Frank Merriwell had just finished writing a letter at the writing table. As he was sealing it, he heard the exclamation that fell from Haley’s lips.
Ephraim Gallup, sitting near, guardedly drawled:
“It kainder strikes me, b’gosh! the old man’s heerd something he don’t jest like. I’ll bet a dollar the old show goes bu’st inside a week. Yeou don’t darst take me up, Frank.”
“It’s certain there’s trouble in the air,” said Frank, in a low tone. “We’ve been doing a losing business for more than a week.”
“If we bu’st up, I s’pose yeou’ll blame me fer gettin’ yeou inter such a darn scrape?”
“No; you didn’t know what was coming. Besides that, I have had some experiences of value to me.”
“Yeou’ve learnt something abaout the business, anyhaow.”
“Yes, and I have had some experience as an actor.”
“And yeou’ve jest shown ’em that yeou was no slouch. Half the old han’s are jealous of ye, but they don’t say so.”
“Oh, not quite as bad as that, Ephraim.”