“In Prescott, a few days ago. He was there, but some bad men made a lot of trouble for him and he left.”
“This boy is your brother?” asked Morgan, indicating Abe.
“Why, yes, sir!” broke in Abe, quickly, seeing that Felicia would soon be trapped. “I am a sort of brother; an adopted brother, you know.”
“Oh, that’s it?” said Morgan. “But if you were living on a ranch down on the Rio Verde, how did you happen to be in Prescott when Frank Merriwell was there?”
“Why, we jest went there. Dad he took us there,” hastily asserted the hunchback, seeking to maintain the original deception.
“Is that true?” asked Morgan of Felicia.
She was silent.
“Of course it’s true!” indignantly exclaimed the boy.
“It seems to me that you are somewhat mixed, my child. Now, I advise you to trust me. It will be the best thing you can do. I advise you to tell me the truth. At this time we’re on our way to join Frank Merriwell and help him to defend his new mines. He has many enemies, you know. We might take you directly to him.”
“Oh, splendid!” exclaimed the girl, all her suspicions disarmed. “Frank will be so glad! We thought, perhaps, you might be his enemy; that’s why we were afraid of you.”