Frank Merriwell's Athletes Part 51

Indian Charlie came swaggering up. He regarded the boys with a glance of supreme contempt.

"Permit me to compliment you on your thoughtfulness, Miss Rodney," he said, in a most insinuating manner.

The rancher's daughter looked puzzled and perturbed.

"I do not think I understand you," she said, slowly.

"Surely you have done your best to make sport for us to-day. You have brought us some rare curiosities."

Now Bart Hodge had a temper of his own, and he did not fancy being insulted, even though the person who offered the insult was a fire-eating cow-puncher. So Bart murmured:

"Oh, I don't know! There are others!"

The foreman of the Lone Star looked astonished, and then scowled blackly.

"Were you referring to me, sir?"

Although the words came from his lips like the cut of a whip through the air, Hodge began to whistle in the most unconcerned manner possible, without even looking toward Indian Charlie.

Frank, who was keeping watch of everything, saw the red tide of anger surge into the face of the cowboy, and he knew Charlie was in a most dangerous mood.

Sadie Rodney, rancher's daughter though she was, showed signs of alarm.

She shrank close to Inza, murmuring:

"How did he dare say anything like that? Charlie has been known to shoot a man for less provocation."

To her astonishment, Inza did not seem at all alarmed, but confidently returned:

"It will be a good thing for him if he tries to shoot any one in this crowd. Those boys can take care of themselves."

Miss Abigail nodded.

"I am sure that Mr. Merriwell can take care of himself," she said.

"Und I peen retty to brotect you mit your life!" declared Hans, who was clinging close to the spinster.

With two bounds Indian Charlie was upon the veranda.

"Did you refer to me, sir?" he said, facing Hodge.

Bart surveyed him from head to feet.

"Excuse me," he said, cuttingly. "I do not think I have the honor of your acquaintance."

Then he started to turn away.

A snarl came from Indian Charlie's lips, and his hand fell on the b.u.t.t of a revolver resting in the open holster at his hip.

He did not draw the weapon.

Frank Merriwell's fingers closed on the man's wrist, and Frank's cool voice sounded in his ear:

"Slow and easy, sir! Don't do anything rash, for you might regret it.

That is, you might if you thought quick enough during the brief time you would be given to regret anything after that."

The foreman of the Lone Star turned his head and his eyes met those of Frank Merriwell. For some moments their glances fought a silent duel.

"Take your hand from my wrist!"

Charlie hissed the words.

"First take your hand from the b.u.t.t of that revolver," said Frank, with perfect calmness.

The cowboy seemed to doubt the evidence of his senses. Was it possible this tenderfoot dared face him-dared touch him? With a sudden wrench he attempted to break from Frank, but, to his surprise, the young Yale athlete gave his wrist a twist, snapping the revolver from his fingers, and, almost at the same instant, s.n.a.t.c.hed the other weapon from its holster.

"These are not suitable for a careless man to handle," said Merry, as he flung them far out upon the gra.s.s.

For a single instant Indian Charlie was dazed. How the trick had been accomplished by this smooth-faced youth he could not conceive, and it filled him with wonder.

That pa.s.sed in a moment, and he was like a furious tiger, his white teeth gleaming beneath his black mustache.

"That settles you!" he snarled.

He attempted to clutch Frank by the throat, but his hands were brushed aside, and again Merry warned him to go slow and easy.

"There are ladies present," Frank said. "Have some regard for them, sir.

If you wish to settle--"

But the man had quite lost his self-possession, and he struck at Frank in a wicked manner.

The blow was parried with ease.

An instant later Indian Charlie was stretched upon the veranda.

"I beg your pardon for doing such a thing in your presence, ladies,"

came quietly from Merriwell's lips; "but I was forced into it. As he may make further trouble I beg you to retire."

"No!" palpitated Inza. "I shall stay here."

"Me, too," said Miss Abigail. "Goodness sakes! what dreadful things men are!"

"Shall I sit on him and hold him down, Frank?" yawned Browning, who did not seem in the least disturbed.

"No, let him alone. He--"

With a leap like a wild creature the man came to his feet. There was a demon in his eyes.