“Oh, mebbe not,” said Brad. “It may take some time, for Frank thought likely Dick had been carried to Goodwin, or Bigbug, or some place. You see, we didn’t find out just where they had taken him. All we found out was that he had been taken somewhere and was all right. You let Mrs. Jones tuck you in your little bed, and you just close your peepers and get to the sleeps. That’s the best thing for you to do.”
Fearing she might suspect that he had not stuck by the truth if she questioned him further, Brad now made the excuse that he had to hurry away, and quickly left the room. In the meantime Frank had been searching for Morgan. He fully expected to find Morgan without trouble, and in this he was not disappointed. The money king was talking with Thomas Kensington in the hotel bar.
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Kensington,” said Merry. “If I’m not interrupting an important matter, I’d like a word or two with this man.”
Morgan lifted a hand.
“You will have to excuse me, sir,” he said. “I am quite busy now.”
“On the other hand,” said Kensington, “we have finished our business. Mr. Morgan followed me here and wished to talk of mining matters. I am in no mood to discuss such matters to-night.”
He bowed to Frank and turned away.
Morgan gave Merriwell a defiant look.
“I cannot waste my time on you, young man,” he said. “It’s altogether too valuable.”
“You have wasted considerable time on me in the past, and I have been compelled to waste some on you. This night has brought matters to a climax. I know your game; but it will fail, just as every trick you have tried has failed. I have a few words to say to you. My brother is missing.”