“You’re the one that’s fresh, you two-cent property man!” howled the wrathy fellow. “You think you own the whole show, but I’ll knock some of the conceit outer your head!”
He made a furious rush at Merry.
Apparently Frank had no thought of getting out of the way, but, at the moment when Hooker struck out with his open hand, thinking to give Merry a slap that would set his head ringing, if it did not upset him, the young actor leaped aside, ducking the swinging blow, caught his assailant by the collar and a handy portion of his trousers, and ran him off the stage, shooting him down a flight of stairs, at the bottom of which he fell sprawling.
Ephraim Gallup came round just in time to witness this, and he stood laughing heartily, his hands on his hips.
“Gol-darn ef I don’t believe he kainder thinks he struck somethin’ all-fired decepshus, Frank!” chuckled the Vermont youth.
Billy Wynne, the property man, had also seen the finish of the encounter, and he was highly amused.
There was a scrambling sound on the stairs, and, a moment later, Joe Hooker, his face flaming red, came scrambling and panting to the top, revenge gleaming in his eyes.
“Drat ye!” he snarled. “Ye didn’t do that fair! You don’t ’mount ter shucks, and I can paralyze ye in a fair fight!”
“I am not here to fight,” Merry laughed. “I am minding my own business, and, if you know when you are well off, you will do the same. If you don’t, you may get hurt.”
Frank’s laughter irritated the chap more than anything else. Again he made a rush, but this time it was with the intention of smashing Frank without delay.