Frank Merriwell's Fame — page 12: what you’re looking at

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10 TIP TOP how they called us out to bow hand in hand again and again.” “It was a great triumph for you.” “And for you. You aided me, for, with any one else in the, part, I could not have acted so well. I know it. You were an in- spiration for me. Pneeded you, Elsie— have needed you a long, long time.”’ He drew her closer and kissed her. At that .moment, Leslie Lawrence and Percy Lockwell passed unseen. Both saw the lovers. : “It’s. a shame,” said Lockwell, fiercely, “for the fellow to catch such a girl! She is a little peach, and I wouldn’t mind having her on the string myself. I don’t suppose she’d look at anybody but Merriwell.” “Oh, she’s a little light-headed thing,” said Lawrence. “She’s poor, too. If some chap had the stuff, I reckon he’d win her away from Merriwell in a walk; but neither of. us has, the stuff, so we stand no show.” ‘Perhaps not,” muttered Lockwell, “but there’s nothing like trying, you know.” CHAPTER IV. THE SUPPER. Parker Folansbee had settled with the manager, and he came back behind the scenes in a jolly mood. “If this thing keeps us, it'll be a snap,” he declared. “We won't do a thing but have a red hot supper at the hotel to-night. I’ve Ordered it at the end of the second act, when I saw the play was going The whole company’s invited. We'll have a blow out.” ordered’ it. to be a go. Everybody come. Frank heard and was troubled, for he saw that Folansbee had been drinking freely, and he had heard that the manager was a “warm baby” when he*got started on a spree. “It’s the worst thing that could happen,” thought Merry. “He will ruin discipline in HEAD END FIRST IS NOT THE WAY TO FIGHT CLIF: WEEKLY. the company, for others will follow his ie ample when they find he is drinking.” Then Frank remembered his unpleasant interview with Lawrence, and, without. de- lay, he followed Folansbee, saying: “If you can spare the time, I wish to speak with you, Mr. Folansbee,”’ “Ha! boy!” cried the “angel,” familiarly catching You are all right, Merriwell, my hold of Frank and giving him a slap on the back, This was quite unlike’ Folansbee’s usual languid, courteous manner, and Frank was still more unpleasantly impressed. He drew the man aside, where-the others would not With- out hesitation, Frank came right at the point. be likely to hear their conversation. “Mr. Folansbee, something has happened to-night that I regret very much. Mr. Law- rence has seen fit to break rules in my pres- efice.”” “He has?” said the backer of the com- “Well, how did he If pany, straightening up. dare? He shall be called to an account. he does it again, he shall. be released!” “But he claimed an excuse for doing so.” “How? What was it?” ‘He said you permitted. it.” “What? No, sir! Rules are rules. What did he do?” “Took a drink in my dressing room dur- ing the course of the play.” i) Folansbee looked disturbed. He coughed, started to say something, stopped, started again. “Well, you see—I—I don’t know as that is so bad, but 4 “He broke a rule.” This caused the backer to stiffen again. “Of course he did—of course he broke a 3? rule. You made that rule, and “He was decidedly insulting about it, for SEE NO. 30. OF TRUE BLUE. JOO 7EO