“But our first failure——”
“There it is again! I’m tired of hearing about that! You and Vance are dead lucky to be in this second company, for you both joined in the attempted assault on Merriwell when Folansbee skipped, and the company seemed to be stranded in Puelbo. If I’d been Frank Merriwell I’d sent you flying, and you can bet I would not have taken you back.”
“Then it’s fortunate for us that you were not Frank Merriwell,” Garland sneered.
“It is,” agreed Hodge. “Some people do not know when they are treated well.”
“That will do!” came sharply from Havener. “This is no time to quarrel. By Jove! it’s time for that train, and Merriwell’s not here.”
“Perhaps he’s backed out at the last minute and decided not to take the play out,” said Vance. “It may be that his courage has failed him.”
“Now that kind of talk makes me sick!” exploded Hodge. “If you had any sense you wouldn’t make it!”
“I like that!” snapped Vance, his face flushing.
“I’m glad you do!” flung back Bart. “Didn’t think you would. Hoped you wouldn’t. Only a fool would suppose that, after all this trouble and expense, any man with an ounce of brains in his head would back out without giving a single performance of the play.”
“Well, where is Merriwell?”