Then he whirled madly on the girl.
“So you’re stuck on him because he’s young and smart! Well, you may make a fool of yourself! He’ll throw you over after a time. You have made a fool of me already! Oh, I’d like to——”
His clinched fist was drawn back, and he seemed on the point of striking her.
“Stop!”
Frank leaped forward and caught the man’s wrist.
With a howl, Havener turned and struck at Merry.
Quick as he was, Frank dodged the blow. Then he grappled with the stage-manager, strong as that person was, ran him up against the partition, and held him there, helpless.
“Listen a moment, Mr. Havener,” he said, with remarkable calmness; “you are making a blithering idiot of yourself.”
“Don’t lie——”
“I am not lying. There is no affair between Miss Lee and myself.”