"Merriwell?" he exclaimed. "What in the world does this mean? How do you happen to be here?"
"Just thought we'd drop down and see how you are getting along," Frank explained. "Can we get passes, or do we have to plank down for seats?"
"Well, I rather think you can pass any time. I'll stand responsible for them, Mr. Crisper," he said, to the man in the box office.
He shook hands warmly with Frank, and then greeted Ephraim and Hans. The three were given some good seats in the second row, and they entered just as the curtain was going up on the first act.
Barely were they seated when Cassie came romping onto the stage in one of her favorite parts, that of a tomboy, and her three friends in the second row started a "hand" that surprised her. She opened her mouth to speak, saw Frank, stopped, stared, and then exclaimed:
"Well, I never!"
CHAPTER XIV. UNCERTAIN FRIENDSHIP.
Cassie had been thrown off her guard, but she quickly recovered and went on with her part. The moment she left the stage she carried the news to the other members behind the scenes.
"Merriwell is out there, with Gallup and Dunnerwurst," she said, as she grasped Havener by the arm. "What do you suppose it means?"