“The way you cried out told me it was a genuine surprise to you.”
“I should guess yes.”
“That made me ready for what followed, but was not quite quick enough to keep him from hitting you the first time with the butt of the whip. I stopped the blow he intended for a finisher, just the same.”
“And earned my everlasting gratitude, Mr. Merriwell.”
“They were ready to arrest me for interrupting the play,” laughed Frank.
Haley flushed.
“You must forget that, Mr. Merriwell,” he said. “I didn’t see Storms hit Havener, so I could not understand why you jumped on the stage and grappled with him.”
“But I understood it, b’gosh!” broke in Ephraim Gallup, who was on hand; “an’ yeou kin bet I was goin’ to stan’ by Mr. Merriwell if it took a wing off me.”
“Yaw,” came gravely from the Dutch boy, who was likewise there, “Vrank Merrivell nefer made a misdake your life in.”
“You seem to know Mr. Merriwell,” insinuated Haley.