He knew this was purely a speculation, as it was not certain he would continue to do a good business, especially when he got off Zolverein's route; but that had been his dream, and now it was over.
Surely fate was giving him some hard blows, but still he did not quail, and he was ready, like a man, to meet whatever came.
He had tasted of the glamour of the footlights, and there was bitter with the sweet. He had learned that the life of the traveling showman is far from being as pleasant and easy as it seems.
But Frank had not started out in the world looking for soft snaps. He was prepared to meet adversity when it came and not be crushed. He felt that the young man who is looking for a soft snap very seldom amounts to anything in the world, while the one who is ready to work and push and struggle and strive with all his strength, asking no favors of anybody, is the one who is pretty sure to succeed in the end.
Whenever fate landed a knockout blow on Frank he refused to be knocked out, but invariably came up smiling at the call of "time."
It was plain that his enemies believed they would floor him this time and leave him stranded.
Harris was watching Frank's face by the light of the lamp.
"Oh, this is better than a circus!" chuckled the fellow, evilly. "Every blow reaches you, and I am settling my score."
"Instead of settling it," said Merry, grimly, "you are running up a big account that I shall call for you to settle in the future."