Tip Top Library: Frank Merriwell in the South Seas — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

FRANK MERRIWELL IN THE SOUTH SEAS. 23 he’ll get a tip from me for the compli-{presumed you would come to this hotel, ment. Well, he shall have the tip for the !and again I say, here we are.’? fun he’s given me.”? Accordingly Frank slipped a cvin into the man’s outstretched hand and re- Mr. Gnullette smiled cheerfully, and Frank responded with a laugh. ‘“Ves, here we are, to be sure, and I ceived a remarkably low bow and a‘ must believe that there was some special ‘Thank you, my lord,’ in return. the reception room. A | reason moment later the American boy entered! that induced you to chase me up from Yokohama.” | ‘“There was, my boy. Shall I tell you The only person there was a well-built| about it here?’ gentleman, apparently a little past mid- dle age, who stood by a window looking out into the street. Huis short jacket, The Englishman spoke gravely now. “Tf yon please,’? Frank answered. ‘““My room 1s littered with half-unpacked white trousers, and the gold-braided cap} baggage.” he heldin his hand suggested that he might be an oficer of a man of war. ‘ls this Mr. Gillette?’ said Frank, approaching the window. The gentleman turned and greeted Frank with smiling face and outstretched hand. ‘‘So this is Frank Merriwell,”’ he said. ‘Tam glad to meet you, my boy. I’ve heard about you, and very favorably, I assure you.’’ **T should be sorry if you heard bad re- ports,’ Frank responded, simply. ‘‘T have been waiting several days to see you.’’ | Frank’s eyes opened in. astonishment, and Mr. Gillette laughed pleasantly. “Tam acquainted with your tutor,”’ he explained, ‘‘and some time ago I learned of your travels and expressed a desire to meet you. There was no oppor- tunity then, and it didn’t look as if ever there would be one, but here we are.” ‘*T am obliged to you for your interest in me, Mr. Gillette,’’ said Frank, ‘‘but how did you know I was to come to Can- ton? Did my tutor write you ?”’ ‘“Fle cabled me.’? : “Cabied you!’ ‘Ves. Yokohama where he thought you might be found about this time. His reply was that you would probably call here for letters, etc., before long, and that my best chance of meeting you was to come here and wait. Soiddid. At the steam- ship offices it was no difficult task to learn what passenger boats were due to arrive along at this time, and so I soon found after the Cify of Glasgow came in that you were among the passengers. [ I asked him by cable from ‘‘We are not likely to be interrupted here, but for that matter the affair 1s not so private that I should object if we were overheard. I am sorry to learn, however, that you intend to remain long in Can- ton.’? | ‘But I don’t.” ‘“You spoke of unpacked baggage.’ ‘Oh, that ieans that I was rummaging after soine things I wanted, and making ready for a fresh start.”’ ‘Ah! And where away this time?’’ ‘J hadn’t decided, except that in a general way I should make toward home. It's about time I headed for America.”? | ‘““Vou have no objection to taking a bit of a side trip on the way, I hope ?’? | ‘‘None whatever. I should aim to jour- ney so as to see as much of the world as possible. ’’ | ‘Then it’s allright! Thatis, it will {be if you find it agreeable to accept my invitation. ”? ‘““Vour invitation ?”* “J was coming toit. IE am knocking about the world in my yacht, Frank, and I should like to have you take a ran with | me through the South Seas.”’ | ‘(Won are very kind, and I don’t say that I won’t accept, although I have just come from a voyage across the South Seas; but I take it that there is still a reason——-—’’ : | | ‘CA very serious one, and yet one that need not give you any anxiety, and I couldn’t have you come with me if you felt the least hesitation about it.. lama man of considerable means, and it is gen- erally supposed that I am traveling solely for pleasure. That is hardly thecase. I EOMICIOOOKS (CO