“Shimminy Gristmas!”
“It will be a very sad affair, but you have committed murder already.”
“Vot?” squawked Hans. “Murter? Vot you meant py dot?”
“You just murdered ‘The Old Oaken Bucket’ in the most horrible manner.”
Hans gasped and gurgled, and then he grew red in the face. Leaning toward Bruce, he hoarsely hissed:
“I don’d vant to made any drouble der bresence uf der laties in, but I vill fighted you on der oudside der house uf a minute in uf you dare gone ut mit me!”
But Bruce declined to go out.
Time flew swiftly that evening. ’Mid games, charades, music, refreshments, merry chatter and merry laughter, eleven o’clock came round with amazing speed.
Just as the clock was striking eleven, Hattie Hazle came in from another room to the parlor, where most of the guests were, and hurried straight toward Frank Merriwell. She was seen to whisper something in his ear.
Frank looked surprised and doubtful, and then she appeared to urge him to do something, and he finally smiled and nodded. A moment later, he arose and left the room.