Frank Merriwell's Fame — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

a TIP TOP WEEKLY, Now Lockrell made a pretence of con- gratulating Merry, but Frank read the fel- low like an open book, and saw that, al- though he was a member of the company, Percy was not greatly pleased. “It’s not often an author’s first play is re- ceived like this,” murmured Lockwell. “You should be very proud, Mr. Merriwell, but look out not to get the swelled head.” That was insolence, but Frank quietly re- turned: “I scarcely think there is the least danger that I shall have to purchase a larger sized hat, Mr. Lockwell. Don’t let it worry you atiall, sa? “All right, no offence,” laughed Percy, linking his arm through Folansbee’s and drawing the “angel” away. “I don’t like that fellow, Frank,” mur- mured Elsie, slipping up to Merry’s side. “How dared ‘he speak to you in such an im- pudent manner!” “Oh, that’s his way,” smiled Merry, non- chalantly. “Then I think he has very bad manners.” “He is troubled with freshness, that’s all.” “It seemed to me that he said what he did in a malicious manner, Frank.” “Oh, ‘he may feel rather envious, but he’ll get over that. This is a great night for us, Elsie.” = “Isn’t it perfectly lovely, Frank? I am so happy!” “So happy that you are forgetting to change your costume for the next act, which appears in the East, you know. make an entire change, too.” I have to “Goodness! you are right! I had forgot- I'll have to rush.” She danced across the stage, turning to toss a kiss at him, and ran up a flight of stairs to her dressing room. “The sweetest little girl in the world!” ten. muttered Merry, ‘his eyes gleaming. “And But the part was written with her in my mind all the time, so it is not wonderful that she fits it so well.” she has astonished me as an actress. _ Frank’s dressing room was located beneath the stage, and now he hurried down to it. He passed the door of another room, which was standing slightly ajar. he saw two persons within the room. They were Folansbee and Lockwell. The latter was just passing a bottle to the for- mer. Frank paused a moment, half determined to enter that room and have something to say, but decided that he had no time to waste just then, and plunged into his own room. | “Lockwell knows very well that I have made a rule against drinking while the play is going on,” he thought. “It was drinking more than anything else that broke up the old ‘Empire Theatre Comedy Company’ and landed poor Cassie Lee in St. Louis City Hospital. Mr. Lockwell shall find that my rules are made to be obeyed. Perhaps I can- not keep the members from drinking before and after the play, but I shall try to keep theni from doing so while the piay is going on” He tore off his Western rig. A dress suit was ready for him. He fairly threw the shirt on. : Leslie Lawrence came strolling in, smok- ing 2 cigarette. “Hello!” he exclaimed. * Just making your shift? Why, it’s time for the curtain to g0 up.” “You know I was delayed by those curtain calls and by the speech. Havener will have to hold the curtain for me.” Frank was rattled, and he got the shirt on wrong side to, much to his dismay. Conspirators Cry Out for Revenge Against Clif. See No. 30 of True Blue.’ As he went by: —— on ~ DC (@) £60 mi