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FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS
* * * * *
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150--Frank Merriwell's School Days By Burt L. Standish
167--Frank Merriwell's Chums By Burt L. Standish
178--Frank Merriwell's Foes By Burt L. Standish
184--Frank Merriwell's Trip West By Burt L. Standish
189--Frank Merriwell Down South By Burt L. Standish
193--Frank Merriwell's Bravery By Burt L. Standish
197--Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour By Burt L. Standish
201--Frank Merriwell in Europe By Burt L. Standish
205--Frank Merriwell at Yale By Burt L. Standish
209--Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield By Burt L. Standish
213--Frank Merriwell's Races By Burt L. Standish
217--Frank Merriwell's Bicycle Tour By Burt L. Standish
225--Frank Merriwell's Courage By Burt L. Standish
229--Frank Merriwell's Daring By Burt L. Standish
233--Frank Merriwell's Athletes By Burt L. Standish
237--Frank Merriwell's Skill By Burt L. Standish
240--Frank Merriwell's Champions By Burt L. Standish
244--Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale By Burt L. Standish
247--Frank Merriwell's Secret By Burt L. Standish
251--Frank Merriwell's Danger By Burt L. Standish
254--Frank Merriwell's Loyalty By Burt L. Standish
258--Frank Merriwell in Camp By Burt L. Standish
262--Frank Merriwell's Vacation By Burt L. Standish
267--Frank Merriwell's Cruise By Burt L. Standish
271--Frank Merriwell's Chase By Burt L. Standish
276--Frank Merriwell in Maine By Burt L. Standish
280--Frank Merriwell's Struggle By Burt L. Standish
284--Frank Merriwell's First Job By Burt L. Standish
288--Frank Merriwell's Opportunity By Burt L. Standish
292--Frank Merriwell's Hard Luck By Burt L. Standish
296--Frank Merriwell's Protege By Burt L. Standish
300--Frank Merriwell On the Road By Burt L. Standish
304--Frank Merriwell's Own Company By Burt L. Standish
308--Frank Merriwell's Fame By Burt L. Standish
312--Frank Merriwell's College Chums By Burt L. Standish
316--Frank Merriwell's Problem By Burt L. Standish
320--Frank Merriwell's Fortune By Burt L. Standish
324--Frank Merriwell's New Comedian By Burt L. Standish
328--Frank Merriwell's Prosperity By Burt L. Standish
332--Frank Merriwell's Stage Hit By Burt L. Standish
336--Frank Merriwell's Great Scheme By Burt L. Standish
340--Frank Merriwell in England By Burt L. Standish
344--Frank Merriwell On the Boulevards By Burt L. Standish
348--Frank Merriwell's Duel By Burt L. Standish
352--Frank Merriwell's Double Shot By Burt L. Standish
356--Frank Merriwell's Baseball Victories By Burt L. Standish
359--Frank Merriwell's Confidence By Burt L. Standish
362--Frank Merriwell's Auto By Burt L. Standish
365--Frank Merriwell's Fun By Burt L. Standish
368--Frank Merriwell's Generosity By Burt L. Standish
371--Frank Merriwell's Tricks By Burt L. Standish
374--Frank Merriwell's Temptations By Burt L. Standish
376--The Rockspur Eleven By Burt L. Standish
377--Frank Merriwell on Top By Burt L. Standish
379--The Young Railroader's Wreck By Stanley Norris
380--Frank Merriwell's Luck By Burt L. Standish
381--Chums of the Prairie By St. George Rathborne
382--The Yankee Middy By Oliver Optic
383--Frank Merriwell's Mascot By Burt L. Standish
384--Saved by the Enemy By Ensign Clark Fitch, U. S. N.
385--The Young Railroader's Victory By Stanley Norris
386--Frank Merriwell's Reward By Burt L. Standish
387--Brave Old Salt By Oliver Optic
388--Jack Harkaway's Struggles By Bracebridge Hemyng
389--Frank Merriwell's Phantom By Burt L. Standish
390--Frank's Campaign By Horatio Alger, Jr.
391--The Rockspur Rivals By Burt L. Standish
392--Frank Merriwell's Faith By Burt L. Standish
393--The Starry Flag By Oliver Optic
394--The Young Railroader's Long Run By Stanley Norris
395--Frank Merriwell's Victories By Burt L. Standish
396--Jack Brown, the Hero By Herbert Strang
397--Breaking Away By Oliver Optic
398--Frank Merriwell's Iron Nerve By Burt L. Standish
399--Jack Lightfoot, the Athlete By Maxwell Stevens
400--Tom Temple's Career By Horatio Alger, Jr.
401--Frank Merriwell in Kentucky By Burt L. Standish
402--The Young Railroader's Comrade By Stanley Norris
403--Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands Bracebridge Hemyng
404--Frank Merriwell's Power By Burt L. Standish
405--Seek and Find By Oliver Optic
406--Dan, the Newsboy By Horatio Alger, Jr.
407--Frank Merriwell's Shrewdness By Burt L. Standish
408--Young Tom Burnaby By Herbert Strang
409--The Young Railroader's Promotion By Stanley Norris
410--Frank Merriwell's Setback By Burt L. Standish
411--Jack Lightfoot's Crack Nine By Maxwell Stevens
412--Freaks of Fortune By Oliver Optic
413--Frank Merriwell's Search By Burt L. Standish
414--The Train-boy By Horatio Alger, Jr.
415--Jack Harkaway's Return By Bracebridge Hemyng
416--Frank Merriwell's Club By Burt L. Standish
417--The Young Railroader's Chance By Stanley Norris
418--Make or Break By Oliver Optic
419--Frank Merriwell's Trust By Burt L. Standish
420--Jack Lightfoot Trapped By Maxwell Stevens
421--The Errand-boy By Horatio Alger, Jr.
422--Frank Merriwell's False Friend By Burt L. Standish
423--The Young Railroader's Luck By Stanley Norris
424--Down the River By Oliver Optic
425--Frank Merriwell's Strong Arm By Burt L. Standish
426--Jack Lightfoot's Rival By Maxwell Stevens
427--The Rockspur Nine By Burt L. Standish
428--Frank Merriwell as Coach By Burt L. Standish
429--Paul Prescott's Charge By Horatio Alger, Jr.
430--Through by Daylight By Oliver Optic
431--Frank Merriwell's Brother By Burt L. Standish
432--The Young Railroader's Challenge By Stanley Norris
433--The Young Inventor By G. Manville Fenn
434--Frank Merriwell's Marvel By Burt L. Standish
435--Lightning Express By Oliver Optic
436--The Telegraph Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr.
437--Frank Merriwell's Support By Burt L. Standish
438--Jack Lightfoot in Camp By Maxwell Stevens
439--The Young Railroader's Hard Task By Stanley Norris
440--Dick Merriwell at Fardale By Burt L. Standish
441--On Time By Oliver Optic
442--The Young Miner By Horatio Alger, Jr.
443--Dick Merriwell's Glory By Burt L. Standish
444--Jack Lightfoot's Canoe Trip By Maxwell Stevens
445--The Young Railroader's Sealed Orders By Stanley Norris
446--Dick Merriwell's Promise By Burt L. Standish
447--Switch Off By Oliver Optic
448--Tom Thatcher's Fortune By Horatio Alger, Jr.
449--Dick Merriwell's Rescue By Burt L. Standish
450--Jack Lightfoot's Iron Arm By Maxwell Stevens
451--The Young Railroader's Ally By Stanley Norris
452--Dick Merriwell's Narrow Escape By Burt L. Standish
453--Brake Up By Oliver Optic
454--Tom Turner's Legacy By Horatio Alger, Jr.
455--Dick Merriwell's Racket By Burt L. Standish
456--Jack Lightfoot's Hoodoo By Maxwell Stevens
457--The Go-ahead Boys By Gale Richards
458--Dick Merriwell's Revenge By Burt L. Standish
459--The Young Railroader's Mascot By Stanley Norris
460--Bear and Forbear By Oliver Optic
461--Dick Merriwell's Ruse By Burt L. Standish
462--Ben Bruce By Horatio Alger, Jr.
463--Jack Lightfoot's Decision By Maxwell Stevens
464--Dick Merriwell's Delivery By Burt L. Standish
465--The Young Railroader's Contest By Stanley Norris
466--The Go-ahead Boys' Legacy By Gale Richards
467--Dick Merriwell's Wonders By Burt L. Standish
468--Bernard Brook's Adventures By Horatio Alger, Jr.
469--Jack Lightfoot's Gun Club By Maxwell Stevens
470--Frank Merriwell's Honor By Burt L. Standish
471--Gascoyne, the Sandal Wood Trader By R. M. Ballantyne
472--Paul Hassard's Peril By Matt Royal
473--Dick Merriwell's Diamond By Burt L. Standish
474--Phil, the Showman By Stanley Norris
475--A Debt of Honor By Horatio Alger, Jr.
476--Frank Merriwell's Winners By Burt L. Standish
477--Jack Lightfoot's Blind By Maxwell Stevens
478--Marooned By W. Clark Russell
479--Dick Merriwell's Dash By Burt L. Standish
480--Phil's Rivals By Stanley Norris
481--Mark Manning's Mission By Horatio Alger, Jr.
482--Dick Merriwell's Ability By Burt L. Standish
483--Jack Lightfoot's Capture By Maxwell Stevens
484--A Captain at Fifteen By Jules Verne
485--Dick Merriwell's Trap By Burt L. Standish
486--Phil's Pluck By Stanley Norris
487--The Wreck of the _Grosvenor_ By W. Clark Russell
488--Dick Merriwell's Defense By Burt L. Standish
489--Charlie Codman's Cruise By Horatio Alger, Jr.
490--Jack Lightfoot's Head Work By Maxwell Stevens
491--Dick Merriwell's Model By Burt L. Standish
492--Phil's Triumph By Stanley Norris
493--A Two Years' Vacation By Jules Verne
494--Dick Merriwell's Mystery By Burt L. Standish
495--The Young Explorer By Horatio Alger, Jr.
496--Jack Lightfoot's Wisdom By Maxwell Stevens
497--Frank Merriwell's Backers By Burt L. Standish
498--Ted Strong, Cowboy By Edward C. Taylor
499--From Circus to Fortune By Stanley Norris
500--Dick Merriwell's Back-stop By Burt L. Standish
501--Sink or Swim By Horatio Alger, Jr.
502--For the Right By Roy Franklin
503--Dick Merriwell's Western Mission By Burt L. Standish
504--Among the Cattlemen By Edward C. Taylor
505--A Legacy of Peril By William Murray Graydon
506--Frank Merriwell's Rescue By Burt L. Standish
507--The Young Musician By Horatio Alger, Jr.
508--"A Gentleman Born" By Stanley Norris
509--Frank Merriwell's Encounter By Burt L. Standish
510--Black Mountain Ranch By Edward C. Taylor
511--The Boy Conjurer By Victor St. Clair
512--Dick Merriwell's Marked Money By Burt L. Standish
513--Work and Win By Horatio Alger, Jr.
514--Fighting for Fortune By Roy Franklin
515--Frank Merriwell's Nomads By Burt L. Standish
516--With Rifle and Lasso By Edward C. Taylor
517--For His Friend's Honor By Stanley Norris
518--Dick Merriwell on the Gridiron By Burt L. Standish
519--The Backwoods Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr.
520--The Young Range Riders By St. George Rathborne
521--Dick Merriwell's Disguise By Burt L. Standish
522--Lost in the Desert By Edward C. Taylor
523--Building Himself Up By Oliver Optic
524--Dick Merriwell's Test By Burt L. Standish
525--Adrift in Midair By Ensign Clarke Fitch
526--True to His Trust By Stanley Norris
527--Frank Merriwell's Trump Card By Burt L. Standish
528--Lyon Hart's Heroism By Oliver Optic
529--Fighting the Rustlers By Edward C. Taylor
530--Frank Merriwell's Strategy By Burt L. Standish
531--Digging for Gold By Horatio Alger, Jr.
532--Wyoming By Edward S. Ellis
533--Frank Merriwell's Triumph By Burt L. Standish
534--Louis Chiswick's Mission By Oliver Optic
535--Facing the Music By Stanley Norris
536--Dick Merriwell's Grit By Burt L. Standish
537--Stemming the Tide By Roy Franklin
538--Adrift in the City By Horatio Alger, Jr.
539--Dick Merriwell's Assurance By Burt L. Standish
540--Royal Tarr's Pluck By Oliver Optic
541--Holding the Fort By Ensign Clarke Fitch
542--Dick Merriwell's Long Slide By Burt L. Standish
543--Two Ways of Becoming a Hunter By Harry Castlemon
544--The Rival Miners By Edward C. Taylor
545--Frank Merriwell's Rough Deal By Burt L. Standish
546--The Professor's Son By Oliver Optic
547--Frank Hunter's Peril By Horatio Alger, Jr.
548--Dick Merriwell's Threat By Burt L. Standish
549--Fin and Feather By Wallace Kincaid
550--Storm Mountain By Edward S. Ellis
551--Dick Merriwell's Persistence By Burt L. Standish
552--Striving for His Own By Oliver Optic
553--Winning by Courage By Roy Franklin
554--Dick Merriwell's Day By Burt L. Standish
555--Robert Coverdale's Struggle By Horatio Alger, Jr.
556--The West Point Boys By Col. J. Thomas Weldon
557--Frank Merriwell's Peril By Burt L. Standish
558--The Last of the Herd By Edward C. Taylor
559--Making a Man of Himself By Oliver Optic
560--Dick Merriwell's Downfall By Burt L. Standish
561--Winning Against Odds By Roy Franklin
562--The Camp in the Foothills By Harry Castlemon
563--Frank Merriwell's Pursuit By Burt L. Standish
564--The Naval Academy Boys Commander Luther G. Brownell
565--Every Inch a Boy By Oliver Optic
566--Dick Merriwell Abroad By Burt L. Standish
567--On a Mountain Trail By Edward C. Taylor
568--The Plebes' Challenge By Col. J. Thomas Weldon
569--Frank Merriwell in the Rockies By Burt L. Standish
570--Lester's Luck By Horatio Alger, Jr.
571--His Own Helper By Oliver Optic
572--Dick Merriwell's Pranks By Burt L. Standish
573--Bound to Get There By Roy Franklin
574--An Annapolis Tangle By Commander Luther G. Brownell
575--Frank Merriwell's Pride By Burt L. Standish
576--Across the Prairie By Edward C. Taylor
577--Honest Kit Dunstable By Oliver Optic
578--Frank Merriwell's Challengers By Burt L. Standish
579--The Runaway Cadet By Col. J. Thomas Weldon
580--Jack Harkaway Around the World Bracebridge Hemyng
581--Frank Merriwell's Endurance By Burt L. Standish
582--Out for Big Game By Edward C. Taylor
583--The Young Pilot By Oliver Optic
584--Dick Merriwell's Cleverness By Burt L. Standish
585--Oscar in Africa By Harry Castlemon
586--Rupert's Ambition By Horatio Alger, Jr.
587--Frank Merriwell's Marriage By Burt L. Standish
588--The Pride of Annapolis By Com. Luther G. Brownell
589--The Cruise of the "Dandy" By Oliver Optic
590--Dick Merriwell, the Wizard By Burt L. Standish
591--Captain Nemo's Challenge By Edward C. Taylor
592--The Cabin in the Clearing By Edward S. Ellis
593--Dick Merriwell's Stroke By Burt L. Standish
594--Frank and Fearless By Horatio Alger, Jr.
595--Three Young Silver Kings By Oliver Optic
596--Dick Merriwell's Return By Burt L. Standish
597--His Own Master By Roy Franklin
598--An Annapolis Adventure By Com. Luther G. Brownell
599--Dick Merriwell's Resource By Burt L. Standish
600--Ted Strong's Close Call By Edward C. Taylor
* * * * *
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* * * * *
FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS
Or
The Pride of His Friends
by
BURT L. STANDISH
Author of
_The Celebrated "Merriwell Stories"_
Published Exclusively in the Medal Library,
in Paper-Covered Edition
[Illustration]
Street & Smith, Publishers
79-89 Seventh Ave., New York City
Copyright, 1903
By Street & Smith
Frank Merriwell's Backers
All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign
languages, including the Scandinavian.
CONTENTS
I--IN THE TRAP
II--IN THE HANDS OF CIMARRON BILL
III--INTO THE NIGHT
IV--IN THE OLD HUT
V--PINTO PEDE RECEIVES HIS LESSON
VI--INJUN JOE TO THE RESCUE
VII--MERRIWELL AND BIG MONTE
VIII--THE DEATH-SHOT
IX--FRANK MAKES A DECISION
X--MERRIWELL'S METHOD
XI--SMOKE SIGNALS AND A DECOY
XII--LOST IN THE MOUNTAINS
XIII--FRANK'S ESCAPE
XIV--MYSTERIOUS PABLO
XV--MERRY'S DISCOVERY
XVI--FRANK DETECTS TREACHERY
XVII--THE WAR-WHOOP OF OLD ELI
XVIII--A STRANGE FUNERAL
XIX--NEW ARRIVALS IN HOLBROOK
XX--MRS. ARLINGTON HAS A VISITOR
XXI--SEEN FROM THE WINDOW
XXII--A SENSATION IN TOWN
XXIII--BOXER CREATES A STIR
XXIV--BOXER TO THE RESCUE
XXV--UNTO DEATH!
XXVI--THE COMING OF CROWFOOT
XXVII--ARRESTED IN HOLBROOK
XXVIII--BILL HIKES OUT
XXIX--OLD JOE TAKES A DRINK
XXX--FRANK IN SUNK HOLE
XXXI--THE DANCE IN SUNK HOLE
XXXII--DEAD OR LIVING
XXXIII--THE RETURN TO HOLBROOK
FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS.
CHAPTER I.
IN THE TRAP.
Millions of bright stars shone serenely through the clear Arizona night,
shedding their soft white light on the great arid plains and the
mysterious mesas and mighty mountains.
Throughout the night Frank Merriwell lay ensconced behind some
sheltering rocks in a deep ravine, where he had been trapped by the
ruffians in the employ of the mining trust, who were determined to wrest
from him the precious papers they believed to be in his possession.
Old Joe Crowfoot, the aged Indian friend of Merriwell, who had been
snared with him, had, shortly after nightfall, taken the precious
oilskin package, containing the papers, and crept forth on his stomach,
like a snake, from amid the rocks.
Joe had promised to take the papers to the nearest registry post-office,
in case he escaped, and send them, according to directions, to Richard
Merriwell, Frank's brother, at Fardale.
Frank had written a letter to Dick, and had securely tied up and
directed the package. He trusted the aged redskin, who declared that he
might find a method of escaping from the trap, yet could not take the
white youth with him. He had made certain that Joe understood the matter
of registering the package, in case he should reach the post-office with
it in his possession.
Merriwell had become satisfied that this was the best course to pursue.
It was plain that he was in a very bad trap, and he knew those ruffians
could soon starve him out. There was no water or food for himself or his
horse. A day of thirst behind those rocks must surely do for him.
If Joe carried out the plan successfully, the papers would be placed
beyond the reach of the ruffians, even though Frank fell into their
hands. And it was the papers they had been engaged to secure. Were they
to kill him, Dick would have the precious papers and be able to continue
the battle for his rights.
Merry watched old Joe wiggle silently away, wondering that the Indian
could slip along in that manner with so very little effort. The old
redskin lay flat on the ground and took advantage of every little cover
he could find, and soon he vanished amid the rocks and passed into the
shadows, after which Merry saw him no more.
Down the ravine a great mass of rocks and earth had been blown down by a
mighty blast and blocked the passage.
Up the ravine armed and murderous men were waiting and watching, ready
to shoot down the youth they had trapped.
There were also armed ruffians on the barrier to the southeast. They had
trailed Merry with the persistence of bloodhounds.
A full hour passed. The men above were making merry in a boisterous way.
One of them began to sing. He had a musical voice, which rang out
clearly on the soft night air. Strangely enough he sang "Nearer My God
to Thee."
Could they be watching closely? It did not seem so.
Frank rigged his coat on the barrel of his rifle. On the muzzle of the
weapon he placed his hat. Then, he lifted coat and hat above the rocks.
Crack! Ping!
The ringing report of a rifle and the singing of a bullet. The hat and
coat dropped. In the coat Merriwell found a bullet-hole. That settled
it. There was no longer a doubt but that the desperadoes were watching
like wolves.
Yet old Joe had been able to slip forth from the protection of those
rocks and creep away.
More than ever Merriwell admired the skill of the Indian. Thinking that
the old fellow had instructed Dick in the craft which he knew so well,
Frank believed such knowledge had not been acquired in vain. Some time
Dick might find it very valuable to him.
There was a hoarse burst of laughter from the watching ruffians.
"Oh, Merriwell!" called a voice.
"Well," sang back Frank, "what do you want?"
"Stick that thing up again. We'd like a leetle target practise."
"You'll have to provide your own target," Merry retorted.
"Oh, we reckons not! We'll stand you up fer one sooner or later," was
the assurance.
Still they had not discovered old Joe. It seemed marvelous.
The night passed on. Another hour was gone when there came a sudden
commotion far up the ravine, as if on the further outskirts of the
ruffians. There were hoarse shouts, angry oaths, the rattle of shots,
and then the clatter of iron-shod hoofs.
The ring and echo of those clattering hoofs receded into the night,
coming back clear and distinct at first, but growing fainter and
fainter.
Frank Merriwell laughed and lay still until the sound of the galloping
horse had died out in the distance.
"Old Joe is on his way to the post-office," muttered Merry. "He took a
fancy to acquire one of their horses in order to make better time."
The ruffians were filled with more or less consternation. They continued
to wrangle angrily. At last, one cried:
"Oh, Merriwell!"
Frank lay perfectly still and made no answer.
"Oh, Merriwell!"
Peering forth from amid his rocky barrier, yet crouching where the
shadows hid him, Frank cocked his rifle and pushed it forward for use.
There was a time of silence, during which he fancied the men were
consulting in whispers. Finally his keen eyes saw something move into
the dim white light above some boulders. He laughed a little in a
suppressed way and sent a bullet through the moving object.
"Put it up again!" he called cheerfully. "I don't mind a little target
practise myself."
He knew the thing had been thrust up there to draw his fire and settle
the question if he still remained in the trap. But he had shown those
ruffians that he could shoot as accurately as the best of them.
After this he heard the men talking. He knew they were bewildered by
what had happened. They could not believe it possible that a human being
had crept forth from the snare. It seemed to them that the person who
had seized their horse and ridden away had come upon them from the rear
and was in no way connected with Merriwell.
After a time they were silent.
They were satisfied that the trap held fast.
Then Frank found a comfortable place where he was perfectly hidden and
coolly went to sleep, with his hand on his cocked rifle.
Merriwell needed sleep, and he did not hesitate to take it. It spoke
well for his nerves that he could sleep under such circumstances. It may
seem that it did not speak so well for his judgment. Still he knew that
he would awaken at any sound of an alarming nature, and he believed
those men would rest content, satisfied that they had him caged where
there was no possibility that he could give them the slip.
After an hour or more, he awoke and demonstrated the fact that he was
still behind the rocks by exchanging a challenge with the watching
ruffians.
Then he slept again.
And so the night passed on.
Frank was wide-awake with the coming of dawn. He saw the stars pale and
die in the sky. He saw the gentle gray of morning and the flush of
sunrise. Far up the ravine rose the smoke of a camp-fire, telling where
the ruffians were preparing breakfast.
"Oh, Merriwell!"
"Hello, yourself!"
"Are you hungry?"
"No, thank you. I have plenty to eat."
"Are you thirsty?"
"Not in the least. I have my canteen."
"That'll be empty right soon. How would you like some steamin' hot
coffee?"
"It wouldn't go bad. Send some in."
"We'll exchange a pot of coffee for sartin papers you has with yer."
"You're very kind!" laughed Merry derisively.
"It's a right good offer. We're goin' to have them papers anyhow, an'
you may not even git coffee fer them."
"You're due for the greatest disappointment of your lives, gentlemen,"
declared Frank. "If you're looking this way for papers, you're barking
up the wrong tree."
"Oh, you can't fool us!" was the answer. "We know you've got 'em, and
we'll have 'em."
"Ever gamble?" asked Frank.
"Oh, we sometimes take a chance."
"I'll go you my horse and outfit against that of any one in your party
that you don't get the papers."
"Done! It's a sure thing as far as we're consarned. We has yer foul, an'
we'll stay right yere till we starves ye out."
"Too bad to waste your valuable time so foolishly. But, say!"
"Say it."
"I see no particular reason why my horse here should go hungry and
thirsty."
"Not the least. Bring the pore critter right out."
"Beg pardon if I seem a trifle lazy, but it's too much bother. However,
I'll send him out, and I'll look to you to see that he's properly cared
for."
Without exposing himself, Frank managed to get the horse out from the
niche in the wall where he had been placed, headed the animal through a
break in the rocky barrier and sent him off, with a sharp crack of the
hand.
The horse galloped up the ravine, finally saw human beings, stopped,
snorted, seemed about to turn back, but finally kept on and
disappeared.
Then Frank settled down to wait, being resolved to give old Joe plenty
of time.
The day grew hot in the ravine, where there was little air. The sun beat
down with great fierceness from the unclouded sky. Those mountains
seemed bare and baked. Little wonder that their repelling fastnesses had
presented little attraction for the prospector. Little wonder it had
often been reported that they contained no gold.
But Frank Merriwell's "Queen Mystery" Mine lay in that range, and it had
developed so richly that the great Consolidated Mining Association of
America was straining every nerve to get possession of it--to wrest it
from its rightful owner.
So Frank baked in the sun, taking care to keep well hidden, for he knew
those men would gladly end the affair by filling him full of lead, if
they were given the opportunity.
Once or twice he caught glimpses of them. Several times they challenged
him. He was prompt to answer every challenge, and he did not wish to
shoot any of them.
He had fully decided on the course he would pursue; but he was
determined to give Joe Crowfoot plenty of time to perform his part of
the program.
Frank smiled in grim irony over his position. He took it
philosophically, satisfied that that was the best he could do. He did
not worry, for worry would do him no good.
He was given plenty of time to reflect on the course pursued by the
syndicate, and it made him wonder that such high-handed things could
take place in the United States.
It seemed rather remarkable that the head of the mighty syndicate, D.
Roscoe Arlington, was the father of Chester Arlington, Dick Merriwell's
bitterest enemy at Fardale.
Frank had encountered Mr. Arlington. He had found him blunt, grim,
obstinate, somewhat coarse, yet apparently not brutal. Being a clever
reader of human nature, which many are not who pride themselves that
they are, Frank had become satisfied that there were many men in the
world who were far worse than D. Roscoe Arlington, yet were considered
models of virtue and justice. Arlington was not a hypocrite. He was
bluntly and openly himself. He had set out as a poor boy to make a
fortune, and now it seemed possible that he might become the richest man
in America. Comfortable riches had first been the object for which he
strived; but when his scheming poured wealth upon him, he set the mark
higher. He determined to be one of the very rich men of the United
States. That goal he had now arrived at; but the mark had been lifted
again, and now he was determined to become the richest.
Arlington had not ordered those ruffians to take the papers from Frank.
Still he was back of it all. He had turned the matter over into the
hands of unscrupulous lieutenants, instructing them to employ any means
within their power to obtain possession of the Queen Mystery and San
Pablo Mines. Those lieutenants were directing the operations of the
ruffians.
It is quite probable that Arlington did not wish to know the method
employed by his lieutenants. All he desired was the result.
Frank had also met Mrs. Arlington, and he had seen in her a haughty,
domineering, icy woman, ready to do anything to gain her ends. She was
proud and high-headed, although she had once been a poor girl. She
looked down in scorn and contempt on all poor people.
But Merry had not forgotten June Arlington, who had a truly high-bred
face of great attractiveness, and who was vivacious yet reserved, proud
yet considerate, high-spirited yet kind. He had not forgotten the girl,
and ever he thought of her with feelings of kindness, for with her own
hands she had restored to him the precious papers when they had been
stolen from him, by agents of the trust, assisted by her mother.
He knew Dick admired June, and he did not wonder at it, for about June
Arlington there was such fascination as few girls possess.
Still Merry could not help wondering if June would one day develop into
a woman like her mother. Such a result did not seem possible.
Midday passed, and the afternoon waned, yet without any diminishing of
the scorching heat in the ravine.
Frank's water was gone, and he began to feel the torments of thirst.
He had counted the time as it passed. Finally he was satisfied that
Crowfoot had accomplished the task he had set out to perform. The papers
were mailed. Probably they were already on their way to Dick Merriwell
at Fardale.
"Well," muttered Frank, "I think I'll go out and look these ruffians
over now."