"I do," a.s.serted the man with the c.o.c.k-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 c.o.c.k-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 a.s.sault 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 a.s.sault 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 a.s.sault on the lady, sir?"
"I arrived just after it was committed, but I can tell you----"
"Nothing! That will do! Step aside."
The c.o.c.k-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 a.s.sault 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 a.s.sault, 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.