Frank Merriwell's Alarm Part 40

Frank's eyes were blazing now, and the look on his expressive face told how he felt toward Mr. Hart Davis.

"And did Vida throw you over for that?" he asked, in an indignant manner.

"Not entirely for that. She was very shocked and cold toward me, but when I was arrested----"

"Arrested?" gasped Frank. "Arrested for what?"

"For stealing a watch."

CHAPTER XX.

FRANK BECOMES ALARMED.

"For stealing?"

Frank's astonishment was so great that he found it difficult to utter the words.

"Yes," nodded Bart, gloomily, "for stealing a watch."

"But--but I know you never did such a----The man who would think such a thing ought to be shot!"

"The watch was found on my person," said Bart, slowly.

"Found on you, was it? I don't care! I know you didn't steal it.

Nothing could make me believe that."

A gleam of satisfaction seemed to pierce the fierce look on Hodge's face, as a shaft of sunshine sometimes pierces a black and sullen cloud.

"You are right, Merriwell," he said; "I did not steal it. Give me your hand. Oh, it is good--so good to have some one in the world who has confidence in me! It has seemed of late that everybody was down on me."

He grasped Frank's hand, and pressed it warmly.

"You have been up against hard luck, old friend," came feelingly from Frank. "And the girl shook you quite after you were arrested?"

"Yes."

"Were you tried?"

"Yes."

"Convicted?"

"No."

"Still she threw you over?"

"She did."

"Well, you are dead lucky! Such a girl is not worth thinking about!

Don't let that break you up, Hodge."

"Wait," said Bart. "I have not told you all."

"Go on."

"I was arrested in one of the most notorious gambling houses in Carson."

It was plain that the confession cost Hodge much, for his shame was evident, and he hastily added:

"Give it to me, Merriwell! I deserve it! Blow me up!"

"I shall do nothing of the kind," said Frank, slowly, "although I am very sorry to hear what you have told me. Were you in that house to play?"

"Yes."

"That is the bad part of it, for you know you can't let gambling alone once you get at it. I had hoped you were free of your old bad habits."

"You never hoped so more than I!" cried Bart. "But it's no use--I can't reform. Davis induced me to go to the gambling house, and then he dropped me like a live coal when I was pinched."

"But you said they proved nothing against you."

"No, they could not prove anything, for I proved that I bought the watch of a young man who offered it to me at a bargain. That cleared me of that charge."

"But Vida Milburn threw you down just as hard?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Don't you see, I was arrested in a gambling house while playing roulette. She had seen me when I appeared to be drunk. That was enough. Even though I did not steal, I drank and gambled. Her aunt forbade her seeing me. She sent back my presents, and told me we must become as strangers. Two months later she married Hart Davis."

Frank's hand fell on the shoulder of his old-time friend.

"It was hard luck, Hodge," he said, in a straightforward manner, "and you were not entirely blameless. At the same time, it is certain that girl did not care for you as she should, and she might have made you miserable if you had won her. The girl who really loves a fellow will believe in him and his honor till there is not a single tattered remnant of his reputation to which she can pin her faith. I tell you, old chum, you may congratulate yourself that you got off as you did."

"I have tried to do so," said Hodge, "and I resolved to be a man and forget her. But it was harder to forget than I dreamed, and then, when I was beginning to forget, that other came upon me again."

"That other? What other?"

"Her half-sister."

"Isa Isban?"

"Yes."