Frank Merriwells Bravery | Page 3

the locality where the hold-up was
committed. If he were to come into Elreno on this train, for instance, it
would be a blind."
"How far is Oklahoma City from the place where the train was
robbed?"
"Between thirty and forty miles, direct."
"That distance could be made on horseback between the time of the
robbery and this morning--do you think so?"
"Well, it is very likely. What do you think, Mr.--ah--er--I beg your
pardon?"
"My name is Frank Merriwell."
"Really?"
Walker lifted his eyebrows in a very odd manner, which Frank did not
fail to observe.
"You appear as if you doubted me," came a trifle warmly from the lad's
lips, while the color rushed to his cheeks.
"Oh, not at all--not at all! You are in Oklahoma on business?"

"No, sir."
"Not?"
"No."
"Pleasure?"
"Yes, sir."
"How? Traveling?"
"I am."
"Alone?"
"No."
"Didn't notice you had company."
"I have not, at present."
"H'm! Ha! Your friends--are they on this train?"
"No, sir."
Walker elevated his eyebrows again. His nose seemed longer and more
pointed than ever. It was a nose that reminded the boy of an
interrogation point. It seemed built to thrust itself into other people's
business.
"Ha! Not on the train?"
"No."
"You expect to meet them?"
"Yes."

"Where?"
"In Elreno."
"How many of them?"
"Two."
"No more?"
"No."
Frank was answering curtly, and his manner announced his dislike for
his inquisitive companion. Still, he was courteous and cool, holding
himself in check.
"I presume your companions are older than yourself?" questioned the
prying Jerseyite, his small eyes glistening.
"One is; the other is a boy about my age."
"Ha! H'm! Just so. You are from the East, I presume?"
"Yes, sir."
"It seems to me that I have seen you before, but I cannot remember
where it was. And I do not remember your name. Do you mind giving
me the names of your traveling companions?"
"Not at all. They are Professor Horace Orman Tyler Scotch, of Fardale
Military Academy, sometimes known as 'Hot' Scotch, as he has a
peppery temper, and the initials of his first three names form the word
'hot.' The other is Barney Mulloy, a youth who was born in Ireland, and
has not recovered from it yet. The latter was a classmate of mine at
Fardale, and he is traveling with me as a friendly companion, which he
can afford to do, as I pay all the bills."
"Haw!" exclaimed Walker. "You must have money to burn!"

"No, I have not. My uncle left me a comfortable fortune, and his will
provided that, in order to broaden my knowledge of the world, I should
travel in company with my guardian. He selected Professor Scotch as a
proper man to become my guardian, and specified that I might take
along a schoolmate as a companion, if I so desired."
"Re-e-markable!" cried Walker. "A most astonishing will! And how
does it happen that you have become separated from your guardian and
friend?"
"We were going through to Texas on the Chicago, Rock Island and
Pacific. I wished to visit Guthrie, the capital of Oklahoma, and they did
not care to do so. I left them at Caldwell, in Kansas, with the
understanding that they were to proceed to Elreno, and wait for me
there."
"H'm!"
Walker's nose seemed pointing at the boy like an accusing finger.
Doubt was expressed all over that foxy face.
"You tell it well," said the man, with another queer lifting of his thin
eyebrows.
"What do you mean by that?" demanded the youth, sharply, wheeling
squarely toward Walker. "Do you insinuate that I am not telling the
truth?"
Before Walker could reply, a commotion arose in the seat directly
behind them.
CHAPTER II.
"HANDS UP!"
"Aw! Thay, weally, this ith verwy impudent, don't yer know!" drawled
a languid voice. "What wight have you to cwout yourthelf into a theat
bethide a gentleman, thir?"

"I don'd seen der shentleman anyvere," replied a nasal voice, a voice
that had the genuine Jewish sound.
"Thir! Do you mean to thay I am no gentleman, thir?"
"Vell, I don'd mean to say nodding aboud id. I don'd vant to hurd your
veelings."
"You insulting w'etch!"
"Don'd get excided, mein friendt."
"Will you leave thith theat, thir?"
"Cerdinly I vill--ven I leaf der drain."
"I thall call the conductor!"
"Don'd vaste your preath--peckon to him."
"Thir, I would have you understand that my name ith Cholly Gwayson
De Smythe."
"Vell, I vos bleased to meed you. Anypody vould be pleased shust to
dake a look ad you."
"Thir!"
"My name vas Solomon Rosenbum, vid the accent on der bum. Shake
handts vid yourself."
By this time everybody in the car was staring at the Jew and the dudish
fellow beside whom Solomon had taken a seat.