"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 sc.r.a.p, 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 Ca.s.sie Lee, getting into line with her small fists clinched, and a look of determination on her thin face. "Don"t n.o.body 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 sa.s.s 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 Ca.s.sie 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."