Frank Merriwell's Fame — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

18 of Montana” their doubts were dispelled and they whooped themselves hoarse with de- light. appeared on the streets, and they did every- They followed him about when he thing they could for him in thé way of ad- vertising. Frank’s fame spread swiftly. Stories of the new star that had arisen flooded the pa- pers. But there was one memory that rankled like a barb in Merry’s heart. It wa’s of the St. Louis paper’s report of the supper on the opening night of “John Smith.” Frank knew he had not been drunk, but even the story Elsie had told him of his actions at the table had seemed to confirm the report. He told himself that he must have been seized by a fainting spell, or some- thing of the sort, but he knew that such an explanation would not satisfy anybody else. It did not satisfy him, but there seemed no other. way to account for what had hap- pened. Although things seemed to be going along swimmingly, and Frank was winning fame and money, Merry felt that everything was not right in the company. There was not miuch discipline, save at rehearsals, when Havener would have things his way, and every member of the company had to obey him. Frank kept at the plot, putting in new speeches and business and cutting out things that did not “go,” for he was determine ! He was not satisfied, as some fellows would have to make the piece as good as possible. been, to let it go when it seemed pretty near all right; he was determined to make it per- fectly right, and so he kept tinkering away. Of course, this made work for the people in the cast, and some of them grumbled and fussed over it. Both Lawrence and Lock- well “raised a kick,” complaining that it was > TIP TOP WEEKLY. a nuisance to learn so much stuff that was changed and abandoned. ‘“Merriwell will monkey with the play till he. ruins it,” declared Lawrence. “And Havener will keep us’ rehearsing till we ate worn out,” grumbled Lockwell. One day Lockwell declined to come to re- hearsal, although he was sitting in the office of the hotel when the others started for the — theatre. ‘ Havener sent Ephraim Gallup after. him. Ephraim was the hardest worker in the coni- pany, as’ he ‘was forced to do all kinds. of odd jobs, and usually stayed up’ after the show was over to see that all the special ma- chinery and mechanical arrangements were As Ephraim was aftending to this on the night packed and made ready for shipment. of the supper, he had not been present: at the table, but of course he did not. believe Frank was intoxicated. Gallup found Lockwell smoking ).a cigar in the office of the hotel. ‘‘Havener wants ye right, away to.the opery haouse,” announced the Yermonter. “You tell Havener to go chase himself,” yawned Lockwell. “I’m tired, and I’m not feeling very well.” “Well, he don’t stan’ no foolin’, so yeou’d better come erlong.”’ “Get out. can read my part. I sha’n't rehearse to-day.” “All right. I'll tell him, but look aout fer squalls.” You're too fresh! Somebody Ephraim went back and reported Lock- well’s words just as Lockwell had spoken Havener’s face turned black as a cloud. Without a word he started after Lockwell. Lockwell was not found. He had disap- peared, and it was necessary for the re- them. hearsal to go on without him. if there was a rehearsal. Why That Blast Upon the Fog Horn? Was Fish-Caké in Trouble? See No. 30 of True Blue. oofe)