in the adjoining room was standing
+with one ear pressed close to the split panel. In spite of the fact that
+he had seemed quite deaf while talking with the Mexican lad, his
+appearance just now was that of one listening intently.
+
+Shortly after Hagan left, Felipe heard the door of old Spooner's room
+open and close, following which there was a faltering, shuffling step on
+the stairs and the thump, thump, thump of a cane, growing fainter until
+it could be heard no longer.
+
+"The old man has gone out to beg," thought Jalisco.
+
+After leaving the house, old Spooner faltered along the street, turned
+several corners, and finally arrived at another house, which he entered.
+
+Ascending one flight of stairs, he unlocked a door and disappeared into
+a hall room, closing and locking the door behind him.
+
+Fully thirty minutes passed before that door was unlocked and opened
+again.
+
+Out of that room stepped a tall, straight, clear-eyed, manly looking
+youth, who bore not the remotest resemblance to the tottering old man
+who had entered.
+
+This youth ran down the stairs, left the house, and turned westward,
+swinging away with long strides.
+
+"Merriwell," he muttered, as he walked, "I almost believe you could have
+been a successful detective had you chosen that profession."
+
+Some time later he arrived at a Broadway hotel and found assembled in a
+suite of rooms several persons, who greeted his appearance with
+exclamations of great satisfaction.
+
+"We were getting worried about you, Frank," declared Inza, hurrying to
+meet him and giving him both her hands. "We had almost decided that
+something serious had happened to you."
+
+"Didn't know but this new freak with the snowy hair had gobbled you up,"
+said Bart Hodge.
+
+"Told you he was all right," grunted Bruce Browning, who was lounging on
+the most comfortable chair in the place.
+
+"You were so weary you didn't want to bother about going to make
+inquiries for him," said Elsie Bellwood. "Mrs. Medford was on the point
+of applying to the police."
+
+"According to all the stories I hear," put in Mrs. Medford, "I believe
+it best for you to get out of this wicked city just as soon as possible,
+Frank."
+
+Frank laughed.
+
+"If everything goes well," he declared, "we'll be ready to start by day
+after to-morrow."
+
+"Tell us just where you have been and what you have been doing," urged
+Inza.
+
+"I've been doing a little character work."
+
+"Character work?"
+
+"Yes. I can't get over my old penchant for acting."
+
+But, although they were very curious, he evaded making a complete
+explanation then.
+
+A little later he found an opportunity to speak with Bart and Bruce
+without being overheard by the girls or Mrs. Medford.
+
+"Look here, you two," he said, "I'm going to need you to-night. Don't
+make any plans about dinner or the theatre. Provide yourselves with
+pistols, for you may have to use them. Be ready when I want you."
+
+"This is rather interesting," said Hodge. "What's the game, Frank?"
+
+"The game will be to capture a nice little bunch of human tigers."
+
+"Human tigers!" grunted Browning. "That sounds like the real thing, old
+man. Can't you put us wise a little more?"
+
+"Not now. I'm going to call up my friend Bronson, the detective, and get
+him into it, for I believe he will be needed. I hope that this night
+I'll be able to effectually checkmate some very dangerous rascals."
+
+Merry did not use the phone in the suite, but went down to the booths in
+the hotel lobby. There he called up police headquarters and asked for
+Bronson.
+
+"He's just come in," was the answer. "Have him to the phone in a
+moment."
+
+Directly Bronson himself inquired what was wanted.
+
+"This is Merriwell," explained Frank. "Is there anything that will
+prevent you from giving me your services to-night?"
+
+"Well, nothing that I know of, if the business is important; but I'll
+have to know what's doing in order to make it right here."
+
+"I don't like to explain over the phone," said Frank. "If you can wait,
+I'll jump into a cab and come right down to tell you all about it."
+
+"I'll wait," was the assurance.
+
+Merry lost no time in taking a cab for police headquarters, where he
+found the plain-clothes man waiting for him.
+
+"Bronson," said Merriwell, "I've found Felipe Jalisco."
+
+"Have you? Well, it will give me some satisfaction to again get my hands
+on that slippery chap."
+
+"But I believe I have found something far more important. You know I
+told you that I was convinced of foul play in the Watson Scott affair,
+and also in the seeming accident that happened to Warren Hatch."
+
+"Which seems entirely improbable to me."
+
+"I think I'll be able to convince you to-night that I was not mistaken
+in either case. Further than that, I hope to place within your grasp the
+wretch who drugged Scott and bribed Hatch's chauffeur to bring about
+that accident."
+
+"If you can do that, and if we succeed in securing the villain, it will
+be a corking piece of work. I think it will prove the sensation of the
+hour."
+
+"Listen," said Frank, "and I will tell you my plan."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+THE FLAMES DO THEIR WORK.
+
+
+Early that evening old Spooner returned, accompanied by an even more
+disreputable-looking old man than himself.
+
+Felipe heard them slowly and laboriously fumbling their way up the dark
+stairs, recognized the sound of Spooner's cane, and flung open the door
+of his room that the light of his oil lamp might aid them.
+
+"Bless you, boy!" panted old Spooner. "These stairs are
+dark--heathenishly dark."
+
+"I see to-night you have with you a friend, senor,"' observed the
+Mexican boy.
+
+"Yes, poor fellow. I have seen him much on the streets. He stays with me
+frequently. He is deaf and dumb."
+
+"Two beggar cronies," muttered Felipe, in Spanish, as he closed the door
+after they had vanished shufflingly into old Spooner's room. "Now I know
+quite well how the old man lives, but it is a poor living he gets."
+
+Once or twice Felipe fancied he detected faint, suspicious sounds in the
+hall; but when he listened at the door he heard nothing more.
+
+He did not see a number of shadowy figures which came up those unsteady
+stairs in a marvelously silent manner and vanished into the room
+occupied by old Spooner.
+
+It was quite late when the listening boy fancied he heard a familiar
+step on the stairs. In a twinkling he was close to the door. Two persons
+were coming.
+
+Then sounded a sharp, familiar knock, upon which Felipe flung open the
+door, crying:
+
+"Welcome, senors! I had begun to fear you would not come to see me this
+night."
+
+"Oh, we're here, me boy," chuckled Hagan, as he entered, with Alvarez
+Lazaro at his heels. "It's suspicious our friend Lazaro became on
+account of a queer thing. He's been shadowed by the police since
+yesterday. Now you can't guess why he grew suspicious?"
+
+"I cannot," confessed Jalisco, closing and locking the door.
+
+"The coppers stopped watching him," laughed the Irishman. "Although he
+tried to discover some one chasing him about, not a soul took the
+trouble. When I met him all ready to come here, he told me the action of
+the police worried him and made him suspicious."
+
+"Had they continued to watch me," said Lazaro, "I could have given them
+the slip and laughed; but when I could discover no one watching, I knew
+not what to do."
+
+"It's all right," nodded Hagan, as he took a seat on the bed. "Devil a
+soul followed us here."
+
+Lazaro did not sit down, although the boy offered the only chair and
+urged him to take it.
+
+"No," he said; "I choose to stand. I shall not remain long, but I came
+to give you news that will cheer your heart. Senor Hagan says he has
+told you of the sudden illness of Senor Watson Scott and of the accident
+which happened to Senor Warren Hatch. Thus you see, Felipe, already two
+of the great men who were going to build Frank Merriwell's railroad in
+Sonora are flat on their backs, and why both of them are not dead is
+more than I can understand. Senor Scott must have a constitution like
+iron, for he drank all the coffee in which I dropped a powder that
+should have ended his life."
+
+"Then it was you who did it?" cried Felipe.
+
+"Yes; I have begun the work of ruining Merriwell's plans, bringing him
+to poverty and wretchedness and destroying him at last. Did I tell you
+once that I was the bosom friend of Porfias del Norte? I am Del Norte
+himself!
+
+"Del Norte, a youth, died in that cave; but Del Norte, the old man you
+see before you, rose from it. I am Del Norte, the old man; but to the
+world I am Alvarez Lazaro, the avenger of Del Norte. I have sworn to
+destroy Merriwell and make him suffer even as I suffered. I am losing no
+time. I began with the purpose of blocking Merriwell's railroad scheme.
+Human life is nothing to me.
+
+"I poisoned Watson Scott. I bribed the chauffeur of Warren Hatch to send
+him crashing over the bank. Next I will strike Sudbury Bragg. My plan is
+made. I am ready. The railroad shall not be built. Great accidents shall
+happen in Merriwell's mine. An evil spell shall fall on it. Men will die
+or flee from it in terror. All Merriwell attempts shall fail. In the end
+I will mock him and bring him to a terrible death."
+
+Barely had Lazaro spoken these boastful words when the door fell with a
+crash, and Frank Merriwell himself, with his friends behind him, stood
+in the doorway. He had cast aside the wig and a part of his disguise,
+and the startled trio of rascals recognized him before he spoke.
+
+"Lazaro," he cried, "your tongue has betrayed you, and your vile
+plotting is done. Even if Scott and Hatch live, you'll get twenty years,
+at the very least. The house is surrounded by police. There is no
+escape! Surrender!"
+
+With a furious oath, Del Norte rushed at Frank, drawing a knife. He
+struck at Merry's heart, but his wrist was seized and the knife was
+twisted from his grasp.
+
+Hodge and Browning crowded into the small room. A struggle followed, in
+the midst of which there was a crash and a flare of fire.
+
+The oil lamp had been overturned. Burning oil was flung all over the
+room, and the flames leaped up eagerly.
+
+In the midst of this excitement Bantry Hagan managed to get out of the
+room. He saw policemen coming up the stairs, and he ran along the hall,
+intending to flee up another flight. In the hall he struck against
+Merriwell, who had Lazaro pinned to the floor.
+
+Frank was knocked aside and his hold on the villain broken.
+
+At the same moment he heard a cry of distress from Browning.
+
+"Great heavens! Hodge is afire! He'll be burned to death!"
+
+Hodge, Frank's dearest friend, was in frightful peril. That cry caused
+Merry to leave Lazaro, thinking there could be no escape for the man.
+Browning had torn some of the bedding from the bed, and this he wrapped
+about Bart, assisted by Frank. Thus the flames were quickly smothered
+and Hodge was saved.
+
+"That's a bad fire in this coop!" cried one of the police. "The old trap
+will go."
+
+"Get the people out!" shouted Frank. "Save the people, even though
+Lazaro escapes!"
+
+"He'll not get out without being nabbed," declared Sam Bronson.
+
+The whole building was in an uproar now. Men were shouting, women
+shrieking, and children crying. They came swarming down the stairs,
+falling over one another, pushing, shoving, fighting to get out.
+
+In the room where the fire started, which was now a sea of flames, Frank
+saw a figure groping with outstretched arms, clothing all ablaze.
+
+Merriwell rushed in there, dragged the fellow out, beat at the fire with
+his bare hands, stripped off his coat, muffled some of the flames and
+finally extinguished them, just as he was swept down the stairs in the
+midst of a human river. In his powerful arms he carried the one he had
+rescued at the peril of his own life.
+
+Out into the open air Merry was thrust. He clung to the moaning chap he
+had dragged from the flames.
+
+"Send in an ambulance call!" he cried to a policeman. "This boy has been
+badly burned."
+
+The eyes of Felipe Jalisco stared at him in wonderment, for all of the
+agony the lad was suffering.
+
+"Why did you do it--you, my enemy?" he marveled. "Why didn't you leave
+me there to die? Then I would be out of your way and could give you no
+further trouble."
+
+"That's not my way of doing business," said Merry, as he carried the
+Mexican lad to a place of safety and sat holding him in his arms until
+the ambulance came.
+
+Fire engines shrieked and roared their mad way to the scene of the
+conflagration. The firemen hastened with their work, but the building
+was doomed.
+
+When Jalisco had been removed in the ambulance, Merry sought for
+Bronson, and finally found him.
+
+"Did you get Lazaro?" he asked.
+
+"Couldn't find the fellow," was the regretful answer. "In that mad
+turmoil it was impossible to do a thing."
+
+"I wonder what has become of him?" said Frank.
+
+"There is your answer!" shouted Bruce Browning, clutching Merry's arm
+with one hand and pointing with the other to one of the upper windows of
+the doomed tenement.
+
+A man appeared in that window. Behind him was a glare of fire, and the
+red light showed the man distinctly. His hair was white as the driven
+snow.
+
+For a moment it seemed that the man contemplated leaping. Those below
+shouted for him to wait, and the firemen hastened with a ladder. He was
+seen to turn and shade his face from the heat with his lifted arm. Then
+he disappeared from the window.
+
+Barely had this occurred when some of the inner portions of the building
+fell and the flames poured forth from a score of windows. Within thirty
+seconds the whole place was a roaring furnace.
+
+"That's the last of Alvarez Lazaro!" said Bart Hodge, who had escaped
+serious injury and was watching in company with Browning and Merriwell.
+"His murderous plotting is finished. He'll never trouble you again,
+Frank."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+THE PATIENT AND THE VISITOR.
+
+
+In a private ward of a New York City hospital lay Felipe Jalisco so
+hidden with bandages that scarcely more than his eyes could be seen. The
+patient's hands and wrists were likewise hidden by bandages.
+
+The door of the room opened gently, and a white-gowned, white-capped,
+soft-footed nurse stepped in.
+
+"A visitor to see you," she said, in a low tone.
+
+She was followed at once by Frank Merriwell, who stepped quickly to the
+side of the cot, a look of deep sympathy and regret in his brown eyes as
+he gazed down at the patient.
+
+The dark eyes that looked back at him seemed filled with wonderment and
+surprise.
+
+Stooping over the cot, Merriwell spoke in his gentlest tones.
+
+"How are you, my poor boy?" he said. "They would not let me see you
+before, saying it was best that you should be quiet and unexcited."
+
+From amid the bandages a soft voice answered:
+
+"They tell me I shall get well, Senor Merriwell, but I shall be horribly
+scarred during all the rest of the life which I may live. It is good to
+live, but it is terrible to be hideous."
+
+"I am sorry for you, Felipe," declared Merry, in a tone that told of the
+utmost sincerity.
+
+For a single moment it seemed that the boy on the cot doubted.
+
+"Why should you for me be sorry?" he asked. "It was I who swore to kill
+you."
+
+"Because you thought yourself injured and your passionate nature longed
+for revenge. To you it seemed that I refused to give you justice. You
+thought me powerful, and arrogant, and selfish, and you were aroused
+against me until your heart was filled with fire."
+
+"It is true my heart within my bosom burned," admitted the boy. "Since
+the fire from which you dragged me I have thought much. You knew I hated
+you, you knew I claimed your mine, you knew I meant to make you trouble,
+you knew I might kill you--yet you beat out the flames, smothered them,
+lifted me, carried me from the burning building, saved my life. Why
+didn't you leave me to die and get me out of your way? I do not
+understand."
+
+Merry sat down beside the cot.
+
+"I will try to make you understand. I sought to look at the whole matter
+from your standpoint, and I fancied I knew how you felt about it. To you
+I was a villain and a wretch. Instead of hating you because you hated
+me, I longed to justify myself in your eyes. I longed for the
+opportunity to show you that I was not the scoundrel you thought me."
+
+"To me it seemed you did not care. I thought at me you laughed and
+sneered."
+
+"You see now that you were wrong, Felipe. It was not you I scorned; it
+was your companion and adviser, Bantry Hagan, a scheming rascal, every
+inch of him. Hagan is a fighter, and he does not acknowledge defeat.
+When the plot of Porfias del Norte failed and Del Norte was buried by
+the landslide in the Adirondacks, it seemed to Hagan that he had been
+defeated, and the taste was bitter to him. When chance led you across
+his path, he saw an opportunity to renew the battle against me, and he
+used you to do so. Behind you I saw Hagan all the while."
+
+"But you--is it now true that you deny the justice of my claim, Senor
+Merriwell. It was to defy Senor Hagan that you denied it? Ah! I
+understand at last."
+
+"I am afraid you do not quite understand," said Merry, shaking his head.
+"You have in your possession a document that seems to prove your right
+to a certain tract of land, granted to your great-grandfather by
+President Victoria in eighteen twenty-four."
+
+"_Si, senor._"
+
+"It happens, Felipe, my boy, that I have made a close investigation and
+study of the records in regard to that particular territory. I learned
+by doing so that President Pedraza did make a grant of such land to
+Guerrero del Norte in eighteen thirty-two; but that the grant was
+afterward annulled when Guerrero was proclaimed a bandit by Santa Anna.
+That disposed of the claim of Porfias del Norte, for had he lived he
+could not have induced the Mexican government to reaffirm the old grant.
+But, Felipe, there is no record that President Victoria ever made a
+concession or grant of such territory to your great-grandfather."
+
+"I have the proof! I have the document!"
+
+"Unrecorded and worthless. Listen, my boy. Since you appeared and made
+your claim I wired my agents in the City of Mexico, and they have been
+investigating your right to any Sonora territory. To-day I received from
+them a message which I have here. When you are better you shall read
+it."
+
+"It says what?" eagerly asked Felipe.
+
+"It says that Sebastian Jalisco was at no time a colonel in the Mexican
+army. That after his death certain parties did attempt to get possession
+of valuable territory in Sonora by producing a forged land grant; but
+that the rascals were soon forced to take to cover to save their lives,
+after which nothing more was heard of 'Colonel' Jalisco's claim to
+Sonora land."
+
+Frank spoke slowly, in order that the boy might understand every word.
+
+Felipe Jalisco lay quite still some moments, his breast heaving.
+
+"If this, then, is the truth," he finally said, in a tone that was
+scarcely audible, "it is I who am wholly in the wrong. The document is
+worthless."
+
+"It is worthless, Felipe, I give you my word of honor. I felt sure of it
+after examining the document the first time. Had I believed it of the
+slightest value, you would have received different treatment at my
+hands."
+
+Felipe moved his bandaged hands in a fumbling manner, and in his dark
+eyes there was a peculiar look of mingled disappointment and
+satisfaction.
+
+"All the dreams I have had are done," he breathed. "Perhaps it is well.
+I believe you. There is truth in your eyes. You saved me from death.
+There is mercy in your heart. Even knew I my claim to be just, I could
+not strike at one who had saved me from death. Perhaps for me it would
+have been best to die!"
+
+There was deepest pathos and despair in the final words.
+
+"Oh, no, Felipe!" exclaimed Frank.
+
+"For what shall I live now?"
+
+"For your father and mother."
+
+"I have neither."
+
+"For your friends."
+
+"I have none."
+
+"Then let me be your friend," argued Merry. "I'll try to find something
+that shall make life worth living for you."
+
+"Enough trouble I have been to you already. You save my life! You send
+me here! I am not in the free ward; I am where it costs. I ask who pay.
+They tell me Senor Merriwell pay for everything. Then I think and think
+a long time. First I think you do it because you know you have wronged
+me much, and it is your conscience that compels you. Now I know it is
+not that. Now I know it is your good heart. Still, I do not quite
+understand. What more for me would you do? The debt I cannot now pay."
+
+"Don't look at it in that light. I need a trusty fellow in Mexico--one
+who speaks Spanish and the patois of the half-blood laborers. Maybe you
+will help me. You might become invaluable to me. I will pay you----"
+
+The Mexican lad quickly lifted one of his bandaged hands.
+
+"Pay me!" he exclaimed. "How is it that by working all my life I can pay
+you? For me do not speak of pay."
+
+"All right," laughed Merry cheerfully. "We'll fix that after you get on
+your feet again."
+
+Felipe fumbled beneath the pillow, as if searching for something.
+
+"It is here," he murmured.
+
+"What do you want?"
+
+"This."
+
+He drew forth a creased, yellowed, tattered, time-eaten paper.
+
+"It is the land grant to Sebastian Jalisco," he said. "Please for me
+tear it up now. I have kept it here all the time. Please destroy it,
+Senor Frank."
+
+Frank took the paper.
+
+Instead of doing as he was urged, after glancing at it, Merry carefully
+refolded it and placed it in a leather pocketbook.
+
+"I'll not destroy it, Felipe--at least, not now."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Some day you may change your mind."
+
+"No, no!"
+
+"Some day you may wish for it again."
+
+"No, no!"
+
+"You can't be sure, my boy. I will take care of this paper, and you may
+have it on demand at any time. Were I in haste to destroy it, your
+doubts might creep back upon you and give you regret and pain. I will
+place it in a private vault with my own valuable papers, where it will
+remain safe and undestroyed."
+
+"It is trouble too much for a worthless old paper," said Felipe.
+
+His estimation of its value had undergone a most profound change.
+
+"No trouble at all," smiled Merry; "and it is worth preserving as a
+curiosity, if nothing more. At any time you may have it. By preserving
+it and holding it ready for you on demand I may save myself from
+suspicion some future time when somebody shall try to convince you that
+the document is really valuable."
+
+Frank had settled that point.
+
+"Now, Felipe, my lad," he smiled, "let me warn you to look out for that
+man Hagan, through whom you came to this trouble. But for Hagan you
+would not have resorted to certain measures to frighten me, I fancy. You
+have found him a bad adviser. Had you succeeded in getting money out of
+me, Hagan would have obtained the lion's share. That was his game."
+
+"Senor Hagan escaped from the fire?" questioned the boy.
+
+"Oh, yes, he got out all right."
+
+"But not Senor Lazaro?"
+
+"I think Senor Lazaro ended his career right there. After the engines
+came, at a time when the building was wrapped in flames, he appeared at
+an upper window. The smoke cleared for a moment, and the glare of the
+fire showed him plainly. He seemed to look straight down at me with
+hatred in his black eyes. Then he whirled and rushed back from the
+window, as if seeking some means of escape. A few moments later the old
+building collapsed and fell. His bones must be buried in the ruins."
+
+"For you, Senor Frank, I am glad," declared the Mexican boy. "He did
+hate you with terrible hatred, and he would have ruined you. The work of
+it he had begun."
+
+"Yes, the snake! I heard his boast that he was the reincarnated spirit
+of Porfias del Norte, whom he would avenge. The man talked like a
+maniac, for at the last moment he even asserted that he was Del Norte
+himself."
+
+"For you it is good he did not escape," said Felipe.
+
+"Had he escaped from the fire, the detectives would have nabbed him. The
+confession we overheard him make was enough to give him a good, long
+time behind the bars, for he boasted that, in his plot to ruin my plans,
+he poisoned Watson Scott and bribed Warren Hatch's automobile driver to
+wreck the machine in hopes of killing Hatch. Sudbury Bragg would have
+fallen next. That Scott stands a chance of recovering comes wholly
+through his remarkable stamina and fine physical condition. That Hatch
+was not killed is a marvel. Alvarez Lazaro was a human fiend, for, in
+order to injure me, he was willing to murder innocent men--he even
+attempted to murder two of them."
+
+"Even I of him was afraid," confessed the Mexican boy. "It is not my way
+to strike the innocent in order to reach the guilty."
+
+"I believe you, Felipe. You did not even wish to strike me if you could
+frighten me into giving you what you thought to be your just due. I
+learned that the night you stole into the room where I slept at the home
+of Warren Hatch and tried to shake my nerve by pressing your knife
+against my throat."
+
+"But nothing could frighten you," said Felipe. "You told me then I would
+not kill. I am glad now that I did not. I shall never cease to be glad."
+
+"Not even when Bantry Hagan again finds an opportunity to talk to you?
+Hagan is slick, and he has a seductive tongue."
+
+"Thanks for the compliment, me boy," said a voice at the door, and a
+stout, florid man stepped heavily into the room.
+
+"Senor Hagan!" cried Felipe.
+
+"The same, me lad," was the cool answer. "I thought I'd come to see how
+you were coming on, and this is the first time I could see ye. I find
+you have a visitor already. It's slick he calls me, but I'll bet me life
+he's been playing a slick game of his own with ye. Careful, me lad, or
+he'll have that document in his fingers, and never again will you see it
+at all."
+
+"He has it now!" exclaimed the Mexican boy defiantly. "I gave it to
+him."
+
+"Then it's too late I came. A poor fool you are, Felipe!"
+
+The patient became greatly excited and rose to a sitting position,
+crying:
+
+"Go you away! I want to see you no more! I will not listen to you!"
+
+Hagan surveyed Merriwell.
+
+"How you do it I can't say," he confessed; "but you have the trick of
+making friends of any who may give you trouble. It's proud I am to say
+you can't fool Bantry Hagan and turn his backbone to jelly. Del Norte is
+dead, but Hagan is alive, and he'll keep you on the jump for a while."
+
+Frank stepped past Hagan to the door. Looking out into the long
+corridor, he called a young doctor who happened to be passing.
+
+"Doctor," he said, "a serious mistake has happened here. Take a look at
+this man who has forced his way in here. He is no friend of the patient,
+and you can see for yourself that the patient is greatly excited and
+wrought up by his intrusion. For the sake of the patient, will you see
+that this man leaves at once, that he is observed at the door, and that
+instructions are given to refuse him admittance if he has the cheek to
+call again."
+
+"Take him away! Take him away!" cried Jalisco.
+
+Immediately the doctor addressed Hagan.
+
+"I think you had better come, sir," he said.
+
+"Oh, I'll go!" grated the Irishman, giving Merry a savage glare. "I'll
+make no trouble about that. Good day to ye, Mr. Merriwell. Make the best
+of your success now, but remember that Hagan is no easy mark, and he'll
+get a rap at you yet."
+
+His face purple with rage, the schemer strode out of the room and soon
+left the hospital.
+
+Outside the gate he paused, removed his hat, and mopped his forehead
+with his handkerchief. Although it was nipping cold, he seemed to be
+burning with the heat of an inward furnace.
+
+"I'll walk a bit to cool off," he said, and set out, his head down, his
+face grim, his manner absorbed.
+
+As he was crossing a street a cab whirled up beside him and stopped. He
+swore at the driver for his carelessness, but his profanity ended
+abruptly when the door of the cab swung open and he saw a pair of
+midnight eyes looking at him.
+
+"By all the saints," gasped Bantry Hagan, actually staggering, "it is
+the dead alive again!"
+
+The man in the cab lifted a hand and motioned to him. In a low, musical
+voice, he said:
+
+"Senor Hagan, get in quickly. Come."
+
+A moment the Irishman paused, seeming to hesitate; then he stepped
+forward and entered the cab.
+
+The door slammed, the driver whipped up his horses, and the cab rumbled
+away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+A SURPRISE FOR FIVE THUGS.
+
+
+Frank left the hospital on foot. He might have taken a car, but he
+preferred to walk. Always when thinking deeply he chose to walk, and he
+often became utterly oblivious to his surroundings, even on the crowded
+streets of a city.
+
+He now set out without regard to direction. His talk with the Mexican
+boy had set him to thinking of Porfias del Norte and Alvarez Lazaro,
+between whom there had seemed to be some mysterious connecting link. The
+nature of that link was something to puzzle over, even though both men
+were dead.
+
+Many times Frank had thought of the strange declaration of Lazaro that
+he was the avenger of Del Norte, even that he was Del Norte himself.
+Such an assertion seemed that of a madman.
+
+Still Lazaro was in appearance Del Norte grown old, his face
+time-furrowed, his black hair turned snowy white. More than that, for
+all of Lazaro's aged appearance, he had seemed to possess the vigor and
+vim of a very young man. His eyes burned with the fire of youth, and
+they were exactly like the eyes of Del Norte. His voice also was the
+voice of Del Norte.
+
+Dusk was gathering in the streets of the great American metropolis, the
+street lights were beginning to gleam, laborers were homeward bound from
+their toil.
+
+Quite unconscious of the fact, Merry had wandered into a disreputable
+quarter, and suddenly, without warning, he was set upon by a number of
+men. One of them struck at him, while another attempted to sandbag him
+from behind.
+
+The attack in front caused Frank to dodge with a pantherish spring that
+was most astonishing in its quickness, considering the fact that a
+moment before he had seemed totally unsuspicious and unprepared. This
+leap saved him from being stretched unconscious by the sandbag.
+
+An instant later he was engaged in a hand-to-hand encounter with five
+thugs who had marked him as their prey. A well-dressed young man like
+Merry was sure to attract attention in such a quarter, and these
+ruffians had singled him out as a chap worth plucking.
+
+His sudden and astounding change from total unwariness to a fighting
+youth with every sense on the alert was something for which they were
+unprepared.
+
+He struck one fellow a terrible blow, which sounded clear as the crack
+of a pistol and sent the man turning end over end into the street, where
+he sprawled. He seized another by the left wrist with his own left hand,
+gave him a forward jerk to one side, at the same time striking him a
+swift, sharp blow with the outer edge of his open right hand, which
+landed on the fellow's neck just under the ear and turn of the jaw.
+
+This man dropped like a stricken ox, and lay quivering on the broken
+curbing of the sidewalk.
+
+Ducking low, one of the men attempted to seize Merry about the waist.
+
+The young American athlete leaped backward, his foot came up, the toe of
+his boot struck the man under the chin, and over the ruffian went, flat
+on his back, his lips cut and bleeding, and choking over several teeth
+he had suddenly lost.
+
+The street light at the corner sent a ray that gleamed on an uplifted
+knife.
+
+With a squirming movement, Merry escaped the stroke, which cut a slit in
+his coat sleeve near the shoulder.
+
+Then the man with the knife was seized, whirled round till his back was
+toward the youth attacked, and flung clean over Merry's head, striking
+on his head and shoulders on the flagging of the sidewalk.
+
+The fifth thug paused in astounded hesitation. What sort of a chap was
+this who could dispose of four men with the rapidity of lightning, using
+only his bare hands? More than that, they had attacked him when he
+seemed quite unaware and unprepared, yet they had brought upon him not
+the slightest harm.
+
+Frank's hand went toward his hip pocket.
+
+With a yell, the fifth thug turned and ran for his very life, dodging
+into a dark alleyway.
+
+From the opposite side of the street a strapping big man came hurrying
+toward Merry, crying:
+
+"Give it to 'em! That's the stuff!"
+
+Wondering if the fellow was another of the thugs, who might try to get
+at him, Merry held himself on the alert, ready for anything.
+
+The dim light showed that the big fellow had a beardless, youthful face.
+He was dressed plainly, but his appearance was not that of a ruffian.
+
+He paused, thrust his hands into his pockets, and surveyed the fallen
+thugs, who were beginning to bestir themselves.
+
+"Well," he said, with a laugh, "you certainly got away with that bunch
+in a hurry. I saw them jump on you and made tracks to give you a hand,
+expecting they would down you before I could get here. Instead of
+downing you, they went down so fast that they looked as if they were
+falling before a machine gun. Your style of fighting is much like that
+of a chap I knew at college. It's the goods."
+
+"Thank you," said Merry. "But I wasn't expecting trouble, and I came
+near getting mine, all right."
+
+"Eh?" cried the big fellow. "Your voice sounds familiar. It can't be
+that----"
+
+He stepped nearer, peering into Merry's face.
+
+Suddenly Frank recognized him.
+
+"Hello, Starbright!" he exclaimed, in delight.
+
+"Frank Merriwell!" shouted the big fellow, leaping forward and grasping
+Merry's hand. "Oh, eternal miracles! Am I dreaming?"
+
+Such a handshaking as it was! Here was Dick Starbright, the big Yale
+man, who had good cause to remember Frank with emotions of the deepest
+gratitude and friendliness.
+
+"What in the world are you doing here, Merry?" asked Dick.
+
+"What in the world are you doing here?" was Frank's counter question.
+
+"Why, I'm a newspaper reporter. Been digging up the facts in regard to
+the Poydras murder. That brought me into this quarter. Now you own up."
+
+Frank explained as briefly as possible.
+
+"Want these fellows?" questioned Starbright. "They're getting in
+condition to sneak."
+
+Indeed, two of the thugs had "sneaked" already, having improved the
+opportunity while the attention of Merry and Starbright was wholly
+absorbed by the surprise of their unexpected meeting. Another fellow was
+on his feet, and he ran the moment he heard Dick's words. The fourth was
+on his hands and knees, apparently seeking strength to rise.
+
+"I see no officer near," said Merry. "We might tackle a difficult job if
+we tried to drag even one of them along until we could find a cop."
+
+"That's right. His pals would be down on us, a dozen of them, at least.
+I fancy they'll let us alone now if we don't linger here. Let's sift
+along."
+
+The last of the ruffians to rise to his feet staggered to the nearest
+wall, against which he leaned, gazing after the two young men who were
+walking away.
+
+"Talk about choin-loightning!" he muttered. "It ain't in it wid dat
+cove! He coitinly done der whole gang, an' done dem good. He was
+sloidin' along in a trance when we went at him, but der way he come
+outer dat trance was a shock to der bunch. He's got more foight in him
+dan any ten blokes I ever seen before."
+
+"I'm mighty glad I ran across you, Merry," said Starbright as they
+walked away. "You are just the fellow to straighten Morgan up and set
+him on the right track."
+
+"Morgan?" questioned Frank.
+
+"Yes, Dade Morgan. I can't seem to do anything with him, and he's fast
+getting in a bad way."
+
+"Is he in New York?"
+
+"Oh, yes; and it would be better for him if he was anywhere else."
+
+"What's he doing here?"
+
+"He isn't doing much of anything now, and that's one thing that is the
+trouble. You know what a proud, high-strung chap he always was. Well,
+he's up against it, and it has completely upset him."
+
+"How is he up against it?"
+
+"Why, he hit the pike pretty hard when he came here. He had some ready
+money, and he lived uptown at the Imperial. You know lots of sports and
+bloods hang out round that hotel. Dade fell in with some of the bunch.
+He got some tips on the races and made a few thousand dollars. It was
+the worst thing that could have happened to him. Next he took a flyer in
+stocks, trading on margins. He made some more money. I tell you, he was
+flying high just about then. He thought he had the world by the scruff
+of the neck. You should have heard him when he ladled out the talk to
+me. Told me what a howling chump I was to plug away on a newspaper on
+space. Offered to steer me right to coin money the way he was doing. I
+tell you, Merry, it was tempting. There he was rolling in boodle and
+living on the fat of the land, while I had a three-fifty hall bedroom
+and was eating round at cheap restaurants. Some weeks I made as much as
+twenty-five, and then I was rich; but perhaps the very next week it
+would be seven or eight, and before long I was poor again. Reporting on
+space is a mighty hard mill to go through; but a man learns something at
+it."
+
+"Go on about Morgan," urged Frank.
+
+"There isn't a great deal to tell. The cards turned on him. He struck
+the toboggan and he went down with an awful thump. All he had made was
+wiped out at a single swipe. He followed it up, and in less than a week
+he was dead broke. Had to give up his rooms at the Imperial. Came down
+to a cheap hotel, and he's there now. He plays the bucket shops with
+every dollar he can get, hoping the tide will turn. I don't think he
+eats enough to keep a sparrow alive. The only thing that keeps him from
+drinking is that he spends all the money he can get gambling."
+
+"How does he get money?"
+
+"Why, he--he--he gets it somehow--I don't know--just--exactly--how."
+
+Frank felt that he could forgive the big fellow the fib. He knew well
+enough that Dade Morgan was getting his money from Richard Starbright,
+who, in order to earn anything, was working like a dog on a newspaper.
+The fact that he was helping Morgan along Starbright wished to conceal.
+
+Instantly Merry knew the situation was one to be investigated.
+Starbright had told him enough for him to realize that Morgan was on the
+road to ruin and very near the brink.
+
+In the old days at Yale, Dade had been for a time Frank's bitterest
+enemy, having been taught from early boyhood by his uncle and guardian
+to loathe the very name of Merriwell; but in the end Merry's manliness,
+bravery, generosity, and nobility had conquered Morgan's hatred and had
+finally made the fellow Frank's friend.
+
+Starbright was right in saying Dade Morgan was proud and high-strung. He
+was not the fellow to long endure poverty and humiliation without doing
+something desperate.
+
+"Take me to him right away, Dick," urged Merry.
+
+Suddenly Starbright seemed to hesitate.
+
+"I don't know as Dade will ever forgive me for showing him up in his
+poverty," he said. "He hasn't let any of his friends at home know of his
+reverses. Keeps writing to them in the most cheerful manner, and I'll
+bet they think he has New York at his feet."
+
+"I'll make it all right with him," assured Merry. "Don't worry about
+that, Dick. Let's get to him without the loss of a moment."
+
+They had now reached Third Avenue, and they boarded a car southward
+bound, which at that hour was comparatively empty, while the cars bound
+in the opposite direction were packed.
+
+While they were on the car Merry told Starbright something of his great
+plan to build a railroad in Sonora that should tap his mining property,
+and of his battle with Porfias del Norte and Alvarez Lazaro.
+
+"Whew!" exclaimed Dick. "But you have been engaged in strenuous
+affairs."
+
+"Rather," nodded Merry. "But the sky is pretty clear now, and I feel
+like taking a little relaxation. I have a plan that I will unfold after
+we find Morgan. Inza Burrage, Elsie Bellwood, Bart Hodge, Bruce
+Browning, and Harry Rattleton are in town, and they----"
+
+"Great Scott!" palpitated the young reporter. "This is great! I'll have
+to see them all if it takes me away from the paper long enough to get me
+fired. Here we are. We get off here."
+
+They had reached the Bowery.
+
+Leaving the car, Starbright led the way to one of the cheapest downtown
+hotels, over the door of which was a sign which stated that rooms could
+be secured there for fifty cents a night, beds for fifteen and
+twenty-five cents.
+
+They mounted a flight of dirty stairs and came into the office, where a
+number of poverty-stricken men were sitting about, reading papers,
+smoking, and talking. Some of the men looked like hobos, and all wore on
+their faces the stamp of blighted lives. A single glance made it plain
+that drink had caused the downfall of nearly all of them.
+
+Merriwell shrugged his shoulders as his eyes ran swiftly over the hotel
+office and the loungers gathered therein.
+
+"Dade Morgan stopping here!" he mentally exclaimed. "The immaculate,
+almost aesthetic, Dade in such a wretched place! It seems impossible."
+
+There was no clerk behind the desk.
+
+"Come on," said Starbright. "I know how to find Morgan's room. This
+way."
+
+They turned from the office and mounted another flight of stairs, darker
+and dirtier than the first. There was no carpet on the bare floor of
+the corridor above, where a weakly flaring gas jet made a sickly break
+in the gloom. There was a peculiar smell about the place that was
+distinctly offensive. The door of a room stood open. Inside two
+filthy-looking men, minus their coats, were arguing loudly and drunkenly
+about "labor and capital," while a third man lay sleeping on a dirty
+bed.
+
+A man shuffled along the dark corridor and stared at Frank and Dick with
+suspicious, resentful eyes. He was low-browed, sullen, and vicious in
+appearance; just such a man as one would not care to meet alone on a
+dark street late at night.
+
+From another room came the sound of maudlin singing, and in still
+another a man was swearing horribly.
+
+Merry grasped Dick's arm.
+
+"Haven't you made a mistake?" he asked.
+
+"A mistake? Why----"
+
+"Dade Morgan can't be stopping in a place like this."
+
+"I know it doesn't seem possible," said Dick. "But he is here--at least,
+he was last night."
+
+They came to a door, which Dick unhesitatingly pushed open.
+
+A sickly gas jet was burning within the room. Stretched across a
+wretched bed lay a dark, silent figure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+A DUEL OF EYES.
+
+
+Starbright leaped forward and bent over the form on the bed, clutching
+at it.
+
+"Dade!" he called, his voice full of alarm.
+
+The figure stirred, and the big, yellow-haired youth drew a breath of
+relief.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked a dull, mechanical voice. "Oh, is it you,
+Starbright, old man? Gods! I'm glad you came! Been getting some bad
+fancies into my head. If I'd had money enough to buy a pistol, or even a
+little poison----"
+
+"What in the world are you talking about, Dade? Have you gone daffy?"
+
+"No; but what's the use? This is the limit, and---- Who's that?"
+
+Morgan saw Frank for the first time.
+
+"I think you know me, Dade," said Merry, advancing.
+
+The young man on the bed leaped up.
+
+"Merriwell!" he gasped.
+
+"Yes," said Starbright. "I ran across him by accident and brought him
+here to see you."
+
+Morgan lifted his clinched hand and placed his arm across his eyes for a
+moment, the attitude being one of intense humiliation and shame.
+
+"What made you bring him?" he muttered huskily. "I--I didn't want any
+one but you to--to know anything about----"
+
+Frank grasped the hand of the humiliated youth.
+
+"You know I'm your friend, Morgan," he said earnestly. "I urged Dick to
+bring me along. What if you have been up against hard luck? Every fellow
+is pretty certain to face it sooner or later."
+
+"But I--I----"
+
+Morgan choked and was unable to go on. It was a terrible ordeal for him.
+
+Merry understood, and the few words he uttered were deeply sympathetic
+and earnest. Then, in a moment, his manner changed. He seized Morgan by
+both shoulders, gave him a shake, and laughed in a manner that was both
+encouraging and soothing.
+
+"Why, it's a good thing for a fellow to get a taste of genuine hard
+luck. It softens him, mellows him, and makes him more sympathetic for
+other unfortunates--that is, if he's made of the right stuff. Let a chap
+slip through the world without ever encountering misfortune and he
+cannot sympathize with those who have to struggle hard to keep their
+heads above the surface. Besides that, it stiffens and braces the right
+sort of a fellow to overcome misfortune and rise in the world through
+his own efforts. I know, Morgan, for I've seen my share of bad luck."
+
+The flickering gaslight revealed the fact that a bit of color came into
+Morgan's cheeks.
+
+"I--I suppose that's right," he confessed. "But I never dreamed I'd come
+to--this! It was the suddenness of the fall that took the sand out of
+me, too. I ought to be ashamed--I am ashamed--for I actually thought of
+suicide! You see, Merry, no one but Dick here knew I had gone to the
+bottom like this. I've been writing home, telling all about my good
+fortune and success. The thought of any one ever finding out what a
+wretched failure I had made was more than I could endure. I tell you,
+Merriwell, this town is a bad place for a fellow who happens to fall in
+with the swift set. It was a fast bunch I dropped into, and I--well, I
+made a confounded fool of myself. Result, I blew all my money, acquired
+a taste for champagne, went broke, and I've been drinking beer and
+whisky since to keep my courage up. Might as well make a clean breast of
+it. Dick's been staking me lately, and I've been trying to hit it lucky
+with the ponies in order to get a start. To-day I decided that luck had
+set in to run against me for fair, and I felt like ending it by cashing
+in my chips for good."
+
+Morgan seemed to feel a little better after making this confession.
+
+"Glad I had a streak of luck that brought me along at this point,"
+smiled Frank. "You're going to get such foolish thoughts out of your
+head right away. What you need is a change of air and scene. I can make
+use of you."
+
+"You can?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Let's sit down a moment. I'll tell you about it."
+
+There was one broken chair in the room. This Morgan hastily placed for
+Merriwell, after which he and Starbright sat on the bed.
+
+Frank made plain the events which had brought him to New York in
+connection with the Central Sonora railroad scheme.
+
+"Now that the business is practically settled, I have a little scheme
+that I propose to carry out," he said. "I am going to organize an
+athletic team, made up of my friends and comrades and make a tour."
+
+"Great!" cried Starbright.
+
+"It's a splendid scheme," nodded Morgan. "Can you get the fellows
+together?"
+
+"I think so. Hodge, Browning, and Rattleton are right here in New York.
+Jack Ready and Joe Gamp are in Chicago. That makes six. With you and
+Starbright I shall have eight, and----"
+
+"Not me!" cried Morgan.
+
+"Yes, you."
+
+"Impossible! I'm out of condition. Besides that, I'm broke, and I
+couldn't----"
+
+"Don't worry about the money question, Dade. You know I have made
+several athletic and sporting tours, and never yet has it cost me, or
+any man connected with me, a dollar of our own money. I count on taking
+enough gate money to pay all expenses and more. I don't think there is a
+possibility of failure in this respect. I want you, Morgan, and you must
+agree to become one of my new athletic team."
+
+"But my condition----"
+
+"We'll see about that. We'll see what you can do in the way of getting
+into condition. You used to be hard as iron and supple as a willow. I
+think I can take hold of you, and put you into fairly good condition in
+a short time. As for Starbright, if I'm not mistaken, he is in the very
+pink of condition."
+
+"I am," agreed Dick; "but I--I'd have to give up my work, and----"
+
+"You told me all about your poor success thus far. You've been drilling
+at it through the summer months, and it's time to have a change. I don't
+believe you'll lose anything. In fact, I happen to have some influence
+with one or two Western papers, and I'll see that you get a chance to
+show what you can do out there any time you wish to go back to the work.
+Unless you think it will be a positive injury to you to let up here,
+I'll not take no as an answer."
+
+"I'm with you!" exclaimed Dick suddenly. "You may count on me."
+
+"Then it is all settled, for----"
+
+"Not yet--at least, not as far as I'm concerned," interrupted Morgan. "I
+wouldn't be worth a rap to you, Merry. I must confess that I have
+acquired some bad habits in recent years, and I--well, I'm afraid I
+haven't enough backbone to make one of your crowd, even if I could get
+into shape for it, which is doubtful."
+
+"Let me be the judge in regard to that last point," smiled Frank.
+"You're going to come with me, Morgan. There is talk about an
+all-American football team playing the best college teams of the
+country. I'd enjoy pitting my boys against this all-American team, even
+if we were defeated. Don't say another word, Morgan. Let's get out of
+here. I want you to buy some clothes and----"
+
+"I have the pawn tickets for my own clothes," said Dade, in a low tone.
+
+"Good! We'll have your wardrobe out of hock in a hurry. We'll have you
+looking like yourself in short order. Day after to-morrow we'll start
+for Chicago, stopping off a day at Niagara, as Inza Burrage and Elsie
+Bellwood will accompany us as far as St. Louis, and both wish to visit
+the falls. Fellows, it will be great sport! Makes me feel sort of bubbly
+and flushed all over."
+
+"You've mentioned only eight fellows in all," reminded Dick Starbright.
+"Eight will not make a football team."
+
+"That's all right," assured Frank. "Received a message from Buck Badger
+this morning. He'll join us at St. Louis, and he thinks Berlin Carson
+will be with him. If Carson is with Badger when we get there, we'll have
+ten men. I expect to hear from two or three more of the old gang at any
+time. Don't you worry, for I'll have eleven men and three or four
+substitutes. Leave it to me, fellows--leave it to me."
+
+"I'm perfectly willing to do that," nodded Starbright, beaming in
+anticipation of the pleasures to come.
+
+"So am I," said Morgan, who had cast off his despondency and now seemed
+much like his old self. "But I wish one of you would stick me with a pin
+or something. I want to make sure I'm not dreaming. It's too good to be
+true."
+
+"It's true, Dade," laughed Merry. "The troubles I've been through in the
+last few weeks have been enough to make me feel the need of a little
+relaxation. Why, it will be old times over again!"
+
+Dade suddenly stared upward over Frank's head at the transom above the
+door. His manner caused Merry to glance up quickly.
+
+The transom was open, leaving an aperture of about three inches.
+
+Through this aperture could be dimly seen the upper part of a face, with
+a pair of coal-black eyes, which were fixed with an ominous and steady
+stare upon Merry.
+
+In those midnight eyes there was a gleam of unspeakable hatred, savage
+malevolence, and deadly rancor. They were the eyes of one who longed to
+do murder.
+
+The awful look in those terrible eyes seemed to freeze both Morgan and
+Starbright and turn them to stone. For some moments they remained
+motionless and breathless.
+
+As for Frank, he met that look squarely, and between him and the
+eavesdropper at the transom a silent battle took place.
+
+Dade and Dick suddenly knew this battle was occurring. They felt the
+strain and intensity of it, and they seemed to realize that the master
+mind would conquer. Neither of them moved, fearing to break the spell.
+Both felt that they could not move if they so desired.
+
+For at least a full minute the duel of eyes continued. The mysterious
+man outside seemed putting all his strength of soul and will into the
+struggle.
+
+Was it a flickering flare of the gas jet, or did the midnight eyes waver
+the least bit?
+
+Without moving his head or his body, Dade Morgan turned his glance
+toward Merriwell. What he saw in Frank's face gave him a feeling of
+relief and unspeakable satisfaction.
+
+Merriwell wore the look of a conqueror. He was the same undaunted,
+undismayed Merry as of old. He was master of this mysterious foe beyond
+the closed door.
+
+Again Morgan lifted his eyes to the midnight orbs beyond the transom. A
+sensation of triumph thrilled him like an electric shock.
+
+The deadly eyes wavered!
+
+The silent duel was ended!
+
+Something like a muttered curse and a choking cry of rage came from the
+lips of the man beyond the door.
+
+Then the deadly eyes suddenly vanished.
+
+There was a thud, as if some one had leaped down from a chair on which
+he had stood.
+
+At the same instant Merriwell sprang up and attempted to open the door.
+
+It was locked.
+
+On entering the room Morgan had left the key in the lock, and this key
+had been softly turned by the mysterious eavesdropper.
+
+There was the sound of fleeing feet in the corridor and a soft laugh,
+which trailed away and grew fainter in the distance.
+
+Frank Merriwell stepped back from the door and flung his shoulder
+against it with fearful force.
+
+With a splintering crash, the door gave way before the shock, and Merry
+staggered into the corridor. He was followed by Starbright and Morgan.
+
+Recovering his equilibrium, Frank straightened up and whirled to follow
+and overtake the mysterious unknown if possible.
+
+The man of the midnight eyes had disappeared.
+
+The smashing of the door had startled and aroused others in adjacent
+rooms, and they now came swarming into the corridor. One of them
+clutched at Frank, but was flung aside; others dodged back to let him
+pass.
+
+Merry ran to the head of the stairs, down which he leaped.
+
+A man was coming up the second flight.
+
+"Anybody run past you just now?" asked Frank.
+
+"Naw. Wot's der matter?"
+
+Merriwell did not pause to answer the question, but whirled into the
+office.
+
+He was met at the door by a man in shirt sleeves, who grabbed at him and
+demanded to know what was "doing."
+
+One glance about the place was sufficient to convince Frank that the
+eavesdropper had not fled in there.
+
+Starbright appeared, followed by Morgan. The latter was known to the man
+who had grabbed Frank, and his hasty explanation was sufficient,
+although the "clerk" declared that some one must settle for the smashed
+door.
+
+"I'll do that," said Merry promptly. "The spy has escaped. Come back
+with us, take a look at the door, and estimate the damage."
+
+Merry had no trouble in settling to the satisfaction of every one, but
+he could not repress his regret over the escape of the man who had been
+peering through the transom.
+
+Morgan had paid in advance for his room at the hotel, and therefore he
+was at liberty to leave any time he wished. Merry and Starbright lost no
+time in getting him out of the place.
+
+Dick drew a breath of relief when they reached the open air.
+
+"That place will serve for the class of men who patronize it," he
+observed; "but I'm glad Morgan has left it for good."
+
+"So am I!" exclaimed Dade. "The only thing I regret is that the fellow
+who peered through the transom made his escape. Who could it have been?
+Have you an idea, Merry?"
+
+"Never yet have I seen but two men with such eyes," declared Merriwell.
+"One man is dead. The other man, Alvarez Lazaro, claims to be Del
+Norte's avenger. I thought him dead, but it must be that he escaped from
+the burning building on the East Side. How he escaped I cannot tell;
+but, as it was not Del Norte who peered through the transom, it must
+have been Lazaro."
+
+"Look out for him, Frank," urged Starbright. "I saw murder in those
+eyes."
+
+"I'll have the police raking the city for him without delay," said
+Merry. "Let's go directly to police headquarters."
+
+This they did, and Merriwell told his story. As it was known that Lazaro
+had tried to poison Watson Scott and had bribed the driver of Warren
+Hatch's automobile to wreck the machine with Mr. Hatch in it,
+Merriwell's story was listened to with the greatest interest, and he was
+given the assurance that, in case Lazaro still lived, no stone would be
+left unturned in the effort to capture him.
+
+From police headquarters the three friends of college days visited
+several pawn shops, where Morgan recovered his clothing and trinkets.
+
+Two large suit cases were purchased and the recovered articles packed
+into them.
+
+Merry called a cab, and they proceeded uptown. A room was engaged at the
+Hoffman House, and Morgan reveled in the luxury of a bath and a shave.
+In due time he appeared clothed in a respectable manner, and looking
+wonderfully changed. There was color in his cheeks, life in his eyes,
+and springiness in his step.
+
+"Now," said Frank, "we'll away to Hotel Astor. Starbright has sent in
+some copy by messenger to his paper, at the same time giving notice that
+he has quit, and so things are pretty well arranged to my satisfaction."
+
+A few minutes later they were again in a cab, northward bound.
+
+"I'll leave Lazaro to the police," said Merry. "Now that they know the
+man is not dead, having proof that he tried to murder Scott and Hatch,
+they'll either capture him or make New York too hot to hold him. I'll
+take care that Felipe Jalisco has every attention. But I don't propose
+to let anything upset my plan of an athletic tour."
+
+Upper Broadway was blazing with light. Morgan laughed with satisfaction
+as they were carried along the street; but he grew sober suddenly as his
+eyes fell on the Imperial Hotel.
+
+"I made the mistake of my life there," he said; "but I think it taught
+me a lesson I'll not soon forget."
+
+They reached Long Acre Square and stopped in front of Hotel Astor.
+
+"Here we are, boys!" said Merry, as he sprang out and paid the driver.
+
+"Yes, and you've been gong enough letting here--I mean long enough
+getting here," said a voice, as Harry Rattleton hurried forward.
+"Browning is nearly starved. He's entertaining the girls. Hodge and I
+have been watching for you the last hour, and we---- Great Halifax! is
+this Stick Darbright and Made Dorgan--er, I mean Darb Stickbright and
+Morg Dadean--er, er, no, I mean--I dunno what I mean! It's um! Oh,
+thunder! what a jolly surprise! This is great--great!"
+
+Rattleton had Starbright with one hand and Morgan with the other, and he
+astonished and amused people in the vicinity by dancing wildly and
+whirling them round as he wrung their hands.
+
+"Look out, Rattles," laughed Frank. "If you're seen going through such
+gyrations by a policeman he'll surely pinch you."
+
+Bart Hodge advanced and tore Starbright from Rattleton, which gave
+Morgan an opportunity to break away, and he did so laughingly.
+
+"The same old Rattleton," he said. "Harry, you haven't changed a bit."
+
+"Yes, I have," contradicted the curly-haired chap. "I'm more mignified
+and danly--I mean more dignified and manly. See how sedate I am. Oh,
+ginger! isn't this a jolly surprise! I believe even Browning will now
+forgive Frank for being late to dinner."
+
+Hodge shook hands with both Dick and Dade, and they all followed Frank
+into the hotel.
+
+A bellboy saw Merry and hastened to notify him that he was wanted at the
+desk.
+
+"Here is something for you, Mr. Merriwell," said one of the assistant
+clerks. "It was just left here by a messenger boy, who stated that it
+was very important and must be given to you personally."
+
+He handed Frank an envelope on which his name was written.
+
+Merry tore it open and drew forth a single sheet of paper, on which was
+written the following ominous words:
+
+     "You fancied Porfias del Norte perished in the Adirondacks and
+     that Alvarez Lazaro was destroyed by fire. Neither Del Norte nor
+     Lazaro is dead. Both live in one, and that One pens these lines.
+     I am Del Norte and I am Lazaro. I am likewise the avenger of
+     both. My one object in life is to make you suffer as Del Norte
+     suffered before he escaped from his living tomb, coming forth an
+     old man with snow-white hair. It is my object to make you face
+     the torture of fire here on earth, even as Lazaro faced it. I
+     know you have again set the police on my trail, but I laugh at
+     them and defy them all, even as I laugh at and defy you. I want
+     you to feel the fear of torture and death; I want you to know it
+     is coming and that you cannot escape, and, therefore, I write
+     this. Be constantly on your guard, but know that all your
+     precautions cannot save you. You are doomed!
+
+                                                        "THE AVENGER."
+
+"What is it, Merry?" asked Hodge, seeing Frank frowning over it.
+
+"Nothing but ridiculous nonsense," was Merriwell's smiling answer, as he
+thrust the paper into his pocket. "Let's get the ladies and have
+dinner."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+AT NIAGARA FALLS.
+
+
+The trolley car from Buffalo, bearing Frank Merriwell and his friends,
+was approaching Niagara Falls. The entire party was bubbling with that
+enthusiasm and eagerness felt by all "sightseers" who find themselves
+drawing near to this great natural marvel of America. Eagerly they
+peered from the car windows in their desire to obtain the first glimpse
+of the falls.
+
+"I can see some mising rist--that is, some rising mist," spluttered
+Harry Rattleton.
+
+"Get off my pet corn!" growled Bruce Browning, jerking Harry back into
+his seat, from which he had partly risen. "If you step on that corn
+again you'll see stars!"
+
+"It just takes an awful long time to get there," said Elsie Bellwood.
+
+"Awful long," agreed Inza.
+
+"I don't think you'll see anything of the falls until we leave this
+car," said Merry.
+
+"Girls, do be dignified," urged Mrs. Medford, who was chaperoning them.
+"You are making the passengers smile at you. I greatly dislike having
+any one smile at me."
+
+"You can supply all the dignity for the party, Aunt Lucy," said Inza.
+"We're not going to try to be dignified to-day. We're just going in for
+the best time we can have, and let people smile all they wish."
+
+"That's proper," laughed Dick Starbright, giving Inza an admiring
+glance. "Two much dignity robs the world of half its fun."
+
+Hodge and Morgan were the silent ones, but there was a light of
+eagerness in their eyes, and Dade's thin cheeks were flushed.
+
+The car entered the streets of Niagara, swung round a curve, slipped
+into a huge, covered building and stopped.
+
+"All out," called the conductor.
+
+"Here we are!" said Merry.
+
+"What'll we do now? What'll we do now?" eagerly asked Inza, grasping his
+arm.
+
+"The very best thing to do is to take a Belt Line observation car, which
+will carry us over to the Canadian side and round the gorge, giving us a
+chance to stop off wherever we like."
+
+"This way to the Belt Line cars," called a man who had overheard Merry's
+words.
+
+They passed from the building to the street beyond, where the car they
+wanted was waiting. Tickets were purchased without delay, and soon the
+car was moving.
+
+"But where are the falls?" palpitated Elsie. "I don't see the falls
+anywhere."
+
+"You will in a few moments," assured Hodge.
+
+"But I want to right off. I can't wait! I've waited too long now!"
+
+However, she was compelled to restrain her impatience until the car
+descended a steep grade and bore them out on the great steel arch
+bridge, when suddenly upon their view burst a spectacle that caused them
+to gasp and utter exclamations of delight.
+
+"Oh, look, look!"
+
+"At last!"
+
+"There they are!"
+
+"Isn't it perfectly grand!"
+
+Then they became silent, stricken dumb with the unspeakable admiration
+they felt.
+
+Above them and quite near at hand were the American Falls, with the sun
+shining on them and a cloud of pure white mist rising in an
+ever-shifting veil from the gorge into which plunged and roared the
+mighty volume of water. Then came Goat Island, with Horseshoe Falls
+beyond, shooting forth great boiling fountains of white spray and
+sending heavenward billow after billow of mist. Beneath them rushed the
+broad river, writhing and twisting, as if still suffering agonies after
+its frightful plunge over those dizzy heights to be rent and torn to
+tatters on the rocks below.
+
+Inza's gloved hand crept into Frank's, and he felt it quiver a little in
+his grasp.
+
+With a single exception, every one on the car seemed to regard the
+falls with interest. Even the motorman and conductor took a look at
+them.
+
+The exception was an old man, who wore a long cloak and carried a
+crooked cane. His hands rested on the handle of his cane, and his gray
+head was bowed on his hands. He did not once look up or turn his face
+toward the falls while passing over the bridge. To Frank this seemed
+remarkable, but Merry decided that he must be some one who was familiar
+with the spectacle and to whom the sight no longer appealed.
+
+Having crossed the bridge, the car turned upward toward the falls, and
+at the point where the wonderful horseshoe began they got off.
+
+Approaching the iron railing, they leaned on it and gazed in continued
+and increasing wonderment. They were now where they could hear something
+of the continuous thunder of the falls, and at intervals a little of the
+spray fell in misty rain upon them.
+
+"Oh, see!" breathed Inza, grasping Frank's arm. "Look at the beautiful
+rainbow."
+
+In the mist of the American Falls a gorgeous rainbow could be seen.
+
+"I see it," said Frank; but at that moment his eyes were following the
+strange old man in the black cloak, who had left the car with them and
+was walking toward the very brink of Horseshoe Falls, leaning heavily on
+his crooked cane and seeming quite feeble.
+
+"I was wrong about him," thought Merry. "He is interested in the
+falls--he is fascinated by them."
+
+The old man pressed forward until he was within the very edge of the
+cloud of mist that rose from the depths below. He seemed totally
+unconscious of the presence of others in the vicinity. At that point
+there was no iron railing, and he leaned forward, planting his cane on
+the wet stones beneath his feet, and peered downward, apparently
+watching the little steamer, _Maid of the Mist_, which now came swinging
+out of the spray at the foot of the American Falls and headed toward the
+Canadian side.
+
+"If he should slip there," thought Frank, "it would be all over with him
+in a moment. I wonder that he ventures so near."
+
+A sudden feeling of anxiety for the old man possessed him, and he
+suggested to Inza that they should move up toward the brink of the
+falls.
+
+Leaving the others so absorbed in watching the tiny steamer far below
+that the move of Merry and Inza was not observed they approached the
+point where the old man stood.
+
+"What is he doing?" questioned Inza, in surprise. "It must be very
+dangerous there. Call to him, Frank; tell him to come away."
+
+But Merriwell feared to startle the old man, and therefore he did not
+call.
+
+Above them the rapids came sweeping down toward the falls, the water
+rushing with such volume and force that it created a feeling of dread,
+for it was plain that anything once fairly caught in its clutch must be
+carried, in spite of all human endeavor and strength, over the brink to
+destruction.
+
+"Remain here, Inza," advised Frank, being compelled to raise his voice
+in order to make himself understood above the roar of the water. "I'm
+going to step down there a little nearer. He may slip."
+
+Reluctantly she permitted him to leave her. He did not know that she
+followed him to the very edge of the rushing water a short distance
+above the falls. Cautiously he approached the silent figure of the old
+man, but just as he was on the point of stretching out a hand to grasp
+the man's arm the latter turned, keeping his back toward Merry, and
+moved along the edge of the rushing rapids.
+
+Merry refrained from touching the stranger, but followed him as the man
+approached Inza.
+
+Apparently the old man did not see the girl until he was right upon her.
+
+Then he slightly lifted his head, gave her a glance, and stepped to one
+side, as if to pass.
+
+This brought her between him and the rapids.
+
+As he was passing his foot slipped on one of the wet rocks, he flung up
+his hand with the cane, and the staff swept through the air in a half
+circle directly at Inza's head!
+
+Struck such a blow with the cane, Inza Burrage would be sent headlong
+into the seething water, which would carry her over the falls in a
+twinkling!
+
+Fortunately Inza had been watching the old man with anxious eyes.
+Fortunately, likewise, she was no common girl. Many a time she had
+demonstrated the fact that she was wonderfully quick-witted and
+resourceful.
+
+Frank was a bit too far away to clutch the old man's arm and check the
+sweep of his heavy cane.
+
+Inza's fate lay wholly with herself. She saw the cane coming directly at
+her head, and, like a flash, she "ducked."
+
+Over her head swept the cane, brushing the plumes on her hat.
+
+For an instant she tottered, seeming to sway toward the rapids in the
+effort to regain her equilibrium.
+
+In that instant Frank Merriwell's strong right arm had sent the
+stranger, with one great surge, reeling to his knees some feet from the
+water's edge, and then his left arm encircled Inza's waist and drew her
+from the perilous spot.
+
+She was white as the mist that rose in a great cloud close at hand.
+
+"Inza!" cried Merry chokingly. "Thank Heaven you had presence of mind
+and dodged!"
+
+"Oh, Frank!" she murmured; "I nearly fell into the water after that!"
+
+He gave her all his attention.
+
+"That old man must be crazy!" he said. "No one at his age that is not
+crazy or foolish would prowl about at the very edge of the river here,
+where a misstep means almost certain death. He should be locked up!"
+
+Then he turned to look for the stranger, but saw the bent form at a
+distance. Without having paused to utter a word of explanation, apology,
+or regret, the man was hastening away.
+
+"Further proof that he's daffy," muttered Frank.
+
+He longed to hasten after the stranger, but felt Inza clinging to him in
+weakness, which prevented such a move.
+
+And now their friends, having discovered for the first time that
+something was wrong, came hurrying to the spot, asking many questions.
+
+It was some time before Inza recovered, but in the end she flung off her
+weakness with a sudden show of resolution, forced a laugh, and declared
+that she was all right.
+
+"Where is the chundering old bump--I mean the blundering old chump?"
+spluttered Harry Rattleton. "Didn't stop to say a word? Well, somebody
+ought to say something to him! I'd like the privilege. It would do me
+good to give him an unvarnished piece of my mind."
+
+The old man, however, had disappeared. Morgan said he had taken a
+carriage after hastening from the immediate vicinity of the falls.
+
+"I'm glad he's gone," declared Inza. "I'm sure he was frightened.
+Perhaps he didn't know what to say under the circumstances."
+
+"I'm afraid this terrible adventure will spoil your enjoyment here,
+Inza," said Mrs. Medford.
+
+"Not at all," was the answer. "It's all over now, and we'll forget it.
+What shall we do next?"
+
+It was agreed that the proper thing was to resume their trolley ride
+around the gorge, and so they took the next car bound down the river.
+
+This ride was one that none of them could ever forget. The tracks ran
+close to the brink of the great gorge, so close at times that they could
+look directly downward from the side of the car into treetops far
+beneath them and see the fearful rush of the river through its choked
+channel. It was a spectacle almost as impressive as that of the falls,
+and in some ways, as the car skimmed along the brink of these mighty
+precipices, it was even more "shuddery," as Elsie expressed it.
+
+But the part that affected them the most was the return journey through
+the gorge, after they had recrossed the river five miles below the
+falls.
+
+The car descended until it was running at the very edge of the river
+that rushed through the channel between the two great bluffs. As the
+whirlpool was approached the rush and swish of the water became fiercer
+and more terrible. It was fascinating yet fearful to look upon, and
+Elsie Bellwood shuddered and drew back, more than once averting her
+eyes.
+
+The whirlpool itself was a wonderful sight, but the rapids above it
+proved the most awesome of aspect. There the water hissed and seethed
+with a blood-chilling sound as it raced, and foamed, and whirled along
+its course. The suggestion of terrible power possessed by this mad river
+was simply appalling. The sound of the hissing water put one's nerves on
+edge. In places the river boiled, and surged, and raged over hidden
+rocks, leaping upward in mighty waves of white foam. There were
+thousands of eddies and whirlpools, all suggestive of destruction.
+
+The girls were genuinely relieved when the car began the ascent that
+would take them out of the gorge.
+
+"It was great," said Inza, as they finally reached the level above. "I
+enjoyed every moment of it, but it made me feel so dreadfully mean and
+insignificant. I'm glad we took the ride, but I don't think I'd care to
+take it again to-morrow. Where shall we go now, Frank?"
+
+"We'll stroll over onto Goat Island," said Merry.
+
+They left the car when it finally reached the place from which they had
+started on the American side.
+
+Barely had they started toward the island when a carriage stopped
+beside them and the driver importuned them to let him take them round.
+
+"You couldn't take all of us in that carriage," said Merry.
+
+"I'll call another in a moment," said the driver, and started to do so.
+
+"Hold on," said Merriwell. "We prefer to walk."
+
+"Not I," said Browning. "How much is it?"
+
+"Twenty-five cents each," was the answer. "I'll take you round and show
+you all the points of interest."
+
+"Cheap enough," said Bruce, and he promptly climbed in.
+
+In vain the driver urged others to get in. He was even somewhat insolent
+in his insistence. Finally he drove off with Bruce lazily waving his
+hand from the rear seat of the carriage.
+
+Frank laughed softly.
+
+"Browning will get enough of that," he declared. "Those fellows urge you
+to get in for a twenty-five-cent ride, promising to show you numerous
+points of interest; but almost before they get you over to the island
+they begin suggesting a longer drive that will cost you a dollar, two
+dollars, or even three dollars. They keep harping on it until they
+destroy all the pleasure and enjoyment of the twenty-five-cent ride, and
+if they find they cannot inveigle you into taking a longer ride they
+become absolutely insulting and offensive. That fellow will be sore when
+he learns that Bruce has been over to the Canadian side and round the
+gorge."
+
+There was plenty of time, and the party enjoyed the walk over the bridge
+to Goat Island. Midway on the bridge they paused to watch the rush of
+the rapids, where the water came bulging over a distant ridge, and swept
+toward them with a hissing, roaring sound that was quite indescribable.
+
+Having reached the island, they proceeded to cross the little bridge to
+Luna Island, from which a near view of the American Falls was obtained.
+Here again they saw a portion of the beautiful rainbow in the rising
+mist.
+
+From Luna Island they retraced their steps, and then sauntered along the
+iron-railed lower edge of Goat Island. They were strongly tempted to
+visit the Cave of the Winds under the falls, but Merry knew the
+waterproof clothing furnished would not be sufficient to keep them from
+becoming uncomfortably damp, and this, together with the fact that the
+afternoon was rapidly turning cold, caused them to decide to refrain
+from descending the wonderfully long stairway and crossing the
+spray-dripping bridge to the cave.
+
+From the outer extremity of Goat Island they obtained another fine view
+of the Horseshoe Falls.
+
+Deciding to visit the upper end of the island for the purpose of viewing
+the wonderful rapids above the falls, they had not proceeded far before
+they came upon Browning, who was sitting on a bench and looking very
+sour and disgusted.
+
+"Why, hello, Bruce!" called Frank. "All through with your drive? That's
+odd."
+
+The giant made a rumbling sound in his throat.
+
+"Don't talk to me about that!" he exploded. "Why, that chap just bored
+me to death trying to induce me to let him drive me over to the Canadian
+side and around to other places. Couldn't choke him off. Told him I'd
+been across. He kept it up. Asked me if I'd seen this, and that, and the
+other. I said yes, yes, yes! Then I invited him to shut up. First thing
+I knew he was taking me back off the island. He had closed up like a
+clam. Asked him where all the places were that he was going to show me,
+and he informed me I had seen twenty-five cents' worth. Then I was
+ruffled. I admit I was ruffled. I stood up, took him by the collar, and
+agitated him a little. The agitation shook some of the dust out of his
+clothes. Then I got out and permitted him to proceed. I've been sitting
+here meditating, and if you don't walk too fast I think I'll stick by
+you until you get through seeing things."
+
+The manner in which Browning related this was decidedly amusing, and all
+laughed over it.
+
+They followed the walk, and proceeded on their way toward the upper end
+of the island. Near the upper end they approached three small islands,
+known as the Three Sisters. A massive anchored bridge permitted them to
+cross to the first of these islands. Beneath this bridge the water swept
+with a continuous rushing roar, and the sight of it gave Elsie a renewed
+feeling of nervousness, which was increased by the fact that the great
+bridge swayed and moved beneath their feet.
+
+Having crossed by other bridges to the outermost of the Three Sisters,
+they now obtained a near and awe-inspiring view of the great rapids
+above the Canadian Falls.
+
+At a distance up the river the water seemed pouring over a great
+semi-circular ridge. It swept down on the Three Sisters as if seeking to
+overwhelm them. It tore past on either side with the velocity of an
+express train, hissing and snarling in anger because the islands dared
+defy and withstand its furious assault.
+
+Elsie stood with clasped hands, her eyes dilated, as she stared at the
+rapids which stretched far, far away to the Canadian side.
+
+"Isn't it grand!" cried Inza in Elsie's ear, her face flushed and her
+dark eyes shining.
+
+"It's grand," admitted the golden-haired girl; "but it's terrible, and
+it frightens me."
+
+The little party had divided, seeking various vantage points from which
+views of the great rapids could be obtained.
+
+Frank and Bart lingered with the girls.
+
+Mrs. Medford had remained on Goat Island, declining to cross the first
+bridge, and asserting that she preferred to rest on one of the benches.
+She refused to permit any one to remain with her, urging and commanding
+them all to see everything worth seeing.
+
+"A human being would have absolutely no chance if ever caught in the
+edge of that current," said Hodge. "The instant he was swept off his
+feet he would be doomed."
+
+"It's fascinating, fascinating!" exclaimed Inza. "I almost seem to feel
+something pulling me toward the water."
+
+"It's a very dangerous feeling," smiled Merry. "You know that an average
+of sixteen suicides a year take place here at the falls. People cannot
+resist the fascination of the rushing water. Many times no real reason
+can be given for these acts of self-destruction. You know there are
+moments when every human brain falters and seems touched by the fleeting
+finger of insanity. People who stand on great heights often feel an
+almost irresistible longing to fling themselves down. Here they are
+attacked by a mad longing to cast themselves into the clutch of the
+rapids."
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed Elsie, pale to the lips. "Let me get away--farther
+away!"
+
+Inza offered assistance, but Elsie forced a laugh and declared she was
+all right. However, she leaned on the arm of Bart, and they retreated
+from the immediate edge of the rapids.
+
+Frank watched them, unaware that Inza had stepped out on a stone that
+lifted its damp crest in the edge of the water.
+
+Suddenly he was startled by a cry.
+
+He whirled, and saw something that sent his heart into his mouth.
+
+Inza was lying across the rock, with both feet in the water.
+
+A man in black, the cape of his long cloak flapping about his shoulders
+like demon wings, was running from the spot, flourishing a stout,
+crooked cane.
+
+As he passed Frank, fully fifteen feet away, the fleeing man--whom Merry
+knew as the same one who had so nearly accomplished Inza's destruction
+on the Canadian shore--cast at the youth one piercing look.
+
+The eyes of the man were black as blackest night, but in their recesses
+gleamed a baleful fire of hatred and triumph.
+
+The same eyes had glared at Merry through the transom of the Bowery
+hotel, in New York.
+
+They were the eyes of Alvarez Lazaro, the avenger!
+
+But they were also the eyes of Porfias del Norte!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+IN CONSTANT PERIL.
+
+
+The frightful peril of Inza commanded Frank's whole attention. He leaped
+toward her. He saw her slipping from the damp rock.
+
+The eddying, swirling, hissing water was dragging at her feet. Inza's
+gloved fingers clutched vainly at the rock. She could obtain no
+detaining hold upon it.
+
+She turned her white, bloodless face toward Frank, horror and despair in
+her dilated eyes. He reached her, swung out with one long stride to the
+rock, stooping and clutching her just as she must have been swept away.
+
+His fingers closed on her arms with a grip like iron. He swung her to
+her feet and flung her into the hollow of his left arm. Then he turned
+and leaped back to the solid ground.
+
+Inza had not fainted. She was limp and nerveless, but still conscious.
+
+Of course, just then Frank's attention was given entirely to her; but
+the moment he realized she did not need him, he placed her gently on the
+ground and turned to look for the man in black who had fled past him.
+
+By this time the attention of Bart and Elsie had been attracted. They
+saw something was the matter, and they hastened toward Inza.
+
+"What is it--oh, what is it?" palpitated Elsie.
+
+Frank turned to Hodge.
+
+"Did you see that man?" he hoarsely asked.
+
+Bart was startled and astounded by the terrible look on Merriwell's face
+and the glare in his usually kindly eyes.
+
+"What man?"
+
+"The one in black--the old man who nearly knocked Inza into the river
+over on the Canadian side."
+
+"Was it him? I saw some one running, among the trees yonder. What
+happened, Merry? How did----"
+
+"Look out for the girls--guard them," commanded Frank.
+
+Then he sprang away with the speed of a deer, quickly disappearing from
+view in pursuit of the mysterious man, for he now knew that twice that
+day had that man made an attempt on the life of Inza Burrage.
+
+In the meantime, Elsie was kneeling on the ground, her arms about Inza,
+trying to learn what had taken place.
+
+"Your feet and the bottom of your skirt are dripping wet, dear," she
+said. "Did you slip? Did you fall into the water?"
+
+Inza covered her colorless face with her hands. The fingers of her
+gloves were torn from her efforts to obtain a hold on the rock where
+she had fallen. She was shuddering all over.
+
+"Tell me--tell me how it happened," urged Elsie.
+
+"That man----" gasped Inza.
+
+"The one Bart saw running away?"
+
+"Yes, yes!"
+
+"What did he do?"
+
+"He pushed me!"
+
+"Pushed you?" cried Bart, astounded and horrified.
+
+"Pushed you?" burst from Elsie.
+
+"With his cane," shuddered Inza.
+
+"The monster!" cried Elsie.
+
+"I had stepped out on that rock," explained Inza.
+
+"Where was the man then?"
+
+"I don't know. I didn't see him until I turned to look back. Then I saw
+him close by the edge of the water. I think he must have leaped out from
+behind the thick cedars yonder. He looked at me, and the expression on
+his face---- Oh!"
+
+The quivering girl was overcome by the memory.
+
+"Heavens!" palpitated Bart. "The old wretch tried to murder you! Is it
+possible he did, Inza?"
+
+"I saw murder in his eyes," whispered Inza. "They were the most terrible
+eyes. He was a man with snow-white hair, yet he did not seem so very
+old. And his face--I have seen it before! Where? When?"
+
+"You saw him on the Canadian side."
+
+"I did not see him plainly then. I did not get a good look at his face.
+I know I have seen those eyes before. He seemed to laugh horribly as he
+lifted his cane, but no sound came from his lips. I thought he was going
+to strike me with the cane. Instead of that, he thrust the end against
+me and tried to give me a push that would send me from the rock into the
+rapids."
+
+Elsie's arms tightened about her friend, and she trembled all over with
+the thought of such a thing.
+
+"Like a flash I understood what he meant to do," continued the
+dark-haired girl. "I twisted about so that the full force of his thrust
+was lost; but in doing so I lost my balance. I thought it was all over,
+and I uttered a cry. At the same time, even as I was falling, I sought
+to drop on the rock. I succeeded in doing so, and there I lay, with my
+feet in the water. I could feel the water dragging at them! I felt
+myself slipping, slipping, slipping!"
+
+She choked and covered her face with her hands.
+
+Some of the others now approached and were startled to learn what had
+taken place.
+
+The moment he heard about it a most astounding change came over Bruce
+Browning. The big fellow had been loitering along, apparently so weary
+that only by the greatest effort could he drag his feet; but in a
+twinkling he awoke to astonishing animation, asked which way Merry had
+gone, and a second later bounded away, covering the ground in mighty
+leaps.
+
+Starbright and Morgan followed. Rattleton remained with Hodge to look
+after the girls.
+
+There were other visitors on the islands. Soon the boys learned that the
+strange white-haired man in black had fled across the bridges to Goat
+Island, followed a few moments later by a young man.
+
+When Goat Island was reached another man informed them that he had seen
+the old man in black leap into a waiting carriage, upon which the driver
+whipped his horses and sent them off at a great pace.
+
+Merriwell had reached the spot a few moments later and had rushed across
+through the woods in an effort to head off the fugitive.
+
+While Browning was making inquiries he was overtaken by Starbright and
+Morgan.
+
+"There's only one way to get off this island," reminded Dade. "Come on!"
+
+They raced through the leafless woods, causing all who saw them to turn
+and stare after them in astonishment.
+
+When the bridge to the mainland was reached they paused once more to
+make inquiries.
+
+A man and a woman had just crossed from the mainland. They had seen
+Merriwell dash over the bridge and were sure a rapidly driven carriage
+had preceded him by a brief space of time.
+
+Frank was finally found talking to an officer in front of the Tower
+Hotel.
+
+"He slipped me, boys," confessed Merry, with an expression of regret;
+"but the police have been notified, and they promised to do their best
+to nab him. How is Inza?"
+
+"She's all right," assured Starbright. "Of course, her nerves received a
+great shock; but you know how quickly she recovers, so I don't think you
+have any reason to worry about her. Hodge and Rattleton are looking out
+for her and Elsie."
+
+"Look here, Merry," said Browning, placing his hand on Frank's shoulder
+and mopping his flushed face with a handkerchief, "who was the lunatic
+that tried to push her into the river?"
+
+"I think you have justly called him a lunatic," nodded Merry. "I am
+confident the man is deranged. Boys, I believe--nay, I have no
+doubt--that it was Alvarez Lazaro, the crazy Mexican who claims to be
+the avenger of Porfias del Norte. I did believe Lazaro had perished in
+that fire in New York; but now I am certain he escaped in some
+unaccountable manner, and never until he is captured and punished can I
+or any one of my friends know a real moment of safety. There is no
+telling what the next move of this maniacal avenger will be. We must all
+be on our guard, night and day."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+THE END OF PORFIAS DEL NORTE.
+
+
+Frank's party returned to Buffalo, and, for all of the startling affair
+at the falls, enjoyed a splendid dinner at the hotel where they were
+stopping.
+
+Inza had recovered in a remarkable manner, betraying not a trace of
+nervousness, despite her late terrible experience. She was the life of
+the party at dinner.
+
+After dinner nearly all of them gathered in Merry's room to chat. Dade
+Morgan was an exception. He was strangely restless and uneasy, and he
+improved an opportunity to slip away without attracting attention.
+
+Slipping on his overcoat, he sauntered forth for a stroll along the
+principal street of the city.
+
+As he was passing the Iroquois Hotel some one struck him a heavy blow on
+the shoulder, and a voice exclaimed:
+
+"Dade Morgan, as I live! Well, wouldn't this jostle you some!"
+
+A young man who looked something like a swell, yet had a dissipated
+appearance, grasped Morgan's hand and shook it warmly.
+
+"This is a surprise!" he declared. "Saw you last at the Imperial in
+little old New York the night after the ponies hit you such a bump. You
+had accumulated a large load and were in a pretty mushy condition. Lost
+track of you after that. Couldn't find you, you know. Didn't anybody
+seem to know what had become of you. Was afraid you'd done something
+rash. You're looking fine as a daisy. What brought you to this town?
+Come in and have a drink and tell me about it."
+
+The talkative young man forcibly pulled Morgan into the hotel, but Dade
+finally stopped him, saying:
+
+"I'm glad to see you again, Cavendale; but you'll have to excuse me from
+drinking. I've cut it out."
+
+"Oh, come, old man, don't----"
+
+"It's straight goods," asserted Morgan grimly. "No more of the lush for
+me."
+
+"I can't believe it! And you were such a hot bunch! Well, come in to the
+bar and watch me lap up something."
+
+He insisted until Morgan finally consented to accompany him to the bar.
+When they arrived there Cavendale renewed his urgent invitation, but
+Dade stood firm as far as liquor was concerned.
+
+"Well, have something for old times' sake," said Cavendale. "I'm going
+to look on the rye. Take a lemonade, a ginger ale, anything to be
+sociable. I want you to tell me about yourself."
+
+Dade took a lemonade.
+
+Although Cavendale had stated that he wished Dade to tell about himself,
+he rattled off a rambling statement of his own affairs, claiming that
+he was "in on a big deal" that meant thousands to him.
+
+"It's a snap," he asserted. "It's the greatest thing I ever struck. I'm
+bound to come out with my clothes lined with money. Hated to leave New
+York, but the people I'm in with are running things, and I go where they
+say."
+
+Then he shivered as he saw Dade sipping the lemonade.
+
+"That's rotten stuff for cold weather," he said. "Gives me a chill just
+to see you taking it. What happened to you, anyhow? Did you get a fit of
+remorse? Old Colonel R. E. bothers me sometimes, but I take a few
+bracers and he vanishes. Tell me why you quit, old man."
+
+Morgan suddenly decided to do so.
+
+"I quit through the influence of a friend," he explained. "I went broke
+in New York, Cavendale; but when I got hold of any loose coin I
+generally spent a part of it for booze. I'm not going to tell you all
+that happened to me, but I was clean down to the bottom when Frank
+Merriwell found me."
+
+Cavendale started.
+
+"Seems to me I've heard of Merriwell," he muttered. "I'm sure I have. So
+you're pretty chummy with him now?"
+
+"You might call it so."
+
+"Know all about his plans, I suppose? Sort of a bosom comrade, eh?"
+
+"I believe Merriwell would trust me fully, although he found me pretty
+near in the gutter in New York."
+
+"Well, that's fine! Old college chums, and all that. Still I want you to
+know I always had a liking for you, Morgan, old fellow--more than a
+liking. When I saw you a few minutes ago, I said: 'The very chap; I'll
+pull him into this deal and make a carload of money for him.' I believe
+I can do it, too. I suppose you're ready to make a stake? It's easy
+money and plenty of it."
+
+"Why, every young man is looking for an opportunity to make money."
+
+"Sure thing. Wait a moment. I want you to meet a friend of mine. He's
+stopping right here in this hotel. He's one of the main guys in our big
+game."
+
+"But you haven't told me what the game is."
+
+Cavendale tapped his lips with one finger.
+
+"Discreetness," he grinned. "It's all on the level, but it doesn't do to
+talk too much to outsiders. If my friend likes you, he may unfold some
+of it to you. Oh, it's great! I expect to pull out forty or fifty
+thousand as my share in a year. If you're taken in, you'll do as well."
+
+"That sounds too good to be true," said Dade, with an incredulous smile.
+
+"You wait," nodded Cavendale. "I want to step to the telephone. Be back
+in a minute. Don't stir. I'll have Mr. Hagan--er--Mr. Harrigan right
+down."
+
+Cavendale hurried from the barroom.
+
+"What did he say?" thought Morgan, who wondered over the manner in which
+Cavendale had faltered over the name of the man he was going to call.
+"He said Hagan, and then he changed it to Harrigan. Hagan, Hagan--why,
+that's the name of the Irishman Merry told me about! That is the name of
+one of Frank's enemies! Can it be Hagan is here? Why not? The other man
+who calls himself Lazaro, is here--or was at the falls to-day. I scent
+something! Oh, if Merriwell were here! If I could get word to him!"
+
+At this moment something happened that filled Dade with unspeakable
+satisfaction.
+
+Dick Starbright looked into the room, saw Morgan, and hurried toward
+him. Dick's face was pale, and he looked greatly concerned.
+
+"What are you doing, Dade?" he demanded, with a touch of anger. "Been
+looking round for you. Was afraid I'd find you at a bar. And you're
+drinking! Is this the way you----"
+
+"Now, cut it right there," interrupted Morgan. "Smell of this! Taste it!
+It's lemonade. I can't explain how I happened here. No time. Something
+doing. I want you to hustle back to the hotel and tell Frank that I'm
+here. Tell him I'm about to be introduced to a man by the name of Hagan.
+I don't know who this Hagan is, but I have my suspicions. Tell him I'll
+try to hold Mr. Hagan right here long enough for him to arrive. He's
+good at following anything up. If it's the right Hagan, Merry may find
+some one else by shadowing him. Now skip. Don't waste a second."
+
+"But----"
+
+"I tell you to skip! Hagan may be here any moment. Wouldn't have him see
+you for anything. Don't want him to know I've spoken to a soul since.
+That's right! Dig! You'll have to hurry."
+
+Starbright was somewhat bewildered, but he followed Dade's directions
+and hastened from the Iroquois.
+
+A few moments later Cavendale returned and announced that "Mr. Harrigan"
+would be right down.
+
+Five minutes after that a stout, florid-faced man walked into the room,
+saw Cavendale and Morgan, and advanced toward them.
+
+"Mr. Harrigan," said Cavendale, "I want you to meet a particular friend
+of mine, Mr. Morgan."
+
+"Glad to know you, Mr. Morgan," declared Harrigan, as he shook hands
+with Dade. "What's in the wind, Wallace? You insisted that I should come
+down right away."
+
+"Because I know you are anxious to get hold of another young man on whom
+you can rely implicitly, and I believe Morgan is the man you want. I
+know him. He's a hustler. I give you my word that he's the very man for
+you."
+
+"You know him well, do you, Wallace? Of course there are plenty of young
+men we can get, but we're looking for the right one. If you say Mr.
+Morgan is----"
+
+"I do. I give you my word for it."
+
+"That is enough. Your word goes with me, but, of course, Mr. Morgan will
+have to see the chief. He leaves Buffalo in the morning, and to-night is
+the last opportunity to see him here."
+
+"But hold on," remonstrated Dade. "I'd like to know what this thing is
+that I'm going into. I haven't been able to get anything definite out of
+Cavendale. Will you kindly clear it up for me, Mr. Harrigan? I'm not
+going to plunge into anything, no matter what the inducement, with my
+eyes blindfolded."
+
+"Quite right, me boy," nodded Harrigan. "That's wisdom, and I like it."
+
+Then he began to talk of great railroad projects and rich mines, and
+kept it up in a rapid, yet rambling, manner, apparently explaining
+fully, but actually making no explanation at all. All that Dade could
+get from his talk was that the business involved mighty projects in
+railroading and mining, and that all concerned in carrying the things
+through would reap rich rewards.
+
+"But still I'm in the dark," protested Morgan. "I may be dull, but I
+confess that I need a little more light on this matter before I plunge."
+
+Cavendale and Harrigan exchanged glances.
+
+"The thing to do," said Harrigan, "is to have you see the chief. He'll
+make it clear."
+
+Dade demurred. He had not yet seen anything of Merriwell, although it
+seemed that Frank had been given plenty of time to arrive. He plied his
+companions with questions, sparring for more time.
+
+And while he was doing so a door behind Harrigan's back swung open a
+little. It was enough to give Morgan a glimpse of Merriwell outside.
+Frank made a signal, and then the door closed.
+
+Immediately Morgan seemed suddenly to agree to the proposals of his
+companions.
+
+"Oh, all right," he said carelessly. "If you won't make the matter clear
+to me, then take me to this gentleman you call the chief. Perhaps he'll
+enlighten me."
+
+"He will, me lad," nodded Harrigan. "Come on. We'll call a cab."
+
+"Then he's not stopping in this hotel?"
+
+"Never a bit of it," said Harrigan. "He has a prejudice against hotels.
+He's stopping with a friend at a private house."
+
+They went to the office, where a cab was ordered.
+
+As they left the Iroquois and entered the cab Dade looked round in vain
+for a glimpse of Frank, but he was not to be seen.
+
+It was a long drive through the streets of Buffalo. At first Dade tried
+to keep track of the course, but soon the many turns and changes of
+direction confused him, and he gave it up.
+
+They stopped at last before a small, detached house near the outskirts
+of the city. The house seemed dark and deserted.
+
+Morgan began to wonder if he had been wise in accompanying the men, but
+he quickly decided that there could be little or no reason for doing
+personal injury to him, and so he unhesitatingly followed Cavendale up
+the steps, while Harrigan came behind.
+
+The cab rumbled away.
+
+Cavendale pressed the push-button of the electric doorbell in a peculiar
+manner. After a time there sounded from the inner side of the door an
+odd knocking. Cavendale answered in a similar manner.
+
+There was a sound of shooting bolts, but the rattle of a chain followed,
+and the door was opened only a short distance. Plainly the chain was
+still on.
+
+Cavendale whispered to some one within. The door closed again, the chain
+rattled once more, the door re-opened, and into the house of mystery
+they walked.
+
+The hand of Cavendale guided Dade through the dark hall, through a room
+beyond and finally into still another room, which was dimly lighted.
+
+"Here we are," said Cavendale, with affected cheerfulness. "Let's have
+these lights up. The chief was abed, but he'll be down directly."
+
+The lights were turned up. The room was plainly furnished, and had but
+one window. That window was so heavily curtained that no gleam of light
+could be seen from it by any one on the outside.
+
+Hagan pretended to joke and talk in a lively manner, but his jokes were
+forced and mirthless.
+
+After a few minutes a soft step sounded outside, and a striking-looking
+man in black entered the room. This man was slender and graceful, his
+figure being that of a young man, but his face was one that proclaimed
+him nearing seventy, and his hair was white as driven snow. One glance
+at his eyes was enough for Dade, who knew instantly that they were the
+same eyes he had seen peering through the transom of the Bowery hotel.
+
+This was Frank Merriwell's deadly enemy, a monster who would hesitate at
+no crime in order to injure the youth he so bitterly hated. This was the
+man who had twice attempted to destroy the life of Inza Burrage. This
+was the man who had poisoned Watson Scott at the Waldorf and had nearly
+brought about the death of Warren Hatch in an automobile smash-up.
+
+Morgan had good nerves. He managed to keep his face impassive as he was
+introduced by Hagan, who said:
+
+"Mr. Brown, this is Mr. Morgan, a young man who is willing to join us
+and work with us when he is satisfied that the business is legitimate
+and the reward sufficient."
+
+"I am very glad to know you, Mr. Morgan," said "Brown," clasping Dade's
+hand and looking into his eyes.
+
+The voice was low and musical, but Morgan felt a thrill at the touch of
+that hand, and in the steady, piercing glance of those eyes there was
+something that caused a queer sensation of helplessness to creep upon
+him.
+
+"Sit down," was the invitation. "I will tell you all about it. Sit here,
+where the light will not fall in your eyes."
+
+He was urged into a chair. The man sat down before him, and on those
+wonderful black eyes the light fell fairly.
+
+The strange man began to talk in that low, soothing voice of his. He
+talked--as had Harrigan--of mines, and railroads, and great projects.
+His voice had an accent that was pleasant to hear, and at times the
+formation of his sentences was peculiar. All the while, as he talked, he
+looked steadily into Dade's eyes. At last, he leaned forward and took
+Morgan's hands, continuing to talk.
+
+Suddenly Dade realized that a spell was stealing over him. He was
+growing drowsy. The man before him was telling him that he was tired and
+should rest.
+
+Morgan realized that he was being hypnotized!
+
+Instantly he aroused all his will power to fight against it. At the same
+time he resolved on a crafty course. He determined to pretend that he
+was succumbing to the hypnotic spell.
+
+This he cleverly did, his head sinking against the back of the chair and
+his eyes closing. By closing his own eyes he shut out the view of those
+terrible eyes, which he feared might conquer him.
+
+There was a brief silence, and then the triumphant voice of the
+mysterious man said:
+
+"I have him now, and he is mine. From this night he shall do my bidding.
+And he is the trusted friend and companion of Frank Merriwell! Ah!
+through him I will strike Merriwell, even as I promised to strike him. I
+told him I would ruin his beauty. Through this friend of his I will
+accomplish the deed. Here I have a vial of vitriol. I always carry
+several vials of poison with me. This one I will place in this chap's
+pocket, and with it he shall do my command."
+
+Then Morgan felt the man thrusting something into a pocket of his vest.
+A moment later the soft voice spoke to him.
+
+"Do you hear me?" it asked.
+
+Morgan had witnessed hypnotic exhibitions, and so he answered in a low,
+mechanical manner:
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Good! I am your master, now and forever. Do you recognize and
+acknowledge me as your master?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Sleeping or waking, wherever you are, you must obey my commands. You
+cannot refuse. What I tell you to do, while in your present state, you
+must do while in a normal condition. You will obey me!"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Very well. In your pocket I have placed a vial containing a liquid.
+To-night, after returning to your hotel, you will seek Frank Merriwell's
+room. If you find him in bed, all the better. You must take him
+unawares. You must uncork that vial and fling the contents into his
+face. This you will do!"
+
+Although filled with indignation and horror, Dade answered:
+
+"I will."
+
+"Good! It is enough. I----"
+
+He stopped speaking, interrupted by the furious ringing of a bell. Then
+came another man rushing into the room, shaking with excitement, who
+announced that there were many men at the door and others all round the
+house. Apparently they were officers.
+
+"Frank has turned the trick!" exultingly thought Morgan. "He has the
+wretch trapped!"
+
+But he remained motionless.
+
+Hagan and Cavendale were greatly excited. They hurried from the room,
+followed by "the chief."
+
+The ringing at the doorbell continued. Then heavy blows fell on the
+door, resounding through the house. There was the sound of smashing
+wood.
+
+"Come on, Merry!" laughed Morgan. "You have him this time! Don't let him
+get away!"
+
+He had leaped up. He heard the door burst open. He heard some one
+approaching on the jump. With a spring he concealed himself behind a
+high-backed chair in the corner.
+
+Hagan burst into the room, followed by "the chief."
+
+"It's caught ye are, Mr. Lazaro!" said the disgusted Irishman. "They
+have us all! It's bad for me, but for you it means life behind the
+bars."
+
+"Never!" was the retort. "See this vial, Senor Hagan? It contains
+poison. I shall swallow----"
+
+A policeman appeared in the doorway.
+
+The man of the terrible eyes and snowy hair placed the vial to his lips
+and swallowed the contents. Then he flung the empty vial at the officer,
+staggered to a chair, dropped upon it, and laughed a horrible laugh that
+ended with what seemed a death rattle.
+
+Morgan had risen. In a dazed condition he saw officers swarm into the
+room, saw Hagan--who had been introduced to him as Harrigan--handcuffed,
+saw Frank Merriwell bending over a limp, still form and declaring the
+man was Lazaro.
+
+"He has swallowed poison!" cried Dade, arousing himself at last, and
+rushing forward. "I saw him do it!"
+
+The eyes of Lazaro--those fearful eyes--were lifted to the face of Frank
+Merriwell for a moment. A haze seemed spreading over them. The lips of
+the man moved. Silence fell on the room, and all present heard him say:
+
+"Merriwell, you have brought death to me at last. To escape you and to
+escape imprisonment, I die at last. Even yet you shall not escape me. I
+shall haunt you after death! I will bring you at last to your miserable
+end! _Adios!_"
+
+Then the lips were still, the eyes partly closed.
+
+"He is dead!" said an officer.
+
+"Not until I hear him proclaimed dead by a reliable physician will I be
+satisfied," said Frank. "Bring in a doctor."
+
+A short time later a doctor appeared. The physician knelt beside Lazaro
+and made a careful examination, silently watched by the others. At last
+the doctor rose to his feet, saying:
+
+"There is no question about it, the man is dead."
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+"Dick Merriwell Abroad" is the title of the next volume in THE MERRIWELL
+SERIES, No. 118. A tale of Dick Merriwell's adventures in foreign lands
+by Burt L. Standish.
+
+
+
+
+[Transcriber's Note: This advertisement originally appeared at the front
+of the text, and has been moved to the rear for this electronic
+edition.]
+
+BOOKS FOR YOUNG MEN
+
+MERRIWELL SERIES
+
+ALL BY BURT L. STANDISH
+
+Price, Fifteen Cents                 Stories of Frank and Dick Merriwell
+
+Fascinating Stories of Athletics
+
+
+A half million enthusiastic followers of the Merriwell brothers will
+attest the unfailing interest and wholesomeness of these adventures of
+two lads of high ideals, who play fair with themselves, as well as with
+the rest of the world.
+
+These stories are rich in fun and thrills in all branches of sports and
+athletics. They are extremely high in moral tone, and cannot fail to be
+of immense benefit to every boy who reads them.
+
+They have the splendid quality of firing a boy's ambition to become a
+good athlete, in order that he may develop into a strong, vigorous,
+right-thinking man.
+
+
+ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT
+
+1--Frank Merriwell's School Days
+2--Frank Merriwell's Chums
+3--Frank Merriwell's Foes
+4--Frank Merriwell's Trip West
+5--Frank Merriwell Down South
+6--Frank Merriwell's Bravery
+7--Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour
+8--Frank Merriwell in Europe
+9--Frank Merriwell at Yale
+10--Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield
+11--Frank Merriwell's Races
+12--Frank Merriwell's Party
+13--Frank Merriwell's Bicycle Tour
+14--Frank Merriwell's Courage
+15--Frank Merriwell's Daring
+16--Frank Merriwell's Alarm
+17--Frank Merriwell's Athletes
+18--Frank Merriwell's Skill
+19--Frank Merriwell's Champions
+20--Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale
+21--Frank Merriwell's Secret
+22--Frank Merriwell's Danger
+23--Frank Merriwell's Loyalty
+24--Frank Merriwell in Camp
+25--Frank Merriwell's Vacation
+26--Frank Merriwell's Cruise
+27--Frank Merriwell's Chase
+28--Frank Merriwell in Maine
+29--Frank Merriwell's Struggle
+30--Frank Merriwell's First Job
+31--Frank Merriwell's Opportunity
+32--Frank Merriwell's Hard Luck
+33--Frank Merriwell's Protege
+34--Frank Merriwell on the Road
+35--Frank Merriwell's Own Company
+36--Frank Merriwell's Fame
+37--Frank Merriwell's College Chums
+38--Frank Merriwell's Problem
+39--Frank Merriwell's Fortune
+40--Frank Merriwell's New Comedian
+41--Frank Merriwell's Prosperity
+42--Frank Merriwell's Stage Hit
+43--Frank Merriwell's Great Scheme
+44--Frank Merriwell in England
+45--Frank Merriwell on the Boulevards
+46--Frank Merriwell's Duel
+47--Frank Merriwell's Double Shot
+48--Frank Merriwell's Baseball Victories
+49--Frank Merriwell's Confidence
+50--Frank Merriwell's Auto
+51--Frank Merriwell's Fun
+52--Frank Merriwell's Generosity
+53--Frank Merriwell's Tricks
+54--Frank Merriwell's Temptation
+55--Frank Merriwell on Top
+56--Frank Merriwell's Luck
+57--Frank Merriwell's Mascot
+58--Frank Merriwell's Reward
+59--Frank Merriwell's Phantom
+60--Frank Merriwell's Faith
+61--Frank Merriwell's Victories
+62--Frank Merriwell's Iron Nerve
+63--Frank Merriwell in Kentucky
+64--Frank Merriwell's Power
+65--Frank Merriwell's Shrewdness
+66--Frank Merriwell's Setback
+67--Frank Merriwell's Search
+68--Frank Merriwell's Club
+69--Frank Merriwell's Trust
+70--Frank Merriwell's False Friend
+71--Frank Merriwell's Strong Arm
+72--Frank Merriwell as Coach
+73--Frank Merriwell's Brother
+74--Frank Merriwell's Marvel
+75--Frank Merriwell's Support
+76--Dick Merriwell at Fardale
+77--Dick Merriwell's Glory
+78--Dick Merriwell's Promise
+79--Dick Merriwell's Rescue
+80--Dick Merriwell's Narrow Escape
+81--Dick Merriwell's Racket
+82--Dick Merriwell's Revenge
+83--Dick Merriwell's Ruse
+84--Dick Merriwell's Delivery
+85--Dick Merriwell's Wonders
+86--Frank Merriwell's Honor
+87--Dick Merriwell's Diamond
+88--Frank Merriwell's Winners
+89--Dick Merriwell's Dash
+90--Dick Merriwell's Ability
+91--Dick Merriwell's Trap
+92--Dick Merriwell's Defense
+93--Dick Merriwell's Model
+94--Dick Merriwell's Mystery
+95--Frank Merriwell's Backers
+96--Dick Merriwell's Backstop
+97--Dick Merriwell's Western Mission
+98--Frank Merriwell's Rescue
+99--Frank Merriwell's Encounter
+100--Dick Merriwell's Marked Money
+101--Frank Merriwell's Nomads
+102--Dick Merriwell on the Gridiron
+103--Dick Merriwell's Disguise
+104--Dick Merriwell's Test
+105--Frank Merriwell's Trump Card
+106--Frank Merriwell's Strategy
+107--Frank Merriwell's Triumph
+108--Dick Merriwell's Grit
+109--Dick Merriwell's Assurance
+110--Dick Merriwell's Long Slide
+111--Frank Merriwell's Rough Deal
+112--Dick Merriwell's Threat
+113--Dick Merriwell's Persistence
+114--Dick Merriwell's Day
+115--Frank Merriwell's Peril
+116--Dick Merriwell's Downfall
+117--Frank Merriwell's Pursuit
+118--Dick Merriwell Abroad
+119--Frank Merriwell in the Rockies
+120--Dick Merriwell's Pranks
+121--Frank Merriwell's Pride
+122--Frank Merriwell's Challengers
+123--Frank Merriwell's Endurance
+124--Dick Merriwell's Cleverness
+125--Frank Merriwell's Marriage
+126--Dick Merriwell, the Wizard
+127--Dick Merriwell's Stroke
+128--Dick Merriwell's Return
+129--Dick Merriwell's Resource
+130--Dick Merriwell's Five
+131--Frank Merriwell's Tigers
+132--Dick Merriwell's Polo Team
+133--Frank Merriwell's Pupils
+134--Frank Merriwell's New Boy
+135--Dick Merriwell's Home Run
+136--Dick Merriwell's Dare
+137--Frank Merriwell's Son
+138--Dick Merriwell's Team Mate
+139--Frank Merriwell's Leaguers
+140--Frank Merriwell's Happy Camp
+141--Dick Merriwell's Influence
+142--Dick Merriwell, Freshman
+143--Dick Merriwell's Staying Power
+
+In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the books
+listed below will be issued during the respective months in New York
+City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance
+promptly, on account of delays in transportation.
+
+
+To be published in July, 1926.
+
+144--Dick Merriwell's Joke
+145--Frank Merriwell's Talisman
+
+
+To be published in August, 1926.
+
+146--Frank Merriwell's Horse
+147--Dick Merriwell's Regret
+
+
+To be published in September, 1926.
+
+148--Dick Merriwell's Magnetism
+149--Dick Merriwell's Backers
+
+
+To be published in October, 1926.
+
+150--Dick Merriwell's Best Work
+151--Dick Merriwell's Distrust
+152--Dick Merriwell's Debt
+
+
+To be published in November, 1926.
+
+153--Dick Merriwell's Mastery
+154--Dick Merriwell Adrift
+
+
+To be published in December, 1926.
+
+155--Frank Merriwell's Worst Boy
+156--Dick Merriwell's Close Call
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Frank Merriwell's Pursuit, by Burt L. Standish
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S PURSUIT ***
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