Frank Merriwell's Alarm Part 22

"Then you cannot doubt that such a Being will visit just punishment upon the wicked man who has caused you so much suffering and pain. His way is past finding out, but you must trust Him."

There was something n.o.ble and manly on the face of Frank Merriwell as he spoke those words, and the manner in which he uttered them told that he had the utmost and implicit confidence in the wisdom of the Being of whom he spoke.

At that moment it scarcely seemed possible that Frank was the same merry, laughing, lively lad who was usually so full of fun and pranks.

Those who fancied they knew him best would have been amazed could they have seen him and heard his words.

Thus was shown one of the many hidden sides of Frank's nature, which was most complex and yet honest and guileless.

The boy on the bed opened his eyes and looked at Frank in silence, for a long time. Finally he said:

"I see you really believe what you say, and you have given me new faith. I have suffered so much--so much that I had begun to doubt. It is hard to trust in the goodness of G.o.d when it seems that nearly all the wicked ones in the world are the ones who are prosperous. Bernard Belmont is believed to be an upright and honorable man in the town where he lives, and the people there think he was very kind to the two invalid children left on his hands when his wife died."

"Some day they will know the truth."

"It will be when I am dead!"

"Nonsense!"

"I am sure of it. Do you know, dear friend, Apollo hurt me so much to-night! It seems that he hurt me somewhere in--here."

The boy pressed his hand to his side.

"But the doctor is coming, and he will make you well again."

"Perhaps he can't. I had rather not get well than be turned over to Belmont again and left for him to torture."

George shuddered at this, and Frank ground his teeth softly, as he thought what intense satisfaction it would give him to see the man Belmont punished as he deserved.

"Why doesn't Harry come with the doctor?" thought Frank, as he got up and impatiently paced the floor. "He has had plenty of time."

A few moments later the boy on the bed beckoned with his thin hand.

Frank hastened to the bedside, anxiously asking: "Is there anything I can do?"

"Yes," whispered George; "sit down and listen."

"I wish you would save your strength. You must stop talking."

"I must talk, for it is my last chance. I want to tell you again that I know my sister is somewhere in the mountains up around Lake Tahoe.

You have said you would find her. Do so; tell her I am gone. She is an heiress, for all the money Bernard Belmont has will belong to her then. If you could do something to aid her in obtaining her rights.

Will you try?"

"I will try."

"Oh, you are so good--and you are so brave! How you fought that terrible dwarf! You did not seem afraid of him! It is wonderful! I never saw anybody like you! Yes, yes, I am beginning to have faith.

How can I help it after this?"

He smiled at Frank, and there was something so joyous and so pathetic in that smile that Merry turned away to hide the tears which welled into his eyes.

When Frank turned back he was bravely smiling, as he said, in a most encouraging manner:

"Now you must have faith that you are going to get well. That is what you need. It will be better than medicine and doctors. Think--think of meeting your sister again!"

"Yes, yes!" panted the boy. "Dear little Milly!"

"How happy she will be!"

"Yes, yes!"

"And think of regaining possession of what is rightfully your own--of getting square with Bernard Belmont."

A cloud came to the face of the boy.

"Of course I want what is mine--I want Milly to have her rights," he slowly said; "but--but it is not my place to punish the man who has wronged us."

"The law will do that."

"G.o.d will do that! I believe it once more since talking with you. I trust Him fully."

There were footsteps outside the door, a gentle tap, and Frank admitted Harry and a physician.

The doctor sat down in a chair by the bed and asked the boy a few questions, while Frank and Harry anxiously watched and listened. The doctor's face was unreadable.

"Who is this boy, Frank?" whispered Harry. "Where did you find him?"

"Wait," said Merry. "I will tell you later, but not here."

The doctor declared that the unfortunate lad must have some light stimulating food without delay, and he wrote a prescription.

"Take this to a druggist and have it filled," he said, handing it to Harry.

Harry left the room.

The boy lay back on the bed, his eyes closed, breathing softly. The doctor arose and walked to the window, motioning Frank to join him.

"How is it, doctor?" Merriwell anxiously asked, in a whisper.

The man shook his head.

"I can't tell yet," he confessed; "but I fear he is done for. He has been starved, and his lungs are in a bad way. What he needs most is stimulants and food, but everything must be mild, as his system is in such a weakened condition. As for the injury to his side, of which he complains, of course I cannot tell how severe that may be."

Frank's heart sank, for the doctor was more discouraging in his manner than in his words.

"Save him if you can, doctor!" he entreated.

"I will. Is he a friend or relative of yours?"

"He is an utter stranger to me. I never saw him before to-night."