Frank Merriwell's New Comedian Part 47

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 princ.i.p.ally 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 circ.u.mstances on the former occasion.

Seeing the paper in Merry's hand, Bart hoa.r.s.ely 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 circ.u.mstances. 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 advertis.e.m.e.nt. Of course, it will be a most unpleasant notoriety to have, but it may serve to bring people out to see me."