Frank Merriwell's Alarm Part 38

"It is Frank Merriwell, or my eyes can't see straight!"

"Bart Hodge, as I live!" cried Frank, grasping the outstretched hand.

CHAPTER XIX.

BART HODGE MAKES A CONFESSION.

It was Bart Hodge!

How they did shake hands! Strangely enough, neither of them laughed, but there was a look of joy on their faces that told of satisfaction and delight too great for laughter.

"Merriwell, old man," said Hodge, his voice unsteady with emotion, "I can scarcely believe it is true! It seems too good to be true!"

"Hodge!" exclaimed Frank, "there is fate in this. I was speaking of you not more than ten minutes ago."

"Speaking of me?"

"Sure."

"Then you had not forgotten me?"

"Forgotten you?" came reproachfully from Frank--"you should know I am not the kind of fellow to forget my friends."

"That's right," nodded Bart, quickly; "you always did stick to your friends through thick and thin."

"Yes, through thick and thin, old chum."

"But it is most astonishing to see you away out here in this part of the country. Where did you drop from?"

"Oh, we are on a little run across the country," smiled Merry. "We started from New York, and we're bound for San Francisco. Permit me to introduce my friends."

Then he presented the others of the party in turn, and Bart shook hands with them all, expressing his satisfaction at meeting them, but seeming rather reserved and uneasy. Frank observed that Hodge turned his head to glance down the road now and then as if expecting the appearance of some one or something.

"So you're Hart Bodge--I mean Bart Hodge?" said Harry, as he was introduced. "Well, I'm glad to know you. Merry has talked about you ever since I first met him at Yale. He has told everything about you."

"If that is true, I'm afraid you have not formed a very good opinion of me," said Hodge, somewhat gloomily.

"On the contrary, I have formed a very good opinion of you," a.s.sured Rattleton.

"Then it can't be Merry has told you everything."

Frank was not a little surprised by Bart's manner, for Hodge had been a fellow who could not easily suppress his self-conceit, and it had always been his desire to impress strangers with the idea that he was something quite out of the ordinary.

A vague feeling that something was wrong with Bart seized upon Merriwell.

"You're not well, old man," he said. "I know it. Don't say you are."

"Never was better in all my life."

"But something is the trouble--I can see that."

"Oh, no!" a.s.sured Bart; "you are mistaken, I a.s.sure you."

But, for all of these words, Frank was not satisfied, as Bart's manner had plainly betrayed the fact that he was trying to conceal something.

"Which way are you traveling?" Frank asked.

"East."

"Too bad! We are going the other way, and I hoped you'd go along."

"Oh, no! it is impossible," Hodge quickly a.s.serted.

"Business important?"

"Well, it is--er--somewhat so."

"Where are you from last?"

"Oh, I've been traveling--yes, traveling," answered Bart, vaguely.

"Now, look here!" cried Merry, decisively; "you've got to travel with us, old man. I won't take no for an answer, for I believe you can do it. You'll turn about and go to San Francisco with us."

"That's right; come on," cried the others.

Bart shook his head.

"Can't do it--I can't. You don't know--I can't explain--now."

"Do you think this is using me just right?" asked Frank, reproachfully. "You'll find us a jolly crowd, and we'll have dead loads of sport. We've made a quick run across, and we can take our time going back. None of the fellows are obliged to hurry home. Come along with us, Bart, and we'll do you good."

Something like a smile flitted over Hodge's serious face.

"You are the same old Merriwell," he said. "It has done me good to see you a little while, Frank."

"It will do you more good to see me longer, and it'll do me good to have you come with me. Come along."

Bart wavered. It was plain enough that he longed to go, but, for some reason, he hesitated.

Frank pa.s.sed an arm about Hodge's shoulders, saying, gently but firmly:

"You've got to do it; you can't get out of it, old chum."

A wave of feeling fled across Hodge's face, and there was something like a suspicious quiver of his sensitive chin.