Frank Merriwell's Fame — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

TIP TOP WEEKLY. He literally drove them out of the room, refusing to hear a word in explanation. When they were gone and the door was locked, Frank said: “Now, Mr. Folansbee, we will divide the pot.” Folansbee protested that Frank should keep it all, as he had exposed the rascals, but Merry insisted on dividing. Frank was well satisfied with the work he had done. CHAPTER X. A DESPERATE VILLAIN. It was the night following the exposure of the rascals. The third act of “John Smith” was being played. It was the great sawmill scene, in which Frank was bound to a log that was being cut into boards by a huge cir- cular saw. Lockwell was playing the villain. He it was who was to knock Merry senseless in the old mill and bind him to the log. Elsie Bell- wood was to smash in the door with an axe and save Frank just before the saw reached his head. Not a word had been said to Lockwell or Lawrence about the outcome of the poker game the night before. It was absolutely necessary to retain the fellows in the cast of the play for a short time, at least. Never had Lockwell played with such in- tensity as he did that night. The part made him hate the hero, who was Merriwell, and his hatred seemed the real thing. The struggle came at last. Lockwell struck Frank down, dragged him to the log, bound him there. He drew the knots firmly, his eyes glaring with hatred. His lines caused him to shout: “There, curse you! This will be the end of you! You will be out of my path forever! Die, die!” Then he started up the machinery, and the saw began to cut through the log toward Frank’s head. There was a rapping on the door. Elsie was there. She had heard the villain’s words, and she was calling to the hero. No answer. Then came a louder hammering on the door and more calls. No answer. Bang! bang! bang! She was hammering on the door with the axe. Soon the door began to fly to pieces, but the saw was dangerously near Frank Merri- well’s head, and Merriwell was really bound to the log so that he could not escape. The audience was thrilled. It was breath- less—it was nerve-tortured. Bang! bang! crash! In burst Elsie, but she was clutched by the villain. This was in the play; but she was to break away from him after a short struggle and save Frank. | The axe was dropped, and the struggle continued. Elsie saw a terrible look on Lock- well’s face, and she realized what it meant. -—~ In vain she struggled to break away. The man held her. : “Let me go—quick!” she panted. “If you don’t, he will really be killed!” “Tet him die!” hissed Lockwell. ° “Let him die!” There was no mistaking the fellow’s mur- derous purpose. Madly the girl tried to break away. “Let me go!” screamed Elsie. wretch! He will be killed!” Then, with a superhuman effort, she broke away. In a moment she snatched up the axe. Lockwell tried to grab her again, but she swung the axe aloft, screaming: “Back, or as true as there is a heaven I[’ll “You ‘brain you!” He started back, and she darted to Frank’s side, cut the ropes with the axe, and set Mer- ry free, just as the villain rushed out. The audience, thinking it all a superb piece of acting, shouted itself hoarse as the curtain fell. Lockwell was not found after the play. He disappeared from the hotel, but he left a note behind for Frank Merriwell.: Here is what he wrote: ; “Curse you! My time will come! I have hated you from the first, but I grew to hate you more and more as I saw you succeeding and becoming famous. The poker game made me ready to have your life. Wait! I atirmot— done with you. I drugged you at the sup- per and made them think you had been drinking. If I had not been in a hurry, | might have kept at you in that manner and disgraced you; but it was too slow for me. The saw did not finish you, but there are things that will. We shall meet again. “Lockwell.” The End. The next number (139) of the Tip Top Weekly will contain ‘‘Frauk Merri- well’s Father; or, The Man With Money to Burn,’’? by the author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.’’ HARD CIDER IS A DANGEROUS THING TO FOOL WITH. SEE NO. 30 OF TRUE BLUE. 7100