Tip Top Weekly No. 139: Frank Merriwell's Father — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

TIP TOP WEEELY, he said; ‘but we are up against a frost here, and all your scheming will work no good.” CHAPTER VII. A VALUABLE SUGGESTION. Frank went to the Midland Hotel. Every- where he sought for Mr. Phenix, but did not find the mysterious man. At last, realizing his duty would allow him to waste no more time in the hunt that day, he turned from it. To the theatre he went. The box office was open, and the man was there to sell tickets. He had not sold any. Frank talked with him, and heard what he had to say. Of course, the man in the box office was not greatly disturbed because of his failure to make an advance sale, for he knew the manager of the theatre had received the money that was to pay him for the rent of his house three nights, and he wotld be all right under any circumstances. The ticket seller politely expressed regret that the prospect looked so unfavorable, assuring Frank that the manager had done his part thoroughly according to the terms of the agreement. Merry was galled. It was provoking to know that Percy Lockwell had been able to obtain such a mean revenge. And Lockwell had done his work thoroughly, for Frank learned that the manager of the theatre ex- pected “John Smith” would be checked the very first night by the owner of the play on whose rights it was said Frank’s piece in-~- fringed. “Where is this owner?’ asked Frank. “I don’t know, sir.” “Has he appeared here?” “No,” “It is rather remarkable that neither I or Mr. Folansbee has heard anvthing from him.” “Tt does seem strange.” “If he were contemplating interfering, it strikes me he would first notify us through his lawyers that we were infringing on his _ Tights and doing him damage.” What Was the Secret Entrance that Clif Found Out ? . True Blue No. 30. 25 _ “I should think that would be the usual mode of procedure.” “Nothing of the kind has appeared.” “No?” “And so I take no stock in this report. It was circulated by Lockwell solely for the pur- pose of damaging me.” “Lockwell has something against you?” “Yes. He was with the company.” “And was released?” “No; he found it expedient to skip.” “Ah! Trouble?” “Exactly.” “Serious?” “Rather.” “To what extent?” “Pretty near attempted murder.” The box office man whistled. “This was pretty serious,” he said. “Yes. The fellow is a thoroughbred scoundrel. I did not like him the first time I saw him, but consented to take him into the company because Mr. Folansbee, who knew him, desired it. Now, what did the rascal do? After Folansbee got him into the com- pany, he set about robbing him.” . “Folansbee?”’ “VY es.”’ “That was gratitude!” “Percy Lockwell has no sense of gratitude. I detected him at his tricks and exposed him. Then he hated me.” “T see.” “In the saw mill scene, at the end of the third act, I am bound to a log that is being cut by asaw. The villain does this, and Miss Bellwood, the ingente, breaks down the door, rushes in and saves me just before the saw cuts into my head.” “That is good stuff.” “Lockwell was playing the villain. He bound me more firmly than usual.” “Ha; I begin to understand his trick! Good gracious! You don’t mean to say he tried to murder you right before the eves of the audience?” _ “That was just what he attempted.” “But—but the man must have been crazy!” “He believed it would seem like ¢ an acci- dent.” ECOMICOOOKS (CO)