"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 c.o.c.k-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!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed 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 c.o.c.k-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 c.o.c.k-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," a.s.serted 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 a.s.sault."
There was some hesitation as the official behind the desk looked the a.s.sembled crowd over.
"Come," he cried, sharply. "Who knows anything about this affair?"