The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-12-10
wNU Service

"Just a fragile flower" said an
other. "No wonder he had to take
to his bed after his frightful hand
to-hand battle with that horrid hun
cry beast. How lucky he is always
to have his trained nurse at hand
to care for him when he is so fright
fully upset"
Moving deliberately back to Bar
ney, Frank spoke under his breath.
Leave it to me-" he said. "The
last laugh may be ours"
Mulloy was too choked with pent-
up wrath to utter a word in reply,
but Hodge was the one against
whom he was inwardly raging. That
fellow had done some swift sniping
with the ammunition furnished by
Pete Smith, and he seemed to be on
his way to triumph.
Bart came forward a step. "These
are just some of the fellows my
friend Bascomb brought in to give
you the once over, Merriwell," he
said blandly. "They asked me to
give them an eyewitness account Of
your noble deed, but I merely re-
ferred them to the newspaper. But
I knew you would be delighted to
tell the narrowing tale yourself"
Merry seemed to beam. $50
thoughtful of you, Hodge, but I hope
they'll spare my bushes. I'm so
very shy before strangers"
"Why don't you introduce us to
the modest hero, Bart?" suggested
huge chap with powerful Shout
ders and mouth that split his grin
ming face from ear to ear. "We're
all quivering with eagerness to have
the honor. And maybe he'll loosen
up after he gets to know us"
"Good idea, Hugh" chuckled
Hodge. "Merriwell, this is my
friend Bascomb, the best prep
school fullback in the East"
Franks eyes almost bulged as he
stared as if aghast at Bascomb's
vast mouth. ''I'm so happy" he
said, "to get this unexpected view
of the Grand Canyon of the Colo
RADIO. It's even wider, deeper and
more tremendous than I ever i'm
agined it could be-"
Bascomb's grin faded slowly, as
it dawned on him. His mouth
chopped together and his lips came
down at the corners. He flushed to
the roots of his bristling hair, and
his scowl was as black as the ace
of spades.
"Look here" he growled, "what
dyer mean by that crack?"
"I'll never forget it," said Frank
in a hushed tone of awe. "I'l
always remember my first view of
the Grand Canyon"
"Gee, he's nutsl" cried a slender
boy with gimlet eyes that were set
very close together. "Now if Hugh
pops him-gee!"
''We seem to have Oman with
u.s." remarked Frank, turning to
survey the last speaker. 81 wonder
how he ever got mixed up with this
gang of highbinders.
"Say, that's Leslie Gage, "put in
Hodge quickly, 'and he's the var
sity pitcher. Take care what you
say, Merriwell."
"Why, I'm knocked completely
cuckoo by the shock" said Mer-
ry. "Such Importance! Such no.
torious characters. You seem to be
right in your element, Hodge,"
Bascomb reached huge paw for
Merriwell's shoulder and swung him
round. "Think you're a funny bird
yourself, donya?" he snarled.
'Well, you'll fly right out of the
window in minute"
''Now really I'm afraid I've irri-
tated you somehow" said Frank.
"I'm a sophomore here" Bas-
comb informed him. "Say sir to
me-"
"Sir to you," said Frank, bowling
politely.
'Now don't forget that any time
you speak to me hereafter. Get
me?"
."And you better remember to say
it to me, too," advised a boy with
a long neck and very large nose.
"But you must tell me your name,
so ! won't forget you, sir"