“I have been misunderstood all my life,” said the man rather sadly. “It is not remarkable that such should be the case now. Well, it makes no difference. I do not care. I will continue to prove my friendship to Frank Merriwell by protecting him from peril.”
“By Heaven!” shouted Diamond fiercely; “you shall answer for your attempt on his life! I believe you have been at the bottom of all his trouble in Paris! I believe you have brought all this danger upon him! You shall not escape now!”
The Mystery took a step toward the door, but, of a sudden, the Virginian drew a revolver, and pointed it straight at the man, fiercely commanding:
“Stop! Take another step, and I’ll drop you! You shall not slip away this time!”
The man paused, and looked at Frank.
Merry had been surprised by the swift action of his friend, and now he cried:
“Down with that revolver, Diamond! If you do not——”
“Never!” snarled Jack. “If you will not hold this man for the officers, I will! I shall turn him over to them, and——”
“You will do nothing of the sort!”
Frank made a leap, and was upon Diamond. He grasped Jack’s wrist, and, like a flash, wrenched the revolver from his hand. Then he turned to the Man Without a Name.