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 p.r.o.nounce 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 a.s.sa.s.sins."
"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 a.s.sisted 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 a.s.sistance to Havener, who wished Merriwell to appoint him a.s.sistant stage manager.
Of course, everybody was anxious about the result, but the majority of the company had confidence in Merriwell and his play. Ca.s.sie Lee, perhaps, was the only one who was never a.s.sailed 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 ma.s.s 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!"