Frank Merriwell's Fame — page 10: what you’re looking at

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8 TIP TOP WEEKLY. you hot as long as you are with that fellow.” “Well, what are we going to do about it?” We can let him know that he isn’t so much. That “Can’t say just now, but we’ll wait. will give me some satisfaction, at least. I must go on now. Work Folansbee.”’ “Trust me for that. I’m glad to know _ there is somebody besides myself who is not eager to slobber over Merriwell. TI’ll have a talk with you later about this.” “All right; but look out that he doesn’t examine that broken tree trunk.” “T will. Thanks for the hint.” Frank’s enemies were getting together, and his success and:popularity were making them all the more bitter. ‘ CHAPTER III. ELSIE’S DOUBTS. The curtain had fallen on the final act, and the audience was moving out, while the or- chestra played “The Star Spangled Banner.” “It was immense.” “A perfectly lovely play.” “The best ever given in this place.” “And Frank Merriwell—isn’t ‘he splen- did?” “So young and handsome!’ “And he wrote the play!” “He must be awfully smart!” “That young man will make a name for himself.” . “Yes, he will become famous.” These and similar comments were heard on all sides. Not one person expressed dis- pleasure or disapproval for anything con- nected with the play. And behind the scenes were a delighted and satisfied lot of people, with the excep- tion of Frank’s two jealous enemies, who did their best to dissemble and appear elated. Ephraim Gallup, who ‘had been in the front of the house, came rushing in behind the curtain and flung his long arms around Merriwell, acting almost hysterical. “Gol darn my punkins!”’ he cried. “I ain’t never seen northin’ that beat it sence I left All the folks is tickled to death. And yeou was jest the old farm daown in Varmount! a rip smasher, Frank, danged if yeou wan’t! I’m so gol darn praoud of ye that it seems I’m reddy to swell up and bu’st. Whe-ee-ee! Whoo-o00-oop! Hoo-ray!” ; “Steady, Ephraim!’ laughed Frank. “You'll tear this dress suit to pieces, and I need it in the last act.” “Need it! jest stunnin’ in it, too! So yeou do! And you look All the girls jest caught their breaths and kept their eyes glued on yeou ev’ry minute. You was a hero to the girls in the audience, Frank. I bet some of ’em wanted to steal ye. By gum, yeou'll have to look out for him, Elsie, or they'll carry him right off.” Elsie, who was near, might have blushed visibly, but the stage paint on her cheeks concealed any such sign of embarrassment. “I jest wisht some of the other fellers was “If they had bin, wouldn’t they whooped her up! By here to-night,” Ephraim went on. gosh! Frank, yeou must take this play back East and play it in New Haven. Jeewhilli- kins, them fellers there won’t do a thing! They’ll jest tear the theatre daown!”’ Frank laughed. “You are letting your enthusiasm run- away with you, Ephraim,” he said. “You forget Elsie. She had ¢: “I know what she has had and what she Little gal, I didn’t believe it was in & done. ye! think yeou was such a darn sweet little ac- Yeou alwus was a peach, but I didn’t tress. Why, I laughed when yéou laughed, and I cried when yeou cried. I’m afeared two or three fellers sneaked by me aout there at the door when I was wipin’ the tears aout Clif Found Out What Was Meant by “the Blind Pig.” See No. 30 of True Blue. JOOKS MULE Eco ico