“And for that very reason,” said the local stage manager, “I am inclined to believe he will lay for Mr. Merriwell.”
“If he does, he’ll git a wuss wallopin’ then he ever guv anybody in his life. I’ll warrant him that.”
“He made a mistake in thinking he was going to handle Mr. Merriwell easily. Next time he will not make that mistake.”
“Waal, he don’t want ter.”
“He’ll try to smash Mr. Merriwell at the very start.”
“Don’t worry about that, Mr. Sawyer,” said Frank. “Go ahead getting my stuff in. Ephraim, go to the hotel and send Havener and Dunton here to help handle this stuff. We must have somebody in the place of Joe Hooker.”
“All right.”
Ephraim departed, and Frank continued to watch the disposal of his scenery as it was brought in.
It was not long before Havener, Dunton and Gallup appeared. Ephraim came in fuming.
“By gum!” he cried. “Yeou’re goin’ ter have a raow with that feller, sure, Frank! He’s watchin’ fer ye!”