Frank Merriwell's Athletes Part 26

"Begorra! he's a birrud!" nodded Barney. "He was th' shwiftest runner in Farrdale whin we wur there."

"Mr. Merriwell," said Random, pleasantly, "I trust you will take part in the races. I do not think you will be able to win over me, but I am sure it will be a pleasant and fair rivalry between us, and there will be no hard feelings in any case."

"Well," said Frank, "I do not pretend to be a champion, but I will come in and do the best I can."

"Good!" nodded Wallace. "I hope to see you at the hop to-night.

Good-evening, gentlemen."

Then he departed.

CHAPTER XIII-A GAME FOR TWO

Frank and Bart were the only ones of the party who attended the dance, that evening, which was an informal affair.

Fine music was furnished, and the young ladies and girls of Santa Barbara looked their best as they mingled with the guests at the hotel.

As Frank stood looking on he decided that the girls of the Golden State were charming indeed, and there was no reason why California should not be proud of them.

They were refined and cultured, too, as they showed by their manners and conversation. In this respect Frank felt that they might well be compared with the finest bred girls of the East.

"It is a great country," he thought; "and the East is altogether conceited when it fancies it has all the brains and culture. There are other places besides Boston and New York, and I can understand why some of the other places seem superior to many people."

He was watching for Inza. She had promised him the first waltz, and he hoped to find time to chat a moment with her before the dance. He wished to compliment her on her brave attempt to rescue Effie Random.

While he was looking for her Miss Random entered the room, accompanied by her brother.

Lord Stanford, the Englishman, was present, and he started for Effie the moment she appeared.

But the girl saw Frank, and, leaving Wallace, she hastened toward him before the n.o.bleman could reach her.

"Oh, Mr. Merriwell!" she exclaimed, with an ardor that surprised him, as she had seemed so cool and reserved, "I must thank you again and again for your heroic rescue of Inza."

"Don't," entreated Merry. "I have been thanked enough already. Permit me to congratulate you on your fine appearance this evening. It is wonderful! I feared you would be prostrated, and here you are at this dance, looking as fair and fresh as a flower. I do not understand it."

Her eyes fell.

"I-I came to see-you," she almost whispered the words, and an added color tinged her fair cheeks.

Frank began to feel awkward. He could see Lord Stanford glowering at him from a short distance, and he wondered if this was the same girl he had fancied was so eager to capture the n.o.bleman. It seemed that Effie had quite forgotten Stanford.

"To see me?" said Frank, slowly. "I am sure that is a compliment-a great compliment."

"Yes, to see you," she again declared, placing her hand upon his arm, and lifting her blue eyes to his. "I knew you would be here."

At this moment Frank discovered that Inza had entered and was looking toward them. He longed to hurry to her side, but he could not leave Effie Random without positive rudeness.

"What is the matter, Mr. Merriwell?" said Effie, rather sharply. "You do not seem to be listening? I am talking to you!"

"I beg your pardon!" hastily replied Frank, blus.h.i.+ng, when he realized how rude his manners must have seemed. "It's one of my spells-that's all."

"Do you have them often?" she asked, with a light laugh.

"Oh, no; only occasionally. I am afraid they make me appear very rude.

Physicians whom I have consulted say I may outgrow them by the time I am eighty or ninety, and that I shall not be troubled by them all the rest of my life after that."

Lord Stanford came up.

"Pawdon," he said; "but I think this is our dawnce, Miss Random."

She looked at him, and then, as Frank was on the point of excusing himself, she said:

"Not this one, Lord Stanford. I said I would give you a waltz, but I am engaged to Mr. Merriwell for this one."

Frank glanced at her in surprise. He had not asked her for that dance.

What could she mean? Effie noted the glance and cast her eyes downward.

Like a flash the truth came over Frank. During their brief stay in Santa Barbara he had met Effie quite often with Inza. He had simply regarded her as a rather pretty and winning girl, and had paid her no more attention than was demanded by courtesy. Now it seemed--

He was compelled to smile. Was it possible the foolish girl imagined he was in love with her?

She must know of his sincere admiration for Inza.

Still, such is the weakness of human kind, he did not feel greatly offended at the discovery. Effie was attractive and--

Then it happened that, almost before Frank realized it, they were on the floor, gliding gracefully along to the swing and throb of the music.

Effie was a delightful waltzer, light as a feather and graceful as a swan. Ordinarily it would have cost Frank no effort at all with such a partner.

But this was not an ordinary occasion, and Merriwell felt no satisfaction in dancing, even though Effie was a perfect waltzer. He realized that he was doing wrong and he was decidedly wretched.

On the second round Frank and Effie came close to Inza. She was dancing with Bart Hodge. For a single moment Inza's dark eyes looked at Merry, but they turned away, and she laughed at something Hodge was whispering in her ear.

Merriwell felt a flush of heat pa.s.s over his body, and his cheeks burned. He saw Hodge's arm about Inza's waist, and an intense feeling of jealousy seized upon him. He forgot that he was to blame and he railed at his friend.

Then he began to chat and laugh with Effie, seeming to forget Inza entirely. He entered into the dance with a sudden change of spirit, so that many eyes were turned toward himself and Miss Random, who were generally p.r.o.nounced the finest waltzers on the floor.

Effie noted the sudden change in Frank, but she did not know what had brought it about. She was charmed by his witty sayings, his complimentary speeches, and his beautiful dancing.

"He is just splendid!" she told herself. "I don't wonder Inza Burrage says he is the finest fellow in the whole world."

She saw Lord Stanford, surrounded by a group of girls, all of whom seemed regarding the red-faced n.o.bleman with great admiration.

"Yesterday I was like those silly fools!" thought Effie. "To-day I have found a real man. What a difference there is!"

She felt a positive disgust for the Englishman.