Frank Merriwell's Alarm Part 43

Higgins showed his yellow teeth through his grizzled beard.

"Oh-ho!" he grated. "So that's the trick. Wa-al, I know t'other chap is near, an' I'm goin' ter see him. That is settled."

Off his horse he sprang, leaving the animal to stand, and then, to the surprise of all, he ran to the tree behind which Bart was concealed, dashed around it, and gave a shout of triumph.

A moment later the sheriff reappeared, dragging Hodge by the collar.

"Don't try ter git away!" he commanded. "If ye do, you'll be sorry. I don't fool with a critter of your caliber."

"Let go!" cried Bart, indignantly. "What are you trying to do with me?

Take your hands off, sir!"

"Not till I lodge ye behind bars, young feller. You're under arrest, so cool down and keep still."

"Why am I arrested?"

"Oh, you don't know; oh, no!"

"Answer my question, sir! Why am I arrested?"

"Now, don't go to gettin' funny and givin' orders. It ain't necessary to answer."

Frank stepped forward.

"It is no more than right that you should tell me why you have arrested my friend, sir," he said.

"Ho! ho!" cried the sheriff. "So he is your friend! I thought as much!

Well, don't you get too frisky, or I may take a notion to arrest you, too."

"Such a thing would be an outrage, and I believe you have perpetrated an outrage in arresting Mr. Hodge."

"I don't care what you think!"

"At the same time, I see no reason why you should refuse to tell me why you have arrested him."

"Jive him gesse--I mean give him Jesse!" fluttered Rattleton, as he sought Frank's side. "You know we will stand by you, old man. If you say the word, we'll take Hodge away from him."

Bill Higgins' ears were sharp, and he caught the words. Like a flash he whipped out a huge revolver, which he held in a menacing manner, while he growled:

"Thirteen may be an unlucky number, but skin me if I don't make it thirteen or more if you chaps tries the trick!"

He looked as if he meant what he said.

"Steady, fellows," warned Merriwell, as the boys gathered at his back, ready for anything. "Don't be hasty."

"It won't be good fer yer if you are!" muttered Higgins.

"We can take Hodge away from him--I know we can!" whispered Diamond, eagerly. "Say the word, and we'll jump him!"

"That's right," nodded Browning, with deliberation.

Higgins backed off a bit, still holding fast to Hodge, and handling his revolver threateningly.

"Blamed if I don't take the whole gang in!" he shouted. "I reckon you're all standin' in together with this feller."

"You will have a warm time taking in this crowd," said Frank, quickly.

"We are friends of Mr. Hodge, and therefore we think it no more than right that we should know why he is arrested."

"If that's goin' to satisfy ye, you shall know. He's arrested for shovin' the queer."

"Shoving--the--queer?"

"That's whatever!"

"But--but there must be a mistake."

"Bill Higgins never makes mistakes."

Frank was shocked, stunned. He looked at Bart, and Hodge's face, which had been pale, turned crimson with apparent shame. It was like a blow to Merriwell, for the conviction that Hodge was guilty came over him.

"It was that wretched girl--she did it!" he thought. "She has led him into this. She has influenced him to put out some of that bogus money, and he, like the infatuated fool that he was, did it willingly. Oh, it is a shame!"

Bart stole a glance at Frank, and saw by the expression of Merry's face that he was convinced of his folly. Immediately Hodge seemed to wilt, as if hope had gone out of him. The color left his face, and it became wan and drawn, with an expression of anguish that aroused Frank's deepest pity.

"I don't care!" Merriwell mentally exclaimed. "He did it because he was hypnotized--because her influence compelled him to do so. If he is brought to trial now it will mean his utter ruin. What can I do for him? Can I do anything?"

Bart saw the change that came over Frank's face, but did not understand what it meant. Instead, noticing a hard, determined look, he fancied his former friend was hardening his heart against him.

Of a sudden Hodge gave the sheriff a shove and trip, sending him sprawling on the ground, his revolver being discharged as he fell.

Fortunately the bullet harmed no one.

Like a flash, the desperate boy darted away. He caught his wheel, which stood against a tree, and was on it in a moment. His feet caught the pedals, and away he went down the road.

Bill Higgins scrambled up, uttering language that was shocking to hear.

"The cursed whelp!" he roared. "He can't ride faster than bullets can travel! I'll fill him full of lead!"

Then he flung up the revolver.

Merriwell was quite as swift in his movements.

"No, you don't!"

With that cry on his lips, Frank knocked the weapon aside just as it was discharged, and the bullet sped skyward through the tree tops.

Then Bill Higgins whirled and tried to shoot the boy who had saved Bart Hodge, but the heavy fist of Bruce Browning fell on his temple, and he dropped like a log to the ground.

Frank picked up the sheriff's revolver, which had fallen from his hand, and, when Higgins sat up, he found himself looking into the muzzle of his own weapon.