Tip Top Weekly No. 139: Frank Merriwell's Father — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

TIP TOP WEEKLY. 18 One thing alone gave him a feeling of relief. Over and over he told himself: “They cannot prove anything. They are not even certain that I cheated. Lockwell alone was detected.” _ Of course Frank was sure Lawrence had cheated, but the turn of the game had brought about the exposure of Lockwell, and Lawrence had escaped. Even then Lawrence was not discharged from the company. It was not till Lockwell had tried to injure or kill Frank Merriwell in the sawmill scene of the play that he was forced to leave or be “fired.” He chose to get out in a hurry. of his own accord, but he had informed Frank that they would meet again. Lawrence had fancied that Merriwell would “cut him dead,” but he was surprised to find that Frank treated him with civility and politeness. . Folansbee was the one who cut him. This was particularly humiliating, as, up to the time of the fatal game of cards, he had seemed to enjoy the confidence of the man- ager more than any other member of the company. | | Somehow Merriwell’s forbearance and civ- ilIness did not soften the resentment of the actor. He remembered that it was only a short time before that he had been playing leads in the company that Frank joined as a rank amateur. Now he was supporting the amateur, Frank Merriwell, the star of a play written by himself! And Lawrence believed he could fill the - star role far better than Frank. Ephraim Gallup was one of Frank’s staunchest and most steadfast friends. For that reason Lawrence was “sore” on him. Ephraim’s head was not turned by his re- ception as an actor. He went on ‘to the end of the play, doing his part as well as he could, When Taps Somnded Clif Faraiay Had Disanpeared. Where was He? and making it funnier than it had ever seemed before. s , Frank understood the reason for this bet- ter than anybody else, for had he not written the part with the peculiarities of Gallup in his mind’s eye? Ephraim fitted into it as the hand fits into a glove. And the presentation of the play that night in Marshall was smoother and better than it had been previously. The show still seemed to be on the straight road to success. Ephraim Gallup was the hero of the even- ing among his fellow actors. CHAPTER IV. THE MYSTERIOUS MR, PHENIX. | The following day, as Frank was register- ing for the company at a Kansas City hotel, a striking looking stranger entered and walked up to the cigar counter near the clerk’s desk. | The stranger had snow white beard and hair. The beard was well cared for, while the hair was so long that it fell on the collar of his coat. His dark clothes were of broadcloth, the suit being new and spotlessly brushed, al- though it was plainly cut after a fashion to suit the taste of the wearer, rather than ac- cording to the style of the day. On his head the man wore a wide-brimmed hat, while the boots on his feet were of shin- ing patent leather. Across the front of his vest a massive gold chain was strung. In his scarf blazed a large diamond, and there were diamend rings on his fingers. The man’s manner was quiet and calm. His face was almost as white as his beard and hair, but his eyes were sharp and piercing. He was a person to attract attention any- where. | Trae Blue No. 30. COMRniclooo S CO in