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THE MEDAL LIBRARY
FAMOUS COPYRIGHTED STORIES FOR BOYS, BY FAMOUS AUTHORS
PUBLISHED EVERY WEEK
This is an ideal line for boys of all ages. It contains juvenile
masterpieces by the most popular writers of interesting fiction for
boys. Among these may be mentioned the works of Burt L. Standish,
detailing the adventures of Frank Merriwell, the hero, of whom every
American boy has read with admiration. Frank is a truly representative
American lad, full of character and a strong determination to do right
at any cost. Then, there are the works of Horatio Alger, Jr., whose
keen insight into the minds of the boys of our country has enabled him
to write a series of the most interesting tales ever published. This
line also contains some of the best works of Oliver Optic, another
author whose entire life was devoted to writing books that would tend
to interest and elevate our boys.
To be Published During July
+316--Frank Merriwell's Problem+ +By Burt L. Standish+
To be Published During June
315--The Diamond Seeker of Brazil By Leon Lewis
+314--An Interesting Story+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
313--The Phantom Ship By Capt. Marryat
+312--Frank Merriwell's College Chums+, +By Burt L. Standish+
To be Published During May
311--Whistler By Walter Aimwell
+310--An Interesting Story+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
309--Three Years at Wolverton By A. Wolvertonian
+308--Frank Merriwell's Fame+ +By Burt L. Standish+
To be Published During April
307--The Boy Crusoes By Jeffreys Taylor
+306--An Interesting Story+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
305--Japhet in Search of a Father By Capt. Marryat
+304--Frank Merriwell's Own Company+, +By Burt L. Standish+
To be Published During March
303--The Prairie By J. Fenimore Cooper
+302--An Interesting Story+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
301--A Battle and a Boy By Blanche Willis Howard
+300--Frank Merriwell on the Road+ +By Burt L. Standish+
* * * * *
299--Mart Satterlee Among the Indians By William O. Stoddard
+298--An Interesting Story+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
297--Newton Forster By Capt. Marryat
+296--Frank Merriwell's Protégé+ +By Burt L. Standish+
295--Cris Rock By Capt. Mayne Reid
+294--Sam's Chance+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
293--My Plucky Boy Tom By Edward S. Ellis
+292--Frank Merriwell's Hard Luck+ +By Burt L. Standish+
291--By Pike and Dyke By G. A. Henty
+290--Shifting For Himself+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
289--The Pirate and the Three Cutters By Capt. Marryat
+288--Frank Merriwell's Opportunity+ +By Burt L. Standish+
287--Kit Carson's Last Trail By Leon Lewis
+286--Jack's Ward+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
285--Jack Darcy, the All Around Athlete By Edward S. Ellis
+284--Frank Merriwell's First Job+ +By Burt L. Standish+
283--Wild Adventures Round the Pole By Gordon Stables
+282--Herbert Carter's Legacy+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
281--Rattlin, the Reefer By Capt. Marryat
+280--Frank Merriwell's Struggle+ +By Burt L. Standish+
279--Mark Dale's Stage Venture By Arthur M. Winfield
278--In Times of Peril By G. A. Henty
+277--In a New World+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
+276--Frank Merriwell in Maine+ +By Burt L. Standish+
275--The King of the Island By Henry Harrison Lewis
274--Beach Boy Joe By Lieut. James K. Orton
273--Jacob Faithful By Capt. Marryat
+272--Facing the World+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
+271--Frank Merriwell's Chase+ +By Burt L. Standish+
270--Wing and Wing By J. Fenimore Cooper
269--The Young Bank Clerk By Arthur M. Winfield
+268--Do and Dare+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
+267--Frank Merriwell's Cruise+ +By Burt L. Standish+
266--The Young Castaways By Leon Lewis
265--The Lion of St. Mark By G. A. Henty
+264--Hector's Inheritance+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
263--Mr. Midshipman Easy By Captain Marryat
+262--Frank Merriwell's Vacation+ +By Burt L. Standish+
261--The Pilot By J. Fenimore Cooper
+260--Driven From Home+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
259--Sword and Pen By Henry Harrison Lewis
+258--Frank Merriwell In Camp+ +By Burt L. Standish+
257--Jerry By Walter Aimwell
256--The Young Ranchman By Lieut. Lounsberry
255--Captain Bayley's Heir By G. A. Henty
+254--Frank Merriwell's Loyalty+ +By Burt L. Standish+
253--The Water Witch By J. Fenimore Cooper
+252--Luke Walton+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
+251--Frank Merriwell's Danger+ +By Burt L. Standish+
250--Neka, the Boy Conjurer By Capt. Ralph Bonehill
249--The Young Bridge Tender By Arthur M. Winfield
248--The West Point Rivals By Lieut. Frederick Garrison, U.S.A.
+247--Frank Merriwell's Secret+ +By Burt L. Standish+
246--Rob Ranger's Cowboy Days By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry
245--The Red Rover By J. Fenimore Cooper
+244--Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale+ +By Burt L. Standish+
+243--Adrift in New York+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
242--The Rival Canoe Boys By St. George Rathborne
241--The Tour of the Zero Club By Capt. R. Bonehill
+240--Frank Merriwell's Champions+ +By Burt L. Standish+
239--The Two Admirals By J. Fenimore Cooper
238--A Cadet's Honor By Lieut. Fred'k Garrison, U. S. A.
+237--Frank Merriwell's Skill+ +By Burt L. Standish+
236--Rob Ranger's Mine By Lieut. Lounsberry
235--The Young Carthaginian By G. A. Henty
+234--The Store Boy+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
+233--Frank Merriwell's Athletes+ +By Burt L. Standish+
232--The Valley of Mystery By Henry Harrison Lewis
231--Paddling Under Palmettos By St. George Rathborne
230--Off for West Point By Lieut. Fred'k Garrison, U. S. A.
+229--Frank Merriwell's Daring+ +By Burt L. Standish
228--The Cash Boy+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
227--In Freedom's Cause By G. A. Henty
226--Tom Havens With the White Squadron By Lieut. James K. Orton
+225--Frank Merriwell's Courage+ +By Burt L. Standish+
224--Yankee Boys in Japan By Henry Harrison Lewis
223--In Fort and Prison By William Murray Graydon
222--A West Point Treasure, By Lieut. Frederick Garrison, U. S. A.
+221--The Young Outlaw+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
220--The Gulf Cruisers By St. George Rathborne
219--Tom Truxton's Ocean Trip By Lieut. Lounsberry
218--Tom Truxton's School Days By Lieut. Lounsberry
+217--Frank Merriwell's Bicycle Tour+ +By Burt L. Standish+
216--Campaigning With Braddock By Wm. Murray Graydon
215--With Clive in India By G. A. Henty
214--On Guard By Lieut. Frederick Garrison, U. S. A.
+213--Frank Merriwell's Races+ +By Burt L. Standish+
+212--Julius, the Street Boy+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
211--Buck Badger's Ranch By Russell Williams
210--Sturdy and Strong By G. A. Henty
+209--Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield+ +By Burt L. Standish+
208--The Treasure of the Golden Crater By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry
207--Shifting Winds By St. George Rathborne
206--Jungles and Traitors By Wm. Murray Graydon
+205--Frank Merriwell at Yale+ +By Burt L. Standish+
204--Under Drake's Flag By G. A. Henty
203--Last Chance Mine By Lieut. James K. Orton
+202--Risen From the Ranks+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
+201--Frank Merriwell in Europe+ +By Burt L. Standish+
200--The Fight for a Pennant By Frank Merriwell
199--The Golden Cañon By G. A. Henty
+198--Only an Irish Boy+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
+197--Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour+ +Burt L. Standish+
196--Zip, the Acrobat By Victor St. Clair
195--The Lion of the North By G. A. Henty
194--The White Mustang By Edward S. Ellis
+193--Frank Merriwell's Bravery+ +By Burt L. Standish+
+192--Tom, the Bootblack+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
191--The Rivals of the Diamond By Russell Williams
190--The Cat of Bubastes By G. A. Henty
+189--Frank Merriwell Down South+ +By Burt L. Standish+
188--From Street to Mansion By Frank H. Stauffer
+187--Bound to Rise+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
186--On the Trail of Geronimo By Edward S. Ellis
185--For the Temple By G. A. Henty
+184--Frank Merriwell's Trip West+ +By Burt L. Standish+
183--The Diamond Hunters By James Grant
182--The Camp in the Snow By William Murray Graydon
+181--Brave and Bold+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
180--One of the 28th By G. A. Henty
179--The Land of Mystery By Edward S. Ellis
+178--Frank Merriwell's Foes+ +By Burt L. Standish+
177--The White Elephant By William Dalton
176--By England's Aid By G. A. Henty
+175--Strive and Succeed+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
174--The Golden Rock By Edward S. Ellis
173--Life at Sea By Gordon Stables
172--The Young Midshipman By G. A. Henty
171--Erling the Bold By R. M. Ballantyne
+170--Strong and Steady+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
169--Peter, the Whaler By W. H. G. Kingston
168--Among Malay Pirates By G. A. Henty
+167--Frank Merriwell's Chums+ +By Burt L. Standish+
+166--Try and Trust+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
165--The Secret Chart By Lieut. James K. Orton
164--The Cornet of Horse By G. A. Henty
+163--Slow and Sure+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
162--The Pioneers By J. F. Cooper
161--Reuben Green's Adventures at Yale By James Otis
+160--Little by Little+ +By Oliver Optic+
+159--Phil, the Fiddler+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
158--With Lee in Virginia By G. A. Henty
157--Randy, the Pilot By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry
156--The Pathfinder By J. F. Cooper
155--The Young Voyagers By Capt. Mayne Reid
+154--Paul, the Peddler+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
153--Bonnie Prince Charlie By G. A. Henty
152--The Last of the Mohicans By J. Fenimore Cooper
151--The Flag of Distress By Capt. Mayne Reid
+150--Frank Merriwell's School Days+ +By Burt L. Standish+
149--With Wolfe in Canada By G. A. Henty
148--The Deerslayer By J. F. Cooper
147--The Cliff Climbers By Capt. Mayne Reid
146--Uncle Nat By A. Oldfellow
145--Friends Though Divided By G. A. Henty
144--The Boy Tar By Capt. Mayne Reid
143--Hendricks, the Hunter By W. H. G. Kingston
142--The Young Explorer By Gordon Stables
141--The Ocean Waifs By Capt. Mayne Reid
140--The Young Buglers By G. A. Henty
139--Shore and Ocean By W. H. G. Kingston
+138--Striving for Fortune+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
137--The Bush Boys By Capt. Mayne Reid
136--From Pole to Pole By Gordon Stables
135--Dick Cheveley By W. H. G. Kingston
134--Orange and Green By G. A. Henty
133--The Young Yagers By Capt. Mayne Reid
132--The Adventures of Rob Roy By James Grant
131--The Boy Slaves By Capt. Mayne Reid
+130--From Canal Boy to President+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
129--Ran Away to Sea By Capt. Mayne Reid
128--For Name and Fame By G. A. Henty
127--The Forest Exiles By Capt. Mayne Reid
126--From Powder Monkey to Admiral By W. H. G. Kingston
125--The Plant Hunters By Capt. Mayne Reid
124--St. George for England By G. A. Henty
123--The Giraffe Hunters By Capt. Mayne Reid
+122--Tom Brace+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
121--Peter Trawl By W. H. G. Kingston
120--In the Wilds of New Mexico By G. Manville Fenn
119--A Final Reckoning By G. A. Henty
+118--Ned Newton+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
117--James Braithwaite, The Supercargo By W. H. G. Kingston
116--Happy-Go-Lucky Jack By Frank H. Converse
115--Adventures of a Young Athlete By Matthew White, Jr.
114--The Old Man of the Mountains By George H. Coomer
113--The Bravest of the Brave By G. A. Henty
112--20,000 Leagues Under the Sea By Jules Verne
111--The Midshipman, Marmaduke Merry By W. H. G. Kingston
110--Around the World in Eighty Days By Jules Verne
109--A Dash to the Pole By Herbert D. Ward
108--Texar's Revenge By Jules Verne
107--Van; or, In Search of an Unknown Race By Frank H. Converse
106--The Boy Knight By George A. Henty
105--The Young Actor By Gayle Winterton
104--Heir to a Million By Frank H. Converse
103--The Adventures of Rex Staunton By Mary A. Denison
102--Clearing His Name By Matthew White, Jr.
101--The Lone Ranch By Capt. Mayne Reid
100--Maori and Settler By George A. Henty
99--The Cruise of the Restless; or, On Inland Waterways By James Otis
98--The Grand Chaco By George Manville Fenn
97--The Giant Islanders By Brooks McCormick
96--An Unprovoked Mutiny By James Otis
95--By Sheer Pluck By G. A. Henty
94--Oscar; or, The Boy Who Had His Own Way By Walter Aimwell
+93--A New York Boy+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
92--Spectre Gold By Headon Hill
91--The Crusoes of Guiana By Louis Boussenard
90--Out on the Pampas By G. A. Henty
89--Clinton; or, Boy Life in the Country By Walter Aimwell
88--My Mysterious Fortune By Matthew White, Jr.
+87--The Five Hundred Dollar Check+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
86--Catmur's Cave By Richard Dowling
85--Facing Death By G. A. Henty
84--The Butcher of Cawnpore By William Murray Graydon
83--The Tiger Prince By William Dalton
82--The Young Editor By Matthew White, Jr.
81--Arthur Helmuth, of the H. & N. C. Railway By Edward S. Ellis
80--Afloat in the Forest By Capt. Mayne Reid
79--The Rival Battalions By Brooks McCormick
+78--Both Sides of the Continent+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
77--Perils of the Jungle By Edward S. Ellis
76--The War Tiger; or, The Conquest of China By William Dalton
75--Boys in the Forecastle By George H. Coomer
74--The Dingo Boys By George Manville Fenn
73--The Wolf Boy of China By William Dalton
72--The Way to Success; or, Tom Randall By Alfred Oldfellow
71--Mark Seaworth's Voyage on the Indian
Ocean By William H. G. Kingston
70--The New and Amusing History of Sandford and
Merton By F. C. Burnand
69--Pirate Island By Harry Collingwood
68--Smuggler's Cave By Annie Ashmore
67--Tom Brown's School Days By Thomas Hughes
66--A Young Vagabond By Z. R. Bennett
65--That Treasure By Frank H. Converse
64--The Tour of a Private Car By Matthew White, Jr.
63--In the Sunk Lands By Walter F. Bruns
62--How He Won By Brooks McCormick
+61--The Erie Train Boy+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
60--The Mountain Cave By George H. Coomer
59--The Rajah's Fortress By William Murray Graydon
58--Gilbert, The Trapper By Capt. C. B. Ashley
57--The Gold of Flat Top Mountain By Frank H. Converse
56--Nature's Young Noblemen By Brooks McCormick
55--A Voyage to the Gold Coast By Frank H. Converse
54--Joe Nichols; or, Difficulties Overcome By Alfred Oldfellow
53--The Adventures of a New York Telegraph Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr.
+52--From Farm Boy to Senator+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
+51--Tom Tracy+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
+50--Dean Dunham+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
49--The Mystery of a Diamond By Frank H. Converse
48--Luke Bennett's Hide-Out By Capt. C. B. Ashley, U.S. Scout
47--Eric Dane By Matthew White, Jr.
+46--Poor and Proud+ +By Oliver Optic+
45--Jack Wheeler; A Western Story By Capt. David Southwick
44--The Golden Magnet By George Manville Fenn
43--In Southern Seas By Frank H. Converse
+42--The Young Acrobat+ +By Horatio Alger, Jr.+
41--Check 2134 By Edward S. Ellis
40--Canoe and Campfire By St. George Rathborne
39--With Boer and Britisher in the Transvaal By William Murray Graydon
38--Gay Dashleigh's Academy Days By Arthur Sewall
37--Commodore Junk By George Manville Fenn
36--In Barracks and Wigwam By William Murray Graydon
35--In the Reign of Terror By G. A. Henty
34--The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green By Cuthbert Bede, B. A.
33--Jud and Joe, Printers and Publishers By Gilbert Patten
32--The Curse of Carnes' Hold By G. A. Henty
31--The Cruise of the Snow Bird By Gordon Stables
30--Peter Simple By Captain Marryat
29--True to the Old Flag By G. A. Henty
28--The Boy Boomers By Gilbert Patten
27--Centre-Board Jim By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry
26--The Cryptogram By William Murray Graydon
25--Through the Fray By G. A. Henty
24--The Boy From the West By Gilbert Patten
23--The Dragon and the Raven By G. A. Henty
22--From Lake to Wilderness By William Murray Graydon
21--Won at West Point By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry
20--Wheeling for Fortune By James Otis
19--Jack Archer By G. A. Henty
18--The Silver Ship By Leon Lewis
17--Ensign Merrill By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry
16--The White King of Africa By William Murray Graydon
15--Midshipman Merrill By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry
14--The Young Colonists By G. A. Henty
13--Up the Ladder By Lieut. Murray
12--Don Kirk's Mine By Gilbert Patten
11--From Tent to White House By Edward S. Ellis
10--Don Kirk, the Boy Cattle King By Gilbert Patten
+9--Try Again+ +By Oliver Optic+
8--Kit Carey's Protégé By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry
7--Chased Through Norway By James Otis
6--Captain Carey of the Gallant Seventh By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry
+5--Now or Never+ +By Oliver Optic+
4--Lieutenant Carey's Luck By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry
+3--All Aboard+ +By Oliver Optic+
2--Cadet Kit Carey By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry
+1--The Boat Club+ +By Oliver Optic+
FRANK MERRIWELL'S
OWN COMPANY
OR,
Barnstorming in the Middle West
BY
BURT L. STANDISH
AUTHOR OF
"_The Merriwell Stories_"
[Illustration: Decoration]
STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS
238 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK CITY
Copyright, 1898
By STREET & SMITH
Frank Merriwell's Own Company
FRANK MERRIWELL'S OWN COMPANY.
CHAPTER I.
THE DYING MAGICIAN.
Manager Thaddeus Burnham, of the Keesport Opera House, was worried.
Zolverein, the magician, was billed to play in his house that Wednesday
evening. Zolverein was in town, stopping at the Midland Hotel, where he
had arrived at noon. All the magician's apparatus was in the theater,
and the stage was set for his appearance. The hour of opening the doors
had arrived, the box-office man was selling tickets as fast as he could
make change, and people were pouring in to witness the performance of
the man of magic, who was famous all through that part of the country.
But Zolverein was in his room at the hotel, suffering from an attack of
heart trouble, to which he was subject. He had assured Thaddeus Burnham
that it was of no particular consequence, would soon pass away, and he
would be able to appear at the time when the curtain should rise and
give his regular performance, just as advertised.
However, the doctor who was attending the magician expressed grave
doubts about Zolverein's immediate recovery, and, twenty minutes after
the opening of the theater, Manager Burnham heard that the physician
had sent in great haste for another prominent doctor of the place.
Frank Merriwell, the famous Yale athlete, now advance agent for the
"Empire Theater Comedy Company," was talking with Thad Burnham. They
were standing in the lobby of the opera house, watching the people come
in.
"The house will be full," said Burnham, nervously. "It's a shame to
have to refund so much money."
"You don't know that you will have to refund it," consoled Frank.
"Zolverein has such spells frequently. He was telling me about them on
the train."
"But Dr. Harte has summoned Dr. Gray, and Harte wouldn't do that for
nothing. How did you happen to meet Zolverein?"
"I had the fortune to save him from what might have been a serious
accident at Newton."
"How was that?"
"He was too late to take the train before it started, and he sprang
aboard after the cars were under way. He slipped and would have fallen
between two cars. I caught him by the collar and dragged him back to
the platform. It gave him quite a shock, and he was afraid it might
bring on an attack of his trouble. That's how we came to talk about it."
"Well, it brought on the attack all right."
"It seems so, but he thought all danger was past by the time we reached
this place, for he was feeling much better."
"Something makes me certain he will not be on hand to-night. If he had
not given me orders to open the doors, these people would not be coming
in now. Of course I did as he directed, but it is going to cause no end
of trouble."
"It has a bad effect to turn away an audience after a house is filled."
"Right. People go away sore. Hope nothing of this kind will happen in
connection with your show, Mr. Merriwell."
"It's not likely to happen," declared Frank; but, if the manager had
noted the youth's expression just then, he might have seen a shade of
anxiety pass over Merriwell's face.
Within a day or two Merriwell had learned that Zenas Hawkins, the
"angel" on which Barnaby Haley, the manager, had depended to keep the
"Empire Theater Company" afloat, had refused to give up any more good
money and had quit the organization.
As the company had been "up against bad business," the wind must
change, or the end would come quickly, and Frank knew it. Hence his
anxiety.
As Merriwell and the manager stood there, a boy came up hurriedly,
saying to Burnham:
"Can you tell me where I can find Frank Merriwell? The magician has
sent for him."
"Here he is," said the manager, indicating Merry.
"Come on, sir," urged the boy. "They told me to tell you to come in a
hurry."
"What is the matter?" asked Burnham. "Is it----"
"I don't know. All I know is that they told me to get Mr. Merriwell in
a hurry."
"Goodness!" muttered the manager. "I hope this don't mean that----"
He did not finish, and Frank followed the boy, wondering why he had
been summoned by Zolverein.
The messenger was a bell boy from the hotel, and he piloted Frank up to
the door of the magician's room.
Frank knocked lightly.
The door was opened at once by a tall man who wore a Vandyke beard. It
was Dr. Gray.
"This is Mr. Merriwell," explained the bell boy.
"Come in," said the doctor, softly. "You are in time."
"In time!" echoed Merry, wonderingly. "In time for what?"
Then he saw another man bending over the bed, on which lay Zolverein,
the great magician. One glance satisfied Frank that the man of magic
was face to face with the mighty mystery which no human being has ever
solved and lived.
Zolverein's face was ghastly gray, while his eyes were wide open and
staring at the ceiling. It almost seemed that already he had solved the
mystery.
But Merriwell's voice reached the man's ears, and, with a great
effort, he turned his head slightly, looking toward the door.
"Yes, you are in time," he said, and his voice was hollow and faint
with a ghostly sound. "In time to see the end."
"He's dying!"
Merry did not utter the words aloud. Quickly, with light steps, he
approached the bed.
"Young man," said that weary voice, "bend down--sit beside me."
Merry took the chair at the bedside, the doctor stepping back, but
remaining near and watching the sinking man intently.
The pallor on Zolverein's face became even more marked, as if his few
words had cost him too great an effort. His eyes left Merriwell and
found the doctor.
"Brandy!" he whispered, pleadingly. "Something to give me a few minutes
more of life!"
The doctor hastily mixed something in a glass and held it to the dying
man's lips. The small quantity Zolverein was able to swallow seemed to
bring a bit of brightness to his dimming eyes.
"There," he whispered, "that will do it."
The doctor straightened up, but not till he had breathed in Frank's ear:
"If there is anything you wish to hear from him, make haste. He has not
many seconds more."
"Young man," said the dying magician, "you did me a turn to-day--you
saved me from being mangled beneath the train. It would have made
but a few hours' difference, but I prefer to die here in bed. You
grabbed me and held me up at the risk of being drawn down yourself.
It--was--a--brave--act."
He stopped, gasping painfully.
"If you have anything in particular to say, do not talk of other things
now," warned the doctor.
"All right," murmured the magician. "I understand what you mean. The
end is near. I'm ready to go."
Again he looked at Frank.
"I like you," he declared. "I took a liking to you on the train. That's
why I send for you. I have not a relative in the whole world that I
care for. I have some friends, but they are far away. You are here.
You befriended me--a stranger. My apparatus for performing my feats
of magic is worth several thousand dollars. Here and now I express my
desire that you shall have it when I am dead. If you sell it for what
it is worth, it will--bring you in--a tidy--sum--of----"
His voice died in a gasping rattle, his breast heaved once and was
still, his eyes were set, and the end had come.
Zolverein, the magician, had solved the great mystery.