“Merriwell caught it when it came down, and immediately offered it to me, hilt first.”
“Thutteration!” gurgled Gallup.
“A single moment I hesitated,” the actor continued, “and then I was seized by such rage as I never felt before and never expect to feel again. I snatched the weapon and made one mad lunge to drive it straight through the heart of my antagonist.”
The Yankee lad nearly lost his breath.
“Mr. Merriwell was on guard for me. He was not taken unawares, and he foiled my attempt. Then he attacked me with such fury that I could not stand before him. I was driven back and back. I saw a terrible light in his eyes, even though he laughed in my face. His sword was flashing and glittering everywhere. I realized that I was completely at his mercy, and I believed he intended to kill me. Then I dropped my sword and cried for mercy.”
“Whoop!” exploded Gallup. “That’s ther way Frank Merriwell serves ’em! Oh, he is the boy ter do it!”
“Well,” finished Dunton, “I more than half expected to be cut down, but nothing of the kind happened. I remember with what scorn Mr. Merriwell said he would not stain his sword with my treacherous blood. I remember how I felt after that. No person can understand the tumult of feelings in my heart. I thought of running away. You complimented us on the duel after the curtain had fallen, Mr. Havener, but you warned us that we were far too reckless, and we must not do it that way again. I believed Mr. Merriwell would expose me then. He did not. Then I was sure he would do so very soon. He did not. I waited in suspense as long as I could stand it, and then I came and asked him when he was going to blow the whole thing. He said he was going to wait and see how I behaved in the future, and that he had no thought of blowing if I didn’t try it again. Well, I haven’t tried it. Have I, Mr. Merriwell?”
“No,” answered Frank, “we haven’t had much trouble since then.”
“And to think I never knew a thing about this before!” exclaimed the stage manager. “Mr. Merriwell never breathed a word of it to me—not a word.”
“Of course he didn’t!” exclaimed Ephraim. “He never blows anything.”