Tip Top Weekly No. 139: Frank Merriwell's Father — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

12 | TIP TOP WEEKLY. company not on the stage were standing and watching Ephraim. They, too, had caught it, and some of them found it difficult to keep from shouting with laughter at the odd and original humor and wit the Vermonter in- jected into the part. Frank Merriwell, amazed beyond measure, literally hugged himself as he watched his old friend sail in and “knock the spots” out of the part. Parker Folansbee, on the front of the house, had heard from his position outside the door the first shout of laughter that filled the theatre. He pulled the door open and stepped inside, where he listened and watched while Ephraim sang the song. At the end of the song Folansbee unconsciously applauded with the delighted audience. But when Ephraim was fairly launched with the story of his adventures the manager became so ab- sorbed that he permitted three boys, who had been hanging about the door and waiting for an opportunity, to slip past him without no- ticing them at all. ; Roscoe Havener stood behind Frank in the wings and watched Gallup without uttering a word. He had permitted the Vermonter to fill the part at the suggestion of Merriwell and because there was no one else to attempt it. He had not been impressed with the probability that Gallup would make a suc- céss, and he feared the contrary. : The comedy scene was carried through to the end with no little originality on Ephraim’s part, and the audience applauded again when the Vermonter came off. Frank met his long, lank friend and shook his hand delightfully. | “Ephraim, you are all right!” he declared, with enthusjasm. “You have made the hit of the evening so far. I thought you would do all right, but I never dreamed you could do'as well as that.” ° ONE CROWD HATES THE OTHER LIKE ‘PIZEN’’—TRUE BLUE No.” 30. -ain’t goin’ off the hooks jest over this. “Wal, I be gol dinged if it ain’t easy to make some folks larf!” said Ephraim, who “I didn’t seemed as astonished as anybody. know I could do it myself.” Havener had waited till he was satisfied the Vermonter had really made a hit. Now he spoke to Ephraim. “You are to be congratulated,” he said. “I was afraid you would overdo it when you found how much they were laughing at you, but you didn’t. Now, don’t get a big head over this and spoil everything before the play is over.” “Sa-ay,” drawled the new comedian, “I’ve travelled araound with Frank Merriwell too long to git a big head over a little thing like this. By gum! I’ve seen him do things that jest made folks go crazy abaout him, an’ yit he never got no swelled head, so I guess I Don’t yeou worry, Mr. Havener.” Leslie Lawrence was almost the only one who did not congratulate Ephraim. Lawrence was sore at heart, for the mem- | ory of the exposure of himself and Lockwell in their crooked attempt to cheat at cards still rankled in his bosom. Lockwell had tried to induce Lawrence to leave the company, but Leslie refused, even though Percy declared his sudden departure must bring disaster to the organization. Lawrence had “blowed” the money he won off Folansbee, and he did not feel like throw- ing up his job if there was a prospect that the show would keep on the road. His greatest fear was that he would be dis- charged at the earliest moment that his place could be filled. There was another thing he dreaded. He believed Merriwell and Folansbee would tell the story of that poker game to others, which -: would cause him to be regarded. with scorn . and ridicule. ECOMICHIO@ SS (CO)