Frank Merriwell's Own Company; Or, Barnstorming in the Middle West

by Burt L. Standish

There was some hard work done at the rehearsal, as Havener was determined the play should go off smoothly, and the players were not at all well up in the business of the piece.

Frank's best scene was with Lillian Bird, the leading lady, in the third act of the play. It was a love scene, at the end of which, through a revelation by the villain, the lovers learn that they are brother and sister. Of course, at the end of the play, it is revealed that they are not related in such a manner, and everything finished happily.

Havener was determined that the scene should be made effective, and he worked over it till he got every pose, every situation, every minor piece of business, to suit him.

He was greatly pleased by the readiness with which Frank took hold of the part and grasped the details of the business. Merry had a beautiful voice, and he governed it naturally so that it was most effective in his speeches.

There is no music sweeter than that of the human voice, and Frank Merriwell had been endowed by nature with a magnificent voice.

"Lawrence ought to see him play that scene," said Cassie, as she watched Frank in silent admiration. "Anybody could tell he is a gentleman, for never once does he make a move or a gesture that does not plainly speak of the gentleman. There's a heap of difference between his manners and the acquired gentlemanly air of Lawrence."

"That's right," agreed Collie Cates. "Merriwell's blue blood sticks out all over him, and yet he never seems to feel himself so much better than the rest of us."

"That's the very thing that marks him most as a perfect gentleman. It's only the cad that tries to show you all the time that he's a topnotcher and you ain't in his class."

Frank became so absorbed in his work that he completely forgot about Harris. Nor did a thought of the fellow enter his head till just as he was ready to make his first entrance on the stage that evening. Then he remembered Harris, and wondered if the fellow was in the hall.

The rough benches and chairs were well filled by a decidedly rough-looking audience. The advertising had turned out a far better house than Havener had expected to see, and the stage manager confessed to Frank that there might be something in making a lavish display of paper in the right towns.