Frank bounded up the stairs and flung open the door. Beside the bed sat Nellie. She heard them and turned, with a finger uplifted, still singing.
On the bed lay the old engineer, and there was an ashen grayness to his face. One glance revealed to Frank that the man was facing the last mystery of life—death!
Merry lowered little Jack and gave him his crutch. Then they slowly and softly approached the bed.
“Twenty-three minutes late!” muttered the old engineer. “We’ve got ter make her up somehow. We must be at Roaring Run bridge in an hour and three minutes. More coal, man—more coal!”
“He is making his last run,” whispered Frank. “And the end of the trip is near.”
Little Jack crept up and kissed his sister’s cheek.
“How do you happen to be here now?” he asked.
“He brought me back,” said Nellie. “I begged him to and he did so. Before you came he was asking for Frank.”
“Frank!” exclaimed the dying man, catching the whispered word. “Where is Frank Merriwell? I’ve got to see him.”
“I am here, Mr. Hicks,” said Merry, stepping close to the bed.