A crowd gathered and showered compliments on Merriwell.
“Young man,” cried the father, “you saved my Bessie’s life! How can I pay the debt?”
“I’ll tell you,” smiled Frank; “take your family and come see the ‘Empire Theater Comedy Company,’ which plays here the evening of the eighteenth. You’ll see a good show and get your money’s worth. Bring along your friends.”
“I’ll do it!” exclaimed the man. “I’ll bring everybody I can. Are you in the show?”
“I’m connected with it. Take this horse, somebody. I’ve got some business with Mr. Jesper.”
Jesper was the editor of the paper, and he walked back to the office with Merriwell.
“You’re a rattler,” he said, admiringly. “You made a good hit in stopping Sam Henson’s horse. He thinks the world of his child, and he’s got money to feed to the dogs. If he took a fancy, he could buy up every seat in the opera house and not feel it. It would be just like him to do it, too. I’ll have to make a good item of your stopping his horse.”
“That’s all right,” laughed Frank, “as long as you wind the item up by mentioning the ‘Empire Theater Comedy Company.’ You mustn’t fail to do that. And here is some other stuff I’d like to get into your column of locals.”
He brought out the three news items he had written but had forgotten to submit for Haley’s inspection.
Jesper looked them over and smiled.