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+Project Gutenberg's Frank Merriwell's New Comedian, 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 New Comedian
+       The Rise of a Star
+
+Author: Burt L. Standish
+
+Release Date: January 18, 2012 [EBook #38610]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S NEW COMEDIAN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+BOOKS FOR YOUNG MEN
+
+MERRIWELL SERIES
+
+Stories of Frank and Dick Merriwell
+
+PRICE FIFTEEN CENTS
+
+_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        By Burt L. Standish
+   2--Frank Merriwell's Chums              By Burt L. Standish
+   3--Frank Merriwell's Foes               By Burt L. Standish
+   4--Frank Merriwell's Trip West          By Burt L. Standish
+   5--Frank Merriwell Down South           By Burt L. Standish
+   6--Frank Merriwell's Bravery            By Burt L. Standish
+   7--Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour       By Burt L. Standish
+   8--Frank Merriwell in Europe            By Burt L. Standish
+   9--Frank Merriwell at Yale              By Burt L. Standish
+  10--Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield      By Burt L. Standish
+  11--Frank Merriwell's Races              By Burt L. Standish
+  12--Frank Merriwell's Party              By Burt L. Standish
+  13--Frank Merriwell's Bicycle Tour       By Burt L. Standish
+  14--Frank Merriwell's Courage            By Burt L. Standish
+  15--Frank Merriwell's Daring             By Burt L. Standish
+  16--Frank Merriwell's Alarm               By Burt L. Standish
+  17--Frank Merriwell's Athletes            By Burt L. Standish
+  18--Frank Merriwell's Skill               By Burt L. Standish
+  19--Frank Merriwell's Champions           By Burt L. Standish
+  20--Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale      By Burt L. Standish
+  21--Frank Merriwell's Secret              By Burt L. Standish
+  22--Frank Merriwell's Danger              By Burt L. Standish
+  23--Frank Merriwell's Loyalty             By Burt L. Standish
+  24--Frank Merriwell in Camp               By Burt L. Standish
+  25--Frank Merriwell's Vacation            By Burt L. Standish
+  26--Frank Merriwell's Cruise              By Burt L. Standish
+
+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 January, 1922.
+
+  27--Frank Merriwell's Chase               By Burt L. Standish
+  28--Frank Merriwell in Maine              By Burt L. Standish
+
+To Be Published in February, 1922.
+
+  29--Frank Merriwell's Struggle            By Burt L. Standish
+  30--Frank Merriwell's First Job           By Burt L. Standish
+
+To Be Published in March, 1922.
+
+  31--Frank Merriwell's Opportunity         By Burt L. Standish
+  32--Frank Merriwell's Hard Luck           By Burt L. Standish
+
+To Be Published in April, 1922.
+
+  33--Frank Merriwell's Protege             By Burt L. Standish
+  34--Frank Merriwell on the Road           By Burt L. Standish
+
+To Be Published in May, 1922.
+
+  35--Frank Merriwell's Own Company         By Burt L. Standish
+  36--Frank Merriwell's Fame                By Burt L. Standish
+  37--Frank Merriwell's College Chums       By Burt L. Standish
+
+To Be Published in June, 1922.
+
+  38--Frank Merriwell's Problem             By Burt L. Standish
+  39--Frank Merriwell's Fortune             By Burt L. Standish
+
+
+
+
+FRANK MERRIWELL'S NEW COMEDIAN
+
+OR,
+
+THE RISE OF A STAR
+
+
+BY
+
+BURT L. STANDISH
+
+Author of the famous Merriwell Stories.
+
+
+STREET & SMITH CORPORATION, PUBLISHERS
+
+79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York
+
+
+
+
+Copyright, 1899 By STREET & SMITH
+
+Frank Merriwell's New Comedian
+
+(Printed in the United States of America)
+
+All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign
+languages, including the Scandinavian.
+
+
+
+
+FRANK MERRIWELL'S NEW COMEDIAN
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+"NEVER SAY DIE!"
+
+
+It is not a pleasant experience to wake up on a beautiful morning to the
+realization that one has failed. There seems a relentless irony in
+nature herself that the day that dawns on a night when our glittering
+hopes have become dead, dull ashes of despair and ruin should be bright
+and warm with the sun's genial rays.
+
+So Frank Merriwell felt this fine morning in Puelbo, Colorado. The night
+before, with high hopes, he had produced his new play, "For Old Eli." He
+recalled the events of that first production with almost a shudder. "For
+Old Eli" had been a failure, a flat, appalling, stupefying failure. From
+the rise of the curtain everything and everybody had gone wrong; lines
+were forgotten, Ephraim Gallup had had stage fright, his own best
+situations had been marred.
+
+How much of this was due to the lying handbills which had been scattered
+broadcast, asserting that he was not the real Frank Merriwell, but an
+impostor, a deadbeat and a thorough scoundrel, Frank could not tell. He
+believed that these efforts to ruin him had little effect, for when, at
+the close of the performance, he had made a speech from the stage,
+assuring the audience that he would bring his play back and give a
+satisfactory performance, his reception had been cordial.
+
+But the play had failed. Parker Folansbee, his backer, had acted
+queerly, and Frank knew that, after the company had reached Denver, the
+relations between him and his backer would cease. "For Old Eli" had been
+well-nigh ruinous, and when they got back to Denver, Merry and his
+friends would be without funds.
+
+Then the thought came to him of the prejudice expressed against a poor
+black cat he had allowed to travel with the company. He could not
+restrain a smile as he perceived that the superstitious members of the
+company would feel that the cat had hoodooed them. As if a cat could
+affect the fortunes of men!
+
+The thought of the cat gave a pleasant turn to his reflections, and he
+cheered up immensely.
+
+He had failed?
+
+No!
+
+He would not acknowledge failure, defeat, disaster. He would not lie
+down and abandon the struggle, for he was not built of such weak
+material.
+
+Where was the fault? Was it in the piece, or in the way it had been
+played?
+
+He realized that, although the piece was well constructed, it was not of
+a high, artistic character, such as must appeal by pure literary merit
+to the best class of theater patrons.
+
+It could not be ranked with the best productions of Pinero, Jones,
+Howard, Thomas, or even Clyde Fitch. He had not written it with the hope
+of reaching such a level. His aim had been to make a "popular" piece,
+such as would appeal to the masses.
+
+He fell to thinking over what had happened, and trying to understand the
+cause of it all. He did not lay the blame entirely on the actors.
+
+It was not long before he decided that something about his play had led
+the spectators to expect more than they had received.
+
+What was it they had expected?
+
+While he was thinking of this alone in his room at the hotel, Bart
+Hodge, his old friend and a member of his company, came in. Hodge looked
+disgruntled, disappointed, disgusted. He sat down on the bed without
+speaking.
+
+"Hello, old man," said Frank, cheerfully. "What's the matter with your
+face? It would sour new milk."
+
+"And you ought to have a face that would sour honey!" growled Bart. "I
+should if I were in your place."
+
+"What's the use? That wouldn't improve things."
+
+"If I were in your place, I'd take a gun and go forth and kill a few
+stiffs."
+
+"I always supposed a 'stiff' was dead. Didn't know one could be killed
+over again."
+
+"Oh, you can joke if you want to, but I don't see how you can feel like
+joking now. Anybody else would swear."
+
+"And that would be foolish."
+
+"Perhaps so; but you know, as well as I do, that your play was murdered
+and mangled last night."
+
+"That's so, b'gosh!" drawled a doleful voice, and Ephraim Gallup,
+another of the company, Frank's boy friend from Vermont, came stalking
+into the room, looking quite as disgusted and dejected as Hodge. "An'
+I'm one of the murderers!"
+
+Frank looked Ephraim over and burst out laughing.
+
+"Why," he cried, "your face is so long that you'll be hitting your toes
+against your chin when you walk, if you're not careful."
+
+"Whut I need is somebuddy to hit their toes against my pants jest where
+I set down, an' do it real hard," said Ephraim. "I wisht I'd stayed to
+hum on the farm when I went back there and giv up the idee that I was an
+actor. I kin dig 'taters an' saw wood a darn sight better'n I kin act!"
+
+"You're all right, Ephraim," assured Merry. "You had to fill that part
+in a hurry, and you were not sure on your lines. That worried you and
+broke you up. If you had been sure of your lines, so that you would have
+felt easy, I don't think there would have been any trouble as far as you
+were concerned."
+
+"I dunno abaout that. I never felt so gosh-darn scat as I did larst
+night. Why, I jest shook all over, an' one spell I didn't think my
+laigs'd hold me up till I got off ther stage. It was awful!"
+
+"You had an attack of stage fright. They say all great actors have it
+once in their lives."
+
+"Waal, I never want to feel that air way ag'in! An' I spoilt that scene
+in the dressin' room of the clubhaouse. Oh, jeewhillikins! I'm goin'
+aout of the show business, Frank, an' git a job paoundin' sand. It don't
+take no brains to do that."
+
+"Cheer up! You are going to play that same part in this play, and you'll
+play it well, too."
+
+"Whut? Then be yeou goin' to keep right on with the play?" asked the
+Vermonter, in astonishment.
+
+"No," said Merry, "I am not going to keep right on with it. I am going
+to put it into shape to win, and then I'm going out with it again. My
+motto is, 'Never say die.' You heard what I told the audience last
+night. I promised them that I would play in this town and would make a
+success. I shall keep that promise."
+
+Hodge shook his head.
+
+"You are smart, Frank, but there's a limit. I'm afraid your luck has
+turned. You are hoodooed."
+
+Just then a coal-black cat came out from under the bed and walked across
+the room.
+
+"And I suppose you think this is my hoodoo?" smiled Merry, as the cat
+came over and rubbed against his leg. "That's where you are away off.
+This cat is my mascot, and she shall travel with me till the piece wins.
+She has stuck to me close enough since she walked onto the stage where
+we were rehearsing in Denver."
+
+"The cat is not the hoodoo," said Bart, shaking his head. "I know what
+is."
+
+"You do?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"Name it."
+
+"I am!"
+
+"You?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Frank stared at Bart in surprise, and then burst out laughing.
+
+"Well, how in the world did you happen to get such a foolish notion into
+your head?" he cried.
+
+"It's not foolish," declared Bart, stubbornly. "It's straight, I know
+it, and you can't make me think differently."
+
+Frank rose and walked over to Hodge, putting a hand on his shoulder.
+
+"Now you are talking silly, old man," he said. "You never were bad luck
+to me in the past; why should you be now. You're blue. You are down in
+the mouth and your head is filled with ridiculous fancies. Things would
+have happened just as they have if you had not joined the company."
+
+"I don't believe it."
+
+"You always were superstitious, but I believe you are worse than ever
+now. You have been playing poker too much. That's what ails you. The
+game makes every man superstitious. He may not believe in luck at the
+beginning, but he will after he has stuck to that game a while. He will
+see all the odd things that happen with cards, and the conviction that
+there is such a thing as luck must grow upon him. He will become
+whimsical and full of notions. That's what's the matter with you, Hodge.
+Forget it, forget it!"
+
+"I think you are likely to forget some things altogether too early,
+Merriwell. For instance, some of your enemies."
+
+"What's the use to remember unpleasant things?"
+
+"They remember you. One of them did so to an extent that he helped ruin
+the first presentation of your play."
+
+"How?"
+
+"It isn't possible that you have forgotten the lying notices circulated
+all over this city, stating that you were not the real Frank Merriwell,
+accusing you of being a fake and a thief?"
+
+Something like a shadow settled on Merry's strong face.
+
+"No, I have not forgotten," he declared, "I remember all that, and I'd
+like to know just who worked the game."
+
+"It was a gol-dinged measly trick!" exploded Ephraim.
+
+"You thought it would not hurt you, Frank," said Hodge. "You fancied it
+would serve to advertise you, if anything. It may have advertised you,
+but it did you damage at the same time. When the audience saw everything
+was going wrong, it grew angry and became convinced that it was being
+defrauded. Then you had trouble with that big ruffian who climbed over
+the footlights with the avowed purpose of breaking up the show."
+
+"Oh, well," smiled Merry, in a peculiar way, "that fellow went right
+back over the footlights."
+
+"Yes, you threw him back. That quieted the audience more than anything
+else, for it showed that you were no slouch, even if you were a fake."
+
+"Oh, I suppose I'll find out some time just who did that little piece of
+advertising for me."
+
+"Perhaps so; perhaps not."
+
+Tap, tap, tap--a knock on the door.
+
+"Come!" Frank called.
+
+The door opened, and Billy Wynne, the property man, looked in.
+
+"Letter for you, Mr. Merriwell," he said.
+
+Frank took the letter, and Wynne disappeared, after being thanked for
+bringing it.
+
+"Excuse me," said Merry, and he tore open the envelope.
+
+A moment later, having glanced over the letter, he whistled.
+
+"News?" asked Bart.
+
+"Just a note from the gentleman we were speaking of just now," answered
+Frank. "It's from the party who gave me the free advertising."
+
+"Waal, I'll be kicked by a blind kaow!" exploded Gallup. "An' did he hev
+ther gall to write to ye?"
+
+"Yes," said Frank. "Listen to this."
+
+Then he read the letter aloud.
+
+    "Mr. Frank Merriwell.
+
+    "Dear Sir: By this time you must be aware that you are
+    not the greatest thing that ever happened. You received it in
+    the neck last night, and I aided in the good work of knocking
+    you out, for I circulated the 'warning' notice which denounced
+    you as an impostor, a deadbeat and a thief. The public swallowed
+    it all, and, in disguise, I was at the theater to witness your
+    downfall. It was even greater than I had dared hope it would be.
+    I understand the managers in other towns have canceled with you,
+    Folansbee has declined to back your old show any longer, and you
+    are on the beach. Ha! ha! ha! This is revenge indeed. You are
+    knocked out at last, and I did it. You'll never appear again as
+    the marvelous young actor-playwright, and the name of Frank
+    Merriwell will sink into oblivion. It is well. Yours with
+    satisfaction,
+
+                                         LESLIE LAWRENCE."
+
+"I knew well enough it was that dirty rascal who did the job!" cried
+Hodge, springing up. "The cur!"
+
+"Waal, dinged if he hadn't oughter be shot!" burst from Gallup. "An' he
+knows Folansbee's gone back on ye."
+
+"It's no use, Frank," said Hodge, disconsolately; "you are done for. The
+story is out. Folansbee has skipped us, and----"
+
+"He has not skipped us. He's simply decided to go out of the theatrical
+business. It was a fad with him, anyhow. As long as everything was going
+well, he liked it; but I see he is a man who cannot stand hard luck. He
+is changeable and that makes him a mighty poor man to back a venture. It
+takes a man with determination and a fixed purpose to win at anything.
+Changing around, jumping from one thing to another, never having any
+clear ideas is enough to make a failure of any man. Folansbee doesn't
+need to follow the show business for a living. He went into it because
+it fascinated him. The glamour is all worn off now, and he is ready to
+get out if it. Let him go."
+
+"It's all right to say let him go, but what are you going to do without
+him? You are talking about putting your play out again, but how will you
+do it?"
+
+"I'll find a way."
+
+"That is easier said than done. You have been lucky, Frank, there is no
+question about that. You can't be that lucky all the time."
+
+"There are more ways than one to catch an angel."
+
+"I rather think you'll find that angels are not so thick. Once in a
+while there is a soft thing who is ready to gamble with his money by
+putting it behind a traveling theatrical company, but those soft things
+are growing scarcer and scarcer. Too many of them have been bitten."
+
+"Still, I have a feeling that I'll find a way to succeed."
+
+"Of course you can advertise for a partner to invest in a 'sure thing,'
+and all that, but those games are too near fraud. Rascals have worked
+those schemes so much that honest men avoid them."
+
+"I shall not resort to any trickery or deception. If I catch an 'angel'
+I shall get one just as I obtained Folansbee, by telling him all the
+risks and chances of failure."
+
+"Well, you'll not get another that way."
+
+"Darned if I ain't afraid now!" nodded Ephraim. "But Mr. Folansbee's
+goin' to take keer of this comp'ny, ain't he? He's goin' to take it back
+to Denver?"
+
+"He has agreed to do so."
+
+At this moment there was another sharp rap on the door, which, happening
+to be near, Frank opened.
+
+Cassie Lee walked in, followed by Roscoe Havener, the soubrette and the
+stage manager of "For Old Eli," Cassie showed excitement.
+
+"Well, what do you think of him?" she cried.
+
+"Of whom--Havener?" asked Merry,
+
+"No, Folansbee."
+
+"What about him?"
+
+"He's skipped."
+
+"Skipped?"
+
+"Sure thing. Run away."
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"It's a straight fact," declared the little soubrette.
+
+"There's no doubt of it," corroborated Havener.
+
+"Waal, may I be tickled to death by grasshoppers!" ejaculated Gallup.
+
+"This caps the whole business!" burst from Hodge.
+
+"I can't believe that," said Merriwell, slowly. "How do you know,
+Havener?"
+
+"His baggage is gone. Garland and Dunton traced him to the station. They
+were just in time to see him board an eastbound train as it pulled out.
+He has deserted us."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+DARKNESS AND DAWN.
+
+
+Frank could not express his astonishment.
+
+"I can't believe it," he repeated. "Folansbee would not do such a
+thing."
+
+Hodge laughed shortly, harshly.
+
+"You have altogether too much confidence in human nature, Merry," he
+said. "I never took much stock in this Folansbee. He is just the sort of
+person I would expect to do such a trick."
+
+"The company is hot, Merriwell," said Havener. "They're ready to eat
+you."
+
+"Me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"For what?"
+
+"For getting them into this scrape."
+
+"I don't see how they can blame me."
+
+There came a sound of feet outside and a bang on the door, which was
+flung open before Frank could reach it. Into the room stalked Granville
+Garland, followed by the remainder of the company. Plainly all were
+excited.
+
+"Well, Mr. Merriwell," said Garland, assuming an accusing manner and
+striking a stage pose, "we are here."
+
+"So I see," nodded Frank, calmly. "What's the matter?"
+
+"You engaged us to fill parts in your play."
+
+"I did."
+
+"We hold contracts with you."
+
+"I beg your pardon. I think you are mistaken."
+
+"What?"
+
+"I made no contracts with you; I simply engaged you. You hold contracts
+with Parker Folansbee."
+
+"Folansbee has deserted us, sir," declared Garland, accusingly. "We have
+been tricked, fooled, deceived! We hold contracts. You were concerned
+with Folansbee in putting this company on the road, and you are
+responsible. We have come to you to find out what you mean to do."
+
+"I am very sorry----" began Frank.
+
+"Being sorry for us doesn't help us a bit," cut in Garland, rudely. "I
+believe you knew Folansbee was going to skip."
+
+Frank turned his eyes full on the speaker, and he seemed to look his
+accuser straight through and through.
+
+"Mr. Garland," he said, "you are rude and insulting. I do not fancy the
+way you speak to me."
+
+"Well, what are you going to do about it?"
+
+"That's what I'd like to know," put in Lloyd Fowler. "I want my money. I
+didn't come out here to be fooled this way."
+
+"Mr. Fowler," spoke Frank, "you have not earned any money. Instead, you
+have earned a fine by appearing on the stage last night in a state of
+intoxication."
+
+"Who says so?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Then you li----"
+
+Fowler did not quite finish the word. Frank had him by the neck and
+pinned him against the wall in a moment. Merry's eyes were flashing
+fire, but his voice was steady, as he said:
+
+"Take it back, sir! Apologize instantly for that!"
+
+Garland made a move as if he would interfere, but Bart Hodge was before
+him in an instant, looking straight into his face, and saying:
+
+"Hands off! Touch him and you get thumped!"
+
+"Get out!" cried Garland.
+
+"Not a bit of it. If you want a scrap, I shall be pleased to give you
+what you desire."
+
+"Here, fellows!" called Garland; "get in here all of you and give these
+two tricksters a lesson! Come on!"
+
+"Wait!" cried Havener, stepping to the other side of Merriwell. "Don't
+try it, for I shall stand by him!"
+
+"Me, too, boys!" cried Cassie Lee, getting into line with her small
+fists clinched, and a look of determination on her thin face. "Don't
+nobody jump on Frank Merriwell unless I take a hand in the racket."
+
+The rest of the company were astonished. They realized that Frank had
+some friends, but it was not until after he had awakened to realize just
+what the situation meant that Ephraim Gallup drew himself together and
+planted himself with Merry's party.
+
+"Whe-ee!" he squealed. "If there's goin' ter be a ruction, yeou kin bet
+I'll fight fer Merry, though I ain't much of a fighter. I'd ruther run
+then fight any day, onless I have ter fight, but I reckon I'll hev ter
+fight in this case, if there is any fightin'."
+
+Immediately Granville Garland became very placid in his manner.
+
+"We didn't come here to fight," he said, "but we came here to demand our
+rights."
+
+"An' to sass Frank," put in the Vermonter. "But, b'gosh! yeou are
+barkin' up ther wrong tree when yeou tackle him! He kin jest natterally
+chaw yeou up."
+
+Frank still held Fowler against the wall. Now he spoke to the fellow in
+a low, commanding tone:
+
+"Apologize at once," he said. "Come, sir, make haste!"
+
+"I didn't mean anything," faltered the frightened actor. "I think I was
+too hasty. I apologize."
+
+"Be careful in the future," advised Merry, releasing him.
+
+Then Merry turned to the others, saying:
+
+"Ladies and gentlemen, until Havener just brought the news, I did not
+know that Parker Folansbee was gone. It was a great surprise for me, as
+I did not dream he was a person to do such a thing. Even now I cannot
+feel that he has entirely deserted us. He may have left town rather than
+face us, but I hope he has been man enough to leave money behind that
+will enable us to return to Denver, at least. You must see that we are
+in the same box together. I am hit as hard as any of you, for I had
+hoped that Folansbee would stand by me so that I would be able to put
+the play in better shape and take it out again. I have lost him as a
+backer, and if he has skipped without leaving us anything, I have barely
+enough money to enable me to get back to Denver."
+
+"Haven't you any way of getting hold of money?" asked Harper.
+
+"Unfortunately, I have not," answered Merry. "If I had money in my
+pocket I would spend the last cent to square this thing with you."
+
+"And I know that's on the level!" chirped Cassie Lee.
+
+"Well, it's mighty tough!" muttered Billy Wynne. "That's all I've got to
+say."
+
+"We'll have to get up some kind of a benefit for ourselves," said
+Havener. "That's the only thing left to do."
+
+"Come up to my room," invited Miss Stanley, "and we'll try to devise a
+scheme for raising the dust. Come on."
+
+They followed her out, leaving Ephraim, Bart and Frank.
+
+"Whew!" breathed Gallup, sitting down on the bed. "Hanged if I didn't
+kinder think there was goin' to be a ruction one spell. I wanted to run,
+but I warn't goin' to leave Frank to be thrashed by a lot of hamfatters,
+b'gee!"
+
+"They were excited when they came in," said Merry, apologizing for the
+ones who had departed. "If it hadn't been for that, they would not have
+thought of making such a scene."
+
+"Well, Frank," spoke Bart, "I hope this will teach you a lesson."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I hope it will teach you not to put so much confidence in human nature
+after this. Have less confidence and do more business in writing. I
+haven't a doubt but Folansbee would have stuck by you all right if the
+new play had proved a winner, but he saw a chance to squeal when it
+turned out bad, and he jumped you."
+
+"I had a contract with him about the other piece," said Merry; "but you
+know he did not return from St. Louis till just before we were ready to
+start out, and so I had not been able to arrange matters about this
+piece."
+
+"And that lets him out easy."
+
+"Yes, he gets out without any trouble, and I don't believe I can do a
+thing about it."
+
+Again there came a rap on the door. When it was opened, a bell boy,
+accompanied by a gray-bearded gentleman, stood outside.
+
+"Mr. Merriwell," said the bell boy, "here is a gentleman to see you."
+
+The man entered.
+
+"Walk right in, sir," invited Merry. "What can I do for you?"
+
+Frank closed the door. The stranger slowly drew off his gloves,
+critically looking Merriwell over.
+
+"So you are Mr. Frank Merriwell?" he said.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"I recognize you," nodded the man. "Do you remember me?"
+
+"No, sir; I can't say that I do, although I believe I have seen your
+face before."
+
+"I think you have, but I did not wear a full beard then."
+
+"Ah! Then it is possible the beard has made the change that prevents me
+from recognizing you."
+
+"Quite likely."
+
+"Will you sit down?"
+
+"I have some important business with you," explained the stranger, with
+a glance toward Gallup and Hodge.
+
+Immediately Bart started for the door.
+
+"See you later, Frank," he said. "Come on, Ephraim."
+
+Gallup followed Hodge from the room.
+
+When they were gone, Frank again invited the stranger to be seated.
+
+"Thank you," said the man, as he accepted a chair. "For reasons I wish
+you would look at me closely and see if you recognize me. I recognize
+you, although you are older, but I must proceed with the utmost caution
+in this matter, and I wish you would recognize me and state my name, so
+that I may feel absolutely certain that I am making no mistake."
+
+Frank sat down opposite the gentleman, at whom he gazed searchingly. He
+concentrated his mind in the effort to remember. Frank had found that he
+could do many difficult things by concentration of his mental forces.
+Now he sought to picture in his mind the appearance of this man without
+a beard. Gradually, he felt that he was drawing nearer and nearer the
+object he sought. Finally he made a request:
+
+"Please speak again, sir."
+
+"Why do you wish me to, speak again?" said the stranger, smiling.
+
+"So that your voice may aid me in remembering. I wish to associate your
+voice and your face."
+
+"Very well. What do you wish me to say?"
+
+"You have said enough. I have your voice now."
+
+"I'm afraid you'll not be able to remember," said the stranger. "It
+doesn't make any great difference, for I recognize you, and I can make
+assurance doubly sure by asking you a few questions. First, I wish to
+ask----"
+
+"Excuse me," interrupted Merry. "You are from Carson City, Nevada. You
+are connected with the bank in Carson, where I deposited a certain
+amount of valuable treasure, found by myself and some friends years ago
+in the Utah Desert. Your name is Horace Hobson."
+
+"Correct!" cried the man, with satisfaction. "Now, can you produce the
+receipt given you for that treasure?"
+
+"Yes, sir," nodded Frank, immediately producing a leather pocketbook and
+opening it. "I have it here."
+
+In a moment he had found the paper and handed it to Mr. Hobson.
+
+The gentleman adjusted some gold-rimmed nose-glasses and looked the
+receipt over.
+
+"This is the receipt," he nodded. "You instructed the bank officials to
+use every effort and spare no expense to find the relatives of Prof.
+Millard Fillmore and the rightful heirs to the treasure."
+
+"I did."
+
+"I am here to inform you that the bank has carried out your instructions
+faithfully."
+
+"Then you have found Prof. Fillmore's relatives?" quickly asked Merry,
+his heart sinking a bit.
+
+"On the contrary, we have found that he has no relatives living. He
+seems to have been the last of his family--the end of it----"
+
+"Then----"
+
+"It has been necessary for us to go to considerable expense to settle
+this point beyond a doubt, but we have done so, in accordance with your
+directions. Of course, we shall not lose anything. We have ascertained
+the exact value of the treasure, and have deducted for our expense and
+trouble. At a meeting of the bank directors I was instructed to turn
+over the remainder to you. I have here papers showing the exact
+valuation of the treasure as deposited with us. Here is a complete
+account of all our expenses and charges. We have found a balance
+remaining of forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty-eight
+dollars. I was sent to turn this money over to you, as I could identify
+you beyond doubt, and there could be no mistake. To make it certain in
+my own mind, I wished you to recognize me. You did so, and I knew I
+could not be making a mistake. I will take up this receipt here, and in
+return will give you a check for the amount, if that is satisfactory to
+you."
+
+Frank sat like one dazed, staring at Horace Hobson. Was it possible that
+he was not dreaming? Was he in his hour of need to receive this immense
+sum of money? No wonder he fancied he was dreaming.
+
+At last he gave himself a slight shake, and his voice did not falter as
+he said:
+
+"It is perfectly satisfactory to me, sir. I will accept the check."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+MERRIWELL'S GENEROSITY.
+
+
+Mr. Hobson departed, and then Frank rang for a bell boy and sent for
+Bart and Ephraim. Merry's two friends came in a short time.
+
+"I have called you up," said Merry, "to talk over the arrangements for
+putting 'For Old Eli' on the road again without delay. I have decided on
+that. It will take some little time to manufacture the costly mechanical
+effect that I propose to introduce into the third act, and we shall have
+to get some new paper. I believe I can telegraph a description to
+Chicago so a full stand lithograph from stone can be made that will suit
+me, and I shall telegraph to-day."
+
+Hodge stared at Frank as if he thought Merry had lost his senses.
+
+"You always were a practical joker," he growled; "but don't you think
+it's about time to let up? I don't see that this is a joking matter. You
+should have some sympathy for our feelings, if you don't care for
+yourself."
+
+Merry laughed a bit.
+
+"My dear fellow," he said, "I assure you I was never more serious. I am
+not joking. I shall telegraph for the paper immediately."
+
+"Paper like that costs money, and the lithographers will demand a
+guarantee before they touch the work."
+
+"And I shall give them a guarantee. I shall instruct them to draw on the
+First National Bank of Denver, where my money will be deposited."
+
+"Your money?" gasped Hodge.
+
+"Jeewhillikins!" gurgled Gallup.
+
+Then Frank's friends looked at each other, the same thought in the minds
+of both.
+
+Had Merry gone mad? Had his misfortune turned his brain?
+
+"I believe I can have the effect I desire to introduce manufactured for
+me in Denver," Frank went on. "I shall brace up that third act with it.
+I shall make a spectacular climax on the order of the mechanical horse
+races you see on the stage. I shall have some dummy figures and boats
+made, so that the boat race may be seen on the river in the distance. I
+have an idea of a mechanical arrangement to represent the crowd that
+lines the river and the observation train that carries a load of
+spectators along the railroad that runs beside the river. I think the
+swaying crowd can be shown, the moving train, the three boats, Yale,
+Harvard and Cornell, with their rowers working for life. Harvard shall
+be a bit in the lead when the boats first appear, but Yale shall press
+her and take the lead. Then I will have the scene shifted instantly, so
+that the audience will be looking into the Yale clubhouse. The rear of
+the house shall open direct upon the river. There shall be great
+excitement in the clubhouse, which I will have located at the finish of
+the course. The boats are coming. Outside, along the river, mad crowds
+are cheering hoarsely, whistles are screeching, Yale students are
+howling the college cry. Here they come! Now the excitement is intense.
+Hurrah! Yale has taken the lead! The boats shoot in view at the back of
+the stage, Yale a length ahead, Harvard next, Cornell almost at her
+side, and in this form they cross the line, Yale the victor. The star of
+the piece, myself, who has escaped from his enemies barely in time to
+enter the boat and help win the race, is brought on by the madly
+cheering college men, and down comes the curtain on a climax that must
+set any audience wild."
+
+Hodge sat down on the bed.
+
+"Frank," he said, grimly, "you're going crazy! It would cost a thousand
+dollars to get up that effect."
+
+"I don't care if it costs two thousand dollars, I'll have it, and I'll
+have it in a hurry!" laughed Merriwell. "I am out for business now. I am
+in the ring to win this time."
+
+"Yes, you are going crazy!" nodded Hodge. "Where is all the money coming
+from?"
+
+"I've got it!"
+
+Bart went into the air as if he had received an electric shock.
+
+"You--you've what?" he yelled.
+
+"Got the money," asserted Frank.
+
+"Where?" shouted Bart.
+
+"Right here."
+
+"May I be tickled to death by muskeeters!" gasped Gallup.
+
+"Got two thousand dollars?" said Hodge. "Oh, come off, Merriwell! You
+are carrying this thing too far now!"
+
+"Just take a look at this piece of paper," invited Frank, as he passed
+over the check he had received from Horace Hobson.
+
+Bart took it, he looked at it, he was stricken dumb.
+
+Gallup looked over Bart's shoulder. His jaw dropped, his eyes bulged
+from his head, and he could not utter a sound.
+
+"How do you like the looks of it?" smiled Merry.
+
+"What--what is it?" faltered Bart.
+
+"A check. Can't you see? A check that is good for forty-three thousand
+seven hundred and thirty-eight dollars."
+
+"Good for that? Why, it can't be! Now, is this more of your joking,
+Merriwell? If it is, I swear I shall feel like having a fight with you
+right here!"
+
+"It's no joke, old man. That piece of paper is good--it is good for
+every dollar. The money is payable to me. I've got the dust to put my
+play out in great style."
+
+Even then Bart could not believe it. He groped for the bed and sat down,
+limply, still staring at the check, which he held in his hand.
+
+"What's this for?" he asked.
+
+"It's for the Fillmore treasure, which I found in the Utah Desert,"
+exclaimed Frank. "It was brought to me by the man who came in here a
+little while ago."
+
+Then Gallup collapsed.
+
+His knees seemed to buckle beneath him, and he dropped down on the bed.
+
+"Waal, may I be chawed up fer grass by a spavin hoss!" he murmured.
+
+Hodge sat quite still for some seconds.
+
+"Merry," he said, at last, beginning to tremble all over, "are you sure
+this is good? Are you sure there is no crooked business behind it?"
+
+"Of course I am," smiled Frank.
+
+"How can you be?" asked Bart.
+
+"I received it from the very man with whom I did the business in Carson
+when I made the deposit. In order that there might be no mistake he came
+on here and delivered it to me personally."
+
+"I think I'm dyin'!" muttered Ephraim. "I've received a shock from which
+I'll never rekiver! Forty-three thousan' dollars! Oh, say, I know
+there's a mistake here!"
+
+"Not a bit of a mistake," assured Merriwell, smiling, triumphant.
+
+"And all that money is yourn?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why--why, ther check's made out to yeou."
+
+"Because the treasure was deposited by me."
+
+"And yeou faound it?"
+
+"I found it, but I did so while in company with four friends."
+
+Now Hodge showed still further excitement.
+
+"Those friends were not with you at the moment when you found it," he
+said. "I've heard your story. You came near losing your life. The mad
+hermit fought to throw you from the precipice. The way you found the
+treasure, the dangers you passed through, everything that happened
+established your rightful claim to it. It belongs to you alone."
+
+"I do not look at it in that light," said Frank, calmly and positively.
+"There were five of us in the party. The others were my friends Diamond,
+Rattleton, Browning, and Toots."
+
+"A nigger!" exclaimed Bart. "Do you call him your friend?"
+
+"I do!" exclaimed Merry. "More than once that black boy did things for
+me which I have never been able to repay. Although a coward at heart so
+far as danger to himself was concerned, I have known him to risk his
+life to save me from harm. Why shouldn't I call him my friend? His skin
+may be black, but his heart is white."
+
+"Oh, all right," muttered Hodge. "I haven't anything more to say. I was
+not one of your party at that time."
+
+"No."
+
+"I wish I had been."
+
+"So yeou could git yeour share of the boodle?" grinned Ephraim.
+
+"No!" cried Hodge, fiercely. "So I could show the rest of them how to
+act like men! I would refuse to touch one cent of it! I would tell Frank
+Merriwell that it belonged to him, and he could not force me to take it.
+That's all."
+
+"Mebbe the others'll do that air way," suggested the Vermont youth.
+
+"Not on your life!" sneered Bart. "They'll gobble onto their shares with
+both hands. I know them, I've traveled with them, and I am not stuck on
+any of them."
+
+"I shall compel them to take it," smiled Frank. "I am sorry, fellows,
+that you both were not with me, so I could bring you into the division.
+I'd find a way to compel Hodge to accept his share."
+
+"Not in a thousand years!" exploded Bart.
+
+"Waal," drawled Ephraim, "I ain't saying, but I'd like a sheer of that
+money well enough, but there's one thing I am sayin'. Sence Hodge has
+explained why he wouldn't tech none of it, I be gol-dinged if yeou could
+force a single cent onter me ef I hed bin with yeou, same as them other
+fellers was! I say Hodge is jest right abaout that business. The money
+belongs to yeou, Frank, an' yeou're the only one that owns a single
+dollar of it, b'gosh!"
+
+"That's right, Ephraim," nodded Hodge. "And there isn't another chap in
+the country who would insist on giving away some of his money to others
+under similar circumstances. Some people might call it generosity; I
+call it thundering foolishness!"
+
+"I can't help what you call it," said Frank; "I shall do what I believe
+is right and just, and thus I will have nothing to trouble my
+conscience."
+
+"Conscience! conscience! You'll never be rich in the world, for you have
+too much conscience. Do you suppose the Wall Street magnates could have
+become millionaires if they had permitted their conscience to worry them
+over little points?"
+
+"I fancy not," acknowledged Merry, shaking his head. "I am certain I
+shall never become wealthy in just the same manner that certain
+millionaires acquired their wealth. I'd rather remain poor. Such an
+argument does not touch me, Hodge."
+
+"Oh, I suppose not! But it's a shame for you to be such a chump! Just
+think what you could do with forty-three thousand dollars! You could
+give up this show business, you could go back to Yale and finish your
+course in style. You could be the king-bee of them all. Oh, it's a
+shame!"
+
+"Haow much'll yeou hev arter yeou divide?" asked Ephraim.
+
+"The division will give the five of us eight thousand seven hundred and
+forty-six dollars and eighty cents each," answered Frank.
+
+"He's figured that up so quick!" muttered Hodge.
+
+"I snum! eight thaousan' dollars ain't to be sneezed at!" cried the
+Vermonter.
+
+"It's a pinch beside forty-three thousand," said Bart.
+
+"Yeou oughter be able to go back to college on that, Frank."
+
+"He can, if he'll drop the show business," nodded Bart.
+
+"And confess myself a failure! Acknowledge that I failed in this
+undertaking? Would you have me do that?"
+
+"Oh, you wouldn't confess anything of the sort. What were you working
+for? To go back to Yale, was it not?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"Well, I don't suppose you expected to make so much money that you would
+be able to return with more than eight thousand dollars in your inside
+pocket?"
+
+"Hardly."
+
+"Then what is crawling over you? If you are fool enough to make this
+silly division, you can go back with money enough to take you through
+your course in style."
+
+"And have the memory of what happened in this town last night rankle in
+my heart! Hardly! I made a speech from the stage last night, in which I
+said I would play again in this city, and I promised that the audience
+should be satisfied. I shall keep that promise."
+
+"Oh, all right! I suppose you'll be thinking of rewarding the ladies and
+gentlemen who called here a short time ago and attempted to bulldoze
+you?"
+
+"I shall see that the members of the company, one and all, are treated
+fairly. I shall pay them two weeks salary, which will be all they can
+ask."
+
+Hodge got up, thrust his hands deep into his pockets, and stared at
+Frank, with an expression on his face that was little short of disgust.
+
+"You beat them all!" he growled. "I'd do just like that--I don't think!
+Not one of those people has a claim on you. I'd let them all go to the
+deuce! It would be serving them right."
+
+"Well, I shall do nothing of the sort, my dear fellow."
+
+"I presume you will pay Lloyd Fowler two weeks salary?"
+
+"I shall."
+
+Bart turned toward the door.
+
+"Where are you going?"
+
+"I'm going out somewhere all alone by myself, where I can say some
+things about you. I am going to express my opinion of you to myself. I
+don't want to do it here, for there would be a holy fight. I've got to
+do it in order to let off steam and cool down. I shall explode if I keep
+it corked up inside of me."
+
+He bolted out of the room, slamming the door fiercely behind him.
+
+Frank and Ephraim went up to the room of Stella Stanley, which was on
+the next floor. They found all the members of the company packed into
+that room.
+
+"May we come in?" asked Merry, pleasantly.
+
+"We don't need him," muttered Lloyd Fowler, who was seated in a corner.
+"Don't get him into the benefit performance. Let him take care of
+himself."
+
+"Come right in, Mr. Merriwell," invited Stella Stanley. "I believe you
+can sing. We're arranging a program for the benefit, you know. Shall we
+put you down for a song?"
+
+"I hardly think so," smiled Frank.
+
+"Ah!" muttered Fowler, triumphantly. "He thinks himself too fine to take
+part in such a performance with the rest of us."
+
+"I rather think you've hit it," whispered Charlie Harper.
+
+"And I know you are off your trolley!" hissed Cassie Lee, who had not
+missed the words of either of them. "He's on the level."
+
+"Really!" exclaimed Miss Stanley, in surprise and disappointment. "Do
+you actually refuse?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because there will be no performance."
+
+"Won't?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I refuse to permit it," said Frank, a queer twinkle in his eyes.
+
+Then several of the company came up standing, and shouted:
+
+"What!"
+
+"That beats anything I ever heard of in my life!" said Fowler.
+
+"For genuine crust, it surely does!" spoke up Harper.
+
+Cassie Lee looked surprised, and Havener was amazed.
+
+"Surely you are not in earnest, Merriwell?" the stage manager hastened
+to say.
+
+"Never more so in my life!" answered Frank, easily.
+
+"Then you're crazy."
+
+"Oh, I guess not."
+
+"Well, you are," said Garland. "You have gone over the limit. We are not
+engaged to you in any way. You said so. You explained that we could not
+hold you responsible. You cannot come here and dictate to us. We shall
+carry out this performance. If you try to prevent it, you will make a
+great mistake."
+
+"Be calm," advised Merry. "You are unduly exciting yourself, Mr.
+Garland."
+
+"Well, it's enough to excite anyone!"
+
+"Meow!"
+
+Out of the room trotted Frank's black cat, which had followed him up the
+stairs.
+
+"Put that cat out!" cried Agnes Kirk. "It has caused all our bad luck!"
+
+Frank picked the cat up.
+
+"I told you the cat was a mascot," he said. "It has proved so!"
+
+"I should say so!" sneered Fowler.
+
+"Let him take himself out of here, cat and all!" cried Charlie Harper.
+
+"Let him explain what he means by saying we shall not give a benefit
+performance," urged Havener, who really hoped that Frank could say
+something to put himself in a better light with the company.
+
+"Yes," urged Cassie. "What did you mean by that, Frank?"
+
+"Such a performance is quite unnecessary," assured Merry.
+
+"We've got to do something to raise money to get out of this city."
+
+"I will furnish you with the money, each and every one."
+
+"You?" shouted several.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?" asked Havener. "You said a short time ago that you hadn't enough
+money to amount to anything."
+
+"At that time I hadn't. Since then I have been able to make a raise."
+
+Now there was another bustle of excitement.
+
+"Oh!" cried several, "that's different."
+
+"I knew there was something behind it!" exclaimed Cassie, with
+satisfaction. "Have you been able to raise enough to take us all back to
+Denver, Frank?"
+
+"I think so, and I believe I shall have a few dollars left after we
+arrive there."
+
+"How much have you raised?" asked Havener.
+
+"Forty-three thousand dollars," answered Frank, as coolly as if he were
+saying forty-three dollars.
+
+For a moment there was silence in the room, then expressions of
+incredulity and scorn came from all sides.
+
+Fowler set up a shout of mocking laughter.
+
+"Well, of all the big bluffs I ever heard this is the biggest!" he
+sneered.
+
+"Say, I don't mind a joke," said Stella Stanley; "but don't you think
+you are carrying this thing a trifle too far, Mr. Merriwell?"
+
+"I would be if it were a joke," confessed Frank, easily; "but, as it
+happens to be the sober truth, I think no one has a chance to ask. I
+will not only pay your fare to Denver, but each one shall receive two
+weeks salary, which I think you must acknowledge is the proper way to
+treat you."
+
+"I'll believe it when I get my hands on the dough," said Fowler.
+"Forty-three thousand fiddlesticks!"
+
+"Any person who doubts my word is at liberty to take a look at this
+certified check," said Merry, producing the check and placing it on the
+little table.
+
+Then they crushed and crowded about that table, staring at the check.
+
+Fowler nudged Harper, to whom he whispered:
+
+"I believe it's straight, so help me! I'd like to kick myself!"
+
+"Yes, it's straight," acknowledged Harper, dolefully. "I am just
+beginning to realize that we have made fools of ourselves by talking too
+much."
+
+"What can we do?"
+
+"Take poison!"
+
+"We'll have to eat dirt, or he'll throw us down."
+
+"It looks that way."
+
+Thus it came about that Fowler was almost the first to offer
+congratulations.
+
+"By Jove, Mr. Merriwell," he cried, "I'm delighted! You are dead in
+luck, and you deserve it! It was pretty hard for you to be deserted by
+Folansbee, in such a sneaking way. I have said all along that you were a
+remarkably bright man and merited success."
+
+"That's right," put in Harper; "he said so to me last night. We were
+talking over your hard luck. I congratulate you, Mr. Merriwell. Permit
+me!"
+
+"Permit me!"
+
+Both Harper and Fowler held out their hands.
+
+Frank looked at the extended hands, but put his own hands in his
+pockets, laughing softly, somewhat scornfully.
+
+"It is wonderful," he said, "how many true friends a man can have when
+he has money, and how few true friends he really has when he doesn't
+have a dollar."
+
+"Oh, my dear Mr. Merriwell!" protested Fowler. "I know I was rather
+hasty in some of my remarks, but I assure you that you misunderstood me.
+It was natural that all of us should be a trifle hot under the collar at
+being used as we were. I assure you I did not mean anything by what I
+said. If I spoke too hastily, I beg a thousand pardons. Again let me
+congratulate you."
+
+Again he held out his hand.
+
+"You are at liberty to congratulate me," said Merry, but still
+disdaining the proffered hand. "I shall pay you the same as the others.
+Don't be afraid of that. But I shall give you your notice, for I shall
+not need you any more. With several of the others I shall make contracts
+to go out with this piece again, as soon as I can make some alterations,
+get new paper, and start the company."
+
+Fowler turned green.
+
+"Oh, of course you can do as you like, sir," he said. "I don't think I
+care to go out with this piece again. It is probable I should so inform
+you, even if you wanted me."
+
+Harper backed away. He did not wish to receive such a calling down as
+had fallen to the lot of Fowler.
+
+Cassie Lee held out her hand, her thin face showing actual pleasure.
+
+"You don't know how glad I am, Frank!" she said, in a low tone. "Never
+anybody deserved it more than you."
+
+"That's right," agreed Havener.
+
+Douglas Dunton had not been saying much, but now he stood forth, struck
+a pose, and observed:
+
+"Methinks that, along with several of me noble colleagues, I have made a
+big mistake in making offensive remarks to you, most noble high
+muck-a-muck. Wouldst do me a favor? Then apply the toe of thy boot to
+the seat of me lower garments with great vigor."
+
+Frank laughed.
+
+"The same old Dunton!" he said. "Forget it, old man. It's all right.
+There's no harm done."
+
+While the members of the company were crowding around Merriwell, Fowler
+and Harper slipped out of the room and descended the stairs.
+
+Straight to the bar of the hotel they made their way. Leaning against
+the bar, they took their drinks, and discussed Frank's fortune.
+
+Another man was drinking near them. He pricked up his ears and listened
+when he heard Merriwell's name, and he grew excited as he began to
+understand what had happened.
+
+"Excuse me, gentlemen," he said, after a time. "I do not wish to
+intrude, but I happen to know Mr. Merriwell. Will you have a drink with
+me?"
+
+They accepted. They were just the sort of chaps who drink with anybody
+who would "set 'em up."
+
+"Do you mind telling me just what has happened to Mr. Merriwell?" asked
+the stranger, who wore a full beard, which seemed to hide many of the
+features of his face. "Has he fallen heir to a fortune?"
+
+"Rather," answered Harper, dryly. "More than forty-three thousand
+dollars has dropped into his hands this morning."
+
+"Is it possible?" asked the stranger, showing agitation. "Are you sure?"
+
+"Yes, I am sure. I saw the certified check on a Carson City bank. He was
+broke this morning, but now he has money to burn."
+
+The stranger lifted a glass to his lips. His hand trembled somewhat. All
+at once, with a savage oath, he dashed the glass down on the bar,
+shivering it to atoms. As he did so, the hairs of his beard caught
+around the stone of a ring on his little finger, and the beard was torn
+from his face, showing it was false.
+
+The face revealed was black with discomfiture and rage.
+
+It was the face of Leslie Lawrence!
+
+Frank's old enemy was again discomfited!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+IN THE SMOKER.
+
+
+So Frank took the company back to Denver. He was able to do so without
+depositing the check till Denver was reached, as Horace Hobson furnished
+the funds, holding the check as security.
+
+Hobson went along at the same time.
+
+While on the train Frank made arrangements with several members of his
+company in the revised version of "For Old Eli," when the play went on
+the road again.
+
+He said nothing to Lloyd Fowler nor Charlie Harper. Although he did not
+make arrangements with Granville Garland, he asked Garland if he cared
+to go out with the company again, informing him that he might have an
+opening for him.
+
+Fowler saw Merry talking with some of the members, and he surmised what
+it meant. He began to feel anxious as time passed, and Frank did not
+come to him. He went to Harper to talk it over.
+
+Harper was in the smoker, pulling at a brierwood pipe and looking sour
+enough. He did not respond when Fowler spoke to him.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Fowler. "Sick?"
+
+"Yes," growled Harper.
+
+"What ails you?"
+
+"Disgusted."
+
+"At what?"
+
+"Somebody."
+
+"Who?"
+
+"Myself for one."
+
+"Somebody else?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who?"
+
+"You're it."
+
+Fowler fell back and stared at Harper. He had taken a seat opposite his
+fellow actor. Harper returned his stare with something like still
+greater sourness.
+
+"What's the matter with me?" asked Fowler, wondering.
+
+"You're a confounded idiot!" answered Harper, bluntly.
+
+"Well, I must say I like your plain language!" exclaimed Fowler,
+coloring and looking decidedly touched. "You were in a bad temper when
+we started for Denver, but you seem to be worse now. What's the matter?"
+
+"Oh, I see now that I've put a foot in the soup. I am broke, and I need
+money. All I am liable to get is the two weeks salary I shall receive
+from Merriwell. If I'd kept my mouth shut I might have a new engagement
+with him, like the others."
+
+"Then some of the others have a new engagement?"
+
+"All of them, I reckon, except you and I. We are the fools of the
+company."
+
+"Well, what shall we do?"
+
+"Can't do anything but keep still and swallow our medicine."
+
+"Perhaps you think that, but I'm going to hit Merriwell up."
+
+"Well, you'll be a bigger fool if you do, after the calling down you
+received from him to-day."
+
+At that moment Frank entered the smoker, looking for Hodge, who had been
+unable to procure a good seat in one of the other cars. Bart was sitting
+near Harper and Fowler.
+
+As Frank came down the aisle, Fowler arose.
+
+"I want to speak to you, Mr. Merriwell," he said.
+
+"All right," nodded Frank. "Go ahead."
+
+"I have heard that you are making new engagements with the members of
+the company."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"You haven't said anything to me."
+
+"No."
+
+"I suppose it is because I made some foolish talk to you this morning.
+Well, I apologized, didn't I?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, I presume you will give me a chance when you take the play out
+again?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+Frank said it quietly, looking Fowler full in the face.
+
+"So you are going to turn me down because I made that talk? Well, I have
+heard considerable about your generosity, but this does not seem very
+generous."
+
+"Ever since joining the company and starting to rehearse, Mr. Fowler,
+you have been a source of discord. Once or twice you came near flatly
+refusing to do some piece of business the way I suggested. Once you
+insolently informed me that I was not the stage manager. You completely
+forgot that I was the author of the piece. I have heard that you told
+others not to do things as I suggested, but to do them in their own way.
+Several times before we started out I was on the verge of releasing you,
+which I should have done had there been time to fill your place
+properly. Last night you were intoxicated when the hour arrived for the
+curtain to go up. You went onto the stage in an intoxicated condition.
+You did not do certain pieces of business as you had been instructed to
+do them, but as you thought they should be done, therefore ruining a
+number of scenes. You were insolent, and would have been fined a good
+round sum for it had we gone on. In a number of ways you have shown that
+you are a man I do not want in my company, so I shall let you go, after
+paying you two weeks salary. I believe I have given the best of reasons
+for pursuing such a course."
+
+Then Frank stepped past Fowler and sat down with Hodge.
+
+The actor took his seat beside Harper, who said:
+
+"I hope you are satisfied now!"
+
+"Satisfied!" muttered Fowler. "I'd like to punch his head off!"
+
+"Very likely," nodded Harper; "but you can't do it, you know. He is a
+holy terror, and you are not in his class."
+
+Behind them was a man who seemed to be reading a newspaper. He was
+holding the paper very high, so that his face could not be seen, and he
+was not reading at all. He was listening with the keenest interest to
+everything.
+
+As Frank sat down beside Hodge he observed a look of great satisfaction
+on Bart's face.
+
+"Well, Merriwell," said the dark-faced youth, with something like the
+shadow of a smile, "you have done yourself proud."
+
+"Let's go forward," suggested Merry. "The smoke is pretty thick here,
+and some of it from those pipes is rank. I want to talk with you."
+
+So they got up and left the car.
+
+As they went out, Fowler glared at Merriwell's back, hissing:
+
+"Oh, I'd like to get even with you!"
+
+Instantly the man behind lowered his paper, leaned forward, and said:
+
+"I see you do not like Mr. Merriwell much. If you want to get even with
+him, I may be able to show you how to do it."
+
+With startled exclamations, both Harper and Fowler turned round. The man
+behind was looking at them over the edge of his paper.
+
+"Who are you?" demanded Fowler.
+
+"I think you know me," said the man, lowering his paper.
+
+Lawrence sat there!
+
+In Denver Frank was accompanied to the bank by Mr. Hobson. It happened
+that Kent Carson, a well-known rancher whom Frank had met, was making a
+deposit at the bank.
+
+"Hello, young man!" cried the rancher, in surprise. "I thought you were
+on the road with your show?"
+
+"I was," smiled Frank, "but met disaster at the very start, and did not
+get further than Puelbo."
+
+"Well, that's tough!" said Carson, sympathetically. "What was the
+matter?"
+
+"A number of things," confessed Frank. "The play was not strong enough
+without sensational features. I have found it necessary to introduce a
+mechanical effect, besides rewriting a part of the play. I shall start
+out again with it as soon as I can get it into shape."
+
+"Then your backer is all right? He's standing by you?"
+
+"On the contrary," smiled Merry, "he skipped out from Puelbo yesterday
+morning, leaving me and the company in the lurch."
+
+"Well, that was ornery!" said Carson. "What are you going to do without
+a backer?"
+
+"Back myself. I have the money now to do so. I am here to make a
+deposit."
+
+Then it came about that he told Mr. Carson of his good fortune, and the
+rancher congratulated him most heartily.
+
+Frank presented his check for deposit, asking for a check book. The eyes
+of the receiving teller bulged when he saw the amount of the check. He
+looked Frank over critically.
+
+Mr. Hobson had introduced Frank, and the teller asked him if he could
+vouch for the identity of the young man.
+
+"I can," was the answer.
+
+"So can I," spoke up Kent Carson. "I reckon my word is good here. I'll
+stand behind this young man."
+
+"Are you willing to put your name on the back of this check, Mr.
+Carson?" asked the teller.
+
+"Hand it over," directed the rancher.
+
+He took the check and endorsed it with his name.
+
+"There," he said, "I reckon you know it's good now."
+
+"Yes," said the teller. "There will be no delay now. Mr. Merriwell can
+draw on us at once."
+
+Frank thanked Mr. Carson heartily.
+
+"That's all right," said the cattleman, in an offhand way. "I allow that
+a chap who will defend a ragged boy as you did is pretty apt to be all
+right. How long will it take to get your play in shape again?"
+
+"Well, I may be three or four days rewriting it. I don't know how long
+the other work will be."
+
+"Three or four days. Well, say, why can't you come out to my ranch and
+do the work?"
+
+"Really, I don't see how I can do that," declared Frank. "I must be here
+to see that the mechanical arrangement is put up right."
+
+"Now you must come," declared Carson. "I won't take no for your answer.
+You can give instructions for that business. I suppose you have a plan
+of it?"
+
+"Not yet, but I shall have before night."
+
+"Can you get your business here done to-day?"
+
+"I may be able to, but I am not sure."
+
+"Then you're going with me to-morrow."
+
+"I can't leave my friends who are----"
+
+"Bring them right along. It doesn't make a bit of difference if there
+are twenty of them. I'll find places for them, and they shall have the
+best the Twin Star affords. Now, if you refuse that offer, you and I are
+enemies."
+
+The man said this laughingly, but he placed Frank in an awkward
+position. He had just done a great favor for Merriwell, and Frank felt
+that he could not refuse.
+
+"Very well, Mr. Carson," he said, "if you put it in that light, I'll
+have to accept your hospitality."
+
+"That's the talk! Won't my boy at Yale be surprised when I write him
+you've been visiting me? Ha! ha! ha!"
+
+Mr. Carson was stopping at the Metropole, while Frank had chosen the
+American. The rancher urged Merry to move right over to the Metropole,
+and the young actor-playwright finally consented.
+
+But Frank had business for that day. First he telegraphed to the
+lithographers in Chicago a long description of the scene which he wanted
+made on his new paper. He ordered it rushed, and directed them to draw
+on his bankers for any reasonable sum.
+
+Then he started out to find the proper men to construct the mechanical
+effect he wished. He went straight to the theater first, and he found
+that the stage manager of the Broadway was a genius who could make
+anything. Frank talked with the man twenty minutes, and decided that he
+had struck the person for whom he was looking.
+
+It did not take them long to come to terms. The man had several
+assistants who could aid him on the work, and he promised to rush
+things. Frank felt well satisfied.
+
+Returning to his hotel, Merry drew a plan of what he desired. As he was
+skillful at drawing, and very rapid, it did not take him more than two
+hours to draw the plan and write out an explicit explanation of it.
+
+With that he returned to the stage manager. They spent another hour
+talking it over, and Frank left, feeling satisfied that the man
+perfectly understood his wants and would produce an arrangement as
+satisfactory as it could be if it were overseen during its construction
+by Frank himself.
+
+Frank was well satisfied with what he had accomplished. He went back to
+the American and drew up checks for every member of the old company,
+paying them all two weeks salary. Lloyd Fowler took the check without a
+word of thanks. The others expressed their gratitude.
+
+Then Frank moved over to the Metropole, where he found Kent Carson
+waiting for him.
+
+Hodge and Gallup came along with Frank.
+
+"These are the friends I spoke of, Mr. Carson," explained Frank.
+
+"Where's the rest of them?" asked the rancher, looking about.
+
+"These are all."
+
+"All?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Why, by the way you talked, I reckoned you were going to bring your
+whole company along."
+
+He remembered Hodge, whom he had seen with Frank once before, and he
+shook hands with both Bart and Ephraim.
+
+"You are lucky to be counted as friends of a young man like Mr.
+Merriwell," said the cattleman. "That is, you're lucky if he's anything
+like what my boy wrote that he was. My boy is a great admirer of him."
+
+"It's strange I don't remember your son," said Frank.
+
+"Why, he's a freshman."
+
+"Yes, but I know a large number of freshmen."
+
+"So my boy said. Said you knew them because some of them had been trying
+to do you a bad turn; but he was glad to see you get the best of them,
+for you were all right. He said the freshmen as a class thought so,
+too."
+
+"Your son was very complimentary. If I return to Yale, I shall look him
+up."
+
+"Then you contemplate returning to college?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"When?"
+
+"Next fall, if I do not lose my money backing my play."
+
+"Oh, you won't lose forty-three thousand dollars."
+
+"That is not all mine to lose. Only one-fifth of that belongs to me, and
+I can lose that sum."
+
+"Then why don't you let the show business alone and go back to college
+on that?"
+
+"Because I have determined to make a success with this play, and I will
+not give up. Never yet in my life have I been defeated in an
+undertaking, and I will not be defeated now."
+
+The rancher looked at Frank with still greater admiration.
+
+"You make me think of some verses I read once," he said. "I've always
+remembered them, and I think they've had something to do with my success
+in life. They were written by Holmes."
+
+The rancher paused, endeavoring to recall the lines. It was plain to
+Frank that he was not a highly educated man, but he was highly
+intelligent--a man who had won his way in the world by his own efforts
+and determination. For that reason, he admired determination in others.
+
+"I have it!" exclaimed the rancher. "Here it is:
+
+  "'Be firm! One constant element in luck
+  Is genuine, solid, old Teutonic pluck.
+  See yon tall shaft; it felt the earthquake's thrill,
+  Clung to its base and greets the sunrise still.
+  Stick to your aim; the mongrel's hold will slip,
+  But only crowbars loose the bulldog's grip;
+  Small as he looks, the jaw that never yields
+  Drags down the bellowing monarch of the fields.'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+NATURE'S NOBLEMAN.
+
+
+Frank found the Twin Star Ranch a pleasant place. The house was large
+and well furnished, everything being in far better taste than he had
+expected.
+
+Merry knew something of ranches and ranch life which, however, he said
+nothing about. He was supposed to be a very tender tenderfoot. Nobody
+dreamed he had ever handled a lariat, ridden a bucking broncho, or taken
+part in a round-up.
+
+Gallup roamed about the ranch, inspecting everything, and he was a
+source of constant amusement to the "punchers," as the cowboys were
+called.
+
+After one of these tours of inspection, he came back to the room where
+Frank and Bart were sitting, filled with amazement.
+
+"Vermont farms are different from this one," smiled Merry.
+
+"Waal, naow yeou're talkin'! I'd like ter know haow they ever do the
+milkin' here. I don't b'lieve all ther men they've got kin milk so menny
+caows. Why, I saw a hull drove of more'n five hundred cattle about here
+on the farm, an' they told me them warn't a pinch of what Mr. Carson
+owns. Gosh all hemlock! but he must be rich!"
+
+"Mr. Carson seems to be pretty well fixed," said Merry.
+
+"That's so. He's got a fine place here, only it's too gol-dinged
+mernoternous."
+
+"Monotonous? How?"
+
+"The graound's too flat. Ain't any hills to rest a feller's eyes
+ag'inst. I tell yeou it does a man good to go aout where he kin see
+somethin' besides a lot of flatness an' sky. There ain't northin' in the
+world purtier than the Varmount hills. In summer they're all green an'
+covered with grass an' trees, an' daown in the valleys is the streams
+an' rivers runnin' along, sometimes swift an' foamin', sometimes slow
+an' smooth, like glars. An' ther cattle are feedin' on ther hills, an'
+ther folks are to work on their farms, an' ther farm haouses, all
+painted white, are somethin' purty ter see. They jest do a man's heart
+an' soul good. An' then when it is good summer weather in Varmount, I be
+dad-bimmed if there's any better weather nowhere! Ther sun jest shines
+right daown as if it was glad to git a look at sech a purty country, an'
+ther sky's as blue as Elsie Bellwood's eyes. Ther birds are singin' in
+ther trees, an' ther bees go hummin' in ther clover fields, an' there's
+sich a gol-durn good feelin' gits inter a feller that he jest wants ter
+larf an' shaout all ther time. Aout here there ain't no trees fer ther
+birds ter sing in, an' there don't seem ter be northin' but flat graound
+an' cattle an' sky."
+
+Frank had been listening with interest to the words of the country boy.
+A lover of nature himself, Merry realized that Gallup's soul had been
+deeply impressed by the fair features of nature around his country home.
+
+"Yes, Ephraim," he said, "Vermont is very picturesque and beautiful. The
+Vermont hills are something once seen never to be forgotten."
+
+Gallup was warmed up over his subject.
+
+"But when it comes to daownright purtiness," he went on, "there ain't
+northing like Varmount in the fall fer that. Then ev'ry day yeou kin see
+ther purtiest sights human eyes ever saw. Then is the time them hills is
+wuth seein'. First the leaves on ther maples, an' beeches, an' oaks they
+begin ter turn yaller an' red a little bit. Then ther frost comes more,
+an' them leaves turn red an' gold till it seems that ther hull sides of
+them hills is jest like a purty painted picter. The green of the cedars
+an' furs jest orfsets the yaller an' gold. Where there is rocks on the
+hills, they seem to turn purple an' blue in the fall, an' they look
+purty, too--purtier'n they do at any other time. I uster jest go aout
+an' set right daown an' look at them air hills by the hour, an' I uster
+say to myself I didn't see haow heaven could be any purtier than the
+Varmount hills in ther fall.
+
+"But there was folks," he went on, whut lived right there where all them
+purty sights was an' never saw um. They warn't blind, neither. I know
+some folks I spoke to abaout how purty the hills looked told me they
+hedn't noticed um! Naow, what du yeou think of that? I've even hed folks
+tell me they couldn't see northin' purty abaout um! Naow whut do yeou
+think of that? I ruther guess them folks missed half ther fun of livin'.
+They was born with somethin' ther matter with um.
+
+"It uster do me good ter take my old muzzle-loadin' gun an' go aout in
+the woods trampin' in the fall. I uster like ter walk where the leaves
+hed fell jest to hear um rustle. I'd give a dollar this minute ter walk
+through the fallen leaves in the Varmount woods! I didn't go out ter
+shoot things so much as I did to see things. There was plenty of
+squirrels, but I never shot but one red squirrel in my life. He come
+aout on the end of a limb clost to me an' chittered at me in a real
+jolly way, same's to say, 'Hello, young feller! Ain't this a fine day?
+Ain't yeou glad yeou're livin'?' An' then I up an' shot him, like a
+gol-durn pirut!"
+
+Ephraim stopped and choked a little. Bart was looking at him now with a
+strange expression on his face. Frank did not speak, but he was fully in
+sympathy with the tender-hearted country youth.
+
+Bart rose to his feet, heaving a deep sigh.
+
+"I'm afraid I missed some things when I was a boy," he said. "There were
+plenty of woods for me, but I never found any pleasure in them. I used
+to think it fun to shoot squirrels; but now I believe it would have been
+greater pleasure for me if I had not shot them. I never listened to the
+music of the woods, for I didn't know there was any music in them.
+Gallup, you have shown me that I was a fool."
+
+Then, with his hands thrust deep into his pockets, he walked out of the
+room.
+
+Because Ephraim was very verdant the cowboys on the Twin Star fancied
+that Mr. Carson's other visitors must be equally as accustomed to
+Western ways.
+
+Frank was hard at work on his play, and that caused him to stick pretty
+close to the house. However, he was a person who believed in exercise
+when he could find it, and so, on the afternoon of the second day, he
+went out and asked one of the punchers if he could have a pony.
+
+The man looked him over without being able to wholly conceal his
+contempt.
+
+"Kin you ride?" he asked.
+
+"Yes," answered Frank, quietly.
+
+"Hawse or kaow?" asked the cowboy.
+
+"If you have a good saddle horse, I'd like to have him," said Merry.
+"And be good enough to restrain your sarcasm. I don't like it."
+
+The puncher gasped. He was angry. The idea of a tenderfoot speaking to
+him in such a way!
+
+"All right," he muttered. "I'll git ye a critter, but our Western hawses
+ain't like your Eastern ladies' hawses."
+
+He departed.
+
+Hodge had overheard all this, and he came up.
+
+"You want to look out, Merry," he said. "That chap didn't like the way
+you called him down, and he'll bring you a vicious animal."
+
+"I know it," nodded Merry, pulling on a pair of heavy gloves. "It is
+what I expect."
+
+Bart said no more. He had seen Merry ride, and he knew Frank was a
+natural horse breaker.
+
+The puncher returned in a short time, leading a little, wiry, evil-eyed
+broncho. He was followed by several other cowboys, and Merry heard one
+of them say:
+
+"Better not let him try it, Hough. He'll be killed, and Carson will fire
+you."
+
+"I'll warn him," returned the one called Hough, "an' then I won't be ter
+blame. He wants ter ride; let him ride--if he kin."
+
+Frank looked the broncho over.
+
+"Is this the best saddle horse you have?" he asked.
+
+"Waal, he's the only one handy now," was the sullen answer. "He's a bit
+onreliable at times, an' you'd better look out fer him. I wouldn't
+recommend him for a lady ter ride."
+
+"By that I presume you mean he is a bucker?"
+
+"Waal, he may buck some!" admitted the puncher, surprised that Frank
+should ask such a question.
+
+"You haven't anything but a hackamore on him," said Merry. "Why didn't
+you put a bit in his mouth? Do people usually ride with hackamores out
+here?"
+
+"He kinder objects to a bit," confessed the cowboy, his surprise
+increasing. "People out here ride with any old thing. Mebbe you hadn't
+better try him."
+
+"Has he ever been ridden?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"You give your word to that?"
+
+"Yep."
+
+"All right. Then I'll ride him."
+
+Frank went into the saddle before the puncher was aware that he
+contemplated such a thing. He yanked the halter out of the man's hand,
+who leaped aside, with a cry of surprise and fear, barely escaping being
+hit by the broncho's heels, for the creature wheeled and kicked, with a
+shrill scream.
+
+Frank was entirely undisturbed. He had put on a pair of spurred riding
+boots which he found in the house, and now the broncho felt the prick of
+the spurs.
+
+Then the broncho began to buck. Down went his head, and up into the air
+went his heels; down came his heels, and up went his head. Then he came
+down on all fours, and his entire body shot into the air. He came down
+stiff-legged, his back humped. Again and again he did this, with his
+nose between his knees, but still the tenderfoot remained in the saddle.
+
+"Good Lord!" cried the wondering cowboys.
+
+Bart Hodge stood at one side, his hands in his pockets, a look of quiet
+confidence on his face.
+
+From an upper window of the ranch a pretty, sad-faced girl looked out,
+seeing everything. Frank had noticed her just before mounting the
+broncho. He wondered not a little, for up to that moment he had known
+nothing of such a girl being there. He had not seen her before since
+coming to the ranch.
+
+All at once the broncho began to "pitch a-plunging," jumping forward as
+he bucked. He stopped short and whirled end-for-end, bringing his nose
+where his tail was a moment before. He did that as he leaped into the
+air. Then he began to go up and down fore and aft with a decidedly nasty
+motion. He screamed his rage. He pitched first on one side and then on
+the other, letting his shoulders alternately jerk up and droop down
+almost to the ground.
+
+"Good Lord!" cried the cowboys again, for through all this Frank
+Merriwell sat firmly in the saddle.
+
+"Is this yere your tenderfoot what yer told us ye was goin' ter learn a
+lesson, Hough?" they asked.
+
+"Waal, I'll be blowed!" was all the reply Hough made.
+
+The broncho pitched "fence-cornered," but even that had no effect on the
+rider.
+
+Hough told the truth when he said the animal had been ridden before.
+Realizing at last the fruitlessness of its efforts, it suddenly ceased
+all attempts to unseat Frank. Two minutes later Merriwell was riding
+away on the creature's back, and Hough, the discomfited cowboy, was the
+laughing-stock of the Twin Star Ranch.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+A CHANGE OF NAME.
+
+
+At the open upper window of the ranch the sad-faced, pretty girl watched
+and waited till Frank Merriwell came riding back over the prairie.
+
+"Here he comes!" she whispered. "He is handsome--so handsome! He is the
+first man I have seen who could be compared with Lawton."
+
+Kent Carson had heard of Frank's departure on Wildfire, the bucking
+broncho. He found it difficult to believe that his guest had really
+ridden away on the animal, and he was on hand, together with Bart and
+Ephraim, when Merry came riding back.
+
+Near one of the corrals a group of cowboys had gathered to watch the
+remarkable tenderfoot, and make sarcastic remarks to Hough, who was with
+them, looking sulky and disgusted.
+
+Mr. Carson hurried to greet Frank.
+
+"Look here, young man," he cried, "I'd like to know where you ever
+learned to ride bucking bronchos?"
+
+"This is not the first time I have been on a cattle ranch, Mr. Carson,"
+smiled Frank, springing down from Wildfire.
+
+One of the cowboys came shuffling forward. It was Hough.
+
+"Say, tenderfoot," he said, keeping his eyes on the ground, "I allows
+that I made some onnecessary remarks ter you a while ago. I kinder
+hinted as how you might ride a kaow bettern a hawse. I'll take it all
+back. You may be a tenderfoot, but you knows how ter ride as well as any
+of us. I said some things what I hadn't oughter said, an' I swallers it
+all."
+
+"That's all right," laughed Frank, good-naturedly. "You may have had
+good reasons for regarding tenderfeet with contempt, but now you will
+know all tenderfeet are not alike. I don't hold feelings."
+
+"Thankee," said Hough, as he led Wildfire away.
+
+Frank glanced up toward the open window above and again he caught a
+glimpse of that sad, sweet face.
+
+Mr. Carson shook hands with Frank.
+
+"Now I know you are the kind of chap to succeed in life," he declared.
+"I can see that you do whatever you undertake to do. I am beginning to
+understand better and better how it happened that my boy thought so much
+of you."
+
+He took Frank by the arm, and together they walked toward the house.
+Again Merry glanced upward, but, somewhat to his disappointment, that
+face had vanished.
+
+It was after supper that Merry and Hodge were sitting alone on the
+veranda in front of the house, when Bart suddenly said, in a low tone:
+
+"Merriwell, I have a fancy that there is something mysterious about this
+place."
+
+"Is that so?" said Frank. "What is it?"
+
+"I think there is some one in one of those upper rooms who is never seen
+by the rest of the people about the place."
+
+"What makes you think so?"
+
+"There is a room up there that I've never seen anyone enter or leave.
+The door is always closed. Twice while passing the door I have heard
+strange sounds coming from that room."
+
+"This grows interesting," admitted Frank. "Go on."
+
+"The first time," said Bart, "I heard some one in there weeping and
+sobbing as if her heart would break."
+
+"Her heart?" came quickly from Merry's lips.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then it is a female?"
+
+"Beyond a doubt. The second time I heard sounds in that room to-day
+after you rode away on the broncho. I heard some one singing in there."
+
+"Singing?"
+
+"Yes. It was a love song. The voice was very sad and sweet, and still
+there seemed something of happiness in it."
+
+Hodge was silent.
+
+"Well, you have stumbled on a mystery," nodded Frank, slowly. "What do
+you make of it?"
+
+"I don't know what to make of it, unless some friend or relative of
+Carson's is confined in that room."
+
+"Why confined there?"
+
+"You know as well as I do."
+
+Frank opened his lips to say something about the face he had seen at the
+window, but at that moment Carson himself came out onto the veranda,
+smoking his pipe. The rancher took a chair near, and they chatted away
+as twilight and darkness came on.
+
+"How are you getting along on your play, Mr. Merriwell?" asked the man.
+
+"Very well." answered Frank. "You know it is a drama of college
+life--life at Yale?"
+
+"No, I didn't know about that."
+
+"It is. just now I am puzzled most to find a name for it."
+
+"What was the name before?"
+
+"'For Old Eli.'"
+
+"U-hum. Who was Old Eli?"
+
+"There!" cried Merry. "That shows me there is a fault with the name.
+Even though your boy is in Yale, you do not know that Yale College is
+affectionately spoken of by Yale men as 'Old Eli.'"
+
+"No, never knew it before; though, come to think about it, Berlin did
+write something in some of his letters about Old Eli. I didn't
+understand it, though."
+
+"And the public in general do not understand the title of my play. They
+suppose Old Eli must be a character in the piece, and I do not fancy
+there is anything catching and drawing about the title. I must have a
+new title, and I'm stuck to find one that will exactly fit."
+
+"I suppose you must have one that has some reference to college?"
+
+"Oh, yes! That is what I want. One that brings Yale in somehow."
+
+"All you Yale men seem to be stuck on that college. You're true blue."
+
+Frank leaped to his feet with a cry of delight.
+
+"I have it!" he exclaimed.
+
+"What?" gasped Mr. Carson.
+
+"The title!"
+
+"You have?"
+
+"Yes; you gave it to me then!"
+
+"I did?"
+
+"Sure thing."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"'True Blue.' That is a title that fits the play. Yale's color is blue,
+you know. People may not understand just what the title means, but still
+I believe there is something attractive about it, something that will
+draw, and the audience will understand it before the play is over. 'True
+Blue' is the name! I have been well paid for coming out here, Mr.
+Carson! Besides entertaining me royally, you have given me a striking
+name for my play."
+
+"Well, I'm sure I'm glad if I've done that," laughed Kent Carson.
+
+"I must put that title down on the manuscript," said Frank. "I feel an
+inspiration. I must go to work at once. I am in the mood now, and I can
+write."
+
+Excusing himself, he hurried into the house. Soon a light gleamed from
+the window of the room in which he worked, which was on the ground
+floor. Looking in at that window, Hodge saw Frank had started a fire in
+the grate and lighted a lamp. He was seated at a table, writing away
+swiftly.
+
+Kent Carson got up and stood beside Hodge looking into the room.
+
+"Merriwell is a great worker," said the rancher.
+
+"He's a steam engine," declared Bart. "I never saw a fellow who could do
+so much work and so many things. There is no telling how long he will
+drive away at that play to-night. Now that he has the title, he may
+finish it to-night, and be ready to leave here in the morning."
+
+"If that happens, I shall be sorry I gave the title so soon," said the
+cattleman, sincerely. "I have taken a great liking to that young man."
+
+Frank worked away a long time, utterly unconscious of the flight of the
+hours. At last he became aware that the fire in the open grate had made
+the room uncomfortably warm. He had replenished it several times, as
+there was something wonderfully cheerful in an open fire. He arose and
+flung wide the window.
+
+The moon, a thin, shining scimitar, was low down in the west. Soon it
+would drop from view beyond the horizon. There was a haze on the plain.
+Slowly out of that haze came two objects that seemed to be approaching.
+
+"Cattle," said Merry, turning back from the window and sitting down at
+the table again.
+
+He resumed work on the play. He did not hear the door open softly, he
+did not hear a light footstep behind him, he did not hear a rustling
+sound quite near, and it was not until a deep, tremulous sigh reached
+his ears that he became aware of another presence in the room.
+
+Like a flash Frank whirled about and found himself face to face with----
+
+The girl he had seen at the window!
+
+In astonishment Frank gazed at the girl, who was dressed in some dark
+material, as if she were in mourning. He saw that she was quite as
+pretty as he had fancied at first, although her face was very pale and
+sad. The color of her dress and hair made her face seem paler than it
+really was.
+
+Only a moment did Frank remain thus. Then he sprang up, bowing politely,
+and saying:
+
+"I beg your pardon! I did not know there was a lady in the room."
+
+She bowed in return.
+
+"Do not rise," she said. "I saw you to-day from my window, and I could
+not sleep till I had seen you again. Somehow you seemed to remind me of
+Lawton. I thought so, then, but now it does not seem so much that way.
+Still you made me think of him. I have been shut up there so long--so
+long! I have not talked to anybody, and I wanted to talk to somebody who
+could tell me something of the world--something of the places far away.
+I am buried here, where nobody knows anything to talk about but cattle
+and horses."
+
+Frank's heart was thrilled with sympathy.
+
+"Do they keep you shut up in that room?" he asked.
+
+"No; I stay there from choice. This is the first time I have been
+downstairs for weeks. I have refused to leave the room; I refused to see
+my father. I can't bear to have him look at me with such pity and
+anger."
+
+"Your father--he is Mr. Carson?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"It is strange he has never spoken to me of you. I was not aware he had
+a daughter, although he spoke proudly of his son."
+
+In an instant Frank regretted his words. A look of anguish swept over
+the face of the girl, and she fell back a step, one thin hand fluttering
+up to her bosom.
+
+"No!" she cried, and her voice was like the sob of the wind beneath the
+leaves of a deserted house; "he never speaks of me! He says I am
+dead--dead to the world. He is proud of his son, Berlin, my brother; but
+he is ashamed of his daughter, Blanche."
+
+Frank began to suspect and understand the truth. This girl had met with
+some great sorrow, a sorrow that had wrecked her life. Instantly Merry's
+heart was overflowing with sympathy, but his situation was most
+embarrassing, and he knew not what to say. The girl seemed to understand
+this.
+
+"Don't think me crazy because I have come here to you in this way," she
+entreated. "Don't think me bold! Oh, if you could know how I have longed
+for somebody with whom I could talk! I saw you were a gentleman. I knew
+my father would not introduce me to you, but I resolved to see you,
+hoping you would talk to me--hoping you would tell me of the things
+going on in the world."
+
+"I shall be glad to do so," said Merry, gently. "But don't you have any
+papers, any letters, anything to tell you the things you wish to know?"
+
+"Nothing--nothing! I am dead to the world. You were writing. Have I
+interrupted you?"
+
+"No; I am through working on my play to-night."
+
+"Your play?" she cried, eagerly. "What are you doing with a play?
+Perhaps--perhaps----"
+
+She stopped speaking, seeming to make an effort to hold her eagerness in
+check.
+
+"I am writing a play," Frank explained. "That is, I am rewriting it now.
+I wrote it some time ago and put it on the road, but it was a failure. I
+am going out again soon with a new company."
+
+Her eagerness seemed to increase.
+
+"Then you must know many actors," she said. "Perhaps you know him?"
+
+"Know whom?"
+
+"Lawton--Lawton Kilgore."
+
+Frank shook his head.
+
+"Never heard of him."
+
+She showed great disappointment.
+
+"I am so sorry," she said. "I hoped you might be able to tell me
+something about him. If you can tell me nothing, I must tell you. I must
+talk to somebody. You see how it is. Mother is dead. Father sent me to
+school in the East. It was there that I met Lawton. He was so handsome!
+He was the leading man in a company that I saw. Then, after the company
+disbanded for the season, he came back to spend the summer in the town
+where I was at school. I suppose I was foolish, but fell in love with
+him. We were together a great deal. We became engaged."
+
+Frank fancied he knew what was coming. The girl was skipping over the
+story as lightly as possible, but she was letting him understand it all.
+
+"I didn't write father about it," she went on, "for I knew he would not
+approve of Lawton. He wanted me to marry Brandon King, who owns the
+Silver Forks Ranch. I did not love King. I loved Lawton Kilgore. But the
+principal of the school found out what was going on, and he wrote
+father. Then Lawton disappeared, and I heard nothing from him. They say
+he deserted me. I do not believe it. I think he was driven away. I
+waited and waited for him, but I could not study, I could not do
+anything. He never came back, and, at last, father came and took me
+away. He brought me here. He was ashamed of me, but he said he would not
+leave me to starve, for I was his own daughter. His kindness was cruel,
+for he cut me off from the world. Still I believe that some day Lawton
+will come for me and take me away from here. I believe he will come--if
+they have not killed him!"
+
+She whispered the final words.
+
+"They? Who?" asked Frank, startled.
+
+"My father and my brother," she answered. "They were furious enough to
+kill him. They swore they would."
+
+She had told Merry her story, and she seemed to feel relieved. She asked
+him many questions about the actors he knew. He said he had the pictures
+of nearly all who had taken parts in his two plays. She asked to see
+them, and he brought them out from his large traveling case, showing
+them to her one by one. She looked at them all with interest.
+
+Of a sudden, she gave a low, sharp cry. Her hand darted out and caught
+up one of the photographs.
+
+"Here--here!----" she panted. "You have his picture here! This is Lawton
+Kilgore--Lawton, my lover!"
+
+It was the picture of Leslie Lawrence!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE TRAGEDY AT THE RANCH.
+
+
+"That?" exclaimed Frank. "You must be mistaken! That man's name is not
+Kilgore, it is Lawrence."
+
+He fancied the girl was crazy. He had wondered if her misfortune had
+affected her brain.
+
+"This is the picture of Lawton Kilgore!" she repeated, in a dull tone.
+
+"Do you think I would not know him anywhere--under any circumstances?
+This is the man who promised to marry me! This is the man my father
+hates as he hates a snake!"
+
+"Well, that man is worthy of your father's hatred," said Merry, "for he
+is a thoroughbred villain. But I think you must be mistaken, for your
+father met him in Denver. This man had me arrested, and your father
+followed to the police station, and was instrumental in securing my
+release. If this man was Kilgore, your father would have found his
+opportunity to kill him."
+
+"You do not understand," panted the girl. "Father has never seen him to
+know him--has never even seen his picture. If Lawton was known by
+another name, father would not have recognized him, even though they met
+in Denver."
+
+Frank began to realize that the girl was talking in a sensible manner,
+and something told him she spoke the truth. To his other crimes,
+Lawrence had added that of deceiving an innocent girl.
+
+"And he is in Denver?" panted the rancher's daughter. "He is so near!
+Oh, if he would come to me!"
+
+Frank was sorry that he had permitted her to see the photographs, but it
+was too late now for regrets.
+
+The girl pressed the picture to her lips.
+
+"You must give it to me!" she panted. "I will take it to my room! I wish
+to be alone with it at once! Oh, I thank you!"
+
+Then she hurried from the room, leaving Merry in anything but a pleasant
+frame of mind.
+
+There was a sound outside the window. Frank got up and went over to the
+window. Looking out, he saw two horses standing at a little distance
+from the ranch. A man was holding them, and the faint light of the moon
+fell on the man's face.
+
+"Well, I wonder what that means?" speculated Frank. "Those horses are
+saddled and bridled. Who is going to ride them to-night?"
+
+Then he remembered the two forms he had seen coming out of the mist that
+lay on the plain, and he wondered if they had not been two horsemen.
+
+Something about the appearance of the man at the heads of the horses
+seemed familiar. He looked closer.
+
+"About the size and build of Lloyd Fowler," he muttered. "Looks like
+Fowler, but of course it is not."
+
+There was a step on the veranda, and a figure appeared at the open
+window. Into the room stepped a man.
+
+Frank sprang back, and was face to face with the intruder.
+
+"Leslie Lawrence!" he whispered.
+
+"Yes," said the man, advancing insolently; "I am Leslie Lawrence."
+
+"What do you want?"
+
+"I want an engagement in your new company. I have come here for it. Will
+you give it to me?"
+
+Frank was astounded by the insolence of the fellow.
+
+"I should say not!" he exclaimed. "What do you take me for? No, Leslie
+Lawrence, alias Lawton Kilgore, villain, deceiver of innocent girls,
+wretch who deserves hanging, I will not give you an engagement, unless
+it is with an outraged father. Go! If you wish to live, leave instantly.
+If Kent Carson finds you here, he will know you now, and your life will
+not be worth a cent!"
+
+At this moment the door was flung open, and Ephraim Gallup came striding
+into the room, saying as he entered:
+
+"Darned if I knowed there was a purty young gal in this haouse! Thought
+I'd come daown, Frank, an' see if yeou was goin' to stay up all night
+writin' on that play of---- Waal, I be gosh-blamed!"
+
+Ephraim saw Lawrence, and he was astounded.
+
+"Didn't know yeou hed visitors, Frank," he said.
+
+"So you refuse me an engagement, do you, Merriwell?" snarled Lawrence.
+"All right! You'll wish you hadn't in a minute!"
+
+He made a spring for the table and caught up the manuscript lying on it.
+Then he leaped toward the open grate, where the fire was burning.
+
+"That's the last of your old play!" he shouted, hurling the manuscript
+into the flames.
+
+Both Frank and Ephraim sprang to save the play, but neither of them was
+in time to prevent Lawrence's revengeful act.
+
+"You miserable cur!" panted Frank.
+
+Out shot his fist, striking the fellow under the ear, and knocking him
+down.
+
+At the same time Ephraim snatched the manuscript from the fire and beat
+out the flames which had fastened on it.
+
+Lawrence sat up, his hand going round to his hip. He wrenched out a
+revolver and lifted it.
+
+Frank saw the gleam of the weapon, realized his danger, and dropped an
+instant before the pistol spoke.
+
+The shot rang out, but even as he pressed the trigger, Lawrence realized
+that Merriwell had escaped. But beyond Frank, directly in line, he saw a
+pale-faced girl who had suddenly appeared in the open door. He heard her
+cry "Lawton!" and then, through the puff of smoke, he saw her clutch her
+breast and fall on the threshold, shot down by his own hand!
+
+Horror and fear enabled him to spring up, plunge out of the open window,
+reach the horses, leap on one and go thundering away toward the
+moonlight mists as if Satan were at his heels.
+
+There was a tumult at the Twin Star. There was hot mounting to pursue
+Lawrence and his companion. Carson had heard the shot. He had rushed
+down to find his daughter, shot in the side, supported in the arms of
+Frank Merriwell.
+
+A few words had told Carson just what had happened.
+
+He swore a fearful oath to follow Lawrence to death.
+
+The girl heard the oath. She opened her eyes and whispered:
+
+"Father--don't! He didn't mean--to shoot--me! It was--an--accident!"
+
+"I'll have the whelp stiff at my feet before morning!" vowed the
+revengeful rancher.
+
+He gave orders for the preparing of horses. He saw his daughter carried
+to her room. He lingered till the old black housekeeper was at the
+bedside to bind up the wound and do her best to save the girl.
+
+Then Carson bounded down the stairs and sent a cowboy flying off on
+horseback for the nearest doctor, a hundred miles away.
+
+"Kill the horse under ye, if necessary, Prescott!" he had yelled at the
+cowboy. "Get the doctor here as quick as you can!"
+
+"All right, sir!" shouted Prescott, as he thundered away.
+
+"Now!" exclaimed Kent Carson--"now to follow that murderous hound till I
+run him to earth!"
+
+He found men and horses ready and waiting. He found Frank Merriwell and
+Bart Hodge there, both of them determined to take part in the pursuit.
+
+"We know him," said Merriwell. "He fired that shot at me. We can
+identify him."
+
+Frank believed that Lawrence had murdered the rancher's daughter, and
+he, like the others, was eager to run the wretch down.
+
+They galloped away in pursuit, the rancher, four cowboys, Merriwell and
+Hodge, all armed, all grim-faced, all determined.
+
+The sun had risen when they came riding back to the ranch. Ephraim
+Gallup met Frank.
+
+"Did ye git ther critter?" he asked, in a whisper.
+
+"No," was the answer.
+
+"Then he got erway?" came in accents of disappointment from the
+Vermonter.
+
+"No."
+
+"Whut? Haow's that?"
+
+"Neither Lawrence nor Fowler escaped."
+
+"Then it was Fowler with him?"
+
+"I believe so."
+
+"Whut happened to um?"
+
+"They attempted to ford Big Sandy River."
+
+"An' got drownded?"
+
+"No. Where they tried to cross is nothing but a bed of quicksands.
+Horses and men went down into the quicksands. They were swallowed up
+forever."
+
+The doctor came at last. He extracted the bullet from Blanche Carson's
+side, and he told her she would get well, as the wound was not
+dangerous.
+
+Kent Carson heard this with deep relief. He went to the bedside of the
+girl and knelt down there.
+
+"Blanche," he whispered, huskily, "can you forgive your old dad for
+treating you as he has? You are my own girl--my little Blanche--no
+matter what you have done."
+
+"Father!" she whispered, in return, "I am glad you have come to me at
+last. But you know you are ashamed of me--you can never forget what I
+have done."
+
+"I can forget now," he declared, thinking of the man under the
+quicksands of Big Sandy. "You are my daughter. I am not ashamed of you.
+You shall never again have cause for saying that of me."
+
+"Kiss me, papa!" she murmured.
+
+Sobbing brokenly, he pressed his lips to her cheeks.
+
+And when he was gone from the room she took a photograph from beneath
+her pillow and gazed at it long and lovingly.
+
+She knew not that the man had been swallowed beneath the quicksands of
+the Big Sandy.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The tragic occurrences of the night hastened the departure of Frank and
+his friends from Twin Star Ranch, although Kent Carson urged them to
+remain. Frank had, however, finished his play, which, thanks to the
+prompt act of Ephraim, had been only slightly injured by its fiery
+experience, and was anxious to put it in rehearsal.
+
+So, a day or so later, Frank, Bart and Ephraim were once more in Denver.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+THE OLD ACTOR'S CHAMPIONS.
+
+
+Along a street of Denver walked a man whose appearance was such as to
+attract attention wherever seen. That he had once been an actor could be
+told at a glance, and that he had essayed great roles was also apparent.
+But, alas! it was also evident that the time when this Thespian trod the
+boards had departed forever, and with that time his glory had vanished.
+
+His ancient silk hat, although carefully brushed, was shabby and
+grotesque in appearance. His Prince Albert coat, buttoned tight at the
+waist, and left open at the bosom, was shabby and shining, although it
+also betokened that, with much effort, he had kept it clean. His
+trousers bagged at the knees, and there were signs of mannish sewing
+where two or three rents and breaks had been mended. The legs of the
+trousers were very small, setting tightly about his thin calves. His
+shoes were in the worst condition of all. Although they had been
+carefully blackened and industriously polished, it was plain that they
+could not hold together much longer. The soles were almost completely
+worn away, and the uppers were breaking and ripping. The "linen" of this
+frayed gentleman seemed spotlessly white. His black silk necktie was
+knotted in a broad bow.
+
+The man's face was rather striking in appearance. The eyes had once been
+clear and piercing, the mouth firm and well formed; but there was that
+about the chin which belied the firmness of the mouth, for this feature
+showed weakness. The head was broad at the top, with a high, wide brow.
+The eyes were set so far back beneath the bushy, grayish eyebrows that
+they seemed like red coals glowing in dark caverns--for red they were
+and bloodshot. The man's long hair fell upon the collar of his coat.
+
+And on his face was set the betraying marks of the vice that had wrought
+his downfall. The bloodshot eyes alone did not reveal it, but the
+purplish, unhealthy flush of the entire face and neck plainly indicated
+that the demon drink had fastened its death clutch upon him and dragged
+him down from the path that led to the consummation of all his hopes and
+aspirations.
+
+He had been drinking now. His unsteady step told that. He needed the aid
+of his cane in order to keep on his feet. He slipped, his hat fell off,
+rolled over and over, dropped into the gutter, and lay there.
+
+The unfortunate man looked round for the hat, but it was some time
+before he found it. When he did, in attempting to pick it up, he fell
+over in the gutter and rolled upon it, soiling his clothes. At last,
+with a great effort, he gathered himself up, and rose unsteadily to his
+feet with his hat and cane.
+
+"What, ho!" he muttered, thickly. "It seems the world hath grown
+strangely unsteady, but, perchance, it may be my feet."
+
+Some boys who had seen him fall shouted and laughed at him. He looked
+toward them sadly.
+
+"Mock! mock! mock!" he cried. "Some of you thoughtless brats may fall
+even lower than I have fallen!"
+
+"Well, I like that--I don't think!" exclaimed one of the boys. "I don't
+'low no jagged stiff to call me a brat!"
+
+Then he threw a stone at the old actor, striking the man on the cheek
+and cutting him slightly.
+
+The unfortunate placed his crushed and soiled hat on his head, took out
+a handkerchief, and slowly wiped a little blood from his cheek, all the
+while swaying a bit, as if the ground beneath his feet were tossing like
+a ship.
+
+"'Now let it work,'" he quoted. "'Mischief, thou art afoot; take thou
+what course thou wilt. How now, fellow?'"
+
+The thoughtless young ruffians shouted with laughter.
+
+"Looker the old duffer!" cried one. "Ain't that a picture fer yer!"
+
+"Look!" exclaimed the actor. "Behold me with thy eyes! Even lower than I
+have fallen may thou descend; but I have aspired to heights of which thy
+sordid soul may never dream. Out upon you, dog!"
+
+With these words he reached the walk and turned down the street.
+
+"Let's foller him!" cried one of the gang. "We can have heaps of fun
+with him."
+
+"Come on! come on!"
+
+With a wild whoop, they rushed after the man. They reached him, danced
+around him, pulled his coat tails, jostled him, crushed his hat over his
+eyes.
+
+"Give the old duffer fits!" cried the leader, who was a tough young thug
+of about eighteen.
+
+There were seven boys in the gang, and four or five others came up on
+the run, eager to have a hand in the "racket."
+
+The old actor pushed his hat back from his eyes, folded his arms over
+his out-thrown breast and gazed with his red, sunken eyes at the leader.
+As if declaiming on the stage he spoke:
+
+      "'You have done that you should be sorry for.
+      There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats;
+      For I am armed so strong in honesty
+      That they pass me by as the idle wind,
+      Which I respect not.'"
+
+This caused the boys to shout with laughter.
+
+"Git onter ther guy!"
+
+"What ails him?"
+
+"He's locoed."
+
+"Loaded, you mean."
+
+"He's cracked in the nut."
+
+"And he needs another crack on the nut," shouted the leader, dancing up,
+and again knocking the hat over the old man's eyes.
+
+Once more pushing it back, the aged actor spoke in his deep voice, made
+somewhat husky by drink:
+
+"Be patient till the last. Romans, countrymen and lovers! hear me for my
+cause; and be silent that you may hear; believe me for mine honor; and
+have respect to mine honor, that you may believe; censure me in your
+wisdom, and awaken your senses, that you may----"
+
+"Oh, that's too much!" cried the ruffianly young leader. "We can't stand
+that kind of guy. What're yer givin' us, anyway?"
+
+"He's drunk!" shouted several.
+
+"Alas and alack!" sighed the old man. "I fear thou speakest the truth.
+
+      "'Boundless intemperance
+      In nature is a tyranny; it hath been
+      The untimely emptying of the happy throne,
+      And the fall of many kings.'"
+
+"That's what causes your fall," declared the ruffianly leader, as he
+tripped the actor, causing him to fall heavily.
+
+"What's this?" exclaimed Frank Merriwell, who, with Hodge for a
+companion, just returned from Twin Star Ranch, at this moment came into
+view round a corner. "What are those fellows doing to that poor man?"
+
+"Raising hob with him," said Bart, quickly. "The old fellow is drunk and
+they are abusing him."
+
+"Well, I think it's time for us to take a hand in that!"
+
+"I should say so!"
+
+"Come on!"
+
+Frank sprang forward; Bart followed.
+
+The old actor was just making an effort to get up. The young ruffian who
+led the gang kicked him over.
+
+The sight made Frank's blood leap.
+
+"You cowardly young cur!" he cried, and he gave the fellow a crack on
+the ear that sent him spinning.
+
+Hodge struck out right and left, quickly sending two of the largest
+fellows to the ground.
+
+"Permit me to assist you, sir," said Frank, stooping to aid the actor to
+rise.
+
+The leader of the gang had recovered. He uttered a mad howl.
+
+"At 'em fellers! Knock the stuffin's outer them!" he screamed, rushing
+on Frank.
+
+Merry straightened up instantly. He whirled about and saw the biggest
+tough coming at him, with the rest of the gang at his back. Then Frank
+laughed.
+
+"Walk right up, you young terriers!" he cried, in a clear, ringing
+voice. "We'll make it rather interesting for you! Give it to them,
+Hodge!"
+
+Hodge did so. Together the two friends met the onslaught of the gang.
+Their hard fists cracked on the heads of the young ruffians, and it was
+astonishing how these fellows were bowled over. Bart was aroused. His
+intense anger was betrayed by his knotted forehead, his flashing eyes,
+and his gleaming teeth. He did not speak a word, but he struck swift,
+strong and sure.
+
+If those chaps had expected an easy thing with the two well-dressed
+youths who had interfered with their sport, they met the disappointment
+of their lives.
+
+It actually seemed that, at one time, every one of the gang had been
+knocked sprawling, and not one was on his feet to face the fighting
+champions of the old actor.
+
+It was a terrible surprise for the toughs. One after another, they
+sprang up and took to their heels.
+
+"What have we struck?" gasped the leader, looking up at Frank.
+
+"Get up!" invited Merry, standing over him--"get up, and I will give you
+another dose!"
+
+"Excuse me!" gasped the fellow, as he scrambled away on his hands and
+knees, sprang up and followed the rest of the young thugs.
+
+It was over; the gang had been put to flight, and it had been
+accomplished in a very few moments.
+
+Hodge stood there, panting, glaring about, looking surprised and
+disappointed, as well as angry.
+
+"That was too easy!" he exclaimed. "I thought we were in for a fight."
+
+"Evidently they did not stand for our kind of fighting," smiled Frank.
+"It surprised them so that they threw up the sponge before the fight was
+fairly begun."
+
+"I didn't get half enough of it," muttered Bart.
+
+During the fight the old actor had risen to his feet. Now Frank picked
+up his hat and restored it to him, after brushing some dirt from it. The
+man received it with a profound bow. Placing it on his head, he thrust
+his right hand into the bosom of his coat, struck a pose, and cried:
+
+      "'Are yet two Romans living such as these?
+      The last of all the Romans!'"
+
+"We saw you were in trouble," said Merry, "and we hastened to give you
+such assistance as we could."
+
+"It was a goodly deed, a deed well done. Thy arms are strong, thy hearts
+are bold. Methinks I see before me two noble youths, fit to have lived
+in the days of knighthood."
+
+"You are very complimentary," smiled Frank, amused at the old man's
+quaint way.
+
+The actor took his hand from his bosom and made a deprecating gesture,
+saying:
+
+"'Nay, do not think I flatter; for what advancement may I hope from
+thee?' I but speak the thoughts my heart bids me speak. I am old, the
+wreck of a once noble man; yet you did not hesitate to stand by me in my
+hour of need, even at peril to yourselves. I cannot reward you. I can
+but offer the thanks of one whose name it may be you have never
+heard--one whose name to-day, but for himself and his own weakness,
+might be on the tongues of the people of two continents. Gentlemen,
+accept the thanks of William Shakespeare Burns."
+
+"Mr. Burns," said Frank, "from your words, and your manner, I am led to
+believe that you are an actor."
+
+"Nay, nay. Once I trod the boards and interpreted the characters of the
+immortal bard, for whom I was named. That time is past. I am an actor no
+longer; I am a 'has been.' My day is past, my sun hath set, and night
+draweth on apace."
+
+"I thought I could not be mistaken," said Frank. "We, too, are actors,
+although not Shakespearian ones."
+
+"Is this true?" exclaimed the old tragedian. "And I have been befriended
+by those who wouldst follow the noble art! Brothers, I greet thee! But
+these are sad, sad days, for the drama hath fallen into a decline. The
+legitimate is scoffed at, the stage is defiled by the ribald jest, the
+clownish low-comedy star, the dancing and singing comedian, and
+vaudeville--ah, me! that we should have fallen into such evil ways. The
+indecencies now practiced in the name of art and the drama are enough to
+make the immortal William turn in his grave. Oh, for the good old days!
+But they are gone--forever gone!"
+
+"It seems strange to meet an actor like you 'at liberty,' and so far
+from the Rialto," declared Merry.
+
+"I have been touring the country, giving readings," Burns hastened to
+explain. "Ah, it is sad, sad! Once I might have packed the largest
+theater of the metropolis; to-day I am doing well if I bring out a round
+dozen to listen to my readings at some crossroad schoolhouse in the
+country. Thus have the mighty fallen!"
+
+"I presume you are thinking of getting back to New York?"
+
+"Nay, nay. What my eyes have beheld there and my ears have heard is
+enough. My heart is sick within me. I was there at the opening of the
+season. One Broadway theater was given over to burlesque of the very
+lowest order, while another was but little better in character. A
+leading theater close to Broadway was packed every night by well-dressed
+people who went there to behold a vile French farce, in which the
+leading lady disrobed upon the stage. Ah, me! In truth, the world hath
+gone wrong! The ways of men are evil, and all their thoughts are vile.
+It is well that Shakespeare cannot rise from his grave to look upon the
+horrors now perpetrated on the English-speaking stage. If he were to be
+restored to life and visit one of our theaters, I think his second
+funeral would take place the following day. He would die of heart
+failure."
+
+Frank laughed heartily.
+
+"I believe you are right. It would give William a shock, that is
+certain. But there are good modern plays, you know."
+
+The actor shook his head.
+
+"I do not know," he declared. "I have not seen them. If there is not
+something nasty in the play of to-day, then it must of a certainty have
+its 'effect' in the way of some mechanical contrivance--a horse race, a
+steamboat explosion, a naval battle, or something of the sort. It seems
+that a piece cannot survive on its merits as a play, but must, perforce,
+be bolstered up by some wretched device called an 'effect.'"
+
+"Truer words were never spoken," admitted Frank. "And still there are a
+few plays written to-day that do not depend on such devices. In order to
+catch the popular fancy, however, I have found it necessary to introduce
+'effects.'"
+
+"You speak as one experienced in the construction of plays."
+
+"I have had some experience. I am about to start on the road with my own
+company and my own play."
+
+Of a sudden Frank seemed struck by an idea.
+
+"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "Did you say you were at liberty?"
+
+"Just at present, yes."
+
+"Then, if I can get you, you are the very man I want."
+
+The old man shook his head.
+
+"Your play can contain no part I would care to interpret," he said, with
+apparent regret.
+
+"But I think it is possible that you might be induced to play the part.
+I had a man for it, but I lost him. I was on my way to the Orpheum, to
+see if I could not find another to fill his place."
+
+"What sort of a part is it?" asked Burns, plainly endeavoring to conceal
+his eagerness.
+
+"It is comedy."
+
+"What!" cried the old actor, aghast and horrified. "Wouldst offer me
+such a part? Dost think I--I who have played _Hamlet_, _Brutus_, _Lear_
+and _Othello_--would stoop so low? 'This is the most unkindest cut of
+all!'"
+
+"But there is money in it--good, sure money. I have several thousand
+dollars to back me, and I am going out with my piece to make or break. I
+shall keep it on the road several weeks, at any cost."
+
+The old actor shook his head.
+
+"It cannot be," he sadly said. "I am no comedian. I could not play the
+part."
+
+"If you will but dress as you are, if you will add a little that is
+fantastic to your natural acting, you can play the part. It is that of a
+would-be tragedian--a Shakespearian actor."
+
+"Worse and worse!" moaned the old man. "You would have me burlesque
+myself! Out upon you!"
+
+"I will pay you thirty-five dollars a week and railroad expenses. How
+can you do better?"
+
+"Thirty-fi----"
+
+The old actor gasped for breath. He seemed unable for some moments to
+speak. It was plain that the sum seemed like a small fortune to him. At
+last his dignity and his old nature reasserted itself.
+
+"Young man," he said, "dost know what thou hast done? I--I am William
+Shakespeare Burns! A paltry thirty-five per week! Bah! Go to!"
+
+"Well, I'll make it forty, and I can get a hundred good men for that at
+this time of the season."
+
+The aged Thespian bowed his head. Slowly he spoke, again quoting:
+
+"Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me! You would play
+upon me; you would seem to know my stops; you would pluck to the heart
+of my mystery."
+
+"But the money, you seem to need that. Money is a good thing to have."
+
+"'Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.' It is true. Ah! but how
+can I thus lower myself?"
+
+"As you have said, the good old days are past. It is useless to live for
+them. Live for the present--and the future. Money is base stuff, but we
+must have it. Come, come; I know you can do the part. We'll get along
+splendidly."
+
+"'Good reasons must, of force, give place to better.' As Cassius saith,
+'Men at some time in their lives are masters of their fates;' but I
+think for me that time is past. But forty dollars--ye gods!"
+
+"It is better than reading to a scant dozen listeners at crossroads
+schoolhouses."
+
+"Ah, well! You take advantage of my needs. I accept. But I must have a
+dollar at once, with which to purchase that which will drown the shame
+my heart doth feel."
+
+"You shall have the dollar," assured Frank. "Come along with us, and we
+will complete arrangements."
+
+So the old actor was borne away, outwardly sad, but inwardly
+congratulating himself on the greatest streak of luck he had come upon
+in many moons.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+WELCOME LETTERS.
+
+
+Frank Merriwell was determined to give a performance of his revised play
+in Denver for advertising purposes. He had the utmost confidence in
+"True Blue," as he had rechristened the piece, but the report of his
+failure in Puelbo had spread afar in dramatic circles, being carried
+broadcast by the Eastern dramatic papers, and managers were shy of
+booking the revised version.
+
+Some time before, after receiving the fortune from the Carson City Bank,
+Merry had made a fair and equal division, sending checks for their share
+to Browning, Diamond and Rattleton. Toots' share he had been unable to
+forward, not knowing the address of the faithful darky, who had been
+forced to go forth into the world to win his way when Frank met with the
+misfortune that caused him to leave Yale.
+
+And now came three letters from three Yale men. Diamond's was brief.
+
+    "Dear Old Comrade: It is plain you are still a practical
+    joker. Your very valuable (?) check on the First National of
+    Denver received. I really do not know what to do with so much
+    money! But I am afraid you are making a mistake by using a check
+    on an existing bank. Why didn't you draw one on 'The First Sand
+    Bank of Denver'? It would have served your purpose just as well.
+
+    "Can't write much now, as I am making preparations for vacation,
+    which is only a month away. I'm afraid it will be a sorry
+    vacation for me this year; not much like the last one. Then we
+    were all together, and what times we did have at Fardale and in
+    Maine! I'm blue to-night, old friend, and do not feel like
+    writing. I fancy it has made me feel bluer than ever to read in
+    the _Dramatic Reflector_ of your unfortunate failure in
+    Puelbo and the disbanding of your company after your backer
+    deserted you. Hard luck, Frank--hard luck! All the fellows have
+    been hoping you would make money enough to come back here in the
+    fall, but all that is over now.
+
+    "What are you doing? Can't you find time to write to us and let
+    us know? We are very anxious about you. I will write you again
+    when I am more in the mood. Hoping your fortune may turn for the
+    better, I remain,
+
+                                 "Always your friend,
+
+                                 "Jack Diamond."
+
+Frank read this aloud to Hodge and Gallup in his room at the Metropole
+Hotel.
+
+"Waal, by ginger!" exploded Ephraim. "What do yeou think of that?"
+
+"Now you see what your reputation as a practical joker is doing for you,
+Merry," said Hodge.
+
+"Well, I'll be hanged if I don't believe Diamond considers it a joke!"
+laughed Frank.
+
+"Of course he does," nodded Bart.
+
+"Well, he is putting a joke on himself. He'll be somewhat surprised when
+he discovers that."
+
+Ephraim began to grin.
+
+"That's so, by thutter!" he cried.
+
+"Here is a letter from Rattleton," said Merry, picking up another from
+the mail he had just received. "I wonder how he takes it?"
+
+"Read it and find aout," advised Gallup.
+
+"A wise suggestion," bowed Frank, with mock gravity, tearing it open.
+
+This is what he read:
+
+    "Dear Merry: Cheese it! What do you take us for--a lot of
+    chumps? We're onto you! Eight thousand fiddlesticks! I'm going
+    to have the check framed and hang it in my room. It will be a
+    reminder of you.
+
+    "Say, that was tough about your fizzle in Puelbo! It came just
+    when we were hoping, you know. The fellows have been gathering
+    at the fence and talking about you and your return to college
+    since Browning came back and told us how you were making a
+    barrel of money with your play. Now the report of your disaster
+    is spread broadcast, and we know you cannot come back. It's
+    tough.
+
+    "Diamond is in a blue funk. He hasn't been half the man he was
+    since you went away. Hasn't seemed to care much of anything
+    about studying or doing anything else, and, as a result, it is
+    pretty certain he'll be dropped a class.
+
+    "But Diamond is not the only one. You know Browning was dropped
+    once. He is too lazy to study, but, in order to keep in your
+    class, he might have pulled through had you been here. Now it is
+    known for an almost certain thing that he will not be able to
+    pass exams, and you know what that means.
+
+    "I'm not going to say anything about myself. It's dull here.
+    None of your friends took any interest in the college
+    theatricals last winter, and the show was on the bum. The whole
+    shooting match made a lot of guys of themselves.
+
+    "Baseball has been dead slow, so far this season. We are down in
+    the mud, with Princeton crowing. It takes you, Merry, to twist
+    the Tiger's tail! What was the matter? Everything. All the
+    pitchers could do for us was to toss 'em up and get batted out
+    of the box. The new men were not in it. They had glass arms, and
+    the old reliables had dead wings. It was pitiful! I can't write
+    any more about it.
+
+    "I'd like to see you, Frank! Would I? Ask me! Oh, say! don't you
+    think you can arrange it so you can come East this summer? Come
+    and see me. Say, come and stay all summer with me at my home! We
+    won't do a thing but have a great time. Write to me and give me
+    your promise you will come. Don't you refuse me, old man.
+
+                                                "Yours till death,
+
+                                                   "Rattles.
+
+"Here's another!" cried Frank. "If that doesn't beat! Why, they all
+think those checks fakes!"
+
+"As I said before," said Hodge, "you see what your reputation as a
+practical joker is doing for you."
+
+"I see," nodded Frank. "It is giving me a chance to get a big joke on
+those fellows. They will drop dead when they learn those checks actually
+are good."
+
+"Waal, I should say yes!" nodded Ephraim. "Jest naow they're kainder
+thinkin' yeou are an object fer charity."
+
+"Here's Browning's letter."
+
+    "Mr. Frank Merriwell, Millionaire and Philanthropist.
+
+    "Dear Sir: I seize my pen in my hand, being unable to seize
+    it with my foot, and hasten to acknowledge the receipt of
+    your princely gift. With my usual energy and haste, I dash off
+    these few lines at the rate of ten thousand words a minute, only
+    stopping to rest after each word. After cashing your check with
+    the pawnbroker, I shall use the few dollars remaining to settle
+    in part with my tailor, who has insisted in a most ungentlemanly
+    manner on the payment of his little bill, which has been running
+    but a short time--less than two years, I think. The sordid greed
+    and annoying persistence of this man has much embarrassed me,
+    and I would pay him off entirely, if it were not that I wish to
+    get my personal property out of my 'uncle's' safe-deposit vault,
+    where it has been resting for some time.
+
+    "It is evident to me that you have money to burn in an open
+    grate. That is great, as Griswold would say. And it was so kind
+    of you to remember your old friends. The little hint
+    accompanying each check that thus you divided the spoils of our
+    great trip across the continent was not sufficient to deceive
+    anyone into the belief that this was other than a generous act
+    on your part and a free gift.
+
+    "There is not much news to write, save that everybody is in the
+    dumps and everything has turned blue. I suppose some of the
+    others will tell you all about things, so that will save me the
+    task, which you know I would intensely enjoy, as I do love to
+    work. It is the joy of my life to labor. I spend as much time as
+    possible each day working on a comfortable couch in my room; but
+    I will confess that I might not work quite so hard if it was not
+    necessary to draw at the pipe in order to smoke up.
+
+    "When are you coming East? Aren't you getting tired of the West?
+    Why can't you make a visit to Yale before vacation time? You
+    would be received with great _eclat_. Excuse my French. I
+    have to fling it around occasionally, when I can't think of any
+    Latin or Greek. Why do you suppose Latin and Greek were
+    invented? Why didn't those old duffers use English, and save us
+    poor devils no end of grinding?
+
+    "Unfortunately, I have just upset the ink, and, having no more,
+    I must quit.
+
+                                     "Yours energetically,
+
+                                     "Bruce Browning."
+
+"Well, it's simply marvelous that he stuck to it long enough to write
+all that!" laughed Frank. "And he, like the others, thinks the check a
+fake."
+
+Hodge got up and stood looking sullenly out of the window.
+
+"What's the matter, Bart?" asked Merry, detecting that there was
+something wrong.
+
+"Nothing," muttered the dark-faced fellow.
+
+"Oh, come! Was there anything in those letters you did not like?"
+
+"No. It was something there was not in the letters."
+
+"What?"
+
+"Not one of those fellows even mentioned me!" cried Hodge, fiercely
+whirling about. "I didn't care a rap about Diamond and Rattleton, but
+Browning would have showed a trace of decency if he had said a word
+about me. He made a bad blunder and was forced to confess it, but I'll
+bet he doesn't think a whit more of me now."
+
+"Oh, you are too sensitive, old man. They did not even write anything in
+particular for news, and think how many of my friends at college they
+failed to mention."
+
+"Oh, well; they knew I was with you, and one of them might have asked
+for me. I hope you may go back to Yale, Merry, but wild horses could not
+drag me back there! I hate them all!"
+
+"Hate them, Hodge?"
+
+"Yes, hate them!" Bart almost shouted. "They are a lot of cads! There is
+not a whole man among them!"
+
+Then he strode out of the room, giving the door a bang behind him.
+
+Of course Frank made haste to reply to the letters of his college chums,
+assuring them that the checks were perfectly good, and adding that,
+although he had some reputation as a practical joker, he was not quite
+crazy enough to utter a worthless check on a well-known bank, as that
+would be a criminal act.
+
+Frank mentioned Hodge, and, without saying so in so many words, gave
+them to understand that Bart felt the slight of not being spoken of in
+any of the letters from his former acquaintances.
+
+One thing Frank did not tell them, and that was that he was on the point
+of starting out again with his play, having renamed it, and rewritten
+it, and added a sensational feature of the "spectacular" order in the
+view of a boat race between Yale, Harvard and Cornell.
+
+Even though he was venturing everything on the success of the piece,
+Merry realized now better than ever before that no man was so infallible
+that he could always correctly foretell the fate of an untried play.
+
+It is a great speculation to put a play on the road at large expense.
+The oldest managers are sometimes deceived in the value of a dramatic
+piece of property, and it is not an infrequent thing that they lose
+thousands of dollars in staging and producing a play in which they have
+the greatest confidence, but which the theater-going public absolutely
+refuses to accept.
+
+Frank had been very confident that his second play would be a winner in
+its original form, but disaster had befallen it at the very start. He
+might have kept it on the road as it stood, for, at the very moment when
+he seemed hopelessly stranded without a dollar in the world, fortune had
+smiled upon him by placing in his hands the wealth which he had found in
+the Utah Desert at the time of his bicycle tour across the continent.
+
+But Merry had realized that, in the condition in which it then stood, it
+was more than probable that the play would prove an utter failure should
+he try to force it upon the public.
+
+This caused him to take prompt action. First he brought the company to
+Denver, holding all of them, save the two men who had caused him no
+small amount of trouble, namely, Lloyd Fowler and Charlie Harper.
+
+Calmly reviewing his play at Twin Star Ranch, Frank decided that the
+comedy element was not strong enough in the piece to make it a popular
+success on the road; accordingly he introduced two new characters. It
+would be necessary, in order to produce the effect that he desired, to
+employ a number of "supers" in each place where the play was given, as
+he did not believe he would be warranted in the expense of carrying
+nonspeaking characters with him.
+
+On his return to Denver Frank had hastened at once to look over the
+"mechanical effect" which had been constructed for him. It was not quite
+completed, but was coming on well, and, as far as Frank could see, had
+been constructed perfectly according to directions and plans.
+
+Of course, one man had not done the work alone. He had been assisted by
+carpenters and scene painters, and the work had been rushed.
+
+Merry got his company together and began rehearsing the revised play.
+His paper from Chicago came on, and examination showed that it was quite
+"up to the mark." In fact, Havener, the stage manager, was delighted
+with it, declaring that it was the most attractive stuff he had seen in
+many years.
+
+But for the loss of one of the actors he had engaged to fill one of the
+comedy parts, Merry would have been greatly pleased by the manner in
+which things moved along.
+
+Now, however, he believed that in William Shakespeare Burns he had found
+a man who could fill the place left vacant.
+
+Although Hodge had been ready enough to defend Burns from the young
+ruffians who were hectoring him on the street, he had little faith in
+the man as a comedian. Hodge could see no comedy in the old actor. To
+tell the truth, it was seldom that Hodge could see comedy in anything,
+and low comedy, sure to appeal to the masses, he regarded as foolish.
+
+For another reason Hodge felt uncertain about Burns. It was plain that
+the aged tragedian was inclined to look on the wine "when it was red,"
+and Bart feared he would prove troublesome and unreliable on that
+account.
+
+"I am done with the stuff!" Hodge had declared over and over. "On that
+night in the ruffians' den at Ace High I swore never to touch it again,
+for I saw what brutes it makes of men. I have little confidence in any
+man who will drink it."
+
+"Oh, be a little more liberal," entreated Frank. "You know there are men
+who drink moderately, and it never seems to harm them."
+
+"I know there are such men," admitted Bart; "but it is not blood that
+runs in their veins. It's water."
+
+"Not all men are so hot-blooded and impulsive as you and Jack Diamond."
+
+"Don't speak of Diamond! I don't think anything of that fellow. I am
+talking about this Burns. He is a sot, that's plain. Drink has dragged
+him down so far that all the powers in the world cannot lift him up.
+Some night when everything depends on him, he will fail you, for he will
+be too drunk to play his part. Then you will be sorry that you had
+anything to do with him."
+
+"All the powers in this world might not be able to lift him up,"
+admittted Frank; "but there are other powers that can do so. I pity the
+poor, old man. He realizes his condition and what he has missed in
+life."
+
+"But the chances are that the audience will throw things at him when he
+appears as a comedian."
+
+"Instead of that, I believe he will convulse them with laughter."
+
+"Well, you have some queer ideas. We'll see who's right."
+
+Frank kept track of Burns, dealing out but little money to him, and that
+in small portions, so that the old actor could not buy enough liquor to
+get intoxicated, if he wished to do so.
+
+The first rehearsal was called on the stage of the theater in Denver.
+Merry had engaged the theater for that purpose. The entire company
+assembled. Frank addressed them and told them that he was glad to see
+them again. One and all, they shook hands with him. Then Burns was
+called forward and introduced as the new comedian. At this he drew
+himself up to his full height, folded his arms across his breast, and
+said:
+
+"Ay! 'new' is the word for it, for never before, I swear, have I essayed
+a role so degraded or one that hath so troubled me by night and by day.
+Comedy, comedy, what sins are committed in thy name!"
+
+Granville Garland nudged Douglas Dunton in the ribs, whispering in his
+ear:
+
+"Behold your rival!"
+
+"Methinks he intrudeth on my sacred territory," nodded Dunton. "But he
+has to do it on the stage, and on the stage I am a villain. We shall not
+quarrel."
+
+Burns proved to be something of a laughing-stock for the rest of the
+company.
+
+"He's a freak," declared Billy Wynne, known as "Props."
+
+"All of that," agreed Lester Vance.
+
+"I don't understand why Merriwell should pick up such a creature for us
+to associate with," sniffed Agnes Kirk. "But Merriwell is forever doing
+something freakish. Just think how he carried around that black tramp
+cat that came onto the stage to hoodoo us the first time we rehearsed
+this piece."
+
+"And there is the cat now!" exclaimed Vance, as the same black cat came
+walking serenely onto the stage.
+
+"Yes, here is the cat," said Frank, who overheard the exclamation. "She
+was called a hoodoo before. I have determined that she shall be a
+mascot, and it is pretty hard to get me to give anything up when I am
+determined upon it."
+
+"Well, I haven't a word to say!" declared Agnes Kirk, but she looked
+several words with her eyes.
+
+The rehearsal began and progressed finely till it was time for Burns to
+enter. The old actor came on, but when he tried to say his lines the
+words seemed to stick in his throat and choke him. Several times he
+started, but finally he broke down and turned to Frank, appealingly,
+saying, huskily:
+
+"I can't! I can't! It is a mockery and an insult to the dead Bard of
+Avon! It's no use! I give it up. I need the money, but I cannot insult
+the memory of William Shakespeare by making a burlesque of his immortal
+works!"
+
+Then he staggered off the stage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+AT THE FOOT OF THE BED.
+
+
+Late that evening, after the work and rehearsing of the day was over,
+Frank, Bart and Ephraim gathered in the room of the first-mentioned and
+discussed matters.
+
+"I told you Burns was no good," said Hodge, triumphantly, "I knew how it
+would be, but he showed up sooner than I expected. I suppose you will
+get rid of him in a hurry now?"
+
+"I think not," answered Merry, quietly.
+
+"What?" cried Hodge, astounded. "You don't mean to say you will keep him
+after what has happened?"
+
+"I may."
+
+"Well, Frank, I'm beginning to believe the theatrical business has
+turned your head. You do not seem to possess the good sense you had
+once."
+
+"Is that so?" laughed Merry.
+
+"Just so!" snapped Hodge.
+
+"Oh, I don't know! I rather think Burns will turn out all right."
+
+"After making such a fizzle to-day? Well, you're daffy!"
+
+"You do not seem to understand the man at all. I can appreciate his
+feelings."
+
+"I can't!"
+
+"I thought not. It must be rather hard for him, who has always
+considered himself a tragedian and a Shakespeare scholar, to burlesque
+the parts he has studied and loved."
+
+"Bah! That's nonsense! Why, the man's a pitiful old drunkard! You give
+him credit for too fine feelings."
+
+"And you do not seem to give him credit for any feelings. Even a
+drunkard may have fine feelings at times."
+
+"Perhaps so."
+
+"Perhaps so! I know it. It is drink that degrades and lowers the man.
+When he is sober, he may be kind, gentle and lovable."
+
+"Well, I haven't much patience with a man who will keep himself filled
+with whisky."
+
+Frank opened his lips to say something, but quickly changed his mind,
+knowing he must cut Hodge deeply. He longed, however, to say that the
+ones most prone to err and fall in this life are often the harshest
+judges of others who go astray.
+
+"I ruther pity the pore critter," said Ephraim; "but I don't b'lieve
+he'll ever make ennyboddy larf in the world. He looks too much like a
+funeral."
+
+"That is the very thing that should make them laugh, when he has his
+make-up on. I have seen the burlesque tragedian overdone on the stage,
+so that he was nauseating; but I believe Burns can give the character
+just the right touch."
+
+"Well, if you firmly believe that, it's no use to talk to you, for
+you'll never change your mind till you have to," broke out Hodge. "I
+have seen a sample of that in the way you deal with your enemies. Now,
+there was Leslie Lawrence----"
+
+"Let him rest in peace," said Frank. "He is gone forever."
+
+"An' it's a dinged good riddance!" said Gallup. "The only thing I'm
+sorry fer is that the critter escaped lynchin'!"
+
+"Yes, he should have been lynched!" flashed Bart. "At the Twin Star
+Ranch now the poor girl he deserted is lying on a bed of pain, shot down
+by his dastardly hand."
+
+"He did not intend the bullet for her," said Frank, quickly.
+
+"No; but he intended it for you! It was a great case of luck that he
+didn't finish you. If you had pushed the villain to the wall before
+that, instead of dealing with him as if he had the least instinct of a
+gentleman in his worthless body, you would have saved the girl from so
+much suffering."
+
+"She loves him still," said Frank. "Her last words to me were a message
+to him, for she does not know he is dead beneath the quicksands of Big
+Sandy."
+
+"The quicksands saved him from the gallows."
+
+"An' they took another ungrateful rascal along with him, b'gee!" said
+Ephraim, with satisfaction.
+
+"Yes," nodded Frank; "I think there is no doubt but Lloyd Fowler
+perished with Lawrence, for I fancied I recognized Fowler in the fellow
+who accompanied Lawrence that fatal night."
+
+"And Fowler was a drinking man, so I should think he would be a warning
+to you," said Hodge. "I shouldn't think you'd care to take another sot
+into the company."
+
+"You must know that there is as little resemblance between Fowler and
+Burns as there is between night and day."
+
+"Perhaps so, but Burns can drink more whisky than Fowler ever could."
+
+"And he is ashamed of himself for it. I have talked with him about it,
+and I know."
+
+"Oh, he made you believe so. He is slick."
+
+"He was not trying to deceive me."
+
+"So you think. He knows where his money comes from to buy whisky. It's
+more than even chance that, when you are ready to start on the road, he
+will give you the slip."
+
+"He asked me to release him to-day."
+
+"And you refused?"
+
+"I did. I urged him to stay with us."
+
+Hodge got up.
+
+"That settles it!" he exclaimed. "Now I know theatricals have wrought
+your downfall! Your glory is fast departing."
+
+"Then let it depart!" laughed Frank. "You have been forced to confess
+yourself mistaken on other occasions; you may on this."
+
+"Good-night," said Hodge, and he went out.
+
+Ephraim grinned.
+
+"Some fellows would say it'd be a gol-danged sensible thing fer yeou to
+git rid of that feller," he said, nodding toward the door. "He's gittin'
+to be the greatest croaker I ever knew."
+
+"Hodge is getting worse," admitted Frank, gravely. "I think the
+unfortunate end of his college course has had much to do with it. He
+broods over that a great deal, and it is making him sour and unpleasant.
+I can imagine about how he feels."
+
+"If he ever larfed he'd be more agreeable. Danged if I like a feller
+that alwus looks so sollum an' ugly. Sometimes he looks as ef he could
+snap a spike off at one bite an' not harf try."
+
+"Wait," said Frank. "If I am successful with this play, I hope to go
+back to Yale in the fall and take Hodge with me. I think he is getting
+an idea into his head that his life career has been ruined at the very
+start, and that is making him bitter. I'll take him back, run him into
+athletics, get his mind off such unpleasant thoughts, and make a new man
+of him."
+
+"Waal, I hope ye do," said Gallup, rising and preparing to go. "There's
+jest one thing abaout Hodge that makes me keer a rap fer him."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"It's ther way he sticks to yeou. Be gosh! I be'lieve he'd wade through
+a red-hot furnace to reach yeou an' fight for yeou, if yeou was in
+danger!"
+
+"I haven't a doubt but he'd make the attempt," nodded Frank.
+
+"An' he kin fight," the Vermonter went on. "Aout at Ace High, when we
+was up against all them ruffians, he fought like a dozen tigers all
+rolled inter one. That's ernnther thing that makes me think a little
+somethin' of him."
+
+"Yes," agreed Merry, "Bart is a good fighter. The only trouble with him
+is that he is too ready to fight. There are times when one should avoid
+a fight, if possible; but Hodge never recognizes any of those times. I
+never knew him to try to avoid a fight."
+
+"Waal," drawled Ephraim, with a yawn, "I'm goin' to bed. Good-night,
+Frank."
+
+"Good-night."
+
+Merry closed the door after Gallup and carefully locked and bolted it.
+Then he sat down, took a letter from his pocket, and read it through
+from beginning to end. When he had finished, he pressed the missive to
+his lips, murmuring:
+
+"Elsie! Elsie! dear little sweetheart!"
+
+For some time he sat there, thinking, thinking. His face flushed and
+paled softened and glowed again; sometimes he looked sad, and sometimes
+he smiled. Had a friend been there, he might have read Frank's thoughts
+by the changing expressions on his face.
+
+At last Merry put away the letter, after kissing it again, and, having
+wound up his watch, undressed and prepared for bed. His bed stood in a
+little alcove of the room, and he drew the curtains back, exposing it.
+Donning pajamas, he soon was in bed. Reaching out, he pressed a button,
+and--snap!--out went the gas, turned off by electricity.
+
+Frank composed himself to sleep. The dull rumble of the not yet sleeping
+city came up from the streets and floated in at his open window. The
+sound turned after a time to a musical note that was like that which
+comes from an organ, and it lulled him to sleep.
+
+For some time Merry seemed to sleep as peacefully as a child. Gradually
+the roaring from the streets became less and less. Frank breathed softly
+and regularly.
+
+And then, without starting or stirring, he opened his eyes. He lay quite
+still and listened, but heard no sound at first. For all of this, he was
+impressed by a feeling that something was there in that room with him!
+
+It was a strange, creepy, chilling sensation that ran over Frank. He
+shivered the least bit.
+
+Rustle-rustle! It was the lightest of sounds, but he was sure he heard
+it.
+
+Some object was moving in the room!
+
+Frank remembered that he had closed and locked the door. Not only had he
+locked it, but he had bolted it, so that it could not be opened from the
+outside by the aid of a key alone.
+
+What was there in that room? How had anything gained admittance?
+
+Frank attempted to convince himself that it was imagination, but he was
+a youth with steady nerves, and he knew he was not given to imagining
+such things without cause.
+
+Rustle--rustle!
+
+There it was again! There was no doubt of it this time!
+
+Something moved near the foot of the bed!
+
+Still without stirring, Merriwell turned his gaze in that direction.
+
+At the foot of the bed a dark shape seemed to tower!
+
+Impressed by a sense of extreme peril, Frank shot his hand out of the
+bed toward the electric button on the wall.
+
+By chance he struck the right button.
+
+Snap!--up flared the gas.
+
+And there at the foot of the bed stood a man in black, his face hidden
+by a mask.
+
+The sudden up-flaring of the gas seemed to startle the unknown intruder
+and disconcert him for a moment. With a hiss, he started backward.
+
+Bolt upright sat Frank.
+
+Merry's eyes looked straight into the eyes that peered through the twin
+holes in the mask.
+
+Thus they gazed at each other some seconds.
+
+There was no weapon in the hands of the masked man, and Merriwell
+guessed that the fellow was a burglar.
+
+That was Frank's first thought.
+
+Then came another.
+
+Why had the man sought the bed? Frank's clothes were lying on some
+chairs outside the alcove, and in order to go through them it had not
+been necessary to come near the bed.
+
+Then Merry remembered the feeling of danger that had come over him, and
+something told him this man had entered that room to do him harm.
+Somehow, Frank became convinced that the fellow had been creeping up to
+seize a pillow, fling himself on the bed, press the pillow over the
+sleeper's face, and commit a fearful crime.
+
+Even then Frank wondered how the man could have gained admittance to the
+room.
+
+Up leaped the former Yale athlete; backward sprang the masked man. Over
+the foot of the bed Merry recklessly flung himself, dodging a hand that
+shot out at him, and placing himself between the man and the door.
+
+As he bounded toward the door, Merriwell saw, with a feeling of
+unutterable amazement, that it was tightly closed and that the bolt was
+shot in place, just as he had left it.
+
+He whirled about, with his back toward the door.
+
+"Good-evening!" he said. "Isn't this rather late for a call? I wasn't
+expecting you."
+
+The man was crouching before him, as if to spring toward him, but
+Frank's cool words seemed to cause further hesitation. A muttering growl
+came from behind the mask, but no words did the unknown speak.
+
+"It is possible you dropped into the wrong room," said Merry. "I trust
+you will be able to explain yourself, for you are in a rather awkward
+predicament. Besides that, you have hidden your face, and that does not
+speak well for your honest intentions."
+
+Without doubt, the intruder was astonished by Merriwell's wonderful
+coolness. Although startled from slumber in such a nerve-shocking
+manner, Frank now seemed perfectly self-possessed.
+
+Silence.
+
+"You don't seem to be a very sociable sort of caller," said Merry, with
+something like a faint laugh. "Won't you take off your mask and sit down
+a while."
+
+The youth asked the question as if he were inviting the stranger to take
+off his hat and make himself at home.
+
+The man's hand slipped into his bosom. Frank fancied it sought a weapon.
+
+Now it happened that Merry had no weapon at hand, and he felt that he
+would be in a very unpleasant position if that other were to "get the
+drop" on him.
+
+Frank made a rush at the stranger.
+
+The man tried to draw something from his bosom, but it seemed to catch
+and hang there, and Merry was on him. The unknown tried to dodge, and he
+partly succeeded in avoiding Frank's arms.
+
+However, he did not get fully away, and, a second later, they grappled.
+
+The man, however, had the advantage; for all that Frank had rushed upon
+him, he had risen partly behind Merry, after dodging. He clutched Frank
+about the waist and attempted to hurl him to the floor with crushing
+force.
+
+Frank Merriwell was an expert wrestler, and, although taken thus at a
+disadvantage, he squirmed about and broke his fall, simply being forced
+to one knee.
+
+"Now I have ye!" panted the man, hoarsely.
+
+"Have you?" came from Frank's lips. "Oh, I don't know!"
+
+There was a sudden upward heaving, and the ex-Yale athlete shot up to
+his feet.
+
+But the man was on his back, and a hand came round and fastened on
+Merry's throat with a terrible, crushing grip.
+
+Frank realized that he was dealing with a desperate wretch, who would
+not hesitate at anything. And Merriwell's life was the stake over which
+they were struggling!
+
+Frank got hold of the man's wrist and tore those fingers from his
+throat, although it seemed that they nearly tore out his windpipe in
+coming away.
+
+On his back the fellow was panting, hoarsely, and Merry found it no easy
+thing to dislodge him.
+
+Round and round they whirled. Frank might have shouted for aid, but he
+realized that his door was bolted on the inside, and no assistance could
+reach him without breaking it down.
+
+Besides that, Merry's pride held him in check. There was but one
+intruder, and he did not feel like shouting and thus seeming to confess
+himself outmatched and frightened.
+
+They were at a corner of the alcove. The partition projected sharply
+there, and, of a sudden, with all his strength, Merry flung himself
+backward, dashing the man on his back against that projecting corner.
+
+There was a grunt, a groan, and a curse.
+
+It seemed that, for an instant, the shock had hurt and dazed the man,
+and, in that instant, Merry wrenched himself free.
+
+"Now this thing will be somehow more even," he whispered, from his
+crushed and aching throat. He whirled to grapple with the fellow, but
+again the slippery rascal dodged him, leaping away.
+
+Frank followed.
+
+The man caught up a chair, swung it and struck at Merriwell's head with
+force enough to crush Frank's skull.
+
+Merry could not dodge, but he caught the chair and saved his head,
+although he was sent reeling backward by the blow.
+
+Had the fellow followed him swiftly then it is barely possible he might
+have overcome Frank before Merry could steady himself. A moment of
+hesitation, however, was taken advantage of by the youth.
+
+The chair was tossed aside, and Merry darted after the fellow, who was
+astounded and dismayed by his persistence.
+
+Round to the opposite side of the table darted the intruder, and across
+the table they stared at each other.
+
+"Well," said Frank, in grim confession, "you are making a right good
+fight of it, and I will say that you are very slippery. I haven't been
+able to get a hold of you yet, though. You'll come down on the run when
+I do."
+
+The man was standing directly beneath the gas jet which Merry had
+lighted by pressing the electric button. Of a sudden he reached up and
+turned off the gas, plunging the room in darkness. Then, as Frank sprang
+toward the jet, something swooped down on him, covering his head and
+shoulders in a smothering manner!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+A MYSTERY TO SOLVE.
+
+
+Frank realized that some of the clothing from the bed had been torn off
+and flung over his head. He attempted to cast it aside, but it became
+tangled so he could not accomplish his purpose as readily as he wished,
+although he was not long in doing so.
+
+Retreating, he was prepared for an assault, for it seemed that the
+masked unknown would follow up the advantage he had gained.
+
+No assault came.
+
+Frank paused and listened, and, to his amazement, he could hear no sound
+in the room. Still, he felt that the man must be there, awaiting for an
+opportunity to carry out the deadly purpose which had brought him into
+his apartment at that hour.
+
+It was not pleasant to stand there in the darkness, half expecting to
+feel a knife buried between his shoulders at any instant.
+
+Gradually Frank's eyes became accustomed to the semi-gloom of the room.
+Still, he could see nothing that lived and moved. Beyond him was the
+window, standing open as he had left it, the light wind gently moving
+the draperies.
+
+"Well," thought Merry, "I wonder how long the fellow will keep still.
+He'll have to make a move sometime."
+
+He backed up against the door and stood there, facing the window.
+Placing a hand behind him, he took hold of the knob of the door, which
+he found was still locked securely. This assured him that the intruder
+had not escaped in that direction.
+
+Merry felt certain that the man was close at hand. He knew he could
+unlock and unbolt the door and leap out quickly. He could slam the door
+behind him and lock it, thus penning the man in there. Then he could
+descend to the office and inform the clerk that he had captured a
+burglar.
+
+Somehow, he did not feel like doing that; that seemed too much as if he
+were running away. He did not fancy doing anything that seemed in the
+least cowardly, even though it might be discreet.
+
+Further than that, however, it was by no means certain that, even though
+he locked and secured the door behind him after leaping out of the room,
+he could hold the intruder captive.
+
+In some manner the man had entered that room without disturbing the lock
+or bolt on the door.
+
+How had he entered?
+
+Frank looked toward the open window, but he knew it opened upon the face
+of the hotel, four stories from the level of the street, and that
+settled in his mind all doubts about the window, for he instantly
+decided that it had not been possible for the masked unknown to get into
+the room that way.
+
+Had he been in some old colonial house he would have fancied the fellow
+had gained admittance by means of a panel in the wall and a secret
+passage; but he was in a modern hotel, and it was beyond the range of
+probability that there were secret passages or moving wall panels in the
+structure.
+
+These thoughts flitted through his mind swiftly as he stood there,
+trying to hear some sound that would tell him where the intruder was in
+the room.
+
+All was still.
+
+Below in the street a cab rattled and rumbled along.
+
+The silence was even more nerve-racking than the unexpected appearance
+of the masked man had been. The mystery of the whole affair was
+beginning to impress Merry, and a mystery always aroused his curiosity
+to the highest pitch.
+
+"Take your time, sir," he thought, as he leaned against the door and
+waited. "I believe I can stand it as long as you can."
+
+Near at hand the door of another room swiftly opened and closed. The
+sound of hurried footsteps passed the door of Merriwell's room.
+
+Frank was tempted to fling open his door and call to the man, but he
+hesitated about that till it was too late.
+
+"Let him go," he thought. "Perhaps he would have been frightened to
+death had I called him in here."
+
+The push button by which he could call assistance from the office was in
+the alcove. At this time of night it was not likely there would be
+anything but a tardy answer to his call should he make it.
+
+But the electric button which turned on and ignited the gas was also in
+the alcove.
+
+Frank longed to reach that button. He longed to light the gas in order
+to look around for the intruder.
+
+Of course he could have lighted it with a match; but he realized that
+such a thing might be just what the unknown hoped for and expected. The
+man might be waiting for him to strike a match.
+
+The minutes fled.
+
+"Something must be done," Merry at last decided.
+
+Then he resolved to leave the door, move slowly along the wall, reach
+the button and light the gas--if possible.
+
+With the silence of a creeping cat, he inched along. Every sense was on
+the alert.
+
+It took him a long time to come to the foot of the bed at the opening of
+the alcove, but he reached it at last. Was the masked man waiting for
+him in the darkness of the alcove? It seemed certain that he could be
+nowhere else in the room.
+
+Frank hesitated, nerving himself for what might come. Surely it required
+courage to enter that alcove.
+
+He listened, wondering if he could hear the breathing of the man
+crouching in the alcove.
+
+He heard nothing.
+
+Then every nerve and muscle seemed to grow taut in Merriwell's body,
+and, with one panther-like spring, he landed on the bed. In the
+twinkling of an eye he was at the head of the bed, and his fingers found
+the push button.
+
+Snap!--the gas came on, with a flare.
+
+It showed him standing straight up on the bed, his hands clinched, ready
+for anything that might follow.
+
+Nothing followed.
+
+Frank began to feel puzzled.
+
+"Why in the name of everything peculiar doesn't he get into gear and do
+something--if he's going to do anything at all?" thought the youth on
+the bed.
+
+Again a bound carried him over the footboard and out into the middle of
+the room, where he whirled to face the alcove, his eyes flashing round
+the place.
+
+The bed covering which had been flung over his head lay in the middle of
+the floor, where he had cast it aside.
+
+Nothing stirred in the room. On a chair near at hand Frank could hear
+his watch ticking in his pocket.
+
+Then the intruder had not taken the watch, which was valuable.
+
+Frank glanced toward his clothes. He had carefully placed them in a
+certain position when he undressed, and there they lay, as if they had
+not been touched or disturbed in the least.
+
+"Queer burglar," meditated Merry. "Should have thought he'd gone through
+my clothes first thing."
+
+But where was the fellow? There seemed but one place for him, and Frank
+stopped to look beneath the bed.
+
+There was no one under the bed. The wardrobe door stood slightly ajar.
+
+"Ah!" thought Frank. "At last! He must be in there, for there is no
+other place in this room where he could hide."
+
+Without hesitation, Frank flung open the door of the wardrobe, saying:
+
+"Come out, sir!"
+
+But the wardrobe was empty, save of such clothing and things as Frank
+had placed there with his own hands.
+
+Merriwell fell back, beginning to feel very queer. He looked all around
+the room, walking over to a sofa across a corner and looking behind
+that. In the middle of the floor he stopped.
+
+"This beats anything I ever came against!" he exclaimed. "Was it a
+spook?"
+
+Then the pain in his throat, where those iron hands had threatened to
+crush his windpipe, told him that it was no "spook."
+
+"And it could not have been a dream," he decided. "I know there was a
+living man in this room. How did he escape? That is one question. When
+it is answered, I shall know how he obtained admittance. And why did he
+come here?"
+
+Frank examined his clothes to make sure that nothing had been taken. He
+soon discovered that his watch, money and such valuables as he carried
+about with him every day, were there, not a thing having been disturbed.
+That settled one point in Frank's mind. The man had not entered that
+room for the purpose of robbery.
+
+If not for robbery, what then?
+
+It must have been for the purpose of wreaking some injury on Merriwell
+as he slept.
+
+"I was warned by my feelings," Frank decided. "I was in deadly peril;
+there is no doubt of that."
+
+Frank went to the window and looked out. It seemed a foolish thing to
+do, for he had looked out and seen that there was not even a fire escape
+to aid a person in gaining admittance to his room. The fire escape, he
+had been told, was at the end of the corridor.
+
+It was a night without a moon, but the electric lights shone in the
+street below. Something caused Merry to turn his head and look to his
+left.
+
+What was that?
+
+Close against the face of the outer wall something dangled.
+
+A sudden eagerness seized him. He leaned far out of the window, doing so
+at no small risk, and reached along the wall toward the object. With the
+tip of his fingers he grasped it and drew it toward him.
+
+It was a rope!
+
+"The mystery is solved!" muttered Frank, with satisfaction. "This
+explains how the fellow entered my room."
+
+He shook the rope and looked upward. He could see that it ran over the
+sill of a window two stories above.
+
+"Did he come down from there? Should have thought he would have selected
+a window directly over this. And did he climb back up this swaying,
+loosely dangling rope?"
+
+Frank wondered not a little. And then, as he was leaning out of his
+window, the light of the street lamps showed him that a window beyond
+the dangling rope, on a level with his, was standing open.
+
+The sight gave Merry a new idea.
+
+"I believe I understand how the trick was worked," he muttered.
+
+"That must explain how the fellow was able to vanish so swiftly while my
+head was covered by the bedclothes. With the aid of this rope, he swung
+out from his window and into mine. He could do it easily and
+noiselessly. While my head was covered, he plunged out of the window,
+caught the rope, and swung back. That's it!"
+
+Frank drew his head in quickly, but he still clung to the end of the
+rope. This he drew in and lay over the sill.
+
+"Yes," he decided, "that is the way the fellow escaped. He had the rope
+right here, so that he could catch it in a moment, and, grasping it, he
+plunged outward through the window. His momentum carried him right
+across and into the other window. It was a reckless thing to do, but
+perfectly practical."
+
+Then he remembered how he had heard, while standing with his back
+against his own door, the door of an adjoining room open and close,
+followed by the sound of swift footsteps passing outside.
+
+"That was when he left his room," Merry decided.
+
+It did not take Frank long to resolve to explore that room--to seek for
+some clew to the identity of the masked intruder.
+
+With the aid of the rope, he could swing into the open window; with its
+aid he could swing back to his own room.
+
+He would do it.
+
+Of course, Merry realized what a rash thing he was about to do. Of
+course he understood that he might be rushing to the waiting arms of his
+late antagonist.
+
+Still he was not deterred. All his curiosity was aroused, and he was
+bent on discovering the identity of the man, if such a thing were
+possible.
+
+He grasped the rope and climbed upon the window sill. Looking out, he
+carefully calculated the distance to the next window and the momentum he
+would require to take him there. Having decided this, he prepared to
+make the swing.
+
+And then, just at the very instant that he swung off from the window
+sill, he heard a hoarse, triumphant laugh above.
+
+He looked up.
+
+Out of the window from which ran the rope, a man was leaning. In his
+hand was something on which the light from the street lamps glinted.
+
+It was a knife!
+
+With that knife the wretch, whose face was covered by a mask, gave a
+slash at the rope, just as Merry swung off from the sill.
+
+With a twang, the rope parted!
+
+It was sixty feet to the street below.
+
+Frank fell.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+THE NAME ON THE REGISTER.
+
+
+Not far, however, for he released the rope and shot out his arms. He had
+swung across so that he was opposite the open window when the rope was
+cut.
+
+Merriwell knew all his peril at the instant when he swung from the sill
+of his own window, but it was too late for him to keep himself from
+being carried out by the rope.
+
+In a twinkling, his one thought was to reach the other window quickly,
+knowing he would be dashed to death on the paving below if he did not.
+He flung himself toward that window, just as the rope parted. His arms
+shot in over the sill, and there he dangled.
+
+Down past his head shot the rope, twisting and writhing in the air, like
+a snake. He heard it strike on the sidewalk in front of the hotel.
+
+An exclamation of rage broke from the lips of the man in the window
+above, for he realized that Frank had not fallen with the rope.
+
+He leaned far out, lifted his arm, made a quick motion, and something
+went gleaming and darting through the air.
+
+He had flung the knife at Frank.
+
+It missed Merriwell, shot downward, and struck with a ringing clang on
+the stones below.
+
+"Missed!" snarled the man. "Well, I'll get you yet!"
+
+Then Merriwell drew himself in at the window, and the peril was past.
+
+No wonder he felt weak and limp. No wonder that he was jarred and
+somewhat bewildered. It was a marvel that he was not lying dead in the
+street below.
+
+Frank understood the full extent of the peril through which he had
+passed, and a prayer welled from his lips.
+
+"Thank God!"
+
+He was grateful in his heart, and he felt that he had been spared
+through the kindness of an all-wise Providence.
+
+It was some moments before he could stir. He lay on the floor, panting,
+and regaining his strength.
+
+He heard no sound in the room, for all the noise he had made in coming
+in, and more than ever he became convinced that the room had been
+occupied by his desperate enemy who had sought to destroy him that
+night.
+
+There was now no longer a doubt concerning the purpose of the man who
+had gained admission to Frank's room. The fellow had not come there for
+plunder, but for the purpose of harming Merriwell.
+
+Frank rose and sought the gas jet, which he lighted. Then he looked
+around.
+
+Somehow, it seemed that the room had been occupied that night, although
+the bed was undisturbed, showing that no person had slept in it.
+
+Frank fancied that his enemy had sat by the window, waiting, waiting
+till he felt sure Merry was sound asleep.
+
+And Frank had been sleeping soundly. He realized that, and he knew
+something had caused him to awaken, just in time.
+
+What was it? Was it some good spirit that hovered near to protect him?
+
+He looked all round the room, but could find nothing that served as a
+clew to the identity of the man who had occupied the apartment.
+
+But the register would tell to whom the room had been let.
+
+Having decided to go down and look the register over, Frank wondered how
+he was to get back into his own room, for the door was locked and bolted
+on the inside.
+
+He went to the window and looked out. There was no way for him to reach
+his window now that the rope had been cut.
+
+"And I should not be surprised if I am locked in this room," thought
+Merry.
+
+Investigation showed, however, that the door was unlocked, and he was
+able to step out into the corridor.
+
+But there he was, shut out from his own room by lock and bolt, and
+dressed in nothing but a suit of pajamas.
+
+The adventure had assumed a ludicrous aspect. Frank wondered what he
+could do. It was certain that they would not break into his room at that
+hour of the night, for the sound of bursting the bolt would disturb
+other sleepers.
+
+The watchman came down the corridor. He saw Frank and came onward with
+haste, plainly wondering what Merry was doing there.
+
+"Look here," said Frank, "I want to know the name of the man who
+occupies No. 231, this room next to mine."
+
+"What is the matter?" asked the watchman.
+
+"This person has disturbed me," said Frank, truthfully. "I am not going
+to raise a kick about it to-night, but I shall report it to the clerk in
+the morning."
+
+"Does he snore loudly?" inquired the watchman. "I didn't think you could
+hear through those partitions."
+
+"Here," said Frank, who had seen the watchman before, "you know me. My
+name is Merriwell. I haven't a cent in these pajamas, but I'll give you
+two dollars in the morning if you will go down to the office, look on
+the register, find out who occupies No. 231, and come back here and tell
+me."
+
+Now it happened that Frank had given the watchman fifty cents the night
+before to do something for him, and so the man was persuaded to go down
+to the office, although it is quite probable that he did not expect to
+see the promised two dollars in the morning.
+
+Frank waited.
+
+The watchman came back after a time.
+
+"Well," asked Merry, "did you look on the register and find out the name
+of the man who was given No. 231?"
+
+"I did," nodded the watchman.
+
+"What is his name?"
+
+"William Shakespeare Burns," was the astonishing answer.
+
+Frank staggered. He told the watchman he had made a mistake, but the man
+insisted that he had not. That was enough to excite Merry more than
+anything that had happened to date.
+
+Could it be that Burns, the old actor, whom he had befriended, had
+sought his life?
+
+It did not seem possible.
+
+If it were true, then, beyond a doubt, the man had been bribed to do the
+deed by some person who remained in the background.
+
+It did not take Frank long to tell the watchman what had happened. The
+man could scarcely believe it. He seemed to regard Merriwell as somewhat
+deranged.
+
+"If you do not think I am telling the truth," said Merry, "get your keys
+and try my door. If you are able to open it, I shall be greatly
+pleased."
+
+The watchman did so, but he could not open the door of the room.
+
+"Now," said Merry, "to make yourself doubly sure, go down to the
+sidewalk in front of the hotel and you will find the rope there."
+
+The man went down and found the rope. He came back greatly agitated.
+
+"This is a most astonishing occurrence," he said. "Never knew anything
+like it to happen here before."
+
+"Keep your eyes open for the man who had No. 231," said Merry. "I am
+going to take that room and sleep there the rest of the night. In the
+morning the door of my room must be opened for me."
+
+He went into that room, closed the door, locked it and bolted it, closed
+and fastened the window, and went to bed. Of course he did not go to
+sleep right away, but he forced himself to do so, after a time, and he
+slept peacefully till morning.
+
+In the morning Frank found the door of his room had been forced, so he
+was able to go in immediately on rising. He had been unable to obtain a
+room with a private bath connected, but there was a bathroom directly
+across the corridor, and he took his morning "dip," coming out as bright
+as a new dollar.
+
+But the mystery of the midnight intruder weighed heavily on Merry. He
+felt that he would give anything to solve it, and it must be solved in
+some manner.
+
+Bart came around before breakfast, and he found Merriwell standing in
+the middle of his room, scowling at the carpet. Frank was so unlike his
+accustomed self that Hodge was astounded.
+
+"What's happened?" asked Bart.
+
+"One of the most singular adventures of my life," answered Frank, and he
+proceeded to tell Bart everything.
+
+"Singular!" cried Hodge. "I should say so! You are dead in luck to be
+alive!"
+
+"I consider myself so," confessed Merry; "but I would give any sum to
+know who entered my room last night. Of course the name on the register
+was false."
+
+"Are you certain?"
+
+"Certain! Great Scott! You do not fancy for an instant that Burns was
+the man, do you?"
+
+"I don't know."
+
+"Well, I do!"
+
+"You mean you think you do."
+
+"No; I mean that I know. Burns was not the man."
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"Why, hang it, Hodge! Why should that unfortunate old fellow wish to
+harm me, who has been his friend?"
+
+"Somebody may have hired him to do it."
+
+"Oh, you're daffy on that point! Reason will teach you that. If it had
+been Burns, he would not have registered under his own name. But I
+absolutely know it was not Burns I encountered. Besides being ridiculous
+that a man of his years and habits should venture to enter my room in
+such a manner, the man whom I encountered was supple, strong, and quick
+as a flash. Burns could not have fought like that; he could not have
+escaped in such an astonishing manner."
+
+"Oh, well, perhaps not," admitted Hodge, who seemed reluctant to give
+up. "But I have warned you against Burns all along, and----"
+
+"Oh, drop him now! Somebody else is trying to injure the poor fellow. I
+want to know who did the job last night, and W. S. Burns will not be
+able to tell me anything."
+
+Bart had no more to say, and they went down to breakfast together.
+
+Of course the hotel people promised to do everything possible to
+discover who had made the assault, but Frank had little confidence in
+their ability to accomplish anything. In fact, he believed the time had
+passed to do anything, for it seemed that his enemy had escaped from the
+hotel without leaving a trace behind him.
+
+Frank thought over the list of enemies who had sought to injure him
+since he entered theatricals, and he was startled. Three of his enemies
+were dead. Arthur Sargent had been drowned; Percy Lockwell was lynched,
+and Leslie Lawrence met his death in the quicksands of Big Sandy River.
+Of his living enemies, who might be desperate enough to enter his room
+and seek to harm him Philip Scudder stood alone.
+
+Where was Scudder? Was he in Denver? If so----
+
+"If so, he is the man!" decided Frank.
+
+Merry resolved to be on his guard, for something told him another
+attempt would be made against him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+THE RACE.
+
+
+All that forenoon he worked in the theater setting up the new mechanical
+arrangement, which had been completed, and preparing for the rehearsal
+that afternoon.
+
+Rehearsal time came, and the members of the company assembled.
+
+All but Burns.
+
+He was missing.
+
+"What do you think about it now?" asked Bart, grimly.
+
+"The same as I thought before," declared Frank. "Burns was almost
+broken-hearted at rehearsal yesterday. It is possible he may not come
+to-day, for you know he wished to be released."
+
+"Ah," said a sad voice, as the person in question appeared; "it is
+necessity that brings me. I fain would have remained away, but I need
+the money, and I must do that which my heart revolts against."
+
+"I believed you would come," said Frank, greeting the old tragedian.
+"You will get used to the part after a while. It is better to make
+people laugh than to make them weep."
+
+"But it is too late for me to turn myself into a clown."
+
+"Where did you stay last night?" asked Merry.
+
+"At my humble lodgings," was the answer.
+
+"A man by your name registered at the hotel where I stop, and had the
+room next to mine. Is it possible there are two William Shakespeare
+Burns in the city of Denver?"
+
+The old man drew himself up, thrusting his hand into the bosom of his
+coat, with his familiar movement of dignity.
+
+"There is but one," he said--"but one real William Shakespeare Burns in
+the whole world! I am he!"
+
+"But you were not at the hotel last night?"
+
+"Of a certainty I was not. To that I will pledge mine honor. If another
+was there under my name, he is an impostor."
+
+Frank was satisfied, but Bart was not; or, if Hodge was satisfied, he
+would not confess it.
+
+The rehearsal began. Frank had engaged some people to work the
+mechanical arrangement used in the third act, and they had been drilled
+and instructed by Havener.
+
+The first act went off well, the storm at the conclusion being worked up
+in first-class style. Scarcely a word of that act had Frank altered, so
+there was very little trouble over it.
+
+The second act was likewise a success, Havener finding it necessary to
+interrupt and give instructions but twice.
+
+Then came the third act, which Merry had almost entirely rewritten. In
+that act the burlesque tragedian was given an opportunity, and Burns
+showed that he had his lines very well, although he ran over them after
+the style of the old-time professional who disdains to do much more than
+repeat the words till the dress rehearsal comes.
+
+The third act was divided into three scenes, the second scene being an
+exterior, showing the river in the distance, lined by a moving, swaying
+mass of people. Along the river raced the three boats representing Yale,
+Harvard and Cornell. Keeping pace with them on the shore was the
+observation train, black with a mass of spectators. As the boats first
+came on, Harvard had a slight lead, but Yale spurted on appearing, and
+when they passed from view Yale was leading slightly.
+
+All this was a mechanical arrangement made to represent boats, a train,
+the river, and the great crowd of spectators. The rowers in the boats
+were inanimate objects, but they worked with such skill that it was hard
+to believe they were not living and breathing human beings. Even the
+different strokes of the three crews had been imitated.
+
+This arrangement was an invention of Merriwell's own. In fact, it was
+more of an optical illusion than anything else, but it was most
+remarkable in its results, for, from the front of the house, a perfect
+representation of the college boat race appeared to be taking place in
+the distance on the stage.
+
+Havener was a man who said very little, but he showed excitement and
+enthusiasm as this scene was being worked out.
+
+When the boats had disappeared, the stage grew dark, and there was a
+quick "shift" to the interior of the Yale boathouse. The entire front of
+the house, toward the river, had been flung wide open. Behind the scenes
+the actors who were not on the stage at the moment and the supers
+hurrahed much like the cheering of a vast multitude. Whistles shrieked,
+and then the three boats shot into view, with Yale still in the lead.
+The characters on the stage proper, in the boathouse, had made it known
+that the finish was directly opposite the boathouse, and so, when the
+boats flew across with Yale in advance, it was settled that the blue had
+won.
+
+Then Frank Merriwell, who had escaped from scheming enemies, and rowed
+in the race for all the attempts to drug him, was brought on by his
+admirers, and with the Yale cheer of victory, the curtain came down.
+
+Roscoe Havener came rushing onto the stage and caught Frank Merriwell by
+the hand, crying:
+
+"Merriwell, you are a genius! I want to say right here that I have
+doubted the practicability of this invention of yours, but now I confess
+that it is the greatest thing I ever saw. Your sawmill invention in
+'John Smith' was great, but this lays way over it! You should make your
+fortune with this, but you must protect it."
+
+"I shall apply for a patent on the mechanism," said Frank. "I am having
+a working model made for that purpose."
+
+"That's right. You have your chance to make a fortune, and I believe you
+can make it with this piece."
+
+"It is a chance," agreed Frank, gravely; "but I shall take it for better
+or worse. I am going into this thing to make or break. I've got some
+money, and I'll sink every dollar I'm worth in the attempt to float this
+piece."
+
+Frank spoke with quiet determination.
+
+Hodge stood near and nodded his approval and satisfaction.
+
+"It's great, Merry," he said, in approval. "It's something new, too. You
+will not have any trouble over this, the way you did about the sawmill
+scene."
+
+"I hope not."
+
+Cassie Lee, the little soubrette, who was engaged to Havener, found an
+opportunity to get hold of Frank's hand. She gave it a warm pressure.
+
+"I'm so glad!" she whispered, looking into his eyes. "If Ross says it
+will go, you can bet it will! He knows his business. I've been waiting
+for him to express himself about it, and, now that he has, I feel
+better. You are right in it, Frank! I think you are a dandy!"
+
+"Thank you, Cassie," smiled Frank, looking down at her.
+
+And even though he liked Cassie, who had always been his friend, he was
+thinking at that moment of another little girl who was far away, but
+whom he had once hoped would create the part in "True Blue" that had
+been given to Cassie.
+
+In the fourth act Frank had skillfully handled the "fall" of the play,
+keeping all in suspense as he worked out the problem, one of the chief
+arts of successful play constructing. Too often a play falls to pieces
+at once after the grand climax is reached, and the final act is
+obviously tacked on to lengthen it out.
+
+This one fault Frank had worked hard to avoid, and he had succeeded with
+masterly skill, even introducing a new element of suspense into the
+final act.
+
+Merry had noticed that, in these modern days, the audience sniffs the
+"and-lived-happy-forever-after" conclusion of a play from afar, and
+there was always a rustling to get hats and coats and cloaks some
+moments before the end of most plays. To avoid this, he determined to
+end his play suddenly and in an original manner. This he succeeded in
+doing in a comedy scene, but not until the last speech was delivered was
+the suspense entirely relieved.
+
+Havener, who could not write a play to save his life, but who understood
+thoroughly the construction of a piece, and was a discriminating critic,
+was nearly as well pleased by the end of the piece as by the mechanical
+effect in the third act.
+
+"If this play does not make a big hit I shall call myself a chump," he
+declared. "I was afraid of it in its original form, but the changes have
+added to it the elements it needed to become immensely popular."
+
+When the rehearsal was over Cassie Lee found Burns seated on a property
+stump behind the scenes, his face bowed on his hands, his attitude that
+of one in deep sorrow.
+
+"Now, what's the matter with you?" she asked, not unkindly. "Are you
+sick?"
+
+The old tragedian raised his sad face and spoke:
+
+      "'Join not with grief, fair woman, do not so,
+      To make my end too sudden; learn good soul,
+      To think our former state a happy dream;
+      From which awaked, the truth of what we are
+      Shews to us but this: I am sworn brother, sweet,
+      To grim necessity; and he and I
+      Will keep a league till death.'"
+
+There was something strangely impressive in the old man's words and
+manner, and the laugh she tried to force died on Cassie's lips.
+
+"I s'pose that's Shakespeare you are giving me," she said. "I don't go
+much on Shake. He was all right in his day, but his day is past, and he
+won't go down with people in general now. The public wants something up
+to date, like this new play of Merriwell's, for instance."
+
+"Ah, yes," sighed Burns; "I think you speak the truth. In these
+degenerate days the vulgar rabble must be fed with what it can
+understand. The rabble's meager intellects do not fathom the depths of
+the immortal poet's thoughts, but its eyes can behold a mechanical
+arrangement that represents a boat race, and I doubt not that the
+groundlings will whoop themselves hoarse over it."
+
+"That's the stuff!" nodded Cassie. "That's what we want, for I rather
+reckon Mr. Merriwell is out for the dust."
+
+"The dust! Ah, sordid mortals! All the world, to-day, seems 'out for the
+dust.'"
+
+"Well, I rather think that's right. What do you want, anyway? If you
+have plenty to eat and drink and wear you're in luck."
+
+                                    "'What is a man
+    If his chief good and market of his time
+    Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more.'"
+
+"That's all right; but just think of the ones who can't get all they
+want to eat, and who are driven to work like dogs, day after day,
+without ever getting enough sleep to rest them."
+
+"Ah, but few of them have hopes or aspirations. They are worms of the
+earth."
+
+"Oh, I don't know! I reckon some of them are as good as anybody, but
+they're down on their luck. The world has gone against them."
+
+"But they have never climbed to the heights, only to slip back to the
+depths. Then is when the world turns dark."
+
+The old tragedian bowed his head again, and, feeling that she could say
+nothing to cheer him up, Cassie left him there.
+
+Frank came in later, and had a talk with Burns. The old man acknowledged
+that he believed the play would be a success, but he bemoaned his fate
+to be forced to play a part so repulsive to him. Merry assured him that
+he would get over that in time, and succeeded in putting some spirit
+into the old fellow.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+FRANK'S NEW COMEDIAN.
+
+
+The day came for the great dress rehearsal of "True Blue," to which the
+theatrical people of Denver, the newspaper men, and a great number of
+prominent people had been invited.
+
+Frank had determined on this course at great expense, but he believed he
+would be repaid for the outlay.
+
+His chief object was to secure good newspaper notices and
+recommendations from the theater managers in the city.
+
+It was to be an afternoon performance, so that it would not interfere
+with any of the regular theatrical attractions to play in town that
+night.
+
+Early in the day Hodge advised Frank to keep a sharp watch on Burns.
+
+"Don't let him have any money, Merry. He fancies he will have to go
+through a terrible ordeal this afternoon, and he wishes to brace up for
+it. If he gets all he wants to drink, he will be loaded to the muzzle
+when the time comes to play."
+
+Frank feared this, and so, when Burns appealed to him for money, he
+refused the old man, telling him he could have some after the
+performance.
+
+Then Merry set Gallup to watch the tragedian.
+
+Frank was at work in the theater, where various members of the company
+were practicing specialties, and the stage hands were arranging
+everything so that there would be no hitch about the performance.
+
+Within thirty minutes after Gallup was set to watch the old actor, he
+came to Frank in a hurry, saying:
+
+"If you want to keep Mr. Burns sober, I advise yeou to come with me an'
+git him aout of a grog shop daown the street, Merry."
+
+"What's that?" exclaimed Frank. "Why, he hasn't the money to buy liquor,
+even if he has gone into a saloon."
+
+"He won't hev to buy it, I guess."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Well, I saw two men pick him up an' take him inter the gin mill. They
+axed him would he come in an' have somethin' with them."
+
+"Did he know them?"
+
+"Didn't seem ter. He looked kainder s'prised, but he accepted the invite
+in a hurry."
+
+"Then it is time that we looked after him," nodded Merry, grimly. "Show
+me where he has gone, Ephraim."
+
+Hodge followed them. They left the theater and hurried along the street
+to a saloon.
+
+"He went in here," said Ephraim.
+
+Without a word, Frank entered.
+
+The moment Merry was within the place he saw Burns standing near the
+bar, while a crowd had gathered around him. The old man had placed his
+hat on the bar, tossed back his long, black hair, which was streaked
+with gray, struck a pose, and was just beginning to declaim from
+Shakespeare.
+
+"Go it, old chap!" cried a half-intoxicated man. "We'll put up the red
+eye for you as long as you will spout."
+
+The old man's voice rang out clear and strong. His pronunciation was
+perfect, and his enunciation clear and distinct. Involuntarily Merry
+paused a moment to listen. At that moment it came to Frank that Burns
+might, beyond a doubt, have been an actor of no small merit had he
+eschewed drink and followed his ambition with unswerving purpose. For
+the first time Merry fully appreciated the outraged feelings of the old
+fellow who was compelled to burlesque the tragedian on the stage.
+
+Frank strode forward into the crowd, followed by his friends.
+
+"Burns," he said, quietly, interrupting the old man, "I want you to come
+with me."
+
+The aged actor stopped speaking, all the dignity seemed to melt from him
+in a moment, and he reached for his hat, murmuring:
+
+"I merely came in for one small bracer. I needed it, and the gentlemen
+were good enough to invite me."
+
+"Here!" coarsely cried a man. "What's this mean? Who's this that's
+comin' here to spoil our fun?"
+
+"Throw the feller out!" cried another.
+
+Growls of anger came from the others gathered about, and they crowded
+nearer.
+
+"Look out for trouble!" whispered Hodge, in Frank's ear.
+
+"Get out of here," ordered the first speaker, confronting Merry. "We're
+bein' entertained."
+
+"I beg your pardon--gentlemen," said Merry, smoothly, hesitating
+slightly before the final word. "There are reasons why I come here to
+take Mr. Burns with me. I am sorry to spoil your entertainment, but it
+is necessary."
+
+"Is the old fellow bound out to you?" sneeringly, asked one. "Do you own
+him?"
+
+"No man owns me!" cried the tragedian, drawing himself up and staring
+round. "I am my own master."
+
+"I'll bet you don't dare take another drink," said the man, quickly
+thrusting a brimming glass of whisky toward Burns. "You're afraid of the
+young gent."
+
+"I'm afraid of nobody," declared Burns, eagerly reaching for the glass.
+"I have drunk all I could get, and I always shall, for all of anybody."
+
+"That's the talk!"
+
+"Down with it!"
+
+"Take your medicine!"
+
+"You're the boy!"
+
+The crowd shouted its approval.
+
+Burns lifted the glass.
+
+Frank's hand fell gently on his arm.
+
+"Mr. Burns," he said, swiftly, "I ask you as a particular favor not to
+drink that liquor. I ask you as a gentleman not to do it."
+
+Merry knew how to appeal to the old man in a manner that would touch the
+right spot. Burns looked straight into Frank's eyes an instant, and then
+he placed the glass on the bar.
+
+"If you ask me that way," he said, "ten thousand fiends cannot force me
+to touch the stuff!"
+
+There was a groan from the crowd.
+
+"The old duffer caves!" sneered one man. "He hasn't any backbone."
+
+"Oh, say!" sibilated Hodge, in Merry's ear; "get him out of here in a
+hurry! I can't stand much of this! I feel like thumping a few of these
+ruffians."
+
+"Steady!" cautioned Frank. "We do not want to get into a barroom brawl
+if we can avoid it."
+
+"They're a purty darn tough-lookin' craowd," muttered Ephraim.
+
+"Why wouldn't it be a purty good thing fer ther young chaps all ter take
+a drink?" suggested somebody.
+
+"That's right!" cried the leader. "I'll stand for them all, and the
+actor shall drink with them."
+
+"Don't let them git out, gents, till they've taken their bitters."
+
+The rough men hemmed them in.
+
+"I fear you are in an unfortunate predicament," said Burns. "You will
+have to drink with them."
+
+"I never drink," said Merry, quietly.
+
+"Yer can't refuse here," declared the man who had offered to buy the
+drinks. "It's a mortal insult ter refuse ter drink hyar."
+
+"I never took a drink in my life, gentlemen," said Merriwell, speaking
+calmly, and distinctly, "and I shall not begin now. You will have to
+excuse me."
+
+He started to force his way through the crowd. A hand reached out to
+clutch him, and he wheeled like a flash toward the man, at whom he
+pointed squarely, crying:
+
+"Take off that false beard! If you are a man, show your face! You are in
+disguise! I believe you are a criminal who does not dare show his face!"
+
+His ringing words drew the attention of the crowd to the man whom he
+accused.
+
+Merry improved the opportunity and hurried his friends and Burns toward
+the door. Before the gang was aware of it, they were out of the saloon,
+and Frank breathed his relief.
+
+Not till they had reached the theater did a thought come to Frank that
+made him regret his hasty departure from the saloon.
+
+"Heavens!" he exclaimed. "I believe the man who wore the false beard was
+the same one who entered my room at the hotel by means of the rope!"
+
+He dashed back to the saloon, followed by Hodge and Gallup; but when he
+reached the place nearly all the crowd had left, the man he sought
+having departed with the others.
+
+Frank was disappointed. He learned at the saloon that the accused man
+had not removed the beard, but had sneaked out in a hurry after Frank
+was gone.
+
+Returning to the theater, Merry was informed that Burns was behaving
+strangely.
+
+"He seems to be doped," declared Hodge. "I think he has been drugged."
+
+Burns was in a dressing room, and Havener was working to keep the man
+awake, although the old actor was begging to be allowed to sleep.
+
+As soon as Frank saw him he dispatched one of the supers for a
+physician.
+
+The doctor came and gave Burns a powerful emetic, following that with a
+dose of medicine that seemed to brace the man up. Thus Burns was pulled
+into shape for the afternoon performance, although Frank realized that
+he had very nearly wrecked everything.
+
+Burns remained in the theater, and lunch was brought him there.
+
+"Mr. Merriwell," he said, "I will surprise you by the manner in which
+I'll play my part this afternoon. It shall be burlesque of a kind
+that'll satisfy you."
+
+The performance was to begin at two o'clock. Some time before that
+people began to arrive, and they came fast. At two o'clock there were
+nearly five hundred persons in the auditorium.
+
+The company was all made up and waiting behind the scenes.
+
+Cassie Lee started to find Frank to ask him how he liked her make-up. In
+a corner behind the scenes she saw a man stopping near a mass of
+piled-up scenery. Something about the man's appearance and his actions
+attracted her attention. She saw him pick up a can and pour some of the
+contents on the scenery. Then he crouched down there, taking a match
+safe from his pocket.
+
+In a moment it dawned on Cassie that the fellow was up to deviltry. He
+had saturated the scenery with oil, and he was about to set it on fire!
+
+Cassie screamed, and Frank Merriwell, who was near at hand, heard her.
+He came bounding to the spot, just as the startled man lighted his
+match.
+
+"Quick, Frank!" cried Cassie. "He's setting the scenery afire!"
+
+Frank saw the fellow and leaped at him. The scenery flared up where the
+match had touched it. Then the fire bug turned to run.
+
+Merriwell was on him, had him, hurled him down.
+
+"No, you don't, you dog!" grated Frank. "You shall pay for this
+dastardly trick!"
+
+Cassie, with rare presence of mind, caught up a rug, which happened to
+be near, and beat out the fire before it had gained much headway.
+
+A terrible struggle was going on between Frank and the man he had
+captured. The fellow was fighting with all his strength to hurry off and
+escape.
+
+"No, you don't!" came through Merriwell's teeth. "I know you! You are
+the chap who entered my room! You it was who attempted to drug Burns so
+that this performance would be ruined! And now you have made a fatal
+mistake by attempting to fire the theater. I have you, and I shall hold
+you. You will be safely lodged behind prison bars for this trick."
+
+"Curse you!" panted the man.
+
+"That does not hurt me," said Merry. "Now, be quiet."
+
+He pinned the fellow to the floor and held him till others came up. Then
+the man's hands were tied.
+
+"Now, we'll have a look at him," said Merry, rolling the captive over on
+his back and pulling the old hat from his head.
+
+Then he gave a cry of amazement, staggering back.
+
+Hodge was there, and he was no less astounded.
+
+Gallup was speechless with astonishment and incredulity.
+
+"The dead alive!" cried Frank.
+
+The man he had captured was the one he believed beneath the quicksands
+of Big Sandy River, Leslie Lawrence!
+
+"I'm not dead yet!" grated Lawrence. "Fowler went down in the
+quicksands, but I managed to float away. I hid under the river's bank,
+and there I stayed, like a hunted wolf, till you gave up looking for me.
+I swore to settle the score with you, but----"
+
+"You tried hard enough. You were the one who entered my room at the
+hotel."
+
+"Was I? Prove it."
+
+"I don't have to. The job you tried to do here is enough. That will put
+you safely away. Somebody call an officer."
+
+An officer was called, and Lawrence was taken away.
+
+The audience in front had heard some of the commotion behind the scenes
+and had grown rather restless, but they were soon calmed. An orchestra
+was on hand to play, and everything was carried out as if it had been a
+regular performance.
+
+The first act went off well, and it received mild applause. The second
+act seemed to take full better, but still, the audience had not been
+aroused to any great show of enthusiasm.
+
+Then came the third act. The first surprise was Burns. He literally
+convulsed the audience by the manner in which he burlesqued the
+Shakespearian tragedian. He astonished Frank, for Merry had not dreamed
+the old actor could be so intensely funny. Even Hodge was seen to smile
+once!
+
+When Burns came off after doing an exceptionally clever piece of work,
+which caused the audience to applaud most heartily, Frank met him and
+grasped his hand, saying:
+
+"My dear Mr. Burns, you have made the comedy hit of the piece! Your
+salary shall be fifty dollars a week, instead of forty."
+
+But William Shakespeare Burns burst into tears, sobbing brokenly:
+
+"The comedy hit of the piece! And I have broken my own heart!"
+
+It was impossible to cheer him up.
+
+The boat race followed swiftly, and it wrought the audience up to a high
+pitch of enthusiasm and excitement. When the curtain came down, there
+was a perfect shout of applause, such as an enthusiastic Western
+audience alone can give.
+
+"Frank Merriwell! Frank Merriwell!" was the cry that went up from all
+parts of the house.
+
+Frank was obliged to come before the curtain and make a speech, which he
+did gracefully and modestly. When he was behind the curtain again,
+Havener had him by the hand, saying:
+
+"You will get some rousing press notices to-morrow, Merriwell! This play
+will be the hit of your life!"
+
+A manager of one of the local theaters came behind the scenes and
+offered Frank three thousand dollars for the piece. When Frank declined,
+the man promptly made it five thousand, but even that sum was not
+accepted.
+
+Then came the fourth act, in which Burns again appeared as the burlesque
+tragedian. In this he was to repeat a parody on _Hamlet's_ soliloquy,
+but, apparently, before he was aware of it, he began to give the
+soliloquy itself.
+
+In a moment the man had flung off the air of the clown. He straightened
+to his full height, his eyes gleamed with a strange fire, his chest
+heaved, and his voice sounded clear as the ring of steel. He electrified
+every person who heard him. With all the dramatic fire of a Booth, he
+swung into the soliloquy, and a hush fell over the audience. He held
+them spellbound, he swayed them at his will, he thrilled them as never
+had they been thrilled. At that moment William Shakespeare Burns was the
+tragedian sublime, and it is probable that he reached such heights as he
+had never before attained.
+
+He finished. It was over, and then, realizing what he had done, he
+tottered off the stage.
+
+Then the audience applauded long and loud, trying to call him back
+again; but behind the scenes he had fallen into Frank Merriwell's arms,
+faintly murmuring:
+
+"It is finished!"
+
+Frank bore the man to a dressing room. The play went on to the end
+without a break, but it was not necessary for Burns to enter again.
+
+When the curtain fell on the final act, Havener came hurrying to Merry:
+
+"Burns wants to see you in the dressing room," he said. "You had better
+come at once."
+
+Frank went there. The moment he saw the old actor, who was reclining on
+some rugs, his face ashen, his eyes looking dim and sunken still deeper
+into his head, Frank said:
+
+"Somebody go for a doctor at once!"
+
+He knelt beside the man, and the old actor murmured:
+
+"It is useless to go for a doctor. I heard you tell them, but it is--no
+use. I told you--my heart--was broken. I spoke the--truth. It broke my
+heart when I--had to--burlesque----"
+
+His words died out in his throat.
+
+"He's going!" somebody whispered, for the company was gathered around.
+
+There was a brief silence, and then the old man seemed to draw himself
+up with pride, as they had seen him do in life.
+
+"Yes, sir," he said, distinctly, "my name is Burns--William Shakespeare
+Burns--tragedian--at liberty."
+
+The old eyes closed, a faint sigh escaped his bloodless lips, and the
+old actor was "at liberty."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+A NEWSPAPER NOTICE.
+
+
+"Yesterday afternoon, through the courtesy of Manager Frank Merriwell,
+an invited audience of at least five hundred persons witnessed the first
+performance of Mr. Merriwell's revised and rewritten play at the Orpheum
+Theater, and the verdict of that audience, which represented the highest
+and most cultured element of Denver society, was that the sprightly,
+sensational, four-act comedy drama was a success in every way. The play,
+which is now named 'True Blue,' was originally christened 'For Old Eli,'
+and, after a single performance, Mr. Merriwell withdrew it for the
+purpose of rewriting it, correcting certain faults he had discovered,
+and strengthening one or two weak points. As he wrote the piece, he was
+able to do this work of reconstruction quickly and thoroughly, and the
+result is a play of which he, as author, manager and star performer, may
+well be proud. The following is the cast:
+
+    DICK TRUEHEART               FRANK MERRIWELL
+    Barry Hattleman              Douglas Dunton
+    Spruce Downing               Rufus Small
+    Crack Hyerman                Bartley Hodge
+    Reuben Grass                 Ephraim Gallup
+    Manny Sizzwell               William Wynne
+    Prof. Gash                   Roscoe Havener
+    Edwin Treadwell              William Shakespeare Burns
+    Carius Dubad                 Granville Garland
+    Spike Dubad                  Lester Vance
+    Millie Blossom               Miss Cassie Lee
+    Inez Dalton                  Miss Stella Stanley
+    Nancy Noodle                 Miss Agnes Kirk
+
+"College life is the principal theme of 'True Blue,' and Mr. Merriwell,
+having studied at Yale, is quite capable of catching the air and spirit
+of Old Eli, and reproducing it on the stage. This he has done with a
+deftness and fidelity that makes the play remarkable in its class, or,
+possibly with greater accuracy, lifts it out of its class, for, up to
+the production of this piece, all college plays have been feeble
+attempts to catch the spirit of the life they represent, or have
+descended into the realm of farce or burlesque.
+
+"While the author of 'True Blue' has written a play to suit the popular
+fancy, he has not considered it necessary to write down to the general
+public, and, for all of the college slang, which of a necessity is used
+by several of the characters, there is nothing offensive in the entire
+piece--nothing to shock the sensibilties of the most refined. The comedy
+in places is a trifle boisterous, but that was to be expected, and it
+does not descend to mere buffoonery. It is the kind of comedy at which
+the spectator must laugh, even though he may resolve that he will not,
+and, when it is all over, he feels better for his laughter, instead of
+feeling foolish, as he does in many cases after witnessing other
+'popular plays.'
+
+"The pathos strikes the right chord, and the strongest situations and
+climaxes are stirring enough to thrill the most sluggish blood. In some
+respects the story of the play is rather conventional, but it is handled
+in a manner that makes it seem almost new. Through the four acts _Dick
+Trueheart_, the hero, is pursued by his enemies, _Carius Dubad_, and
+his, worthy son, _Spike_, and on various occasions they succeed in
+making things extremely unpleasant for the popular young athlete.
+
+"Through two acts the villains pursue the hero, keeping the audience on
+the _qui vive_.
+
+"The climax of the third act was the great sensational feature of the
+play. In this act _Dick_ escapes from his enemies and all sorts of
+crafty snares, and is barely in time to take his place in the Yale boat,
+which is to race against Harvard and Cornell. _Carius Dubad_ has
+appeared on the scene, and, at the last moment, in order to break
+_Dick's_ spirit, he reveals that _Dick's_ guardian has squandered his
+fortune, so that the hero is penniless and will be forced to leave
+college. For all of this revelation, _Trueheart_ enters the boat and
+aids in winning the race against Harvard and Cornell, greatly to the
+discomfiture of the villainous father and son, who have bet heavily
+against Yale. Of course, Mr. Merriwell made Yale win in his play. The
+mechanism that showed the boat race on the distant river, the moving
+observation train, the swaying crowds with waving flags, hats, and
+handkerchiefs, was truly a most wonderful arrangement, and it filled the
+spectators with admiration and astonishment. A quick 'dark shift'
+followed, and then the boats actually appeared, with Yale the winner,
+and _Trueheart_ was brought onto the stage in the arms of his admiring
+fellow collegians, while the curtain descended amid a burst of genuine
+enthusiastic applause such as is seldom heard in any theater. Mr.
+Merriwell was called before the curtain, and he made a brief speech,
+which seemed modest and characteristic of this young actor and
+playwright, who is certain to follow a brilliant career on the American
+stage.
+
+"In the final act the hero was in straitened circumstances, but all ends
+well, with the discomfiture of old _Dubad_ and his worthy son, and the
+final settlement of all jealousies between the other characters.
+
+"Not only as author of the play, but as the star does Frank Merriwell
+merit a full meed of credit and praise. Although he is young and
+impulsive, and his acting might not meet the approval of certain
+critics, there was a breeziness and freshness about him that captivated
+and carried the audience. It is said that he has never attended a school
+of acting, and this may readily be believed, for there is nothing
+affected, nothing stiff, nothing stilted and mechanical about his work
+on the stage. In his case, at least, it has been greatly to his
+advantage not to attend a dramatic school. He is a born actor, and he
+must work out his own methods without being hampered by convention and
+instruction from those who believe in doing everything by rule. He is a
+handsome young man, and his stage presence is both striking and
+effective. Worthy of note was it that he enunciated every word
+distinctly and pronounced it correctly, in great contrast to many other
+stars, who sometimes mangle speech in a most distressing manner. He has
+a voice that seems in perfect keeping with his splendid figure, being
+clear as a mellow bell, full of force, and delightful to hear.
+
+"The work of Douglas Dunton as _Barry Hattleman_ was good. Mr. Small,
+who is a very large man, faithfully portrayed _Spruce Downing_, the lazy
+student. _Crack Hyerman_, the hot-blooded Southerner, as represented by
+Bartley Hodge, who made the Southerner a thorough fire-eater, who would
+fight for his 'honor' at the drop of the hat. As _Reuben Grass_, Ephraim
+Gallup literally convulsed the audience. Without doubt his delineation
+of the Down-East Yankee was the best ever seen in Denver.
+
+"Miss Cassie Lee played the sweet and winsome _Millie Blossom_, and her
+singing and dancing met approval. The _Inez Dalton_ of Miss Stanley was
+handled with great skill, and she was jealous, passionate, resentful,
+and loving in turn, and in a manner that seemed true to life. As _Nancy
+Noodle_, an old maid in love with _Prof. Gash_, Miss Agnes Kirk was
+acceptable.
+
+"And now comes the duty of mentioning a man who was the surprise of the
+evening. His name was given on the program as William Shakespeare Burns,
+and, as he represented a burlesque tragedian, it was supposed that the
+name was assumed. It has been learned, however, that this is the name by
+which he was known in real life. Mr. Burns first appeared in the second
+act, and as _Edwin Treadwell_, the frayed, back-number tragedian, he
+literally caused many of the audience to choke in the effort to repress
+their uncontrollable laughter. At the close of the third act, a local
+theatrical man declared that W. S. Burns far excelled as a comedian
+anybody he had ever seen essay a similar part. But the sensation came in
+the fourth act, when the actor started to parody _Hamlet's_ soliloquy,
+but seemed to forget himself and the parody together, and swung into the
+original William Shakespeare. The laughter died out, the audience sat
+spellbound, scarcely breathing. The eyes of every person were fixed on
+the actor, who went through the soliloquy to the end, giving it with all
+the power of a Forrest or a Booth. As the actor retired, the audience
+awoke, realized it had seen and heard a man who was no clown, but a real
+tragedian, and the applause was long and loud.
+
+"William Shakespeare Burns did not appear again on the stage of that
+theater; he will not appear again on any stage. He is dead! But few
+particulars have been learned about him, but it seems that this was his
+first attempt to play comedy--and his last. He regarded himself as the
+equal of any interpreter of Shakespeare, living or dead, but misfortune
+and his own weakness had never permitted him to rise to the heights to
+which he aspired. Grim necessity had compelled him to accept Mr.
+Merriwell's offer to play in 'True Blue' the part of the burlesque
+tragedian. His heart and soul had rebelled against doing so, and often
+at rehearsals he had wept with mortification after going through with
+his part. His body was weakened by privation. He declared last night
+that his heart was broken. A few minutes after leaving the stage the
+last time he expired in one of the dressing rooms of the theater. Thus
+ended a life that might have been a grand success but for the failings
+of weak human nature.
+
+"Mr. Merriwell will go on the road at once with 'True Blue.' He has
+engaged a competent man to fill the place made vacant by the death of
+Mr. Burns. His route for some little time is booked, and he leaves
+Denver to-day for Puelbo, where he opens to-morrow. The play, the star,
+and the company merit success, and we hope Mr. Merriwell will find it
+convenient to play a regular engagement in this city before long. It is
+certain, if he does, he will be greeted by packed houses."--_Denver
+Herald and Advertiser._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+All the Denver papers contained notices of the performance, but the one
+quoted was the longest and the most elaborate. Not one of the notices
+was unfavorable. They were enough to make the heart of any manager glad,
+and it was not strange that Frank felt well satisfied.
+
+But he was inexpressibly saddened by the sudden and tragic death of
+William Burns, for he had recognized the genius in the old actor, who
+had been dragged down from a highroad to prosperity and fame by the
+hands of the relentless demon that has destroyed so many men of genius,
+drink.
+
+On account of his bookings, Frank could not remain in Denver to attend
+the funeral of the veteran tragedian, but he resolved that Burns should
+be buried with all honors, and he made arrangements for a suitable
+funeral.
+
+Of course, the papers announced the funeral, and, the story of Burns'
+remarkable death having become familiar to all, the church was packed to
+the doors. The man whose wretched life had promised a wretched death and
+a nameless grave was buried without pomp, but with such honors as might
+have been given to one well known and highly esteemed.
+
+Above his grave a modest marble was placed, and chiseled on it was a
+single line from the "Immortal Bard," whom he loved and understood and
+interpreted with the faithfulness and fire of genius:
+
+"After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well."
+
+And every expense Frank Merriwell provided for. Nothing was neglected;
+everything was done that good taste and a good heart demanded.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+THE VEILED WOMAN.
+
+
+As may be understood, the members of Frank's company were individually
+and collectively delighted with the apparent success of the play and
+their efforts. Perhaps Agnes Kirk was the only one who complained. She
+was not at all pleased by the notices she obtained.
+
+Frank immediately secured a supply of Denver papers and, marking the
+notices, mailed them to the managers of theaters and the editors of
+papers along the route "True Blue" was to follow.
+
+Then he had typewritten copies made of extracts from these notices,
+which he added to his collection of press notices already manufactured
+for advertising purposes, and sent them on to his advance agent, who had
+been out on the road several days.
+
+Frank knew how to work every point to the best advantage, and he did not
+lose anything. He was tireless in his efforts, and it was wonderful what
+an immense amount of work he accomplished. No one knows how much he can
+do till he makes the test.
+
+Hodge aided him as far as possible, and Frank found Bart a valuable
+assistant. Hodge was fully as eager as Merriwell for the play to be a
+great success.
+
+Frank had opened with the piece under its original name in Puelbo, and
+it had met disaster there. He vowed that he would return to that place
+with the play and make a success of his engagement. He engaged the
+leading theater in the city for three nights, being obliged to pay in
+advance for it, as the manager had no confidence in the revised play.
+
+Frank had been working the papers of the city. One of them was edited by
+a remarkably genial gentleman by the name of Osgood, and this editor had
+seen in the original play material for a strong piece. He admired
+Merry's pluck in opening the second time in that city, and he literally
+opened the columns of his paper to Frank, who telegraphed down extracts
+from the Denver papers as soon as the notices appeared.
+
+The house in Puelbo was to be well "papered" the first night, but was to
+depend entirely on the drawing qualities of the play for the audience on
+the following two nights.
+
+Frank was making a great hustle to get away from Denver, and he was
+returning from the theater to his hotel, after seeing the last of the
+special scenery moved to the railroad station, when a heavily veiled
+woman stopped directly in his path. As he was walking hastily, he nearly
+ran against her.
+
+"I beg your pardon, madam!" exclaimed Frank, lifting his hat. "Very
+awkward of me."
+
+"Not at all," she said, in a low voice, that was not unpleasant nor
+unmusical. "You were hurrying, and I stopped directly in your way. I am
+the one who should beg to be excused."
+
+"Not at all," he hastened to say. "I assure you that it was entirely on
+account of my awkwardness."
+
+He was about to pass on, but her gloved hand fell on his arm, and she
+said:
+
+"I wish to speak with you, Mr. Merriwell."
+
+"You know me?" exclaimed Frank, surprised.
+
+"Indeed, I do. Why should I not? All Denver knows you to-day."
+
+"Am I so famous as that?" smiled Merry. "I fear you flatter, madam."
+
+"It is not flattery. You must not doubt my sincerity."
+
+"Very well, I will not; but you must speak hastily, for I have a train
+to catch in an hour and thirty minutes, and I haven't too much time to
+attend to all I have to do."
+
+"But you must give me a little of your time--you really must," she said,
+persuasively, putting her hand on his arm again. "If you will come with
+me--please do!"
+
+"Where?"
+
+"Oh, I know a nice, quiet place, where we can talk."
+
+Somehow Frank did not like her words or manner. A feeling that there was
+something wrong about her came over him.
+
+"Really, you must excuse me," he said. "I have not the time to go
+anywhere to talk. If you have anything to say to me, you can say it
+here."
+
+"Now, don't be obstinate. You'll not regret it if you come."
+
+"But I do not even know who you are. That veil----"
+
+"If you come, I may remove the veil," she murmured.
+
+Frank drew back, so that her hand fell from his arm.
+
+"Madam," he said, "you have placed me in a very awkward position. I do
+not like to appear rude to a lady, but----"
+
+"Of course you do not, and so you will grant my request. It is a small
+matter."
+
+"But not to me, for my time is valuable just now. I am ready to hear
+anything you have to say, but you must say it here."
+
+"Would you keep a lady standing on the street?" she exclaimed, with a
+slight show of resentment. "I cannot say all I have to tell you in a
+minute."
+
+"And I have explained that I cannot spare time to talk over anything for
+more than a few moments. I think you will have to excuse me. Good-day."
+
+He lifted his hat and started to pass on, but again she placed herself
+squarely in front of him, to his great annoyance.
+
+"Mr. Merriwell," she said, "I have seen you on the stage, and I admire
+you greatly. You will not be rude to one of your admirers, I know. You
+are far too gallant for that."
+
+It was plain she sought to cajole him by flattery, and that was the
+surest way to repulse him.
+
+"Is it possible she is one of those foolish women who fall in love with
+actors?" Frank asked himself.
+
+Somehow she did not seem like that. There was nothing of the giddy,
+gushing girl about her. He could not see her face, but her figure was
+that of a matured woman, and he judged that she must be twenty-five
+years old, at least. It seemed, too, that there was a purpose in her
+words and movements.
+
+But Frank resolved on action, for he had found that it was useless to
+waste words talking to her. He made a quick move to one side and passed
+her, intending to hasten away.
+
+Barely had he done so when she flung her arms about his neck and
+screamed loudly!
+
+Frank was astounded by this unexpected move of the veiled woman.
+
+"She's crazy!"
+
+That was the thought that flashed through Merry's mind.
+
+He realized that he was in an awkward predicament, and he attempted to
+whirl about.
+
+The woman was very strong, and, having taken him by surprise, she nearly
+threw him down. To save himself, he caught hold of her.
+
+"Help!" she cried.
+
+Some men came running up.
+
+"Madam," said Frank, hurriedly, "are you demented? What is the meaning
+of this?"
+
+"You wretch!" she blazed. "Oh, you cowardly scoundrel, to assault a lady
+on the public street in broad daylight!"
+
+"Surely you are----"
+
+"I saw him do it!" declared a little man, with red whiskers. "I saw him
+assault you, madam."
+
+"Call an officer!" palpitated the woman. "Quick, before he gets away!"
+
+"He shall not get away," declared a big man with a crooked eye,
+glowering at Frank. "If he tries it, I'll attend to him!"
+
+"Looks like a would-be masher," piped a slim man, with a very long neck,
+ducking and nodding his head in an odd manner. "He should be taught a
+lesson."
+
+One or two others expressed themselves in a similar manner.
+
+Frank had thought of making a break and hastening away, but now he saw
+it would not do, for he would have a howling mob at his heels the
+instant he attempted such a move. He realized it would seem cowardly to
+run away in such a manner, and would look like a confession of guilt,
+which caused him to decide to stay and face it out, even though the
+predicament was most embarrassing.
+
+"Gentlemen," he said, looking squarely at them, and seeming to pay very
+little attention to the mysterious woman, even though he was perfectly
+on his guard, not knowing what move she might make next, "I trust you
+will give me a chance to explain what has happened."
+
+"Explain it in the police court," growled the big man with a crooked
+eye. "That's the proper place for you to make your explanations."
+
+"The judge will listen to you," cried the slim man, his head bobbing on
+his long neck, like the head of a crane that is walking along the edge
+of a marsh.
+
+"Don't attempt to escape by means of falsehoods, you rascal!" almost
+shouted the little man with the red whiskers, bristling up in a savage
+manner, but dodging back the moment Frank turned on him.
+
+"Gentlemen, I have been insulted by this fellow!" came from behind the
+baffling veil worn by the woman. "He is a low wretch, who attacked me in
+a most brutal manner."
+
+"We will see that you are protected, madam," assured the little man, his
+red whiskers seeming to bristle like porcupine quills, as he dodged
+round Frank and placed himself on the opposite side of the veiled
+unknown. "Madam," he repeated, "I will see that you are protected--I
+will!"
+
+"You are very kind," she fluttered; "but where is the officer? The
+reaction--the shock--the weakness!"
+
+"Permit me to offer you any assistance possible," gallantly spoke a man
+in a sack coat and a silk hat, stepping forward and raising the latter
+piece of wearing apparel, thereby disclosing a shining bald spot on the
+top of his head, which he covered as quickly as possible, evidently
+hoping it had escaped the woman's notice. "You are in a city, my dear
+lady, where insults to the fair sex never go unpunished."
+
+He attempted to smile on her in a pleasant manner, but there was a sort
+of leer in his eyes and around his sensual mouth that betrayed his true
+character plainly enough.
+
+The woman did not accept his arm which was half tendered, but she made a
+great show of agitation and distress, which affected the various
+witnesses.
+
+"It's a shame!" piped the man with the long neck and the bobbing head.
+
+"It's an outrage!" blustered the little man with the bristling whiskers
+and savage manner.
+
+"It's most unfortunate!" murmured the gallant man with the silk hat and
+sack coat.
+
+"It's a bad break for Mr. Masher!" ejaculated the big man with the
+crooked eye and glowering look.
+
+Frank smiled; he could not help it, for he was impressed by the comedy
+of the affair, despite the unpleasantness of the situation he was in at
+that moment.
+
+"This would be good stuff for a scene in a play," he thought, and he
+made a mental note of it.
+
+Then he turned to the woman.
+
+"Madam," he said, "what have I ever done to you that you should attempt
+to injure me in this manner?"
+
+"Don't let him speak to me, the scoundrel!" she entreated, appealing to
+the men.
+
+"But it is no more than fair that you should answer me," persisted
+Merry. "I do not know you; I have not even seen your face. Will you not
+lift your veil and permit me to see your face, so that I may know who
+has brought me into this unpleasant position?"
+
+"He adds to his insults by requesting me to expose my identity on the
+street after such an affair as this!" she almost sobbed. "He would
+disgrace me! He would have my name in all the newspapers!"
+
+"Reprehensible!" purred the gallant man.
+
+"Terrible!" cackled the man with the bobbing head.
+
+"Dastardly!" exploded the individual with the red whiskers.
+
+"Criminal!" grated the giant with the crooked eye.
+
+And they all glared at Frank--at least all of them but the one with the
+crooked eye. It is possible that he, also, glared at the supposed
+offender, but he seemed to be glaring at a white horse on the opposite
+side of the street.
+
+Repressing his laughter with difficulty, Merry said:
+
+"I assure you, gentlemen, I never saw this lady, to my knowledge, before
+a few minutes ago, when she stopped me on the street, and----"
+
+Again the woman screamed.
+
+"Will you listen to his base falsehoods?" she cried, with a show of the
+greatest indignation and distress. "He is trying to disgrace me still
+further by asserting that I stopped him on the street--stopped him! As
+if a lady would do such a thing!"
+
+"The idea!" squawked the man with the long neck, his head seeming to bob
+faster than ever, as if it sought to express by its excited movements
+the indignant emotions his tongue could not utter.
+
+"My dear lady, I would not remain here to be thus insulted," declared
+the gallant man, bending toward her, and endeavoring to summon a look of
+concern to his treacherous countenance.
+
+"He should be placed in irons!" blurted the fierce-appearing little man,
+his red whiskers seeming to work and squirm with intense excitement and
+anger.
+
+"He ought to have his head broken!" roared the big man, his crooked eye
+still seeming to glare at the white horse in a most terrible and awesome
+manner.
+
+Others of the assembled crowd murmured to themselves in a most indignant
+manner, all seeming to regard Frank as the offender.
+
+Frank took out his watch and looked at it.
+
+"Gracious!" he mentally exclaimed, "time is flying. If this keeps up
+much longer, I'll not reach Puelbo to-day."
+
+"Now he shows his anxiety and concern," said a voice in the crowd.
+
+"He's beginning to be frightened," said another voice.
+
+"He's anxious to get away," said a third.
+
+"But he can't get away," said a fourth.
+
+"This is all very interesting," thought Frank; "but it is decidedly
+unpleasant."
+
+"Waal, whut in time's sake is goin' on here, I'd like ter know?" cried a
+voice that was familiar to Frank, and a tall, lank,
+countrified-appearing youth came up to the outskirts of the crowd, stood
+on his tiptoes, and peered over.
+
+It was Ephraim Gallup, and he saw Frank.
+
+"Waal, darned if it ain't----"
+
+Merry made a swift movement, clapping a finger to his lips, and Gallup,
+usually rather slow to tumble to anything, understood him at once,
+relapsing into silence.
+
+"Let me git in here where I kin see the fun," he said, and he elbowed
+the people aside as he forced his way through the crowd.
+
+It did not take him long to reach the center of the throng, although a
+number of persons were indignant at his manner of thrusting them aside
+or stepping on their feet.
+
+"Whut's up?" he asked. "Ef there's anything goin' on, I kainder want to
+see it."
+
+"This young masher has insulted this lady!" explained the man with the
+bobbing head.
+
+"Sho!" exclaimed Gallup. "Yeou don't say so, mister! Waal, I am
+s'prised!"
+
+"He has treated her in an outrageous manner!" added the man with the
+agitated and fiery whiskers.
+
+"I do declare!" ejaculated Ephraim. "I'd never thought it of him, by
+thutter!"
+
+"The lady requires protection," declared the gallant man with the
+mismated wearing apparel.
+
+"Yeou don't tell me!" gasped the Vermonter, his surprise seeming to
+increase. "Ain't it awful!"
+
+"But the fellow needs a lesson!" rasped the man with the eye that
+persisted in looking in the wrong direction. "I think I'll hit him once
+or twice."
+
+"My gracious!" fluttered Gallup. "Hev ye gotter hit him real hard? Don't
+yeou s'pose he might hit back?"
+
+"Let him try it!" came fiercely from the giant.
+
+"Be yeou goin' to hit where ye're lookin'?" asked the country youth.
+"Cause ef yeou be, I'd advise that man with the wart on his nose to
+move."
+
+At this the man who owned the wart dodged with a suddenness that
+provoked a titter of laughter from several witnesses.
+
+Ephraim was adding to the comedy of the affair, and Frank bit his lips
+to keep from laughing outright, despite his annoyance over being thus
+detained.
+
+The big man with the crooked eye flourished his fists in the air in a
+most belligerent fashion, and instantly Merriwell gazed at him sternly,
+saying:
+
+"Be careful, sir! You are imperiling the lives of everyone near you, and
+you may strain yourself."
+
+"That's right, by gum!" nodded Gallup, whimsically. "Yeou may warp one
+of them air arms, flingin' it araound so gol-darn permiscuous like."
+
+"Here comes an officer!"
+
+Somebody uttered the cry.
+
+"It is high time!" exclaimed the little man, trying to soothe his
+agitated whiskers by pulling at them.
+
+"It surely is," croaked the lank individual, his head bobbing with
+renewed excitement.
+
+"Madam, the law will give you redress," bowed the gallant man, again
+taking off his silk hat and again clapping it on suddenly, as if a
+breath of cool air on his shining pate had warned him of the exposure he
+was making.
+
+"Oh, why didn't the officer stay away a minute longer, so I might have
+thumped him!" regretfully grunted the fighting man with the misdirected
+eye.
+
+The policeman came up and forced his way through the crowd, demanding:
+
+"What does this mean? What is happening here?"
+
+"A lady is in trouble," the bobbing man hastened to explain.
+
+"In serious trouble," chirped the bewhiskered man.
+
+"She has been insulted," declared the gallant man.
+
+"By a masher," finished the man with the errant eye.
+
+"Where is the lady?" asked the officer.
+
+"There!"
+
+All bowed politely toward the masked woman.
+
+"Where is the masher?" was the next question.
+
+"There!"
+
+Their scornful fingers were leveled straight at Frank Merriwell.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+ARRESTED.
+
+
+"Oh, sir!" exclaimed the woman, "I beg you to protect me from his
+insults!"
+
+The officer was a gallant fellow. He touched his hat and bowed with
+extreme politeness. Then he frowned on Merry, and that frown was
+terrible to behold. He gripped Frank by the collar, gruffly saying:
+
+"You'll have to come with me."
+
+Merry knew it was useless to attempt to explain under such
+circumstances. Every one of the assembled crowd would be a witness
+against him.
+
+"Very well," he said, quietly. "I am quite willing to do so. Please do
+not twist my necktie off."
+
+"Don't worry about your necktie!" advised the policeman, giving it a
+still harder twist. "I know how to deal with chaps of your caliber."
+
+Now of a sudden Ephraim Gallup began to grow angry. He did not fancy
+seeing his idol treated in such a manner, and his fists were clenched,
+while he glared at the officer as if contemplating hitting that worthy.
+
+"It's a gol-dern shame!" he grated. "This jest makes my blood bile!"
+
+"I don't wonder a bit," piped the long-necked man, misunderstanding the
+Vermonter; "but the officer will take care of him now. He'll get what he
+deserves."
+
+"Oh, will he!" exploded Gallup. "Waal, ef I was yeou, I'd hire myself
+aout to some dime museum as the human bobber. Yeou teeter jest like a
+certun bird that I won't name."
+
+"Wh--a--at?" squealed the individual addressed, in great excitement.
+"This to me! Why, I'll----"
+
+"I wish ter great goshfrey yeou would!" hissed Ephraim, glaring at him.
+"I'd jest like to hev yeou try it! I'd give yeou a jolt that'd knock
+yeou clean inter the middle of next week!"
+
+"Why, who is this fellow that seeks to create a disturbance?" blustered
+the little man, his fiery whiskers beginning to bristle and squirm
+again. "He should be sat upon."
+
+The country youth turned on him.
+
+"I wish yeou'd tackle the job, yeou condemned little red-whiskered
+runt;" he shot at the blusterer with such suddenness that the little man
+staggered back and put up his hands, as if he had been struck. "Yeou are
+another meddler! I'd eat yeou, an' I'd never know I'd hed a bite!"
+
+"This is very unfortunate, madam," purred the gallant man at the veiled
+woman's side. "I am extremely sorry that you have had such an unpleasant
+experience. Now, if that creature----"
+
+He designated Ephraim by the final word, and Gallup cut him short right
+there.
+
+"Yeou're the cheapest one of the hull lot, old oil-smirk!" he flung at
+the speaker. "Such fellers as yeou are more dangerous to real ladies
+than all the young mashers goin', fer yeou are a hypocrite who pretends
+to be virtuous."
+
+The man gasped and tried to say something, but seemed stricken
+speechless.
+
+Now the cock-eyed man was aroused once more. He seemed on the point of
+making a swing at somebody or something. He pushed his face up close to
+Ephraim, but still his rebellious eye seemed looking in quite another
+direction.
+
+"If you want any trouble here," he said, hoarsely, "I'll attend to you.
+I can do that very well."
+
+Ephraim looked at him, began to smile, broke into a grin, and burst into
+a shout of laughter.
+
+"Haw! haw! haw!" he roared. "I couldn't fight with yeou ef I wanted to,
+fer I'd think yeou didn't mean me all the time, but that yeou really
+ought to be fightin' with some other feller yeou was lookin' at. Yeou're
+the funniest toad in the hull puddle!"
+
+"I'll arrest the whole lot of you!" threatened the policeman. "Quit that
+business! Come along to the police station if you want to make any
+complaints."
+
+Then he turned to the woman, saying:
+
+"Madam, I presume you will make a complaint against this fellow,"
+indicating Frank.
+
+"I certainly shall," she promptly answered; "for it is my duty to teach
+him a lesson."
+
+"Will you come to the station?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Permit me to accompany you," urged the gallant man.
+
+"You are very kind," she said; "but I think I can get along. I will
+follow at a distance."
+
+"All right," nodded the officer, once more gripping Merriwell's collar
+savagely. "March, sir!"
+
+And then they started toward the station.
+
+The bobbing man, the little man, the cock-eyed man, and the gallant man
+formed behind. Then the crowd fell in, and away they went, with the
+mysterious veiled woman following at a distance.
+
+Ephraim placed himself at Frank's side.
+
+"This is a gol-darn outrage!" fumed the Vermonter, speaking to Merry.
+"Whut be yeou goin' to do abaout it?"
+
+"I shall have to do the best I can," answered the unfortunate youth,
+quietly.
+
+"But yeou won't be able to start for Puelbo with the rest of the
+people."
+
+"It doesn't look that way now."
+
+"That's tough!"
+
+"It is decidedly unfortunate, but I hope to get off in time to join the
+company before the first performance to-morrow night."
+
+"Haow did it happen?"
+
+"I hardly know. The woman stopped me and insisted that I should go
+somewhere to talk with her. I explained that my time was limited, but
+that seemed to make no impression on her. When I tried to get away she
+flung her arms around me and screamed. That brought a crowd together,
+and then she declared I had assaulted her."
+
+The policeman on the other side of Frank laughed in ridicule. Although
+he said nothing, it was plain he took no stock in Frank's story.
+
+"Larf!" grated Gallup, under his breath. "Yeou think yeou know so
+gol-darned much that----"
+
+"Hush!" warned Frank. "I do not wish you to get into trouble. You must
+inform the others what has happened to me."
+
+"It's purty gol-darn hard to keep still," declared Ephraim. "I never see
+sich a set of natteral born fools in all my life! How many of the craowd
+saw what happened 'tween yeou an' the woman?"
+
+"No one, I think."
+
+"An' I'll bet a squash they'll all go up an' swear to any kind of a
+story she'll tell. Who is she?"
+
+"I don't know."
+
+"That's queer. Wut was her little game?"
+
+"Don't know that."
+
+"By gum! it's some kind of a put-up job!"
+
+"I have a fancy there is something more than appears on the surface. It
+is an attempt to make trouble for me."
+
+"That's right."
+
+"I hope to see the woman's face at the police station."
+
+"Yeou won't!"
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"She won't show it."
+
+"Perhaps the judge will request her to lift her veil."
+
+"Not by a gol-darned sight! Men are too big fools over women. They'll
+take any old thing she'll say abaout yeou, an' lock yeou up fer it.
+She'll give some kind of name and address, an' they'll let her go at
+that."
+
+"Well, unless I can get bail right away I shall be in a bad fix. If Kent
+Carson were in town he would pull me out of it, as he did before."
+
+The officer pricked up his ears.
+
+"Ha!" he exclaimed. "Then you have been arrested in Denver before? This
+is a second offense! I rather think you'll not get off as easy as you
+did the first time."
+
+"Oh, yeou are enough to----"
+
+"Ephraim!"
+
+With that word Frank cut Gallup short.
+
+In a short time they approached the police station.
+
+"I have been here before," said Merry, quietly. "This is the station to
+which I was taken when Leslie Lawrence made his false charge against
+me."
+
+Entering, he was taken before the desk of the sergeant, the bobbing man,
+the little man, the cock-eyed man, and the gallant man following
+closely, while others also came in.
+
+The sergeant looked up.
+
+"Ah, Brandon," he said to the officer, "another one?"
+
+"Yes, sir," answered the policeman.
+
+"What is the charge?"
+
+"Insulting a lady on the street."
+
+"Who was the lady?"
+
+"She is coming. She will be here directly to make the complaint against
+him."
+
+Then the sergeant took a good look at the accused. He started, bent
+forward, and looked closer.
+
+"Mr. Merriwell!" he exclaimed; "is it you?"
+
+"Yes, sergeant," bowed Frank, with a smile. "It seems to be my luck to
+cause you trouble once more."
+
+"Trouble!" ejaculated the man behind the desk. "Why, this is very
+surprising! And you are accused of insulting a lady?"
+
+"I am," was the quiet answer.
+
+"Well! well! well! It hardly seems possible. I fail to understand why
+you should do such a thing. It was very kind of you to send me tickets
+for your performance yesterday, and I was fortunate to be able to
+attend. I was greatly pleased, both with your play and yourself, to say
+nothing of your supporting company. I see the papers have given you a
+great send-off, but it is no better than you merit."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Frank, simply.
+
+The policeman began to look disturbed, while the bobbing man, the little
+man, the gallant man, and the cock-eyed man all stared at Frank and the
+sergeant in surprise.
+
+"You seem to recognize the offender, sir," said the officer who had
+arrested Frank.
+
+"I recognize the gentleman, Brandon," said the sergeant, putting
+particular emphasis on the word "gentleman."
+
+"He said he had been arrested before."
+
+"He was, on a trumped-up charge, and he was promptly dismissed by me."
+
+The officer looked still more disturbed.
+
+"But this is no trumped-up charge," he declared. "I have witnesses."
+
+"Where are they?"
+
+"Here."
+
+He motioned toward the men, who had followed closely on entering the
+station, whereupon the little man drew himself up stiffly, as if he
+imagined he must be six feet tall, at least; the bobbing man bobbed in a
+reckless manner, as if he had quite lost control of himself; the gallant
+man lifted his hat and mopped the shiny spot on the top of his head with
+a silk handkerchief, attempting to appear perfectly at ease; and the
+cock-eyed man made a desperate attempt to look the sergeant straight in
+the eye, but came no nearer than the upper corner of the station window,
+which was several yards away to the left.
+
+"And where is the lady who makes the charge?" demanded the man behind
+the desk.
+
+Where, indeed! It was time for her to appear, but all looked for her in
+vain.
+
+"She must be here directly," said the sergeant, "if she is coming at
+all."
+
+"Oh, she is coming!" hastily answered the officer.
+
+"She may be waiting outside, hesitating about coming in," said the
+sergeant. "You may go out and bring her in, Brandon."
+
+The policeman hesitated an instant, as if he feared to leave Frank.
+
+"It is all right," asserted the sergeant. "I will guarantee that Mr.
+Merriwell is quite safe."
+
+Then Brandon hurried out.
+
+"I believe you are going on the road with your play, Mr. Merriwell?"
+said the sergeant, in a most friendly and affable manner.
+
+"I am," answered Frank, "if I succeed in getting started."
+
+"How is that?"
+
+"Well," smiled Merry, "I was due to take a train in one hour and thirty
+minutes when I was accosted by the unknown woman whom it is said I
+insulted. I hardly think I shall be able to catch that train now."
+
+The sergeant looked at his watch.
+
+"How much time have you now?" he asked.
+
+Frank consulted his timepiece.
+
+"Just forty-one minutes," he said.
+
+"Will you kindly tell me what occurred on the street?" invited the
+sergeant. "But wait--first I wish to know who witnessed this assault."
+
+There was some hesitation as the official behind the desk looked the
+assembled crowd over.
+
+"Come," he cried, sharply. "Who knows anything about this affair?"
+
+"I do," asserted the man with the cock-eye, summoning courage to step
+forward a bit. "And here are others."
+
+"Which ones?"
+
+"Him, and him, and him," answered the crooked-eyed man, jabbing a pudgy
+and none too clean forefinger at the gallant man, the little man, and
+the bobbing man, although he seemed to look at three entirely different
+persons from those he named.
+
+The gallant man was perspiring, and looked as if he longed to escape. He
+also seemed anxious over the non-appearance of the veiled lady.
+
+The bobbing man took a step backward, but somebody pushed him from
+behind, and he bobbed himself nearly double.
+
+The little man tugged at his fluttering whiskers, looking to the right
+and left, as if thinking of dodging and attempting to escape in a hurry.
+
+"And these are the witnesses?" said the sergeant, his eyes seeming to
+pierce them through and through. "Their testimony against you shall be
+carefully heard, Mr. Merriwell, and it will be well for them to be
+careful about giving it."
+
+"If I understand what is proper," said the cock-eyed man, who seemed the
+only one who dared speak outright, "this is not the court, and you are
+not the judge."
+
+But he subsided before the piercing eyes of the sergeant, so that his
+final words were scarcely more than a gurgle in his throat.
+
+"Now, Mr. Merriwell," said the sergeant, "I will listen to your story.
+Officer at the door, take care that none of the witnesses depart until
+they are given permission."
+
+Frank told his story briefly, concisely, and convincingly. Barely had he
+finished when the officer who made the arrest came in, looking
+crestfallen and disgusted.
+
+"Where is the lady, Brandon?" asked the sergeant.
+
+"I can't find her, sir," confessed the policeman. "She is nowhere in the
+vicinity."
+
+"Then it seems you have been very careless in permitting her to slip
+away. Now there is no one to make a charge against the prisoner."
+
+"The witnesses--perhaps some of them will do so."
+
+The sergeant turned sharply on the little man, to whom he fired the
+question:
+
+"Did you witness this assault on the unknown lady, sir?"
+
+The little man jumped.
+
+"No, sus-sus-sir," he stammered; "but I----"
+
+"That will do!" came sternly from the man behind the desk. "Step aside."
+
+The little man did so with alacrity, plainly relieved.
+
+Then the sergeant came at the gallant man with the same question:
+
+"Did you witness the assault on the lady, sir?"
+
+"I was not present when it took place, but I----"
+
+"That will do! Step aside."
+
+The gallant man closed up and stepped.
+
+Next the bobbing man was questioned:
+
+"Did you witness the assault on the lady, sir?"
+
+"I arrived just after it was committed, but I can tell you----"
+
+"Nothing! That will do! Step aside."
+
+The cock-eyed man folded his arms across his breast and glared fiercely
+at the window, which seemed to offend him.
+
+"You are next." said the sergeant. "What did you see?"
+
+"I saw quite enough to convince me that the assault had been committed
+before I reached the spot, but----"
+
+"Another 'but.' 'But me no buts.' There seems to be no one present who
+witnessed the assault, and so no one can prefer a charge against Mr.
+Merriwell. Mr. Merriwell, you have now exactly thirty minutes in which
+to catch your train. Don't stop to say a word, but git up and git. You
+are at liberty."
+
+And Frank took the sergeant's advice, followed closely by Ephraim.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+AT THE LAST MOMENT.
+
+
+Frank Merriwell's company had gathered at the railway station to take
+the train for Puelbo. All but Merriwell and Gallup were on hand. Havener
+had purchased the tickets.
+
+Hodge restlessly paced up and down the platform, his face dark and
+disturbed.
+
+There were inquiries for Frank. Stella Stanley came to Havener and
+asked:
+
+"Where is Mr. Merriwell?"
+
+"I do not know," confessed the stage manager, who had been deputized for
+the occasion by Frank to look out for tickets, and make necessary
+arrangements.
+
+"He hasn't come?"
+
+"No; but he'll be here before the train pulls out. You know he has a way
+of always appearing on time."
+
+Hodge stopped in his walk, and stared at Havener.
+
+"I'd like to know when he left the hotel," said Bart. "I called for him
+several times before coming here, but each time I found he was not in
+his room, and no one knew anything about him. His bill was not settled,
+either."
+
+"But his baggage came down with the others," said Havener.
+
+"Because the hotel people permitted it, as he was vouched for by Mr.
+Carson, who seems to be well known to everybody in this city."
+
+"You don't suppose anything has happened to detain him, do you?"
+anxiously asked the actress. "I do hope we shall not make another bad
+start, same as we did before. Agnes Kirk says she knows something will
+happen, for Mr. Merriwell gave away the cat Mascot."
+
+"Agnes Kirk is forever prophesying something dismal," said Hodge. "She's
+a regular croaker. If she didn't have something to croak about, she
+wouldn't know what to do. She declared the cat a hoodoo in the first
+place, but now she says we'll have bad luck because Frank let it go. She
+makes me a trifle weary!"
+
+Hodge was not in a pleasant humor.
+
+Granville Garland and Lester Vance came up.
+
+"It's almost train time," said Garland. "Where is our energetic young
+manager?"
+
+"He will be along," Havener again asserted.
+
+"I hope so," said Vance. "I sincerely hope this second venture will not
+prove such a miserable fizzle as the first one. Everything depends on
+Frank Merriwell."
+
+"Something depends on you!" flashed Hodge, who seemed easily nettled.
+"Frank Merriwell's company did all it could to make the first venture a
+fizzle. Now they should do all they can to make this one a success."
+
+"Hello, Thundercloud is lowering!" exclaimed Garland.
+
+"Save your epithets!" exclaimed Bart. "My name is Hodge."
+
+"My dear Hodge," said Garland, with mock politeness, "you must know it
+is but natural that we should feel a bit anxious."
+
+"I may feel as anxious as any of you, but I do not go round croaking
+about it."
+
+"But our first failure----"
+
+"There it is again! I'm tired of hearing about that! You and Vance are
+dead lucky to be in this second company, for you both joined in the
+attempted assault on Merriwell when Folansbee skipped, and the company
+seemed to be stranded in Puelbo. If I'd been Frank Merriwell I'd sent
+you flying, and you can bet I would not have taken you back."
+
+"Then it's fortunate for us that you were not Frank Merriwell," Garland
+sneered.
+
+"It is," agreed Hodge. "Some people do not know when they are treated
+well."
+
+"That will do!" came sharply from Havener. "This is no time to quarrel.
+By Jove! it's time for that train, and Merriwell's not here."
+
+"Perhaps he's backed out at the last minute and decided not to take the
+play out," said Vance. "It may be that his courage has failed him."
+
+"Now that kind of talk makes me sick!" exploded Hodge. "If you had any
+sense you wouldn't make it!"
+
+"I like that!" snapped Vance, his face flushing.
+
+"I'm glad you do!" flung back Bart. "Didn't think you would. Hoped you
+wouldn't. Only a fool would suppose that, after all this trouble and
+expense, any man with an ounce of brains in his head would back out
+without giving a single performance of the play."
+
+"Well, where is Merriwell?"
+
+Again Havener declared:
+
+"He'll be here."
+
+"But here comes the train!"
+
+The train was coming. There was activity and bustle at the station. The
+platform was alive with moving human beings. Agnes Kirk and Cassie Lee
+came out of the ladies' waiting room. The male members of the company
+got together quickly.
+
+"He has not come!" exclaimed Agnes Kirk, her keen eyes failing to
+discover Frank. "I feared it! I knew it!"
+
+Hodge half turned away, grumbling something deep in his throat.
+
+The actors looked at each other in doubt and dismay.
+
+With a rush and a roar the train came in, and drew up at the station.
+Passengers began to get off.
+
+A heavily veiled woman in black came out of the ladies' room, and
+started for the train. As she passed the group of actors some of their
+conversation seemed to attract her notice. She paused an instant and
+looked them over, and then she turned toward the steps of a car.
+
+"Excuse me, madam," said Hodge, quickly. "You have dropped your
+handkerchief."
+
+He picked it up and passed it to her. As he did so, he noticed the
+letters "L. F." on one corner.
+
+"Thank you," she said, in a low voice.
+
+At that moment, for the last time, Havener was reiterating:
+
+"I believe Frank Merriwell will be here. All get onto the train. He
+never gets left."
+
+Then the woman tossed her head a bit and laughed. It was a scornful
+laugh, and it attracted the attention of several of the group. She
+turned quickly, and stepped into the nearest car.
+
+"Something tells me he will not arrive," declared Agnes Kirk. "The
+hoodoo is still on. This company will meet the same fate the other did."
+
+"Don't talk so much about it," advised Havener, rather rudely. "Get onto
+the train--everybody!"
+
+Hodge was staring after the veiled woman.
+
+"Wonder what made her laugh like that?" he muttered. "Seems to me I've
+heard that laugh before. It seemed full of scornful triumph. I
+wonder----"
+
+He did not express his second wonder.
+
+"Come, Hodge," said Havener, "get aboard. Follow the others."
+
+"I'll be the last one," said Hodge. "I'm waiting for Frank.
+
+"I'm afraid," confessed Havener, beginning to weaken.
+
+"Afraid of what?" Hodge almost hissed.
+
+"It begins to look bad," admitted the stage manager. "I'm afraid
+something has happened to Frank. If he doesn't come----"
+
+"I don't go," declared Bart. "I shall stay and find out what has
+happened to him. You must go. You must sit on those croakers. Your place
+is with the company; mine is with Frank Merriwell."
+
+"All aboard!"
+
+The conductor gave the warning.
+
+"What's this?"
+
+Rattle-te-bang, on the dead jump, a cab was coming along the street. The
+cabman was putting the whip to his foaming horses.
+
+"He's coming," said Hodge, with cool triumph, putting his hands into his
+trousers pockets, and waiting the approach of the cab.
+
+Something made him feel certain of it. Up to the platform dashed the
+cab, the driver flinging the horses back, and flinging himself to the
+platform to fling open the door.
+
+Dong dong!
+
+The train was starting.
+
+Out of the cab leaped Frank Merriwell, grip in hand. At his heels
+Ephraim Gallup came sprawling.
+
+Bart was satisfied, Havener was delighted. Both of them sprang on board
+the train. Across the platform dashed Frank and the Vermont youth, and
+they also boarded the moving cars.
+
+"Well," laughed Merry, easily, "that was what I call a close call. Ten
+dollars to the cabby did it, and he earned his sawbuck."
+
+"I congratulate you!" cried Havener. "I confess I had given you up. But
+what happened to detain you?"
+
+"Nothing but a little adventure," answered Merry, coolly. "I'll tell you
+about it."
+
+They followed him into the car.
+
+Several members of the company had been looking from the car window, and
+the arrival of Frank had been witnessed. They gave a shout as he entered
+the car, and all were on their feet.
+
+"Welcome!" cried Douglas Dunton, dramatically--"welcome, most noble one!
+Methinks thou couldst not do it better in a play. It was great
+stuff--flying cab, foaming horses, moving train, and all that. Make a
+note of it."
+
+"I believe he did it on purpose," declared Agnes Kirk, speaking to
+Vance, with whom she had taken a seat.
+
+"Very likely," admitted Lester. "Wanted to do something to attract
+attention."
+
+"I think it was mean! He fooled us."
+
+But several members of the company shook hands with Frank, and
+congratulated him.
+
+"I told you he would not get left," said Havener, with triumph.
+
+At the rear end of the car was a veiled woman, who seemed to sink down
+behind those in front of her, as if she sought to avoid detection.
+Somehow, although her face could not be seen, there was in her
+appearance something that betokened disappointment and chagrin.
+
+Of course Frank was pressed for explanations, but he told them that
+business had detained him. He did not say what kind of business.
+
+At length, however, with Hodge, Havener and Gallup for listeners, all
+seated on two facing seats, he told the story of his adventure with the
+veiled woman, and his arrest, which ended in a discharge that barely
+permitted him to leap into a cab, race to the hotel, get his grip, pay
+his bill, and dash to the station in time to catch the train.
+
+As the story progressed Hodge showed signs of increasing excitement.
+When Merry finished, Bart exclaimed:
+
+"How did the woman look?"
+
+"I did not see her face."
+
+"How was she dressed? Describe her."
+
+"Don't know as I can."
+
+"Do the best you can."
+
+Frank did so, and Bart cried:
+
+"I've seen her!"
+
+"What?"
+
+Merry was astonished.
+
+"I am sure of it," asserted Bart. "I have seen that very same woman!"
+
+"When?"
+
+"To-day."
+
+"How long ago?"
+
+"A very short time."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"At the station while we were waiting for you to appear."
+
+"Is it possible. How do you know it was her?"
+
+Then Bart told of the strange woman who had dropped her handkerchief, of
+the initials he had seen when he picked it up, and of her singularly
+scornful laugh when she heard Havener declare that Merriwell never got
+left.
+
+All this interested Frank very much. Bart concluded by saying:
+
+"That woman is on this very train!"
+
+"Waal, may I be tickled to death by grasshoppers!" ejaculated the youth
+from Vermont. "Whut in thunder do yeou s'pose she's up to?"
+
+"It may be the same one," said Frank. "It would be remarkable if it
+should prove to be the same one. Two women might look so much alike that
+the description of one would exactly fit the other--especially if both
+were heavily veiled."
+
+Bart shook his head.
+
+"Something tells me it is the same woman," he persisted.
+
+"But why should she be on this train?"
+
+"Who can answer that? Why did she try such a trick on the street?"
+
+"Don't know," admitted Merry. "Once I thought it might be that she was
+mashed on me, but it didn't prove that way."
+
+"Oh, I dunno," drawled Gallup, with a queer grin. "Yeou turned her
+daown, an' that made her sore. Ef she'd bin mashed on ye, perhaps she'd
+done jest as she did to git revenge fer bein' turned daown."
+
+"No, something tells me this was more than a simple case of mash," said
+Frank.
+
+"What do you make of it?" asked Havener.
+
+"An attempt to bother me."
+
+"For what?"
+
+"Who knows? Haven't I had enough troubles?"
+
+"I should say so! But I thought your troubles of this sort were over
+when you got rid of Lawrence. You left two of the assistants who saw him
+try to fire the theater to appear as witnesses against him."
+
+"Oh, I hardly think Lawrence was in this affair in any way or manner. I
+confess I do not know just what to make of it. Heretofore my enemies
+have been men, but now there seems to be a woman in the case."
+
+"If this woman follows you, what will you do?"
+
+"I shall endeavor to find out who she is, and bring her to time, so she
+will drop the game."
+
+"See that you do," advised Hodge. "And don't be soft with her because
+she is a woman."
+
+"Go look through the train and see if you can find the woman you saw,"
+directed Frank. "If you find her, come back here and tell me where she
+is."
+
+"I'll do it!" exclaimed Bart, getting up at once.
+
+"That fellow is faithful to you," said Havener, when Bart had walked
+down the aisle; "but he is awfully disagreeable at times. It's nothing
+but his loyalty that makes me take any stock in him."
+
+"His heart is in the right place," asserted Merry.
+
+"Nothing makes him doubt you. Why, I believe he wanted to fight the
+whole company when you failed to appear."
+
+"An' he's a fighter, b'gosh! when he gits started," declared Gallup.
+"I've seen him plunk some critters an' he plunked them in great style."
+
+Hodge was gone some little time, but there was a grim look of triumph
+when he returned.
+
+"Find her?" asked Merry.
+
+"Sure," nodded Bart.
+
+"Where?"
+
+"Last car. She did not get onto this one, but I rather think she moved
+after you came on board. That makes me all the more certain that it is
+the woman. She's near the rear end of the car, on the left side, as you
+go down the aisle."
+
+"Well," said Frank, rising, "I think I'll go take a look at her. Is she
+alone?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That's good. And she cannot escape from the train till it stops, if it
+should happen to be the right woman, which I hope it is."
+
+Bart wished to accompany Frank to point the woman out, but Merry
+objected.
+
+"No," he said, "let me go alone."
+
+"I can show her to you."
+
+"If the woman I am looking for is in the car I'll find her."
+
+Merry passed slowly through the train, scanning each passenger as he
+went along. He entered the last car. In a few moments he would know if
+the mysterious veiled woman really were on that train. If he found her,
+he would be certain the strange encounter on the street had a meaning
+that had not appeared on the surface.
+
+The train was flying along swiftly, taking curves without seeming to
+slacken speed in the least. Frank's progress through the car was rather
+slow, as the swaying motion made it difficult for him to get along.
+
+But when he had reached the rear of the car he was filled with
+disappointment.
+
+Not a sign of a veiled woman had he seen in the car.
+
+More than that, there was no woman in black who resembled the woman who
+had stopped him on the street in Denver.
+
+Could it be Hodge had been mistaken?
+
+No! Something told him Bart had made no mistake in the matter of seeing
+a woman who answered the description given by Frank. He had said she was
+in the last car. She was not there when Frank passed through the car.
+Then she had moved.
+
+Why?
+
+Was the woman aware that she was being watched? Had she moved to escape
+observation?
+
+Frank stopped by the door at the rear end of the car. He looked out
+through the glass in the door.
+
+Some one was on the platform at one side of the door. Frank opened the
+door and looked out.
+
+The person on the platform was a woman in black, and she wore a veil!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+ON THE REAR PLATFORM.
+
+
+A feeling of exultant satisfaction flashed over Merriwell, and he
+quickly stepped out onto the platform, closing the door behind him.
+
+The woman turned and looked toward him.
+
+The train was racing along, the track seeming to fly away from beneath
+the last car.
+
+It was a strange place for a woman to be, out there on the rear
+platform, and Merry's first thought had been that it must be the woman
+he sought, for had she not come out there to escape him? She had fancied
+he would look through the car, fail to find her, and decide that she was
+not on the train. It must be that she had seen Hodge come in, and had
+realized at once why he had entered the car. When he departed to carry
+the information to Frank, the desperate woman had fled to the rear
+platform.
+
+Immediately on stepping out onto the platform, however, Frank decided
+that his reasoning was at fault.
+
+It was a veiled woman, and she was in black, but it was not the woman he
+sought. It was not the woman who had caused his arrest in Denver!
+
+Merry was disappointed.
+
+The unknown looked at him, and said nothing. He looked at her and
+wondered. The veil was thick and baffling.
+
+"Madam," he said, "this is a dangerous place."
+
+She said nothing.
+
+"You are liable to become dizzy out here and meet with an accident," he
+pursued. "If you should fall--well, you know what that would mean. It is
+remarkable that you should come out here."
+
+"The air," she murmured, in a hoarse, husky voice. "The car was
+stifling, and I needed the air. I felt ill in there."
+
+"All the more reason why you should not come out here," declared Frank,
+solicitously. "You could have had a window opened, and that would have
+given you air."
+
+"The window stuck."
+
+"It must be some of them would open. If you will return, I'll endeavor
+to find you a seat by an open window."
+
+"Very kind of you," she said, in the same peculiar, husky voice. "Think
+I'll stay out here. Don't mind me."
+
+"Then I trust you will permit me to remain, and see that you do not meet
+with any misfortune?"
+
+"No. Go! Leave me! I had rather remain alone."
+
+She seemed like a middle-aged lady. He observed that her clothes fitted
+her ill, and her hands were large and awkward. She attempted to hide
+them.
+
+All at once, with a suddenness that staggered him, the truth burst on
+Frank.
+
+The woman was no woman at all! It was a man in disguise!
+
+Merry literally gasped for a single instant, but he recovered at once.
+
+Through his head flashed a thought:
+
+"This must be some criminal who is seeking to escape justice!"
+
+Immediately Frank resolved to remain on the platform at any hazard. He
+would talk to the disguised unknown.
+
+"The motion of the train is rather trying to one who is not accustomed
+to it," he said. "Some people feel it quite as much as if they were on a
+vessel. Car sickness and seasickness are practically the same thing."
+
+She looked at him through the concealing veil, but did not speak.
+
+"I have traveled considerable," he pursued, "but, fortunately, I have
+been troubled very little with sickness, either on sea or land."
+
+"Will you be kind enough to leave me!" came from behind the veil, in
+accents of mingled imploration and anger.
+
+"I could not think of such a thing, madam!" he bowed, as gallantly as
+possible. "It is my duty to remain and see that you come to no harm."
+
+"I shall come to no harm. You are altogether too kind! Your kindness is
+offensive!"
+
+"I am very sorry you regard it thus, but I know my duty."
+
+"If you knew half as much as you think, you would go."
+
+"I beg your pardon; it is because I do know as much as I think that I do
+not go."
+
+The unknown was losing patience.
+
+"Go!" he commanded, and now his voice was masculine enough to betray
+him, if Frank had not dropped to the trick before.
+
+"No," smiled Merry, really beginning to enjoy it, "not till you go in
+yourself, madam."
+
+The train lurched round a curve, causing the disguised unknown to swing
+against the iron gate. Frank sprang forward, as if to catch and save the
+person from going over, but his real object was to apparently make a
+mistake and snatch off the veil.
+
+The man seemed to understand all this, for he warded off Frank's clutch,
+crying:
+
+"I shall call for aid! I shall seek protection!"
+
+"It would not be the first time to-day that a veiled woman has done such
+a thing," laughed Frank,
+
+The disguised man stared at him again. Merry fairly itched to snatch
+away the veil.
+
+"If you are seeking air, madam," he suggested, "you had better remove
+your veil. It must be very smothering, for it seems to be quite thick."
+
+"You are far too anxious about me!" snapped the disguised man. "I would
+advise you to mind your own business!"
+
+This amused Merry still more. The situation was remarkably agreeable to
+him.
+
+"In some instances," he said, politely, "your advice would be worth
+taking, but an insane person should be carefully watched, and that is
+why I am minding your business just now."
+
+"An insane person?"
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"Do you mean that I am insane?"
+
+"Well, I trust you will excuse me, but from your appearance and your
+remarkable behavior, it seems to me that you should be closely guarded."
+
+That seemed to make the unknown still more angry, but it was plain he
+found difficulty in commanding words to express himself.
+
+"You're a fool!" he finally snapped.
+
+"Thank you!" smiled Frank.
+
+"You're an idiot!"
+
+"Thank you again."
+
+"You are the one who is crazy!"
+
+"Still more thanks."
+
+"How have I acted to make you fancy me demented?"
+
+"You are out here, and you may be contemplating self-destruction by
+throwing yourself from this train."
+
+"Don't worry about that. I am contemplating nothing of the sort."
+
+"But there are other evidences of your insanity."
+
+"Oh, there are?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+As the disguised unknown did not speak, Merry went on:
+
+"The strongest evidence of your unbalanced state of mind is the
+ill-chosen attire you are wearing."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Why are you not dressed in the garments of your sex?"
+
+"Sir?"
+
+"You are not a woman," declared Frank, coolly; "but a man in the
+garments of a woman. Your disguise is altogether too thin. It would not
+deceive anybody who looked you over closely. You are----"
+
+Frank got no further. With a cry of anger, the disguised unknown sprang
+at him, grappled with him, panted in his ear:
+
+"You are altogether too sharp, Frank Merriwell! This time you have
+overshot yourself! This ends you!"
+
+Then he tried to fling Merry from the swiftly moving train.
+
+Frank instantly realized that it was to be a struggle for life, and he
+met the assault as quickly and stiffly as he could; but the disguised
+man seemed, of a truth, to have the strength of an insane person. In his
+quick move, the fellow had forced Frank back against the gate, and over
+this, he tried to lift and hurl him.
+
+"No you don't!" came from Merry's lips.
+
+"Curse you!" panted the fellow. "I will do it!"
+
+"Yes, you will--I don't think!"
+
+In the desperate struggle, both seemed to hang over the gate for a
+moment. Then Frank slid back, securing a firm grip, and felt safe.
+
+Just then, however, the door of the car flew open, and out sprang Hodge.
+Bart saw what was happening in a moment, and he leaped to Merry's aid.
+
+Out on a high trestle that spanned a roaring, torrent-like river rumbled
+the train.
+
+Bart clutched Frank, gave the disguised man a shove, and----
+
+Just how it happened, neither of them could tell afterward, but over the
+gate whirled the man, and down toward the seething torrent he shot!
+
+Up from that falling figure came a wild cry of horror that was heard
+above the fumbling roar of the train on the trestle bridge.
+
+Over and over the figure turned, the skirts fluttering, and then
+headlong it plunged into the white foam of the torrent, disappearing
+from view.
+
+On the rear platform of the last car two white-faced, horrified young
+men had watched the terrible fall. They stared down at the swirling
+river, looking for the unfortunate wretch to reappear. Off the bridge
+flew the train, and no longer were they able to see the river.
+
+"He's gone!" came hoarsely from Bart.
+
+"Then you saw--you knew it was a man?" cried Frank.
+
+"Yes, I saw his trousers beneath the skirts as I came out the door."
+
+"This is terrible!" muttered Frank.
+
+"He was trying to throw you over?"
+
+"Yes; attempted to take me off my guard and hurl me from the train."
+
+"Then the wretch has met a just fate," declared Bart.
+
+But now it seemed that the struggle on the platform had been noticed by
+some one within the car. There were excited faces at the glass in the
+door, and a trainman came out, demanding:
+
+"What is all this? Why are you out here? They tell me a woman came out.
+Where is she?"
+
+With unusual readiness, Bart quickly answered:
+
+"She's gone--jumped from the train."
+
+"Jumped?"
+
+"Yes. We both tried to save her. Just as I reached the door I saw my
+friend struggling to hold her, but she was determined to fling herself
+over."
+
+"Well, this is a fine piece of business!" came angrily from the
+trainman. "What ailed her?"
+
+"She must have been insane," asserted Bart. "She attacked my friend
+here, and then tried to jump off. He could not hold her. I did not get
+hold of her in time."
+
+"What was he doing out here?"
+
+"Watching her. You will admit it was rather queer for a woman to come
+out here on the platform and stand. He thought so, and so he came out to
+watch her."
+
+"Well, you can both come in off this platform!" growled the trainman, in
+anything but a civil manner.
+
+They did so. The passengers swarmed round them when they entered the
+car, literally flinging questions at them.
+
+"Who was the woman?"
+
+"What ailed her?"
+
+"Why did she go out there?"
+
+"What did she do?"
+
+"Tell us about it!"
+
+Again Bart made the explanation, and then there arose a babel.
+
+"I noticed her," declared one. "I saw she looked queer."
+
+"I noticed her," asserted another. "I saw she acted queer."
+
+"I saw her when she went out," put in a third, "and I thought it was a
+crazy thing to do."
+
+"Without doubt the woman was insane," declared a pompous fat man.
+
+"She must have been instantly killed."
+
+"She jumped into the river."
+
+"Then, she was drowned."
+
+"Who knows her?"
+
+"She was all alone."
+
+Frank had been thinking swiftly all the while. He regretted that Bart
+had been so hasty in making his explanation, and now he resolved to tell
+as near the truth as possible without contradicting Hodge.
+
+"Gentlemen and ladies," he said, "I have every reason for believing that
+the person was a man."
+
+Then there were cries of astonishment and incredulity.
+
+"A man?"
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"Never!"
+
+"Ridiculous!"
+
+But an elderly lady, who wore gold-bowed spectacles, calmly said:
+
+"The young gentleman is correct, I am quite sure. The person in question
+sat directly in front of me, and I discovered there was something wrong.
+I felt almost certain it was a man before he got up and went out on the
+platform."
+
+Then there was excitement in the car. A perfect torrent of questions was
+poured on Frank.
+
+Merry explained that he had thought it rather remarkable that a woman
+should be standing all alone on the rear platform, and, after going out
+and speaking to the person, he became convinced that it was a man in
+disguise. Then he told how the man, on being accused, had attacked him
+furiously, and finally had seemed to fling himself over the iron gate.
+
+It was a great sensation, but no one accused either Merry or Bart of
+throwing the unknown over, not a little to Frank's relief.
+
+At last, they got away and went forward into the car where the company
+was gathered. Havener and Gallup had been holding the double seat, and
+Frank and Bart sat down there.
+
+"Well, I fancy you failed to find the lady you were looking for," said
+Havener. "But what's the matter? You look as if something has happened."
+
+"Something has," said Frank, grimly.
+
+"Gol-darned ef I don't b'lieve it!" exclaimed Ephraim. "Both yeou an'
+Hodge show it. Tell us abaout it."
+
+Frank did so in a very few words, astonishing both Ephraim and the stage
+manager.
+
+"Waal," said the Vermonter, "the gal who tackled yeou in Denver warn't
+no man."
+
+"Not much," said Frank, "and it is remarkable that Hodge should have
+mistaken a man for such a woman as I described."
+
+"Didn't," said Bart.
+
+"But you have acknowledged that you believed this was a man."
+
+"Yes, but this man was not the veiled woman I saw."
+
+"Wasn't?"
+
+"Not much!"
+
+"By Jove!" exclaimed Frank. "The mystery deepens!"
+
+"Did you mistake this person for the veiled woman I meant?"
+
+"Sure thing."
+
+"And did not find another?"
+
+"Not a sign of one. I do not believe there is another on the train."
+
+"Well, this is a mystery!" confessed Hodge. "I saw nothing of the one I
+meant when I went to look for you."
+
+"It must be you saw no one but that man in the first place."
+
+Bart shook his head, flushing somewhat.
+
+"Do you think I would take that man for a woman with a perfect figure,
+such as you described? What in the world do you fancy is the matter with
+my eyes?"
+
+"By gum!" drawled Gallup. "This air business is gittin' too thick fer
+me. I don't like so much mystery a bit."
+
+"If that man was not the one you meant, Hodge," said Merry, "then the
+mysterious woman is still on this train."
+
+"That's so," nodded Bart.
+
+"Find her," urged Frank. "I want to get my eyes on her more than ever.
+Surely you should be able to find her."
+
+"I'll do it!" cried Bart, jumping up.
+
+Away he went.
+
+Frank remained with Havener and Gallup, talking over the exciting and
+thrilling adventure and the mystery of it all till Hodge returned. At a
+glance Merry saw that his college friend had not been successful.
+
+"Well," he said, "did you find her?"
+
+"No," confessed Bart, looking crestfallen. "I went through the entire
+train, and I looked every passenger over. The woman I meant is not on
+this train."
+
+"Then, it must be that your woman was the man who met his death in the
+river. There is no other explanation of her disappearance. You must give
+up now, Hodge."
+
+But Hodge would not give up, although he could offer no explanation, and
+the mystery remained unsolved.
+
+There were numerous stops between Denver and Puelbo, and it was
+nightfall before the train brought them to their destination. The sun
+had dropped behind the distant Rockies, and the soft shades of a perfect
+spring evening were gathering when they drew up at the station in
+Puelbo.
+
+Lights were beginning to twinkle in windows, and the streets were
+lighted. "Props" had gone to look after the baggage, and the company was
+gathered on the platform. Cabmen were seeking to attract fares.
+
+Of a sudden, a cry broke from the lips of Bart Hodge:
+
+"There she is!"
+
+All were startled by his sudden cry. They saw him start from the others,
+pointing toward a woman who was speaking to a cabman. That woman had
+left the train and crossed the platform, and she was dressed in black
+and heavily veiled.
+
+Frank saw her--recognized her.
+
+"By heavens! it is the woman," he exclaimed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+MAN OR WOMAN.
+
+
+Into the cab sprang the woman. Slam! the door closed behind her.
+Crack!--the whip of the driver fell on the horses, and away went the
+cab.
+
+"Stop!" shouted Hodge.
+
+Cabby did not heed the command.
+
+Frank made a rush for another cab.
+
+"Follow!" he cried, pointing toward the disappearing vehicle. "I will
+give you five dollars--ten dollars--if you do not lose sight of that
+cab!"
+
+"In!" shouted the driver. "I'll earn that ten!"
+
+In Frank plunged, jerking the door to behind him. The cab whirled from
+the platform with a jerk. Away it flew.
+
+"It will be worth twenty dollars to get a peep beneath that veil!"
+muttered Frank Merriwell.
+
+The windows were open. He looked out on one side. He could see nothing
+of the cab they were pursuing. Back he dodged, and out he popped his
+head on the other side.
+
+"There it is!"
+
+He felt that he was not mistaken. The fugitive cab was turning a corner
+at that moment. They were after it closely.
+
+Frank wondered where the woman could have been hidden on the train so
+that she had escaped observation. He decided that she must have been in
+one of the toilet rooms.
+
+But what about the veiled man who was disguised as a woman? That man had
+known Frank--had spoken his name.
+
+It was a double mystery.
+
+The pursuit of the cab continued some distance. At last the cab in
+advance drew up in front of a hotel, and a man got out!
+
+Merriwell had leaped to the ground, and cabby was down quite as swiftly,
+saying:
+
+"There, sir, I followed 'em. Ten plunks, please."
+
+The door of the other cab had been closed, and the man was paying the
+driver. He wore no overcoat, and carried no baggage.
+
+"Fooled!" exclaimed Frank, in disappointment. "You have followed the
+wrong cab, driver!"
+
+"I followed the one you told me to follow," declared the driver.
+
+"No; you made a mistake."
+
+"Now, don't try that game on me!" growled the man. "It's your way of
+attempting to get out of paying the tenner you promised."
+
+"No; I shall pay you, for you did the best you could. It was not your
+fault that you made a mistake in the mass of carriages at the depot."
+
+"Didn't make no mistake," asserted the cabby, sullenly.
+
+"Well, it's useless to argue over it," said Merry, as he gave the man
+the promised ten dollars. "I am sure you made a mistake."
+
+"Think I couldn't follow Bill Dover and his spotted nigh hawse?"
+exploded the driver. "I couldn't have missed that hawse if I'd tried."
+
+Frank saw one of the horses attached to the other cab was spotted. He
+had noticed that peculiarity about one of the horses attached to the cab
+the mysterious woman had entered.
+
+"It's the same horse!" exclaimed Merry.
+
+"'Course it is," nodded the driver.
+
+The man had paid his fare and was carelessly sauntering into the hotel.
+As he disappeared through the door-way, Frank sprang to the door of the
+other cab, flung it wide open, and looked in, more than half expecting
+to discover the woman still inside.
+
+No woman was there!
+
+Frank caught his breath in astonishment, and stood there, staring into
+the empty cab.
+
+"Hi, there! wot cher doin'?" called the man on the box.
+
+Frank did not answer. He reached into the cab and felt on the floor. He
+found something, brought it forth, looked at it amazed.
+
+It was a woman's dress!
+
+But where was the woman?
+
+Garment after garment Frank lifted, discovering that all a woman's outer
+wearing apparel lay on the floor of that cab.
+
+"Vanished!" he muttered. "Disappeared--gone? What does it mean?"
+
+Then he thought of the man who had left the cab and entered the hotel,
+and he almost reeled.
+
+"That was the woman!"
+
+He had seen one woman change into a man on the train, and here was
+another and no less startling metamorphosis.
+
+"Driver," he cried, "didn't you take a person on in woman's clothes at
+the station and let one off in man's clothes just now?"
+
+"None of yer business!" came the coarse reply. "I knows enough not ter
+answer questions when I'm paid ter keep still."
+
+That was quite enough; the driver might as well have answered, for he
+had satisfied Merriwell.
+
+Frank was astonished by the remarkable change that the woman had made
+while within the cab, but now he believed he understood why she had not
+been detected while on the train. She had been able to make a change of
+disguises in the toilet room, and had passed herself off as a man. Hodge
+had looked for a veiled woman, and he had looked for a veiled woman; it
+was not strange that both of them had failed to notice a person in
+masculine attire who must have looked like a woman.
+
+Up the hotel steps Frank leaped. He entered the office, he searched and
+inquired. At last, he found out that a beardless man had entered by the
+front door, but had simply passed through and left by a side door.
+
+"Given me the slip," decided Frank. He realized that he had encountered
+a remarkably clever woman.
+
+And the mystery was deeper than ever.
+
+Frank went to the hotel at which the company was to stop, and found all
+save Wynne had arrived. Hodge was on the watch for Merry, and eagerly
+inquired concerning his success in following the woman. Frank explained
+how he had been tricked.
+
+"Well, it's plain this unknown female is mighty slippery," said Bart.
+"You have not seen the last of her."
+
+"I am afraid there are some things about this double mystery which will
+never be solved," admitted Frank. "For instance, the identity of the man
+who fell into the river."
+
+"We'll be dead lucky if we do not have trouble over that affair," said
+Hodge.
+
+"How do you mean?"
+
+"Some fool is liable to swear out a warrant charging us with throwing
+the unknown overboard."
+
+"I thought of that," nodded Frank, "and that is why I took occasion on
+the train to straighten out your story somewhat. It is always best,
+Bart, to stick to the straight truth."
+
+Hodge flushed and looked resentful, but plainly sought to repress his
+feelings, as he said:
+
+"I am not the only person in the world who believes the truth should not
+be spoken at all times."
+
+"If one cannot speak the truth," said Merry, quietly, "he had better
+remain silent and say nothing at all, particularly in a case like this.
+There is an old saying that 'the truth can afford to travel slowly, but
+a lie must be on the jump all the time, or it will get caught.'"
+
+"Well, I don't think this is any time to moralize," came a bit sharply
+from Bart. "If we were to go into an argument, I rather think I could
+show logically that a white lie is sometimes more commendable than the
+truth."
+
+"In shielding another, possibly," admitted Merry; "but never in
+shielding the one who tells it. The more a person lies, the more he has
+to lie, for it becomes necessary to tell one falsehood to cover up
+another, and, after a while, the unfortunate individual finds himself so
+ensnared in a network of fabrications that it is impossible for him to
+clear himself. Then disaster comes."
+
+"Oh, don't preach!" snapped Bart. "Let's go to your room and talk this
+matter of the veiled woman over. There is trouble brewing for you, and
+you must be prepared to meet it. Havener has registered for the company,
+and all you have to do is call for your key."
+
+So Frank and Bart went to the room of the former.
+
+Puelbo had been well "papered." The work was done thoroughly, and every
+board, every dead wall, and every available window flaunted the paper of
+"True Blue."
+
+The failure of "For Old Eli" was still fresh in the minds of the people
+of the city, but neither had they forgotten Frank Merriwell's plucky
+promise to bring the play back to that place and perform it successfully
+there.
+
+The newspapers of the place had given him their support, but Frank was
+determined that extracts from the notices in the Denver papers should
+reach the eyes of those who did not read the Puelbo papers closely. With
+this end in view, he had the extracts printed on flyers, as small bills
+are called, and the flyers were headed in startling type:
+
+    "Five Hundred Dollars Fine!"
+
+To this he added:
+
+    "Each and every person who reads the following clippings
+    from Denver newspapers will be fined Five Hundred Dollars!"
+
+It is needless to say that nearly every one who could read was careful
+to read the clippings through to the end.
+
+This manner of attracting attention was effective, even though it may
+seem rather boyish in its conception.
+
+His printing was done on the very night that he arrived in Puelbo, and
+the flyers were scattered broadcast the following day.
+
+He obtained the names of a large number of prominent citizens, to whom
+he sent complimentary tickets, good for the first night's performance.
+
+Frank was determined to have a house, even if it was made up principally
+of deadheads.
+
+On the occasion of his former visit to Puelbo he had received some free
+advertising through Leslie Lawrence, who had circulated printed
+accusations against him. He scarcely expected anything of the sort on
+this occasion, and he was rather startled when, on the morning following
+his arrival, he discovered that a circular had been scattered broadcast,
+which seemed to be even more malicious than the former attempt upon him.
+
+In this circular he was plainly charged with the murder of an unknown
+woman shortly after leaving Denver, and it was said he had been aided in
+the crime by Bartley Hodge.
+
+Frank was calmly reading this bold accusation when Hodge came bursting
+into the room in a manner that reminded Merry of his entrance under
+similar circumstances on the former occasion.
+
+Seeing the paper in Merry's hand, Bart hoarsely cried:
+
+"So you've got it! Then you know about it! Well, now, sir, what do you
+think of that?"
+
+"Sit down, Hodge," said Frank, calmly. "You seem all out of breath. You
+are excited."
+
+"Excited!" shouted the dark-faced youth. "Well, isn't that enough to
+excite a man of stone!"
+
+"Do you mean this?"
+
+"Yes, that! What in the name of creation do you suppose I meant?"
+
+"I wasn't certain."
+
+"Wasn't cert---- Oh, say; that's too much! What do you think? What are
+you made of, anyway?"
+
+"Now, my dear fellow, you must stop going on like this. You'll bring on
+heart disease if you keep it up."
+
+Hodge dropped down on a chair and stared at Merry.
+
+"Well--I'll--be--blowed!" he gasped.
+
+"You are nearly blowed now," said Frank. "You seem quite out of breath."
+
+"Is it possible you have read that paper you hold in your hand?" asked
+Bart, with forced calmness.
+
+"Yes, I have read it."
+
+"Well, I do not understand you yet! I thought I did, but I'm willing to
+confess that I don't."
+
+Then he jumped up, almost shouting:
+
+"Why, man alive, don't you understand that we are charged with
+murder--with murder?"
+
+"Yes," said Frank, still unruffled, "it seems so by this."
+
+"And you take it like that!"
+
+"What is the use to take it differently?"
+
+"Use? Use? Sometimes I think you haven't a drop of good, hot blood in
+your body."
+
+"If a person has plenty of good, hot blood, it is a good thing for him
+to cool it off with good, cool brains. Hot blood is all right, but it
+should be controlled; it should not control the man."
+
+"I don't see how you can talk that way, under such circumstances. Why,
+we may be arrested for murder any moment!"
+
+"We shall not."
+
+"Shall not?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because our unknown enemy does not dare come out into the open and make
+the charge against us."
+
+"What makes you think so?"
+
+"This."
+
+Frank held up the accusing paper.
+
+"That?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why should that make you think so?"
+
+"If our enemy had intended to come out and make the charge against us
+openly, this would not have appeared. It is simply an attempt to hurt us
+from under cover, or to arouse others against us--against me, in
+particular."
+
+Bart could see there was logic in Merry's reasoning, but still he was
+fearful of what might happen.
+
+"Well, even you must acknowledge that the unknown enemy may succeed in
+his purpose," said Hodge. "There were a number of persons who saw
+something of the struggle on the train. This may arouse some of them, or
+one of them, at least, to do something."
+
+"It may."
+
+"You confess that?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Didn't think you would."
+
+"I don't believe it will. Hodge, I have a fancy that, in this case, same
+as in the other, my enemy will overshoot the mark."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Something tells me that this warning, intended to turn suspicion
+against me, will serve as an advertisement. Of course, it will be a most
+unpleasant notoriety to have, but it may serve to bring people out to
+see me."
+
+Bart looked thoughtful.
+
+"I never thought of that," he confessed, hesitatingly.
+
+"I had far rather not had the notoriety," admitted Frank; "but that
+can't be helped now. Let the people turn out to see 'True Blue.' Perhaps
+I'll get a chance at my enemy later."
+
+"The veiled woman----"
+
+"Is in it, I fancy. I believe there was some connection between the
+veiled woman and the veiled man--the one who plunged from the train into
+the river."
+
+"I have thought of that, but I've been unable to figure out what the
+connection could be. Why was the man veiled and disguised thus?"
+
+"So that I would not recognize him."
+
+"Then, it must be that you would know him if you saw him face to face."
+
+"As he knew me. He called me by name as he sprang upon me."
+
+"Well, he's done for, but I believe the woman will prove the most
+dangerous. Something tells me she was the real mover in this business."
+
+"I fancy you are right, Hodge. At first, in Denver, I thought she had
+been piqued by the manner in which I replied to her, but since all these
+strange things have happened, I know it was more than a case of pique."
+
+"When you make a woman your enemy, she is far more dangerous than a man,
+for women are more reckless--less fearful of consequences."
+
+"That's right," nodded Frank. "Women know they will not be punished to
+the full extent of the law, no matter what they do. Juries are easily
+hypnotized by pretty women. Where a woman and a man are connected in
+committing a crime, and the woman is shown to be the prime mover, a jury
+will let the woman off as easily as possible. A jury always hesitates
+about condemning a woman to death, no matter if she has committed a most
+fiendish murder. In the East, women adventuresses ply their nefarious
+arts and work upon the sympathies of the juries so that, when called to
+the bar, they are almost always acquitted. It is remarkable that men
+should be so soft. It is not gallantry; it is softness. The very man who
+would cry the loudest if he had been hit by an adventuress is the most
+eager to acquit the woman in case he happens to be on the jury to
+pronounce the verdict in her case."
+
+"Well," said Hodge, "you are sound and level in that statement, Frank.
+It's plain you do not think true chivalry consists of acquitting female
+blackmailers and assassins."
+
+"Don't let this little attempt to injure us frighten you, Hodge,"
+advised Frank, rising. "I think it will miscarry entirely. We've got
+plenty of work for to-day, and to-night I believe I shall be able to
+tell beyond a doubt whether 'True Blue' is a success or a failure. I
+think the test will come right here in Puelbo, where we met disaster
+before."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+GALLUP MEETS THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN.
+
+
+The mechanical arrangements and special scenery had arrived and were
+moved into the theater. Supers had been engaged to attend rehearsal in
+the afternoon, so that they might know their business when evening came.
+
+Frank attended to the details of much of the work of making ready,
+although he had full confidence in Havener and Hodge, who assisted him.
+He saw that the mechanical effect representing the boat race was put up
+and tested, making sure it worked perfectly. He was anxious about this,
+for any hitch in that scene was certain to ruin the whole play.
+
+Gallup proved valuable. He worked about the stage, and he was of great
+assistance to Havener, who wished Merriwell to appoint him assistant
+stage manager.
+
+Of course, everybody was anxious about the result, but the majority of
+the company had confidence in Merriwell and his play. Cassie Lee,
+perhaps, was the only one who was never assailed by a doubt concerning
+the outcome.
+
+"I shall do my best to-night--at any cost," she told Frank.
+
+At that moment he did not pause to consider the real meaning of her
+words. Afterward he knew what she meant. She still carried a tiny needle
+syringe and a phial that contained a certain dangerous drug that had so
+nearly wrought her ruin.
+
+The various members of the company drifted into the theater by the stage
+entrance, looked over their dressing rooms and the stage and drifted out
+again. They had been engaged to act, and they did not propose to work
+when it was not necessary.
+
+Gallup whistled as he hustled about the work Havener directed him to do.
+He made his long legs carry him about swiftly, although he sometimes
+tripped over his own feet.
+
+Ephraim was arranging a mass of scenery so that every piece would be
+handy for use that night when the time came to use it. While doing this,
+he was surprised to see one of the dressing-room doors cautiously open
+and a person peer out.
+
+"Gosh!" exclaimed the Vermonter, stepping back out of sight. "Who's
+that?"
+
+Again the person peered out of the dressing room, as if to make sure the
+coast was clear.
+
+"I must be dreamin'!" thought the Vermont youth, rubbing his eyes. "I've
+got 'em jest from hearin' Frank and Hodge talk so much about her."
+
+A moment later he changed his mind.
+
+"No, by ginger!" he hissed, as the person slipped out of the dressing
+room. "It's her!"
+
+It was "her," and that means that it was the mysterious veiled woman!
+
+Recovering instantly from the shock of his surprise, Gallup sprang out
+from behind the scenery and made a rush for the unknown.
+
+"Hold on!" he cried. "B'gosh! yeou've gotter give a 'count of yerself,
+an' don't yeou fergit it!"
+
+She started, turned on him, dodged. He flung out his hand and clutched
+at her, catching hold of the chain that encircled her neck and suspended
+her purse.
+
+"I want yeou!" palpitated the Yankee youth. "Yeou're jest the----"
+
+Flirt!--the woman made a quick motion toward him. Something struck
+Ephraim in his eyes, burning like fire. He was nearly knocked down by
+the shock, and a yell of pain escaped his lips.
+
+"I'm blinded!" he groaned.
+
+It was true; he could not see.
+
+With something like a scornful laugh, the woman flitted away and
+disappeared, leaving poor Ephraim bellowing with pain and clawing at his
+eyes, as if he would dig them out of his head.
+
+"Murder!" he howled. "Oh, I'm dyin'! Somebody come quick! My eyes hev
+been put aout! Oh, wow-wow! Oh, I wisht I'd staid to hum on the farm!"
+
+Down on the floor he fell, and over and over he rolled in the greatest
+agony.
+
+Havener and some of the regular theater hands heard his wild cries and
+came rushing to the spot. They found him on the floor, kicking and
+thrashing about.
+
+"What's the matter?" demanded the stage manager.
+
+Gallup did not hear him.
+
+"I'm dyin'!" he blubbered. "Oh, it's an awful way ter die! My eyes are
+gone! Ow-yow!"
+
+"What is the matter?" Havener again cried, getting hold of the thrashing
+youth. "What has happened?"
+
+"Stop her!" roared Ephraim, realizing that some person had come and
+thinking instantly that the woman must be detained. "Don't let her git
+erway!"
+
+"Don't let who get away?"
+
+"The woman! Ow-wow! Bring a pail of warter an' let me git my head inter
+it! I must do somethin' ter put aout the fire! Oh, my eyes! my eyes!"
+
+"What is the matter with your eyes?"
+
+"She threw somethin' inter 'em."
+
+"She?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who?"
+
+"The woman."
+
+"What woman?"
+
+"The veiled woman--the one that has made all the trouble fer Merry! Oh,
+this is jest awful!"
+
+"What are you talking about?" demanded Havener, impatiently. "There is
+no veiled woman here! Have you lost your senses?"
+
+Then, realizing that they were doing nothing to prevent her from making
+her escape, Gallup sat up and howled:
+
+"She was here! I saw her comin' aout of a dressin' room. Oh, dear! Yow!
+I tried to ketch her! Oh, my eyes! She flung somethin' inter my face an'
+put both my eyes out!"
+
+"Something has been thrown into his eyes!" exclaimed Havener. "It's red
+pepper! He is telling the truth! Somebody get some water! Somebody run
+to a drug store and get something for him to use on his eyes!"
+
+"Darn it all!" shouted Gallup. "Let me die, ef I've gotter! but don't
+let that infarnal woman git erway!"
+
+"I will try to see to that," said Havener, rushing away.
+
+He dashed down to the stage door, but he was too late, for the
+doorkeeper told him the veiled woman had gone out.
+
+"Why in the world did you let her in?" angrily demanded the irate stage
+manager.
+
+"She said she belonged to the company."
+
+"She lied! She has half killed one of the company!"
+
+"I heard the shouts," said the doorkeeper, "and I thought somebody was
+hurt. But it wasn't my fault."
+
+"If she tries to come in here again, seize and hold her. I'll give you
+five dollars if you hold her till I can reach her! She is a female
+tiger!"
+
+Then Havener rushed back to see what could be done for Gallup.
+
+Groaning and crying, Gallup was washing the pepper from his eyes, which
+were fearfully inflamed and swollen. He could not see Havener, but heard
+his voice, and eagerly asked:
+
+"Did ye ketch the dratted critter?"
+
+"No; she got out before I reached the door."
+
+"Darn her!" grated Ephraim. "I say darn her! Never said ennything as bad
+as that about a female woman before, but I jest can't help it this time!
+I won't be able to see fer a week!"
+
+"Oh, yes, you will," assured Havener. "But I rather think your eyes will
+look bad for some time to come."
+
+"Here is something he had in his hand," said one of the supers. "It's
+her purse, I reckon; but there ain't no money in it."
+
+Havener took it.
+
+"Are you sure there wasn't any money in it when you examined it?" he
+asked, sharply.
+
+The super seemed to feel insulted, and he angrily protested that he
+would not have touched a cent if there had been five hundred dollars in
+it.
+
+"But I notice you had curiosity enough to examine the contents of it,"
+came dryly from the stage manager. "I'll just keep this. It may prove to
+be a valuable clew to the woman's identity."
+
+Everything possible was done for Ephraim's eyes, but it was a long time
+before he was much relieved from the agony he was suffering. Then he was
+taken to the hotel, with a bandage over his eyes, and a doctor came to
+attend him.
+
+The physician said he would do everything possible to get Ephraim into
+shape to play that evening, but he did not give a positive assurance
+that he would be able to do so. As soon as Frank heard of the misfortune
+which had befallen the Vermont youth, he hastened to the hotel and to
+the room where Ephraim was lying on the bed.
+
+Gallup heard his step and recognized it when he entered.
+
+"I'm slappin' glad yeou've come, Frank!" he exclaimed.
+
+"And I am terribly sorry you have met with such a misfortune, Ephraim,"
+declared Merry.
+
+"So be I, Frank--so be I! But I'm goin' ter play my part ter-night ur
+bu'st my galluses tryin'! I ain't goin' to knock aout the show ef I kin
+help it."
+
+"That was not what I meant. I was sorry because of the pain you must
+have suffered."
+
+"Waal, it was ruther tough," the faithful country lad confessed. "By
+gum! it was jest as ef somebody'd chucked a hull lot of coals right
+inter my lookers. It jest knocked me silly, same ez if I'd bin hit with
+a club."
+
+"How did it happen? Tell me all about it."
+
+Ephraim told the story of his adventure, finishing with:
+
+"I kainder guess that red pepper warn't meant fer me, Frank. That was
+meant fer yeou. That woman was in there ter fix yeou so yeou couldn't
+play ter-night."
+
+"It's quite likely you may be right, Ephraim; but she had to give it to
+you in order to escape. But where is this purse you snatched from her?"
+
+"On the stand, there. Havener tuck possession of it, but I got him to
+leave it here, so yeou might see it right away when yeou came."
+
+Frank found the purse and opened it. From it he drew forth a crumpled
+and torn telegram. Smoothing this out, he saw it was dated at Castle
+Rock the previous day. It read as follows:
+
+    "Mrs. Hayward Grace, Puelbo, Colo.
+
+    "All right. Close call. Fell from train into river. Came
+    near drowning, but managed to swim out. Will be along
+    on first train to-morrow. Keep track of the game.
+
+                                                      "P. F."
+
+Frank jumped when he read that.
+
+"By Jove!" he cried.
+
+"Whut is it?" Ephraim eagerly asked.
+
+"I believe I understand this."
+
+"Do ye?"
+
+"Sure! This was from the man who fell from the train into the river--the
+man disguised as a woman, who attacked me on the rear platform!"
+
+"Looks zif yeou might be right."
+
+"I am sure of it! The fellow escaped with his life! It is marvelous!"
+
+"I sh'u'd say so!"
+
+"He dispatched his accomplice, the woman, to let her know that he was
+living."
+
+"Yeou've struck it, Frank!"
+
+"And she was the one who got out the accusing flyers, charging me with
+the crime of murder!"
+
+"I bet!"
+
+"The man is in this city now, and they are working together again."
+
+"I dunno'd I see whut they're goin' to make aout of it, but mebbe yeou
+do."
+
+"Not yet. They must be enemies I have made."
+
+"Who's Mrs. Hayward Grace?"
+
+"Never heard the name before."
+
+"Waal, he didn't sign his name Hayward Grace, so it seems he ain't her
+husband; don't it, Frank?"
+
+"He signed 'P. F.' Now, I wonder what one of my enemies can be fitted to
+those initials?"
+
+"I dunno."
+
+"Nor do I. But this telegram has given me a feeling of relief, for I am
+glad to know the man was not drowned."
+
+"Drownin's too good fer him! He oughter be hung!"
+
+"Although my conscience was clear in the matter, I am glad to know that
+I was in no way connected with his death. Hodge will not be so pleased,
+for he will not stop to reason that the chances of a charge of murder
+being brought against us are about blotted out. Ephraim, I am very sorry
+you were hurt, but I'm extremely glad you snatched this purse and
+brought me this telegram. I shall take care of it. I shall use it to
+trace my enemies, if possible."
+
+"Waal, I'm glad I done somethin', though I'd bin a 'tarnal sight gladder
+if I hed ketched that woman."
+
+Frank carefully placed the purse and the telegram in his pocket, where
+he knew it would be safe.
+
+Assuring Ephraim that everything possible should be done for him, he
+hastened out.
+
+That afternoon the rehearsal took place, with another person reading
+Ephraim's part. It was feared that Gallup would not be able to see to
+play when it came night, but Frank hoped that he could, and the Vermont
+youth vowed he'd do it some way.
+
+The rehearsal passed off fairly well, although there were some hitches.
+Havener looked satisfied.
+
+"I'd rather it would go off this way than to have it go perfectly
+smooth," he declared. "I've noticed it almost always happens that a
+good, smooth rehearsal just before a first performance means that the
+performance will go bad, and vice versa."
+
+Frank had not been long in the business, but he, also, had observed that
+it often happened as Havener had said.
+
+The theater orchestra rehearsed with them, getting all the "cue music"
+arranged, and having everything in readiness for the specialties.
+
+The night came at last, and the company gathered at the theater,
+wondering what the outcome would be.
+
+Gallup was on hand, but he still had the bandage over his eyes. He was
+wearing it up to the last minute, so that he would give them as much
+rest as possible.
+
+"Somebody'll hev ter make me up ter-night," he said. "I don't believe I
+kin see well enough ter do that."
+
+Havener agreed to look after that.
+
+While the various members were putting the finishing touches on their
+toilet and make-up, word came that people were pouring into the theater
+in a most satisfactory manner. The orchestra tuned up for the overture.
+
+Frank went round to see that everybody was prepared. He had fallen into
+that habit, not feeling like depending on some one else to do it.
+
+Most of the men were entirely ready. A few were making the last touches.
+Stella Stanley and Agnes Kirk were all ready to go on.
+
+"Where is Cassie?" asked Merry.
+
+"In the dressing room," said Stella. "She told us not to wait for her.
+Said she would be right out."
+
+Frank went to the dressing room. The door was slightly open, and,
+through the opening, he saw Cassie. She had thrust back the sleeve of
+her left arm, and he saw a tiny instrument in her right hand. He knew in
+a twinkling what she was about to do.
+
+With a leap, Frank went into that room and caught her by the wrist.
+
+"Cassie!" he cried, guardedly. "You told me you had given it up! You
+told me you'd never use morphine again!"
+
+"Frank!" she whispered, looking abashed. "I know I told you so! I meant
+it, but I must use it just once more--just to-night. I am not feeling at
+my best. I'm dull and heavy. You know how much depends on me. If I don't
+do well I shall ruin everything. It won't hurt me to use it just this
+once. The success of 'True Blue' may depend on it!"
+
+"If the success of 'True Blue' depended on it beyond the shadow of a
+doubt, I would not let you use it, Cassie! Great heavens! girl, you are
+mad! If you fall again into the clutches of that fiend nothing can save
+you!"
+
+"But the play----"
+
+"Do you think I would win success with my play at the price of your
+soul! No, Cassie Lee! If I knew it meant failure I would forbid you to
+use the stuff in that syringe. Here, give it to me!"
+
+He took it from her and put it into his pocket.
+
+"Now," he said, "it is out of your reach. You must play without it.
+There goes the overture. The curtain will go up in a few minutes. All I
+ask of you is to do your best, Cassie, let it mean success or failure."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+THE END OF THE ROPE.
+
+
+The theater was packed. Under no circumstances had Frank anticipated
+such an audience on the opening night. He felt sure that the advertising
+given him through the effort of his enemies to injure him had done much
+to bring people out. Another thing had brought them there. Curiosity led
+many of them to the theater. They remembered Merriwell's first
+appearance in Puelbo and its outcome, and they had not forgotten how, in
+a speech from the stage, he had vowed that he would bring the play back
+there and give a successful performance. He had rewritten the piece, and
+it had been played in Denver to an invited audience, every member of
+which went away highly pleased. The Denver papers had pronounced in
+favor of it.
+
+Puelbo people admired pluck and determination. They could not help
+feeling admiration for the dogged persistency of Frank Merriwell. And
+they really hoped he would make good his promise to give a successful
+performance.
+
+Frank's first entrance was carefully worked up to in the play, and he
+was astounded when he came laughing and singing onto the stage, to be
+greeted by a perfect whirlwind of applause. Nor did the applause cease
+till he had recognized it by bowing.
+
+Then, as everything quieted down and the play was about to move on
+again, there came a terrible cry that rang through the house:
+
+"Fire!"
+
+Frank understood in a twinkling that it was a false alarm, given for the
+purpose of producing a stampede and raising the performance.
+
+After that cry for a moment everybody sat as if turned to stone. It was
+the calm before the panic.
+
+Then Frank's voice rang out clear as a bell:
+
+"There is no fire! Keep your seats!"
+
+Some had sprung up, but his clear voice reached every part of the house,
+and it checked the movement.
+
+"Fire! fire!"
+
+Shrill and piercing was the cry, in the voice of a woman.
+
+"Arrest that woman!" cried Frank. "She is trying to ruin this
+performance! She is the one who circulated a lying and malicious
+circular charging me with the crime of murder. It was a part of a plot
+to ruin me!"
+
+Frank confessed afterward that he did not understand why the audience
+remained without stampeding after that second alarm. It must have been
+that there was a magic something in his voice and manner that convinced
+them and held them. At any rate, there was no rush for the doors.
+
+All at once there was a commotion in the first balcony, from which the
+cries had come. Two policemen had seized a man and a woman, and the
+arrested pair were taken from the theater.
+
+Quiet was restored, and Frank made a few soothing remarks to the
+audience, after which the play proceeded.
+
+And now he had the sympathy of every person in the great audience. When
+an actor has once fairly won the sympathy of his audience, he is almost
+sure of success.
+
+The first act went off beautifully. The storm and shipwreck at the close
+of the act took with the spectators. There was hearty applause when the
+curtain fell.
+
+Frank had arranged that things should be rushed in making ready for the
+second act. He wanted no long waits between acts, for long waits weary
+the patience of the best audiences.
+
+The second act seemed to go even better than the first, if such a thing
+were possible. The singing of the "Yale Quartet" proved a great hit, and
+they were obliged to respond to encore after encore. Cassie's dancing
+and singing were well appreciated, and Frank, who was watching her,
+decided that she could not have done better under any circumstances. He
+did not know how hard she was working for success. He did not know that
+she had actually prayed that she might do better than she had ever done
+before in all her life.
+
+The discomfiture of _Spike Dubad_ at the close of the second act was
+relished by all.
+
+At last the curtain rose on the third act, round which the whole plot of
+the play revolved. Now, the interest of the audience was keyed up to the
+right pitch, and the anxiety of the actors was intense.
+
+The first scene went off all right, and then came the change to the
+scene where the boat race was shown on the river. Everything worked
+perfectly, and there was a tumult in that theater when the stage
+suddenly grew dark, just as the Yale boat was seen to forge into the
+lead.
+
+And then, in a few moments, the distant sounds of cheering and the
+screaming of steam whistles seemed to burst out close at hand, filling
+the theater with an uproar of sound. Then up flashed the lights, and the
+open boathouse was shown, with the river beyond. The boats flashed in at
+the finish, the Yale cheer drowned everything else, and Frank Merriwell
+was brought onto the stage in the arms of his college friends.
+
+The curtain came down, but the audience was standing and cheering like
+mad, as if it had just witnessed the success of its favorite in a real
+college race. The curtain went up for the tableau again and again, but
+that audience would not be satisfied till Frank Merriwell came out and
+said something.
+
+Frank came at last, and such an ovation as he received it brought a
+happy mist to his eyes.
+
+"There he is!" somebody cried. "He said he would come back here with his
+play and do the trick!"
+
+"Well, he has done it!" cried another. "And he is the real Frank
+Merriwell, who has shown us the kind of never-say-die pluck that has
+made Yale famous the world over. Three cheers for Frank Merriwell!"
+
+They were given. Then all Frank could say was a few choking words:
+
+"My friends, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! You cannot know
+how much was depending on the success or failure of this play. Perhaps
+all my future career depended on it. I vowed I would win----"
+
+"And you have!" shouted a voice.
+
+"It seems so. Again, I thank you. I am too happy to say more. Words are
+idle now."
+
+He retired.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Frank Merriwell had won with his play; "True Blue" was a success. In his
+happiness he forgot his enemies, he forgot that two persons had been
+arrested in the balcony. It was not till the next morning when he was
+invited by a detective to come to the jail to see the prisoners that he
+thought of them.
+
+The detective accompanied him.
+
+"I have been on this fellow's track for a long time," he explained.
+"Spotted him in the theater last night, but was not going to arrest him
+till the show was over. The woman with him created the disturbance, and
+two policemen took them both in. I don't want her for anything, but I
+shall take the man back to Chicago, to answer to the charge of forgery.
+I shall hold him here for requisition papers."
+
+The jail was reached, and first Frank took a look at the woman. He felt
+that she would prove to be the mysterious woman of the veil, and he was
+right. She looked up at him, and laughed.
+
+"Good-morning, Mr. Merriwell," she said. "Pres and I have made things
+rather warm for you, you must confess. I reckon we made a mistake last
+night. We'd both been looking on the wine when it was red, or we'd not
+attempted to stampede the audience."
+
+"Why, it is the woman who claimed to be Havener's wife!" cried Frank.
+
+"Here is the man," said the detective.
+
+Frank turned to another cell.
+
+He was face to face with Philip Scudder, his old-time enemy, who had
+reached the end of his rope at last!
+
+But, in the hour of victory, Frank gave little heed to those who had
+made his path to this present success a hard and stormy one.
+
+He was successful!
+
+As a playwright and as an actor he had won the palm of victory, the
+future seemed to promise all the rewards his energy and enterprise
+deserved.
+
+He had started out from college with the determination to win wealth and
+fame. He had left the scenes of his early triumphs and first
+misfortunes, with the firm purpose to return honored and enriched by his
+own labors.
+
+Now he was on the eve of accomplishing that purpose.
+
+And as he looked into the future, the lines of will power and
+determination that had always marked his handsome countenance grew
+firmer, as he murmured:
+
+"I will myself be 'True Blue!' Come what may, let my paths for the next
+few months be as untoward as they ever have been, difficulties shall but
+act as a spur to me in my purpose. For I shall be, soon, I hope, once
+more a son of 'Old Eli.'"
+
+THE END.
+
+
+No. 41 of The Merriwell Series, entitled "Frank Merriwell's Prosperity,"
+by Burt L. Standish, shows our hero as a successful playwright, and on a
+fair way to fame and fortune.
+
+
+
+
+BUFFALO BILL
+
+King of the Plains
+
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+BILL!
+
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+wounded with him.
+
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+are based upon fact and written by a clever pen.
+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Frank Merriwell's New Comedian, by Burt L. Standish
+
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