Frank Merriwell's New Comedian Part 7

"Won't?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I refuse to permit it," said Frank, a queer twinkle in his eyes.

Then several of the company came up standing, and shouted:

"What!"

"That beats anything I ever heard of in my life!" said Fowler.

"For genuine crust, it surely does!" spoke up Harper.

Ca.s.sie Lee looked surprised, and Havener was amazed.

"Surely you are not in earnest, Merriwell?" the stage manager hastened to say.

"Never more so in my life!" answered Frank, easily.

"Then you're crazy."

"Oh, I guess not."

"Well, you are," said Garland. "You have gone over the limit. We are not engaged to you in any way. You said so. You explained that we could not hold you responsible. You cannot come here and dictate to us. We shall carry out this performance. If you try to prevent it, you will make a great mistake."

"Be calm," advised Merry. "You are unduly exciting yourself, Mr.

Garland."

"Well, it's enough to excite anyone!"

"Meow!"

Out of the room trotted Frank's black cat, which had followed him up the stairs.

"Put that cat out!" cried Agnes Kirk. "It has caused all our bad luck!"

Frank picked the cat up.

"I told you the cat was a mascot," he said. "It has proved so!"

"I should say so!" sneered Fowler.

"Let him take himself out of here, cat and all!" cried Charlie Harper.

"Let him explain what he means by saying we shall not give a benefit performance," urged Havener, who really hoped that Frank could say something to put himself in a better light with the company.

"Yes," urged Ca.s.sie. "What did you mean by that, Frank?"

"Such a performance is quite unnecessary," a.s.sured Merry.

"We've got to do something to raise money to get out of this city."

"I will furnish you with the money, each and every one."

"You?" shouted several.

"Yes."

"How?" asked Havener. "You said a short time ago that you hadn't enough money to amount to anything."

"At that time I hadn't. Since then I have been able to make a raise."

Now there was another bustle of excitement.

"Oh!" cried several, "that's different."

"I knew there was something behind it!" exclaimed Ca.s.sie, with satisfaction. "Have you been able to raise enough to take us all back to Denver, Frank?"

"I think so, and I believe I shall have a few dollars left after we arrive there."

"How much have you raised?" asked Havener.

"Forty-three thousand dollars," answered Frank, as coolly as if he were saying forty-three dollars.

For a moment there was silence in the room, then expressions of incredulity and scorn came from all sides.

Fowler set up a shout of mocking laughter.

"Well, of all the big bluffs I ever heard this is the biggest!" he sneered.

"Say, I don't mind a joke," said Stella Stanley; "but don't you think you are carrying this thing a trifle too far, Mr. Merriwell?"

"I would be if it were a joke," confessed Frank, easily; "but, as it happens to be the sober truth, I think no one has a chance to ask. I will not only pay your fare to Denver, but each one shall receive two weeks salary, which I think you must acknowledge is the proper way to treat you."

"I'll believe it when I get my hands on the dough," said Fowler.

"Forty-three thousand fiddlesticks!"

"Any person who doubts my word is at liberty to take a look at this certified check," said Merry, producing the check and placing it on the little table.

Then they crushed and crowded about that table, staring at the check.

Fowler nudged Harper, to whom he whispered:

"I believe it's straight, so help me! I'd like to kick myself!"

"Yes, it's straight," acknowledged Harper, dolefully. "I am just beginning to realize that we have made fools of ourselves by talking too much."