Frank Merriwell's Fame — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

TIP TOP WEEKLY. than anyone. He wa, shaky every morning, and his eyes were bloodshotten. It was nec- essary for him to “pitch in” several drinks in order to straighten up. Frafhk was alarmed, for he realized that Lawrence and Lockwell might wreck the company if they kept on. Something must be done. At first he thought of going to Folansbee and warning him, but he quickly realized that such a course would not do. "Tt would offend the man’s pride to tell him that he was being used as a “sucker,” and he would refuse to believe it. Some other course must be pursued. Frank set about trying to decide what to do. That day something happened that added to his anger. He found Elsie at rehearsal The door was open a bit, and he heard her sob- crying alone in her dressing room. bing, so he went in. “What is the matter?” he asked in aston- ishment. “My dear girl, what has happened?” It was a long time before Elsie could an- ‘swer. She persisted in declaring that noth- ing had happened, but Frank knew better. “You are crying about something, dear What is it?” “Oh, it is foolish of me. little girl. He didn’t megan anything.” Frank was startled. “Her Whore anything to you? Has anybody been saying Has Folansbee % “No, no, not him!” “Who was it?” “T can’t tell. I don’t dare tell you, Frank!” “You must tell me. If anybody has been saying anything to you that they should not have said, they shall settle with me!” | Frank was aroused, and Elsie saw it. That made her nervous and excited. She feared to tell him the truth. In Search of a Father Was a New Task for Clif. “Who was it?” he demanded, as if he had the right. “Speak out, Elsie.” “Oh, you will make trouble. I shall not tell you.” He made her face him squarely. “Little girl,” he said, soberly, “your father is dead, and I am your guardian and pro- tector while you are with this company. I have said that I would care for you and pro- tect you. I shall see that you are not in- sulted. eling with a company like this. It is bad enough for you to be trav- It was a mistake for me to have permitted you to at- tend that supper-on the first night. I knew it then, and I regretted my blunder. I have promised myself that I will be more careful , in the future. If any man has dared “Oh, Mr. Lockwell did not mean anything wrong—I am sure he didn’t.” “Lockwell!” flamed Frank. ‘“‘Was it he? Tell me, Elsie, what did he say—what did he do?” “Oh, he has been trying to show me at- tentions.”’ “Eas her, “He called me a peach.” “Did he?” “He said I was pretty enough to catch a man with money. That you did not have any money. He wanted to buy me a dia- mond ring. He showed lots of money.” Never before had Elsie seen such a look on Merriwell’s face. It frightened her, and she cried out, catching him by the arm, Frank’s nostrils were dilated, and the glare of his eyes was something terrible to behold. “The miserable cur!” Those three words came from Merriwell’s lips in a suppressed tone, but they were frightful in their intensity. Frank turned as if to leave the room. Elsie clung to him. See No. 30 of True Blue. boo